The beloved baby has a space

Chapter 531 The Four-Year Agreement
The great-grandmother of the Jiang family was the wet nurse of the current Empress Dowager, a position that was originally incredibly prestigious, provided there had been no previous wars.

When the late emperor was on the throne, he worked diligently to govern the country, and everyone thought he would be a benevolent ruler who would surely lead Dachang to a golden age.

However, unexpectedly, about thirty years ago, the late emperor suddenly became obsessed with witchcraft and immortality.

At that time, the late emperor was only thirty years old, in the prime of his life. Why would he need to pursue the way to immortality?

The Empress repeatedly tried to dissuade him, and some officials even risked their lives to remonstrate, but the late Emperor did not heed their advice.

Ultimately, the national treasury was depleted, resulting in a lack of supplies during years of famine. The people suffered greatly, leading to rebellions by regional princes and uprisings by the peasants.

The crown prince, who was imprisoned in the palace, was just a young boy at the time, yet he had no choice but to raise the banner of saving the country amidst the kneeling pleas of his courtiers.

Before he could even engage his father in battle, the late emperor was killed by the eunuchs around him. As he died, he was still swallowing large amounts of elixirs.

He muttered many things under his breath, intending them to be his will.

However, when the crown prince asked the eunuch what the late emperor had said, the eunuch laughed loudly and said, "The imperial family is immoral, yet they still want to settle things after their death? No way!"

After speaking, the eunuch bit his tongue and committed suicide, leaving the late emperor's last words a mystery.

The empress intended to commit suicide to follow the late emperor, but was stopped by the hastily enthroned new emperor who pleaded with her.

"She was also suffering in her heart. I advised her to build her own nunnery and live a quiet life. But she said, 'If I have no Buddha in my heart, who am I putting on an act for?' For nearly ten years after that, she would sit at the entrance of the temple every day in a daze, neither crying nor laughing, and ignoring everyone else." Grandma Jiang spoke of the current Empress Dowager with deep heartache. "Ten years ago, she happened to see me massaging my legs and back, and insisted that I go home to retire and not let me stay inside with her anymore."

Grandma Wang didn't show much expression: "Sister Qin has a hard life."

Grandma Jiang said, "She also misses you. For many years, she has never given up sending people to look for you. She doesn't have many capable people around her, and she has sent almost all of them out. Even here, she has mostly sent members of the clan, but she still hasn't heard from you. Nannan, where have you been all these years? Why haven't you sent a single message?"

"I'm tired, let's find a place to rest."

"Don't you want to go back?"

"What are you going back for?" Old Mrs. Wang asked back.

Grandma Jiang sighed and patted the back of her hand: "You're a good child. If you don't want to go back, then we won't. Although our Jiang family isn't a very prominent clan, we can still provide some support for your children. Back then, when we were inside, it was said that I was taking care of you, but actually, it was you who were taking care of me. Now, this fulfills one of my wishes, so that I won't feel uneasy even after I've passed away." One was Princess Yongchang, beloved by the Emperor, Empress, and all the princes and nobles; the other was the wet nurse who had raised the Empress. It was obvious whose status was more prestigious.

Seeing that Mrs. Wang didn't want to talk about the past, Grandma Jiang stopped mentioning it and instead brought up the marriage of her two children.

Grandma Jiang had many descendants, some of whom were her own children, and others were from other uncles' or aunts' families.

There were about ten children in total.

Hearing that Old Mrs. Wang's direct descendants have seven grandsons and one granddaughter, and that her youngest daughter-in-law is pregnant, Grandma Jiang couldn't stop smiling.

"Many children bring many blessings, and it will be lively in the future," said Grandma Jiang. "Our granddaughter Jun'er is not as cute as your granddaughter Ayu, but she is also a good child. She is quite like you, kind and intelligent, and very decisive in important matters."

She then casually mentioned a few things related to Jiang Wujing, just to leave an impression on Old Mrs. Wang.

After hearing this, Old Mrs. Wang said, "Since you think it's good, then it's good. But it's too early for the child to get married now. Let him take the imperial examination to become a scholar first, and then he can get married."

Grandma Jiang asked in surprise, "Is it the imperial examination for the licentiate the year after next?"

"I'm afraid it won't work the year after next. How about the year after that, four years from now, then let him get married," said Old Mrs. Wang.

It's a four-year agreement?
"no!"

Unexpectedly, the first to object was little Ayu, who was nestled in Grandma Wang's arms like a kitten.

Little Ayu's eyes widened, and she shook her head vigorously: "Four years later, Second Brother will be—"

She did the math in her head and gasped: "They're already 21! They're practically old men, nobody will want them. My third brother will be 20 by then, and my fourth brother will be 19. They'll be too old to be able to take care of them! No pretty older sister will marry them!"

Grandma Wang: "..."

Grandma Jiang was stunned for a long time before stammering, "That...that makes sense."

(End of this chapter)