Real Empress from a Noble Family

Chapter 441 Finishing the Mourning

Qiu Yelan told her husband what she was thinking about. But he shook his head after thinking for a while, “Though my father doesn’t care so much about whether a kid is the trueborn one or not as my mother does, he still cares about kids in our Jiang Family.”

A concubine could be bought and sold like goods. So, concubines were not so important that even a master of a branch would value her.

“But they are still mothers who gave birth to my nieces and nephews. The reason why Heng’er doesn’t speak a word right now is that he saw how his mother died, as you know.” Qiu Yelan reminded him, “The day when my eighth sister-in-law took them to visit my father, my father found that Heng’er was the oldest kid so he wanted to talk with him about his study. But he didn’t answer a word. And my eighth sister-in-law’s expression even changed. It was Jiang Gan who reminded my eighth brother. And then my brother interrupted them to cover the embarrassment.”

“According to the intelligence of our father, even if he didn’t know about the reason why Heng’er lost his voice, he would ask maids after the talk. Is he angry with us because of that?”

Jiang Yashuang shook his head, “You forget that the estrangement between father and me and his affection for my brother started when he was awake, which was before he met my nieces and nephews. Besides, these things have nothing to do with us. My father…” He stopped for a while and then reminded her, “Men in my father’s generation are not used to getting involved in the management of the family. The order to clean out all the concubines of my eighth brother was made by my mother. So, my father would not even get involved, not to mention be unsatisfied.”

The official wives of the Jiang Family were used to managing all aspects of the family. And men in Jiang Family were not used to meddling in. This situation was caused by men in Marquess Qin’s generation. Jiang Tianchi was the second son of Marquess Qin’s official wife. So, he was used to it. And he was also used to intervening nothing.

So, it showed that Qiu Yelan’s speculation was wrong.

“Should we find a chance to ask mother?” Qiu Yelan proposed, “Did us do anything wrong that made father get angry?”

Jiang Yashuang hesitated. But finally, he refused, “Maybe my father just thought that my eighth brother was entrapped by the first branch. So, father wanted to make amends. I don’t want to ask him. You know my mom. If she knows, she will query my father, which will make my father sad.”

After all, they had grown apart because of years of separation. So even if they were father and son, they had scruples.

In this case, Qiu Yelan also no longer importunate him. Anyway, although Jiang Tianchi was more affectionate to the older son, he did not abuse the younger one. This time before Jiang Tianchi left, he sent servants out to buy the gifts for the grandchildren. The gifts for Jiang Jingkun and Jiang Jinglang who were the two legitimate grandchildren were the same, while Fu’er’s share, except that an inkstone was different from the two Cousins’, the others were the same.

However, the gifts for grandchildren who were born by concubines were different from theirs, which could show that even though Jiang Tianchi had preferences, he still followed the rules. Qiu Yelan was not a woman who was so selfish as to think that an elder should not have preferences for anyone except for themselves. Now that her husband refused to query, she would support him.

Time flew as the lunar first month flew by. It was the season of revival in Jing City. Plum blossoms bloomed in February and apricot flowers bloomed in March, and the flowers on Jinxiu Slope were like the sea.

All of a sudden, it was time for peonies in April to stir Jing City.

According to the funeral regulations, grandnephew and grandnephew’s wife were only required to be in mourning for grand uncle for five months. Sir Jibei died in early November last year. So, at the beginning of April, the grandchildren at Marquess’s Mansion were the first to call it quits.

Although they had only been in mourning for five months, there were many things left undone.

“Put the clothes which we will wear when we go to the palace to visit Empress Dowager and Empress over there. And don’t let the children make them dirty!” Qiu Yelan sat in front of the mirror and inserted a gilding jade pin. Although, as a grandniece, she had done with mourning, her elders were still in mourning. So, she should dress more carefully during this period. If she wore too plain, it would be inconvenient to go out. But if she wore too bright, her elders would be sad. It took even more time than dressing up during mourning. “Check the gift which will be given to Empress again! Is there…”

She hadn’t finished when Su He came in. She told her, “The ginseng has been sent here. But madame Shuijin refused the money. She said she wanted to congratulate the princess on having a girl baby.”

“Fine. she does not lack money. Let me pay back next time.” Qiu Yelan turned around, “Where is the ginseng? Let me check out.”

Su He passed it to her. As soon as she opened it, a fresh, bitter smell filled the air. The ginseng in the box was plump and shiny. And it was almost like a human. Obviously, this ginseng was the best choice both in appearance and medicine.

“I will go to visit my mother-in-law.” Qiu Yelan closed the box with satisfaction, “And then I will take it to her.”

… Jiang Qizheng and Qiu Feng planned to stay away from trouble in Shazhou for a while and then return to Jing City. After all, their son was there. Though Qiu Yelan was helping them to take care of him, it would be best that they looked after the kid by themselves because the child was so young.

However, Jiang Qizheng was pregnant again. After the Lantern Festival, when Madame Zhuang’s letter arrived, she was nearly in labor. Qiu Feng wrote to explain that after his wife gave birth, if both mother and kid could bear it, they would return to Jing City and reunite with his mother-in-law.

In February, Jiang Qizheng gave birth to her girl. Mother and daughter were fine. After her confinement, the three of them set foot on their way back to Jing City.

They travelled slowly for fear of jolting them. It was April and they were still hundreds of miles from Jing City. The servant who followed Madame Zhuang’s order to visit them came back and said that Jiang Qizheng’s was not very fine. It seemed that she had been exhausted during the long journey.

Madame Zhuang loved her daughter so much. So, she planned to give her daughter and son-in-law a good tonic when they returned. So, Qiu Yelan also should make a move. She asked He Shuijin to help her buy superb ginseng to give her mother-in-law.

“You are too busy to look after three kids. You’ve just finished your mourning. And then Ling Zui’s wedding is coming. Besides, you have to go to the palace to congratulate Empress. I can stay here to watch out. Why do you bother?” Madame Zhuang was pleased to see the ginseng, but she still scolded her daughter-in-law, “I accept this ginseng for Qizheng. Don’t worry so much next time! What will happen to the children if you are exhausted?”

Qiu Yelan smiled and said, “Mother loves me the most. It’s just ginseng. I don’t need to worry too much.”

Chu Yitong, who sat opposite her, smiled demurely but stiffly. The mother-in-law only loved her daughter. But they were her daughters-in-law, and they had to do what she liked. Chu Yitong had also spent effort. She sent Mom Zhu to use resources of the Prince’s Mansion and take a good Ganoderma lucidum back.

But the resources that the Mansion of Duke of Huainan accumulated could not compare to that of Prince’s Mansion of Xihe. Even if most resources were controlled by Qiu Jinglan, most were used for revenge. But Chu Yitong had her father and so many sisters, brothers, nieces, and nephews. So, the distribution of the property she could gain was not as much as Qiu Yelan, who only had a brother.

Though the Mansion of Duke of Huainan would support her for political interest, she couldn’t pick everything in the warehouse. Qiu Yelan loved her mother-in-law so she was willing to spend money. Besides, Qiu Yelan had an ally who had many resources and connections. So, Qiu Yelan’s present could beat hers easily!

“It’s a disgrace! Chu Yitong usually had no grudge against Qiu Yelan. But now she felt discomfort, “I thought it was an unspoken rule. Gifts should not just be given based on how much money she has but in order of age. This time Qiu Yelan sent ginseng, which beat my Ganoderma lucidum… Could it be that she despised me for being merely a stepmother? ”

But then something else happened, which made her even angrier. After receiving the ginseng, Madame Zhuang asked how her daughter’s yard which she lived in before she got married was cleaned.

Chu Yitong was in charge of it. After hearing the question, she braced herself up, “It’s already done. I told the craftsman to paint the walls again. Her bedding is renewed. So are her plants.”

She stressed, “I think when Qizheng and her husband come back, mother will ask them to stay here for a while with Fu’er. There is a pond in the yard. Since now Fu’er can walk, even though maids will accompany him everywhere, he can’t get close to the pond. So, I take the time to build Low railings around the pond in case of the accident.”

Madame Zhuang was satisfied. She smiled, “You did a good job. It’s better to save than to regret.”

And then she told Qiu Yelan, “Later you go there with your sister-in-law to check whether there is something that is needed.”

Qiu Yelan did not know the ginseng she sent offended her sister-in-law. But she knew Chu Yitong took over to prepare their sister-in-law’s residence with the identity of the oldest daughter-in-law. So, if she got involved, it would be annoying. She was about to refuse, Madame Zhuang said, “I heard that you with Qizheng get along very well with Qizheng before you married here. So, I believe you are clear about her affection.”

Madame Zhuang was explaining to her oldest daughter-in-law. She trusted her. But it was just because she was not familiar with Jiang Qizheng. So, she might not know Jiang Qizheng’s vision and habits. But Qiu Yelan’s relationship with the oldest daughter-in-law was not as good as Madame Zhuang thought. At the moment Qiu Yelan looked at Chu Yitong whose face appeared to be unsatisfied, she felt wronged. She opened her mouth and said with an embarrassed smile, “You don’t know, mother how careful my sister-in-law is. I am sure that my sister-in-law must have asked the people who served my sister before!”

And then she gave a signal to Chu Yitong.

Chu Yitong saw that Qiu Yelan was sensible so her resentment also dispelled a little. She smiled and said, “I did ask someone who served my sister before. I also consulted several moms around my grandmother who took care of my sister to grow up!”

And then Madame Zhuang stopped letting Qiu Yelan check the preparation. She praised Chu Yitong for her thorough consideration.

“This is such a big family!” After greeting, Qiu Yelan went back to her yard and sighed. She adjusted her emotion and said resolutely, “Where are the kids? Take them to me!”

Su He and others were tittering after seeing her solemn and stirring look. The three kids were so young. Now madame could not stand them. What if they were at the age that even chickens and dogs felt them disgusting?”

They were laughing, Chunran walked here, “Madame, young master asked you to prepare a present for engagement.”

Qiu Yelan was surprised, “For whom?”

“The Censor of young master and the sixth granddaughter of Prime Minister Xue.”

“Xun Yuxi?” Qiu Yelan was surprised, “Last year I talked with my husband that it would be a trouble if he never got married. And we prepared to introduce several ladies for him to see how it would work. Why did he engage with Nongqing so soon?”

Xun Yuxi became a Jinshi together with Qiu Jinglan through the entrance examination in the year when she got married to Jiang Yashuang as Qiu Jinglan predicted.

But his rank was not high to become a member of Hanlin Academy. Besides, even though his family was richer than the normal families. his family was far away poorer than the Jiang Family, who had powerful officials in three generations. So, he had no choice but to accumulate experience. Last year Qiu Yelan was pregnant. So, Jiang Yashuang hired so many asides and staff to help him handle affairs. Though Xun Yuxi was an official and he didn’t become one of the staff, he showed his intention to cozy up Jiang Yashuang.

By Jiang Yashuang’s promotion, he walked out from a local government into the censor.

Now he was junior level six, lower.

This guy had a house, a carriage. His parents died. He was tall and handsome. And he was also a Jinshi. Qiu Jinglan recommended him to her as a husband candidate. As usual, his marriage should not be delayed until now. It was just not his time. He was despised by those ladylike families before he became a Jinshi. When he became a Jinshi, however, the political struggle between the Empress and the Empress Dowager went wild. So, a few events happened. Every family was busy discussing the situation, watching, and considering the side that they should support. So, they were not in the mood to find husband candidates for their daughters and granddaughters.

Finally, the political struggle between the Empress and the Empress Dowager came to an end. However, the internal strife of the Jiang Family began.

Although he weighed the situation to take refuge in Jiang Yashuang, he still was lofty and unyielding. So, he was unwilling to marry the daughter of a small family, nor did he take the initiative to cozy up the powerful families. Thus, his marriage was delayed.

But she didn’t expect he would marry a lady in the Xue Family.

Chunran said, “The marriage was settled by Prime Minister Xue. It was said that Prime Minister Xue valued his appearance, height, and his character.”

“That was true. ” Qiu Yelan nodded. She thought that all these years the reason why the Xue Family didn’t settle a marriage for Xue Nongqing was to wait for Qiu Jinglan. Since Qiu Jinglan had been engaged with Ou Qinglan, they had no choice. And then they had to be content with the second-best, that was to choose a guy who suited her most.

“Is Xue Chang busy these days? Why does he have time to settle the marriage of his granddaughter? I think he is like Marquess Qin, who loves granddaughters but will not do anything for them.” Since Xue Chang was an important political ally of Qiu Jinglan, Qiu Yelan valued the relationship of their families. She felt strange according to her comprehension of the Xue Family. “It should be Xue Fangchao and his wife who make the decision. Well… Maybe he wants her granddaughter and grandson-in-law to have a decent marriage so they announce it with Prime Minister Xue’s name, right?”