And appointed Jun Shen as the regent.
Letting Jun Shen help him manage state affairs.
Until he turned twenty, then he would handle them himself.
At this time, Jiang Yan and others had all come to pay their respects.
Jiang Ran never imagined that the man she casually saved was actually a prince, now even becoming the emperor.
Before Jiang Yan and Jiang Ran could kneel.
Jiang Cheng waived their formalities.
Knowing there was no way back now, he said nothing, just followed Jun Shen into the palace.
Li De, upon seeing Jiang Cheng, immediately paid his respects. After the ceremony, he stepped forward and said, “Tenth Prince, His Majesty, the late emperor, he truly cared for you. He didn’t want you to see him off because he was afraid you would be upset.”
Jiang Cheng’s mood was already not good.
Upon hearing this, tears visibly welled up in his eyes, though they did not fall.
They kept busy until dawn.
Only then did Jun Shen manage to return home.
Jiang Yan hadn’t slept. Ever since they left, she hadn’t been able to sleep, so she just waited in her room for Jun Shen to return.
Seeing him looking exhausted.
Jiang Yan wanted to ask, but swallowed her words.
Jun Shen pulled Jiang Yan down to lie beside him and said, “I know what you want to ask. I only just found out Jiang Cheng’s identity. He is the Tenth Prince who was lost outside and had lost his memory, which he only recently regained…”
Perhaps because of the events that followed.
Jiang Cheng stayed at home every day, and since there was no citywide search, the emperor and others assumed he wasn’t in the capital, so they didn’t find him.
Regardless of the reason.
Jiang Yan felt quite speechless upon hearing this.
They didn’t care before.
Now, with no other son to inherit the throne, they suddenly remembered to look for him.
After the emperor’s funeral.
Jiang Cheng ascended the throne.
From today, he was no longer Jiang Cheng, but Long Zhan.
On his first day in power, he followed the will by granting titles to the Third and Fifth Princes, then arranged for their relocation to their fiefdoms, with their birth mothers accompanying them.
Other women in the palace, those with daughters, stayed to live out their days in comfort, while those without children were sent to guard the imperial tombs.
Yan Dong and his ilk.
All were punished.
The more severe were exiled.
Those like Yan Dong, who hadn’t done much, were all demoted.
Yan Dong went from being a Senior Fourth Rank Assistant Minister of Revenue to a Revenue Patrol Officer without rank.
“Husband, you’re back.”
Jiang Wan had been worried since Yan Dong left, and now seeing him return, she hurried over to greet him.
Yan Dong didn’t speak, just walked straight inside.
Jiang Wan reached out to stop him: “Husband, you…”
Yan Dong, with a cold face, pushed Jiang Wan away: “Are you done? You shouldn’t be talking to me here now, you should go congratulate your brother-in-law! He’s now the regent, above ten thousand people!”
At this moment, Yan Dong felt like he had been played by Jun Shen.
He said he wouldn’t take sides.
And yet, he outdid them all!
If his own parents died because of this, he would never forgive Jun Shen in his life!
Even if it wasn’t his doing, they died because of him!
Jiang Wan, unsteady, fell to the ground. Seeing Yan Dong walk away without looking back, her tears fell instantly.
All the maids around hurried over to help her up.
Jiang Wan dismissed them and sent the butler out to inquire about what was happening.
It didn’t take long.
The butler came back with the news.
Back at home.
He immediately relayed what he had learned to Jiang Wan.
Jiang Cheng.
Jiang Wan had met him before, and she had always wondered who he was, but no one in the family knew.
After some consideration.
Jiang Wan decided to visit the Monarch’s Manor. When she arrived, the manor was surrounded by people seeking an audience, but none were allowed in.
These people were undoubtedly here to curry favor with Jun Shen.
Jiang Wan had someone go forward to announce her arrival, and soon she was admitted into the Monarch’s Manor.
Jiang Yan met her in the reception hall.
“Sister.”
As soon as Jiang Wan called out, Jiang Yan invited her to sit. After waiting for a while, Jiang Wan didn’t say anything.
Jiang Yan spoke up, “I already know about Yan Dong’s situation, but I can’t help. I’ve told you this before.”
“Sister, I didn’t want you to help. I was just surprised to learn about Jiang Cheng’s identity, so I came back to ask if it was true. Is he really a prince?”
Jiang Wan confessed.
Jiang Yan acknowledged and said, “He indeed is a prince, something we were unaware of until recently.”
Jiang Wan felt both happy and distressed now.
Jiang Yan noticed Jiang Wan’s expression and asked, “How is Yan Dong doing now? Has he gone home?”
Chapter 155: Jiang Wan’s Suicide Attempt
Jiang Wan hesitated for a moment, not telling Jiang Yan the truth: “He’s home, he’s… he’s fine…”
Seeing her say that,
Jiang Yan sighed inwardly and said, “Second sister, I thought we were close, but it seems your husband’s words carry more weight. You won’t even tell me the truth because of him.”
“Sister, I’m sorry…”
Tears streamed down Jiang Wan’s face.
Jiang Yan looked at her and said, “You don’t need to apologize to me. You have your choices, don’t you? If you’re unwilling, I can’t force you. I just wanted you to be happy, but it seems… never mind…”
It’s too late to say anything now, isn’t it?
Unless she’s willing to divorce Yan Dong.
But divorce is easier said than done.
They already have two children, and she might not be willing.
Jiang Wan didn’t speak, just cried.
Jiang Yan couldn’t bear to see Jiang Wan like this. She spoke up, “Second sister, I want you to remember one thing: no matter how the world changes, I am still your sister, and I want the best for you. If you ever need me, just say so, but don’t ask for anything unreasonable because you know my nature. Even if you did, I wouldn’t help.”
Jiang Wan returned home with mixed feelings.
After she left,
Jiang Yan also became less cheerful because this was not the outcome she had hoped for with her sister.
Jun Shen approached, seeing Jiang Yan standing by the window, lost in thought, and hugged her from behind: “What’s wrong? Why do you seem so down?”
“Jun Shen, my heart aches.”
Jiang Yan turned around and hugged him.
Jun Shen held Jiang Yan for a moment, then led her to sit down and said, “Why does your heart ache? What exactly happened?”
Jiang Yan told him about Yan Dong and Jiang Wan.
Even though Jiang Wan said nothing,
Jiang Yan could guess.
Upon hearing this, Jun Shen pursed his lips and said, “Maybe they should divorce.”
Leaning against his chest, Jiang Yan said, “It’s not that I don’t want to, but it also depends on Jiang Wan’s willingness. This was the first man she ever liked, and they have two children together.”
This matter was indeed tricky.
Jun Shen held Jiang Yan’s hand and said, “If that’s the case, then let nature take its course. We’ll keep an eye on it. If he dares to mistreat your sister, we won’t be polite. Deal with him as you see fit…”
Dealing with him is easy.
The concern is that some people might not like it!
But Jiang Yan didn’t voice this thought.
…
Yan Dong didn’t leave the house for the next few days; he drank at home every day.
Seeing Yan Dong like this, Jiang Wan felt extremely uncomfortable. Finally, unable to bear it anymore, she went over, snatched the wine jar, and smashed it on the ground with a loud crash.
“What are you doing!”
Yan Dong shouted at Jiang Wan.
Jiang Wan met his gaze and said, “If there’s something bothering you, just say it. What’s the point of drinking every day?”
