The next day.
Jiang Changtian received the news.
His nephew Jiang Rong had drowned.
The body was now lying in state.
Jiang Changtian still decided to rush back.
Xia Mei was worried about him and wanted to accompany him on the return journey.
Qin Luoxia rode a horse, with Jiang Changtian riding with her.
To save time.
They had to hurry back to see him one last time.
He was worried that if he didn't see him, he would surely regret it.
Qin Luoxia understood, she understood her husband's thoughts.
On the night when Feng almost died, she wanted to go find Jiang Rong and fight him to the death, wanted to slaughter Jiang Rong.
In the end, only Jiang Rong's guard Wu Liu died.
Wu Liu was just a knife, the one wielding the knife was Jiang Rong, yet Jiang Rong had always lived a life of comfort and plenty.
Qin Luoxia admitted that she was malicious inside, she just wanted to see him die.
Jiang Changtian was the same, he always felt that he was sick, that his mind was more or less abnormal, all thanks to Old Lady Jiang. Seeing them not doing well made him feel like he was recovering better.
He knew that the Lin Yang he killed last time was actually the son of the Seventh Prince, though he wasn't sure which one specifically, perhaps Jiang Wan knew.
The Seventh Prince appeared upright and honest, with a gentle personality and a devoted heart, but looking at his actions, he had three concubine-born sons and no legitimate son, yet all three concubine-born sons had grown up well.
Looking at the results, one could tell this person was deeply scheming.
The style of the rebels in the northwest, seeking revenge for the slightest grievance, killing people like scything flax.
And they seemed to have official backing, Jiang Changtian had always felt it was related to the Seventh Prince.
This was a truly petty person who could endure, he would definitely seek revenge.
This was also why he went to the Provincial Capital, worried that Ming County was too small and might be surrounded one day.
Indeed, he hadn't made a move.
Yet Jiang Rong had died.
Jiang Changtian and Qin Luoxia arrived at Jiang Rong's mourning hall, travel-worn and weary.
It gave Jiang Wan a fright.
Old Lady Jiang coughed violently.
Jiang Wan could only keep helping to pat her grandmother's chest.
Jiang Changtian said: "Hearing the news of Rong'er's death, Xia Mei and I rushed here on horseback, worried we wouldn't see him one last time. It's not out of any affection, after all, he always looked down on us. We just worried you might pull a bait-and-switch, swapping someone else, now that we've confirmed it's him, we can rest easy."
Hearing these words, Jiang Wan was stunned, how could there be such a malicious person.
Jiang Changtian glanced at Jiang Wan, who was trying hard to minimize her presence, and continued: "Just now, elder brother told me, 'When will this cycle of revenge end?', asking me to let go of my hatred. I thought about Mother's teachings to me since childhood, indeed, when will this cycle of revenge end, one must nip things in the bud early. Mother, take good care of your health, when you're better, I'll take you to enjoy life in the Provincial Capital."
...
The couple rarely traveled together.
After leaving the Jiang mansion.
They rested for a moment, then decided to hurry back to the Provincial Capital.
Because the children were at home.
When away from home, one misses home and children.
No matter how beautiful the scenery outside, one still thinks of home, wanting to see the children soon.
Although when you see the children, they might be making mischief that makes you want to spank them.
On the way back, they weren't in such a hurry.
Magistrate Huang had prepared a carriage for them, so they could ride back in the carriage and rest.
Perhaps tired from the journey.
Jiang Changtian lay with his head on Xia Mei's lap.
The carriage curtain was lowered, the light and shadows from outside flickering, the sound of the carriage wheels rumbling along. At this moment, his mind was calm, and he didn't find it noisy.
"Xia Mei, I used to always teach Feng to be a good person, that he must be a good person, that good people get advantages everywhere. Perhaps I taught him wrong."
He held Xia Mei's hand.
"In the future, when teaching Mianmian, we must let her be a bad person, to be arrogant and domineering, not to compromise, to be ruthless, not to hesitate, to be a bad person who can laugh loudly, full of vitality, always full of fighting spirit. Being a bad person, one can live arrogantly and happily for a lifetime. In the end, we all die anyway, and even doing one good deed can move people and gain redemption. A good person does good deeds all their life, but makes one mistake and falls into eternal damnation. If you always feel that being kind makes you easy to bully, then be a bad person, go bully others..." (Note 1)
As Jiang Changtian spoke, he actually fell asleep.
The carriage swayed.
He slept soundly with his head on Xia Mei's lap.
Qin Luoxia held her husband with one hand, leaning against the carriage wall, but remained alert.
The mountain wind blew, lifting a corner of the carriage curtain, revealing the pine and cypress trees outside, still verdant green.
...