The middle son among three brothers is often the most easily overlooked.
The father valued the eldest brother, the mother doted on the youngest. Jiang Fang felt he held little status within his own family. Moreover, his parents were not adept at managing household affairs, and decline was already visible. At this point, he felt he should start making plans for himself.
He often didn't wish to stay at home, where endless quarrels filled the air. His mother complained that his father wasted money helping others and lamented Jiang Fang's repeated failures in the imperial examinations. His father sometimes endured it with sighs, and sometimes retorted sharply, which only fueled his mother's anger further.
At the doorway, he saw his younger brother, Jiang Xian, flinch and prepare to turn back.
"Sixteenth Brother." Jiang Fang looked at his brother, his own anger also rising.
That Jiang Yansu was notoriously known for his fondness for male companions. His younger brother, ignorant of the truth, often mixed with him and even skipped school secretly.
Seeing it was Jiang Fang calling him, Jiang Xian hurried over with his hands respectfully at his sides. "Second Brother."
Jiang Fang wanted to say many things, but in the end, said nothing. He was a decisive person; once he decided on something, he would certainly do it and never look back.
He knew that if he did this, his mother would surely rage and curse, and his father would likely remain muddled. But in the future, as long as he succeeded, who would not acknowledge him?
Just like now, Sixteenth Brother wore fine brocade robes, while he wore his eldest brother's hand-me-downs. In this family, it was difficult for him to have a promising future.
Fortunately, his aunt had no children and was very kind to him. Without a second thought, he went to live with her.
With his talent, achieving distinction was actually quite easy. With his adoptive parents managing everything for him, they even arranged two excellent marriages for him. Even though his first betrothed passed away suddenly from an illness, he was still able to marry a daughter of the Zhou family.
He had met his fiancée; she was extremely beautiful, gentle, and well-mannered. His adoptive mother also liked this daughter-in-law very much, so Jiang Fang felt at ease. He seldom concerned himself with his former family's affairs anymore. For one, he was currently only the top candidate in the Kaifeng prefectural examination and had not yet passed the imperial Jinshi examination. Everything would wait until after he became a Jinshi.
After passing the Jinshi with a good ranking, he served outside the capital for three years, achieving fairly commendable administrative results.
During those years outside, he saw too many pedantic officials, too many mediocre people devoid of ambition. Such people were nothing but wine-sacks and rice-bags occupying positions.
After three years, he returned to the capital to report on his tenure. Unexpectedly, he learned his youngest brother was about to marry, and to a merchant's daughter of servant origin. Although all were considered commoners nowadays, such a background would become his brother's greatest stain in the future.
To put it bluntly, his mother had sunk to the point of coveting the other family's dowry. Such petty greed would lead to great loss. But speaking to Jiang Xian was useless; he was no paragon of virtue either, lusting after the girl's beauty at such a young age, utterly improper.
His wife, Madam Zhou, even said to him, "Actually, that girl Jin Niang seems quite decent. She has exceptional skill; among the embroiderers in our household, her wages were the highest. I heard she earned a full tael of silver per month back then."
Jiang Fang frowned. "Just one tael a month? How could she afford to buy a residence and shopfronts, manage a business, and even have a substantial dowry?"
"That I don't know. I heard she also worked at the Imperial Embroidery Institute. Probably the salary there is high. Actually, don't overthink it. Once Sixteenth Brother passes the Jinshi examination in the future, who will care about such things?" Madam Zhou said lightly.
But Jiang Fang felt a knot of frustration in his chest. Looking at Jiang Xian was like looking at his former self, before he was adopted out.
Being boiled like a frog in warm water, yet completely unaware.
However, after their marriage, he did meet this sister-in-law, which somewhat changed his view. She was an intelligent and capable woman. Even after his mother passed away and they lived separately from the main family, she was able to help Sixteenth Brother forge connections with Academician Xiao and managed the family business very well.
"Thank you for your trouble, sister-in-law," Jiang Fang said sincerely. After all, it was not easy for her to remember his favorite foods.
He even heard that when his adoptive mother wanted to give them silver and land, she was the one who directly refused. Jiang Fang quite admired people with such strong principles. In contrast, Madam Xu earned his disdain.
Later, during occasional setbacks in his career outside the capital, he heard that this brother of his, who passed the exams several sessions after him, had actually entered the capital and become a Court Diarist. It was said he used connections with the Wei family, who recommended him to Grand Academician Fan.
The reason the Wei family exerted such effort was precisely because Jiang Xian's wife had connected her lineage to the Wei family. Thus, Jiang Xian's talents were appreciated by the Weis.
Madam Zhou said, "I never imagined she had such means. Since that's the case, perhaps I should also send a letter. We are all family after all; we can't continue like this forever."
But Jiang Fang disagreed. "Don't send a letter. Don't mention these things. Everyone has their own path."
By the time he returned to the court, he had gained the appreciation of several senior figures in the Shen faction. They shared similar ideals, and he finally found his place. Some people only wanted to sell off land for a moment's peace, completely opposing the new reforms—utterly foolish, nothing but a bunch of cowards.
He always charged at the forefront and also accomplished some practical deeds for the common people.
However, factional strife eventually led to his demotion. Meanwhile, the official position of the brother he once looked down upon remained as stable as Mount Tai. But Jiang Fang felt no envy; it was just a matter of playing both sides. What he wanted to achieve required drastic measures and a complete overhaul.
Unfortunately, this demotion made his life much harder. Even his wife, Madam Zhou, fell ill. She had married him in her early teens and had managed the household all these years, enduring all hardships without complaint. Now, because of him, she was brought to such a state. These people were truly ruthless.
If he ever got reinstated, he would repay them tenfold.
Perhaps it was this very determination that sustained him, allowing him to eventually be reinstated. He believed in living life freely and without restraint, an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth.
Many people advised him to be more restrained, but he could no longer listen.
If he didn't strike others, they would strike him.
In this one life, living according to one's own will is stronger than anything else. As for his own rights and wrongs, achievements and faults, he would leave them for future generations to judge. In any case, he had a clear conscience.
Even later, when he was stripped of his official position and expelled from the clan, he did not regret it. Standing outside Bianjing City, he remembered when he first embarked on his career, aspiring to learn from Duke Fan Wenzheng, yet now he had abandoned the path halfway.
Later, living in seclusion in the mountains and forests, he often thought of court affairs, feeling as if they were from another lifetime.
Only occasionally did news come from the capital. Some spoke of how capable Minister Jiang was, how heavily the Emperor relied on him. With Junior Minister Jiang taking up his post, they resolutely attacked Western Xia and Liao, their might and fame resounding far and wide.
Having two Ministers Jiang in the court was truly a pillar of the state.
Whenever Jiang Fang heard such news, it was as if he had sipped fine wine; his heart felt refreshed and his body seemed to regain much of its vigor. The past was all like mist and smoke, and he sincerely wished for the nation's prosperity and the people's peace.
