“…”
The two were not familiar with each other, and if no one moved or made a sound, it would be like they were just sipping tea together.
Jiang Jiang said helplessly: "Did you come to see me the other day just to ask about these two things?"
The Queen Mother glanced at her.
This is too lazy to even do the superficial work.
She acted like a favored concubine.
But she rarely showed any signs of anger. Instead, she sighed and asked, "Don't you hate him?"
"Did you know that all the male members of the Jiang family were exiled, forbidden from entering the civil service for nine generations, and that the female members were demoted to commoners, forced to work as laborers to support themselves?"
"Ha, I forgot. Thanks to you, your parents escaped a disaster."
There was sarcasm in her tone, but her face showed an expression of deep pain.
Jiang Jiang lowered his eyes, but didn't retaliate. He stated the facts in a steady voice, "This is the fate they deserved for embezzling disaster relief funds. When the Jiang family started acting like blood-sucking leeches on the people, you should have been able to predict what would happen."
"As for my parents, apart from their pitiful monthly salary and their shabby house, have they ever used anything else from the Jiang family?"
"Have you forgotten, Queen Mother, that my father was but a bastard of the Jiang family, and has suffered indifference for years? If the legitimate wife had not forced me into the imperial selection, I would still be living a simple life in a bookshop in the west of the city."
Saying this, the original body's anger and resentment suddenly surged.
This girl, who was forced into the palace in her previous life and died in her best years, and after her death saw the innocent and grieving father of her beloved daughter being implicated by the Jiang family, even affected Jiang Jiang's emotions at this moment.
"If you think about it, you're the one who's benefited the most from this whole thing, right? You're enjoying the money your subordinates have paid you, earned through the hard work of the people. And because of your status as a Ruo, you can still enjoy a life of plenty for the rest of your life."
"...but that's all."
The Queen Mother looked at that beautiful face, and a little fear suddenly surged in her heart. She didn't know where this feeling came from, but her intuition told her -
Don't listen to it. You can't listen to what she says next.
But those hands suddenly grabbed her, blocking her thoughts of escaping. In the Queen Mother's almost ferocious eyes—
Jiang Jiang lowered his eyes, with an expression that was almost pitying and a faint smile, and slowly spoke:
"after all--"
"You were once the ruler of a powerful nation, but you were first usurped by a puppet you didn't care about, and then you lost the family you held dear to you. Now, you don't even have the chance to hate."
"How pitiful."
Jiang Jiang's voice was soft, but like a sharp sword, it slowly and precisely pierced the Queen Mother's heart.
How could a woman who has always been proud allow a junior to pity her? But the truth is a pleasure.
The Queen Mother's pupils suddenly contracted, and her breathing quickened. She violently shook off Jiang Jiang's hand, staggered back two steps, and sternly shouted, "How dare you! Who do you think you are to speak to me like that?!"
But her voice was trembling, even she could hear it.
Jiang Jiang rubbed her hands and looked away. For someone like her, living under the control of others is the most profound and lasting torture.
She didn't want to say anything more. She watched the empress dowager straighten her back and leave, and made herself a cup of tea.
The rising white smoke obscured the empress dowager's departing figure, but one could still see her turning around, her face, which, even in her old age, still showed her former elegance, now had a confused look on its face.
Even asked this junior who has always been ignored:
"...Did I do something wrong?"
“If I’m doing it wrong, what’s the right thing to do?”
The Queen Mother simply raised her confusion.
Didn't expect an answer.
"No one can judge whether it is right or wrong at the moment of decision. Especially since this is your own person."
If...
The Queen Mother sighed wearily.
She had been running around for the Jiang family these days and was exhausted. She even went crazy and came to find a little girl to vent her anger.
But when she was about to leave, that clear voice broke through the fog and went straight into her ears:
"But at least do something that's worthy of your own actions. That way, no matter what happens, it won't be like what's happening now."
The Queen Mother paused and looked at her deeply: "...Is that so?"
Unfortunately, time cannot be reversed, so we cannot verify whether what she said is right.
The sound of the Queen Mother's departing footsteps echoed in the empty hall. Jiang Jiang looked at the leaves floating in the teacup, but a smile appeared on his face.
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