Catching Monsters

Chapter 89 So Indifferent
As the sky gradually darkened, lanterns were already lit in the shops along the streets of the capital.

"Brother-in-law, that's enough. Just buy some silk and cakes as a token of your appreciation."

"My family doesn't need anything, why are you spending this money?"

On the street, Jiang Yun was carrying a lot of gifts in his hands: "Qiaoqiao will stay at your house when she arrives in Beijing."

"Uncle has helped me so much again."

"It's only natural that I should buy more things to express my gratitude."

"There's no reason to come empty-handed."

At this point, Jiang Yun stopped and turned back to remind Xu Xiaogang: "Also, don't call me brother-in-law casually, otherwise your father and mother will really misunderstand."

Jiang Yun followed Xu Xiaogang and came to the gate of the Duke of Zhenguo's Mansion.

Jiang Yun looked up and saw the high walls and courtyard in front of him. He was a little surprised. How much money would it cost to build such a large house near the imperial city?

After the butler Wu Chi notified Jiang Yun, he came back and led a few servants to wait in front of the gate of the Duke of Zhenguo's Mansion.

Of course, Wu Chi did not really follow what Xu Dingwu said and invite Jiang Yun in the name of meeting his future son-in-law.

Instead, he said that he knew Jiang Yun was in Nanzhou Prefecture and had helped the siblings a lot.

Only then did he invite Jiang Yun to be his guest.

To be honest, Jiang Yun was also a little puzzled.

Logically speaking, even if a small figure like me was really in Nanzhou Prefecture, I could have helped Xu Suwen and Xu Xiaogang.

The other party wouldn't invite me to their home as a guest.

Although he was puzzled, since the other party invited him, he naturally had to come.

"Master, Master Jiang is back." Wu Chi smiled and waved his hand. The servants behind him quickly took the gifts he brought.

"Mr. Jiang, please."

When you enter the mansion, you can see that there are many rare and precious plants and trees planted in the yard.

The mansion was extremely large and after walking for a long time, we finally arrived at a living room.

"Master, Madam, Young Master and Mr. Jiang are here." Wu Chi said as he pushed open the door.

At the dining table in the house, Xu Dingwu and Tao Yuelan were sitting at the seats of honor, but Xu Suwen and Jiang Qiaoqiao were nowhere to be seen.

After opening the door, Wu Chi said, "Mr. Jiang brought a lot of gifts. I have asked people to accept them."

"This is my mother, Tao Yuelan." Xu Xiaogang introduced her to Jiang Yun in a low voice.

Jiang Yun walked into the house quickly and bowed with both hands: "My sister has been in your house for many days. Thank you uncle and aunt for taking care of her."

After saying this, he looked up at the expressions of the two elders.

Although Tao Yuelan had a tense face, she could hardly hold back her smile.

Not bad, not bad. Such a handsome young man with a scholarly air. He had just solved a long-standing unsolved case in the Imperial Guard.

Tao Yuelan smiled so much that her eyes became crescents: "Don't bother me, don't bother me. Qiaoqiao is a very clever girl. She has helped a lot in the mansion these days."

"Sit down quickly."

Jiang Yun breathed a sigh of relief, then he and Xu Xiaogang went into the house and sat down.

"Xiaogang, why are you sitting down too? You have no manners at all. Jiang Yun must be thirsty after being gone for such a long time. Hurry up and pour him a cup of tea." Tao Yuelan glared at her silly son as he sat down.

"what?"

Xu Xiaogang was stunned, stared at his mother blankly, then stood up and made tea for Jiang Yun...

"We just arrived in the capital. Are you getting used to it? I heard that you two brothers and sisters came from Nanzhou Prefecture?"

"Oh, it must have been a difficult journey to get here."

"Are you used to being in the Imperial Guard?"

"If you're not used to it, how about being transferred to another place?"

"..."

After Jiang Yun sat down, Tao Yuelan began to ask some questions...

Jiang Yun was a little confused by the question. Jiang Yun was not stupid and realized that there was something fishy about this matter.

She is the wife of the Duke of Zhenguo. Is it necessary for her to care about me so much?
"Ahem." Xu Dingwu coughed, interrupting Tao Yuelan's question, and said slowly: "Madam, go and notify Su Wen and Miss Jiang to come over for dinner."

Watching Tao Yuelan get up and leave, Xu Dingwu frowned. He thought his wife was a little too impatient. How could this be proper?

"My wife is like this, she cares about everyone." Xu Dingwu said lightly: "She is warm-hearted."

Xu Xiaogang sat on the chair: "Dad... Mom has never cared about me like this."

Xu Dingwu was speechless.

Jiang Yun was also somewhat confused when he heard this.

Soon, Tao Yuelan brought Xu Suwen and Jiang Qiaoqiao.

"Brother." Jiang Qiaoqiao ran over happily when she saw Jiang Yun.

"Are you used to staying at Sister Xu's house these days?" Jiang Yun asked, touching Jiang Qiaoqiao's head.

"Well, my aunt also hired a teacher to teach me how to read and write."

Hearing this, Jiang Yun looked at Tao Yuelan with gratitude, and then said, "Thank you, aunt."

Soon, delicious dishes were served.

During the meal, Jiang Yun didn't say much. He only answered a few words when Xu Dingwu or Tao Yuelan asked them something.

After dinner, Tao Yuelan smiled and suggested that Xu Suwen take Jiang Yun around the mansion and chat.

Jiang Qiaoqiao still had a lot of embroidery to do, so she went back to Xu Suwen's boudoir to get busy.

As for Xu Xiaogang.

"Mom, I missed you for a long time when I went out this time..."

Tao Yuelan's mind was obviously on Xu Suwen and Jiang Yun. She said, "I know, I know. Go back to your room and rest first."

Xu Xiaogang's mother has been like this since he was a child, and he has gotten used to it.

Sometimes he wondered if he was an adopted child...

That’s not right. My father likes me very much.

Could it be that I was born to another woman while my father was away from home?
So my mother has never liked me?

See Xu Xiaogang lower his head and leave.

Xu Dingwu then slowly said, "Madam, you have become increasingly cold towards Xiaogang over the years."

"You were quite fond of him when he was young."

"But the older he gets, the colder you become towards him."

Tao Yuelan heard this, as if she thought of something sad, and a tear flowed from the corner of her eye. She took out a handkerchief, wiped it, and then said: "How can a mother not love her child?"

"My father and my brother both died on the battlefield."

"In my mother's family, the Duke of Anguo's Mansion, there have been very few male descendants who have lived to a ripe old age in the past three hundred years, and all of them died on the battlefield."

"If one day you were to die on the battlefield, Xiaogang would succeed you as the Duke of Zhenguo, right?"

"He will go to the battlefield, too."

"Even, they died on the battlefield."

Tao Yuelan took a deep breath and said, "Master, can you promise not to let him go to the battlefield in the future?"

Hearing this, Xu Dingwu fell silent, and then slowly said: "The duty of the Zhenguogong Mansion is to fight for the frontier for His Majesty and resist foreign enemies. If I die in battle, how can Xiaogang not go?"

"The women in the Anguo Mansion are used to it." Tao Yuelan sighed, "My grandmother was so cold to my father."

"My mother is also so indifferent to my brother."

"I want to not be so sad when they die in battle."

Xu Dingwu sighed and asked, "When they died, weren't your grandmother and mother sad?"

Tao Yuelan: "I cried so hard that my heart was broken."

(End of this chapter)