One lies at home, while prison descends from the sky.
Old Lady Jiang had originally suffered a stroke, but under her granddaughter's attentive care, she miraculously recovered and could even stand up and walk again. She resumed bossing around the servants with vigor.
Old Lady Jiang's given name was Zhou Rongrong. Her name came from the Chu Ci, specifically from Liu Xiang's work "Nine Laments - Distant Departure" during the Han Dynasty: "The road stretches endlessly without end, all around is chaos without landmarks."
The meaning was ordinary, but it sounded pleasant.
Zhou Rongrong had actually lived quite a good life.
In her youth, everything went smoothly. Even when her family was exiled, she suffered very little as everyone protected her.
She had a life that started high and gradually declined. By her later years, she felt increasingly lonely and had to rely on just one granddaughter to live.
But she had never truly experienced hardship. The worst thing that happened to her was being stabbed by her own son, causing physical pain. This was her greatest suffering.
Then she was arrested.
She never imagined that at her age, she would end up in prison.
The charge was harming the royal offspring.
It was bitterly cold.
Old Lady Jiang wasn't even allowed to put on her thick fur coat before being taken away.
Jiang Wan panicked.
Indeed, she had felt uneasy since early that morning. She sensed something bad would happen, but never expected it to befall her grandmother.
With such a major incident, Jiang Wan could only go to her aunt for help.
The Seventh Prince Consort received the news even earlier than Jiang Wan.
She was also dumbfounded.
She never imagined her mother could do such a thing.
If it was true, then Heir Apparent Han was likely her brother, and Jiang Changtian was Princess Huiyun's son.
Why did her mother go to such lengths? If she had switched the children, she should have either treated them well or gotten rid of them. Leaving such a big loose end was foolish.
Jiang Wan didn't expect that with her grandmother's arrest, she would be kept by her aunt.
Just like that, she moved into the Seventh Prince's home.
It seemed that after twists and turns, though everything had changed, it also felt like nothing had changed.
There was still a straight path to walk.
Though everything looked different, they had returned to the starting point.
...
The Emperor was lacking energy.
He hadn't slept well the previous night.
At today's morning court,
He saw his royal sister.
He saw his royal sister's offspring.
Though excited,
He quickly became exhausted.
Jiang Changtian naturally proposed to take his leave, wanting to personally tell his wife the good news.
As Princess Huiyun left with her people, the Emperor collapsed onto his soft couch.
Princess Huiyun felt suffocated just looking at it. She didn't even stay for dinner and hurriedly left.
Qin Luoxia inexplicably received the status of a titled lady.
When she learned that Mianmian's reason was so she could justifiably beat her brother, Qin Luoxia, dressed in her titled lady's robes, wanted to take action and let the little one feel the strength of a titled lady's hand.
At night.
The family was finally reunited.
Now they had gained Zi Congheng. When she was young, Qin Luoxia had always talked about wanting another son, feeling that with only Jiang Feng as the sole boy, the family line was too thin, and it would be better to have another brother.
Now her wish had been fulfilled.
Conveniently,
Tonight Jiang Changtian also didn't break his rule by drinking.
Having experienced hard times, to now settling in the capital,
And suddenly discovering they had an impressive status, becoming the Princess's son,
The whole family becoming royal relatives.
At first, there was some excitement.
But after a day's experience,
Jiang Changtian felt they needed to have a good talk.
"Yesterday Minister Lu was all-powerful, today his door is deserted. When he had supreme authority, countless people followed him. Now when he truly needs help, not even a bird visits. We must take this as a warning," Jiang Changtian began.
Zi Congheng: ... Silently glanced at Uncle Jiang.
He was still used to calling him as Aunt Qin did.
Uncle Jiang spoke as if Minister Lu's downfall had nothing to do with him, when in fact he was the one who brought it about.
Qin Luoxia agreed, "We understand. Life will go on as before. I'll have Aunt Yin go over to Elder Sister Yu's place again to remind her to be even more cautious in her actions."
Jiang Changtian nodded. Although he didn't want to make things difficult for Elder Sister Yu, at this juncture, it would only cause more trouble. At least for now, they needed to be more restrained.
He felt that Princess Huiyun was an extremely unstable person who acted without considering consequences, willful and arbitrary. Even if she was his birth mother, he didn't approve of her.
And deep down, he still harbored resentment.
For a person to put themselves through such torment just for love, not knowing if their child was alive or dead, living a life neither human nor ghost, was truly foolish.
Mianmian had stayed with Princess Huiyun yesterday, and Jiang Changtian was very nervous, worrying that Mianmian might learn from her grandmother and pick up her bad habits.
So at tonight's family meeting, Jiang Changtian focused on advising Mianmian.
"You need to study hard in the coming days. Tomorrow I'll send you to your teacher. Don't run around aimlessly. Congheng will go with you to help keep an eye on you," Jiang Changtian instructed.
Mianmian: ...??
What's this? Suddenly reconnecting with birth family and deciding I'm no fun anymore, wanting to toss me aside?
Zi Congheng nodded. Yesterday when Mianmian wasn't home, it did feel too quiet, a bit unaccustomed.
Mianmian tried to resist a little, saying, "But Elder Sister is holding a hundred-day celebration for her two nephews, I need to go help."
"You're not needed, I'll go," Qin Luoxia rejected.
"Grandmother also asked me to accompany her tomorrow to choose fabric, saying she wants to give it to her future daughter-in-law."
"I can choose," said Jiang Feng.
"Well, Uncle Emperor said he wanted to invite me to watch a play tomorrow."
"I can go in your place," said Jiang Changtian.
Jiang Mianmian: ...??