Qiu Yelan had been crying and screaming in the Green Villa for a long time, but she was not getting anywhere.

She went back to the Jiang’s residence, seeing Jiang Yashuang waiting for her. Jiang Yashuang, who had recognized that Qiu Jinglan had made his decision before he persuaded his wife to go there, comforted her with sympathy, “You know that you have no choice to change his mind. And, he said before that he had everything in control. Or, neither our grandfather nor Prime Minister Xue would agree that he took this risk.”

It was true. If Qiu Jinglan were only smart, both Xue Chang and Marquess Qin might not stop him to be a Men of Sacrifice. Ultimately, to them, it was worth risking their grandsons’ lives to get the power in the Western Army as long as they were not the ones cultivated with hearts!

However, Qiu Jinglan was smart and resourceful. He was an invaluable young man in the relationship of senior and junior.

Xue Chang, as his teacher, must be reluctant to his going. In particular, Xue Nongying was almost killed last year. He was pretending to lose his memory. Nobody could guarantee nothing would not happen to him after he re-enter the official career! Xue Chang was getting old. He had not time to wait. As he did not have enough time to train his grandsons, he definitely would pave a path for his favorite student. In this way, he not only developed his force in the government, but also prepared a backer for his grandson, Xue Nongying for future.

To Marquess Qin, his granddaughter-in-law was Qiu Jinglan’s sister who treated her as a treasure. For the reason, no matter whose student Qiu Jinglan was, he was tied to the fate of the Jiang Family!

Such a young, talented, resourceful man trained by a good teacher was a natural ally. Marquess Qin, who even did not need to take time to cultivate him, definitely would not let him go easily.

As they agreed to let Qiu Jinglan risk his life in the west, they must have evaluated the whole plan to guarantee nothing dangerous would happen to him. Or, despite the fact that Qiu Jinglan was the head of the Tianya, it was not likely for him to escape to the west under two powerful and influential men’s noses.

What was more, Qiu Jinglan was not stupid to think that he could kill the current Commander-in-Chief of the Western Army alone without the support of the two influential officials. If so, he was naive.

“I know they have well planned. But the west is always the territory that Kuang Shihan has been operating for years,” Qiu Yelan said, sitting down listlessly, adding, “You know, he is going to face many soldiers… ”

“So, they intentionally reveal your brother’s true identity to the people in the court. So, on the surface, Kuang Shihan can do nothing serious to your brother,” said Jiang Yashuang, sitting beside her. He then served her a cup of tea, adding slowly, “We know that, your brother is not a man who can be bullied. Grandfather promised he would send some confidants and crack men there, helping him with the task.”

Qiu Yelan pursed her lips, “When will he send the men?” The Tianya was an assassination organization before. But now it turned to be a bodyguard organization. It was unlikely something fatal would happen in normal circumstances except the extreme case that she took Princess Yongfu and others to the Ruans’ residence on Her Majesty’s birthday happened again.

In particular, the Jiang Family promised to send crack troops to assist him. The crack troops owned by the Jiang Family were not inferior to the Kuang Shihan’s. In the light of the history, Kuang Shihan’s force was much inferior to the Jiang Family’s.

If we thought deeper, Qiu Jinglan had a glimmer of hope to survive in the west. As for his task he was trying to do, Qiu Yelan was not in the mood to think about. It was a fact that an alive person was much more important than a dead man.

“I think we will have confirmed news in the late afternoon,” said Jiang Yashuang.

Qiu Yelan was stunned a little, “So fast?” The light dawned on her after she spoke it. Marquess Qin might die in days. If they did not start doing now, it would be a waste of time planning it days ago!

“Empress Jiang, Uncle Mengmin, Third Uncle and Sixth Uncle may not be able to hold on any longer,” sighed Jiang Yashuang. “If I were not concerned about your brother, I would have done the thing before you went there persuading your brother.”

Qiu Yelan was stunned, “I heard that the Duke of Guangyang is a mediocre person without particular great deeds. He is even not smart as his son. Concerning the official affairs, Empress Dowager Gu always relies on Tang Zimo and Qiu Dian. On our side, Empress Jiang is the Empress. We even have three uncles serving in the administration, saying nothing of relationship arising from marriages!”

Jiang Yashuang shook his head, “You may not realize that due to the marriages, we are suppressed by the Empress Dowager! Many relatives-in-laws are having panic as grandfather did not show himself recently. Uncle Mengmin and others have to find ways to appease them… ”

“The Empress’s base is so… “Qiu Yelan said but stopped in the middle. She felt frustrated. “Marquess Qin has been in a bad condition since he got ill… How can he have energy to combat with Empress Dowager over the past years without being defeated?!”

“It’s not their fault for the confusion,” thought of Qiu Yelan. Although she did not speak it out, she knew that Jiang Yashuang must realize what she wanted to say. She explained, “It is grandfather who created and developed the Jiang Family to today’s position. In the light of prestige, no one can be closed to him!”

She continued in a low voice, “Empress Jiang is the next to grandfather! And then it should be grand uncle, Uncle Mengmin, Third Uncle and Sixth Uncle… But except grandfather, it may be unlike to select a head among the rest. The relatives-in-law and old friends definitely are concerned about who will be the head and how to take sides.”

To simply put, the majority of the Empress side were concerning not only Marquess Qin’s condition because of his illness, but also how to combat the Empress Dowager without the support of Marquess Qin. What was more, they must conclude a deal to select a head among them as their status were in almost the same level… If a head could not be selected shortly, the followers must be worried how to take a side.

If so, the followers must be in a slothful condition.

“It’s a good thing grandpa will be better in a few days,” sighed Qiu Yelan. “As we can get confirmed news in the late afternoon, do I need to change my dress and be about to go to the Prince’s Mansion of Xihe?”

Jiang Yashuang waved hand, “No need to hurry. As Commandery Princess Ningtai’s parents and brothers are there, you should wait until they come here and invite you!”

Frustrated by her brother’s decision to go to the west. Qiu Yelan was in a loss. She understood upon hearing her husband’s word. “Yes, you are so right. I am a married girl. It is not reasonable for me to deal with it.” Plus, it would be a better option to wait and maintain a position of strength until the Prince’s Mansion of Xihe came to invite her.

She had the least concerns that the Prince’s Mansion of Xihe would not come to invite her. Back then, the Prince’s Mansion of Xihe was the most prominent different surname of the king among the kings help found the country. However, that family was held in its birth sons.

Qiu Mengmin and his mother were evicted from the Prince’s Mansion, wandering in the streets at that time. After he came back to the Prince’s Mansion, he must comply with the rules, mourning for his official mother for three years, which ruled that the mourner should not take social activities. Worse, as Qiu Zhongyan fought to death in a battle, neither Old Princess Lian nor Princess Ruan would assign Qiu Mengmin as the head of the Prince’s Mansion. For the reasons, Qiu Mengmin did not have many backers back then.

What was more, Old Princess Lian and Princess Ruan had sold all property as they could get in the Prince’s Mansion of Xihe. And Qiu Jinglan even took their dowries with him. So, today’s Prince’s Mansion of Xihe was only an empty shell.

However, although the house was an empty shell, Qiu Jinzhu, as a Commandery Princess born in the house, had hooked up with Kuang Qingwu for over one year… The Prince’s Mansion of Xihe must give an explanation to the people! Politically, Kuang Qingwu was superior to Qiu Jinzhu, but in terms of status, Kuang Qingwu was a new Jinshi, how dare he date a Commandery Princess!?

If this was known by the people, it would be a big shame on the Prince’s Mansion of Xihe!

Now, the only hope the empty shell Prince’s Mansion of Xihe could rely on for Qiu Jinzhu’s justice was Qiu Yelan. About this, it had been deemed a fate for Qiu Yelan when Qiu Jinzhu and Kuang Qingwu began to date.

“Qiu Jinzhu…” Qiu Yelan shook her head. Qiu Jinzhu was once a mean and aggressive girl but changed into a girl full of sympathy and guilty to Chu Yitong, Commandery Princess Lihui after Duchess of Huainan’s death. “I wonder how Yang taught her to be like this. I heard that Yang had kept a close eye on her after the previous accident with Yang Yifu. How could this happen?”

Little did she know that Princess Yang who just received the news went bananas too, “It is a girl’s top priority to maintain her reputation. You leant nothing from the lessons of your two sisters?”

Princess Yang felt furious and painful in her deep heart. Her family had been taken advantage of similar accidents multiple times.

“Although Yifu was a concubine’s daughter, she must have a chance to marry a boy from the official family. But unexpectedly, she lost her life because of the rumor that she had an affair! And Yishi, her fate was worse than her sister Yifu. She was the favorite of your First Uncle and also, she was the most beloved one of your First Uncle compared with your brothers. Unfortunately, she was seduced by Ding Qingyan as she did not control well her feelings. What happened to her at last. She killed herself in the residence of the Ding Family. And your First Uncle was removed from his position. Your Third Uncle moved outside. Back then, although your mother’s house was not a prominent one in the capital, it was a wealthy one. However, because of your two sisters and what they did to the Family, your First Uncle lost everything he strived in the past years. He is not transferred back to the capital until now!”

Princess Yang howled while she recalled. “Although your Third Uncle moved out, separating from your First Uncle and Second Uncle, his daughters like Yinian and Yimian, they are not married until now… Those painful lessons teach you nothing. And I have taught and warn you many times. How can you still do such a thing?”

Qiu Jinzhu covered her left face which was slapped by Princess Yang minutes ago, saying, “Mother, I’m sorry!”

“It’s useless to say sorry now. People have known that you have an affair with Kuang Qingwu, and started dating from last year!” Her daughter drove Princess Yang crazy. “After Qiu Yelan got married, no girls who are older than you are not married. If you want to get married, you tell me. I will arrange everything for you. From the beginning of this year, I have been looking for a suitable boy for you! But what did you tell me? You said you want to stay with me for more years, serving me. But you then dated Kuang Qingwu immediately after saying that to me… Do you want me to die now, right?”

It was the first time for Qiu Jinzhu to see her mother was so hysterical. Despite ruthlessness and viciousness since her childhood, she grew to be prudent after seeing and getting through many. She replied her mother timidly, “Kuang Qingwu said that his father wanted him to marry Princess Changping. But he does not like Princess Changping at all. He just wants to marry me. He withholds our relationship because he is afraid after Empress Dowager and Princess Changping know our relationship, they may do vicious things to our family… ”

Slap!

Princess Yang, who had been caring for her daughter much, could not help slap her in her face now, “You are such an idiot! You have known that he would marry Princess Changping. You knew it but you still trust him? Nothing in your brain, nothing!!!”

“Mother. We have true love!” Princess Yang used her full strength to slap her daughter due to anger. Qiu Jinzhu felt dizzy, slumping on the floor. She recovered after a few minutes, defending herself, “He… ”

“Back then, when Ding Qingyan was seducing your sister, Yishi. I am sure he also said he was true to her. I told over and over again. Don’t believe one sentence said in private before engagement. Why did you listen to me? If Kuang Qingwu really cares about you, why does not he engage with you first? Why did he say nothing about the engagement even you two have dated for over one year? How stupid you are!!!”

Princess Yang stood there, staring at her daughter with a trembling body. She was thinking that she must have done countless malicious things over the past. God wanted to punish her by giving her a daughter like Qiu Jinzhu who was still unrepentant. Princess Yang was in a mess. She even did not know how to teach her daughter now. At this moment, she even wanted to kill her to relieve her sullenness.

On the other side of the story, Qiu Jinzhu had her own reasons although the example of Yang Yishi was so painful, “Last year, when we went out for summer vacation in the Jinxiu Slope. In the heavy raining day, we took a rest in the Jiang Family’s farm. I saw that Jiang Yashuang held Yelan in his arms! They were not engaged at that time either. I remembered that Qiu Yelan’s mourning period was just closed but they hugged each other outside. I think they must have dated during her mourning period. I also heard that Prime Minister Xue’s granddaughter would marry Jiang Yashuang! But what happened then? Jiang Yashuang married Qiu Yelan at last!”

For this reason, to date the beloved one before the engagement was not a big deal at all. Qiu Yelan was a good example in this point. After getting married, she even got Marquess Qin’s extra award, a phoenix-shaped hairpin as a gift showing his satisfaction to the granddaughter-in-law. Since then, she had happy days with her husband in the side yard. What envy!

Qiu Jinzhu thought grudgingly that despite the fact that she was not as beautiful as Qiu Yelan, Kuang Qingwu was not as handsome as Jiang Yashuang either. Why couldn’t she do the same as Qiu Yelan did?