Chapter 340

The two simple words made Mrs. Liao's mouth and tongue tremble in shock, her soul flying to the ninth heaven.

How could that cruel place, that wasteland filled with blood everywhere, allow the Jiang Family's only direct descendent to go there?

"Mother, you must be joking, right? You're tricking me, right?" Mrs. Liao asked with reddened eyes.

Old Lady Jiang spoke plainly, "Why would a mother make jokes about something like this? That would be inappropriate."

"I'm not deceiving you."

"He really went to the Northern Borderlands to take over his father's position and guard the peace and safety of his family and country."

That also meant spilling blood, getting injured, even losing one's soul in a foreign land.

Mrs. Liao's legs turned soft, barely able to stand, stumbling as she shook her head. "Why does he need to go to a place like that? Why the Northern Borderlands? Can't he just live as a noble young master in Fengjing? Why? Is it because of the Liao Family? Is it me? Or what else?"

"Yes, it is," Jiang Chengyu had just gotten out two words before Second Madam Jiang covered his mouth again.

It was because of the Liao Family, but also not entirely because of the Liao Family.

The Liao Family had only catalyzed his steps forward. The real reason was still Mrs. Liao and the awkward mother-son relationship, the biological mother he found difficult to face.

Perhaps the gossip in Fengjing would be hard to hear, and Jiang Chengyuan's reputation would also plummet.

But as long as he could gain victory, as long as he returned alive from the Northern Borderlands, everything from the past would be washed clean. People would only remember his current status and position. This was also why Old Lady Jiang supported her eldest grandson leaving.

"No, impossible." Mrs. Liao still shook her head. "Chengyuan promised me that he would stay in Fengjing and never go onto the battlefield or follow his ancestors' old path. He clearly promised me!"

But the child had already left without even bidding her goodbye.

Mrs. Liao suppressed her sobs, collapsing onto the ground.

She might not believe Second Madam Jiang or anyone else in the Western Residence, but she could not disbelieve Old Lady Jiang's words.

He had really left, disregarding her past exhortations and unflinchingly went onto the battlefield.

Facing blood, dismembered corpses, fierce enemies.

"Chengyuan, you must come back safely..." Mrs. Liao let out a hysterical wail.

Second Madam Jiang's eyes also reddened. Only a woman who had truly given birth could understand being decisive and ruthless enough to push one's child onto the battlefield like Old Lady Jiang had done.

More mothers do not ask for their children to become rich and prosperous. They only hope for them to live well.

As long as they are alive.

Mrs. Liao cried until nearing unconsciousness before maids helped prop her up to stand.

Perhaps her spine had been plucked out. She no longer had her previous aloofness, instead quiet and feeble as she turned to leave.

Right before walking out the door, she said in a weak yet firm voice, "I will resolve the Liao Family's matters. Now that my son has gone to war, I cannot allow anyone to vilify him."

The wooden doors opened and closed. Tranquility returned to the Western Residence.

Second Madam Jiang brought her children over to pay respects. Jiang Chengyu enthusiastically greeted them and praised how delicious the lychee ice was.

Jiang Sheng absentmindedly nodded.

Mrs. Liao could actually be considered a very good mother. Not only did she dote on Jiang Chenghua, but also treasured Jiang Chengyuan like her life. Judging by her tone earlier, she even wanted to oppose the Liao Family.

Yet why did she still not love Jiang Sheng?

No one knew the answer.

Jiang Sheng told herself that she was just suddenly curious and did not mean to investigate further.

But from leaving De Ren Courtyard to arriving at the small courtyard in the second wing, little Jiang Sheng's face held no smiles.

She watched Auntie Zhang stewing beef, watched Zheng Ruqian bringing back the remaining pastries from Jiuzhen Store, watched Chang Yan taking out six blocks of wood again, watched Wen Zhiyun hugging a rock as a treasure, watched Xu Mo returning with slightly flushed cheeks.

Everything around her was clearly moving, yet it all felt vague and floated outside her ears and mind.

Someone was calling her.

One shout after another, first sounding like the dark-haired grandmother rocking the baby cradle, then sounding like the teary-faced young Mrs. Liao, finally turning into the wrinkly old woman.

"Which family's child is pitifully abandoned in the fields? What will happen if she starves or freezes to death?"

"Baby is good, baby sleep, baby is very good."

"Why? Just why has it become like this? Why treat me this way..."

The crossover voices echoed in her ears, finally turning into a strange buzz that scrunched Jiang Sheng's brow in displeasure.

Unhappiness, grievance, sorrow, chokes, emptiness, complicated emotions fluttered in her heart - seeming like her own yet also others'.

Jiang Sheng felt a little at a loss.

She felt that she should flee, but couldn't discern the direction. She could only hug herself tightly into a ball.

Yet those emotions were unbridled, unexpectedly shrinking the encirclement. Jiang Sheng grew scared. She wondered if she should desperately fight against these things to escape or drag them down with her.

Until a mouthful of redolent, piping hot beef stuffed into her mouth.

Richly-seasoned sauce instantly soothed her mind as tender, melting meat rolled over her tongue - neither stringy nor greasy. Thoroughly cooked to perfection, the familiar and tangible deliciousness connected her to the real world.

Jiang Sheng opened her eyes to Auntie Zhang holding chopsticks with a face full of smiles. "Want another bite?"

She split open her mouth into a grin.

"Why are you smiling like that? Is it not tasty?" Zhang Xianglian was frightened into checking the dish herself, confirming the taste was not wrong. "Or could it be, you don't like beef?"

Jiang Sheng hurriedly nodded. "Eat eat, love to eat, especially love to eat. Auntie, another bite, ah..."

Then another piece with tendon was stuffed into her mouth. Savory food dispelled all clouds of gloom, bringing forth light and hope - a sky full of sunshine.

At the dining table, Jiang Sheng went full force into eating with an oily face full of satisfaction. Heart and stomach completely replenished.

"Eat some more, see how hungry you are," Zheng Ruqian smiled as he picked food for her.

Xu Mo recounted what he had seen and heard. "The Liao Family no longer mentions the matter of their Head of House getting hit. Instead they are trying hard to suppress the news."

"Why?" Chang Yan felt puzzled. "Wasn't the Liao Family ranting about this in hopes that once the Jiang Family yielded, they could do some dealings for Young Master Jiang's reputation?"

Like continuing to rely on the Liao Family's backing or suppressing Jiuzhen Store and the like.

Even if their teeth got knocked out, these powerful households could use it to exchange for benefits. Their minds were truly complicated to an insane degree.

"I heard Old Lady Jiang kneeled at the Liao ancestral hall for half a day pleading with them," Xu Mo glanced at Jiang Sheng. "I heard this bit of gossip from Qi Huai."

She kept her word to settle matters for Jiang Chengyuan's sake.

Yet what did any of this have to do with Jiang Sheng?

The little girl lifted her meat bowl with horns and happily said, "Auntie's stewed beef is too delicious. Next time stew more, best if stewed together with lamb."

Zhang Xianglian turned ghastly pale, seemingly worried over the price of lamb yet also doubtful if lamb and beef stewed together would turn out well.

The whole family softly laughed.

As the meal came to an end, someone knocked on the door.

Wag Xiao Zhu put down her bowl and chopsticks to open the door, not ushering in any guest but a letter that took over a month to relay here.

As the eldest brother, Xu Mo righteously accepted it to open and read, his brow furrowing deeper the more he read.

"Big brother, whose letter is it?"

"Big brother, what does it say?"

Everyone grew curious. Zheng Ruqian with the closest view just happened to catch sight of the last line on the last page.

"I obtained a dozen or so lambs on the grasslands, already keeping them back. Hopefully second brother can come take them away soon to comfort little sister???s stomach and intestines."