Ji Yunhuan leaned over and covered her belly. She felt the fetus in her belly seemed to move.
Her child, her blood-related child, knew to protect his mother before he was even born.
Her father, who should have been her closest relative and loved her, doted on her and protected her, pushed her into the abyss time and time again. His hypocritical and heartless face really made her sick!
Taohong was so anxious that she was sweating profusely. "Miss, Miss, are you okay? Someone, come and get a doctor!"
Nanny Yan walked hurriedly, holding the palace badge in her hand, and was ready to call the imperial physician.
If anything goes wrong with Ji Yunhuan, the Empress Dowager will not let these people go!
"I'm fine, I'm fine." Ji Yunhuan stood up straight. She had never been so clear-headed as she was at this moment.
"If father insists on doing this, today, in front of mother's tablet, I will sever all ties with you! From now on, regardless of life or death, I will have nothing to do with you or the Ji family!"
Ji Gongming's eyes widened in disbelief. "You...what nonsense are you talking about? You unfilial daughter, if you have the guts, say it again!"
There was no warmth in Ji Yunhuan's eyes as he swept coldly over Ji Gongming, the crying Aunt Zhang, and the secretly proud Ji Yonglian.
She sneered and turned away without any reluctance.
Early the next morning, the Ji family ancestral hall was opened.
The Ji family was also very prosperous in the capital, with many branches. Their ancestors had once been high-ranking officials, but their descendants were not ambitious and their family gradually declined.
Although Ji Gongming was only an assistant minister of the Ministry of Revenue, he was already the most promising among his descendants. Now that the Ji family was headed by him, whenever he said he wanted to open a clan temple, all the elders would come.
The ancestral hall is not located in the Ji Mansion, but in a somewhat old house.
The old patriarch, his hair and beard all white, sat at the very top. "Gongming, have you thought it through? Do you really want a concubine to be your legal wife?"
"If she were a concubine from a good family, it would be fine, but I heard that this girl's background is not good. You are the most promising descendant of my Ji family, so don't be greedy for beauty and do such foolish things!"
Ji Gongming sat below the clan leader, while the other clan elders sat behind him, which shows his status in the Ji family.
"Grandfather, I know there are some rumors out there, but they're just women's nonsense! Although Zhang Rou comes from a humble background, she's beautiful, intelligent, gentle and virtuous. How could she possibly plot to murder the mistress of the household?"
"My poor first wife died in childbirth, and everyone in the mansion knew about it. After Jun Wan's death, I remained faithful to her and didn't remarry for three years. But Chang'er is my only son after all, and I can't let him suffer any injustice, so I decided to make Concubine Zhang my legal wife."
Ji Gongming spoke passionately. The elders of the clan had already discussed this with him and immediately agreed with him.
"Gongming has done his best for the past three years. He can't remain unmarried forever, right?"
"I think Zhang is a very good woman. She has given birth to a son and a daughter. She has made great contributions to the Ji family. It is reasonable for her to be promoted to the first wife."
"Patriarch, please don't hesitate. Would you rather believe those rumors than your own grandson?"
The old patriarch stood up from his chair and shakily took out a set of brass keys. "Forget it, forget it. Children and grandchildren will have their own blessings. Whether it's good or bad is your own choice. I will now respectfully inform our ancestors to produce the Ji family genealogy and record Zhang as your legal wife!"
Ji Gongming's face was filled with excitement. He bowed to the elder and said, "Thank you, Grandpa Tang."
There was a sound of carriages and horses outside the door, and a group of people rushed in in a mighty manner. The servant at the door couldn't stop them at all.
Ji Yunhuan was wearing a red dress with jewelry hanging from her waist. She walked into the ancestral hall in a carefree and unrestrained manner, oblivious to the people around her.
There was a flicker of pity in the old patriarch's eyes. He held the position of clan elder only because he was old and everyone was willing to give him some face.
He is not Ji Gongming's biological grandfather, and he is powerless to help in many things.
"Yun Huan, your great-grandfather has watched you grow up. No matter what, you are your father's daughter. Be obedient and go back quickly."
Ji Yunhuan knew that the clan leader meant well, but she had come here today to cause trouble. If the situation wasn't serious, how could she comfort her mother's spirit in heaven?
"Today is a good day for the opening of the ancestral temple. How can I not come to congratulate you?"
Ji Yunhuan said congratulations, but there was no joy on his face.
Naturally, there was no place prepared for Ji Yunhuan in the ancestral hall. Taohong got a set of tables and chairs from somewhere and was directing the guards to move them in.
Taohong also prepared fruits, tea, soft pillows and incense. The guards were busy coming in and out, with a murderous aura on their faces. For a moment, no one dared to stop them.
Ji Gongming was so angry that he was shaking all over. He shouted angrily: "Nonsense! This is absolutely nonsense! Do you think you can act wildly in the ancestral hall?"
"Ji Yunhuan! Get out of here! If you keep making trouble, I'll expel you from the Ji family. I'll see how you'll cope with being without a clan or a family!"
Ji Yunhuan sat down calmly, leaning against the soft pillow, holding a cup of the best pre-rain Longjing tea, with an expression of looking forward to the show.
"The clan leader didn't even chase me away, so why are you so anxious, Master Ji? Master Ji, don't worry, no matter who you want to establish, I won't interfere."
Ji Gongming was so angry that he couldn't speak. The elders around him immediately jumped out and said in a flurry of words:
"If your mother were still alive, she wouldn't want you and your father to end up in this mess. Your mother has been dead for three years. Your father can't just stay single forever, right?"
"What Lord Ji! This is your father! A son should not criticize his father's mistakes. Is this how you talk to your father?"
"You've learned so much about etiquette and manners that you're no match for the village kids in filial piety."
Ji Yunhuan said impatiently, "I've already told you I won't interfere. He can marry whoever he wants. Are you guys going to start now?"
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