Ignore her, that's all.

"Zeng Feizi, are you deaf?" Jian Piaoyi stood up, walked to Ji Xiaoxiao, and patted Ji Xiaoxiao's cheek.

Ji Xiaoxiao raised her eyes, her gaze icy cold, like the dead of winter.

Jian Piaoyi was startled. Not wanting to embarrass herself, she suppressed her panic and stubbornly met Ji Xiaoxiao's gaze. The youthful vigor and impulsiveness, as well as the unruly heart, in her eyes were qualities that a sheltered young lady should not possess.

"You can leave now!"

The girl before her was not yet fifteen, not yet of marriageable age, an immature girl in that awkward stage where she couldn't be hit. Out of sight, out of mind, Ji Xiaoxiao decided to settle for second best and gently advised Jian Piaoyi to lay low for a while.

Jian Piaoyi stomped her foot, her mouth wide open, her eyes showing the same shock as if she had seen a burly man picking his toes calling her home for dinner.

Why? Why did she drive her away? Why did she treat her with such coldness? She was the legitimate daughter of the Marquis of Wei, the rightful legitimate daughter.

"You actually chased me away? Do you know who I am? I am the eldest daughter of the Marquis of Wei's mansion." Jian Piaoyi was unintentionally provoked by Ji Xiaoxiao. She grabbed Ji Xiaoxiao and kept babbling on and on, scolding Ji Xiaoxiao for not knowing what was good for her. At the same time, she kept saying "I am the eldest daughter of the Marquis of Wei's mansion" like a bragging about her father.

Ji Xiaoxiao couldn't stand it anymore and pushed Jian Piaoyi, who was caught off guard and fell over.

"Guards! The young lady is so hungry she can barely stand. Quickly take her back to the Purple Bamboo Garden. If you starve her, I will take your dog lives."

What? The young lady was so hungry that she couldn't stand up and fell flat on her face?

The servants of Zizhu Garden rushed in, and the first thing they saw was the young lady Jian Piaoyi lying on her back.

"Oh no, seeing this, the young lady will definitely not let us off easily," the servants of Purple Bamboo Garden thought with trepidation.

The head maid, Du Juan, set an example by helping Jian Piaoyi up.

Jian Piaoyi shook off Du Juan's dirty hand and pointed at Zeng Feizi's nose, saying, "Zeng Feizi, this isn't over between us."

Having lost face in front of everyone, Jian Piaoyi couldn't stay any longer and slunk away with her entourage.

Back at Zizhu Garden, Jian Piaoyi vented her anger and resentment by taking out the bottles and jars in the garden.

"That wretched woman! I must go and complain to my father!"

As dusk fell, Wutong Garden welcomed someone who hadn't been seen for a long time.

"My lord, what brings you here?"

Ji Xiaoxiao was holding a teacup when tea splashed onto the back of her hand without her noticing.

Jian Guangyang? Is this really Jian Guangyang?

Ji Xiaoxiao stood up and beckoned Zhang Mama to ask, "Mama, is this man really the Marquis?"

Zhang Mama lowered her head, not daring to look at Jian Guangyang's dark face, and said, "Yes, Madam."

Ji Xiaoxiao noticed that Zhang Mama was uncomfortable, so she waved for her to leave.

Inside the room, a man and a woman, are they having sex?

After many years, Jian Guangyang finally stepped through the gates of Wutong Garden.

Ji Xiaoxiao subtly observed Jian Guangyang and found that he had a good appearance, even a dignified one.

With sword-like eyebrows, bright eyes, red lips, white teeth, jet-black hair, and fair skin, lightly brushed with rouge, her figure was tall and straight, almost embodying the old saying—"all legs from the neck down."

Tall, handsome, and rich, no wonder the arrogant original owner would fall for Jian Guangyang!

No, back then Jian Guangyang did have status and position, but he was just a poor boy with no power, influence, or money.

"My lord, please have a seat." Ji Xiaoxiao gestured for him to sit.

Jian Guangyang glanced at him with disgust and reluctantly sat down.

“Zeng Feizi, I heard that you hit Piaoyi today.”

"No?" Ji Xiaoxiao asked.

Jian Guangyang raised an eyebrow. What kind of talk is that?

“You are the mistress of the Marquis’s mansion, an elder in the family. How can you resort to violence at the slightest disagreement? You are truly rude and uncouth, and utterly unfit for such a great responsibility,” Jian Guangyang said, speaking his mind.

Ji Xiaoxiao tilted her head, looking at Jian Guangyang with a puzzled expression. "My lord, I wish to ask, as a mother, is it proper to teach your children in a crude and rude manner?"

It is a mother's duty to teach her children, a fact that Jian Guangyang cannot deny.

"If that's the case, then I'd like to ask you, my lord, if a mother's teaching of her children is considered crude and rude, then is a teacher's reprimand of a student a crime of bullying?"

Enraged, Jian Guangyang shouted, "Nonsense! Zeng's words and actions are inappropriate and improper. I hereby punish you by confining you to your quarters for three months to reflect on your mistakes."

Ji Xiaoxiao picked at her nails and muttered loudly, "They say a woman marries a man for food and clothing, but I married a man whose entire family's food, drink, shelter, and housing all depend on my money. It's so unfair! I should have listened to my father and found a son-in-law to live with us. I didn't care about the hardship; I was the pillar of the family, and supporting my husband and children was my duty. Alas, not listening to the elders leads to trouble. Now, his status is different; he's discarded me after using me. I, his wife who has shared hardship, can only live like a widow every night."

---Aside---

Thank you a135s342d for the six flowers!

Thank you a135s342d for the six flowers!

Thank you a135s342d for the six flowers!

This book is being published here for the first time; please do not reproduce it!