No matter how much trouble they cause at home, it doesn't matter. But with people coming and going, countless bright eyes are staring at their Marquis of Weiguo's residence, waiting to see them make a fool of themselves. How could Jian Guangyang let them have their way?

"Shut up! What are you saying? This is the attitude a junior should have towards an elder," Jian Guangyang shouted. "Apologize."

Forced by Jian Guangyang's tyranny, Jian Piaoyi and Jian Gongxin reluctantly bowed ninety degrees to Ji Xiaoxiao.

"Walk."

Ji Xiaoxiao boarded the carriage, followed closely by Jian Guangyang and the others.

"This humble concubine respectfully sees off the Marquis."

Hu Yanyan watched them leave and then returned to Lanxinyuan.

Once the courtyard gate was closed, Hu Yanyan revealed her true colors, casually slapping the maid beside her.

“Zeng Feizi.” Hu Yanyan raised her head, her eyebrows raised high, “Zeng Feizi, you humiliated me in public today, and I will make sure you suffer a terrible death in the future.”

Yu Shu endured the swelling and pain on her face and said, "Madam, so what if Zeng Feizi enters the palace? As the daughter of a merchant, she will inevitably be looked down upon and harassed by other noble ladies. She will suffer enough. She doesn't know the rules. If she accidentally offends the Empress or other noble ladies, she won't even know how she died."

Yu Shu was full of confidence. With her encouragement, the lady would surely see her mood brighten and become more cheerful.

"Slap." Another slap landed on Yu Shu.

"Fool! Zeng Feizi is the Marquis's wife. How can the Marquis remain unscathed after offending such a powerful figure? The Marquis holds a high position and wields great power. There are countless people who flatter him, but there are also many who fear his cunning. They are hoping that the Marquis will make a mistake so that they can seize the opportunity to attack and frame him."

Hu Yanyan's ability to roam freely in the capital as a concubine wasn't due to her own talent or beauty, but rather to the man Jian Guangyang. Jian Guangyang held a first-rank official position, enjoying immense favor from the emperor and unparalleled prestige. As Jian Guangyang's most beloved woman, she benefited from even a small part of his influence.

If Jian Guangyang were to fall from power, she, as a concubine, would still be inferior to Zeng Feizi, a merchant's daughter, despite her stunning beauty and unparalleled talent. After all, she was a concubine, a truly lowly concubine who could be bought and sold.

Today, "Zeng Feizi" successfully slapped her in the face. Hu Yanyan held her anger in silence because what "Zeng Feizi" said was true. Going to the palace to congratulate the Empress was indeed the duty of a matriarch, and she could not refute it.

"Sooner or later, sooner or later."

Hu Yanyan's fingernails dug into her flesh, and the pain intensified her hatred, causing it to grow exponentially.

...

When Jian Guangyang and his group returned, apart from Ji Xiaoxiao who was all smiles, the rest of them had furrowed brows, looking as if their wives had been stolen and their parents had been tragically murdered.

"What's wrong with the Marquis?" Hu Yanyan asked.

Jian Guangyang exhaled two streams of scorching air from his nostrils, his chest heaving.

"It's all because of that bitch Zeng Feizi..."

Upon hearing this, Hu Yanyan was struck dumb, her face filled with shock and astonishment.

The lowly Zeng Feizi had a stroke of luck and gained the favor of the Empress.

Why?

Why?

Hu Yanyan and the others couldn't understand it because they didn't know how much "intelligence" Ji Xiaoxiao possessed.

Since Ji Xiaoxiao received the "photographic memory" bestowed upon her by the adults, the skills, knowledge, and crafts that she had gradually forgotten began to emerge little by little. Like carving a stone statue, they took deep root in Ji Xiaoxiao's brain cells, differentiating, splitting, and being passed down from generation to generation.

The Empress was getting old, and a splitting headache had plagued her for years. She consulted countless renowned doctors, but she could never find a cure.

On this day, Ji Xiaoxiao was going to launch a forceful attack, firstly to slap Hu Yanyan in the face and make her realize her true identity, and secondly to get rid of the Empress's headache.

Relying on her photographic memory, Ji Xiaoxiao's previously learned medical skills resurfaced. Difficult and complicated illnesses were no problem for her. Curing the Empress's headaches was a piece of cake for her. However, it would take some time.

A month later, the Empress sent Ji Xiaoxiao a generous reward.

"Thank you, Your Majesty the Empress." Ji Xiaoxiao bowed deeply.

After seeing off the eunuch who delivered the imperial decree, Ji Xiaoxiao returned to Wutong Garden.

"You may all leave!"

Ji Xiaoxiao locked herself inside the door.

"You've endured it for so long, not bad!" Ji Xiaoxiao teased.

An outsider has sneaked into Wutong Garden.

On the other side, inside Lanxinyuan.

"Piaoyi, have you made up your mind?" Hu Yanyan hesitated, then said, "Never mind, you're all grown up now, your aunt can't persuade you anymore."

"Auntie." Jian Piaoyi grasped Hu Yanyan's delicate hands.

"Your aunt will help you; after all, she watched you grow up," Hu Yanyan said in a heavy tone.

Two precious tears welled up in Jian Piaoyi's eyes. "Auntie, I will definitely succeed."

---Aside---

Thank you Yu Yinzhu for the pink vote!

Thank you Yu Yinzhu for the pink vote!

Thank you Yu Yinzhu for the pink vote!