When Jiang Yuanfa saw his eldest son's smile, he was delighted and smiled along.
But after hearing what he said, the smile on his face immediately froze.
Madam Chen, who was kneeling on the side, also stopped wailing, her mouth agape in astonishment.
To bring his mother back? Then what about himself? Wouldn't he become a concubine?
Xu Hongchuan watched the ugly expressions of the two people below with great interest, but his eyes grew colder.
His poor mother, who had fallen ill from overwork and was also melancholy, had already passed away seven years ago.
He said this was just a countermeasure, a delaying tactic.
Before Jiang Yuanfa could react, Xu Hongchuan said lightly, "This official has many affairs, please leave, Jiang Yuanwai."
This was a dismissal!
Jiang Yuanfa was still stunned, and Madam Chen quickly got up and pinched Jiang Yuanfa's arm hard. Only then did he come back to his senses and remember Madam Chen's instructions before they set off today: "Today, if he doesn't acknowledge you, we'll stay at his house and not leave! Otherwise, if he avoids us, where will we find him?"
Jiang Yuanfa said hesitantly, "My Lord, it's late, may we… may we stay for a night?"
Xu Hongchuan sneered; they were planning to freeload at his place.
He was about to refuse when Madam Chen pulled Rongyue from behind Jiang Yuanfa and smiled ingratiatingly, "My Lord, Cheng'er is already married, this is your brother's wife."
Madam Chen pinched Rongyue's arm and said to her, "Quickly call your uncle."
Rongyue timidly raised her head and looked at the man in the hall, and couldn't help but be stunned.
The Commander-in-Chief, who was sitting on the main seat, was wearing a bright red Imperial Robe, with an Embroidered Spring Blade at his waist, and looked imposing and domineering. It was the man who had saved her today!
So he was her uncle!
The moment Rongyue was pulled out from behind Jiang Yuanfa, Xu Hongchuan also froze when he saw her face.
The beautiful woman from the day was now standing in front of him!
At once, complex emotions surged in Xu Hongchuan's chest.
Seeing the beautiful woman again, he was a little surprised.
But she was actually the woman of his cheap brother. For the first time in his life, he tasted the flavor of jealousy.
Xu Hongchuan saw Rongyue's red lips slightly parted, her big almond eyes wide, looking at him like a little deer, curious and afraid, her pretty face flushed, exactly the same as when he saved her.
The anger that had been provoked by Jiang Yuanfa inexplicably dissipated by half, and a hint of a smile appeared in Xu Hongchuan's eyes.
Rongyue stood there in a daze, and Madam Chen urged her with her elbow, biting her teeth and whispering, "Call him."
Rongyue came back to her senses, and was so frightened that she immediately lowered her head, secretly thinking that the Xu adult in the hall didn't seem to want to acknowledge them. But she didn't dare to disobey her mother-in-law's orders, so she curtsied and softly called out, "Uncle, may you have good fortune."
Jiang Yuanfa and Madam Chen cautiously glanced at Xu Hongchuan's reaction, and seeing that he didn't get angry, they secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
Since he didn't lose his temper, then it meant he acknowledged his sister-in-law. Not acknowledging the old man was fine, acknowledging Cheng'er's brother was also acceptable.
Madam Chen smiled flatteringly at Xu Hongchuan, and then turned to Rongyue and lectured, "An elder brother is like a father. You should show filial respect to your uncle in the future."
Rongyue bowed her head and obediently agreed, "Yes, I understand, wife."
Xu Hongchuan, who was in the main seat, neither agreed nor refuted, and there was no emotion on his face.
After an awkward silence, Madam Chen signaled Jiang Yuanfa to speak, but Jiang Yuanfa didn't dare to say anything anymore, pretending not to see.
Madam Chen had no choice, so she had to force a smile and said, "My Lord has been away from home for many years, and I am sure you haven't tasted the food from your hometown for a long time. The master has specially brought Honey Three-Knife, which you loved as a child, and will have Rongyue send it to you later."
She calls her Rongyue?
Xu Hongchuan couldn't help but recall the slender, soft waist in his hands when he saved her, and the two full breasts pressed against his chest…
He could hold that willow waist with one hand, but those plump breasts probably couldn't be held with one hand…
At this hour, if they went back in the dark, it would be a crime if such a beautiful woman didn't fall into the clutches of evil. Even staying in a hotel in the city wouldn't necessarily be safe and would definitely attract lechers who coveted her beauty.
Xu Hongchuan said lightly, "In that case, the three of you will stay in this official's residence for one night, and then return tomorrow."
"Thank you, my Lord! Thank you, my Lord!"
Jiang Yuanfa and Madam Chen didn't expect Xu Hongchuan to agree so readily; they thought they would have to haggle for a while!
Xu Hongchuan didn't bother to look at the two of them anymore, and suddenly got up and strode out, saying as he walked, "You three wait here, and someone will come to take you to the guest rooms later."
When he finished speaking, Xu Hongchuan had already walked out of the front hall.
After Xu Hongchuan left, Jiang Yuanfa finally breathed a long sigh of relief and raised his hand to wipe the cold sweat from his forehead with his sleeve.
Madam Chen also put away her smile, and her eyes were filled with resentment and ruthlessness.
When her Cheng'er became a high-ranking official, she would see how she would deal with this little beast!
After a while, a thin-faced middle-aged man came to the front hall, claiming to be Steward Liu.
Steward Liu led the few of them through the flower hall, along the winding corridor to the back of the house.
During the process, they passed two courtyards and the main house's main courtyard, and then to the back courtyard behind the main courtyard.
It was Rongyue's first time seeing a five-entry mansion. Even the back rooms had over a dozen rooms. Their Jiang family's house was a three-entry house, with only three or four back rooms.
After they were led into the guest rooms in the back courtyard, about twenty minutes later, Steward Liu brought a servant who served them food: a plate of braised sea cucumbers, a plate of fried spareribs, a plate of silver sprout bean sprouts, and three bowls of shark fin soup.
Steward Liu was neither respectful nor perfunctory, simply saying, "Please enjoy your meal," and then turned and left.
Madam Chen sat down at the round table by herself and looked at the dishes on the table. The dishes were not bad, but they weren't anything special, and were just ordinary food for the wealthy.
Jiang Yuanfa also sat down and sighed first, and said tiredly, "We finally weren't chased out, and we are staying in the back courtyard. I thought we would have to stay in the side rooms in the front."
Madam Chen glared at Jiang Yuanfa and whispered, "Chased out? You're his father, chased you out? He dares!"