Inside the ancestral hall, Jiang Jiaojiao was so hungry that she felt dizzy. She kept swallowing as she looked at the offerings on the altar.
Caiyan didn't bring any food today, so the old woman from the First Madam's room came over to count the offerings.
"The First Madam instructed that if any offering is missing from the altar, Aunt Jiang will be punished with a beating."
The old woman in charge's words were still ringing in my ears.
Jiang Jiaojiao slumped weakly on the prayer mat, cursing Wei Mingzhou, that heartless man, a hundred times in her heart.
He's all sweet talk, but when something really happens, he disappears without a trace, let alone plead for her or speak a word of justice for her.
What does the Empress's death have to do with her?
What does it matter to her if the emperor is gone?
The old lady being bedridden is also her fault.
Jiang Jiaojiao was on the verge of tears, feeling more wronged than Dou E.
Feeling resentful yet powerless, she thought to herself, "If I had known this would happen, I would rather become a nun than enter the Prime Minister's mansion as a concubine."
Unexpectedly, after much deliberation, my mother and I chose a sinking, dilapidated ship.
Jiang Jiaojiao became increasingly upset as she thought about it, and tears streamed down her face uncontrollably.
No, she refused to accept her fate. To live a life of such humiliation was worse than death. She couldn't do it; this wasn't the outcome she wanted.
“Aunt Jiang, there’s a layer of incense ash on the table in the ancestral hall. The Wei family’s ancestor was a very particular person. The First Madam asked you to wipe it to show your piety.”
As Jiang Jiaojiao was plotting how to escape her current predicament, she heard a maid's voice outside the door.
As she turned her head, she saw a maid from the First Madam's courtyard carrying a bucket of water and placing it at the entrance of the ancestral hall, while a rag flew towards her.
"you……"
Jiang Jiaojiao swallowed back her curses and quickly grabbed the rag that was flying at her.
"What, you don't want to do it? I'll go and tell the Madam right now that Aunt Jiang is of noble birth and can't do this dirty work."
The maid's lips curled slightly, and a hint of mockery appeared in her eyes.
The maids in the mansion all knew that she had gone from being the legitimate daughter back to being an illegitimate daughter, and they often made sarcastic and pointed remarks about her.
“Damn it, when did I ever say I wouldn’t do it anymore?” Jiang Jiaojiao dared not disobey the First Madam’s wishes and swallowed her anger.
Now she's not even as good as the head maid in the First Madam's room; anyone in this mansion can step on her.
"Hmph! Aunt Jiang, you've worked hard. Remember to light the incense after you're done wiping away the dust. The Madam will be coming to check later, so don't even think about slacking off!" The maid snorted coldly, throwing down a bunch of sarcastic remarks before striding away arrogantly.
Jiang Jiaojiao wanted to curse. She was told to wipe off the dust and then light the incense. A gust of wind would blow another layer of incense ash onto the table.
This isn't punishing her at all!
They were clearly torturing her in various ways.
When you're under someone's roof, you have to bow your head; Jiang Jiaojiao had no choice.
The water in the bucket had just been drawn from the well. Seeing the maid walk away, Jiang Jiaojiao lifted the bucket in with all her might, not caring whether her hands were clean or not, and scooped up the water and drank it in big gulps.
There was no one else in the ancestral hall. She cursed the Wei family under her breath as she rolled up her sleeves and swept away the dust.
In the main courtyard.
The First Madam dismissed the servants and closed the door. "My lord, I've heard that most of the ministers have gone to the palace to pay their respects to the new emperor. Even those two old foxes, Du Zhong and Wu Taiwei, have gone to the palace. Are you sure you're okay with not going?"
Lady Wei was unaware that the Grand Scholar Zhen was actually the first person to enter the palace and meet the new emperor.
Prime Minister Wei pursed his lips, the wrinkles left by the years etched on his face, and a calculating glint flashed in his eyes, which had been immersed in officialdom for many years.
With a slight raise of his thick eyebrows, he said with an imposing air, "Hmph! A mere brat, a newcomer. Let's see how he manages to control the court and secure his seat on the dragon throne!"
Seeing that her husband was confident, the First Madam's worried expression gradually disappeared.
"What the master means is..."
Prime Minister Wei raised his chin and said, "What do you know, you woman? I have already sent someone to the palace to request sick leave. If Xiao Jingzhao is sensible and sends an imperial physician to the mansion, or sends someone to deliver gifts, then it will not be too late for me to go to the palace."
“Yes, we just lost our beloved daughter and he seized the throne. He should compensate us politely. The officials who follow the master are all in important positions. Without the master’s support, he will have no chance to move an inch.”
After hearing what Prime Minister Wei said, the First Madam suddenly understood the connection.
Prime Minister Wei's plan was meticulously executed. He secretly sent messages to his colleagues, reporting all the long-standing problems from the previous dynasty, and also ordered people to hoard grain and raise grain prices.
For a time, the people of the capital were immersed in the joy of welcoming the new emperor, while undercurrents were swirling in the court, and officials were frequently meeting in private.
The Ministry of Works worked intensively to repair the Qianqing Palace, which had been destroyed by fire.
The national treasury is short of funds, and the military rations and pay for the border troops have not been paid for six months.
Grain prices skyrocketed overnight, adding insult to injury for the disaster-stricken people.
Xiao Jingzhao watched as countless memorials, like snowflakes, were delivered to the Imperial Study.
Each of these problems requires money to solve.
Preparations for the coronation ceremony were also in full swing, as the three ministries and five temples were all short of funds.
Xiao Jingzhao remained calm and carefully reviewed each memorial.
The sheer number of problems left over from the previous dynasty is staggering, riddled with flaws.
The size of the hole exceeded Xiao Jingzhao's expectations and preparations.
He crossed out the extravagant expenses in the palace.
Most of the hundreds of courtesans from the Jiaosifang (a type of entertainment venue) were released from the palace.
Most of them were women from official families who had been implicated in their family's crimes.
Xiao Jingzhao granted a general amnesty ahead of schedule, stripped them of their slave status, and allowed them to choose their own destination.
Some women returned to their hometowns, while others went back to their old homes to wait for their relatives to return after the amnesty. Some of those who stayed behind were unwilling to leave the palace.
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