When Jun Jiuli arrived at Jiang Chuzhuo’s elegant bamboo courtyard, he was practicing his sword. Each move was sharp and swift, his movements fluid, possessing a hint of decisiveness and killer intent. Observing his swordsmanship, one could discern his resolute and sharp character.
He was merely a thirteen-year-old boy, also possessing a handsome appearance. He inherited the best traits from both his parents. If he had been properly guided in his youth, he would have become a renowned general throughout history.
Alas, due to Tao Qianmian’s deliberate manipulation, and the boy’s own deep scheming and unwillingness to believe Jiang Li, it led to his current state. He was also a master of disguise, preventing the original owner from discovering any clues for so many years.
After finishing a set of sword techniques, Jiang Chuzhuo tossed his sword to a young attendant. He washed his hands and respectfully paid his respects to Jun Jiuli, his eyes devoid of any perfunctory annoyance, showing great humility and politeness.
“Mother, what brings you here personally? You could have sent a servant to inform me, and I would have come to you.”
“Nothing, I just wanted to see you.” As they spoke, they entered the main hall of the courtyard.
A servant served two cups of tea, and they sat facing each other.
“How has the Jiang family’s business been recently? Your maternal grandfather has entrusted the entire Jiang family’s burden to you. Mother has been thinking about this for a long time. I was too thoughtless before. You are still a child, and your studies are demanding. Why don’t I manage it instead?”
Jiang Chuzhuo’s hand, holding the teacup, paused. He suddenly recalled his deceased maternal grandfather, and a pang of sadness surged in his heart, though he quickly suppressed it. After taking a sip of tea, he spoke slowly.
“The business matters can be handled by the people below. Mother need not worry about these things; focus on managing the General’s Mansion properly.” He hinted with a significant implication.
“That was your maternal grandfather’s life’s work. How can Mother not worry about it? You also need to pay attention, as you are meant to inherit your maternal grandfather’s legacy.”
This statement struck a nerve with Jiang Chuzhuo. He said somewhat resentfully, “Does Mother think I can only be a lowly merchant like my maternal grandfather my entire life?”
Jun Jiuli leisurely fiddled with the teacup in her hand, her eyes seeming to pierce into the depths of Jiang Chuzhuo’s soul, and said word by word.
“Do you think your maternal grandfather, who raised your mother by being a merchant, was lowly? Then how noble can you be?”
“It was my son’s imprudent remark.” Jiang Chuzhuo quickly rose and knelt to admit his mistake.
This remark could be big or small. If it were to spread and outsiders were to know, they would surely gossip about his lack of filial piety. The current dynasty valued filial piety highly, and this would be detrimental to his career.
Jun Jiuli stood up and looked at him coldly. Jiang Chuzhuo felt that his mother today was very different from before. The oppressive aura emanating from her made him feel suffocated.
“You look down on merchants so much. Do you know that your father’s annual salary is only one hundred and eighty taels? Any ornament in this room costs over a hundred taels of silver, and everything you eat and use is provided by merchants?”
“Do you know how much your monthly expenses are, and the monthly wages of the servants in this courtyard? Which legitimate sons of officials who only live on their salaries are as comfortable as you? Who provides you with the confidence to spend lavishly? Is it your father, or is it my Jiang family?”
“But merchants are of low status. My classmates laugh at me for smelling like copper. Many young masters from noble families are unwilling to play with me.”
“I think you are beyond saving. If that is the case, you are no longer allowed to use anything from my Jiang family.”
“I also bear the surname Jiang, and some of those things were left to me by my maternal grandfather. What right do you have to take them?” At this point, Jiang Chuzhuo stopped pretending to be a filial son, and the disgust on his face could no longer be concealed.
“Why did your grandfather leave things to you? Because you are my son. Because your surname is Jiang, but you consider this surname a disgrace and still benefit from the Jiang family. Do you not think this tarnishes the image of a scholar? I will change your name tomorrow; you will still be surnamed Tao.”
Tao Chuzhuo did not know whether to be excited or sad. However, he thought that his mother was just a woman in the inner chambers and could not make waves.
Moreover, those things were in his father’s hands, so he had nothing to fear. Thus, he secretly rejoiced that he could also take his father’s surname.
In this General’s Mansion, apart from Tao Qianmian’s courtyard, the steward, and a few matrons in charge, all the others were old retainers from the Jiang family.
Therefore, Jun Jiuli ordered the removal of the attendants serving in Tao Chuzhuo’s courtyard. Except for her own trusted confidantes, everyone else left.
After all, their contracts of servitude were held by the madam. If they didn’t listen to her, who would they listen to? As they left, they followed the madam’s orders and removed all the luxurious ornaments and stationery from the young master’s room.
“From now on, when the kitchen sends food, stationery, or clothes and jewelry to him, they will be prepared according to his monthly allowance. Any excess he will have to pay for himself.”
Granny Zhang advised from the side, “There are no grudges between mother and son that last overnight. Aren’t you afraid that the young master will become estranged from you if you do this? The young master is young and doesn’t understand things, you should be more tolerant.”
If Jun Jiuli didn’t know that Granny Zhang was deeply loyal to the original owner, she would have thought she was an enemy spy.
“Granny, as you can see, it’s that unfilial son who is rebellious. Has his father become a general and forgotten his roots? I must teach him a good lesson, otherwise, if he goes astray in the future, how can I face my father?”
“Alas, what you say is also true.”
After dealing with her troublesome son, Jun Jiuli went alone with a pot of nourishing soup to Tao Qianmian’s study.
Upon entering the study, she casually placed the soup on Tao Qianmian’s desk. The spilled soup directly caused a blister on Tao Qianmian’s hand.
He looked displeased and was about to say something when Jun Jiuli quickly fed him a pill.
Before Tao Qianmian could react, the pill, which melted in his mouth, went down his throat.
“Jiang, what have you given me?”
“Nothing much, it’s not a poison that seals blood. It’s just an unknown slow-acting poison.”
“You… you are insolent! You dare to attempt to murder your husband.” He said, trying to stand up to teach Jun Jiuli a lesson.
But his head spun, and he slumped back down. He gasped for breath and questioned, “Poisonous woman, what medicine did you give me? Quickly hand over the antidote, or I will not spare you.”
“Oh, ho, if you want to ask for something, you should do so with a proper attitude. If your attitude improves, I might go and research the antidote.” As she spoke, she slapped him hard across the face twice.
Tao Qianmian spat out a mouthful of dark blood in anger. The two guards outside heard the commotion.
“General, are you alright?”
“No… no, I’m fine.”
Hearing him say this, the two dared not enter without permission. Jun Jiuli calmly sat on the chaise longue furthest from him.
“Hand over all of my Jiang family’s assets.”
Tao Qianmian knew he couldn’t confront her directly at this moment. He took out the Jiang family’s unique seal from a hidden compartment and placed it before Jun Jiuli.
“Are you trying to fool me with just this? I know how many properties and deeds there are. Don’t try any tricks.”
Tao Qianmian suppressed his anger with great effort and handed over all the items.
After Jun Jiuli took the items and checked them carefully, she left. Tao Qianmian breathed a sigh of relief and called his confidante to invite a doctor.
That night, doctors from all over the city came and went into the General’s Mansion. Outsiders speculated that someone in the General’s Mansion had fallen seriously ill.
The doctors took pulses but found nothing wrong, only saying that he was slightly weak and should drink ginseng soup for nourishment and rest well.
Then, they all looked at the swollen slap marks on his face with a strange gaze. No one knew who had hit him, but it was too forceful. The Great General had been applying ice for several hours and had applied medicine, yet it was of no use.
The next day, Tao Qianmian attended the morning court with two red and swollen slap marks. His colleagues all mocked him.
Some civil officials even impeached him in front of His Majesty for improper conduct in front of the court, which made him so angry that he developed several small sores in his mouth. He wished he could cut Jun Jiuli into a thousand pieces.