Chapter 76

Chapter 76

Jiang Manor.

The early morning was still peaceful.

Jiang Huaisheng brought his wife a small plate of dumplings from the roadside stall, but they had already cooled down.

Mrs. Wu took only one bite before turning pale and feeling nauseous.

Jiang Huaisheng patted her back until she felt better, then said, "The weather is cold and the roads are slippery, you should not go out. You can walk around the house if you're bored, or read some books."

He then went to pay his respects to his mother.

Jiang Huaisheng hesitated for a moment, then brought up the matter of Elder Sister Yu.

"Mother, may I send someone to warn that arrogant Lord Liu?"

Lady Jiang rubbed her rosary beads.

Jiang Wan and Jiang Rong were already at their grandmother's side, keeping her company for the morning meal.

Hearing her father's words, Jiang Wan covered her mouth in surprise. Was Elder Sister Yu still going to become a concubine?

Jiang Rong, with his chubby face and prominent dark circles, said, "That sharp-tongued and biting Jiang Yu, who would want her as a concubine? Their eyes must be blind!"

The matriarch simply asked, "Why did you go out so early? There is chaos and unrest outside, Rong'er nearly got into trouble, if anything were to happen to you, it would break this old woman's heart."

When asked why he had gone out, Jiang Huaisheng did not want to say, fearing that his mother would think it was because of Fei'er's greed that made him go.

He could only listen as his mother scolded him.

...

Jiang Changtian arrived at the yamen.

He saw the secretary berating the constables.

There was scolding on normal days, but today it was especially loud.

Jiang Changtian quickly stepped back.

If the constables saw him witnessing their reprimand, they would tease him and bully him in return.

"The mountain bandits from Jǐ Mountain County have rebelled with the commoners, they've killed the County Magistrate and crowned themselves king. Now they're bringing more and more people to attack the provincial capital, the Magistrate hasn't slept all night, and you all are just lounging around. If the rebels come here, what can you do? Welcome them with open arms?"Điscover new chapters at novelhall.com

Jiang Changtian left the yamen.

The yamen was in disarray today, no one would pay attention to him.

The old man slowly turned to get the herbs, slowly saying, "Master, how did you know Lord Liu is taking a concubine?"

Jiang Changtian looked at him earnestly and said, "Lord Liu is from our village, of course we know he's taking a concubine. He's famous for being frugal, acting poor on the outside, but his cellar is full of silver. He buries silver coins in the ground, but they still peek out, and the farmhand who's a relative found them."

Jiang Changtian took the herbs, "Is this all? The quality isn't great, I'll take them, but the price should be two coins less than before, otherwise I can't explain it."

Jiang Changtian took the herbs, and also said, "Have the young lad come with me to get the ointment, I still have some left, not much though."

The old man had the boy who had called out to Jiang Changtian earlier help carry the herbs.

Jiang Changtian carried the light bundle himself, while the boy shouldered a large load, and the two figures disappeared into the alley, vanishing from sight.

This was a bandit hideout.

The bandits' stronghold was deep in the mountains, which also made it suitable for collecting herbs.

Jiang Changtian would come regularly to collect the herbs.

His low status meant he associated with these riffraff.

As he walked out of the alley and headed back towards the yamen, when he passed the big-bearded dumpling stall from this morning, he suddenly spoke to the young lad, "Are you hungry?"

The boy swallowed hard and shook his head, "No, sir."

Jiang Changtian handed the stall owner six coins, "Give a large bowl, with more broth, and an empty bowl as well."

The stall's sign said the price was five coins per bowl.

The owner quickly took the money and provided a bowl of dumplings and a bowl of broth.

Jiang Changtian led the boy to a small table by the stall and sat down.

The boy thought the broth was for him, and he was already very happy, as it was meat broth and the dumplings had meat in them.

But Jiang Changtian pushed the dumplings towards him and drank the broth himself.

"Eat, I've already had breakfast."

Jiang Changtian slowly sipped the broth.

The boy was mesmerized by the steam rising from the dumplings, his eyes filled with tears.

Master Jiang was so kind, if his father were still alive, he must have been just like Master Jiang.

His father had been killed by a powerful lord, who had wielded a precious sword and struck him down.

That lord looked a bit like Master Jiang, but Master Jiang was much more handsome.

He ate the dumplings, tears streaming down his face, the dumplings were scalding hot.