Nan Xuzong watched them indifferently. These women in the inner quarters were truly capable of causing chaos and strife! Fortunately, Ji Wushang was the only one in his inner quarters, so there was naturally no opportunity for them to fight! However, sometimes he didn't want Ji Wushang to be idle... Hmm, it seems that agreeing to return to the Jin Nan Prince's Mansion with her was not a bad choice. At least she would quickly forget her unhappy things!
"Guards, drag Granny Xue out and tear her to pieces!" Prince Jinnan had seen enough of the truth. If things continued to escalate, he didn't know whether Leng Ruolan or Jin Ruirui would die, which would be heartbreaking for him! However, it seemed he should take another concubine. Consort Jin was poisoned and unable to serve him, and Leng Ruolan was pregnant, so she was even less able to serve him.
Choosing a country girl as a concubine is also a good option!
"Your Highness, please spare my life!" Leng Ruolan cried, trying to grab the Prince of Jinnan's sleeve and beg him to change his mind!
"Someone, help the Princess down to rest!" said the Prince of Jinnan.
Upon hearing the punishment, Granny Xue collapsed to the ground, but immediately knelt down again, pleading, "Spare me! Spare me!"
"Spare me, you insolent servant! Do you even have the right to beg for mercy?" Jin Ruirui stepped forward and kicked Granny Xue in the chest. "You do have the right to beg for mercy!" With that, she immediately slapped Granny Xue across the face, leaving five finger marks.
Before Leng Ruolan even left the courtyard, she heard Jin Ruirui punching and kicking Granny Xue! Granny Xue coughed up blood, glaring at Jin Ruirui with deadly resentment, "Jin Ruirui, I, Granny Xue, will haunt you even in death!"
"Become a ghost? Then go be a ghost!" Jin Ruirui vented her anger on Granny Xue! If Granny Xue hadn't admitted it, she could have dragged Leng Ruolan down with her! It's all because of this wicked servant! Bitch!
The force under her feet increased even more! Those around watched, feeling the stench of blood. That old hag Xue was already dying, and she was still being tortured like this! And wasn't Consort Jin just showing signs of recovery from poisoning? How could she be so ruthless?
Prince Jinnan stepped forward and pulled Jin Ruirui aside. "Ruirui, that's enough!" he said, slightly annoyed. "These matters of punishment are none of your concern!"
"She tried to poison me, I will kill her with my own hands!" Jin Ruirui shouted.
"Enough!" The Prince of Jinnan felt as if his ears had been deafened by her shout. "Guards, drag Granny Xue away, chop her into eight pieces, and throw her into the river to feed the fish!"
"Yes." The guards immediately stepped forward and dragged Granny Xue away, leaving a trail of blood.
Ji Wushang felt as if she had returned to her past life, where she was also in this mansion, dragged out with such a bloody mark! She suddenly froze, not looking at Granny Xue.
At this moment, the King of Jinnan continued to order, "Drag Xiaoxing and Yanu away and beat them to death with sticks!"
"Ah, spare me, spare me!" Xiao Xing cried out immediately, but Yanu didn't beg for mercy. He knew this would be the outcome; so be it!
"Someone, help Consort Jin into the house! Everyone disperse, disperse!" Prince Jinnan looked very tired and waved for people to quickly deal with everything in the courtyard.
Ji Wushang walked to Nan Xuzong's side, and Nan Xuzong gently smoothed her dark hair. "Tired?"
“A little.” Ji Wushang nodded.
"I'm sorry to have troubled Wu Shang and Cong'er. Sigh, there's always so much going on in the manor!" said the Prince of Jinnan.
"Father, please don't say that. Cong and I are both thinking about making the manor better." Ji Wushang immediately turned to look at the Prince of Jinnan.
"Alright, you can all go and rest! I'm tired too." The Prince of Jinnan waved his hand and walked out.
Ji Wushang watched the departing figure of the Prince of Jinnan, her expression unchanged. However, she also noticed that Nan Xianxian, who was about to return to her Xianxian Garden, stopped and followed the Prince of Jinnan when she saw no one else around.
If I'm not mistaken, Nan Xianxian is probably preparing for her future path in her husband's family.
"What are you thinking about?" Nan Xuzong hugged her from behind. "We should go."
"Hmm." Seeing that there were servants taking care of things in the courtyard, Ji Wushang followed Nan Xuzong back.
At this time, in Lanruo Garden.
Leng Ruolan looked indignantly at the kneeling servants around her.
"I've been supporting you all just so you can freeload! And now, when it really matters, you all betray me, the princess?"
"Your Highness, please spare my life! Please spare my life!"
"Spare my life? If it weren't for Granny Xue standing up for me today, you would all be beheaded! If something happens to me, do you think you won't go to hell?" Leng Ruolan was furious and gave them a good scolding.
The head maid, Dingxiang, knelt down and stepped forward. "Your Highness, we never expected it to be like this! It was the Fourth Princess who dug up everything. If Your Highness were to interrogate the servants, you definitely wouldn't be able to find anything!"
"Hmph, it's no use saying anything now! Although I was spared this time by sacrificing Granny Xue, I'm afraid I won't be so lucky next time! Damn it, you can't even handle a lowly woman, you've really disappointed me!"
"Your Highness, why don't we take advantage of tonight..." Dingxiang whispered as she approached Leng Ruolan and whispered in her ear.
Leng Ruolan waved for all the servants to leave, leaving only Dingxiang behind. "Say it again!"
"Yes," Dingxiang said. "This servant has observed that the Fourth Imperial Consort and the Fourth Prince are only here for a short stay. It's the Fourth Imperial Consort who's thinking about the Moxuan Garden! As for whether our Prince's Mansion lives or dies, they don't care! They only care that no one can harm them! Therefore, this servant thinks it's better to stabilize them first, and then make a move against Consort Jin!"
"But now they're determined to oppose me! I'm certain I haven't hindered their actions, yet they're siding with Consort Jin. How am I supposed to appease them? Besides, those two are inseparable; even the heavens can't separate them!"
"I've heard some maids say that the Second Young Mistress is thinking of climbing the social ladder to become a phoenix by marrying the Fourth Prince!" Dingxiang said. "If the Second Young Mistress succeeds, they will naturally shift their attention, which will benefit our work, won't it?"
“You’re right, but if that bitch Zhao Yirou doesn’t make a move, I can’t get her to provoke those two right away!” Leng Ruolan said. “If you have any ideas, just say them!”
"This servant has no idea, but this servant senses that the Second Young Mistress is already impatient, because no one knows when the Fourth Prince and the Fourth Imperial Consort will return to the palace and stop staying at the mansion!" Dingxiang's meaning was very clear: Zhao Yirou needed to seize the time, so she would definitely take a gamble!
Leng Ruolan nodded in agreement. "Quickly send someone to monitor Zhao Yirou and see when she makes her move. Once she does, we'll execute the plan immediately!" She was determined to kill her first! That bitch Jin Ruirui, she would never let her get away with it!
"Yes." Dingxiang nodded and immediately withdrew.
——
Nan Xianxian caught up with Prince Jinnan. "Father," she said, walking beside him. "Father, I have something I wanted to tell you." She had originally planned to marry General Ma Rui, but she felt that Nan Xuzong was more suitable for her! She could be a concubine, and that way, she would have a chance to rise in the ranks! Fortunately, Concubine Jin hadn't had a chance to tell Prince Jinnan about Ma Rui yet!
"Is something the matter?" Prince Jinnan looked at her, feeling somewhat displeased because of what had just happened, but as a father, he also had to shoulder this responsibility!
"Father, there are some things I want to tell you." She lowered her head, her face shy. "Father, I'd like to talk to you in your study."
"Alright!" Prince Jinnan nodded, then led her to his study, closed the door, and had someone stand guard outside before saying, "Sit down and let's talk!"
The Prince of Jinnan sat at his desk, looking at Nan Xianxian before him. "Don't be silent, speak your mind!"
"Father, I, I'm almost fourteen..." It was a real loss that I wasn't chosen to be Huangfu Ting's or Huangfu Xuan's concubine back then! But now, a very good man is standing right in front of me!
"Hmm." Prince Jinnan could roughly guess what she wanted to say. Usually, these kinds of things were discussed between the mother and father, so how could it be the daughter's turn to speak? But since she brought it up, let her say it! Luckily, there was no one else around!
“I’ve thought of someone who would be a good fit for you, but I don’t know what others think.” The Prince of Jinnan nodded. “I’ll go and see what their opinion is tomorrow!”
"Who is it?" Nan Xianxian asked immediately.
"It's Ma Rui, the Second Young General Ma. He's a good man, Father is very satisfied!" The Prince of Jinnan didn't see the hint of disappointment in her eyes, but he did see the hint of surprise. It really was Ma Rui?
"He's a very good man. Your father is quite satisfied with entrusting you to him!"
"Father, I... I have someone else in my heart!" Nan Xianxian was silent for a long time before finally speaking her mind. She knew that if she didn't say it soon, she might have to marry someone else!
"Who is it?" Prince Jinnan immediately stood up. "You, a concubine's daughter from a royal household, dare to say you have someone in your heart? Have you no shame?"
"Father, Father, I, I... Waaah!" Nan Xianxian burst into tears when she realized she had no words to refute her.
"Alright, alright, stop crying. Tell me who they are!" Prince Jinnan couldn't bear to see a woman cry, especially his own daughter! Seeing her still crying, he could only say, "As long as it's not excessive, I'll see how that family's intentions are, then you can stop crying!"
"Yes." Nan Xianxian immediately wiped away her tears with a silk handkerchief, then looked at Prince Jinnan and said, "Father, please don't be angry when I tell you that person's name!"
"Okay, don't be angry!" That's what the Prince of Jinnan said, just to get her to say it.
"He, he is... the Fourth Prince Huangfu Zong." Nan Xianxian immediately said, "Father, it's him! I hope it's the Fourth Prince!"
"You, you...you're being insolent!" Prince Jinnan practically leaped up to Nan Xianxian. "He, he's the Fourth Prince! How dare you even dream of getting close to him?"
"Father, I was originally among those selected as concubines for the Second Prince and the Third Prince, but they didn't know how virtuous I was, so they didn't choose me! But this means I can marry into the royal family! I can become the Fourth Prince's concubine!"
"You're talking nonsense!" The Prince of Jinnan wished he could pry open her head and see what she was thinking!
"Father, I'm telling the truth!" Nan Xianxian stood up and looked at Prince Jinnan. "If you want to establish yourself in court and ensure the survival of our royal family, someone in the royal family needs to be capable! The original eldest brother isn't the eldest brother anymore; it's the Fourth Prince! Isn't this an opportunity?" Nan Xianxian analyzed, "Father, look, the Fourth Princess Consort has been married to the Fourth Prince for so long but still can't conceive! Even if the Fourth Prince is determined not to have concubines or maids, do you think Empress Yao wouldn't try to put her trusted daughter into the Fourth Prince's arms? Empress Yao is the Empress Dowager; the Fourth Prince will still have to address her as Empress Dowager! So, he will definitely compromise in the end!"
Moreover, there's the pressure from the Emperor; he'll definitely make the Fourth Prince marry many, many women! Father, why don't you push me before the Emperor! Once I become a concubine, I can use my beauty and wisdom to seize what's rightfully mine!"
Upon hearing Nan Xianxian's words, Prince Jinnan seemed to have a sudden realization, but he was still somewhat worried. He said, "You know that the Fourth Imperial Consort is formidable. How could you possibly compete with her?"
"Father, don't worry! I'll marry the Fourth Prince first and become his concubine, then give birth to a son. No matter how powerful Ji Wushang is, she can't do anything to me! At that time, my child will definitely be favored by the Fourth Prince, and he will naturally give his heart to me, and then I can climb up the social ladder!"
"Your idea is quite good, but do you know how to inform the Emperor even if Father agrees? When the time comes, the Fourth Prince will marry a concubine, but that concubine may not be you. You will just be in that line!"
"So, Father, you must help me!" Nan Xianxian said at this moment.
"Help you?" Prince Jinnan looked at her, realizing he still didn't understand these women. Nan Xianxian was undeniably more discerning than Jin Ruirui! If Nan Xianxian really became the Fourth Prince's concubine, the Fourth Prince would very likely become the Crown Prince, and then he would be the Emperor's father-in-law! Then, who would look down on him?
Isn't it because countless powerful and influential people come to befriend them, and huge sums of money flow into their accounts?
...
Ji Wushang stirred the candle and looked at Nan Xuzong, who was reviewing memorials and letters not far away, and asked, "Is the light bright enough?"
"That's enough," Nan Xuzong said, looking up at her. "You're tired. Take a rest first. I'll bring you food later."
"No, I'm waiting for someone!" Ji Wushang brought over a stool and placed it in front of his desk. "I'll sit here."
Nan Xuzong smiled slightly and beckoned to her, "Come here."
"What are you doing?" Ji Wushang looked at him.
"Come here, be good." He said again, his handsome face smiling in a way that seemed to be able to topple kingdoms. Ji Wushang was momentarily captivated by his beauty and couldn't help but stand up and walk in front of him.
☆、253 Nan Xuzong only loves you! (Excellent!)
"I told you to come over, you made me so anxious!" Nan Xuzong said, immediately pulling her into his arms. "Are you being naughty?" he said, pinching her waist with his large hand.
"No!" Ji Wushang grabbed his large hand. "I wasn't being naughty!" she scolded. "You hurry up and take care of your business. I have other things to take care of too!" She then tried to break free from his embrace. "There are quite a few dramas these days. Let's go watch a show later!" Ji Wushang said playfully.
Nan Xuzong smiled and put her aside. He did have things to attend to and wasn't in a hurry to play with her. Ji Wushang glanced at the documents in his hands before going to his side to grind ink for him, occasionally flipping through some books on the desk.
"Can you understand it?" Nan Xuzong asked, looking up slightly as he watched her flip through a map.
“I understand.” Ji Wushang pointed to the hills and forests, indicating which places were suitable for deploying troops, which places were suitable for ambushes, which were strategic passes that needed to be captured quickly, which were high ground, and so on.
Nan Xuzong was astonished upon hearing this and put down the letters in his hands. "Wu Shang..."
"Hmm?" Ji Wushang looked at him, somewhat embarrassed, and said, "I'm sorry, I was just talking to myself..."
"No, you're amazing!" Nan Xuzong exclaimed, pulling her close to him. "Did your father teach you all this?"
“No, it’s my own idea. I like to go to the library and read lots and lots of books,” Ji Wushang said. “Father’s study is not easily accessible to others. Even when I go in, I have to behave properly. Books are categorized, and some books are not allowed to be read.”
"Oh, what book are you reading?"
"It's things like precepts and instructions for women," Ji Wushang said. "Probably some Confucian classics, and I've also read Legalist and Taoist texts, and a lot of Buddhist texts."
"Hmm, I see." Nan Xuzong nodded. "What you said is very insightful and shows great vision. I'm afraid even the generals on the frontier are not as good as you."
“I’m just a woman, I can’t be compared to you men who do great things,” Ji Wushang laughed.
"No, Wu Shang, I don't think so."
"Yes, I also want to be with you, to walk side by side, instead of hiding behind you and just letting you shelter me from the wind and rain." Ji Wushang listened to his words and knew what he meant. It was good to express his truest thoughts. "If you want to conquer the world, I will be your strategist and your woman. If you want to become a fisherman or woodcutter, I will farm and weave with you. Whatever you do, I will do with you."
"I know." Nan Xuzong embraced her. "I know what you're thinking. I will give you the life you want. Wushang, I promise you..."