The Rebirth of Han Yuxi

Chapter 0818 The Death of Jiang Hongjin (1)

Mr Gao had served at Jiang Wenrui's side for so many years that Jiang Hongfu's present level of shrewdness could hardly deceive him. Not long after returning to Tongcheng, Mr Gao wrote a confidential letter and sent it back to the capital.

After reading Mr Gao's secret letter, Jiang Wenrui's expression did not change. In fact, he had actually expected Jiang Hongfu to side with Yun Qing and Han Shi. In Jiang Hongfu's previous letters, he had lavishly praised everything good about the Northwest. Those letters had already revealed his intention to pitch camp and build a stronghold there. Jiang Wenrui knew this, but said nothing. The reason was simple: you can't put all your eggs in one basket. Besides, even the Jiang family itself was now divided into several factions. Jiang Wenrui currently worked for Yan Wushuang, while the eldest branch of the Jiang family served the Yu family. He didn't have much faith in either Yan Wushuang or the Yu family, but they had all been forced by circumstances. Fu-er had only been able to remain in the northwest because of his special connection to Yun Qing. Naturally, such an opportunity had to be seized.

After thinking it over, Jiang Wenrui burned the letter. Since outsiders knew nothing about it yet, he might as well pretend he didn't know it either.

A short while later, a young servant announced from outside, "Master, the Second Master requests an audience." Although Jiang Hongjin still had marks on his face, they would not prevent him from entering official service.

However, Jiang Wenrui had not arranged another position for him. Instead, he taught him how to manage household affairs.

This wasn't because Jiang Wenrui had given up on Jiang Hongjin. He merely wanted to toughen him up. Jiang Hongjin wasn't foolish either. Although Jiang Wenrui said nothing, he knew his father would not abandon him. The reason was simple: his father had only two sons. Unless he truly became rotten mud that could not be plastered onto a wall, he would not become a discarded chess piece.

As Jiang Hongjin entered, Jiang Wenrui asked, "What is it?" Because Jiang Hongfu's birth mother had died young and he had later suffered persecution at Yu Shi's hands, Jiang Wenrui had been somewhat indulgent towards him. With Jiang Hongjin, however, he was a strict father through and through.

Jiang Hongjin replied respectfully, "Dad, spring has already begun. I'd like to go to Henan and bring Rong-er and the child back to the capital." The child Yurong had given birth to might well be his only offspring in this lifetime, so Jiang Hongjin attached great importance to the boy.

The Imperial Physicians had healed Jiang Hongjin's injuries, but nothing could be done about his impotence. It wasn't that the physicians lacked skill. The medicine Jiang Hongjin had been given had been far too potent, and too much time had passed before treatment began. By then, there was nothing they could do.

Jiang Wenrui said, "You cannot go. We still haven't found the person behind the attack. It would be too dangerous for you to travel to Henan. As for your wife and child, I'll send capable men to bring them back."

When the subject of the mastermind behind the attack was raised, Jiang Hongjin asked, "Dad, has Dage still not found the culprit?" After all, it had already been a year, and the man was still nowhere to be found. Jiang Hongjin couldn't help wondering whether his brother had truly put any effort into the search.

Jiang Wenrui replied, "Your Dage has written back. He said he couldn't find the man in the northwest. I suspect the man isn't there at all." Since Jiang Hongfu knew that Yuxi was behind the attack, he naturally couldn't tell the truth. After receiving Jiang Hongfu's warning, Mr Gao didn't dare reveal the matter to Jiang Wenrui either.

Jiang Hongjin's face twisted. "Impossible. That man clearly fled to the northwest. How could Dage fail to find him?" His brother simply hadn't wanted to look.

Displeasure spread across Jiang Wenrui's face. "Are you blaming your Dage for not doing his utmost for you? You should know that life isn't easy for him there." Although Jiang Hongfu was Yun Qing's biaodi, Yuxi had given him no preferential treatment in official matters. Everything he had achieved there was through his own efforts.

Hatred flashed in Jiang Hongjin's eyes. "Dad, I want to go to the Northwest and find this man myself." He refused to believe that the mastermind couldn't be found.

Jiang Wenrui scolded him angrily, "If you hadn't entertained thoughts you never should have had, would you ever have been posted to Henan?" If Jiang Hongjin had not gone to Henan, no one would have been able to attack him so viciously. Everything that had happened to him was the consequence of his own actions.

It had to be said that Jiang Wenrui had got it exactly right. Jiang Hongjin had ended up in his present state precisely because he harboured a secret, shameful motive towards Yuchen.

Jiang Hongjin did not believe he had done anything wrong. He loved Yuchen so deeply that he would have died for her, yet he had never dishonoured the woman he loved. Nevertheless, no matter how unhappy he was, he did not dare argue with Jiang Wenrui.

How could Jiang Wenrui fail to see that Jiang Hongjin's obedience was only superficial and that deep down, he was still unwilling to accept it? Irritation rose in him. All because of a woman, his son had become practically possessed. "You may go."

Madam Jiang, née Yu, was waiting outside for Jiang Hongjin. One look at her son, who resembled an aubergine beaten by frost, and she knew things had not gone well. "Your father won't agree to bring your wife and Xiao Huzi back?" Xiao Huzi was Yurong's son's childhood name. Jiang Wenrui disliked the name, finding it far too crude. However, since it wasn't the boy's formal name, he had kept his objections to himself. Yu Shi, on the other hand, loved it and thought it sounded wonderfully bold.

Jiang Hongjin was still very filial towards Yu Shi. Despite his foul mood, he did not throw a face at her. "Dad has already agreed to send reliable men to Henan to bring Yurong and Xiao Huzi back."

A smile appeared on Yu Shi's face. "That's good." Ever since learning that Yurong had given birth to a healthy, chubby boy, she had thought of him by day and dreamed of him by night. She had never even met her grandson, yet she missed him so much she felt she might fall ill from it.

After exchanging a few more words with Yu Shi, Jiang Hongjin left the residence.

Jiang Hongjin still had several friends in the capital, so he invited two former classmates out for drinks. By the time they finished, night had fallen.

Chang'an saw that Jiang Hongjin was heavily drunk and visibly intoxicated, yet he still intended to ride home. Chang'an hurried forward to support him and urged, "Second Master, you shouldn't ride in this state. Take a sedan chair instead. I've already arranged one." It would be far too easy for Jiang Hongjin to fall from the horse in his condition.

Nothing had gone Jiang Hongjin's way lately. Whatever he did seemed to be rejected or criticised. If he had been sober, he might still have been able to keep himself under control, but after drinking, he could no longer suppress the anger burning inside him. He shoved Chang'an away forcefully. "This Second Master is riding, and that's final." With that, he planted his foot in the stirrup and heaved himself onto the horse.

Jiang Hongjin had used considerable force when he shoved him, and Chang'an had been caught completely off guard. He fell to the ground. By the time he had scrambled back to his feet, Jiang Hongjin was already mounted.

Chang'an tried to persuade Jiang Hongjin to come down, but Jiang Hongjin refused to listen and instead scolded him furiously. Jiang Hongjin normally carried himself like a noble young gentleman. Had he been sober, he would never have behaved in a way that damaged his image like this.

Seeing several people start to watch them, Chang'an did not dare argue any further. "Second Master, then please sit firmly." He asked the other attendant to steady Jiang Hongjin while he took hold of the reins himself. Fortunately, the horse was very docile. As long as they moved slowly and remained careful, surely nothing would happen.

Unfortunately, what seemed workable in theory could turn out very differently in reality.

Jiang Wenrui had just finished discussing official matters with one of his advisers and was preparing to retire. These days, he spent most of his time living in the front courtyard and rarely returned to the rear residence.

Just as he was about to go to bed, the chief steward rushed over, panic written all over his face. "Master! Master, something terrible has happened! Second Master has had an accident."

The saying 'even if Mount Tai collapsed before him, his expression would not change' might have been coined for someone like Jiang Wenrui. His face cold, he strode outside and asked, "What happened?"

The chief steward shook his head. "Second Master's horse went mad and threw him off."

Seeing his son covered in blood, Jiang Wenrui's eyes flashed with murderous intent. Before he could ask any questions, a piercing wail sounded from behind him.

When Yu Shi entered, she saw that her son was drenched in blood. Her cries stopped instantly, and she collapsed. If the older maid beside her had not been sharp-eyed and quick-handed, she would have fallen straight to the floor.

Looking at the unconscious Yu Shi, Jiang Wenrui ordered coldly, "Take Madam to the side room." That woman could only create more trouble.

The Imperial Physician first examined Jiang Hongjin's injuries, then turned to Jiang Wenrui with a grave expression. "The Second Young Master has broken three ribs, suffered a blow to the head, and sustained internal injuries." In short, his injuries were severe, and his condition was critical.

The story was that the horse had suddenly gone berserk, breaking free from Chang'an and the other attendant before bolting down the street. Although Jiang Hongjin was heavily drunk, his survival instinct still made him cling desperately to the reins. But the horse was already beyond control. Even with the reins in hand, Jiang Hongjin could not keep his balance and was ultimately thrown from its back.

Jiang Wenrui's heart sank at once. "Imperial Physician Zhang, please, you must save my son." They said this was an accident? He did not believe for a moment that this had been an accident.

Imperial Physician Zhang replied, "I will do everything I can."

It was several hours before Imperial Physician Zhang finally finished treating Jiang Hongjin's injuries. He then wrote out a prescription. "Jiang Daren, whether Second Young Master can make it through this calamity will depend solely on him now."

After seeing Imperial Physician Zhang off, Jiang Wenrui immediately summoned Chang'an. "Tell me exactly what happened. How did the Second Master fall from his horse?"

Wiping away his tears, Chang'an responded, "Master, someone tried to harm Second Master. We encountered a drunkard on the road. The man deliberately bumped into me, then walked away. Immediately afterwards, the horse went mad. By the time we realised what was happening, the drunkard had disappeared." If anything bad happened to the Second Master, Chang'an knew he wouldn't survive either. But even if he was doomed to die, he still wanted the mastermind captured, and his corpse hacked into ten thousand pieces.

From the moment Jiang Wenrui had received the news, he had had a terrible feeling about it. Suppressing his anger, he asked, "What did the man look like?"

Chang'an had in fact seen the man's appearance clearly. "His complexion was very dark, there was a black mole on his right cheek, and he was tall and heavily built." All he could do now was hope that his Master would catch the culprit and lessen the punishment awaiting them.

Jiang Wenrui's expression changed slightly when he heard this. "Are you certain there was a black mole on his right cheek?" Such an obvious distinguishing feature only made Jiang Wenrui even more suspicious. Anyone planning a murder would normally try a thousand ways and a hundred schemes to keep their face hidden. Yet this culprit had deliberately done the opposite of what would normally be expected. Something about it was strange.

Chang'an nodded. "Master, he really did have a black mole on his right cheek." With something this serious, how could he possibly make things up wildly out of thin air?

Jiang Wenrui did not pursue the matter of the mole any further. Instead, he fixed his gaze on Chang'an. "If Second Master had been drinking, why did you still allow him to ride?"

By now, Chang'an was filled with regret, but it was already too late. "Young Master insisted on riding. This servant feared something might happen and tried for a long time to persuade him, but Young Master refused to listen. This servant deserves death. If only this servant had been able to persuade Second Master…" Back then, he should never have worried about preserving Second Master's dignity. He should have forced him into the sedan chair.