Chapter 604
Chapter 604
“Elder Brother, I’m truly sorry. Next time, I’ll invite you and Sister-in-Law to our residence and give you a proper welcome,” Li Tianyou said to Yao Qisheng, looking apologetic.
“Brother-in-Law, what are you saying? We’re family—there’s no need to stand on ceremony. When you have the time, take my sister back to Qujing for a visit.”
Yao Qisheng gave Li Tianyou’s shoulder a solemn pat. He knew all too well that after this parting, no one could say when they would meet again.
But there was no such thing as a feast that never ended.
After making their preparations, Li Tianyou and the others decided to return to the capital the next day.
For some reason, however, word that Li Tingzhou was hiding here had reached Madame Jiang.
At that moment, Madame Jiang was kneeling outside the courtyard with Nanny Tang, pleading, “Rang'er, Mother was wrong!”
Madame Jiang had never imagined that in just ten days, Jiang Yuanjie and Jiang Siyue would turn the Jiang family upside down.
Only now did she understand what Jiang Yuanrang had done for the Jiang family back then.
None of that could be made up for simply by having Jiang Yuanjie, a secondary son, inherit the main branch of the Jiang family.
Jiang Yuanjie was merely a son born to a concubine. He had no idea how to manage the household.
How could the Jiang family’s businesses possibly be entrusted to him?
Yet ever since Jiang Siyue had caused a scene at her own wedding banquet, the two of them had been making trouble day in and day out.
Left with no choice, Madame Jiang had thought of sending Jiang Yuanjie out to learn from the shopkeepers.
Who could have imagined that the two of them would go so far as to smash three shops?
Jiang Yuanjie even believed that the shopkeepers were being paid too much and wanted to cut their wages.
Now, the shopkeepers were all threatening to resign.
Madame Jiang had more troubles than she knew what to do with.
Only then did she think that if she begged Jiang Yuanrang, perhaps, for the sake of having raised him for nineteen years, he might be willing to return with her.
“How dare that woman come here?” Li Tianyou exploded as soon as he heard Madame Jiang’s voice.
If it weren’t for her, how could he and his son have been separated since childhood?
“From the looks of it, life in the Jiang family has become difficult, so she’s trying to find a way to bring Zhou'er back,” Lady Yao sighed.
“Don’t look at me. I’m not going back with her,” Li Tingzhou said, waving his hands repeatedly.
“Don’t bother with her. They can’t get in anyway,” Jun Mowen said with complete confidence.
When Xu Heming arrived, he saw Madame Jiang kneeling outside the courtyard.
In fact, Xu Heming had only been able to find this remote mountain residence because Xu Chuan had left markers behind earlier.
However, Jun Moshan had never met Xu Heming and assumed that he was on Madame Jiang’s side.
“I already told you. The person you’re looking for isn’t here. Leave at once,” Jun Mowen said impatiently.
“Divine Physician, please! Let me see my son. Just once is enough!” Madame Jiang had none of the arrogance she had displayed when she first met Jun Mowen.
“Oh? Now you want to look for him? He’s already gone! Besides, don’t you already have a son?” Jun Mowen said mockingly.
“I was wrong! That secondary son is completely incapable of shouldering such responsibility. He can’t compare to Rang'er at all!” Madame Jiang cried out in despair.
“Get lost! Hmph. You stole someone else’s son through such despicable means, and you really thought that made him yours?” Jun Mowen said impatiently.
“Yes, I took him and raised him as my own, but I’ve provided him with good food and clothing all these years. I never mistreated him! If he leaves, the Jiang family will be finished. Please, let him come back!” Madame Jiang sobbed.
“Your Jiang family should have been finished nineteen years ago!” Jun Mowen said mercilessly.
“Elder—” Xu Heming had watched the spectacle for quite some time before finally speaking up. He wanted to ask about Li Zhiwei’s whereabouts.
“That’s enough. You leave too. Don’t think bringing someone here to plead your case will let you see anyone!” Jun Mowen rolled his eyes at Xu Heming.
He still assumed that Xu Heming was on Madame Jiang’s side.
“Elder, I have nothing to do with her. I’m here to find Li Tianyou. Please tell him that a man named Xu is looking for him,” Xu Heming hurriedly explained.
He had intended to mention Li Zhiwei, but for some reason, the name that slipped from his lips was that of his father-in-law instead.
“No, no. Leave at once!” Jun Mowen refused to let them have their way. After saying this impatiently, he turned and went into the courtyard.
“Something about a man named Xu? Hmph. The Jiang family deserves all the bad luck coming to them,” Jun Mowen grumbled as he entered the house.
“Enough. If they want to wait out there, let them. We don’t need to pay them any attention. Everyone should get a good rest tonight. We’ll set out first thing tomorrow morning,” Li Tianyou said, having no interest in dealing with Madame Jiang.
At present, all he wanted was to take his daughter back to the capital as quickly as possible.
Xu Heming kept peering into the courtyard, but unfortunately, no one came out again.
Even after Madame Jiang and Nanny Tang had left, Xu Heming continued standing outside the courtyard.
“Xu Chuan, Xu Mu!” Only after the others had gone did Xu Heming frown and call toward the house.
“I could have sworn I heard the prince’s voice,” Xu Mu said uncertainly.
“I think I heard it too.” As Xu Chuan spoke, he headed toward the courtyard entrance.
There, Xu Chuan saw Xu Heming standing outside.
“Prince, what brings you here?” Xu Mu hurried forward, but then remembered that there were traps in the courtyard. He quickly retreated inside to find Madam Jin.
“You said your prince has come? And he can’t get in?” Jun Mowen suddenly recalled the man he had seen earlier that day.
“What is your prince’s surname?” Jun Mowen asked uncertainly.
“Elder Jun, of course our prince’s surname is Xu!” Xu Mu hurriedly replied.
At that, Jun Mowen awkwardly edged back into the house.
Good heavens, so that man really wasn’t with Madame Jiang?
If he told everyone later that he had refused to let the man in…
Jun Mowen muttered anxiously to himself.
After all, if his own wife found out, she certainly wouldn’t let him off easily.
With that thought, Jun Mowen immediately put on a broad smile and hurried outside.
“Oh, you must be Prince An!” Jun Mowen warmly grabbed Xu Heming’s hand and began pulling him into the courtyard.
“Elder?” Xu Heming frowned, completely puzzled. Hadn’t this old man been cold and hostile toward him just moments ago?
Why had he suddenly become so warm?
For a moment, Xu Heming wondered whether the fierce-looking Jun Mowen from earlier had ever existed at all.
“Auntie Jin, what do you think is wrong with Elder Jun?” Xu Mu asked, looking at Madam Jin in confusion.
“What else could it be? He feels guilty,” Madam Jin thought, rolling her eyes inwardly. That old man must have done something he didn’t want anyone to know about.
“The Princess Consort hasn’t woken up, but that isn’t Elder Jun’s fault. Please tell him not to worry. The prince will certainly understand,” Xu Mu said after a moment’s thought, assuming that Jun Mowen was afraid Xu Heming would punish him because Li Zhiwei had not yet awakened.
“Elder, where is Weiwei?” Xu Heming disliked having people get too close to him.
Jun Mowen’s sudden enthusiasm made him feel rather awkward.
What concerned him even more was Li Zhiwei’s safety.
The smile on Jun Mowen’s face vanished at once.
Damn it! Was Prince An here to expose him?