TTTQF Chapter 59

Going Home

"You!" Gao Shichang is so angry that his beard shakes. He has been in the officialdom for many years, but he never thought that one day he would be humiliated by a street vendor.

"Please don't get angry. If you suddenly pass out, whose fault would that be? I was just talking casually; and I can't control who gets offended," Jiang Miao quickly distances himself from the situation. Seeing the old man trembling, he thinks, better not let this turn into a scam.

After several setbacks, Gao Shichang finally realizes that he will gain nothing from arguing with this shameless vendor. He snorts coldly and sits down, his face dark. Despite holding the emperor's decree, he can't use it to retaliate against this street vendor.

Since Jiang Miao has come out, he naturally needs to pay respects to the elders. Although coming out during the betrothal process is against the rules, two men getting married is already an exception, so he doesn't mind adding a few more exceptions.

The eldest uncle of the Feng family initially harbors some objections about Pei Che's chosen partner. Even though he isn't as particular about family status as others, the match between these two disparate individuals seems quite unsuitable. However, after meeting Jiang Miao and hearing him speak, the eldest uncle of the Feng family feels a little relieved. At least this person has some courage. If he had been meek and timid, it would have been truly disheartening.

In contrast, Pei Shiyuan is very dissatisfied with Jiang Miao. This man has not only ruined his plans but also engaged in verbal disputes, making him fear that there will be no more peaceful days in the mansion. Now, inside and outside the Duke's residence, there is a restless atmosphere, with people secretly taking sides, seemingly weighing who holds more power between him and Pei Che. He is worried that once this man enters the household, the old lady will hand over the management of the family to him.

Pei Shiyuan prides himself on his abilities, but as a mere concubine's son who has married a concubine's daughter, he has no strong backing. The fact that they have achieved their current status is already quite an accomplishment.

When Jiang Miao is introduced to Pei Shiyuan, he can't help but stare at him for a few moments. This man is quite handsome, but his thoughts are very malicious. During this period, Pei Che frequently visits him, ostensibly to maintain appearances but also to give him extensive information about the Duke's Mansion, including its personnel and marital connections. Jiang Miao finds all this information overwhelming and can't help but wish there was a family planning office in ancient times to eliminate such troubles from the source.

At noon, the Jiang family prepares a banquet to entertain their guests. The dishes meet the standard, and although Gao Shichang scrutinizes them for a long time, he can't find any faults and has to sit down reluctantly.

Over the past two days, Uncle Jiang and Aunt Jiang have been coached, and their table manners have improved significantly. At least during this meal, no one can find any reason to criticize them. Jiang Miao also takes a seat at the table. Anyway, the more he breaks the rules, the happier the emperor will be. This way, everyone will be happy.

After the meal, the betrothal party bids their farewells and leaves. After seeing them off, the three members of the Jiang family return to the main hall and collapse into their chairs, exhausted. This exhaustion is not physical but mental.

Uncle Jiang's eyes are vacant as he stares at the ceiling, mumbling, "I received the imperial decree... I received the imperial decree!" Such a thing is beyond his wildest dreams, yet it is actually happening today.

"Second Uncle?" Jiang Miao asks, a bit worried about his condition.

"Ah Miao, your second uncle is just having a moment of confusion. It's nothing serious," Aunt Jiang says. "Now that this matter is settled, can we go back home tomorrow?" She has been thinking about her house these past few days and doesn't know if everything is being taken care of properly.

"Aren't you going to stay a few more days? Things have been busy lately. I was hoping that once things settle down, we could bring Sister Xiaoyu and the others over for a visit."

Aunt Jiang shakes her head. "No, don't bring them here. After all, this is Young Master Pei's residence. You two aren't married yet, and if the family stays here for too long, people will gossip. Wait until after you're married to invite them over."

"Yeah, we haven't worked for a few days and we're getting lazy," Uncle Jiang says, suddenly missing his hoe. While life here is comfortable, it can't last long. If they get too used to it, it will be hard to adjust later.

Jiang Miao knows that the two have made up their minds, so he promises to send them back the next day. Before they leave, Jiang Miao prepares many things for them to take home: food, supplies, and even the clothes they have been wearing these past few days.

The two decline at first, but it is useless. Just as they are determined to go back, Jiang Miao is determined to give them these things. In the end, they can't refuse and go back with more than half a cart of items.

Jiang Miao watches them leave, then goes back inside. The scenery is still the same, but suddenly, the place feels empty and cold, even though there are still people working around.

In the afternoon, Xiao Shitou stands in front of the door, waiting for Jiang Miao to come pick him up. The place they live in now is very close to Scholar Yu's house; they can walk there in just a short time, much closer than before.

So today, when Jiang Miao walks past that alley without stopping, Xiao Shitou speaks up. "Brother, aren't we going there?"

"Do you want to live in that big house?" Jiang Miao asks.

"As long as I'm with you, it doesn't matter where we live!" 

Xiao Shitou's sweet words make Jiang Miao realize the truth. No wonder he now feels differently about the mansion from when he first saw it; he thought he had developed a resistance to the allure of wealth, but it turns out it was the absence of family that made it feel different.

"Then let's go back to our place," Jiang Miao says.

Xiao Shitou nods vigorously. "Yes! I want to sleep with my brother tonight!"

...

Since the Duke of Zhongguo family announces the engagement to the Jiang family with great fanfare, the people of Liangjing can finally discuss the matter openly.

Some conspiracy theorists believe that the emperor is displeased with them and that the marriage is a means to weaken their influence.

Romantic thinkers think that Pei Che is deeply in love and has sacrificed too much for this forbidden romance, which is truly touching.

Others, with more progressive views, speculate that the imperial decree is perhaps the emperor's way of testing public acceptance of same-sex marriage. They wonder if the emperor might soon take a male concubine!

While all kinds of amusing and absurd rumors spread at lightning speed among the common folk of Liangjing, another matter quickly circulates within the circles of the wealthy and prominent families in Shangcheng.

According to Gao Shichang, who attended the ceremony, the man Pei Che is set to marry is described as utterly vulgar, a standard street vendor in both speech and behavior. Gao claims that the vendor has even managed to dominate Pei Che; when the vendor speaks, Pei Che doesn’t dare utter a word, representing a total collapse of marital authority and disgrace to the noble families of Liangjing.

Upon hearing this, some noble youths who already envy Pei Che begin to express their disdain in various forums, declaring that they will no longer associate with someone who has so lowered himself. Some even more radical ones contemplate a joint petition to have Pei Che removed from the Imperial Academy. However, their draft petition is quickly intercepted and shut down by Su Jin and others. After that, they dare not act publicly, only secretly cursing them daily.

Naturally, Pei Che is unaware of these developments. He has taken a month off from the Imperial Academy, and with only a few days remaining, he has to take a good rest. Anyway, he hasn’t fallen behind in his studies these days, and he might even catch up faster than them when he returns to the academy.

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