Madam Qian was startled by Jiang Yuqing's ruthless methods, and her finger remained pointed at her for a long time before she could catch her breath.
Jiang Yuqing's eyes were devoid of any warmth as he addressed Madam Qian, saying, "Don't even think about using fainting spells to extort money from the Princess of Ling Hui. I guarantee that you'll be confined to the hospital ward at An Hospital until your last breath."
Qian Hongtao, who was working at the time, received news from the household servant that his beloved concubine and her mother had gotten into a conflict with An Hospital and the Princess of Ling Hui. He was immediately filled with anxiety and asked the servant, "Where is Madam?"
The servant replied, "Madam said... Madam said..."
"What is it? Just tell me!" Mr. Qian grew impatient.
The servant said, "Madam said she is an outsider and won't meddle in the affairs of the Qian clan!" As soon as the servant finished speaking, muffled laughter erupted from the room.
"Well, well!" Qian Hongtao understood that his wife, like his aunt and concubine, had taken his cousin's side completely. What a situation this had turned into.
With the situation pressing, Qian Hongtao didn't care about being ridiculed anymore. He quickly requested leave from his job and rushed to An Hospital.
Naturally, this news reached Jiang Wenyuan as well. After hearing it, he simply said, "No need to worry."
The junior official asked, "Sir, aren't you worried about the Princess being taken advantage of?"
Jiang Wenyuan smiled with profound meaning, "There's nothing to worry about." With his precious daughter's abilities, dealing with a shrew would be a small matter.
If someone with the surname Qian is clever enough, it would be acceptable. But if they are as confused as his concubine and aunt, they would probably be dealt with together.
As expected, when Qian Hongtao arrived at An Hospital, his beloved concubine had already bumped her head, and his aunt had almost fainted from anger.
Qian Hongtao learned about the events and felt both angry and heartbroken, yet helpless. He could only sincerely apologize to Jiang Yuqing and Guan Dacheng, supporting his aunt and concubine as he left An Hospital.
After sending away the Qian family, Jiang Yuqing brought Guan Muming back to the consultation room and treated their injuries with a revitalization technique. Then, he personally took them to the guest quarters of the Duke's Mansion.
He ordered the kitchen to bring food and hot water and instructed the household servants to take good care of them and treat them with respect.
Before long, the Qian family sent compensation money.
Jiang Yuqing placed two five hundred-tael silver tickets in Guan Dacheng's hands and said, "You hold onto this money. After Muming's health improves, we can carefully plan for the future.
I don't agree with you returning to your hometown. Your relatives can't be relied upon, and your health is like this. Even if you go back, I'm afraid you won't be able to protect this money.
It would be better to stay near the capital and consider buying some land for rent or even finding a small courtyard in the eastern part of the city to do some small business. With me watching over you, there will always be a way.
It would be best to send Muming to school. Let's not worry about whether he can pass the imperial exams for now, but at least he can learn to read and not be blind."
Guan Dacheng held the money and wept like a child, his big frame trembling. Since losing a leg, these past few years had been too suffocating and difficult.
He struggled day after day, contemplating suicide several times, but when he saw his young son, he couldn't bring himself to let go.
Today, unexpectedly, he encountered the Little Goddess of War. She was like a beam of light in the darkness, finally illuminating his gloomy path.
He endured until the end.
In the afternoon, after leaving the yamen, Jiang Wenyuan, accompanied by Lu, personally came to visit and told the father and son to settle down here and not think too much. He comforted them.
The Guan family father and son were once again deeply moved. The Jiang family are truly good people!
After finishing dinner, everyone walked along the stone path to aid digestion.
In the twilight, Jiang Yuqing asked her father, "Father, do you know who owns the barren mountain next to our family's village outside the city?"
Jiang Wenyuan shook his head and replied, "Father doesn't know, but I can help you inquire. What's on your mind, my dear?"
Jiang Yuqing said, "I have an idea. If possible, I want to buy that barren mountain and establish a large farm, raising pigs, cows, sheep, or chickens."
"Raise pigs and sheep?" Jiang Wenyuan was surprised. "Why did you suddenly think of raising pigs?"
Raising pigs requires a lot of manpower and resources, and it doesn't earn much money. If unfortunate enough to encounter an epidemic, it could result in a significant loss.
Even if you plant an orchard, it will take at least two to three years to yield any produce."
Jiang Yuqing explained, "I know. I just want to employ those disabled and retired soldiers to work. Da Xia has many disabled veterans like Guan Dacheng.
They have physical disabilities and suffer from various illnesses, unable to do heavy labor. They are looked down upon by their families and face discrimination everywhere they go, living in hardship."
She choked up as she continued, "Father, I can't understand why they, who are heroes of this country, are treated so unfairly after getting injured."
After calming her emotions, she continued, "So, I want to establish a farm or some other kind of workshop and build many of them.
As long as they are willing, they can come and work for me at any time. This way, at least they will have work to do, food to eat, and live with dignity!"
Looking into his daughter's earnest eyes, Jiang Wenyuan suddenly felt that his daughter was the purest treasure in the world.
After a long silence, he gently touched her soft hair and said with difficulty, "But, my dear, this path is too difficult."
Jiang Yuqing firmly replied, "I know it's difficult. But someone has to do it!
Father, they have shed enough blood for the people of this country. I don't want to see them shed tears after shedding blood.
I will start little by little, and I will do more and more. No matter how difficult it may be, it won't be as difficult as what they've been through."
Jiang Wenyuan looked up, trying to dispel the mist in his eyes, and then lowered his head to his daughter. "Alright, Father will help you!"
"Young sister, we will help you too!" At some point, Jiang Yujiang and Jiang Yuchuan stood behind her.
Jiang Yuqing instantly smiled, brighter than the most beautiful flower in the garden.
The next day, just as the yamen opened, the drums of injustice sounded in front of the Ministry of Justice.
Upon hearing the news, it turned out to be Zhou, the legal wife of Qian Hongtao, who had filed a lawsuit against him at the Ministry of Justice.
The accusations against Qian Hongtao were truly shocking, including mistreating his wife, favoring his concubine over his lawful wife, and turning a blind eye to his mother and concubine's schemes to seize the dowry intended for his lawful wife.
Furthermore, it was requested that the Ministry of Justice grant a divorce and return the dowry in full!"
The people of the capital eagerly anticipated the outcome, as if they were sitting outside the Qian family's door with a stool, waiting to crack open melon seeds and witness the result.
At the same time, the memorial from Qian Hongtao's subordinate, Qian Hongtao himself, flew to the Emperor's desk like snowflakes.
Emperor Xia Jing frowned upon seeing these memorials: "What is Qian Hongtao up to? He can't even manage his own household affairs properly.
Allowing a concubine to trample upon his lawful wife, has he lost his mind? No wonder his wife wants a divorce. Very well!
Inform the Ministry of Justice to handle the case as they see fit, without considering anyone's face!"
The discerning individuals were delighted to see that the Emperor was siding with Madame Zhou. It was evident that even the Emperor detested the confusion between lawful wives and concubines.
Empress Qin also heard about the matter and joyfully exclaimed to her trusted aides, "Madame Zhou has finally come to her senses. Not a single member of the Qian family is decent.
A wife is a wife, what is a concubine? Just a plaything. The Qian family and that old hag of the Qian family are blind and clueless. They deserve their misfortune and humiliation.
Go, issue my imperial decree and teach that old hag of the Qian family a lesson on how to conduct herself properly! Such absurdity, Lady Qian should not hold any official title!"
If it weren't for Qian Hongtao possessing some abilities, given the mess that erupted in his household, the Emperor would have chastised him countless times already."
Upon hearing that Madame Zhou had lodged a complaint against her son and herself with the Ministry of Justice, demanding divorce from her son, Qian Old Madam was so enraged that her vision turned black. She cursed Madame Zhou as a shrew and immediately sent her servants to bring back Madame Zhou by force.
Before the servants could even leave, an imperial decree from the Empress arrived, condemning the Old Madam with a string of harsh words.
She was berated until her face turned red, and she dared not even breathe. In the end, her official title was revoked directly.
Upon hearing the news, she lost consciousness and fainted on the spot, causing chaos all around...
In just a few days, Qian Hongtao was reprimanded and had his salary reduced by the Emperor, divorced by his lawful wife, and had to return the dowry. Qian Old Madam also had her official title revoked, becoming a laughingstock in the entire capital. It was as if she had aged ten years in an instant.
Looking at his once beloved and charming cousin, Qian Hongtao now found her to be extremely annoying and burdensome.
Seeing his home, which was now mostly empty, regret washed over Qian Hongtao in waves.
If only he had treated Madame Zhou better from the beginning, not favored his cousin so much, and not listened to his mother's instigations, perhaps he wouldn't have ended up in such a situation today.
Unfortunately, there is no regret medicine in this world.
The concubine cousin who caused all these accidents naturally did not meet a good end either.
This incident also served as a warning to the noble gentlemen in the capital.
Concubines are the source of chaos in a family. If they continue to mistreat their wives and favor concubines, their future will likely be even more miserable than Qian Hongtao's.
Jiang Wenyuan also learned about the ownership of that desolate mountain, which belonged to Princess Ronghua. It was not too far from Princess Ronghua's estate.
Princess Ronghua was not short of money, so it was unlikely that she would easily give it up.
Jiang Yuqing, however, wanted to give it a try. It wasn't her style to give up on something before even attempting it just because it was difficult. What if she agreed?
The next day, Jiang Yuqing sent her invitation card to Princess Ronghua's residence, the Grand Princess Mansion.
Upon seeing Jiang Yuqing's name, Princess Ronghua smiled and said, "So, it's this young guest. How rare!"
She jokingly added, "Send a reply and tell her that I will be eagerly awaiting her arrival tomorrow."
Jiang Yuqing didn't expect to receive a response from Princess Ronghua's mansion so quickly. She was delighted and said, "Please inform Her Highness, the Grand Princess, that I will definitely be there on time tomorrow."
Princess Ronghua was a very particular person, and out of politeness and respect for her host, Jiang Yuqing had specifically asked Er Yu to help her dress up.
After having breakfast and calculating the time, Jiang Yuqing arrived at the Grand Princess Mansion.
As soon as Princess Ronghua saw her, she smiled and said, "If I remember correctly, this is your second time stepping into the Grand Princess Mansion. The first time was seven years ago."
While bowing in respect, Jiang Yuqing replied with a smile, "Your Highness has a great memory. Indeed, it is the second time. The last time was when I came to admire the peonies in your residence!"
Princess Ronghua said, "Indeed. In a little over twenty days, the peonies in my garden will bloom again. I guarantee they will be even more beautiful than before. If you like, I will send an invitation to you on the day the flowers bloom."
Jiang Yuqing was overjoyed and said, "In that case, I am grateful to Your Highness."
The two of them chatted for a while, and then Jiang Yuqing finally said, "There's a saying that goes, 'One doesn't go to the Three Treasures Hall for nothing.' Today, Linghui came here with a request."
