Do You Know?: I, the Little Cabinet Elder, Regent of the World

After glancing at it briefly, Jiang Zhao was taken aback.

"One soldier every ten steps?"

"What major event has occurred in Huaizuo?" Jiang Zhao asked, puzzled.

“It’s a big deal for my older brother to return home,” Jiang Xiao replied.

Jiang Zhao was startled.

"Who arranged this?"

This deliberate arrangement is definitely a sign that someone is trying to curry favor with him.

Or, do you need something from him?

“Song Huai, the Deputy Envoy for Pacification.”

Jiang Xiao slowly said, "That person seems to be a disciple of Grand Tutor Wang. He has been visiting for seven consecutive days."

"Grand Tutor Wang's disciple?" Jiang Zhao nodded knowingly.

The world is never short of people with good intentions.

The lineage of Grand Tutor Wang has always been plagued by a lack of successors. The Grand Tutor's eldest son is incompetent, and Old Madam Wang is of poor character and not good at promoting capable disciples and former officials, making it difficult for her to win the respect of the people.

Thus, for the sake of their future, the subordinates had no choice but to resort to various means.

Jiang Zhao pondered for a moment.

As of now, Grand Tutor Wang's disciples and former officials are extremely few.

They might not even be as good as his team.

However, he was still the old Grand Tutor, and he still managed to retain quite a few people.

Furthermore, due to the need to accumulate seniority, it is estimated that there are some individuals holding the third or fourth rank.

If they truly intend to submit, there's nothing wrong with accepting them.

Ultimately, the disciples and former officials of Grand Tutor Wang were not the same as the Wang family.

Jiang Zhao didn't think much of it and instead asked, "How has Grandfather been lately?"

My special trip down to Huaizuo was merely an unexpected bonus; visiting my grandfather was the proper course of action.

"My legs and feet are numb and I can hardly walk. My complexion is sallow and dull. I have edema and abdominal distension. I can hardly eat, but I am not hungry. My body is getting thinner and thinner. I am increasingly sleepy. Sometimes I even sleep for ten hours a day." Jiang Xu said slowly.

"Excessive sleepiness?"

Jiang Zhao pondered for a moment, then couldn't help but smile: "This is a good thing."

Numbness in the legs and feet, difficulty walking, edema and abdominal distension—compared to the recurrence of limb diseases and severe pain every day, this is already quite good.

Increasing sleepiness also means there is little pain.

The Book of Documents says: "May you live a long life, be wealthy, healthy and peaceful, love virtue, and die a peaceful death."

These five are the Five Blessings.

Among them, "a peaceful death" is the core.

In this era, diseases are often accompanied by severe pain, and due to limitations in medical technology, they cannot be diagnosed, treated, or alleviated.

In this way, the old man's peaceful death, without illness, is a symbol of good fortune.

It could even be said that it is the accumulation of merit and a manifestation of ancestral blessings.

Even more remarkably, they can all have a special note in the family genealogy stating that "their peaceful death is a blessing to the family."

Conversely, premature death and violent death are considered unlucky.

The death of a 75-year-old man, who suffered from illness, is undoubtedly a tragedy.

Conversely, becoming increasingly sleepy and avoiding excruciating pain is a wonderful thing.

Jiang Xiao and Jiang Xu nodded in agreement.

For this reason, the Jiang family, from top to bottom, was not particularly grieved.

It should be noted that many elderly people suffer from illness for several years before they pass away.

He often cried out in pain, and his children and grandchildren could only watch helplessly.

In comparison, dying peacefully without illness is truly a blessing.

"Grandfather, have you not eaten for several days?" Jiang Zhao asked.

The fact that a letter was sent to the capital indicates that both parents had predicted that their grandfather would not live long.

Of the symptoms Jiang Xiao described, the only thing that could have caused his grandfather's death was the inability to eat.

“Two days,” Jiang Xu interjected.

“My grandfather had a bloated stomach, but he wasn’t hungry. He felt extremely uncomfortable whenever he ate.”

"Therefore, every few days, my grandfather would eat some rice porridge with chicken soup and minced meat."

Jiang Zhao understood.

"Abdominal distension, and the doctor can't cure it?" Jiang Zhao asked doubtfully.

In this day and age, it's not difficult to treat abdominal bloating by taking some herbal medicine.

“A famous doctor from Huaidong Road came to treat me and prescribed herbal decoctions. However, it didn’t help much,” Jiang Xiao replied.

Jiang Zhao sighed softly and nodded slowly.

Abdominal bloating originates from the decline of the spleen and stomach, and the deficiency of the liver and kidneys. If abdominal bloating cannot be cured, it means that the spleen and stomach have been completely damaged.

As a result, I couldn't eat anything.

In this situation, even the best doctor cannot cure it.

This is the natural decay of the organ.

"Let's go."

The three brothers entered the mansion together.

……

Chapter 156 Serving the Sick, Stopping Medication!

The main hall of the Jiang residence.

The space is spacious and grand, and the proper etiquette is evident.

Jiang Zhong and Hai Xirui, husband and wife, sat at the head of the table.

The man had slightly graying temples, wore a light-colored brocade robe, and had a calm and peaceful expression.

A woman holding a brocade handkerchief, dressed in a light white ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress), moved with gentle and graceful manners.

The three sons of both parents, Jiang Huaijin, Jiang Heng, and Jiang Xun, affectionately call each other "grandfather" and "grandmother," which is endearing to all.

Below the seat of self-reliant individuals, seats are divided into left and right.

There was no one at the left, the second seat to the left, or the second seat to the right, but at the right was Sheng Hualan, wearing a light-colored long dress.

The remaining seats, from left to right, were occupied by more than ten clan elders gathered together.

Besides the clan elders, there were also dozens of younger Jiang family members standing beside them.

The daughter-in-law and grandson have arrived, but the son has not.

Hai Shi kept glancing out the window, full of anticipation.

Jiang Zhong was a steady person and didn't say anything, but he would occasionally glance at him.

Soon.

"Big brother is here."

Jiang Xu took the lead and shouted.

Before he could finish speaking, Jiang Zhao, dressed in a blue robe, appeared.

"Zhao'er."

Hai Xirui, longing for her son, rushed over.

Jiang Zhong nodded steadily and walked out slowly.

The remaining clan elders and younger members of the Jiang family all stood solemnly.

Jiang Zhao is the Jiang family's greatest asset!

Under the eaves, the mother and son reunite.

After ten years apart, Hai Xirui's eyes reddened and she sobbed softly.

Of the three sons, Jiang Zhao, Jiang Xiao, and Jiang Xu, Jiang Zhao is the eldest and the most well-behaved and sensible.

From his early childhood, Jiang Zhao knew how to read and study literature proactively, so he didn't need to worry about his studies at all.

As a first-time mother, she undoubtedly devoted more attention and effort to her eldest son.

The well-behaved and sensible eldest son is even more lovable.

But precisely because he was so well-behaved, sensible, and accomplished, from the age of twelve, when the eldest son began to observe the affairs of the world, the mother and son could only communicate through letters.

After he turned eighteen, his eldest son entered officialdom, and they did not see each other for ten years.

How could anyone not miss it?

“Mother, I’m alright,” Jiang Zhao reassured her.

Hai nodded, realizing she had lost her composure, and wiped her tears with a handkerchief.

As the eldest daughter of the Jiangning Hai family, she received a good education from a young age and knew that the leisurely life in Huaizuo was inseparable from her son's support.

Even though I miss you terribly, I just can't bring myself to say things like, "I don't need you to succeed, I just want you to stay by my side."

For every prominent family in a region, someone has to shoulder the burden and move forward.

"Zhao'er."

Jiang Zhong called out, his face full of satisfaction: "The Jiang family has gained glory because of you!"

The top scholar, conquering new territories!

These two things alone are enough to make the Jiang family's ancestral graves emit auspicious smoke.

Even when the imperial court compiled history, the ancestors of the Jiang family were recorded in history books because of their sons.

When it comes to excellence, it cannot be summarized by the mere phrase "becoming a useful person".

“Father.” Jiang Zhao bowed respectfully.

Jiang Zhong stroked his beard and nodded.

The clan elders and Jiang family members all bowed in unison.

The terms of address vary; some call him "elder brother," some "cousin," and some "younger brother."

Actually, the most authentic title should be "Young Master".

However, Jiang Zhao's status and position no longer need to be proven by titles.

In contrast, addressing someone by blood ties makes the relationship seem closer.

Jiang Zhao nodded and waved his hand.

Main hall.

To the left, Jiang Zhao glanced around and asked calmly, "How has the clan been lately?"

He didn't concern himself with the specifics of the Jiang family in Huaizuo; this was merely a casual inquiry.

“Since Xihe expanded its territory, many sons of scholars and officials have gone to Xihe Road. At the very least, they have an official position. The remaining businesses are also growing stronger and more prosperous,” Jiang Zhong said slowly.

If someone has connections at higher levels and still struggles to grow stronger, then they're truly useless.

Jiang Zhao nodded and cautioned, "It's good to grow stronger, but remember not to overstep your bounds in your actions, lest you give others a handle to use against you."

Some things, if you don't weigh them, they're nothing; but if you do, they're worth a ton.