Elder Jiang was shocked that a child who had grown up in the marketplace had such a temperament akin to a monarch's. Elder Jiang couldn't even see a trace of Jiang Yi's intellectualness and obstinacy in him.
Lin Yueling was utterly shocked as well, "Little Xiu…"
She and Jiang Yi had meticulously covered up their history. Jiang Xiu shouldn't have had knowledge of the details, so she was surprised when he appeared here.
"How did you come here?"
Lin Yueling didn't know how he had appeared here or when. It was possible he had heard their conversation as well. She felt quite restless as she sensed that she couldn't hide this matter which she had concealed for so many years.
Jiang Xiu said, "I was worried, so I came over to take a look…"
He played it down pretty much.
The Elder evaluated him. He possessed a God-like perfect build with a waist as straight as a javelin. Each movement of his seemed to manifest some kind of unpredictable law. Those features on his face appeared as if carved out of marble. He didn't possess the naïveté of his peers, his gaze akin to a deep pool. The Elder asked softly, "He's really Jiang Xiu?"
Secretary Ye standing to the side nodded, "Yes, that's him."
Elder Jiang waved towards the bodyguards, hinting them to withdraw.
Lin Yueling rushed forward towards him and clutched his hand nervously, "It's fine. He's just an old friend. He invited me for a cup of tea to reminisce about the old times, that's all."
Jiang Xiu had a gloomy and cold look on his face. He walked into the pavilion and sat down straightforwardly, "I heard everything you talked about just now. That clown has already jumped in front of me several times."
He pointed towards Secretary Ye.
Lin Yueling realized that the Jiang family had already contacted Jiang Xiu. It meant that he already knew about his history, including the matter which happened in the past.
Secretary Ye was embarrassed at being called a clown in front of everybody. His cheeks twitched as resentment filled his heart, but he couldn't act out in front of the Elder.
However, each dog has its master, one must look at the master before hitting the dog. Elder Jiang was enraged.
"How Insolent!"
"Is that how you speak to your elders?"
Jiang Xiu smiled indifferently, "Elders? Someone just used his identity as an elder to threaten my mother. Saying he would ruin my father again once he becomes Annan City's Mayor. This elder also said he'll ruin me."
After hearing this, they realized that Jiang Xiu hadn't arrived here just a moment ago.
"Is this your so-called elder?"
Jiang Xiu glared at Elder Jiang. In the previous life, after his parents died, he had once viewed his old man as his savior, but as a result, he had only received merciless contempt and was discarded away like a pet. They didn't give a shit about him, and his cousins humiliated him.
It was indeed very ridiculous. Jiang Xiu was so naïve back then. He hadn't realized that since this person hadn't even saved his son, why would he care about a grandson who grew up in the marketplace.
"You're indeed quite impudent." Elder Jiang's expression turned gloomier. When Jiang Xiu sat down before him with jazz, he felt a bit angry. No one among the younger generation had dared to act so wantonly before him ever, but Jiang Xiu had not only sat down without his permission, he even taunted back at him.
Jiang Xiu laughed sarcastically, "What if I'm impudent?"
"You…" An ominous light flashed through Elder Jiang's eyes after he was countered back again, "Do you know who I am?"
Jiang Xiu said, "What? You think you're nobler than others because you're called Jiang Yishan?"
"It's worth nothing in my eyes."
Elder Jiang's eyes grew wide open. He felt that this youth was very rude to call him by his name. Outsiders didn't dare address him in such a manner. It was very disgraceful. "I'm your grandfather!"
Jiang Xiu laughed out heartily as if he had heard the best joke in this world. His laughter came to an end spontaneously as his expression turned grim, "12 years ago, my mother knelt before your house door for an entire day and night under the rainstorm, yet the door didn't open. From the moment you let my father go to prison, the relationship between you and my father was thoroughly severed. With what face do you think you can call yourself my grandfather? Jiang Yishan, you're just disgracing yourself by saying such a thing."
An inexplicable mood flashed inside Elder Jiang's eyes. Those fierce eyes glared at Jiang Xiu, the feelings in his heart unclear to anyone.
Jiang Xiu continued, "Only, it isn't strange for you to say such words by relying on the strength of your face. Didn't you say you want me to fulfill my duty as a member of the Jiang family?"
"And this so-called duty is to sacrifice my matrimonial life by becoming a chess piece to forge a partnership with another family so your Jiang family can maintain its position and power as well as ensure your and your offspring's glory?"
"Your shamelessness is indeed quite nauseating."
Bang!
Elder Jiang slapped the stone table with force, resulting in the tea set fall to the ground due to the tremor, "Boy, your insolence has…"
"Little Xiu, stop speaking…"
Lin Yueling rushed ahead to pull Jiang Xiu.
"Don't think you can use me to ensure your Jiang family's wealth and position." Jiang Xiu stood up. "Didn't you say you want to handle us, father and son? Weren't you planning to ruin us? Bring it on then! I just fear you can't do it."
Saying so, he turned around and left the pavilion along with Lin Yueling.
There were several bodyguards on the sides, but none prevented them from leaving. Without their leader's order, they didn't dare to act rashly. It was also lucky that they hadn't acted or else it would've resulted in a bloodbath.
"Just look at that…" Elder Jiang pointed at Jiang Xiu while quivering in anger, "Do you see it? This is the son they have raised up, a street thug."
Though Secretary Ye was furious too, he didn't utter a word.
"Does he think I really can't do anything to them? Naïve kid." Elder Jiang sat down and planned to sip a cup of tea, but the set had fallen to the ground because of him, so he had to regain his hand embarrassingly.
Secretary Ye said, "Our Jiang family is going through a troubled time. We're facing Jiang Luoxia who is a formidable opponent, and Jiang Xiu is refusing to cooperate when we require the Nangong family's help. This matter is quite troublesome. We can't always suppress them, father and son, right?"
Elder Jiang grunted, "What's the use of bringing back such an unfilial son and grandson? Re-open Jiang Yi's case again and start the shuanggui process. Even if Gu Dezhi isn't willing to cooperate, there are others too. Directly contact the Discipline Department."
"As for this brat, we must teach him a good lesson."
Jiang Xiu left the Little Old Summer Palace along with Lin Yueling. She was feeling incredibly nervous during the whole time, but Jiang Xiu was exceptionally calm. This only made her feel more anxious. She felt that this child didn't know how terrible these elite families of the Imperial Capital were and that he didn't understand Elder Jiang's character. That old man was very domineering and obstinate. No one dared to disobey his intentions, let alone challenge him publicly.
"Little Xiu, you know about our matter?"
"Mhm!"
Lin Yueling continued, "We didn't want to conceal it from your deliberately. These elite families are always fickle. We only have you, our son, and we didn't want you to get involved in this mess by becoming a chess piece."
"Mother, I know that. I've never blamed you. Actually, I'm quite grateful that you took me far away from that family." These were Jiang Xiu's actual thoughts. In his previous life, when he had returned to the Jiang family after his parents died, he had suffered an unbearable humiliation and finally run away from the Jiang family in a severely bruised state.
If it weren't for Cheng Lingran appearing before him then, he might've even decided to commit suicide to end his miserable life.
"That's good then. But… you were too impulsive just now. Mother didn't even have the chance to use the trump card." Lin Yueling felt regretful that she wasn't able to use this good move, "If he knew you were already married, he would've given up on the idea."
Jiang Xiu said, "He wouldn't have given up. He would've forced us to get divorced. It's even possible that Cheng Lingsu might disappear from this world. They will do anything to ensure their position and wealth."
Lin Yueling felt a chill in her heart. Though Jiang Xiu was just hypothesizing, she too agreed with him a bit. They would do anything if the results acted in their interest.
"Luckily, I didn't reveal it then. Little Xiu, there's no need for you to study. Why don't you come back to Jiangnan with mother? That also won't do. They definitely won't let you off. Let's just go abroad. We didn't need to do that before, and our family's financial situation is good now too. How about you go abroad? I'll ask your father's thoughts on this after going back. If he really suffers a hit in his official career, we can go abroad together and draw a clear dividing line with the Jiang family."
Jiang Xiu smiled coolly, "Is all that necessary?"
"Of course, it is. We must act quickly." Lin Yueling replied.
"I won't go."
"Son, you have to listen to mother this time. We can't afford to offend the Jiang family."