After Transmigration, Her Whole Family Are Villains

Chapter 338

The Seventh Prince maintained his image of being deeply affectionate.

Several princes had drunk quite a bit.

One had to admit, the royal genes were indeed excellent.

The Seventh Prince, with his looks and eloquence, was so persuasive in encouraging others to drink that people wanted to drink of their own accord.

Jiang Changtian had mentioned beforehand that he absolutely couldn't drink, saying he'd pass out after one cup.

He had brought Wei Biao along, so if he did drink one cup and passed out, Wei Biao could carry him away.

His cousins didn't force him.

They were actually quite curious about Jiang Er.

Taking advantage of the Seventh Prince's wedding banquet, they had a serious conversation with Jiang Er.

Jiang Changtian proudly told the story of how he built his fortune.

He started by scheming to bring down the wealthy landlord in his village, then joined the rebels as their guide, followed by accepting amnesty, then went to the prefecture city to make money... He even mentioned how he eliminated a nunnery in the prefecture city...

The story was full of ups and downs, and quite interesting.

The Fifth Prince listened and thought this cousin was very money-hungry, just like himself.

The Sixth Prince felt that Jiang Er was eager for quick success and advancement, cunning and skillful, but it was a pity that his identity had been switched. Though he was clever, everything he did was like that of a petty official. If it weren't for his handsome face, none of his achievements would have been worth mentioning.

The Ninth Prince, seeing Jiang Er speak so proudly and self-importantly, eager to show off and praise himself, exclaimed, "Excellent, remarkable!"

Inwardly, he felt that although this newly recognized cousin was a bit provincial, it was due to his environment. If he himself had been in that situation, he might not have achieved even this much.

While the Seventh Prince appeared drunk, his mind remained clear.

He thought Jiang Er was truly adaptable, no wonder he was so fawning before the Emperor, acting exactly like a lowly official. Such people should either be used or eliminated if they couldn't be controlled, as they were most likely to cause trouble.

The banquet ended when the host, the Seventh Prince, withdrew, and everyone else departed.

They all received parting gifts.

The Fifth Prince didn't lose out - he had only offered some words of wisdom but received a piece of golden fabric called snow brocade, which contained real gold and silver threads.

Jiang Changtian also didn't lose out, receiving a piece of smooth snow brocade as well.

The Fifth Prince patted Jiang Er's arm, thinking this cousin was quite good. While he himself was greedy but not good at accumulating wealth, only taking and never giving, this cousin was both greedy and skilled at accumulating wealth. It was said that right after taking office, he had managed to make money even from managing the recitation of laws and regulations.

The Fifth Prince warmly said, "Cousin, if you need anything in the future, call on your Fifth Brother. Though I'm not good at studying, I can help in other ways."

Jiang Changtian nodded repeatedly.

The carriage ride home was quiet. Though there was no curfew for the princes, it was already dark.

While the Seventh Prince's residence was far from the others, it wasn't too far from Jiang Changtian's home, as he didn't live in the city center.

He rested his eyes in the carriage, feeling somewhat tired.

Even after becoming an official in the Capital City, he rarely went out for social occasions. This was his first time returning home so late.

As he listened to the sound of carriage wheels, Jiang Changtian carefully replayed the evening's interactions with the princes in his mind.

The Fifth Prince, though plump, seemed the most approachable, but his words were unpleasant and his personality unlikeable.

The Sixth Prince was very shrewd, his cunning obvious.

The Ninth Prince appeared generous, as if genuinely so.

The Seventh Prince felt particularly discordant.

It was like being watched by a venomous snake.

Jiang Changtian pondered.

Knowing there's a venomous snake yet still playing along would surely result in getting bitten eventually.

If the Seventh Prince became the next Emperor, he definitely wouldn't escape unscathed.

But the Fifth Prince's chances of ascending to the throne were slim.

The Sixth Prince seemed too calculating and difficult to get along with.

The Ninth Prince was still playing the role of a wastrel - how would it ever come to the Ninth Prince's turn... what circumstances would lead to the Ninth Prince ascending?

Jiang Changtian carefully considered everything in his mind. The year was almost over, and he reflected on what he had accomplished: moving from Jingzhou to the Capital City, receiving a promotion, finding his birth mother, increasing his income, and moving to a larger residence.

What about next year?

The Capital City was different from Jingzhou.

If he didn't plan carefully, he might be eliminated without even knowing when it happened.

He needed to be extremely vigilant.

Jiang Changtian liked this dark environment; it was conducive to thinking.

While the Emperor was still alive, supporting any prince carried risks.

He didn't want to support the Fifth, Sixth, or Seventh Prince. The Ninth Prince might be slightly better, but he should discuss the Ninth Prince's character with his in-laws, Old Meng and future in-law Master Dong, to see if he was reliable.

For next year's plans, eliminating the Seventh Prince was the top priority.

The decision about which prince to support could come later.

Upon returning home.

Jiang Changtian didn't go to greet the Princess, but instead soaked his feet in warm water.

After lying down, he chatted with Sister Xia about the day's household events.

Jiang Changtian was someone who worried about everything.

"Nothing happened at home. Your mother wanted to hear stories, but your daughter wanted to wait for your return to tell them. Your daughter made another skateboard today, attaching two wheels under a wooden board, then rode it around. She fell several times but was still very happy. Later, your mother went to play with it too."

Jiang Changtian: ...

He was speechless, his worried predictions had come true.

His little daughter was becoming more and more like his mother.

He desperately hoped she wouldn't turn out like Jiang Yuluan, who he noticed today was starting to show traces of Princess Huiyun's manner, which was quite frightening, as she had only learned the superficial aspects.

Jiang Changtian fell asleep while chatting with Sister Xia.

Early the next morning.

Someone came to announce a death.

The Fifth Prince had died...

He lay perfectly straight.

He had died peacefully, his hands placed on his chest, a serene corpse.