Chapter 56

Chapter 56

...

In the afternoon, after waking up from a nap.

She heard from the servants that her two brothers-in-law had gone to visit Jiang Feng in the countryside.

Jiang Wan felt slightly uneasy.

She had just had a very long dream, as vivid as reality.

Yet now, some things didn't seem to add up.

However, her father would soon recover and have a smooth official career, and in the later years of the sage ruler, the various princes struggled, but no one expected that the eventual victor would be the little-known Seventh Prince, and her aunt, the Seventh Prince's consort, became the empress.

The turbulent chapter of her life was slowly unfolding in the capital.

For now, she just needed to wait.

In her dream, her uncle's family was nowhere to be seen.

The servants had mentioned that her uncle's family stayed here and met an unfortunate end, as they were too extreme in their actions and received the retribution they deserved.

Only Jiang Yu, who went to be a maid in the provincial city, inadvertently got rescued and later met Jiang Wan in the capital.

But at that time, Jiang Yu had actually become the concubine of her potential betrothed, which was so awkward that it made Jiang Wan the laughingstock of the capital.

In the dream world, one's fate was not in one's control, and emotions were beyond one's command.

Upon waking up, Jiang Wan continued to copy Buddhist scriptures.

In the afternoon, she learned that the peddler couple had died.

In order to earn money to buy medicine for their sick child, they had no choice but to commit a wrongdoing. Pitiful and tragic.

Though not blessed with good looks, their love for each other was true. After the husband died, the wife took her own life, following him in death. A lamentable yet praiseworthy act.

Jiang Wan solemnly copied two copies of the Buddhist scripture for rebirth.

Her maid Maizi sat in the corner, fanning herself vigorously in front of an ice basin, trying to cool down the room. Sweat dripped from her forehead.

She was grateful to her mistress for allowing her to sit and fan herself, feeling more comfortable.

...

Following her brother's instructions, Jiang Yu managed to borrow some grain from Landlord Liu.

It was the kind of grain with an interest-free period.

As long as she could repay it within a month, there would be no interest. But if she went beyond a month, she would have to pay interest.

Jiang Yu carried the grain, feeling like she could smell its fragrance, and hurried home.

When she arrived home, her forehead was covered in sweat, and her eyes were sparkling.

She grabbed a large palm-leaf fan and vigorously fanned herself.

She even fanned the two honored guests on the side.

Because her brother had actually set out the desserts brought by the guests.

They were yellow and green in color, looking sweet.

Jiang Feng looked at Little Jiang Yu speechlessly. He didn't want to set out the desserts either.

But earlier, when he saw his two brothers taste the desserts she had set out, one turned sour and almost lost a tooth, and the other nearly chipped a tooth, he quickly set out the guests' desserts.

Jiang Yu vigorously fanned the guests while also helping herself to a piece of dessert, first placing it in front of the two guests, then giving one to her brother, and finally taking one for herself.

Her expressions were extremely candid and unrestrained.

Both Meng Shaoxia and He Chen understood.

Meng Shaoxia realized that he might have misunderstood her earlier.

She just wanted to eat, not... something else.

Her greediness when eating made one feel a little sympathetic, but her upbringing was still quite decent, as she showed courtesy to others and to her elder brother.

Little Jiang Mianmian was also curious about the desserts, but she wasn't particularly interested. She wanted to drink milk instead.

She missed her mother.

Upon hearing Meng's invitation to spar, his eyes lit up.

This was a perfect opportunity to witness Meng's swordsmanship, and perhaps if Meng won and was in a good mood, he might be willing to teach Jiang Feng.

"I don't have a sword. Can we use a staff instead?" Jiang Feng found a relatively smooth wooden staff from the family's woodpile.

Meng Shaoxia hadn't expected such a question. Earlier that morning, he had practiced with Uncle Jiang at the Jiang family's martial arts grounds, where there were plenty of weapons for them to choose from. So he had asked without thinking, not realizing that Jiang Feng didn't even have a sword.

"Okay," he agreed, treating his sword as a staff to make it fair.

The two young men, one dressed in fine clothes and riding a horse, the other in coarse cotton garments, one wielding a dragon-patterned sword, the other holding a staff from the backyard woodpile, one wearing fine boots, the other wearing straw sandals, faced each other and took their stances.

"Ready."

"Ready."

Meng Shaoxia gave a warning first: "I have been practicing the sword since childhood, never missing a day regardless of the weather. My sword is very fast."

Jiang Feng nodded solemnly, filled with admiration.

It was said that the poor focused on literary pursuits while the rich practiced martial arts. To practice martial arts, one must eat meat every day to build strength.

If he had meat to eat at every meal in the past, he probably wouldn't have wanted to practice martial arts.

He gripped the staff tightly.

Without further thought.

He would respond with sincerity, for sincerity was the ultimate technique.

The young masters were willing to play with him because he was sincere and rarely told lies.

Since Brother Meng wanted to spar, he would have to respond sincerely with his full abilities.

This way, Brother Meng will be happy to win.

He took a deep breath, no longer thinking about random things.

His eyes were only on the little squarish face in front of him and his sword.

Little Jiang Yu took advantage of the fact that no one was paying attention to her, and quietly swept up the crumbs that had just fallen onto the table surface with her hand and ate them.

The pastries were too crumbly.

He Chen was on high alert, holding the infant in his arms, his hands never stopping, like a perpetual motion machine wiping drool.

Jiang Mianmian cried "Ah, ah, ah!" cheering for her brother.

Two horses, wagging their tails, were watching the village below, occasionally lowering their heads to take a drink of water.

One of the white horses felt its ears itching.

There was no wind.

Meng Shaoxia drew his sword.

The sword didn't leave its scabbard, but his speed was extremely fast, without any delay or wasted movement, slashing towards Jiang Feng.

Jiang Feng drew his staff to block.

"Bang!" The staff broke.

The sword fell to the ground.

Meng Shaoxia clutched his wrist in pain.

Jiang Feng felt a bit embarrassed, "Brother Meng, I'm sorry, this firewood is too brittle. It got dried out and just snapped with one hit."

He Chen wanted to laugh, his abdomen heaving up and down, but he didn't dare laugh out loud. Brother Meng was having a rough day.

Jiang Mianmian clenched her fists and waved them, "Ah ah ah ah!" (Brother is the best!)

Little Jiang Yu saw the little squarish face looking bewildered, mouth agape, with a very frustrated expression, so she stuffed a pastry into his mouth.

"Don't be sad. My brother's strength is just average. My mother's strength is great. When my mother wants to beat up my brother, he can never run away." Little Jiang Yu hurried to console him, worried that this rich little squarish face would take it out on her brother.

Meng Shaoxia's pale face gradually reddened again, and his wrist didn't hurt as much.

She cares about me!

The pastry is so stuffy... *burp* *burp*...