Chapter 25: Beautiful Daughter vs. Heirless Emperor 25
Ji Yunhuan followed the Queen Mother into the water pavilion.
The view here is broad and the entire Hundred Flowers Garden is in full view. 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. Both of them were young girls, and they talked about clothes and jewelry, and then about poetry, calligraphy and painting, and they soon became familiar with each other.
"The Queen Mother has a very good eye. She only chooses good girls. Not everyone is so lucky to marry such a beautiful woman."
An old lady was laughing cheerfully, but was actually trying to find out where Ji Yunhuan would be going in the future.
The Queen Mother also laughed cheerfully and said, "It's not your family anyway. Your grandson has already married. Don't think about my family. I like this girl, but I won't promise her to anyone casually."
Those seated 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 Queen Mother chooses must be good. Why don't you promise her 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 taken up a position in the Imperial Guard. His Majesty praised me yesterday. Please grant me marriage, Her Majesty the Queen Mother!"
The Queen Mother laughed and scolded, "What a bunch of unruly brats! Stop fighting, I won't let you off easily!"
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 to you. You are so beautiful, let alone those men, I like them all when I see them."
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 all sisters who had hit it off for good. 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 intentionally 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 what was happening in Xiuzhu Garden, but what she got was news that Ji Yunhuan was becoming more and more popular.
Ji Yunhuan is the housekeeper of the mansion now. All 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 so lucky that he is 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, feeling pain all over her body. Although the twenty strokes of the board did not take her life, they did break 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 illegitimate daughter!"
"If I were the legitimate daughter, then the Queen Mother would definitely praise me and give me rewards. Mother, didn't you say that Daddy would make you the legitimate daughter? I've had enough of this life. Can you go and beg the Princess?"
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, why can't you tell me? 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 an evil ghost 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, "Mom, just think of it as for your daughter, 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 done it without anyone noticing..."
"Stop talking! Keep this to yourself. She died of dystocia. What does it have to do with us? Forget it. If we don't think of a solution now, we will all be killed by Ji Yunhuan. I will go to the Princess's Mansion tonight. You should 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 fawned over 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 inquiries, he found out that Ji Yunhuan was favored by the Queen Mother and would definitely marry into a high-ranking family in the future, and maybe even enter the palace.
As for Ji Yonglian, let's not talk about her! After all, concubines' daughters are not up to par, but fortunately, there is still the eldest daughter to make him proud.
After finishing his shift, Ji Gongming couldn't wait to go to Xiuzhu Garden and stood outside the Chuihua Gate to mourn his deceased wife.
"Wan'er, you've been gone for three years. I miss you day and night, and I wish I could go with you."
"Once you have seen the sea, all other waters are but puddles; except for the Wushan Mountains, all other clouds are but mounds. Now that you are gone, there is no one left in the world to play the harp and zither with me, no one left to add fragrance to my sleeves. Thinking of this, I cannot help but shed tears."
Ji Gongming wiped the nonexistent tears from his eyes and said in a high and low voice: "Huan'er, Xiao's mother, I am very relieved. I am busy with official duties and cannot always be by Huan'er's side. It is a dereliction of duty as a father. Huan'er, are you willing to forgive your father?"
Ji Yunhuan felt sick when she heard this in the courtyard. She missed her mother day and night, so she had so many concubines? Changing one's heart was just the most common mistake a man made, but indirectly killing his mother was Ji Gongming's greatest sin!
"Father knows that you blame me for sending you to a nunnery, but I had no choice but to do so. I will definitely compensate you in the future."
"I know you don't like Aunt Zhang. I will ask Aunt Zhang to move out of the West Wing immediately. Ji Yonglian is just a concubine's daughter. In your heart, you are still the one I love the most. Apart from your mother, no one else in this world can be my wife, Ji Gongming. I will never make Aunt Zhang my wife!"
Ji Yunhuan's cold voice came out, "If father still has half a conscience, it's best to remember today's promise. Huan'er is tired, father, please go back."
Ji Gongming was overjoyed. There was no overnight hatred between father and daughter. As long as he said some soft words, Ji Yunhuan would definitely help him in the future.
"Okay, okay, I'll leave now. Huan'er, have a good rest. I'll come to see you another day."
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