readytorunbook Chapter 366 Expedited
Chapter 366 Expedited
The next day, Shen Tang came back from paying her respects to the princess, and Xie Guimo accompanied her out of the house to the Jiang family.
As the two of them walked to the gate, they saw a carriage stop, the curtain opened, and a familiar face came out.
It’s Jiang Huier!
Seeing Shen Tang, Jiang Huier's face turned grim, but she had learned her lesson and called out, "Cousin..."
"Cousin."
One voice was winding and confusing, and the other voice was as stiff as a wooden stake falling to the ground.
Xie Guimo looked indifferent and ignored him.
The Jiang family is the prince's maternal grandfather's family and has done the prince a favor. Before Concubine Jiang married the prince, the princess and the Jiang family were actually quite close and she treated Concubine Jiang as her younger sister. Who would have thought that something would happen later? Since Concubine Jiang entered the family, the princess has never set foot in the Jiang family again. Xie Guimo has never been to the Jiang family since he was born.
The Jiang family would not ask Xie Guimo to go, and the prince would not dare to take Xie Guimo with him.
Although Jiang Huier and Xie Guimo are cousins, they actually hardly speak to each other in a year. In her heart, Jiang Huier only regards Xie Guiyin, the son of Concubine Jiang, as her cousin. She just has to be nice to him on the surface when they meet, especially since the princess doesn't let her live in the palace.
The princess did not allow Jiang Huier to live in the palace without a name or status, but if Jiang Huier wanted to come to the palace, no one could stop her.
Xie Guimo helped Shen Tang get into the carriage, and then he got into the carriage himself.
Watching the carriage leave, Jiang Huier's back teeth were almost loose.
In the carriage, Shen Tang wondered why Jiang Huier came to the palace, and then he suddenly remembered, "I almost forgot, today is the second young master's birthday."
Xie Guimo hugged Shen Tang and said through gritted teeth, "You remember other people's birthdays so well."
Shen Tang, "..."
This one has a strong vinegar taste.
After all, she had lived in the Jingyang Palace for a few years, and Xie Guiyin's birthday was at the beginning of the new year, so it was hard for her not to remember it.
Shen Tang held his face and said, "I definitely remember your birthday."
Thinking of their bad relationship in the previous life, he would remind him a month in advance that his birthday was coming, and a group of brothers would celebrate for him. If they asked him what his princess had given him, he would not be able to answer, which would embarrass him.
She was full of dissatisfaction, but she had to resign herself to preparing a birthday gift for him, and it had to be visible and something she could show off.
This guy wanted the gift from her and looked so arrogant. He really deserved a beating.
Seeing that he couldn't be coaxed, Shen Tang had no choice but to kiss him on the cheek. Xie Guimo felt that was not enough, so he put his arm around her waist and kissed her hard again.
The carriage ran for two quarters of an hour before stopping in front of the Jiang family's gate.
This was Shen Tang's first time to the Jiang family. As soon as Xie Guimo helped Shen Tang down, Jiang Huaizhi and Jiang Ning came out to greet him.
"cousin."
Jiang Ning smiled widely.
She said, "You are pregnant, why are you here?"
Shen Tang said, "You helped the Zhenguo Mansion find a clan, allowing them to adopt a son and inherit the title. The Zhenguo Mansion is deeply grateful to you and Young Master Jiang. The princess asked us to thank you on her and the Zhenguo Mansion's behalf."
Jiang Ning said, "That's too polite. Besides, this is all thanks to Mother Du. I just told you about it."
She didn't even know that there were lost relatives in the Duke of Zhenguo's Mansion, and she never thought about it.
Shen Tang said, "I really have to thank Mother Du."
Mother Du was someone that Mrs. Jiang trusted. If she hadn't been worried that Jiang Ning would have trouble acclimatizing to the climate in Qizhou, she would have been reluctant to give Mother Du to Jiang Ning.
Mother Du took good care of Jiang Ning, so Mrs. Jiang simply asked Mother Du to follow Jiang Ning from now on, so Mother Du is still in the Jiang family.
Shen Tang brought thank-you gifts to Jiang Ning and Jiang Huaizhi, and also prepared a separate gift for Du's mother.
Two hundred taels of silver, a pair of gold bracelets, and twenty acres of good farmland.
The gifts weren't many, but to Mother Du, it was like pie in the sky. When she was young, she liked to join in the fun and had seen the Duke of Zhenguo's Mansion. She also happened to have a good memory and remembered the Duke of Zhenguo's appearance. She became curious and saw someone who looked exactly like the Duke of Zhenguo. She told Jiang Ning about this strange thing at the time and didn't expect to receive so many rewards.
She had served the Jiang family for decades, but the money she saved was only one tenth of their total.
Mother Du was so excited that she was incoherent. "This, this reward is too much..."
Despite such a great favor, Shen Tang still felt that the reward was too little, but this favor was counted on Jiang Ning and Jiang Huaizhi. They would reward Mother Du again, and it would not be less than what she gave.
After Shen Tang and Xie Guimo left, Jiang Ning and Jiang Huaizhi also rewarded Mother Du with the same things, and returned the indentures of Mother Du and her family of three to her.
Mother Du was happy, but more than that, she was terrified. "Are you not going to let me serve you anymore?"
Jiang Ning said, "How could that be? Mother was reluctant to give you to me, so I can't bear to let you go either. It's just that the Jiang family's rules state that after you have performed meritorious service, you must return your indenture. I am now a Jiang family woman, and I must follow the Jiang family's rules. I will only return your indenture to you. You will stay by my side and serve me, and your monthly salary will be doubled. When you no longer want to serve me, you can return home to enjoy your retirement."
Madam Du quickly expressed her opinion, "Of course I will stay to serve the eldest young lady."
She has followed Mrs. Jiang for most of her life, and in her next life she will follow Jiang Ning and will not go anywhere else.
However, she was happy that her two children were free. With these two generous rewards, she could prepare a dowry for her daughter so that she could marry into a good family, and she could also choose a wife and children for her son. In the future, if she had grandchildren who could read and write, and could help her pass the imperial examination, that would be even better.
Mother Du was very happy. It was rare for Shen Tang to come to the Jiang family, and the weather was nice. Jiang Ning accompanied Shen Tang to the garden, while Jiang Huaizhi played chess with Xie Guimo.
The mansion is very big, and there are only two masters in the house, Jiang Ning and Jiang Huaizhi. There is not much to do, and life is easy and comfortable.
Shen Tang only went to pay his respects to the old lady occasionally, and he felt extremely relaxed. Jiang Ning couldn't even find anyone to pay her respects to. There was really no comparison, no gap.
With fewer people, there are fewer troubles and it's a little quieter. Shen Tang said, "It will naturally become more lively in the future."
"Why?" Jiang Ning didn't react.
Before Shen Tang could finish, Yin Xing said quickly, "Giving birth to a few little boys and girls, wouldn't it be lively?"
"Yes."
Jiang Ning's maid chimed in.
Jiang Ning was so embarrassed that she wanted to hit them.
There was constant laughter and joy in the garden.
After staying for more than half an hour, Shen Tang and Xie Guimo said goodbye, and Jiang Ning and Jiang Huaizhi saw them out of the house.
On the way back, Shen Tang lifted the car curtain to look outside. Xie Guimo said, "Want to go shopping?"
Shen Tang shook his head, "No, I'll just take a look."
Her belly is showing signs of growing fast. It's only four months pregnant, but it looks almost as if others are six months pregnant. She's worried that if it continues to grow this long, her belly will be incredibly big by the time she gives birth.
The child is too big to give birth to.
Shen Tang just looked around. As he was looking, someone rode past on the street. Shen Tang took another look and said, "Who was that just now..."
"Six hundred miles urgent."
Shen Tang said, "I don't know if it's the floods in Xuzhou and Changzhou, or the snowstorm in the north..."
She vaguely remembered that it was at this time in her previous life that news of the disaster reached the capital. At the beginning of the year, two major disasters were reported, and the emperor was in a very bad mood.
Xie Guimo said, "Father has taken precautions, so it shouldn't be too bad."
Shen Tang thought about it and agreed.
Although the prince was a mess in handling household affairs, no one could find fault with him when it came to leading troops in battle and handling court affairs.