“Ah—” Aman cried out in shock, quickly covering her mouth.
Jiang Si, however, showed no reaction, like a puppet that had lost its master.
Yujin, worried, called out, “Asi—”
Jiang Si covered her face.
Yujin pulled her into his embrace, softly saying, “If you feel pain, cry it out. Don’t keep it bottled up inside.”
Jiang Si made no sound, but tears flowed from between her fingers.
Yujin felt increasingly distressed watching her, but his throat felt blocked, unsure of what to say.
In the face of life and death, all words of comfort seemed pale and powerless.
Jiang Si buried herself in Yujin’s embrace, her hands tightly gripping his clothes, her tears flowing more violently.
After a long while, her thoughts were still sluggish, her mind blank.
Could it be that predetermined fate couldn’t be changed? No matter how hard she tried, she still couldn’t alter her second brother’s destiny of dying young.
After an unknown amount of time, Jiang Si finally raised her head, meeting Yujin’s gaze.
“My second brother—” She had thousands of words to ask, but as soon as she opened her mouth, she couldn’t continue.
No matter how many times one experiences the loss of a loved one, it still pierces the heart.
“We don’t know the details yet. More news should arrive in a couple of days, let’s wait a bit. Also, I’ve already ordered Leng Ying to head south immediately…”
Jiang Si nodded slightly.
Yujin wiped her tears, then hesitated before saying, “Your father should have received the news as well. Shall I accompany you to see him?”
“Alright.”
The couple changed their clothes and hurriedly took a carriage to the East Peace Marquis’s mansion.
At this moment, Pan Hai had just delivered the news of Jiang Zhan’s death in battle to the East Peace Marquis’s mansion. Looking at the stunned Jiang Ancheng, he secretly sighed.
For an elder to bury the young, especially an only son was truly tragic.
But no matter how tragic, it was an unchangeable fact.
“Marquis, please accept my condolences,” Pan Hai consoled.
Jiang Ancheng nodded mechanically.
This scene made Pan Hai unwilling to linger. He hurriedly said, “This humble servant will return to the palace to report now.”
Pan Hai was almost out of the courtyard when Jiang Ancheng finally came to his senses and called out loudly, “Eunuch, please wait!”
Pan Hai stopped and turned around.
Jiang Ancheng strode up to him, involuntarily grabbing Pan Hai’s wrist with such force that Pan Hai secretly frowned.
“Has my son’s body been recovered?”
Jiang Ancheng, having been on the battlefield in his youth, knew that after a battle, if there was a chance to clean up the battlefield, soldiers would try their best to bring back their comrades’ remains. But if their side suffered a crushing defeat, it would be difficult to say.
His son’s death was a severe blow to him, but if he couldn’t even recover his son’s body, it would be even more unbearable.
“The green hills are fortunate to bury loyal bones; why need the horse’s hide to wrap the corpse for return?”
These words might sound heroic, but when applied to one’s son, it was hard for anyone to accept.
“Marquis, rest assured, we will do our utmost to recover the bodies of the soldiers who sacrificed themselves for the country.” Not knowing much about the situation in the south yet, Pan Hai naturally didn’t dare to make promises, only offering polite words.
“Is that so?” Jiang Ancheng’s expression became dazed upon hearing this.
Pan Hai quietly left.
The courtyard was filled with people, including Old Madam Feng, Third Master Jiang and his wife, and Second Master Jiang who had rushed back.
At this moment, all these people were looking at Jiang Ancheng.
Jiang Ancheng remained unresponsive for a long time.
Old Madam Feng furrowed her brows and spoke, “Eldest son, pull yourself together.”
She had never thought highly of her grandson Jiang Zhan, only starting to pay some attention when he joined the Jinwu Guard. She never imagined this child would give up his good position in the Jinwu Guard and volunteer to go to the battlefield.
If this had happened to her eldest grandson Jiang Cang, she would have stopped him, but for Jiang Zhan, she let him be.
Although the battlefield was dangerous, it also offered opportunities. If he achieved great merit, he might even be awarded a marquis title on the spot, which was far better than those civil officials who had to struggle for decades for a chance to enter the cabinet.
Moreover, what good was entering the cabinet? Although it brought temporary glory, if the clan’s descendants weren’t capable, the family would decline after two generations of mediocrity. How could that compare to an inherited title?
In Da Zhou, civil officials had no chance of being awarded titles, unless they had a daughter who became the Empress or Empress Dowager, but there was only one Empress in the entire court.
In comparison, military officials had many more opportunities.
In Old Madam Feng’s view, sending an insignificant grandson to the battlefield to seek fortune was a very worthwhile thing. If he unfortunately died in battle, it would be sad, but not devastating.
Therefore, Old Madam Feng was much calmer than Jiang Ancheng.
Jiang Ancheng moved his eyelids and looked at Old Madam Feng, “What did Mother say?”
“I said you need to pull yourself together. You are the head of the household, and Zhan’er’s funeral arrangements still need you to handle. Don’t let the Emperor think our marquis’s household lacks loyalty to the throne and patriotism.”
Second Master Jiang also persuaded, “That’s right, elder brother. Zhan’er volunteered to go to the battlefield. Sacrificing himself for the country can be considered a worthy death for him—”
Jiang Ancheng’s eyes turned red as he swung his fist at Second Master Jiang, “To hell with your worthy death! Are you hoping the Emperor will give our household some compensation so you can benefit from it?”
He could do nothing about his mother, but he could vent his anger on his tactless brother first.
Jiang Ancheng’s mood was already at its worst, and now he finally had an outlet for his emotions.
Second Master Jiang, having grown up studying, was a frail scholar. He was no match for Jiang Ancheng. Unable to dodge or run away, he was soon beaten and crying out in pain.
“Eldest son, have you gone mad? Why are you taking out your anger on your second brother?” Seeing her most beloved son being beaten, Old Madam Feng shouted in exasperation.
Jiang Ancheng ignored her and continued to beat Second Master Jiang furiously.
Old Madam Feng had no choice but to scold Third Master Jiang, “Third son, are you made of wood? Quickly stop your elder brother!”
She ignored the younger generation who were standing there stupidly.
The younger generation couldn’t intervene when elders were fighting.
Third Master Jiang inwardly sneered.
The second brother’s words were truly deserving of a beating, purely speaking without considering others’ feelings. It was good to let the eldest brother vent his anger.
Only after Old Madam Feng spoke did Third Master Jiang pretend to come to his senses and step forward to intervene, “Elder brother, stop hitting him.”
Jiang Ancheng kicked away the half-hearted Third Master Jiang and continued to beat Second Master Jiang fiercely.
When Jiang Si and Yujin arrived, they saw the chaotic scene they witnessed.
“Fourth Sister, you’re here.” Jiang Yi’s eyes were red, with traces of tears still visible.
Jiang Si nodded and called out, “Father—”
Jiang Ancheng’s raised hand paused as he turned to look.
Second Master Jiang seized the opportunity to break free, leaning on his eldest son Jiang Cang and weakly saying, “Quick, call for a doctor…”
His elder brother must have gone mad. Did he want to beat him to death to accompany Jiang Zhan?
“Uh.” Jiang Cang nodded blankly, still in a daze.
Was the second cousin dead?
After the emotional outburst, Jiang Ancheng stood still in a daze.
Jiang Si walked step by step to him.
Jiang Ancheng moved his eyes, his eyelids reddening as he said hoarsely, “Si’er, your second brother is gone…”
This man of iron finally broke down in tears before his most beloved daughter, just like when he lost his wife years ago.