Chapter 953: Chapter 951: I’ll Tell My Mother Tomorrow
Seeing Ye Xinyan’s constantly changing expression, Jiang Yifan sighed and said, "Ah, let Shi Yu escort you back first. I’ll go and see the Marquis for inquiries."
If the two of them just went home like this, I’m afraid his wife wouldn’t be able to sleep all night, and he’d be tossing and turning unable to sleep as well.
The coachman heard the command, and the carriage stopped immediately.
Jiang Yifan saw Ye Xinyan also intending to follow him out of the carriage, quickly stopping her, "You stay here. I’ll go alone, just to the outer courtyard to see the Marquis, so Mother-in-law should not know. If you go too, I’m afraid this matter won’t stay hidden."
Ye Xinyan, anxious and restless, remembered Zhao Gang’s news and went back to the Jiang Family Residence alone.
Jiang Yifan was worried about Ye Xinyan overthinking alone at home, and also worried that if he stayed too long at the Marquis’ Mansion, the back residence would find out and arouse Madam Yin’s suspicion. He got the answer at the Marquis’ Mansion, bid farewell to Marquis Zhongyong, and hurried back.
Ye Xinyan, already absent-minded, leaned by the window and saw Jiang Yifan entering the courtyard from afar, quickly coming out to greet him, "How is it?"
Jiang Yifan stepped forward and took her arm, "It’s probably fine. Let’s talk inside."
Yin Long indeed knew accurate news and didn’t let the female relatives at the back residence know to prevent Madam Yin from worrying. Even Ye Xinyan’s grandmother Lady Cao was kept in the dark.
"Uncle Zhao probably collapsed from exhaustion and couldn’t go on because he was too injured. Though none of the wounds were fatal, there were so many, continuously bleeding, resulting in a coma."
Zhao Gang insisted on eliminating the sea bandits. Yin Xiaocheng knew the reason, so he assigned a few experts to Zhao Gang, who then relayed messages to the Marquis’ Mansion.
The battle report merely mentioned Zhao Gang’s achievements briefly, only referring to him as Vice General Zhao, but Yin Long knew the details. Zhao Gang was in a coma for two days, woke briefly, then fell back asleep.
However, the military doctor said that Zhao Gang was in good health. His sleep was due to physical exhaustion and mental fatigue. Unless unexpected, Zhao Gang should have escaped danger and just needed time for quiet recuperation to recover.
Ye Xinyan leaned against Jiang Yifan, sat for quite a while, and gradually calmed down, asking, "Since Uncle Zhao is out of danger, why hide it from my mother?"
Jiang Yifan blinked, puzzled, "Didn’t I say, afraid Mother-in-law would worry?" As he spoke, he anxiously touched Ye Xinyan’s forehead.
"What are you doing?" Ye Xinyan slapped Jiang Yifan’s hand away. Did he really think she was confused, speaking nonsense? Ridiculous!
Jiang Yifan spread his hands somewhat innocently, "Look at your expression just now, hearing Uncle Zhao was injured, your face turned so pale. If Mother-in-law knew, imagine how worried she’d be. Of course, we must keep it from her for now. We’ll tell her when Uncle Zhao recovers. Even if she’s worried, it won’t feel as unsettled as right now."
"What do you know?" Ye Xinyan furrowed her brows, hesitated for a long time, then resolutely said, "No way! I’ll tell my mother tomorrow."
Oh! Jiang Yifan was stunned again, reaching once more to touch Ye Xinyan’s forehead, "Ah Yan, what’s wrong with you? You were scared out of your wits hearing Uncle Zhao was hurt. Think about Mother-in-law, she’s different from you. When she can’t eat or sleep well, what will you do?"
His wife wasn’t the type not to be filial, always considering things thoroughly for her Mother-in-law before. How could she be so determined now to make Mother-in-law feel bad?
Ye Xinyan once again removed Jiang Yifan’s hand, distastefully moving to the other side of the bed, frowning as she said, "Since Uncle Zhao left the capital, I’ve been persuading my mother openly and covertly for half a year. Yet, my mother didn’t relent a bit, completely ignoring me. And if I spoke more clearly, she’d chase me out."
Jiang Yifan continued to be stunned. But how can she use such matters for revenge? His Ah Yan wasn’t such a person, right?
Ye Xinyan pushed him angrily, "What nonsense are you thinking? I’m trying to knock some sense into my mother! If I wait for her to agree herself, it’ll take ages! Uncle Zhao risked his life fighting out there, and if my mother dallying on her decision at the time hurts him, how terrible would that be?"
As she spoke, she clenched her fist, decisively saying, "Before Uncle Zhao returns victoriously, I’ll make my mother agree, welcoming him back happily. Then Uncle Zhao can offer my mother a betrothal gift as soon as he returns. By the way, did His Highness mention when the coastal war will end?"
Jiang Yifan finally understood, "You should’ve explained earlier. I really thought you were scared silly. As for the complete end of the war... it’s really hard to say. We called it a great victory because we captured the largest stronghold of the sea bandits. What’s left are smaller groups of bandits, though not a major threat, it will take even more time to completely eliminate them."
"Is that so?" Ye Xinyan immediately looked bitter, realizing it might take forever.
Jiang Yifan laughed, "Did you think fighting was easy? In less than half a year, they controlled the situation and took out the largest group of bandits, that’s already a significant achievement. The remaining smaller ones are not only scattered but very fragmented and hidden. Leaving them unchecked might soon allow them to regroup into a big bandit problem again."
Ye Xinyan immediately lost her energy, saying, "Then how long do we have to wait?"
To see her dear mother have a happy ending, why was it so difficult? Ever since she returned to the capital, she’s been plotting to make her leave Ye Hongyang, leave Duke An’s Mansion, and it took tremendous effort! If it weren’t for Jiang Yifan’s help, she might not have succeeded yet.
It truly wore her out. Ye Xinyan rested her cheek on her hand, looking troubled.
Jiang Yifan found it amusing seeing her, "This matter can’t be rushed. How long has it been since Mother-in-law left Duke An’s Mansion? If barely a year after divorce, Mother-in-law remarried, all sorts of unpleasant things would be said in the capital’s back residences."
Originally, Mother-in-law was afraid of having a bad reputation, hence she refused to agree to remarry. Ah Yan might be in a hurry, but she didn’t see the circumstances.
Ye Xinyan twisted her neck, furrowed her brows, and disagreed, saying, "Those idle busybodies have nothing better to do than gossip! They haven’t faced such issues, so all they know is how to speak cynically. Although my mother hasn’t been divorced long, she has lived alone in her courtyard for many years. Especially after I left, my mother hardly let my father enter her courtyard."
She said this, seemingly realizing, explaining these matters to others was indeed difficult, annoyed she waved her hand dismissively.
What’s this about? It’s really the wicked old society, utterly void of humanity! Madam Yin has a husband nominally, but has lived a widow’s life for over ten years. Now that she has the chance to marry a good man, she still has to consider unrelated people’s opinions, fearing their comments.
Jiang Yifan thought about what Ye Xinyan said and recalled how Madam Yin had lived over the years, indeed in a miserable state.
"When do you plan to tell Mother-in-law about Uncle Zhao’s injury? I mean, why not wait a bit, until Uncle Zhao’s condition stabilizes more before telling Mother-in-law. Then you can exaggerate Uncle Zhao’s injuries, no problem."