Clan Rise: Starting as a Grandfather

Chapter 202: Chapter 196 Marquis Mansion Birthday Banquet

Han Fei received the order and immediately led Yang Zhenshan’s personal followers in a rush forward. The entourage beside the young master of Marquis Jing’an Mansion chose to give up resistance.

They did not believe that Yang Zhenshan would dare to persecute their young master under broad daylight. Even if they were captured, it wouldn’t be long before Yang Zhenshan would release them. Although it was embarrassing, as long as their young master wasn’t in life-threatening danger, they wouldn’t be considered to have made a grave mistake.

Indeed, Yang Zhenshan couldn’t really punish the young master. After all, he merely smashed a shop, which wasn’t considered a serious crime. Even if Yang Zhenshan was disgusted internally, he could only teach the guy a lesson.

However, lessons differ, and making a pampered noble offspring carry bricks on a construction site was a lesson he would never forget.

After a moment, Han Fei led his followers and took the group away.

“You girl, acting like a wayward scion. If you dare to act recklessly, see if your grandfather won’t discipline you!”

Yang Zhenshan stared and scolded Yang Qingwan.

A girl from a well-bred family actually quarreled publicly and even ordered her servants to hit people.

While it wasn’t entirely wrong to scold or hit people – some people indeed deserve it – a lady of high standing, even if insulting or hitting someone, should maintain the grace and etiquette of a well-bred girl, not shout and brawl publicly like a spoiled brat.

Yang Qingwan bowed her head, assuming an apologetic posture, and said, “Grandfather, Qingwan knows her mistake!”

Yang Zhenshan looked helplessly at the little girl.

The third generation of the Yang family, unlike Yang Mingcheng and Yang Yunyan, who had suffered hardships, truly came from peasant backgrounds.

However, it was different for Yang Chengye and Yang Qingwan, the younger generation. Although they were not born with silver spoons in their mouths, they indeed never experienced hardship.

Even the eldest Yang Chengye, when he could remember, the Yang family had already started to prosper.

And Yang Qingwan had never faced any hardships. When Yang Zhenshan came to the Yang family, Yang Qingwan was only three months old. Since then, the Yang family had lived a life without any worries about food or clothes.

Moreover, with Yang Zhenshan’s doting, Yang Qingwan grew up pampered.

It’s often said that spoiling a child is akin to harming them, and while most people understand this, many forget when it comes to practice.

Yang Zhenshan indeed spoiled his children.

“Sigh, from tomorrow, you’re going to take lessons with your younger aunt at Nanny Li’s place! Learn some manners and etiquette!” Yang Zhenshan felt that he couldn’t teach the little girl so he had to let the manners nanny do it.

“Ah, Grandfather, do I have to go!” Yang Qingwan asked with a pained expression, looking pitifully at Yang Zhenshan.

With her lively and active nature, going to the strict Nanny Li for lessons was simply torture.

“No!”

Yang Zhenshan said decisively, hardening his heart.

Before, Ms. Wang had sent Yang Qingwan to Nanny Li’s school, but the girl was unwilling and always ran to Yang Zhenshan to act spoiled. Tormented by her pleas, he could only tell Ms. Wang to wait.

And just like that, two years had passed.

Now, Yang Zhenshan felt that it was time for the girl to properly learn etiquette and manners.

Yang Zhenshan didn’t like those clichéd etiquettes himself, but when in Rome, do as the Romans do. He had to follow the rules of this world whether he liked them or not.

“Study well, otherwise Grandfather won’t take you shopping anymore!”

Yang Zhenshan threatened.

The little girl completely deflated, pouting her lips, bowing her head, her face full of grievance but not daring to retort.

Seeing her like this, Yang Zhenshan’s heart inevitably softened again!

“Let’s go, it’s time to head home!”

Although his heart softened, Yang Zhenshan did not change his decision. He picked up the little girl and was about to leave the Jinxiu Workshop.

“Master Yang!”

Just as Yang Zhenshan was preparing to leave, Ning Qing, who had been standing aside, suddenly spoke up.

“Miss Ning, is there anything else?” Yang Zhenshan asked curiously.

Ning Qing was slightly taken aback.

“I have nothing, no other matter!”

She said somewhat nervously.

She didn’t call out to Yang Zhenshan because she had something to report, but to find out how Yang Zhenshan would deal with her.

Yang Zhenshan had arrested her companions to work outside the city, but he had not dealt with her, leaving her anxious.

She originally thought that Yang Zhenshan might also vent his anger on her, but she never expected that he seemed to have no intention of dealing with her.

Indeed, Yang Zhenshan had no intention nor reason to deal with her.

The girl had only stood by the young man’s side from the beginning to the end, neither saying nor doing anything. Yang Zhenshan had no basis for dealing with her.

Moreover, she was from Marquis Jing’an Mansion, a real member of the royal family. Yang Zhenshan didn’t have the authority to handle a royal family member.

“If there’s nothing else, I’ll be leaving first!”

“Miss Ning should also leave soon. As for the young master from Marquis Jingyuan Mansion, Miss Ning does not need to worry about him. I was just teaching him a lesson, and won’t harm him!”

Having said that, Yang Zhenshan carried Yang Qingwan and walked out the front door.

Ning Qing bowed to his departing figure, her eyes flickering, the thoughts in her mind unknown.

After reaching home by carriage, Yang Zhenshan handed the little girl over to Chunhua, urging her to quickly take the girl back to the main house’s courtyard.

If they were any later, Yang Zhenshan feared he might change his mind.

This girl was too good at acting spoiled; one wonders who she learned it from.

Returning to the main courtyard, Yu Qingyi was chatting with sisters Yang Yunyan and Yang Yunxue.

Upon seeing Yang Zhenshan return, the three hurriedly stood up, “Master is back!”

“Grandpa!”

A sweet voice rang out, and Yang Zhenshan immediately beamed with joy.

The adorable little Jiang Miao, upon seeing Yang Zhenshan, stretched out her arms wanting a hug.

Yang Zhenshan picked her up, “Little Miao is such a good girl!”

This girl was much better behaved than Yang Qingwan, not because she was younger, but simply because she was naturally well-behaved.

From a young age, she was never fussy and could happily play by herself.

“What are you discussing?” Yang Zhenshan asked while affectionately teasing little Jiang Miao.

Although Yu Qingyi was a stepmother, she had gotten along very well with the Yang family in the past two years, and everyone had accepted her, especially the women of the household, who all looked up to Yu Qingyi as a leader.

Yu Qingyi indeed had leadership skills, having once been the Sect Leader of Sky Blue Sword Sect.

“We were discussing tomorrow’s trip to Chongshan Pass!” explained Yu Qingyi.

Yang Zhenshan’s expression changed slightly, “Are the birthday gifts prepared?”

Yu Qingyi wanted to go to Chongshan Pass because, three days later, it would be the Marchioness of Changping’s fiftieth birthday.

This time, the Changping Marquis Mansion was planning a big celebration, sending out numerous invitations.

The Yang family had also received an invitation.

Of course, Yang Zhenshan couldn’t possibly go, since he was busy with official duties and could not justify taking several days off for a birthday banquet.

Even if he was willing, Liang Chu would not be.

After all, many people were attending to congratulate the Liang family on the birthday, and if every family head attended, Chongshan Town would probably come to a standstill.

“They are all prepared, here is the list of gifts!” Yu Qingyi handed the gift list to Yang Zhenshan.

Yang Zhenshan took a glance and thought for a moment before saying, “Cut this gift list in half!”

“Cut it in half!” Yu Qingyi was startled, “Master, the gifts aren’t considered extravagant!”

Giving gifts followed certain etiquettes, they should neither be too stingy nor overly extravagant.

She had also thought through this gift list thoroughly, ensuring it was neither shameful to the Yang family nor too revealing of its wealth.

Yang Zhenshan shook his head and said, “I know they aren’t extravagant, it’s just unnecessary!”

“Unnecessary!” Yu Qingyi was puzzled.

Yang Zhenshan explained, “Liang Chu, after all, is the General of Chongshan Town. Although celebrating a birthday is not a major event, if the Marquis Mansion openly receives too many gifts, it might invite criticism.”

“And this birthday banquet isn’t about collecting gifts!”

“What is it for then?” Yu Qingyi asked.

At this moment, Yu Qingyi’s limitations became apparent. Although she was decisive and had her own ideas and insights, her experience as a Jianghu Martial Artist was insufficient. Despite having learned much about courtly affairs over the past two years, her understanding was still not deep enough in some areas.

Why was Liang Chu hosting this birthday banquet?

It certainly wasn’t for gifts.

Liang Chu had been in Chongshan Town for four years, and during that time, rarely did his family host banquets, neither for the gentlemen in the front yard nor for the ladies in the back.

And Liang Chu’s wife was also a low-key person, spending most of her time in Chongshan Town practicing Buddhism in the back yard, seldom mingling with other officials’ wives.

But now, the Liang family was making a big deal of this birthday banquet, clearly with a purpose in mind.

“For the military campaign!”

Yang Zhenshan said softly.

“Military campaign!”

Not only was Yu Qingyi taken aback, but Yang Yunyan and Yang Yunxue also looked alarmed.

Yang Zhenshan nodded gravely, “If I’m not mistaken, Chongshan Town will once again mount a campaign against the Da Rong Dynasty next year!”

A birthday banquet seemed unrelated to a military campaign against the Da Rong Dynasty, but it actually represented the stance of Liang Chu and the Changping Marquis Mansion.

The gatherings of officials’ wives in the backyards were not just for chatting about families and marriages; sometimes, they also reflected the currents of political movements.

Hosting a birthday banquet that invited many families of high-ranking military officers in Chongshan Town was a demonstration of Liang Chu’s strong control.

It also indicated that Liang Chu had completed the reformation of Chongshan Town.

The Changping Marquis Mansion hosting a lavish birthday banquet was Liang Chu’s way of making amicable gestures to all high-ranking military officers of Chongshan Town, as well as declaring his position.

The people who needed to be dealt with had been handled; the places that required reform had been nearly sorted out—you can all rest easy now.

Following this, just act according to my plans, and there will be no dredging up of old issues.

That was the purpose of Liang Chu using his wife’s birthday celebration.

In four years, Liang Chu had transformed the once broken Chongshan Town into a new, vibrant, and capable military hub.

Now that the reformation was finished, it was time for Chongshan Town to look outward.

The defeat at Fushan City years ago was a disgrace for Chongshan Town and for Da Rong, a disgrace neither the town nor the court had forgotten.

Even the old Emperor was waiting for Liang Chu to wash away this disgrace.

So, Chongshan Town would surely campaign against the East Sea Hu Clan, now known as the Da Rong Dynasty.

It was already September, and this year was too late to start; therefore, a campaign would certainly occur next year.