Chapter 582
Madam Song did not explain anything to Little Jiang Jinyu.
Instead, she hurriedly changed her clothes and followed Nanny Tang to the Jing'an Courtyard.
Along the way, she wondered how she should politely decline when the madam made her request, so that she would not seem too eager.
She also considered how she might bring up a suitable bride for her son if Fourth Young Master really became the next head of the family.
By the time Madam Song arrived at the Jing'an Courtyard, Madame Jiang and Jiang Siyue were already waiting there.
“This concubine greets the madam and the honored cousin.” Madam Song glanced at Jiang Siyue and thought disdainfully, This honored cousin truly has no sense of propriety. Doesn't she know she ought to avoid suspicion?
Yet her face wore a smile, and she even gave Jiang Siyue a half-bow.
“Greetings, Concubine Madam Song!” Jiang Siyue looked down on Madam Song, but when she remembered Madame Jiang's instructions—and that she would soon marry Jiang Yuanjie, making this woman her mother-in-law—she had no choice but to offer a reluctant bow.
Madam Song had not expected Jiang Siyue to bow to her. She was startled, but she could not help feeling pleased.
It seemed that their branch of the family was about to rise. Even the honored cousin beside the madam had to bow to her now.
With that thought, Madam Song lifted her chin proudly.
“Please rise, Concubine Madam Song. Someone, bring her some tea.” Though Madame Jiang was displeased, she still showed Madam Song a measure of courtesy.
Madam Song was even more delighted.
“May I ask if the madam has some instructions for me?” she asked after taking her seat.
“I invited you here today because there is something I would like to discuss with you.” Madame Jiang looked at Madam Song, inwardly displeased. This Madam Song had clearly guessed her intentions, yet she was pretending not to understand.
What a pretentious woman.
“It is my good fortune to help ease the madam's burdens.”
“I imagine you have heard about Young Master Rang. The Jiang family cannot be left without an heir, so I wish to have Brother Jie adopted into the main branch. What do you think, Concubine Madam Song?” Madame Jiang asked.
The astonishment on Madam Song's face quickly turned to delight. She hurriedly knelt before Madame Jiang and said excitedly, “For Brother Jie to receive the madam's favor is his good fortune. Naturally, I am willing. However, I am merely a concubine. I wonder what the master will say about this...”
Madam Song had no intention of refusing, but she still voiced her difficulty.
“Isn't there another two legitimate sons in the second branch? Brother Jie is merely a son of a concubine there. Once he is adopted into the main branch, he will be registered under my name and become a true legitimate son. Surely you understand that this is what is best for Brother Jie.”
Madame Jiang was not worried in the slightest that Madam Song would refuse.
As long as Madam Song was not a fool, she would never turn down the chance for her son to rise to prominence.
Moreover, being adopted into the main branch meant that he would inherit the Jiang family's holdings.
Aside from Madam Feng, who was always making a fuss, no one else in the second branch was worth fearing.
Even if the clan members were asked to decide, Madam Feng would not dare utter a word of refusal.
“If that is the case, then it will indeed be Brother Jie's good fortune.” Madam Song forced down the smile tugging at the corners of her lips.
“However, I have one more condition.” Seeing how quickly Madam Song had agreed, Madame Jiang's lips curved into a mocking smile.
She went on to make another demand: Jiang Yuanjie had to marry Jiang Siyue.
Jiang Siyue, who had been sitting silently to the side, straightened in her seat.
She knew that her aunt was about to discuss her marriage.
“Please, go ahead, Madam,” Madam Song quickly replied.
“If Brother Jie is adopted into the main branch, you will no longer be permitted to interfere in any of his affairs. From then on, he will be a son of the main branch. He must take Yue'er as his primary wife, and he may not take any concubines until Yue'er has given birth to a son. The next head of the family must be the child born to Yue'er.” Madame Jiang spoke to Madam Song slowly and emphatically, one word at a time.
Madam Song, who had been planning to find her son a bride from a prestigious family, was instantly stunned.
Would everything concerning her son truly have nothing to do with her from now on?
“Don't worry. In the future, Brother Jie will certainly leave a place in the Jiang family for you and Little Jade.” Remembering Madam Song and her daughter born of a concubine, Madame Jiang added this reassurance.
The corners of Madam Song's mouth twitched. She wanted to refuse, yet she could not bring herself to say the words.
“From now on, Brother Jie will be your son, Madam,” Madam Song said through clenched teeth.
Although she was unwilling, she knew perfectly well whether it was better for her son to be a legitimate son or a son of a concubine.
She was merely dissatisfied with the demand that Jiang Yuanjie marry Jiang Siyue.
However, her son had not yet gained power and still had to rely on the madam.
She thought that once Madame Jiang was gone, the Jiang family would belong entirely to her son. Why would he still need to submit to her restrictions?
A mere Jiang Siyue would be easy enough to control.
“Very well. Since you have no objections, I will have the clan send people to open the ancestral hall and register Brother Jie under the main branch. From now on, he will move to the Qiyun Courtyard,” Madame Jiang said directly.
“Yes. This is Brother Jie's good fortune.” Madam Song's heart was bitter, but she still forced a smile.
“Mm. When you return, tell Brother Jie.”
After saying this, Madame Jiang no longer kept Madam Song there.
“Aunt, that Madam Song looks so provincial, and her son...” Jiang Siyue was dying of frustration. She truly did not want such a mother-in-law. Wouldn't it be humiliating if word got out?
“Yue'er, from now on, Brother Jie will be my son!” Madame Jiang looked at her niece, unwilling to let her continue being willful.
“Aunt, I was wrong.” Jiang Siyue could only grit her teeth and apologize. She was unwilling, but she had no better option.
Heping County
Xu Heming sat grim-faced in a ruined temple.
“My lord, what do we do now?” Xu Song glanced outside and asked anxiously.
“How many men do we have left?” Xu Heming asked after taking a deep breath.
“My lord, we have three thousand men left, but Prince of Zhennan has at least twenty thousand.” Only after saying this did Xu Song notice that something was wrong with Xu Heming's expression. He hurriedly asked, “My lord, are you injured?”
“It's nothing. Find a way to bring reinforcements from the southwestern military camp. Those gold mines must not fall into anyone else's hands.”
The more Xu Heming spoke, the worse his expression became.
“My lord, your wound is bleeding.” Xu Song noticed the blood flowing from Xu Heming's arm and moved forward to bandage it.
“Leave it. Send a few more men to Lucheng and make sure the princess consort is safe.”
At the thought of Li Zhiwei, who was still in Lucheng, Xu Heming's heart clenched painfully.
If those people had also sent men to Lucheng, Li Zhiwei and the others would have no ability to fight back at all.
“My lord, given our current situation, I'm afraid we can't spare anyone...” Xu Song wanted to send men to Lucheng to protect Li Zhiwei as well.
But with the situation as it was, their strength simply did not allow it.
“Even if we can't spare anyone, we must find someone to send there. The princess consort cannot come to harm!” Xu Heming did not say aloud that Li Tianyou was even more important.
