"The Crown Prince is too greedy, and the royal family is too controlling. I don't like that feeling of being forced. I hate these kinds of people." Yuan Qi swung his legs in his seat and expressed his opinion without any attempt to hide it.
Jiang Juncai was also standing to the side, staring at Yuan Qi with a half-smile: "You're so resistant to this, it's not like you. Aren't you usually so indifferent to everything?"
Yuan Qi pouted unhappily: "The Crown Prince offended me today. Seeing that I helped him before, he took it a step further. If I don't say a few words to him, how will he know to restrain himself? Does he really think I'm someone he can summon and dismiss at will? Look at the Imperial Advisor, doesn't he also disregard the royal family? The royal family has to coax him. My abilities are no less than the Imperial Advisor's, so why should I fawn over them like a dog?"
Yuan Qi scoffed, still very angry: "You guys need to figure out a way to make the Crown Prince give up the idea of making me a concubine, or don't blame me for being impolite. Even a clay figure has some temper, and I'm not someone they can just order around as they please."
Jiang Zhengqing hummed in agreement: "I understand your thoughts. I will have a good talk with the Crown Prince. The Crown Prince is not a domineering person. This matter is very likely the idea of Consort Feng."
Yuan Qi shook his head: "I think the Crown Prince is just so-so, not as good as I imagined. I'm very disappointed. At first, I thought he was good and even wanted to help him..."
Jiang Juncai chuckled: "Seventh Sister has such discerning eyes, but even she can misjudge people sometimes."
Yuan Qi covered his face: "Big brother is laughing at me. I didn't misjudge him. I just underestimated him... never mind, I just misjudged him."
Jiang Zhengqing chuckled softly, "Xiao Qi, don't be upset. I'll take care of the Crown Prince's matter for you. It's nothing serious in our family."
Yuan Qi nodded: "I know, so you should be careful too. The royal family is no good. If we are too assertive, they will be unhappy and might even want to wipe us out."
Jiang Zhengqing's face turned cold. He agreed with Yuan Qi's statement: "You're right. The recent events that have happened to the four major families are all related to the royal family. I have discussed this matter with the General, Old Master Bai, and the Xiangli family head. We will not allow the royal family to cause harm."
Yuan Qi wholeheartedly agreed: "If the emperor is disobedient, just replace him."
Jiang Zhengqing and Jiang Juncai were extremely shocked. Jiang Zhengqing's mouth dropped open, unable to believe that his daughter could say such rebellious words. Even he could only think about it in his heart and dared not tell anyone.
Jiang Juncai was so frightened that he ran to the door to see if anyone was eavesdropping. He said worriedly, "My little darling, you dare to say anything."
Yuan Qi didn't care and felt that the two were overreacting.
He slid off the chair: "Alright, since you guys can handle this, then I won't get involved."
Jiang Juncai asked curiously, "If you were to take action, what do you plan to do?"
"Anyone who wants me to be their concubine, I'll teach them a lesson. I'll beat them up, scare them, whatever. I'll definitely give them a new perspective on the world."
Jiang Juncai nodded: "Father, that's why we can't afford to offend Seventh Sister."
Jiang Zhengqing agreed wholeheartedly: "You're right. They roam freely between the Yin and Yang realms, from the Heavenly Palace to the Underworld. There's no place they can't go. I need to give those ungrateful people a good talking-to."
Yuan Qi was very satisfied with his father and brother's words, and left humming a little tune.
On his way back to Shaoyao Residence, Yuan Qi ran into Jiang Jiulu.
She had also heard about the matter of Du Mama coming to discuss the concubines with the Jiang family.
The two walked together toward Peony Residence.
"Seventh Sister, why didn't you agree to become a concubine?" Jiang Jiulu still thought that becoming a concubine for the Crown Prince was a pretty good thing.
Yuan Qi poked her forehead: "What's so good about marrying into the royal family? What's so good about being someone's concubine? Do you know how much money I make by doing odd jobs for people outside? Do you know how polite those people are to me? How free I am outside? I don't have to worry about anyone's feelings."
"What good is being a concubine to the Crown Prince? You're locked in a small room all day, never allowed to go out, receiving only a pitiful monthly stipend, and having to be subservient to him. If you offend him, he won't even feed you. Why should I humiliate myself like that? Fifth Sister, you are well-educated, gentle, and dignified, and you're a young lady of the Jiang family. Countless powerful young men are waiting to marry you as their principal wife. Wouldn't it be better for you to be someone's principal wife, the head of the household? You could manage the household affairs yourself, come and go freely, and have your own dowry and money to spend. Why should I confine myself to that cramped room for the rest of my life for some so-called empty title?"
Yuan Qi was furious, feeling that Jiang Jiulu was hopeless and beyond redemption.
Jiang Jiulu also knew that being a concubine to the Crown Prince meant living in a tiny courtyard, not even as nice as where she lived now.
"But look at Consort Feng, she was also a concubine..."
Yuan Qi's words struck her mercilessly: "You're not that lucky. If you don't believe me, then go ahead and become the Crown Prince's concubine. You'll be dead within three years. Humph!"
Yuan Qi ignored her and quickened his pace.
Jiang Jiulu caught up with her and asked again, "You really don't want to be a concubine?"
"I won't do it, not in this life, not in the next life, and not in the life after that. If you want to do it, then go ahead and do it!"
"Bang!" Yuan Qi slammed the door shut in annoyance.
Jiang Jiulu sighed somewhat absentmindedly, "Fine, I'll listen to Seventh Sister. She's doing this for my own good."
Jiang Jiulu walked back with a heavy heart, but on the way she met Jiang Bailu and Jiang Songlu.
Jiang Bailu was in high spirits as she was about to marry the Crown Prince. She was admiring the chrysanthemums when she saw Jiang Jiulu approaching and blocked her way: "I heard you want to be a concubine?"
Her eyes were full of sarcasm, and she clenched her fists in her sleeves, ready to teach Jiang Jiulu a lesson at any moment.
Jiang Jiulu knew that Jiang Bailu valued her marriage to the Crown Prince very much and was afraid that someone would ruin it or steal her marriage.
She hesitated for a moment before saying, "Who said that? I don't want to be someone's concubine. Although I am a daughter of a concubine, I am still a young lady from the Jiang family, one of the four great families. Countless noble young men are waiting to marry me as their principal wife. I will never be a concubine."
Jiang Bailu released her hand. It was fine for a Jiang family girl to become a concubine; it could be Jiang Songlu, but not Jiang Jiulu. The reason was simple: Jiang Jiulu always opposed her and was difficult to control. Jiang Songlu, on the other hand, was different. Jiang Songlu always tried to please her, knew her thoughts, and always put her opinions first.
"You're smart to know what's good for you."
Jiang Jiulu saw the murderous intent in the other person's eyes, and she was also filled with fear.
The next day, Yuan Qi went to set up a stall under the locust tree. Not long after she arrived, she noticed that the chief eunuch of the Crown Prince's side had come.
"Seventh Miss, His Highness the Crown Prince would like to invite you to have a cup of tea. Please come to the teahouse."
It's never going to end.
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