SFT 12

Chapter 12

Thinking of this, Jiang Zhixiu could not help sighing. “Meiying, Lady He is more than ten years older than you and comes from a distinguished family, yet when it comes to raising children, she is far inferior to you. In the future, I’ll have to trouble you to look after Yu’er and Ying’er more carefully, lest they be ruined by Lady He.”

Xie Meiying said uneasily, “Me? Look after them? That doesn’t seem appropriate!”

She was only three years older than Jiang Jiayu, and Jiang Jiaying was already as tall as she was. Besides, the household had so many servants and attendants—what exactly could she take care of?

Jiang Zhixiu found this side of Xie Meiying adorable and said with a smile, “My children are your children too. Don’t tell me you’re trying to shirk responsibility?”

After a pause, he added, “They’re also happy to be close to you.”

Xie Meiying smiled brightly. “That’s true.”

Before coming to the capital, she had been very worried that the Jiang family parents and children would disapprove of her.

Only after meeting them did she realize the two elders were extremely reasonable and kind-hearted parents. Since Jiang-lang loved her, they loved her too.

The two children had not treated her like a vicious stepmother either, but instead respected the feelings between her and Jiang-lang.

Ying’er had even said that love comes unbidden, and once it begins, one falls deeply beyond one’s own control.

Those words truly spoke to her heart. If she had been able to control her own feelings, she never would have fallen in love with Jiang-lang.

She immediately promised, “Rest assured, Jiang-lang, I will definitely take good care of the two children.”

Jiang Zhixiu leaned down to kiss her cheek. Just as he was about to say that they should have several children of their own in the future, a maid suddenly arrived to report that the Second Master had invited him to Songrong Hall.

“So late at night—what could be so important?”

Jiang Zhixiu was not very willing to go.

It was not that he intended to stay overnight at Falling Plum Pavilion; he simply wanted to talk with Meiying a little longer.

The maid respectfully replied, “This servant does not know. The Old Master, Old Madam, Second Madam, and the married young lady are all at Songrong Hall. They ask that you 반드시 go.”

Jiang Zhixiu frowned. “Furong still hasn’t gone home?”

She was already a mother herself, yet still so willful, staying at her maiden home as long as she pleased. It was improper.

He remembered that Furong had not been this bold before. It was all because He Fangting had spoiled her.

The maid replied, “She hasn’t returned.”

Jiang Zhixiu thought that since the whole family was waiting for him, there must truly be an important matter, so he had no choice but to go.

Seeing the worry in Xie Meiying’s eyes, he smiled and said, “They’re probably calling me over to discuss how to arrange the wedding festivities. Go rest early. I’ll tell you the details tomorrow.”

Xie Meiying blushed and escorted him to the door.

—

When Jiang Zhixiu arrived at Songrong Hall, he saw that his parents and siblings were indeed all present.

He frowned slightly. “What exactly is the matter? Couldn’t it wait until tomorrow morning?”

Jiang Linxiu had slept the entire day and regained his energy. Smiling, he said, “Delaying elder brother’s moonlit romance with Miss Xie—our crime, our crime!”

In truth, he was somewhat jealous. His elder brother was so much older than him, yet still enjoyed such romantic fortune.

Certainly, in the pleasure quarters there were countless beautiful confidantes available so long as one had enough silver, but how could any of them compare to Miss Xie?

Miss Xie possessed excellent medical skills and a compassionate heart. The name “Immortal Plum Maiden” had already spread from Huainan to the capital. Her love and union with his elder brother would surely become a celebrated romance.

Jiang Zhixiu sternly said, “Second brother, mind your words!”

They were not yet married. “Moonlit romance” was hardly a flattering description.

Jiang Linxiu smilingly admitted fault while inwardly cursing his elder brother for hypocrisy. He had already done it, yet would not allow others to mention it.

Li Xixiang had been busy with household affairs and had only slept for one shichen during the day. Dizzy and exhausted, she did not wish to beat around the bush and said directly, “Elder brother, the family is practically unable to keep the pot boiling anymore. What do you think we should do?”

Jiang Zhixiu did not react at first. “Why ask me? Lady He manages the household finances!”

As he spoke, he was about to send someone to summon He Fangting and ask exactly how she had been managing the household.

Jiang Linxiu quickly stopped him and said with a bitter smile, “Because you insisted on marrying Miss Xie, sister-in-law became angry and no longer wished to manage the household. Last night she already completed the transfer of responsibilities.”

Jiang Zhixiu thought he had heard wrong. “What do you mean, completed the transfer? Handed it to whom?!”

Li Xixiang weakly answered, “To me. It was transferred last night. The household’s main accounts and subsidiary accounts were all handed over.”

She had thought there would be profits to skim from, but instead it turned out to be a bottomless pit.

Jiang Zhixiu had always treated his younger brother’s wife courteously, but now he could no longer maintain that courtesy. He demanded, “She handed it to you, and you actually dared to accept?”

He might have quarreled with He Fangting and been angry at her for lacking consideration, but he had never once thought of letting Li Xixiang manage the household.

The Jiang family estate was supported by him, Jiang Zhixiu!

Naturally, the one in charge of the inner household should also be his wife.

In the future, it might possibly be Meiying, but before Meiying entered the family, it could only be He Fangting.

His younger brother’s wife, Li Xixiang, had no such资格.

His mother, Madam Pan, did have the status, but not the ability.

Li Xixiang also became angry. “I didn’t want to either! They all forced me to accept it!”

By “they,” she meant not only He Fangting, but also her father-in-law and husband.

Suppressing his anger, Jiang Zhixiu looked toward his brother. “Such an important matter—how could you make the decision on your own without informing me first?”

Jiang Linxiu explained, “We went to look for you yesterday, but you weren’t home. When we tried again later, we heard you had gone to Falling Plum Pavilion, so we didn’t dare disturb you.”

Not daring to disturb him was false. Wanting to take advantage of his absence to investigate the family finances was the real reason.

The result, however, was that the family assets turned out to be only that little.

Jiang Zhixiu recalled that he truly had returned home very late yesterday, and he indeed had gone to Falling Plum Pavilion. But that was not an excuse for them to keep this from him!

He was the head of the family, yet such a major event had occurred in the household and he was only learning of it now.

Did these people even regard him as the head of the family at all?