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Arc 3: Chapter 32 (end)

Jiang Qian silently stared at memorial tablets in the ancestral hall. His eyes narrowed slightly and a watery light stirred on their surface. 

This was the Jiang family’s ancestral hall as it used to stand in its glory. 

Many years had passed since Jiang Qian had seen this scene. 

Jiang Qian pinched himself and he didn’t feel any pain, so he knew he was in a dream. 

But even if it was a dream, there should be some kind of meaning.

Jiang Qian had no memory of ever kneeling in the ancestral hall, except for during ceremonies. 

Before Jiang Qian could stand up, a handsome young man dressed in blue walked in through the door. He held a fan in his hand, and his eyes were like stars. 

The man in blue squatted in front of Jiang Qian and his eyebrows bent slightly and he smiled like the sun. 

“Third brother, what a job you did.” The man folded his fan and knocked it gently on Jiang Qian’s head. 

Jiang Qian looked at the man in front of him and his throat choked with the flood of emotions that drowned him. In this instant, the scars that had been gone for a long time tore open. 

This was his second brother, Jiang Yan. 

Yan, meaning clear skies, meaning bright, was his brother that had the best personality. He was a free and elegant young man.

Jiang Yan shook his fan gently and his teasing and unrestrained temperament was obvious to the eye. 

“Look at you, what should this second brother say? If you were just an idle dandy that would be fine, but you’ve actually learned to cut your sleeves. Cutting sleeves is fine, you actually got with Prince Lin. What kind of person is Lin Yuan? Prince Chu’s only son, deeply favored by the emperor, and even the empress dowager dotes on him.”

The more Jiang Yan said, the faster his fan shook: “Third brother ah, third brother ah, you have to consider more thoroughly. If it was an ordinary man, even if mother and father didn’t agree, your big brother and I can still help you behind the scenes. Too bad, your standards are so high and you nabbed a first-ranked prince. Now even father has to salute him.”

“Is Lin Yuan someone you can nab?” Jiang Yan shook his head and sighed: “Your vision reaches up to the sky. Little brother, lower your standards ba.”

At this point, Jiang Qian could guess what kind of dream this was. This was the dream that he only dared to imagine, the best kind of dream.

Jiang Yan talked a lot and saw that Jiang Qian wasn’t saying anything. He closed his fan and asked: “Jiang Qian, second brother said so much, did you listen to any of it?”

Jiang Qian raised an eyebrow and then smiled. He smiled as if he was still young, a teenager that had not grown up yet. Such a smile was really blinding, and it could even attract immortals.

“Second brother came to break up mandarin ducks, how can a mandarin duck like me bear to listen?” t/n breaking up mandarin ducks = breaking up a couple

Jiang Yan revealed a scandalized expression and shook his head: “Mandarin ducks? Calling yourself a mandarin duck is okay, but can you make Little Prince Lin also willing to be a mandarin duck with you?”

Jiang Qian laughed but didn’t say no.

Jiang Yan suddenly seemed to realize something big. Seeing Jiang Qian’s happy expression, Jiang Yan was more amazed: “Interesting ah. Third brother, I didn’t know you had this much skill.”

After saying this, Jiang Yan took out a paper bag from his sleeve and stuffed it into Jiang Qian’s arms. He winked, and then left the ancestral hall the way he came. 

Seeing him leave, Jiang Qian’s smile froze on his face, but at this time, he heard another sound of footsteps. Jiang Qian turned around and saw a tall man dressed in black coming towards him.

This man was older, with sword eyebrows and dark eyes and no expression. His aura was as cold as the winter chill. 

This was Jiang Qian’s eldest brother, Jiang Han. 

Jiang Han was calm and serious, but he also loved Jiang Qian very much. Unlike Jiang Yan’s casual actions, Jiang Qian first lit a few sticks of incense before kneeling next to Jiang Qian and speaking.

In Jiang Han’s eyes, the ancestral hall was a solemn place. Juniors should not talk frivolously in front of their ancestors. 

“Third brother, you’ve really crossed the line.” Jiang Han said.

Jiang Qian stared at his eldest brother without blinking.

Jiang Han sighed and said: “Third brother, you’ve been extremely intelligent since you were a child. Why did you suddenly…… become a cutsleeve?”

The man’s brows tightened as if he had a headache: “Eldest brother knows you are not the kind of person who is indulgent and lustful, and you would not make this decision on a whim. You must really love Prince Lin. But his identity is too noble, and he is the only son in the Chu family. In order to pass down the family, he is bound to marry a woman and have children. Third brother ah, what are you going to do later?”

Jiang Qian knew that his eldest brother was the most strict and always followed the rules. But even after he had violated so many principles, his eldest brother did not berate him but was worried about him. Jiang Qian’s heart instantly tightened and his nose was sour. 

The long buried hatred in his heart began to emerge. His eldest brother and second brother were two outstanding people and talents, but they were unjustly killed. Even after death, their bones were dumped in the wilderness until they were buried under the mud. 

Jiang Qian’s chest fluctuated. He gripped Jiang Han’s arm, and unlike his act of calmness in front of Jiang Yan, his eyes were red and his face was as pale as paper. His voice was hoarse as if his throat was scratched: “Big brother……”

Jiang Han didn’t know why Jiang Qian was suddenly so emotional. He thought that Jiang Qian was too deeply in love with Prince Lin and was worried about their future.

He patted Jiang Qian’s shoulder stiffly and comforted: “It’s okay, little brother. Eldest brother believes that with your personality, the little prince will not bear to leave you. You two will definitely live happily together. Don’t worry about father and mother, eldest brother will help you deal with them.”

After finishing everything he wanted to say, Jiang Han got up. But before he left, he also took out a paper bag and gave it to Jiang Qian.

Jiang Yan sent Jiang Qian plum cakes from a famous dim sum restaurant. Jiang Han sent two large meat buns that just came out of the steamer and were still hot. 

Jiang Qian picked up a plum cake with trembling fingers. Although there was no taste in a dream, Jiang Qian could still feel the sweetness of the cake and the warmth from the steamed buns. 

When he finished the food, a beautiful woman walked in with a lunch box in her hand. 

Jiang Qian started crying when he saw her. He was like a child who had suffered too many grievances and cried out: “Mother……”

Madam Jiang was shocked to see her son like this and immediately placed the lunch box to the side and wiped away Jiang Qian’s tears. She said softly: “What’s wrong? Qian’er, did your dad secretly hit you behind my back?”

Jiang Qian held his mother’s hand and shook his head. His throat was already sore: “No…… mother, father didn’t hit me.”

Madam Jiang sighed with relief: “That’s good. You’ve been kneeling for two days, you must be hungry. Mother made your favorite dishes, eat first ba.”

Madam Jiang took out all of the plates of food and picked out some before handing the bowl full of rice and vegetables and chopsticks to Jiang Qian: “Eat quickly, Qian’er. You’ve suffered these days. But you, really… you became a cutsleeve so suddenly. Mother already heard your eldest brother say that you really love the little prince. In this case, mother will help you persuade your father.”

Jiang Qian sniffled harshly and couldn’t stop wolfing down the food his mother made for him. This was something he could no longer ask for in his life.

Madam Jiang talked for a long time until Jiang Qian was done with the food. She wiped his mouth with a handkerchief and said with heartache: “Qian’er, don’t worry. With mother here, if your dad doesn’t bless you, then I will take you three sons and leave the Jiang family.”

Jiang Qian tried his best to smile and whispered: “Mother, you’re really good……”

Madam Jiang smiled and pinched Jiang Qian’s face: “Good talker.”

Shortly after she left, footsteps sounded again. Jiang Qian’s heart suddenly panicked. He knew that his father, Jiang Heng, was coming. 

Jiang Heng strode into the ancestral hall with a serious expression. He lectured Jiang Qian endlessly, mostly scolding him about how he failed to abide by etiquette. 

After scolding enough, he humph-ed and finally let Jiang Qian stand up. 

Jiang Qian remained kneeling and saluted: “Father, I have cleared your name and the Jiang family’s name. What father wanted to do, I finished for you.”

Jiang Heng’s serious expression cracked and he became silent and sad. He looked up at the clear sky outside and said: “Qian was not a good word. It meant migration, meant change, but also meant death and exile. When I gave you this name, maybe your fate of having no place to return to was already determined.”

Jiang Qian stood up and shook his head: “No, father, I do have a place to return to. And qian is a good word. To migrate also means to climb, and I have climbed to the highest point and completed father’s ideals.”

Jiang Heng looked at his son and patted Jiang Qian on the shoulder with a slight, sad smile: “These years, thank you for your hard work, Qian’er...”

Jiang Qian’s dream ended there. He opened his eyes and found that Lin Yuan was awake and was patting him on the back to coax him. 

“It’s okay, Jiang Qian. It’s okay……”

Jiang Qian stretched out his arms and hugged Lin Yuan tightly. He buried his face in the other’s neck and whispered: “Sui Sui…… I just had a dream. In my dream, my father, mother, and brother’s all blessed us. We finally got the blessing of our parents.”

Lin Yuan then realized why Jiang Qian’s emotions had gotten out of control. He hugged the still scarred man and slowly stroked through the other’s hair: “En, I’m very happy that your parent’s blessed us. When the case is over and the Jiang family’s ancestral hall is rebuilt, I will go worship them with you and thank them.”

Jiang Qian made a sound of agreement and smiled softly: “Then after everything, let’s go out for a walk. When I was young, I thought about traveling all over the world to see all of the mountains and rivers. Now that we finally have time, let’s go see them together.”

Lin Yuan nodded and agreed: “Okay ah, I’ll accompany you. Let’s go to the very north of Daliang and see the forests, oceans, and sunset.”

Jiang Qian kissed Lin Yuan and didn’t suppress the curl of his lips. 

Nothing could be better than this.