Jiang Huanran seemed not to hear his son's impassioned declaration, stroking his beard as he sank into deep thought.
As the head of the Court of State Ceremonial, his domain was separate from the Hua family's stronghold in the Hanlin Academy. While they shared the camaraderie of fellow court officials without conflicting interests, connections could indeed be traced—the Hua family patriarch, Hua Yizheng's father, had been his imperial examination mentor.
The Hua family's disciples were spread throughout the realm; how many civil officials in the entire court could claim no association with them? Yet when critical moments arrived, everyone excelled at self-preservation. Still, there was a difference—after nearly a year, no one had yet kicked the Hua family while they were down, sufficient proof of the profound goodwill they had cultivated over time.
It seemed innate—the Hua family members simply surpassed others in scholarly pursuits. Whatever genius or talent others possessed paled before them. But he had never heard of any Hua family member practicing martial arts, just as no one in the entire capital had known about the existence of the Hua family's eldest young lady.
Jiang Xinde couldn't help wondering: Had Hua Yizheng foreseen this calamity? Otherwise, how could he have raised such a daughter? She could practically be called the God of Wealth!
Though operating quietly, those in their circles knew perfectly well that several newly emerged businesses belonged to the Hua family—not a single one was losing money, all were profitable, highly profitable! Countless people watched with envy, waiting to see how long they could restrain themselves before taking action.
He knew his youngest son's character all too well. Wild though he might be, the boy possessed all the discernment expected of an aristocratic heir. That he would speak of marriage so reverently after rejecting countless matchmaking proposals spoke volumes.
But...
"Father, won't you give me an answer? When will you go propose on my behalf?"
Jiang Xinde gestured for the servants in the room to withdraw. "Do you understand the Hua family's current situation?"
"Isn't it just that they've been punished by the Emperor?"
Jiang Xinde laughed. "'Just' punished by the Emperor? Can you name anything more serious than imperial punishment?"
Hearing his father's tone, Jiang Huanran immediately knew he disapproved and grew displeased. "So what? You all can't behave like this—when the Hua family was prosperous, everyone elevated them to the heavens. Now they've fallen from their pedestal, but does that mean they're no longer the Hua family?"
Jiang Xinde wasn't angered by his son's retort. On the contrary, he felt pleased. Families like theirs never lacked cunning schemers—someone like Huanran was rare. Because of him, their household had become much more harmonious, and for the sake of this uncommon harmony, he couldn't give his approval.
"I believe Hua Zhi must be an exceptional young lady. She's maintained the Hua family's dignity and preserved their legacy. But son, such a young lady cannot marry into our family."
"Why not?!"
"Because you have two elder brothers who are already married. Their wives combined couldn't match Hua Zhi's capabilities. If you marry Hua Zhi, the family balance will be disrupted. Hua Zhi has household management talents—it would be a waste for her to marry the youngest son who doesn't shoulder family responsibilities."
Jiang Xinde didn't raise his voice, speaking slowly and softly, yet his words exploded in Jiang Huanran's ears and heart. He knew his father wasn't deceiving him or trying to persuade him through tricks, but stating facts. What the family feared most was losing equilibrium. If he truly brought Hua Zhi into their household, his two sisters-in-law would be compared unfavorably—how could they coexist peacefully then? And how could his brothers possibly remain without objections?"Everything you say is right, absolutely right, but she's the first person he's truly taken a liking to..."
"I'll move out and live separately..."
Crash! A teacup shattered at Jiang Huanran's feet. Jiang Xinde's smile vanished. "Are you trying to split the family?"
"If I move out, does that mean I'm no longer your son? That this is no longer my home? I'll still come back to honor you and Mother, to honor Grandmother... Father, in all my life, Hua Zhi is the only one I've ever wanted to spend my life with. Can't you grant me this?"
"Enjoying the Jiang family's wealth comes with the responsibility of considering the bigger picture. The Hua family has fallen out of the Emperor's favor, yet you want to marry a daughter of the Hua family? Are you trying to openly position the Jiang family against the Emperor?"
"Marrying a Hua daughter means opposing the Emperor? If the Emperor truly held no regard for past ties, do you think the Empress Dowager could have protected the Hua family's women?"
"Don't even think about it. This is impossible!" Jiang Xinde's expression grew colder and sterner. When it involved the family, he would never tolerate his son's recklessness.
As the youngest son in the family, Jiang Huanran had grown up showered with affection. He had also dutifully played the part of a prodigal son, because only then would his elder brothers dote on him and feel at ease about him.
He had once aspired to make a name for himself, to carve out a place among the countless rising talents. But the Jiang family could not have a favored youngest son who was also ambitious.
Seeing him like this, Jiang Xinde felt a pang of heartache. His expression softened, and he was about to offer some consolation when his youngest son spoke: "Father, have I been an obedient son?"
Jiang Xinde was slightly taken aback but answered firmly, "Yes, you've been more obedient than the sons of many other families."
"Have I ever fought or contended for anything? I've always accepted whatever you've given me."
"...Yes."
"I ruined the marriage arrangement Grandmother made for me, even though the match was of higher status than my eldest brother's wife. Was that not fraternal devotion?"
"...Yes."
"I cut ties with a childhood friend simply because his family and ours are no longer in the same faction. Was that not considering the bigger picture?"
"...Yes."
"Since I've been so well-behaved, why can't I have even one person I love?" Jiang Huanran's smile was as bitter as tears. "She may not have the high birth of my eldest brother's wife, nor the influential family of my second brother's wife. She doesn't stand in anyone's way. Her only fault is her own excellence—and that's not a fault at all. It's precisely this Hua Zhi that I love. Just one glance from her can make me happy for days. Father, I just want her, that's all."
Jiang Xinde's heart ached intensely. Compared to those aristocratic youths who constantly caused trouble and relied on their families to clean up their messes, Huanran was indeed obedient. Even in his mischief, he knew his limits. He had drawn a boundary for himself and stayed within it, never crossing the line or harming the family's interests.
The harmony among the brothers was also because he knew what he should and shouldn't do. As he said, he accepted whatever they gave him without contention. Now, he had simply fallen in love and wanted to marry that person—and as his father, he had to stand in his way.
He had no choice. It wasn't that he looked down on Hua Zhi—on the contrary, he admired her greatly. A capable person like her would be an asset to any family. But she could only be the wife of the eldest son. If she married a younger son, those above her would feel threatened, and the inner household would fall into chaos.Moreover, since the Emperor had not made his stance clear, he dared not take the risk. If the Emperor’s anger toward the Hua family persisted, the Jiang family would need to keep their distance. As the head of the Jiang clan, this was a consideration he had to make, even if it meant his youngest son would have to endure some grievances.
“Huanran, I will find you another good match…”
Jiang Huanran smiled bitterly and shook his head. Rubbing his face vigorously, he stood up and said, “No matter how good she is, she won’t be Hua Zhi. I don’t want anyone else.”
Jiang Xinde hurriedly rose to his feet as well. “Where are you going?”
“To the Hua family.”
“Jiang Huanran!”
Jiang Huanran stepped over the threshold and turned to face him. “I’m going to the Hua family. The eldest young lady is injured—I must see her.”
“You should go pay your respects to your mother. Someone, take the young master to see his mother.”
Mentioning his mother made Jiang Huanran unable to persist in his defiance. He had been away for over a month, and it was only proper to pay his respects to his mother upon his return.
Seeing him so compliant, Jiang Xinde felt even more uneasy. He would have been more at ease if his son had thrown a fit. The Hua family! Jiang Xinde let out a long sigh. “Keep a close watch on the young master. Do not let him leave the house.”
“Yes.”
PS: Wrote a chapter focusing on a supporting character and quite enjoyed it. The weather is too hot, my mind feels muddled, so having any inspiration isn’t easy. And for some reason, I ended up crying while writing. Everyone has their own constraints—no one lives as freely as a crab.
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