Chapter 277 – My Son Has Facial Paralysis (part 8)
Immediately afterwards, Li Zhong talked about the several wonderful battles that General Li fought. He unknowingly attracted Li Chen’s attention. Li Zhong talked until his mouth was dry. He had to stop and drink. When he was drinking water, Li Chen looked thoughtful
Li Su said, “Victory in a war depends on the right time, the right place, and the right people. A qualified general can’t just rely on martial arts ability alone. They must also expand their cultural knowledge. In the future, you will always read military books and maps, right? If you don’t know one big character and you can’t even read the map, how can you be a general? Isn’t that so?”
Li Chen nodded.
“Okay, it’s fine if you know. You are not allowed to doze off in class next time. Your teacher has come to complain several times.” Li Su squeezed Li Chen’s face while Li Chen was not paying attention. The meat that was raised with great difficulty was lost because of him working hard at martial arts.
Li Chen frowned and took a few steps back with a look of dissatisfaction.
Li Su giggled. “Okay, I won’t tease you anymore.” This child didn’t know what to do, and he didn’t like to be in contact with people, especially women. But, he was fine with her. If it were someone else, he would have stared at the other person with disgust, and then washed his face with water.
What’s wrong? Didn’t he plan to marry a wife and have children in the future?
At this time, Li Su did not expect that her words would become a prophecy. When Li Chen grew up, he refused to marry a wife and have children. It was not until Li Su discovered his secret that he confessed to Li Su.
Of course, these were all later stories.
After Li Su and Li Chen talked, Li Chen’s attitude improved a lot. At least during the cultural class, he stopped dozing off. Although his progress in the cultural aspect was far less than that in the martial arts, he finally made some progress. The gentleman no longer complained too often.
After Li Chen’s incident came to an end, Li Su stayed at home and began to organise the handwritten books from Father Li about the tactics he used to deploy his troops, as well as his experience of marching and fighting for many years. After sorting them into a book, she left a copy for Li Chen. She then brought a copy into the palace.
When the empress dowager saw that Li Su had really sorted out General Li’s writings just as she said she would, she was relieved. The empress dowager didn’t look at it. “This is a work of General Li’s life. You have to keep it alive and ensure it does not fall into the hands of people with ulterior motives.”
Li Su looked at the empress dowager blankly. “Empress Dowager, I left a copy for my family’s Chen’er. I plan to give this copy to the imperial court and print it in a booklet so that His Majesty can decide who to give it to.”
“You really decided to give it to the imperial court?” The empress dowager was surprised. This was a family heirloom. With these, not to mention being able to become a family of famous generals like General Li, at least it can frighten one side! Su Su would give it up like this? Should she praise Su Su for being loyal and sincere to the imperial court? Or was she stupid?
“Naturally. As the empress dowager said, these are my father’s life-long efforts. Instead of leaving it in the study, it is better to give it to those in need. Maybe it can play a greater role.” Li Su originally planned to do so. As for how the emperor would deal with these, that was the emperor’s business. She didn’t care about that.
The empress dowager smiled happily. “Su Su, both We and the emperor know about your loyalty. Don’t worry!” Su Su was sincere and deserved praise. She was a humble county princess who had been wronged. The eldest imperial princess’ moral integrity couldn’t compare to Su Su’s!
Li Su smiled. She really didn’t think about it that much. She was just afraid of trouble. Besides, she just wanted to hug the empress dowager’s thigh tightly.
It didn’t take long for the emperor to send out a decree again. The start was full of high praise. In the end, it was said that Li Su was talented and virtuous. She adhered to the empress dowager’s benevolent commands. County Princess Hengyang was promoted to Eldest Imperial Princess, and was granted a fief containing 700 households, meaning she would receive the taxes from those 700 households.
This fief was the crown of an imperial princess.
Naturally, the imperial princesses were dissatisfied. The emperor’s own daughter was still young and didn’t even have a title, so naturally she didn’t care. But the emperor’s sisters were not happy. After all, some of them had not even earned the title of the eldest princess, but now they were succeeded by an orphan girl. Of course they were not willing to endure this.
But no matter how dissatisfied they were, they only muttered a few words in secret. They didn’t even dare to taunt Li Su in person. That family had the support of the empress dowager and the emperor!
As for the experience in the military book that Li Su presented to the imperial court… After the emperor considered it, he gave it to some of his confidants. The ones who received the military book felt it was like receiving a treasure. After reading it, they got a lot of experience. They not only admired General Li’s intelligence, but also admired Li Su’s selfless generosity.
For a while, Li Su and the Li family became very popular in the capital. Li Su was so troubled that she simply told the empress dowager that she would move with Li Chen to another courtyard in the suburbs of the capital.
On the Jiang family’s side, Jiang Hewen really spent a lot of effort and finally succeeded in cleaning himself up. He was a smart person and good at disguising himself. As long as he wanted to, there was no one he couldn’t fool. Now, he was a good son in the eyes of his parents, and a good young master in the eyes of his servants.
He also successfully gained Jiang Wande’s trust and began to help the Jiang family’s shops in Jiangnan and in the capital. The eldest brother, Jiang Hecheng, was sick again. Fortunately, he was ill 365 days out of 365 days a year, so no one cared. As usual, he asked a doctor to boil medicine.
At this time, Jiang Hewen had just returned from Jiangnan. On the way, he heard about Li Su being conferred the title of the eldest imperial princess. His eyes dimmed slightly. What did she do to become the eldest imperial princess? If that unforeseen event had not happened, he would be an imperial consort, a high-ranking official, and a rich man right now. It wouldn’t be like now, where he had to toil hard for money!
Jiang Hewen stretched out his hand and summoned the servant, Chen San. “Go and check on the eldest imperial princess’ current situation!”
Chen San heeded those orders and left.
After Jiang Hewen returned to the house, he first reported the situation in Jiangnan to Jiang Wande. Jiang Wande nodded with satisfaction. “Thank you for your hard work. Change your clothes quickly and go see your mother. She missed you a lot.”
“I know. I’ll go right now.” Jiang Hewen chuckled lightly.
Jiang Hewen turned around and walked a few steps. He then suddenly remembered something and turned around. “Father, I bought you a few snuff bottles in Jiangnan. See if you like them?”
With that said, Jiang Hewen took out the snuff bottles from his sleeve. Jiang Wande looked at them one by one and nodded with satisfaction. “You have good eyesight!” He glanced at Jiang Hewen and thought that after this incident, his son was finally sensible and knew filial piety and how to be filial to his father.
“Did you buy something for your mother?” Jiang Wande asked.
“I bought fashionable fabric head ornaments in Jiangnan, as well as the fabric jewellery from foreigners.” Jiang Hewen smiled. “Eldest brother and eldest sister-in-law also have them. They are all in the box. They will be sorted out later and sent over.”
Jiang Wande nodded. “Mm, the family and everything are prosperous. Since you think like this, father is very happy.”
Jiang Hewen smiled and nodded. “Dad is right.”
When Mrs. Jiang-Wang saw her son, she cried and smiled while holding Jiang Hewen’s hand.
Jiang Hewen always looked at Mrs. Jiang-Wang with a smile on his face and comforted her softly.
After a long time, Mrs. Jiang-Wang calmed down and suddenly mentioned Jiang Hewen’s marriage. “Hewen, you are too old. It’s time to get married. You are now helping your father with the business and running all over the world. Mother is really worried. Mother is still waiting to hold her grandson.”
Jiang Hewen sneered in his heart. Was she worried about him, or was she afraid that he would have an accident and she would have no-one to rely on?
“Mother, I…” Jiang Hewen hesitated.
“Can’t you let that bitch go?!” Mrs. Jiang-Wang said angrily.
“Mother, don’t talk nonsense. Aren’t you worried about saying the wrong thing?! She is the eldest princess now!” Jiang Hewen said nervously.
Mrs. Jiang was relieved. It turned out that her son was talking about Mrs. Li. She thought her son would never forget that bitch, Su Ruxue! It was good that it wasn’t what she thought. Only…
“Son, you also know that Mrs. Li is now the eldest princess. Mrs. Li is deeply favored by His Majesty and the empress dowager. How can we climb that high? Besides, you are divorced because of that incident. I’m afraid you can’t reunite, even if you wanted to!” Mrs. Jiang-Wang advised.
Jiang Hewen was silent for a moment. “Mother, I can’t let her go. I can’t forget her. I don’t want to just give up. I still want to give it a try.”
However, Mrs. Jiang-Wang was frightened by the imperial family and disagreed.
When Jiang Hewen saw this, a trace of disgust flashed in his eyes. In the end, he came from a small family, so he wouldn’t even be considered. If he had a mother of high birth and was taught all the proper rules and etiquette, it would not be like this.
Seeing Jiang Hewen’s refusal to express his position, Mrs. Jiang-Wang’s heart was anxious. She was reluctant to say too much in fear that her son would be angry. She had no choice but to worriedly tell Jiang Wande about it.
Jiang Wande thought farther than Mrs. Jiang-Wang.
If Hewen and Mrs. Li could really reunite, that would be excellent. Their wealth was in danger! It was just a matter of if Hewen could capture Mrs. Li’s heart again. If not, would His Majesty blame Hewen again? He only had one healthy son left.
No, absolutely not. It was better to live a peaceful life.
That night, Jiang Wande called Jiang Hewen to the study and told Jiang Hewen his plans directly. “Hewen, your father’s opinion is the same as your mother’s. I don’t agree with you looking for the eldest princess to try and get back together. She is the eldest princess now, and she is not what she used to be. She isn’t someone you can use to climb up high. You should be honest and find another good match in order to have children as soon as possible. You should live in peace! The family’s property will be left to you in the future, isn’t that enough?”
How would that be possible? What he wanted was the feeling of being aloof and powerful, rather than being a merchant and ending up always sighing!
Jiang Hewen didn’t say anything. He knew what Jiang Wande and Mrs. Jiang-Wang were worried about. It was nothing more than fear that he would fail. Hehe, he didn’t even have the courage to bear the consequences. No wonder he had only been a petty official all his life.
“Father, what are you and your mother worried about? I know in my heart, but I don’t want to feel wronged. I want to give it a try. If it works, everyone will be happy. If it doesn’t work, I will give up completely,” Jiang Hewen said.
Jiang Wande sighed. “Have you even thought about it? His Majesty has already blamed you. If something happens again, there is no guarantee… You are your mother’s only child. If something happens to you, how will we live?”
Jiang Hewen sneered in his heart, but his face was very calm. “I will try. If I can do it, then you and mother will have a grandson to rely on. If I am lucky, then I will find a reason in the future to bring this child back to the house to be raised.”
Jiang Wande was actually a little moved. After all, he knew the benefits of marrying the eldest princess. It was just that he didn’t dare to take the risk of losing his son. Now that Jiang Hewen had said so, Jiang Wande had no worries. “In that case, do as you please. It must be a boy though.”
Jiang Hewen said, “Don’t worry, dad. But, dad, if I want to gain Mrs. Li’s trust again, I need staff to make arrangements.”
Jiang Wande nodded, “Of course. You can make arrangements yourself!”