"Hmph." Zhao Yirou sneered. He meant that Ji Yinxue had already gotten there first, had a child, and her position was secure, meaning Zhao Yirou was now inferior. If she wanted, she could definitely have a child too! Aunt Zhao wouldn't help her? What a joke! She was Aunt Zhao's own niece! What aunt would help an outsider instead of her own niece!
"If I were to fight Ji Yinxue, whose side would you take?" Zhao Yirou didn't want to beat around the bush with Nan Jinxue and went straight to the point.
"I won't help anyone. Humph, you can fight all you want, it's none of my business. But if you mess up my affairs, I'll make you pay!" Nan Jinxue wouldn't care about such trivial matters. She disdained to participate in the infighting in the backyard, but if it affected her interests, she would definitely teach them a lesson!
Since Nan Jinxue said so, I have nothing to be afraid of. Even if Ji Yinxue dies in the future, she can't be blamed! I am the eldest daughter of a Minister's mansion, while Ji Yinxue is just a concubine's daughter of a General's mansion. How can she be as noble as me? How can she be forced to be subordinate to her in this Marquis's mansion?
Ji Wushang didn't know when she woke up. When she woke up, Nan Xuzong was still beside her. Ji Wushang wrapped her arms around his lean waist. Nan Xuzong was taken aback and looked at the little woman in his arms with a slightly puzzled look. "You're awake?"
"Mm." Ji Wushang nodded, but he was quite fond of this moment. It was rare that Nan Xuzong didn't get up first and leave him to do his work. He really didn't want to get up.
"What's wrong?" Nan Xuzong asked her with a smile.
"No, I just want to hold you!" Ji Wushang's girlish side kicked in, and she muttered in a coquettish tone.
Nan Xuzong smiled brightly and hugged her tightly in his arms. "I'll hug you too."
Ji Wushang nestled in his arms, inhaling the fragrance of orchids on him, and after a long while said, "Are you feeling much better? Are you alright?"
"No," Nan Xuzong said softly. Last night, the water had been warm the whole time; he hadn't expected that Ji Wushang had been watching over it, adding and changing the hot water every now and then. Thinking of this, Nan Xuzong's heart immediately warmed. It was truly not easy for him to marry such a woman; with her, his life was already complete.
"That's good." Ji Wushang said softly, nuzzling slightly.
"Aren't you going to get up?" Nan Xuzong asked.
"Get up," Ji Wushang said softly, then slowly pushed him away. "The play from last night is going to continue today, so you must go and support it."
“Okay.” Nan Xuzong nodded, watching her get up and dress, and then, with her help, dress again and sit properly in the wheelchair.
Zhu'er and Xian'er knocked on the door from outside, then came in, helped the two of them wash up and have breakfast, and then walked towards the main hall.
I heard that Nan Jinxue and Zhao Yirou were just invited to the main hall by the Marquis!
Upon seeing Nan Jinxue and Zhao Yirou arrive at the main hall, the Marquis was about to reprimand them when he heard a maid announce that Ji Wushang and Nan Xuzong had also arrived.
The Marquis temporarily suppressed his anger, "Nan Jinxue, kneel down before me!"
Nan Jinxue knelt down reluctantly. Zhao Yirou stood to the side with her head down, not daring to raise her head, but she couldn't help but look at Ji Wushang and Nan Xuzong as they entered.
What happened last night must have been a conspiracy between the two of them! What despicable people, what bastards!
The hateful gaze was directed at Ji Wushang, but Ji Wushang remained indifferent and sneered.
"Father, Aunt." Aunt Jin and Aunt Leng were also in the hall, but they were just there to watch the show and had no intention of getting involved in their struggle!
"No need for formalities!" The Marquis was a little impatient. The most important thing now was to figure out how to resolve this matter perfectly, which wasn't actually that difficult!
"Someone, have the steward prepare gifts and go to the Minister's residence to propose marriage!" The Marquis didn't waste any more words.
"Congratulations, Second Brother! I never expected that Miss Zhao and I would fall in love. I also feel that we are a match made in heaven!" Ji Wushang said with a smile. The events of last night and today have already shown everything, so there is no need for me to pretend to be an idiot and ask!
Ji Yinxue felt a surge of anger. Mutual affection? If anyone's in love, it's her and Nan Jinxue! You bitch! You use such despicable methods! I'll tolerate you for now! But you'll be dead soon!
Zhao Yirou blushed slightly, but the fact that these words came from Ji Wushang's mouth clearly made him look sarcastic!
"Princess Consort, please don't tease Yi Rou," Zhao Yi Rou said weakly.
The Marquis glanced coldly at Ji Wushang, and Nan Xuzong immediately turned his gaze coldly to the Marquis. The Marquis had no choice but to look away. He really couldn't afford to offend him. Nan Xuzong treated Ji Wushang like a princess, so he couldn't afford to be unkind to her in the slightest!
But thinking about it, Ji Wushang wasn't wrong. At least, mutual affection was more prestigious for the Marquis's mansion than any other word! Fine, fine, let's hurry up and propose marriage! Otherwise, I'll just get so angry I'll faint!
"Get up!" the Marquis said coldly to Nan Jinxue. Nan Jinxue stood up, looking fiercely at Ji Wushang and Nan Xuzong. Nan Xuzong's eyes were as cold as snow blades when he met Nan Jinxue's gaze. Nan Jinxue felt that killing intent and immediately dared not look again. "Father, let me prepare myself before I go to propose marriage!"
"Get it ready right now!" The Marquis glared at him, clearly annoyed.
Zhao Yirou lowered her head and dared not speak.
“Miss, I think you should go back first! Otherwise, the Minister will definitely worry and ask about it. If you go back first, the Marquis and the Second Young Master will come to propose marriage immediately.” Aunt Jin looked at the Marquis with a flattering and kind expression, and then looked at Nan Jinxue and Zhao Yirou.
Zhao Yirou's gaze fell on the Marquis's eyes, but she saw no sign of dissent. She then bowed and said, "Yes." Her voice sounded as if she had suffered injustice for eight hundred lifetimes; even a blind person would be moved to tears by her words!
Some people just find it funny.
"What a show-off!" Ji Yinxue sneered softly.
At this moment, a eunuch entered from outside and, led by a servant, walked to the main hall.
The Marquis immediately stepped forward, "It's Eunuch Ling!" He bowed and scraped, acting like a servant.
Everyone in the main hall was looking towards the Marquis and that Eunuch Ling.
As the Marquis approached, Eunuch Ling's eyes drifted towards Nan Xuzong. Upon seeing Nan Xuzong, he immediately said, "Your Highness, there's no need for such formalities. I've come to convey His Majesty's decree, requesting that the young master Nan immediately accompany me to the palace to meet the Emperor."
Nan Xuzong nodded. He was already mentally prepared for this, so there was nothing to be surprised about.
Ji Wushang looked at Nan Xuzong with a question in his eyes. Why would someone from the palace suddenly send someone to summon him? Was it... Huangfu Xuan? Was he going to assist Huangfu Xuan?
Nan Xuzong's eyes flickered. "Let me say a few words to my wife, then I will go with my father-in-law."
"Please make yourself at home, Prince Nan," Eunuch Ling said respectfully.
The Marquis glanced at Nan Jinxue, "Hurry up and get ready! If you delay, you'll probably be reprimanded by the Minister!"
Nan Jinxue glanced coldly at the people around her, then walked out. Zhao Yirou cautiously retreated, followed by Aunt Jin, who said, "I'll go see if Miss Biao needs any help."
"Go ahead!" The Marquis only dared to respond to Consort Jin after seeing Eunuch Ling's kind and gentle appearance. Consort Leng also gave the Marquis a soft nod in response before following him out.
"Father, if there's nothing else, I'll head down now!" She was in a very bad mood! She had to ask when the plan could be implemented!
The Marquis nodded and waved his hand.
Ji Wushang stepped forward, while Nan Xuzong and she walked to the side.
"I'll go out first and come back as soon as possible. I'll be quite busy with government affairs from now on, but I'll always be thinking of you. Just stay at Moxuan Garden if you don't have anything to do, and don't go out around," Nan Xuzong instructed.
Ji Wushang nodded, "I'll listen to you, I'll wait for you." While he was away, she would seize the time to do her own things, to put his mind at ease. Also, she would take advantage of this time to deal with these people! She needed to take the initiative now, not remain in a passive position! These were people who had caused her or Nan Xuzong pain; she would end their evil deeds one by one!
“Okay.” Nan Xuzong smiled, and Ji Wushang smiled sweetly, nodded, and watched him and Eunuch Ling walk out.
Ji Wushang watched the person walk away before turning back. "Father, if there's nothing else, I'll go take care of things in the yard."
"Go ahead, thank you for your hard work!" The Marquis nodded and dismissed her.
Nan Xuzong was summoned to the palace today; he must have caught the emperor's eye and is now being given important responsibilities. He's not to be underestimated! My future looks brighter! Nan Xuzong's path will surely go even further, and my Jin Nan Marquis's mansion will become even wealthier! Now that I have wealth, what I need is power! I should also get Nan Jinxue to support me, and ideally, gain the emperor's attention!
The Marquis was secretly pleased with himself, and completely forgot about Zhao Yirou's matter.
When Ji Yinxue returned to Yuxue Garden, she suddenly smashed many things! The floor was covered in shards. After venting her anger, Ji Yinxue sat down in the chair, still feeling a lump in her throat, unable to release it.
The head maids, Youlan and Shuipei, stood trembling to one side, not daring to speak or move.
Nan Jinxue entered from outside and saw the debris all over the floor. She was immediately furious. "What are you doing?! Are you throwing a tantrum at me?" Nan Jinxue stood in front of Ji Yinxue, looking down at her with an imposing aura that made Ji Yinxue feel suffocated.
But Ji Yinxue was furious! Damn it, fine if this man didn't love her, but did he have to treat her like this? She was carrying his child, couldn't he at least be a little nicer to her?
"What? Are you going to yell at me?" Ji Yinxue shouted in a shrill voice.
"So what if I'm mean to you!" Nan Jinxue slapped her across the face. This woman didn't know her place until she was taught a lesson! How dare she throw a tantrum at her? Didn't she know who she was?!
Ji Wushang covered her face, turned around and glared at him angrily, tears welling in her eyes, "You, you actually dared to hit me!"
"So what if I hit you!" Nan Jinxue retorted angrily. "Even if I beat you to death, you'll have to accept it! Don't try to act tough with me after you marry me! You don't have that right!" Nan Jinxue said this harshly, then went to the inner room to change her clothes. She had been entangled in these troubles these past few days, and it had made her feel really unhappy!
Ji Yinxue's resentment and anger lingered for a long time. Youlan and Shuipei wanted to come forward to comfort her, but they were afraid of Ji Yinxue's anger, so they hesitated and stopped.
"What are you looking at? Hurry up and clean it up! If the Second Young Master is unhappy with this, I'll skin you alive!" Ji Yinxue shouted.
Youlan and Shuipei immediately agreed and took action.
Hearing the roar from inside, Nan Jinxue sneered. She was just a woman with a temper tantrum. What was there to fear?
Ji Yinxue was burning with rage. She watched Nan Jinxue leave, dismissed everyone, and sent a signal into the sky.
...
After Ji Wushang finished inspecting the courtyard, he went to the newly built accounting room. Nan Aoyu seemed to be working hard on the accounts. When she heard footsteps, she immediately looked up and said, "Princess Consort."
"Second Uncle, you've worked hard." Ji Wushang said with a smile, then stepped forward. "I heard from Cong that Second Uncle has been very busy lately and has redone all the account books."
Where wouldn't I be busy? If she hadn't found out about my 200,000 taels of gold, would I have needed to work so hard to have people redo the accounts?
"Hehe, of course, of course, Your Highness, please take a look at these account books," Nan Aoyu called out.
Ji Wushang nodded, "Then thank you, Second Uncle."
"You're welcome, you're welcome." Nan Aoyu's smile was boundless.
Ji Wushang smiled ingratiatingly, then casually picked up an account book to look at. He flipped through a few pages and found that everything was indeed in order, without a trace of sloppiness. He hadn't expected Ji Wushang's attitude to be so good. It seemed that he didn't need to check it again.
"Second Uncle, thank you for your hard work," Ji Wushang said.
"It's not hard work at all," Nan Aoyu said with a grin.
Ji Wushang frowned slightly. Had the sun risen in the west? This person's attitude had completely changed! However, it was still acceptable! But if he was to leave the Marquis's residence, he absolutely had to leave; Ji Wushang would show no mercy!
"Second Uncle, when did you move into the Marquis's residence?" Ji Wushang pretended to flip through another account book and asked without looking up.
Nan Aoyu was stunned. When did she move into the Marquis's mansion? Was she planning to make her, the second branch of the family, move out? How infuriating! She hadn't been in the way of her wealth, so why couldn't she allow her family members to live here? She had been the steward of the Marquis's mansion for many years, and everyone had tacitly accepted that this was her second branch's residence. Even the Marquis had no objections, so why did this little brat have one?
“Oh, Second Uncle, what I mean is, have you been the steward of the Marquis’s mansion since you moved in? The steward’s work is quite extensive and tiring. I wonder if you’ve ever felt that way after doing it for so many years. If you have, I think we should be considerate of you and let the servants help you out or something.” Ji Wushang finally raised his head and added slightly.
Nan Aoyu scoffed inwardly. Was that really the case? Could it be that they were planning to drive her, the second wife's servant, away? It's probably not that simple! Another underhanded power grab, preventing her from even being the steward—what a vicious heart!
"Thank you for your understanding, Princess Consort. For the sake of the Marquis's residence, it doesn't matter if I'm a little tired as the steward. My elder brother often talks to me about matters of the residence, and I'm just doing what the Marquis says. I feel that's quite good." Nan Aoyu's words had a double meaning. Saying that being tired didn't matter meant that she would absolutely not give up her position as steward to anyone. Moreover, since the Marquis often talked to her, and she was doing things and managing the internal affairs of the Marquis's residence according to the Marquis's wishes, it wasn't Ji Wushang's place to manage it. Instead, the Marquis himself had taken over! She, Ji Wushang, had no right to say anything to him as the steward!
Ji Wushang smiled, "I see. It's really troubled Second Uncle! It's getting late. I'll go down and take a look first. Second Uncle, I'll leave things here in your care."
"No need for that." Nan Aoyu's smile froze on her face as she watched Ji Wushang walk out, a sinister sneer escaping her throat.
Ji Wushang turned the corner of the corridor, stopped, and glanced back briefly. Second Uncle, I'll force you to jump over the wall!
Nan Xuzong had Gong Shu push the wheelchair while following Eunuch Ling into the palace.
After entering the Jin Gan Palace, Gong Shu put Nan Xu Cong in his wheelchair inside and waited outside the hall, while Nan Xu Cong and Eunuch Ling went inside.
Jin Gan Palace.
Emperor Zhou sat elegantly on his golden throne, savoring the newly arrived Fragrant Four Seasons Tea, its aroma filling the entire hall. Beside him sat Huangfu Xuan, his sharp gaze fixed on everything outside. The two exchanged a few words.
Eunuch Ling quickly stepped forward, bowing and scraping respectfully, and said, "Your Majesty, Third Prince, the Prince of Nan has arrived."
"Let him in." Emperor Zhou set the tea aside. "This tea is indeed fragrant all year round; it makes me feel extremely refreshed!"
"Father is absolutely right. When we were beyond the Great Wall, I heard that the Fragrance of Four Seasons Tea was so fragrant and left a pleasant aftertaste. So I sent people to search for it everywhere, and finally found it on the eve of our return to the court. I hope Father will like it." Although Huangfu Xuan's tone was cold, it had a hint of flattery in it.
Emperor Zhou nodded. "Thank you for your thoughtfulness."
Nan Xuzong had been standing close outside the hall, overhearing their entire conversation. "Fragrance that wafts through all four seasons"—how come he'd never heard of such a tea before? Was he utterly ignorant?