Chapter 48: The Grandmother Arrives
As in Yan Jingshu’s memories from his past life, in the third month, the imperial court issued a conscription order. About ten days later, Yan Jingshu received a carrier pigeon message from Song Fan.
Though the letter was deliberately vague to prevent others from reading it, Yan Jingshu understood its meaning perfectly.
Ever since discovering that the Zhao Dali of this lifetime was a different person from the Zhao Dali of his past life, Yan Jingshu had suspected that the Zhao Dali of this lifetime had been replaced by someone at some unknown point.
With Kou Shijun enforcing stringent army regulations, impersonation after enlistment was impossible—meaning the substitution must have occurred before the new recruits entered Ningcheng. Thus, Yan Jingshu had instructed Song Fan and the others to continue monitoring Zhao Dali.
Now, the carrier pigeon message from Song Fan informed Yan Jingshu that Zhao Dali, being too poor to pay the exemption fee, had—as expected—enlisted under his own name.
However, on the day the new recruits assembled to depart, the person appearing in the ranks under the name "Zhao Dali" was not the short, stocky, and simple-minded farmer they had been monitoring for days. Instead, it was, as Yan Jingshu had predicted, a tall, lean man.
Following Jiang Chenghan and Yan Jingshu’s prior instructions, they did not intervene but continued covert surveillance, accompanying the fake Zhao Dali’s unit northward. They were expected to arrive in Ningcheng by the fifth month.
After searching for so long, the person had finally appeared. Yan Jingshu could barely contain his excitement and immediately informed Jiang Chenghan the moment he returned from the Governor's residence.
Naturally, Jiang Chenghan was also pleased to have found the person who might have killed him in his past life. Though the motive remained unclear, now that the man had surfaced, the truth could eventually be uncovered.
However, compared to this matter, Jiang Chenghan was more preoccupied with Xie Huan’s situation. Though the distance from Ningcheng to Qingzhou was shorter than to the capital, the round trip still took over a month. If all went smoothly, Xie Huan should return by the fifth month as well—coinciding with the other event.
Though Yan Jingshu and Jiang Chenghan were preoccupied with different matters, both eagerly anticipated the fifth month’s arrival. Over a month later, the fifth month finally began.
Yet, completely contrary to their expectations, Jiang Chenghan did not receive Xie Huan’s revelation about Yan Jingshu’s true origins, nor did Yan Jingshu witness the fake Zhao Dali’s appearance. Instead, the Dowager Lady Yan, who should have been peacefully retired in the capital, arrived in Ningcheng without warning.
When Wenxiu reported that the Dowager Lady had arrived and was waiting outside the gate, Yan Jingshu initially thought he had misheard. Even after being helped to the front gate by Wenxiu and seeing the Dowager Lady step down from the carriage with An Momo’s support, he still felt as if he were dreaming.
“Silly child, what’s wrong? Have you forgotten your grandmother after just a few months apart?” The Dowager Lady chuckled, looking at Yan Jingshu. Though his letters had assured her of his well-being, seeing him in person finally put her mind at ease.
“Grandmother—” Yan Jingshu stood frozen, his wide eyes filled with disbelief as he stared at her.
“…Has this child truly gone foolish?” The Dowager Lady feigned displeasure, though her eyes sparkled with amusement.
Finally snapping out of his daze, Yan Jingshu’s face lit up with joy. He hurried to her side, overwhelmed with happiness. “Grandmother—Grandmother, how are you here? When did you arrive? Why didn’t you tell me in advance? Are you tired? How was the journey—”
The questions spilled out one after another. The Dowager Lady’s sudden arrival had left him completely unprepared. Though overjoyed, he couldn’t help but worry—after all, she was over sixty, and the journey from the capital to Ningcheng must have been arduous.
The Dowager Lady, however, did not seem overly fatigued. Gently patting Yan Jingshu’s hand, she reassured him warmly, “I’ve been cooped up in the capital for too long and needed a change of scenery. Besides, with you pregnant and no one to look after you, I thought I’d come see for myself. The weather’s been pleasant, and the carriage moved at a leisurely pace—it felt more like an excursion. With so many attendants, I wasn’t the least bit tired.”
Seeing her rosy complexion and lively demeanor, Yan Jingshu believed her and finally relaxed.
Though he still had much to say, the front gate was no place for conversation—especially since Yan Jingshu, in his advanced pregnancy, shouldn’t stand for long. The group soon moved inside to the main hall.
Along the way, the Dowager Lady observed the Jiang residence. Though not as grand or refined as the Duke of Anguo’s estate, it was spacious and well-kept. The small, elegant garden in the inner courtyard particularly pleased her.
Yan Jingshu fretted over the Dowager Lady’s health, while she, in turn, inquired about his pregnancy. Yan Jingshu answered every question in detail.
Satisfied that he was doing well, the Dowager Lady nodded approvingly. “Originally, I thought that since Jiang Chenghan has no parents, you’d have an easier time after marriage. But I forgot that during pregnancy, you’d lack an experienced elder’s guidance.”
Yan Jingshu smiled. “Don’t worry, Grandmother. I’ve always been healthy, and this pregnancy has been smooth. I’m well cared for, and Chenghan even arranged for a physician to examine me every ten days. He’s learned a great deal about prenatal care and looks after me wonderfully.”
The Dowager Lady knew Yan Jingshu would never speak ill of Jiang Chenghan, but she trusted his words. “Good, that’s good.”
Speak of the devil—no sooner had they mentioned Jiang Chenghan than he returned from the Governor's residence.
At first, he was puzzled by the sudden crowd in his home. Upon learning that the Dowager Lady had arrived, he was equally astonished, sharing Yan Jingshu’s bewilderment at her unexpected journey.
The Dowager Lady repeated her earlier explanation, omitting only her concerns about the lack of elders in the Jiang household.
“…There are two more matters. Since you’re back, Chenghan, I’ll tell you both now.” Her expression turned serious.
Exchanging a glance, Yan Jingshu and Jiang Chenghan straightened slightly. “Please go ahead, Grandmother.”
The Dowager Lady began, “First, regarding Yan Jingyu—in the second month, your father arranged a marriage for her in the Qingzhou ancestral home. Though the family’s status isn’t as lofty as ours, they’re well-off locally. Given her misdeeds, this isn’t unfair treatment.”
Yan Jingshu pressed his lips together. While the Dowager Lady claimed Yan Jingyu wasn’t wronged, for someone who had aspired to marry the Marquis of Zhenguo’s heir, this was undoubtedly a bitter outcome. But since this was the Dowager Lady and the Duke’s decision—and considering Yan Jingyu’s past malice—he refrained from comment.
With Yan Jingyu now married off to Qingzhou and under watch, the Dowager Lady dismissed her from mind and moved to the second matter. “The other issue concerns Xie Shi…”
“She fell ill before your wedding and never fully recovered. The journey to Qingzhou worsened her condition. Though she rested for months there, her health continued to decline. A few days after Yan Jingyu’s wedding in the second month… she passed away.”
Xie Shi was dead.
Yan Jingshu froze. Due to her disdain, he had never felt much filial affection for her. Her schemes had long eroded any lingering attachment.
Learning that she wasn’t his birth mother had even brought him relief. He’d rather have no mother than one who despised him.
Thus, though they were nominally mother and son, he no longer regarded her as such. The news of her death brought no grief—only stunned silence.
Jiang Chenghan, however, had different thoughts. He cared little for Xie Shi—dead was dead. On the battlefield, death was commonplace.
But Xie Shi had died in the second month, while Xie Huan left Ningcheng in the fifth month. By then, Xie Shi was already gone. Xie Huan’s trip to Qingzhou would yield nothing, forcing him to seek answers from Xie’s parents in the capital.
By now, he should have arrived.
Indeed, on the day the Dowager Lady reached Ningcheng, Xie Huan—after nearly a month of hard riding—pushed open the gates of the Xie residence in the capital, his face weathered with exhaustion.
In the main hall, Xie’s parents—just returned from Qingzhou after burying their daughter—were still grieving when a servant announced the second young master’s return.
Shocked and disbelieving, they barely rose before Xie Huan strode in.
Though over a decade had passed, they recognized him instantly. Xie’s mother burst into tears, Xie’s father’s eyes reddened. But his first words were a furious roar:
“Who told you to return? I said the Xie family disown shameless trash like you! Get out!”
Xie Huan’s face was cold. His fists clenched, his lips bloodless. In a hoarse voice, he said, “I’ll ask one question. Once answered, I’ll leave—and never set foot here again, even in death.”
His mother wept harder, his father’s expression darkened further. But Xie Huan spoke first:
“Xiao Shu—is he my child?”
His gaze locked onto his father, whose face twisted in shock before exclaiming, “How did you know?!”
Even braced for the truth, Xie Huan staggered back, barely catching himself.
“So it’s true… Xiao Shu really is mine. You lied… You told me he died. How could you?” His voice broke, his face contorted between laughter and tears.
“So what if we lied? What if he’s yours? Will you claim him now? Let the world know you gave birth to a bastard out of wedlock? You’ve no shame, but the Xie family does!” Xie’s father snarled, thinking of his daughter’s grave. He regretted not beating Xie Huan to death years ago—now, because of some bastard, his daughter was gone.
Xie Huan stared at his father’s venomous face, then at his weeping mother. Wordlessly, he turned and walked out.
As the gates slammed shut behind him, he mounted his horse and rode north—toward Ningcheng.
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