Real Empress from a Noble Family

Chapter 207 The Plots of Prime Minister Xue

Beijiang was so far from them. As soon as Madame Tao’s letter was sent away, Jiang Yashuang came back.

He was still the brightest and best this time. As he said to Empress Jiang before, he returned to Jing City with the title of Jieyuan, the first place in the provincial imperial examination.

Marquess Qin was very happy about it. He was afraid that Jiang Yashuang would be proud so he didn’t host a banquet for him, but he praised him greatly in private.

Jiang Yashuang left Marquess Qin’s Mansion, and then went to meet his grandmother, Madame Tao. She asked him about his journey and then sent him to see Jiang Qianyue and the others, “You were not here when your grand uncle and aunt came back, so you should greet them. If they want you to stay for dinner, then have dinner there.”

“Yes, grandma!” Jiang Yashuang went for Sir Jibei and his wife non-stop. As the youngest grandson of the Jiang Family, he had a good temperament and academic success. Naturally, he was very popular with all the elders.

Sir Jibei and his wife not only asked him to stay for dinner but also chatted with him for a long time after the meal before he left.

It was getting late at this time, so Jiang Yashuang had to order someone to send a message to the Ruan Family, and then he went directly to his house for resettlement.

In the Ruan Family, Qiu Jinglan and Qiu Yelan were relieved when they received the good news, “Jieyuan? That’s great!”

Although Qiu Jinglan had already won the title of Jinshi at the age of Jiang Yashuang, he had never won the title of Jieyuan. He had not even won first place in the Apprentice Exam. At this time, his future brother-in-law had got the first place twice, so Qiu Jinglan was naturally happy for her sister. After thinking about it, he said to Qiu Yelan, “He is doing so well academically, so you have to study harder! Or you will have nothing in common and he may fall in love with someone else!”

Qiu Yelan wailed in her heart, thinking that her brother was too considerate!

She pretended not to hear his words, and said, “Shall we tell him about Qiu Feng tomorrow?”

“We’ll ask him about his journey and the provincial examination first!” Qiu Jinglan glared at her, “He just returned to Jing City from a great distance, so you have to say some heart-warming words!”

“…” Qiu Yelan was speechless, “Who was so vicious to him before?” “Don’t pretend to be innocent and accuse me of not being gentle enough. You’re a hundred times worse than I am!” Qiu Yelan thought in her heart.

Qiu Jinglan said calmly, “If I hadn’t treated him bad, how would I have known whether he really loved you?”

Well, you were always the one with a point!

Qiu Yelan decisively changed the subject, “Yesterday, Whitey…”

Although Qiu Yelan muddled through before Qiu Jinglan, she was dragged up early the next day!

Because she also had a cousin Ruan Ciyi!

Ruan Ciyi had always had a good impression of Jiang Yashuang. At this time, hearing that he had won the title of Jieyuan, she had a greater impression of him! While at the same time, she also felt crisis-ridden for Qiu Yelan, “He has a good family, good academic performance, and good temper! Everybody wants such a talent! You may be robbed of him if you don’t tighten your grasp on him! Even if nobody can shake your position as a wife, a concubine is enough for you to have a headache!”

So, “Come on, come on! Try these dresses! When you’re done, go to the small kitchen and make two dishes you are best at! When he has lunch here then, ask your brother to tell him that you’ve made two dishes specially for him.”

She continued, “I told your brother to leave some time for you to speak alone after they finish talking. Remember to ask him how hard he felt in the journey and the provincial examination. Pretend to be considerate and demure!”

In the afternoon of this day, Qiu Jinglan was called away by Ruan Ciyi, and then Qiu Yelan told Jiang Yashuang everything Ruan Ciyi told her before, saying with grief, “Don’t come here anymore, otherwise my cousin will definitely force me to make dishes every time you come!”

Jiang Yashuang burst into laughter upon hearing the words, “So faith can really move mountains! It turns out that sister Ruan cares about me so much! I must send her a generous gift!”

He continued happily, “I finally have a taste of your cuisine! The food you make is even more delicious than the cooks!”

“I’ve told you that I am good at cooking.” Qiu Yelan said triumphantly, “Zhuang Man comes to me time and again just to eat the food I cook.”

Before she finished speaking, Jiang Yashuang held her into his arms. He gritted his teeth and said, “Well, I was so moved when I just heard your brother say that you made those dishes for me when you got up early! But it turns out that you cooked for Zhuang Man every time she came here! What about me?”

“She is your cousin! How can you be so stingy!” Qiu Yelan poked his chest with a finger smilingly, “It was just because you were not here at that time, or I would cook for you as well!”

Jiang Yashuang sneered and said, “No need to explain. I just want to know what you will do every time I come here in the future.”

“I’ll cook for you every time you come here!” Qiu Yelan felt speechless, “Well, let’s stop talking about it. Did my brother tell you about Qiu Feng?”

Jiang Yashuang said, “He mentioned it. But I’m still not sure. So, I’ll ask my grandmother and sister about that first after I go back.”

“And what’s going on with the Seven Prince?” Qiu Yelan had been guessing for a long time about the inside story about the Crown Prince of the Empress’s Party. She had been wondering for a long time. Since Jiang Yashuang returned, she could not wait to ask him about that.

Jiang Yashuang said, “Originally, my aunt planned to choose Prince of Lu, but when they were about to make a decision, Xue Chang submitted a memorial, saying that the Crown Prince had to be smart and courageous. Prince of Qi behaved badly the last time when the ground movement happened, who was far less calm than Prince of Yan. While unlucky Prince of Yan had no such fortune to be the Crown Prince.”

Qiu Yelan was surprised when she heard that, “Prime Minister Xue really said that?” It turned out that he spoke for the Empress Dowager!

“If it weren’t for the conflict between parties, it would be in the interest of the country to choose a noble-minded and talented one as the Crown Prince.” Jiang Yashuang said calmly, “It is not surprising for Xue Chang to say those words. To be honest, during the earthquake, I also thought that Prince of Qi was not favorable.”

“But he said that after Xue Nongying almost died!” Qiu Yelan muttered in her heart, “Even if Xue Nongying didn’t die so he didn’t quarrel with Empress Dowager Gu, he couldn’t trample on the Jiang Family under the pretext of earthquake for the sake of me, the future daughter-in-law of the Jiang Family!”

She thought for a while and asked, “Do you know the truth about Xue Nongying’s injury?”

“Your idea of amnesia is very good. I heard from your brother that Noble Consort Gu and Qiu Shen sent people to visit the Xue Family separately. Empress Dowager Gu might have no idea about that yet.” Jiang Yashuang smiled and said, “Even an ant clings to life. Your plot just comes to the point!”

“Then why did Prime Minister Xue speak like that?” Qiu Yelan was stunned.

Jiang Yashuang laughed, stretched out his hands and rubbed her face vigorously, “Silly girl, Xue Chang is just entrapping Empress Dowager Gu! Anyway, neither Prince of Lu nor the Seven Prince can escape my aunt! So, it won’t matter to change the candidate of the Crown Prince. Think about it. If my aunt chooses Prince of Lu, once Xue Chang is partial to him, even if Noble Consort Gu does not confess, the Empress Dowager can still tell Xue Chang’s partiality!”

“But now the Seven Prince is recognized as the most intelligent among the princes. Not to mention Prince of Zhou who is inferior to Prince of Yan, even Prince of Yan is less reputable than him. So, it is not surprising at all that Xue Chang is partial to him in the competition for the position of the Crown Prince. The empress doesn’t have a son, and the eldest prince was proved to miss out all the fortune in the earthquake… Isn’t it the right time to appoint a virtuous prince as the Crown Prince?”

Qiu Yelan was enlightened suddenly and said, “So Prime Minister Xue didn’t intend to take revenge, but planned to endure silently first to pave the way for the Jiang Family?”

“You deserve this credit!” Jiang Yashuang lowered his head and kissed her on the forehead, smiling, “If you didn’t save Xue Nongying, how could there be such a good thing?”

“This is because Prime Minister Xue is a kind person and he treats my brother well. Otherwise, how would I use such a precious pill to save Xue Nongying’s life since I didn’t know him at all if it weren’t for Prime Minister Xue’s sake?” Qiu Yelan said in a low voice, “So Prime Minister Xue intends to secretly join forces with your family while nothing will change ostensibly?”

As expected, those who take high positions were all sophisticated! Xue Chang was trying to retaliate against a personal enemy under the banner of justice and selflessness for the country and the people!

It was no wonder that Empress Jiang replaced the mediocre and incompetent Prince of Lu with the Seven Prince who was known for his intelligence.

However, although what Xue Chang did was a good thing for the Empress’s Party, it was an eye-catcher to some other individuals. That evening, Marquess Qin and Sir Jibei gathered their sons, nephews and staff in the study room to discuss the fight for the status of the crown prince.

Jiang Tianao said as soon as he got there, “Xue Chang expressed his position so bluntly. Will there be any cheating involved?”

Jiang Tianqi had always been at odds with Jiang Tianao, his cousin, so at this moment he said lukewarmly, “My brother, you are too suspicious. Everyone knows that Prime Minister Xue regards Xue Nongying as his successor. Even if he wants to play the trick of injuring himself to gain the enemy’s confidence, it is impossible for him to risk Xue Nongying’s life! Xue Nongying is treated by Qi Shuluo who has always been a member of our family. Do you suspect that we instigate Qi Shuluo to deceive you?”

“I don’t mean that. I just think that although Xue Nongying almost died, he is alive now.” Jiang Tianao said lightly, “Xue Chang might be able to afford such a loss! But now he intends to form an alliance with our family. Shouldn’t it be treated with caution?”

“If it were you, my eldest brother, who drew him over to our side, you might not doubt it now, right?” Jiang Tianqi said with a mocking expression, “Though our fourth younger brother has been in Beijiang for many years, can’t he take the limelight even once?”

Marquess Qin frowned slightly, “Take out the regulations of the fight for the status of the crown prince first. Xue Chang has said that he will cooperate with us. We’ll see whether he fulfills his promise or not at that time, and then we can know he is sincere or not.”

Jiang Tianao and Jiang Tianqi knew that their words had annoyed the elder, so they shut up at once.

“Marquess, I think that since the Seven Princes is recognized as the smartest one among the princes, we might as well help him depress Prince of Zhou straightforwardly and get the position of the crown prince! The officials can’t raise any objection to that and it can help cover Xue Xiang’s statement. What’s more, it will make the empress look wise and perspicacious, not like Empress Dowager Gu who always practice nepotism!” One of the staff members pondered for a while and came out, “Marquess, what do you think about that?”

Marquess Qin and Sir Jibei looked at each other, and slightly nodded, “That’s good.” This was also their plan. Since they had an advantage, they must use it certainly.

“But no matter how smart the Seven Prince is, he is only fourteen years old now.” Most people affirmed this idea, but some other people raised concerns in detail. “Maybe he is really excellent in his studies and it’s why people all think that he is smart. But, after all, he is not as good as Prince of Zhou, who is several years older than him, in the way he conducts himself, right?”

“Besides, the prince has reached the age of living alone in a palace, so it is not advisable for him to live with the empress anymore.” Someone said calmly, “In this way, it seems that we should hire a teacher for the prince to instruct him to suppress Prince of Zhou and show his reputation and talent.”

Jiang Tianqi glanced at the person who said this. Seeing that he was a close assistant of Jiang Tianao, he sneered in his heart and asked indifferently, “Then who should be the teacher?”

“Prime Minister Xue is old, and he still has to care about his grandson now. What’s more, he is not a member of the Jiang Family after all.” The assistant turned his eyes to Jiang Tianao as expected. But before he finished his following words, Jiang Yashuang, who had been standing behind Marquess Qin silently, suddenly said, “Shouldn’t we discuss this matter with my aunt first?”

“…” There was an awkward pause after his words. Then Sir Jibei coughed to break the silence, “That’s right. Even if the empress agrees to hire a teacher for the Seven Prince, the empress should be the one who chooses the teacher for him… Let’s stop talking about this for now. Let’s talk about the recent movements of the Gu Family first!”

After people dispersed that evening, Marquess Qin called Jiang Yashuang back again, “You don’t seem to want your eldest uncle to be the teacher of the Seven Prince?”

“Even though you and my grand uncle were there just now, my third uncle still grasped every chance to argue with my eldest uncle, which showed that they two really had a deep grievance.” Jiang Yashuang said calmly, “The first thing we should do now is to deal with the Empress Dowager and the Gu Family. My grandfather once said we needed to do our best no matter whether our opponents were strong or weak. While at this time, Seven Prince has not become the crown prince yet, but the two uncles start making trouble for each other. Is that a good thing for the Jiang Family? That was why I made a speech boldly.”

Marquess Qin looked at him, “Did you really do that for the Jiang Family’s consideration but not because you still bear grudges against your eldest uncle because of your brother?”

“My father and mother are the ones who can have a say in that matter. How can I intervene in that?” Jiang Yashuang asked back.

“Then what is your father going to do about that?” Marquess Qin asked calmly, “Ou Bicheng suddenly came back in the first half of the year and privately brought you the volume of military techniques which was secretly copied from Jiang Yayue by your father seemingly, right? It seems that Jiang Yayue finally gives the show away after keeping a low profile before your father for so many years. So how will your father deal with him? Will he just destroy him just like what your eldest uncle did to your eighth brother or just wipe out him lest he should get in your way?”

Jiang Yashuang’s pupils suddenly shrank!

“I can’t hide anything from you, grandpa!” His face changed drastically, and then he sighed, “Ou Bicheng was indeed entrusted by my father when he came back that time. However, my father did not mention how to deal with Jiang Yayue, but only encouraged the three of our brothers to work hard to keep pace with him!”