Chapter 437 The Meeting of the Brothers

In fact, as for the cause of the difference in Jiang Tianchi’s attitude, not only did Jiang Yashuang and his wife not know, but also Jiang Yadan muttered inwardly, “I’m twelve years older than Jiang Yashuang, but I’m much worse than him! I thought it would be good if my father didn’t hang me up to beat me when he came back. But my father seems to like me more.”

And then he changed his mind, “Did my father still not know what I had done these years? Because he just arrived home.” He knew that letters that were sent from Jing City to the Jiang Tianchi couple always reported good news about children of the fourth branch rather than bad news.

Thinking about this, Jiang Yadan was both guilty and afraid. He thought that the reason why his father was very kind to him was that his father believed in his excellence. When Jiang Tianchi found out the truth later, he might turn his face ruthlessly. But Jiang Yadan didn’t dare to tell all the bad things that he had done over the years!

In this panic, Jiang Yadan enjoyed his father’s solicitude most of the night.

Towards midnight, Jiang Tianchi was worried about his son. He asked him to rest. But Jiang Yadan refused his father. On the one hand, Jiang Yadan was reluctant to part with his father. On the other hand, he intended to show more filial piety. If his true face was revealed, his father might beat him more gently.

The father and son discussed it for a long time and finally decided to take a step back. They called the servants to make a temporary bed for Jiang Yadan in front of Jiang Tianchi’s bed. Overlooking the happy but uneasy sleeping face of his eldest son, Jiang Tianchi sighed silently. And then he flicked his fingers to turn the light out in the distance.

Although the two trueborn sons of the fourth branch were puzzled by Jiang Tianchi’s partiality, the most important thing now was the funeral affairs of Sir Jibei.

It was originally thought that Madame Zhuang of the fourth branch would come back to offer comfort on behalf of her husband. People in Sir Jibei’s Mansion planned to set up a mourning hall for forty-nine days and then buried the body. But now Jiang Tianchi came back. What was worse was that there should be a war in Beijiang!

Marquess Qin discussed this with his wife and his sister-in-law. The Jiang Family had developed for only a few decades and didn’t pay so much attention to etiquette as a noble family. The rules of the Jiang Family were set by Marquess Qin! Therefore, he decided that as soon as Jiang Tianchi could set off, they began to arrange for burial. After the burial, they could quickly let him go back to Beijiang to deal with the overall situation!

The next day, Jiang Tianchi woke Jiang Yadan up. When they were just washing and dressing, Chu Yitong and the couple Jiang Yashuang came to pay respect to Jiang Tianchi.

Jiang Tianchi’s attitude towards his daughters-in-law was the same. He had no father-in-law’s manners. His tone was quite kind. He said that he had been in a hurry to come back so that he didn’t bring any gifts to them. He also asked Madame Zhuang to make up for it later.

Chu Yitong and Qiu Yelan replied that it didn’t matter, “As long as you are healthy, we as daughters-in-law will be very glad, father. We feel very sorry for not attending to you and mother in recent years. How can we ask for father’s gifts?”

And Chu Yitong and Qiu Yelan said, “We should have brought the children to see you, father. But considering that you just came back, we are afraid they may disturb you…”

“I’ll see them when the matters are done!” Jiang Tianchi nodded. Served by his sons and daughters-in-law in turn, Jiang Tianchi had breakfast. Later, he asked his daughters-in-law to pay respect to Madame Tao, while he took his two sons to visit Marquess Qin.

Jiang Tianao, Jiang Tianqi, and Jiang Tianxiao were already there. When the brother of them who had long parted for more than twenty years entered the room with their two nephews, their faces were very complicated.

“Don’t bother, sit down!” Jiang Tianchi abandoned the responsibility of guarding the land and the army in order to mourn his uncle. It made Marquess Qin very angry. But now Jiang Tianchi had already come back. It was useless to scold him. Looking at the tired face of his second son, Marquess Qin sighed inwardly, “When Jiang Tianchi joined the army, he was about the same age as Jiang Yashuang. Time flew and his temples were gray now… Although Kunlun took care of him a few years ago, he still suffered a lot!”

So, Marquess Qin didn’t show a terrible attitude toward him. After receiving the respect, he asked Jiang Tianchi to sit down like others.

Jiang Tianchi didn’t sit down immediately, but paid respect to his two elder brothers and nodded to his eighth younger brother. And then he said, “My eldest brother, my third brother, and my eighth younger brother! I haven’t seen you for many years. How are you recently?”

“What a d*mn how are you!” These were the inward voices of Jiang Tianao and Jiang Tianqi. The series of previous conflicts made their two branches suffer losses. The lists obtained by cheating by the fourth branch a few days ago also made them furious! They couldn’t believe that Jiang Tianchi had not known. Now Jiang Tianchi inquired after them like a good brother. If Marquess Qin were not here, Jiang Tianao and Jiang Tianqi would vomit on Jiang Tianchi’s face!

Only the eighth Old Master Jiang Tianxiao replied to his fourth brother and respectfully said, “Thank you for caring about me, my fourth brother. I’m all right! You must be toilsome, please take care!”

Jiang Tianxiao’s performance didn’t mean that he would become a partner of the fourth branch. He thought that he was the youngest one anyway. It was natural to be respectful to his elder brother, which could show filial piety in front of Marquess Qin. Why not?

Sure enough, Marquess Qin frowned when he saw that his nephew and his eldest son kept silent with sullen faces, “Tianao, Tianqi, aren’t you good lately? Why do you keep silent to Tianchi’s respect?”

“Please let me explain, uncle. I was thinking about my third uncle just now. I was in a trance so I forgot to answer my fourth brother. Please don’t blame me, brother!”

“Father, I didn’t expect that I had separated from my fourth brother for so many years. Now when I saw him again, we even have grandchildren. So, I was in a trance too.”

Anyway, they dared not to annoy Marquess Qin and hummed to reply to him casually.

When Jiang Tianchi heard “my third uncle”, his eyes were reddened again. He sobbed, “My third uncle is my benefactor. I didn’t wait on him when he passed away. I am extremely unfilial!”

Marquess Qin felt heartache when he heard his words. He said gently, “All things past. Don’t be too sad! After all, you have to hold on without your uncle in Beijiang! You can’t count on such an old man like me.”

No matter how willful Jiang Tianchi was this time, his original intention was out of filial piety, which could certainly leave a good impression on the elders. Particularly, Marquess Qin felt guilty of the death of Sir Jibei, “My third brother is the youngest one among our brothers, but he is the earliest one that passed away. His death was so sudden. I sent him to Shazhou before. I don’t know if his death has something to do with it.”

After all, the three brothers had grown up together. He had suffered a lot in the early years, but Kui Xiannan was the poorest one who had been sold as a slave in his teens. He had been injured in the early years, but Marquess Qin was also full of old injuries! How could Sir Jibei be the first one to pass away?

Marquess Qin thought about it thoroughly. Sir Jibei basically followed Marquess Qin’s life path from studying, joining the army to making contributions. The only difference was that he asked Sir Jibei to Shazhou last year to quell the conflicts between the family branches!

This trip was not only a long journey, but also Jiang Yayue and Jiang Yayue died there. For the overall situation, Sir Jibei spared no efforts to frame remaining members of the Gus and help the fourth branch to get rid of it… After returning to Jing City, he had to deal with the doubts of the first branch and the third branch. His mental and physical energy was exhausted, which led him to sudden death in a few months!

“I’m sorry for my third younger brother!” His younger brother had still told his nephews earnestly to live in harmony before he died. Thinking of this, Marquess Qin was so mournful that he couldn’t express it, “If it were not for my failure of teaching my sons and nephews, how could it cause his death?”

It was impossible for Marquess Qin to have no resentment to the first branch, the third branch, and the fourth branch. They had forced Marquess Qin to send Sir Jibei to go west. But they were the family’s own blood. It couldn’t let Sir Jibei return to life by punishing them, so Marquess Qin didn’t show any hints about it.

Now, Jiang Tianchi’s performance made him feel better, but Jiang Tianao and Jiang Tianqi didn’t satisfy Marquess Qin, “If it were not for the conflicts among you, how could I send my third brother to Shazhou for investigation? What time it is now? What you are thinking about is still internal strife. My third brother passed away only a few days ago. Do you still refuse to adhere to his last instructions until his funeral finishes?”

“Chi’er, go and pay respect to your mother. She has been missing you so much over these years.” Marquess Qin was unhappy, but he spoke to Jiang Tianchi very gently. He didn’t call his number in the family in the way that he called Jiang Tianao and Jiang Tianqi. He called Jiang Tianchi’s name to show intimacy and satisfaction, “And then go to see your aunt!”

Jiang Tianchi wiped the corners of his eyes before he stood up and left.

After he went out, he immediately regained his dignity. There was no one around. He asked his two sons, “Are the two of them always like this since your youngest grand uncle passed away?”

Jiang Yadan and Jiang Yashuang knew that “the two of them” must refer to Jiang Tianao and Jiang Tianqi. They both nodded, “Father, our two uncles… They are always like this since my youngest grand uncle passed away!”

“What unfilial nephews!” Jiang Tianchi gnashed his teeth and scolded them. He asked with a gloomy face, “Did your grandfather… Did he never scold them?”

“My grandfather is always partial to my eldest uncle. My third uncle follows my eldest uncle. Perhaps it’s improper for my grandfather to say something.” Jiang Yadan said disapprovingly.

Jiang Yashuang said, “My eldest uncle and my third uncle have always believed that my youngest grand uncle is partial to our branch. My youngest grand uncle had explained for this many times before he died, but they never believe it.”

This made Jiang Tianchi’s face gloomier. His lips twitched slightly. After a long time, he just said, “Take me to see your grandmother. I haven’t come back for many years. I don’t know the road!”

When Jiang Tianchi paid respect to Madame Tao, she was very happy. Madame Tao was partial to the fourth branch. But Madame Zhuang had bothered the first branch first instead of paying respect to her when she had come back. No matter how much inside information there was, Madame Zhuang severely humiliated Madame Tao as a mother-in-law. Now Jiang Tianchi came back to mourn for Sir Jibei. After meeting his father, he came to see his stepmother. He totally followed the rules. So, Madame Tao was in a good mood.

Besides, when Jiang Tianchi entered the room, he led his sons to kowtow to Madame Tao three times to thank her for her kindness in raising children for him these years. And then he told his sons and daughters-in-law never to forget Madame Tao’s sacrifice. Whether he acted or not, Madame Tao was moved to tears. In fact, Madame Zhuang had also said these words to Madame Tao a few months ago, but she had said those words with a casual attitude. It was lucky for Madame Tao not to be angry. How could she get moved?

“Chi’er is a sensible person! It’s alright that he is sensible!” Madame Tao wiped the corners of her eyes and thought happily, “Although I have a purpose to be kind to Jiang Qizheng and Jiang Yashuang, I’m not their biological grandmother. There are so many young generations in the Jiang Family. It’s the same to me to love anyone of them. Why do I have to treat them differently and help them laboriously? At least half of their excellence is due to me! Madame Zhuang is so shortsighted. She thought that I took advantage of her children. She didn’t understand. Although I do this for my own sake, it’s a lifetime benefit to her children!”

Apart from other things, if Madame Tao and Empress Dowager Jiang hadn’t worked tirelessly to support one side regardless of fairness for more than a decade, how could Jiang Yashuang have so many opportunities to experience and participate in major events?

Even if Madame Zhuang stayed in Jing City to take care of her own children, she couldn’t give her sons such chances. No matter how shrewish she was, she was just an ordinary woman! As for Empress Dowager Jiang, she was the Empress before. Her position and circumstance were destined to be higher than those of Madame Zhuang!

Madame Tao didn’t stop crying until noon that day. When it was time for lunch, she asked Jiang Tianchi to have lunch with her. Jiang Tianchi told Madame Tao that Marquess Qin let him visit Madame Ou so she gave up her idea. But she still told him, “If you are free, come here and let me take a good look at you. I am old. I may live for a few years. The times that I can see you will be less and less…”

And then she cried again.

When Marquess Qin, Jiang Tianao, and Jiang Tianqi heard it, Marquess Qin was naturally gratified. He always restrained Madame Tao and didn’t allow her to rule over the trueborn sons of his first wife as a stepmother. It didn’t mean that he was glad to see his children despise Madame Tao. Anyway, Madame Tao was his step-wife. Husband and wife were a unity. Despising Madame Tao was also disrespectful to Marquess Qin, right?

“I have so many children, but the most filial one is Chi’er who didn’t grow up beside me!” Marquess Qin was gratified but sad, “If only other children were so filial and sensible like him, all would be good!” He would be willing to die immediately!

Compared with moved elders, Jiang Tianao and Jiang Tianqi almost died of anger. The two brothers smashed things at the same time, “That’s affectation! Jiang Tianchi, you are the Great General of North. I never expect that you have the talent to be a lower actor.”

The younger brother was definitely stepping on his two elder brothers to gain favor and a good reputation from the elders and others! Did he think that they couldn’t see it?