Ji Yunhuan followed the empress dowager into the water pavilion.
The view here is broad, and the entire Hundred Flowers Garden is in sight. The rippling water on the lakeside reflects the spring scenery of the garden, which is so beautiful that it seems out of this world.
The pavilion was filled with elderly women of noble status, but when they saw Ji Yunhuan, they all smiled and said nice things in various ways, which made Ji Yunhuan blush.
Wu Xiuqing was also in the water pavilion. She was pretty, dignified and generous. She was the Princess An, who was married to her by the Empress Dowager herself. She entered the water pavilion to accompany him and was also loved by the Empress Dowager.
She saw Ji Yunhuan's embarrassment and came over to chat with her. They were both young girls, and they talked about clothes and jewelry, and then about poetry, calligraphy and painting, and soon became familiar with each other.
"The Empress Dowager has excellent taste. She only chooses good girls. Not everyone is so lucky to marry such a beautiful woman."
An old lady was laughing cheerfully, actually she was trying to find out where Ji Yunhuan would go in the future.
The Queen Mother also laughed cheerfully and said, "It's not your family anyway. Your grandsons are all married. Don't bother thinking about my family. I like this girl, but I won't promise her to anyone casually."
Those sitting by the waterside pavilion were all royal relatives, including some unmarried men. Through the hazy gauze, they saw a graceful figure. Just by looking at her figure, they knew that this woman was extraordinary.
"Whoever the Empress Dowager likes must be good. Why don't you promise it to me? I will definitely treat her well."
"Go away, you haven't even grown all your hair yet, why are you getting involved? I'm a few years older than you, so I should be the first to get married!"
"How can you, a playboy, be worthy of such a beauty? I am different. I have already held a position in the Imperial Guard. His Majesty praised me yesterday and asked the Queen Mother to grant me marriage!"
The Queen Mother laughed and scolded, "You are a bunch of unruly brats! Stop fighting! I won't let you off easy!"
Ji Yunhuan lowered her head and pretended to be shy.
With just a few words from the Empress Dowager, she went from being a notorious abandoned woman to a popular commodity that everyone was vying for. This is the power of authority.
"Don't be angry, they don't mean any harm. You are so beautiful, let alone those men, I like everyone I see."
Wu Xiuqing soothed Ji Yunhuan softly and took her hand again, "I'll take you to meet the sisters. We are of similar age, so we should interact more often in the future."
On the right side of the waterside pavilion are all important noble ladies, some of whom have prominent family backgrounds, some are royal relatives, and some are even princesses or county ladies.
They all treated Ji Yunhuan very kindly, as if they were sisters who had just met for a long time. They were talking and laughing, and the atmosphere was very lively.
After the Hundred Flowers Banquet, Ji Yunhuan's reputation suddenly improved, and many mansions sent invitations to invite Ji Yunhuan to attend the flower viewing banquet.
Ji Yunhuan chose to go to the two houses. She had been taught by her mother since she was young and was already proficient in poetry. In addition, the empress dowager deliberately promoted her, and soon the talent of the eldest daughter of the Ji family spread throughout the capital.
******
Aunt Zhang had been having people monitor the movements in Xiuzhu Garden, but what she got was the news that Ji Yunhuan was becoming more and more popular.
Ji Yunhuan is the housekeeper of the mansion now. All the visiting cards from various mansions are sent directly to Ji Yunhuan. I heard that there are many people who come to propose marriage.
She had originally planned to marry Ji Yunhuan off and had already found a family. The man was a widower with a bad temper and great strength. It was said that his previous wife was beaten to death by him.
But now it is no longer possible. Ji Yunhuan is really lucky to be loved by the Queen Mother. It will be even more difficult to deal with him in the future!
Ji Yonglian was lying on the bed, her whole body in pain. Although the twenty strokes of the board did not kill her, they did injure her bones and muscles, and the pain made her unable to sleep every night.
"Mother, it hurts so much. Why can Ji Yunhuan be liked by the Queen Mother, but not me? I don't accept it!"
"In terms of appearance and talent, how can I not compare to her? It's just because she is the legitimate daughter and I am the concubine's daughter!"
"If I were a legitimate daughter, the Empress Dowager would definitely praise me and reward me. Mother, didn't you say that Daddy would make you his legitimate wife? I've had enough of this. Can you please go and ask the Princess for help?"
Aunt Zhang covered Ji Yonglian's mouth and whispered, "Keep your voice down. If I had known you were such a talkative person, I shouldn't have told you in the first place!"
"Hiss~ Mom, you hurt me, what's there to be afraid of? Anyway, everyone in this yard is ours, what are you afraid of?"
Aunt Zhang closed the doors and windows tightly and lowered her voice, saying, "Do you think the eldest princess is a living Buddha? She is a devil who eats people without leaving any bones! Back then, I just went to the study to serve tea to the prince consort, and she got jealous and sold me to a brothel."
"If I wasn't still useful, I would have died in the brothel long ago. If I hadn't been desperate, I really wouldn't want to beg her."
Ji Yonglian hugged Aunt Zhang's arm and said coquettishly, "Mother, just think of it as your daughter's, okay? Can you bear to watch your daughter being bullied?"
"Besides, that's all old news. The princess has helped us a lot over the years. If it weren't for the medicine she gave us, how could we have gotten away with it without anyone noticing..."
"Stop talking! I'll keep this to myself. She died of a difficult childbirth, what does it have to do with us? Forget it. If we don't think of a solution now, we'll all be killed by Ji Yunhuan. I'll go to the Princess's Mansion tonight. You take good care of your injuries and wait for good news from your mother!"
A dark shadow flashed across the roof and followed Aunt Zhang without anyone noticing.
******
Ji Gongming was flattered by his colleagues in the Ministry of Revenue. His superior, who had always been rude to him, specially summoned him to talk, and his words seemed to indicate that he wanted to promote him.
After much inquiry, he learned that Ji Yunhuan was favored by the Queen Mother and would definitely marry into a wealthy family in the future, and might even enter the palace.
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