Chapter 1641: Chapter 22: Home (2)
Li Longchuan rolled his eyes, "Is it that my cook isn’t good enough for you?"
The courtyard of the Marquis Mansion was deep, and Li Longchuan had been raised in such an environment, innately noble. Jiang Wang had built his way up from nothing to his current position, yet he showed no timidity, walking along while laughing and chatting.
It wasn’t until they reached the dining hall that Jiang Wang sensed something unusual about this "simple meal," almost making him want to turn around and run.
Sitting in the dining hall were Lady Li, the current Marquis of Destroying Cities Li Zhengyan, the Lady of Marquis of Destroying Cities Li Hanshi, and Donghua Scholar Li Zhengshu...
It wasn’t that he felt guilty seeing the elders, but the problem was, besides them, only Li Fengyao and Li Longchuan were present.
It was clearly a family banquet and one of the most private kind.
His sudden intrusion was quite a spoiler.
Moreover, if he had known these elders were present, how could he dare to arrive right at mealtime?
Even if he didn’t arrive before dawn to wait, he should at least have come one or two hours early to show his manners as Jiang Qingyang.
But now it seemed as if everyone was waiting for him.
Apart from Li Longchuan, who else could possibly be waiting just for him?
Thus, he was filled with awe and trepidation, his steps faltering.
"Good child." Lady Li smiled warmly, waving her hand, "Come, sit next to me."
Lady Li sat at the head seat, with Li Zhengshu on her right, and beyond him sat the couple Li Zhengyan and his wife.
Although Li Zhengyan held a higher title, Li Zhengshu was older, making this seating arrangement at a family banquet appropriate.
An empty seat was on Lady Li’s left, with Li Fengyao beside it, and further left, Li Longchuan had already sat down.
Obviously, the empty seat was reserved for the guest, Jiang Wang.
Before this old lady, Jiang Wang had no right to refuse. Though unclear about the situation, he respectfully saluted Lady Li, the Marquis couple, and Donghua Scholar, and obediently walked over to sit beside Lady Li.
The greatest hero of the Battle of Star Moon Plain, someone who dares to claim preeminence under God Arrives, sat blankly beside the old lady, like a small startled quail.
"Today is the birthday feast of Grandma, and she thought of inviting you to sit," Li Fengyao said gently, seated prim and proper.
Jiang Wang hurriedly stood up and saluted the old lady, "I am too rude!"
If he had known today was Lady Li’s birthday, no matter how tight his finances were, Jiang Qingyang would not have skimped on a birthday gift. Coming empty-handed now, if outsiders knew, who knows how they’d laugh.
"Sit down and talk." The old lady held his hand, pressing him back into the chair, chiding, "You’ve only just arrived in Linzi, who taught you all these useless formalities? Was it Longchuan? Our Li Clan, a family of military generations, does not engage in such nonsense!"
Li Longchuan protested, "I don’t even know what formality means, how could I teach him?"
Jiang Wang gave him a reproachful glance.
Helpless, he said, "If the old lady forbids me from speaking, how dare I speak?"
"Good child, I had Longchuan bring you here," the old lady patted Jiang Wang’s hand, "I’m getting old, can’t stand noise, and don’t want them to organize big events. Just wanted to close the door and sit with family. You won’t blame Grandma, will you?"
As soon as these words came out, Li Zhengshu simply smiled.
Li Zhengyan paused with his lifted cup, while the Marchioness Li Hanshi couldn’t hide the surprise in her eyes.
Clearly, the whole family did not know the old lady would say such things in advance.
Those words implicitly treated Jiang Wang as one of their own!
Jiang Wang was indeed somewhat overwhelmed by the unexpected favor.
Given the Shimen Li Clan’s status, if Lady Li were to hold a formal birthday celebration, it would likely shock half of Linyi City, and whether Jiang Wang’s carriage could even squeeze in would be uncertain.
Especially at this critical moment in the Concubine Lei case, after he was threatened by someone using a carriage driver...
The old lady was clearly backing him up.
"It’s Jiang Wang’s honor to sit here and accompany..." Jiang Wang stammered for a long time, finally saying, "Grandma."
"Good child." The old lady beamed and instructed, "Let’s start the meal."
The waiting servants naturally filed in, offering all kinds of delicacies.
At the banquet, the old lady continuously served Jiang Wang, asking questions now and then.
Throughout the meal, only the two of them spoke.
Everyone else ate silently, only responding when the old lady addressed them.
This shows the old lady’s supreme status in the family.
Jiang Wang wasn’t entirely comfortable, but it was undeniable that his rather disturbed mood of late gradually calmed in this homely conversation...
From a young age, he only had his father by his side.
He had never met his paternal or maternal grandparents, and such elder familial intimacy was something he barely experienced...
He thought if he had a grandmother, she would be as kind as Lady Li.
Before he knew it, the banquet was coming to an end.
After sipping fragrant tea, the old lady looked kindly at Jiang Wang, "Grandma is getting on in years; after eating, she feels drowsy, so I won’t keep you here with idle chatter. Let Fengyao take you for a stroll in the garden..."
"Grandma, you don’t need to worry." Li Longchuan stood up assertively, "I’ll take Brother Jiang outside..."
He sat back down, silently pouring himself another bowl of soup.
The old lady withdrew her gaze, still smiling at Jiang Wang.
Even if Jiang Wang was a bit dense, he could now see the old lady’s intentions, causing him great embarrassment.
However, Li Fengyao stood up confidently, "Let’s go, Qingyang."
"Okay, alright." Jiang Wang had nothing else to say, so after bowing to the elders, he followed Li Fengyao out.
Lady Li continued to call him a good child.
Li Zhengshu and Li Zhengyan both responded with smiles.
Whether it was an illusion or not, only the face of the Marchioness of Destroying Cities was not looking very pleasant.
Jiang Wang wasn’t in a position to care about such things, nor was it his nature to mind them, so he walked quietly beside Li Fengyao. There was some inexplicable nervousness and a bit of awkwardness.
Heaven knows, it was his first time being so blatantly set up, and the object was the coldly unrivaled Li Fengyao...
The old lady watched the two kids’ backs with satisfaction, more so as they disappeared.
As soon as their figures vanished, her smile faded.
"See, what a polite child." She said lightly, "Too bad some people, despite their age, aren’t as sensible as a child."
The Marchioness of Destroying Cities’ face looked troubled but didn’t dare say anything.
The undercurrent between his grandmother and mother gave Li Longchuan a headache, wishing to bury his head in the soup bowl.
Lady Li lightly snorted and gently pushed away her tea cup, "The old woman will go back to her courtyard, so as not to be an eyesore to anyone."
Li Zhengshu, eyes filled with a smile, quickly stood up to assist, "Mother, I’ll see you off."
Li Zhengyan also quickly stood up, "Brother, let me see Mother off."
"No, no." The old lady glanced lightly at him, "The Marquis has been angered enough, better sit down."
The wronged Li Zhengyan had no choice but to sit down.
The old lady then allowed herself to be helped out by Li Zhengshu, still smiling as she left the dining hall.
Once the old lady had left, Li Hanshi turned to her husband, "My Lord, what do you say?"
Feeling rather overwhelmed, Li Zhengyan quickly fell back on a catch-all phrase, "The old lady is old, you should understand..."
"I’m not saying Jiang Wang is bad, nor am I against it," Li Hanshi said indignantly, "Fengyao is my daughter, after all, right? I haven’t even had much contact with that Jiang Wang. And the rest is as it is, just let her have her way. But Fengyao’s important matters, her elder doesn’t even consult me about it first... how embarrassing?"
Li Longchuan, who had been quietly listening for a while, rolled his eyes, "Who could possibly belittle my sister?"
"Alright, alright." Li Zhengyan consoled her, "This matter all depends on the wishes of the two children, it’s still undecided. Who are we to decide for Fengyao?"
"Have you finished drinking?" Li Hanshi persistently asked Li Longchuan, "If you’re finished, hurry up and go, aren’t you a little eyesore here?"
"I’m done!" Li Longchuan quickly gulped down his bowl of soup and left.
"Alright, alright." Li Zhengyan comforted, "It was wrong of the old lady, I understand your grievance..."
