Mad Queen Leaves the Palace

As soon as Xiao Lan entered Jiang Huangshi's courtyard, she heard the sound of things being smashed inside. She thought to herself that something was wrong. Her maternal grandmother was usually very gentle, and she had never seen her lose her temper with anyone. She quickly hurried into the house.

"Greetings to Grandmother," Xiao Lan said, not even waiting for Jiang Huangshi to help her up. She went to support Jiang Huangshi and asked in a coquettish tone, "Grandmother, what's wrong? Why are you so angry? You frightened Lan'er."

Looking at her beloved granddaughter's face, Jiang Huangshi's anger instantly subsided by half. She said, "Who else could it be but your stupid aunt and your shameless cousin?"

Xiao Lan knew her two aunts-in-law well. Her eldest aunt was always gentle, diligent, and didn't like to gossip, making her the favorite of her maternal grandparents. Her second aunt, however, had been pampered at home since childhood and had married down to her second uncle, so she harbored some disdain for the Jiang family. She was somewhat extravagant in her actions, and compared to her eldest aunt, who was thrifty and methodical in her dealings with others, the difference was stark. Her maternal grandfather, as her father-in-law, wouldn't say anything, at most advising her second uncle to cultivate his character and manage his family better. But her maternal grandmother, being a woman and a mother-in-law herself, didn't hide her dislike for Jiang Huangshi, making it known to everyone in the Jiang family. Thus, the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law maintained only a superficial harmony.

Grandmother, why are you talking about my aunt and cousin all of a sudden?

Xiao Lan thought back to her childhood. One Spring Festival, her second uncle and aunt had a big fight over a woman. Yao took Jiang Zhuzhu back to her parents' home. Even when her second uncle was seriously ill, she refused to come back. Her grandmother only cried and scolded her aunt for being heartless, but she was not as angry as she was today.

"For no reason at all, do you know that Zhu'er is engaged?" As soon as the mother and daughter were mentioned, Jiang Huangshi's anger, which she had finally managed to suppress, flared up again.

"Engaged? Wasn't it supposed to be an engagement? How did it become an engagement?" Xiao Lan wondered if her maternal grandmother had said something wrong in her anger. You see, Jiang Zhuzhu was originally a member of the Jiang family. The marriage arranged by the old master of the Yao family was already inappropriate, but at that time, her maternal grandfather thought the marriage was good, so he didn't say much.

Given the current relationship between my family and the Xiao family, and the fact that my maternal grandparents' family has never interfered with my brother's and my marriage, my parents would definitely inform my grandfather in advance if my brother and I were to get engaged in the future.

"It's an engagement. They came today to say they wanted to get engaged, but your maternal grandfather disagreed. He had no choice but to tell the truth: they're already engaged. The key thing is, neither your maternal grandfather nor I knew about it. Yao Shi directly had the Yao family accept the betrothal letter and match the horoscopes. It's as if your maternal grandfather and I are dead!" After saying this, Jiang Huangshi began to sob.

Looking at her maternal grandmother who had raised her from childhood, Xiao Lan felt a pang of sadness. Because of the rumors surrounding the Phoenix Fate, Jiang Nihuang feared Xiao Lan's safety in Yuzhou City and, after weaning, sent her to Shaozhou to be raised by Jiang Huangshi. When Xiao Lan first arrived in Shaozhou City, she suffered from some acclimatization issues, and Jiang Huangshi held her nightly, afraid that Xiao Lan might be uncomfortable and that the servants wouldn't take good care of her. Even during rainy and thundery nights, Jiang Huangshi would soothe Xiao Lan to sleep. It could be said that Xiao Lan's maternal love during her childhood came entirely from Jiang Huangshi. Seeing Jiang Huangshi so distressed, Xiao Lan silently added a mark against the Yao family of Shenzhou.

Although she was also angry, she still advised her grandmother not to be saddened by such a petty person. The Yao family of Shenzhou had bullied the Xiao family so much; her granddaughter would definitely repay them handsomely in the future. But why did her second uncle allow her aunt to act this way?

"That's why I say your cousin is shameless. She and that Yao family took that man and his family to the Yao family in Shenzhou and arranged this marriage with Old Man Yao. Your muddle-headed uncle doesn't know anything about it. He came here today thinking he wanted to get engaged, but he doesn't know that his good wife and daughter have already been engaged. Even your cousin knew about it before him."

"Such a thing is true? Why does Grandfather refuse?" Xiao Lan thought that the engagement was already arranged, so what else could be said? But Grandfather didn't know what his aunt and uncle had been doing behind his back, so why did he refuse? Her cousin was also getting on in years; if that Gu Sanlang wasn't a big problem, he shouldn't have refused.

"Do you know who Gu Sanlang is?" Jiang Huangshi had calmed down a bit by now and said: Gu Sanlang is just a commoner. His parents are ordinary people in Jinzhou Prefecture. His sister married into Shaxi Town. They came to visit their son-in-law's family.

After Jiang Huangshi finished speaking about Xiao Lan, she thought to herself: What a coincidence! The land that Granny Qian sold to me is located in Phoenix Mountain, right next to Shaxi Town.

"Although this young master Gu comes from a poor background, my aunt just told me that my cousin was injured and rescued. Just because of this life-saving grace, my grandfather shouldn't be so opposed." Xiao Lan thought to herself that her aunt and cousin might exaggerate the sprained ankle into a life-saving grace in order to make this marriage happen.

As expected, after hearing Xiao Lan's words, Madam Jiang did not deny the life-saving grace, but instead asked Xiao Lan: Do you know how old that Gu family young master is this year?

"How old are you?" Xiao Lan thought that her cousin had high standards and would never look at someone who was too old or too ugly. Otherwise, she wouldn't be twenty-two years old and still not married.

Speaking of this, Jiang Huangshi looked ashamed and indignant. "Sixteen, sixteen! That Gu family man is the same age as you! How dare your shameless cousin!" After saying this, Jiang Huangshi was about to pound her chest again.

Xiao Lan was stunned after hearing this and didn't know what to say. Her cousin had some skills; there's an old saying that a woman three years older than her husband gets a gold brick (a symbol of good fortune), and in her case, she directly asked for double.

Xiao Lan finally understood why Jiang Chunlai was so opposed. The Yao family was truly ruthless; they had arranged the marriage, but when the wedding took place, it was the Jiang family who would lose face. That old man of the Yao family really had a big face.

"Grandmother, no matter what, we can't let ourselves get sick from getting angry. Calm down first," she said, then called for Granny Gui to go to the kitchen to bring some of Huang's favorite foods. After the food was set out, she advised Jiang Huang, "Grandmother, no matter what happens later, don't go hungry. You need to eat to have the energy to continue scolding." I had just heard that Grandmother hadn't eaten, and I was so worried about her that I hadn't even had a proper meal before rushing over. Now I'm starving. Why don't you have something to eat with me, Grandmother?"

Seeing this, Granny Gui also chimed in, saying, "Madam, let's not get upset over such trivial matters. Look at Miss Lan, she's still hungry. Don't you feel sorry for her?"

Jiang Huang felt a bit better after talking to her, and when she heard that Xiao Lan was still hungry because of her, she was both touched and heartbroken, and in her heart she cursed Yao and her daughter.

Xiao Lan ate some food with Jiang Huangshi, but seeing that Jiang Huangshi had a poor appetite, she didn't try to persuade her to eat anymore. She only asked Yue'er to go back to the courtyard to fetch her favorite Snow Mountain Silver Needle tea to brew, and also mentioned a few of Jiang Huangshi's favorite pastries, asking Granny Gui to instruct the kitchen to make them and send them over. After giving these instructions, Xiao Lan held Jiang Huangshi, rubbing her back to help her catch her breath. However, the more she thought about it, the more uneasy she felt. How could she have no recollection of the matter concerning the Third Son of the Gu family? Although she wasn't close to Jiang Zhuzhu, she couldn't possibly be unaware that her grandmother had been angered like this.

After the tea was brewed, Xiao Lan casually asked while drinking it: "I wonder what Grandfather and my eldest uncle want to say to my second uncle?"

"What can I say? Of course, I'll just scold your second uncle. Your maternal grandfather can't scold that mother and daughter, so he takes it all out on your second uncle. But in the end, he deserves it. If he hadn't indulged his wife and daughter's nonsense, this wouldn't have happened. In the end, it's his family choosing a son-in-law. Let's see what he wants to do." Jiang Huangshi said helplessly. Her second son had been weak since childhood and had some minor health problems. Although he was talented, he couldn't become an official. Her second daughter-in-law's family was better off than the Jiang family, so her second son had always indulged her in everything. But today, she really didn't know what to do.

Xiao Lan knew that Jiang Huangshi was tough on the outside but soft on the inside, but she couldn't let Jiang Yaoshi and her daughter get away with angering her maternal grandparents like this. So she used Jiang Huangshi's words: "People say that a son-in-law is like half a son. But in my aunt's eyes, he's more than just a son. She treats Gu Sanlang even better than Brother Yunbai."

"Oh, what kind of trouble has she gotten herself into now?" Jiang Huangshi knew immediately that Yaoshi had done something bad again.

"Before my maternal grandfather and eldest uncle arrived, my aunt and cousin asked me to speak with Young Master Lan. They wanted him to write a letter of recommendation for the third son of the Gu family so he could attend Minglu Academy. Leaving aside the fact that I've only met Young Master Lan a few times, and we're just friends, it's not appropriate for an unmarried woman like me to seek out a man for another man's sake. Besides, Grandmother, you don't know this, but since Young Master Lan published that poetry collection two years ago, he's become famous overnight, no less than the great scholars of aristocratic families. His recommendation line is the Imperial Academy; he should be able to make an exception and accept him. That letter is worth more than a fortune. If I actually manage to get it, my reputation will probably be ruined." Xiao Lan didn't care about any of that; she was determined not to let her grandmother soften her heart and swallow this bitter pill today.

"This is outrageous! Granny Gui, go to the front hall and fetch Master and the eldest and second masters. Tell them my headaches have flared up again and I'm feeling terrible." Then she turned to Xiao Lan and said, "Lanlan, don't worry about this dirty business. Go back and pack your things. Aren't you going to the capital the day after tomorrow? Tell your aunt to come over early tomorrow night for dinner as a farewell dinner. If Yu Yu's foot isn't better, don't come over. Stay in your room and rest well. You and your sisters can say goodbye to each other later."

"Okay, Grandmother, I'll go to Auntie's right away and tell her about tomorrow's family dinner. If you get hungry later, remember to have some pastries."

After saying that, Xiao Lan led Yu'er out of Jiang Huangshi's courtyard and headed towards Jiang Xiuzhi's courtyard.