How could the guards allow him to do that; they subdued him on the floor within a few moments. Da Niu seeing the situation, said with alarm, "Miss please show mercy! My fu’s young master was not planning on denying the debt. Miss, please bring people to the capital’s Jiang fu, my young master is the Minister Jiang’s Second Young Master, miss can bring young master’s token to collect the taels."
The people were again in a wave of discussion, Minister Jiang had clear and upright moral values, yet surprisingly, he gave birth to a son that was on this level of shamelessness. The crowd could not help but think of the rumours regarding Jiang Su Su at the lantern festival a few days back. They thought in their hearts, it is really true that one may know a person for a long time but not understand his or her true nature. The Jiang fu, it seems, was not as honourable and upright as they appeared to be.
An idea formed in Mu Dan’s head, "Since it is so, Mama, please bring a few people and make a trip to the Jiang fu. Everyone present please be my witness, this young master spent ten thousand and fifty on Mu Dan to buy Mu Dan for tonight. When Young Master Jiang brings the silver, Mu Dan will of course have a long talk throughout the night with Young Master Jiang." Finished speaking, she could not bear to spare Jiang Chao another glance and left with a brush of her sleeve.
In the capital, although Mu Dan was a lady from the brothel, she was associated with wide and numerous influential connections. She knew many high dignitaries and many people still wanted to sell her a reputation.
That night, Jiang Ruan closed her books and was prepared to rest, when she faintly heard a crying voice come across from outside. She rubbed her temples, "What is this about?"
Bai Zhi stood up to serve her warm water, "I’m not sure, it just happened. Lu Zhu has already gone out to enquire."
Just as she said this, Lu Zhu ducked into the room. Seeing Jiang Ruan and Bai Zhi looking at her, she said, "It seems like people from Bai Hua Lou and they claim that Second Young Master owes them money."
"They actually came to the fu to demand silver." It was hard for Bai Zhi to disguise the despise in her words, towards a place like Bai Hua Lou, she had conflicts in her heart.
"Furen and master had a very fierce argument," Lu Zhu gave a cunning laugh, "Furen wants to give them money to redeem Second Young Master, however, master says that there isn’t that much money. Then furen started crying and argued with master."
Jiang Ruan laughed, "Furen really wronged him." Jiang fu indeed did not have ten thousand and fifty gold taels. The fu looked magnificent and splendid, yet in the end, it was only an empty shell. Not to mention, a few days ago, in order to bribe Zhao daren for Jiang Chao’s exam, Jiang fu offered a large sum of money. Although in the end he did not reap any benefit, and the money was already spent.
"Something so big happening in the fu, how could one as a daughter not have a look." Jiang Ruan stood up, "Let us go and see."
Lu Zhu and Zhou momo were sleeping in the room next door, and Jiang Ruan did not wake them up. Lian Qiao and Bai Zhi draped a coat and cloak over her. They had just walked to the courtyard’s door when they saw Fu Rong supporting Jiang Dan out. Jiang Dan saw her and jumped out of her skin. She hurriedly saluted her and asked with great caution, "DaJiejie also heard about Second Brother’s matter?"
Jiang Ruan nodded, "Although I am unsure of what has happened exactly, I must still at least go and observe."
"This was what I thought too," Jiang Dan shyly lowered her head, "After all, we are all siblings from the same family."
Jiang Ruan looked at her and did not say anything further. Both of them rose and walked towards the main hall. They had just entered the main hall when, as predicted, the first thing they heard was Xia Yan’s wailing. Jiang Ruan raised her eyebrows, seeing a few yiniangs at the scene. Jiang Li was standing with a look of gratification at her misfortune and Jiang Su Su’s face was extremely pale. Observing closely, one could see the panic in Jiang Su Su’s eyes.
First Yiniang was currently carefully advising Xia Yan, "Furen do not cry anymore. What should we do if you cry too much and harm your body?"
Xia Yan did not bother to look at her, she only tightly grabbed onto Jiang Quan’s arm and complained tearfully, "Laoye, he is our flesh and blood, are you really planning on not caring about him anymore?"
Jiang Quan pursed his lips and lowered his head and glanced at Xia Yan. Xia Yan’s hair strands were slightly messy and the cheeks that were usually brimming with a scholarly spirit were dripping with tears, appearing even more elegant and beautiful. After all it was his beloved woman. Jiang Quan helped her up with one hand and sighed, "It’s not that I do not wish to save him, it is really because the fu does not have that much money."
"We can go borrow money." Xia Yan was in a bit of a frenzied state of mind, "Laoye, don’t you know many bureaucrats, just borrow from them. We do not need to for long, I can later borrow it from my maternal family. Laoye, Chao’er cannot land into their hands- you know what sort of place Bai Hua Lou is!
"Nonsense!" Jiang Chao retracted his hand, his gaze hardening and becoming frosty. "Borrow money from bureaucrats! Do you take my Jiang fu’s reputation as something that can be easily trampled on?"
"Father, what has happened? What place is Bai Hua Lou?" Jiang Ruan asked. Only then did the onlookers notice that she and Jiang Dan had come. Jiang Quan furrowed his brows, "What are you doing here?"
Bai Zhi and Lian Qiao curled their lips, all the yiniangs in the fu had come, purposely not calling Jiang Ruan and Jiang Dan, this was truly taking them as invisible. Jiang Ruan said, "It is the middle of the night and I heard voices arguing. I was deeply concerned so I came to take a look. But what has happened?"
Her expression of concern did not appear forced though Jiang Quan stared at her with a complicated emotion in his eyes. Under the lights, Jiang Ruan looked alluring, wearing a satin mantle with a prosperity symbol, enhancing her whole person to be as exquisite as a jade carving. He too, had heard rumours about the happenings at the Lantern Festival a few days ago and he had suspicions about Jiang Ruan in his heart. The girl before his eyes was tall, slim and graceful, and upon observing carefully, she had a bit of Zhao Mei’s appearance from the past, in fine clothes and riding a well groomed horse.
He was absent-minded for a few moments, however, Xia Yan saw Jiang Ruan and her eyes lit up. She threw herself towards Jiang Ruan and said, "Ruan’er, Mother knows you are the most soft-hearted, you are a kind child. Now, something has happened to your Second Brother. The dowry that jiejie left for you, can you take it out at once to save your brother? In a few days Mother will return it to you."
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Translated by : Salv
Edited by : Anks & Ely