Chapter 261: Reunion of Old Friends
After the morning court session.
Young Master He Chen had arranged to visit the Meng Mansion.
He even brought gifts.
His old brother-in-arms was already married and had two kids.
He had been focused on his studies, and after finally passing the exams, he had even had a fiancée.
But his fiancée’s family listened to Fairy Liu’s words, claiming they were incompatible, and called off the engagement.
Young Master He Chen was left completely bewildered.
He could understand his uncle randomly beating him up when returning to the capital, but why did this Fairy Liu—whom he later discovered was Jiang Wan—have to ruin his engagement?
Well, if she was someone who believed whatever others said so easily, it was better not to marry her anyway. The breakup was a blessing in disguise, saving his life.
He had so many confidantes that he thought he would marry and have kids early.
Yet, to his surprise, Shaoxia had beaten him to it.
He had heard the rumors in the capital that Shaoxia was bewitched by a woman as beautiful as Daji and didn’t even want to return home.
He found it amusing but couldn’t deny the rumors, as it wasn’t his place to comment on his friend’s wife’s appearance behind her back.
Arriving at the Meng Mansion.
Young Master He Chen sat in the parlor drinking tea, waiting for Shaoxia.
Thinking about the reunion with an old friend made him a bit excited.
The tea even tasted exceptionally fragrant.
Wait, no, it actually was quite fragrant.
The Meng Family’s tea quality had improved.
Before, when he visited, he felt they didn’t have high standards for tea.
He couldn’t taste anything special.
But now, just waiting as a guest, he felt the tea was fragrant.
When a chubby, broad-shouldered man walked out, Young Master He Chen thought it was a servant of the Meng Mansion.
Only when he walked closer did Young Master He Chen realize.
Damn!
“Shaoxia?” he called out with some hesitation.
Meng Shaoxia looked quite prosperous.
The handsome, square-jawed youth from years ago had now become a very blessed-looking man.
Young Master He Chen didn’t recognize him at first glance.
“Brother He, congratulations on passing the exams as the third-place finisher and fulfilling your wishes.”
“Shaoxia, congratulations on your marriage and becoming a father, fulfilling your wishes.”
The two exchanged compliments and then hugged.
They patted each other’s shoulders and backs heavily.
Both had changed in appearance.
In Meng Shaoxia’s eyes, he also felt surprised.
Brother He looked much older; he used to be a dashing youth, but now his hairline had receded significantly, and there were wrinkles at the corners of his eyes. Reading too many books really made one age quickly.
However, when they hugged, he felt the other hadn’t changed at all.
Indeed, he was still the same person he had traveled the world with.
Their bond hadn’t changed.
They hadn’t seen each other for so long and had endless things to talk about.
Once they started, they chatted for an hour.
Meng Shaoxia insisted on him staying for a meal and then brought him to see his two children.
Two chubby little kids, with clear eyes, staring blankly at him.
Young Master He Chen was incredulous.
He really couldn’t imagine it.
The twins didn’t look alike at all.
One had a square face, the other a round one.
But seeing them together was truly heartwarming.
He wanted to hold them but didn’t dare.
He remembered holding Meng Shaoxia’s sister-in-law many years ago, and she had drooled all over him.
With Meng Shaoxia’s encouragement, Young Master He Chen held the two little ones.
Their nicknames were Big Goose and Little Goose.
He held each one; they were well-fed and heavy.
They grinned when he picked them up and watched him quietly when he put them down.
It made Young Master He Chen’s heart bloom.
In an instant, he wanted to get married and have kids too.
No wonder Meng Shaoxia looked so satisfied.
At dinner, he ate the Meng Family’s dinner.
Now, under Aunt Yin’s guidance, Jiang Yu was in charge of the Meng Family’s meals.
She had everyone in the family wrapped around her finger.
Madam Meng and Old Madam Meng had both gained a pound or two in the last few days.
It was too delicious.
Meng Qingshe had also gained weight.
The whole family showed signs of gaining weight together.
Faced with such delicious food, there was no resistance.
Eating the Meng Family’s food, Young Master He Chen was moved to tears.
It was so delicious he almost bit his tongue.
Meng Shaoxia was truly blessed.
He saw the girl who had been abducted back then; she was now more poised and elegant. Although she didn’t look like the Daji of legends, she was very dignified and kind-hearted, making people feel at ease.
After dinner, Young Master He Chen talked with Meng Shaoxia for a long time, only leaving when Meng Shaoxia said he had to go take care of the kids.
The streets of the capital were wide, and carriages rolled by. Young Master He Chen sighed in his heart, feeling somewhat satisfied yet also a bit melancholic. Looking at the dark night outside the window, satisfaction prevailed.
After all, being able to reunite with an old friend and seeing everyone doing well was enough.
Winter nights fell early.
After the morning court session, Jiang Changtian didn’t go out to socialize.
He stayed home to accompany his wife and children.
Now that The Eldest Miss and her husband were not at home, there were fewer people in the house.
However, with the addition of Zi Congheng, it slightly made up for the population deficit.
Gong Qichi and Jiang Feng had returned to their hometown in Jiangzhou.
They couldn’t bring too many people into the capital, so they planned to settle them in Jiangzhou.
Gong Qichi and Jiang Feng went to arrange for the people.
At home, there was only Jiang Changtian, Qin Luoxia, Mianmian, and Zi Congheng.
Mianmian was very interested in what the Emperor looked like.
After all, he was the biggest boss in the dynasty; it would be amazing to see him.
Thinking about how her family was truly powerful—reaching the point where they could meet the highest leader—was awesome.
Zi Congheng was not curious; he didn’t care about the outside world at all.
But Mianmian was very curious.
Mianmian grabbed Brother Chong to participate in family life.
“The Emperor looks very benevolent. Next time, I’ll have a chance to show you,” Jiang Changtian said.
Jiang Mianmian felt her father was fobbing her off.
If he wanted to fob her off, so be it; it was better than testing her on her studies.
But just as she thought that, in the afternoon, her father started testing her on her studies.
Fortunately, Brother Chong was there.
That whole afternoon, Jiang Mianmian just watched her father praise Brother Chong.
The feeling of studying with a super genius was terrible.
He understood everything, while you were still confused about what the first question meant.
Mianmian was drowsy.
In the quiet study, leaning on a large armchair, Mianmian held a book in her hand, pretending to be serious.
The benefit of having two students was that she didn’t have to be called on all the time, making it easy to sleep.
She was truly sleepy.
The afternoon study was actually very quiet.
Jiang Changtian and Zi Congheng were going back and forth with questions and answers.
Jiang Changtian, who had been testing their knowledge, suddenly said: “Was Great Marshal Zi’s original name Chu Heng?”
Zi Congheng paused and nodded.
Such an important and secret matter, in Jiang the Second’s mouth, was like opening a book and reading the answer.
He read it out.
The Former Crown Prince had died suddenly, and Great Marshal Zi had also died suddenly; the timing was close.
Normally, no one would be crazy enough to connect the two.
Just like normal people seeing similar faces would only think they looked familiar and kind, not that someone had been mistaken for someone else.
Zi Congheng’s eyes turned pitch black, staring at Jiang the Second.
Jiang the Second also looked at him.
Mianmian was stunned and suddenly felt a bit awake.
She saw Brother Chong actually nod.
It was as if they were chatting about how much the vegetables cost per catty.
Suddenly talking about the legends of the bullies on this street having a huge background.
Even if she lacked common sense, she knew Chu Heng was The Former Crown Prince.
He had died a while ago, and a national funeral had been held.
Now that she thought about it, Great Marshal Zi’s death and The Former Crown Prince’s death happened at about the same time.
And Great Marshal Zi’s identity was strange, appearing out of thin air.
He had a strong foundation but no origin.
Gong Qichi, a top scholar, was even willing to serve him.
And Zi Congheng was the son of the Crown Prince, a legitimate imperial grandson?
Jiang Mianmian widened her eyes, looking at Brother Chong.
She never expected that The Former Crown Prince, who she thought was imprisoned, was actually outside with a full beard, rebelling—rebelling against his own father.
Her Brother Chong was actually a legitimate imperial grandson! If there hadn’t been so many messy accidents, he might have been the next Imperial Grandson.
But thinking about Brother Chong’s temperament, being Emperor would be too difficult for him.
And too difficult for the ministers.
The Emperor didn’t want to talk, and the ministers had to play guessing games every day; it was too hard, too hard.
Suddenly, she felt her brother’s status was noble and his behavior elegant.
Mianmian hurriedly leaned over and rubbed against him.
Zi Congheng:…
Jiang Changtian: “Mianmian, what are you doing?”
“Rubbing off some noble aura,” Jiang Mianmian said.
“No mischief.”
“I have had a headache since I was a child and feared I wouldn’t live long. My father pitied my short lifespan and me being trapped in the mansion, so he escaped. He wanted to cure my illness, so he rebelled. When I lived at your house when I was young, I felt that after I went back, the headache seemed to have improved. But I didn’t expect that my father also had a headache; he just never told me. Later, his headache flared up, and he suddenly left. He left very suddenly,” Zi Congheng recounted the matter calmly.
His cold temperament was also partly due to the headache; he didn’t dare to be too happy or too unhappy.
He also didn’t dare to accept others or like others.
He worried that one day, like his father, his headache would flare up, and he would suddenly die.
He was not depressed.
He was just panicked, closed off, and avoiding.
“Don’t think too much. Past events are like passing clouds. Live in the present, live each day well. Each day is good, and adding them up makes for a very good life,” Jiang Changtian said.
Thank you for reading + listening 🙂 I hope you all liked my translations. If you enjoyed my work, please consider buying me a Ko-Fi 😉
