Pei Mansion, Qinglong Hall.
The sky was overcast, and the room was equally gloomy.
A few lamps were lit, and the mourning atmosphere in the room didn't dissipate, instead casting a different kind of eeriness.
Although Lady Li was grieving the loss of her son, as the eldest son, she was required to wear the mourning garment for three years, and she still had to slowly observe the mourning period.
However, although her son had died, Lady Li was not overly saddened and seemed quite well sitting on the couch.
Pei Bo, Pei Jing, and others sat in the room; this family still had to rely on their ancestor.
Ms. Qian was unwilling, but she seemed to have no leverage.
She used to have some prestige in the Jianchang Earl's or Jianchang Marquis's mansions, especially after her daughter became the Crown Princess, which was a huge honor.
That pride seems to have shaped her temperament; now everyone knows that the Crown Princess wasn't her son.
The Pei family was almost driven out, but Madam Qian still had to observe the three-year mourning period for her father-in-law.
A servant came in to report: "Miss Chang has entered the East Palace."
Li's eyes widened suddenly, his fierce aura tearing through the darkness.
It brings a different kind of gloom, like the sky during thunder.
Thunderous wrath! The ancestor is angry!
Madam Qian didn't feel much. That one who wasn't raised by her side and had disappeared must have a story to tell. Right now, she only cared about her Feng.
Pei Bo was shocked: "How could she enter the Eastern Palace? If anyone should enter, it should be Pei Jinnu."
Since Chang Ziyu has taken over the Phoenix's destiny, she can't just go in like this. What kind of Phoenix is she?
Everyone thought something bad had happened to Chang Ziyu. It would be best to get rid of her.
Li picked up a teacup and smashed it on the ground!
Pei Bo was too frightened to utter a sound. Was now the wrong time, or would everything for the Pei family be ruined?
What can Pei Bo do? He's like a fish on a chopping board now.
Pei Huanfeng gritted her teeth and asked, "What was sealed off?"
The Pei family publicly proclaims that Pei Huanfeng is destined for greatness, but with Chang Ziyu making things clear, there's no way Pei Huanfeng could ever have her.
Pei Huanfeng was just a daughter of the impoverished Pei family, but Chang Ziyu's connection to the Crown Princess made her even more sensational.
The servant boy, unaware of the situation, muttered, "Everyone's talking about that country girl."
Madam Li was furious! She gave her another teacup!
Her trusted daughter-in-law patiently coaxed her, making sure she didn't get too upset: "She's still a girl from our Pei family. Once she enters the palace, she'll have a chance. Doesn't the matriarch trust her? Entering the palace sooner might be a good thing."
Seeing that the Eastern Palace is becoming more and more stable, it's good enough to just focus on working hard there.
Madam Ma coaxed the old matriarch, "Our Pei family isn't entirely useless; the young lady is counting on you too."
Lady Li is the wife of a marquis, and she still has the foundation built up over so many years.
Find an opportunity to kill Pei Huanyue and let Chang Ziyu take her place—perfect.
Things in life can never be arranged exactly as planned.
We must be adaptable; no matter how things change, the Pei family will be the winner.
The servant also had some gossip: "They say the Crown Prince is no good."
He ran away. Suddenly, Qinglong Hall seemed to be bathed in sunshine!
Li's eyes were incredibly bright!
Pei Bo was worried that she was experiencing a final burst of energy before death.
Li shouted to Qian, "Go to the ancestral hall and kneel before our ancestors immediately! May God bless the Pei family!"
Madam Qian understood that the Crown Prince was no good, and only Chang Ziyu could leave behind an heir. But why Chang Ziyu?
If the crown prince has no heir, wouldn't it be simpler to just replace him with someone else?
Pei Huanfeng pulled at her mother, saying, "As long as Heaven blesses my Pei family, who cares how it blesses us?"
Madam Qian understood and pulled Pei Huanfeng along.
As long as the Pei family's fate hasn't run out, they will always be hers. As long as they produce a Crown Princess, the Pei family will have gained everything.
Pei Huanfeng grew increasingly arrogant, determined not to tarnish her reputation any further. She was only fourteen; there was still time.
Pei Huanxu staggered over.
Qian didn't care about him at all ever since he was beaten.
**
Sheng'an City, outside Guangzheng Gate.
The ten-mile-long pavilion has a willow-lined pavilion.
The sky was overcast today, though it wasn't pouring rain.
But the branches and the ground were wet, and there were many people going into and leaving the city.
Liuting is not just a simple pavilion; it forms a large area where parking and dining are very popular.
There was a row of inns, which looked just like the bustling capital city.
Commoners are dazzled by the sights here, their mouths watering uncontrollably. They realize that the noblemen with their magnificent carriages and swift horses are probably just servants.
Only that grove of willow trees, and the people breaking off willow branches, were things that the country folk couldn't understand and weren't interested in.
Chang Shibao, being a bit of a rascal, grabbed a large willow branch and tried to pull it down, which was much more imposing than breaking off a thin one.
Raindrops fell from the trees.
Chang Shibao was only ten years old, but he was very strong. He stuck out his butt and pulled hard. Wow!
The man who broke the willow branch was furious and ordered his servants around.
Seeing that the country bumpkin was quite arrogant, the servant immediately swung his fist and slapped him several times!
Chang Shibao was stunned by the blow and released the willow branch.
The servant thought he had become sensible. Beating him was meant to teach him some manners; otherwise, with so many nobles in the capital, who could he possibly offend?
Madam He was looking at the strange sights, especially the delicious aroma of the steamed buns! She was very hungry! Suddenly, she noticed that her son hadn't complained of being hungry but had been beaten! Madam He was furious. Carrying a large bundle on her back, she rushed over and started fighting with the servants!
The servant was quite refined; how could he possibly be a match for this shrew?
He beat him up, but that wasn't enough. She got so angry that she pounced on those respectable masters and started hitting them!
This is complete chaos!
The farewell gift of willow branches wasn't given alone; fortunately, there were many people who managed to stop them.
Chang Shibao was quick-witted; he slipped through the crowd and suddenly knocked a scholar over!
This kid got even more carried away, climbed on top of the other guy, and started slapping him repeatedly. We have to get our revenge!
Poor scholar, how could he possibly be a match for a country bumpkin?
The bystanders couldn't stand it and pulled the boy away.
The brat is so arrogant, kicking and making a scene!
A fierce servant punched him twice, knocking him out.
And the He family too!
And a group of people from Baishi Village!
Chang Rui, in his fifties and leaning on a cane, was not completely immobile, but he couldn't stop them at all. In the ensuing melee, almost everyone in Baishi Village who tried to fight was beaten up.
The villagers, now emboldened by the enemy's actions, were pinned down in the puddles.
Although He was a village woman, she was severely punished by several servants.
Fortunately, Chang Rui was using crutches, otherwise he would have fainted from anger!
Madam He screamed, "Who dares to touch me? I am the Crown Princess's concubine!"
Her accent was so strong that she couldn't speak clearly, and people couldn't understand her.
This country bumpkin doesn't seem to feel guilty at all.
Liuting was no small place, especially since it was outside Guangzheng Gate; soon, officials arrived.
The beaten scholar and servant explained what had happened.
Many onlookers chimed in, "That's right, that kid has no manners!"
"While others break willow branches, he wants to break the whole tree!"
"That mother is a shrew too!"
"Who goes there, you troublemaker?"
To be so arrogant in the capital is truly an eye-opener.
There were quite a few idlers around Liuting, watching the commotion. It seemed they heard something about the Crown Princess.
How could Lady He let herself be taken advantage of? It was only because the officials had arrived that she rushed forward, shouting, "I am the Crown Princess's aunt!"
The villager who was beaten, who was rather afraid of officials, explained clearly: "Everyone knows that the Crown Princess is the true phoenix of our Baishi Village, and that Chang Ziyu is an imposter. She has never been in the village since she was a child, and her family has even come to Baishi Village to threaten people."
He shouted incoherently, "That fake Chang Ziyu doesn't look like my sister at all!"
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