Chapter 6

“Accept a concubine before the wife has even married. What do you think Lord Dong Ping Bo would say?” Lord An Guo unhappily said.

Madam Wei-shi scoffed: “After this generation of Count Dong Ping Mansion, their title will be gone soon. By then, they will be no different from ordinary people. His daughter has no other support since she lost her mother in early childhood. Is it not important for her to marry into our Duke Mansion? Can she still not accept Qiao Niang?”

Listening to her words, Lord An Guo became more dissatisfied: “That is not for you say–“

“Husband, do you still not see it yet? The third son has grown up, he now has his own ideas, and we can no longer control him with a stick. If we do not allow him to be with Qiao Niang, then he really might do stupid things again.”

Madam Wei Shi said while wiping away her tears, “If an unexpected misfortune befalls to our third son, I will not be able to live anymore—”

Noticing her husband’s hesitation, Madam Wei-shi cried: “My dear, it is just a concubine. If there is a problem, you do not have to worry about the inner house. Let me take care of it.”

Lord An Guo resigned, “Well if that is the case, then you will go to Count Dong Ping Mansion first thing in the morning and talk to them about this matter.”

“Husband, do not be bothered. I will take care of this matter. Let us go see our third son first.”

At night, Ji Chongyi had a high fever causing Madam Wei-shi to feel so concerned. She did not sleep well during the night. The next morning, when her eldest daughter-in-law came to pay respects, she told her: “You have heard of what happened last night. You go visit Count Dong Ping Mansion for me and discuss this matter with them.”

After listening to her Mother-in-law’s order, Young Madam Guo-shi did not dare to shirk despite the difficulties in her heart, so she sped up to make arrangements.

Madam Wei-shi closed his eyes leaning on the bullet pillow.

Young Madam Guo-shi, Ji Chongli’s wife, is a lady from Gong Guo Mansion. So on her mind, letting her handle this matter is giving a face to Count Dong Ping Mansion. As long as she hurries up and convinces them to let Miss Jiang Si marry over, this disturbance will pass.

*****

At the entrance of Yuqian Hutong, the breakfast stall has been set up completely, and it is now crowded with many people. Their new day starts with a bowl of jellied tofu with mushroom and tender shredded meat.

This morning, a scream broke the calmness of Count Dong Ping Mansion.

Ah-Mann rushed into Jiang Si’s room: “Fourth Miss, the Master is beating your second brother again.”

Jiang Si stood up from the dressing table, lifted her foot, and walked out of her room.

“Miss, this is not the way to Cixin Hall—” Ah-Qiao gently reminded her.

Cixin Hall is the place where the Old Madam of Dong Ping Mansion resides. It is reasonable to say that every morning, the daughter should first visit and greet her mother, and then the daughter and mother pair should go next to Cixin Hall to pay respects to the Old Madam, but Jiang Si had lost his mother since childhood and her older sister born from the same mother has already been long married, so she visits alone every day.

“Let us first visit my second brother.” Jiang Si quickened his pace.

Ah-Qiao became more puzzled and could not help but questioningly glance at Ah-Mann.

Ah-Mann was also confused and shook her head gently.

When the Fourth Miss is young, not older than ten years old, she and the second son are very fond of each other. They often even played together. But when she got older, she distanced herself from her second brother, particularly in the past two years, she has not even talked to her second brother, Jiang Zhan.

The Fourth Miss is a little strange today.

It is said that people’s sentiments drastically change when they are stimulated.

Miss’s exasperation last night is not a small matter. The two maids thought of this at the same time and felt more annoyed with Ji Chongyi.

Count Dong Ping Mansion has four sons altogether. Aside from the youngest son that stays inside the rear court, the other three sons have their place separately arranged in the front courtyard. Jiang Zhan lives in the middle of Tingzhu Pavilion.

When Jiang Si walked inside the courtyard, she heard an angry scream: “Little beast, I wonder why you did suddenly behave these days. It turns out that you are sneaking out of the dog hole and causing trouble. Do you not like drilling dog holes? Today, I, your father, will beat you up worse than the wild dogs on the street! “

“Those wild dogs are not miserable.” A weak cry followed, and suddenly the voice turned into a scream, “Father, please be gentle with this son. Do not slap my face. Not my face-hey, Fourth Sister is here.”

The man who was chasing Jiang Zha has a tall back. The man kicked him over after hearing his words: “How can your fourth sister possibly come here? This little beast still wants to fool me!”

When Jiang Si saw them, she called out: “Father– “

That tall back went stiff and slowly turned around to face her.

Count Dong Ping, Jiang Ancheng, softened his countenance the moment he saw his little daughter, and he even looked a bit please: “Why did you come here?”

“I heard that Father was educating Second Brother, so your daughter came to see what was going on.” Jiang Si answered her Father and looked at Jiang Zhan.

The sixteen or seventeen-year-old lad has reached the point of being tall, as tall and straight as a pole. Even if he looks a little embarrassed because of being chased at this time, he still looked handsome.

Jiang Zhan and Jiang Si seemed to have a twin-like appearance. They both got their looks from their deceased mother.

Jiang Si slightly bent her knees to Jiang Zhan, “Second Brother, are you okay?”

Jiang Zhan’s eyes suddenly widened, his ears turned red when he met his younger sister’s eyes. So he waved his hand repeatedly, saying: “Sister, do not worry, I can run fast.”

“Little beast, you are still proud of running fast, aren’t you?”The anger was again ignited because of Jiang Zhan’s words.

Jiang Zhan subconsciously wanted to run. However, thinking that his sister would be watching, he could not dare to lose his resolve. So he abruptly held it back and straightened his back: “Father, please you have to stop your attack. Your son has a thick skin and thick flesh, even if you do not hurt your hands, be careful not to scare my younger sister. “

His younger sister actually smiled at him today. Even if his father beat him worse than a dog, it was worth it.

While thinking about it, Jiang Zhan’s nose was a little sour, and he hurriedly moved his eyes away, lest Jiang Si could see it.

Jiang Si was also troubled in her heart at this moment.

In a few months, her second brother would get drowned and die while swimming with his friends. Right away, the authorities closed the case unexpectedly, but then she knew someone wished to keep the matter hidden. She knew that Jiang Zhan’s death was something else.

And now, she is not only planning to save her brother’s life, but she would also make sure to punish those who killed her brother. She will go and collect the due retribution they deserve.

“Little beast, you always want to drill out of the dog hole. Have you ever thought about what to do if a thief enters the hole? “

Jiang Zhan raised his hand and touched his forehead.

His father was really worried, and last night he was attacked by a burglar with a brick, but this must not be mentioned!

“The dog hole has been blocked, and your son promises not to leave from there in the future.”

Jiang Ancheng snorted from his nostrils.

If his daughter isn’t present, he would have knocked the bastard’s leg off.

“Have you already taken your breakfast?”

“I have not, yet. I am going to pay respects to Grandmother first before going back to eat. Do you want to go and accompany your daughter to Cixin Hall?”

Noticing that Jiang Si was expecting him to go, Jiang Ancheng reacted instantly. “Go, let us go together.”

The youngest daughter has not been close to him since she was a child. It was the first time that he was looked at by his daughter with such expectations.

Jiang Si smiled.

She was so ignorant back then and even disliked her father’s incompetence. Comparing him to their neighbor Lord Yong Chang Bo, who contributed meritorious service that made their Family’s nobility title continued. It has caused her to despise her father and disregarded his priceless love for her.

“Si Er, why are you not moving?”

“Let’s go.” Jiang Si slightly lifted her skirt and followed up.

On this very same morning in her previous life, the Duke An Guo Mansion sent their daughter-in-law, Young Madam Guo-shi, to talk about the marriage of the two families. Before, the incident of her brother being discovered in the dog hole did not happen. Her Father, Jiang Ancheng, went out early in the morning. So the Old Madam talked to the other party and agreed without consulting for her Father.

She can still remember how furious her father was when he came back and learned about the discussion. He even fought with her grandmother. He then came to ask her what her thoughts were.

At that time, she naively told her father off: “Is it possible that a daughter is no better than a dead person? Once this marriage is rejected, can Father find a better marriage for this daughter?”

Her father was silent for a long time and when he left, his figure seemed to age several years older.

Unfortunately, she was born with a good pair of eyes, but she could not see what was most important back then.

“Father, Fourth Sister, wait for me, I will go too.”