The Sinful Woman's Golden Branch: The Jade-Faced Yama is Actually Me (Part 11)...
Li Wenyuan had seen her share of storms and nothing could easily shake her spirit, but seeing this scene still made her head spin for a moment.
Her daughter, she knows.
She suffered hardships as a child, but her daughter never did.
When Ji Siyin was born, Li Wenyuan had already been empress for a long time and held power for a long time, so she was already able to give her daughter the best of everything.
People can only see the glory of Li Wenyuan reaching the top, but they cannot see the deceit, ups and downs, and even the pain of being betrayed by her closest relatives and loved ones along the way.
She clearly had everything, yet it seemed she had no one to rely on, and could only place all her loneliness and sorrow on her daughter.
She gave her daughter everything beautiful in the world, giving her the stars but not the moon, as if this could make up for her own helplessness in the past.
This also fostered Ji Siyin's arrogant, willful, and lawless personality.
Sometimes she felt that her daughter had been raised too naively and cruelly, with a childlike stubbornness that prevented her from seeing what she already had and only what she didn't have. She was determined to get whatever she wanted.
She was so self-centered, cold-hearted, and ruthless that even when facing her mother who gave her everything, she would easily say extremely hurtful things like "I will never see her again."
But what is she doing now?
From Li Wenyuan's perspective, she couldn't see her daughter's furious expression; she could only see her daughter "gently and considerately" tearing the mutton into small pieces and handing them to her female companion.
At first, Li Wenyuan was puzzled as to when her daughter had become so respectful and courteous to scholars.
But then she suddenly remembered the excuse and reason that Miss Guan had been brought to her daughter's side, and her mind went blank for a moment.
If Li Wenyuan viewed the relationship between the two people as that of her daughter and her daughter's retainer, she would be very gratified.
What a harmonious blend of nature, like a flowing stream amidst towering mountains, or a broken zither with its strings snapped!
However, from the perspective of sworn brotherhood and the complexities of human relationships, Li Wenyuan suddenly became a little angry.
She had a great deal of emotional need for her daughter, but her daughter was always willing to give this unconditional and abundant affection to the little things around her, but was stingy in giving it back to her mother.
He stood there, silently observing the "dog girl" couple for a long time.
"Cough cough." He cleared his throat forcefully.
Ji Siyin did not respond.
"Cough cough." Li Wenyuan cleared her throat even more forcefully.
Ji Siyin still did not respond.
Li Wenyuan took a deep breath and smiled, "Yongning, the mutton on your table looks very well roasted. Why don't you bring some for the Empress?"
Ji Siyin looked up: Huh?
He looked at the mutton on his table, then at the Queen Mother's table.
Even if she is very favored, the waiter wouldn't lose his mind and give her the best mutton. What is her mother trying to do?
But that's the downside of having a mother like an empress; you really don't dare disobey her.
Even with a lot of complaints in her heart, Ji Siyin could only obey orders. She cut off a large piece of crispy and tender mutton from her waist and abdomen, and respectfully went up to her mother, handing it to her: "Empress Mother."
After looking at the large piece of mutton that had clearly been carefully selected, Li Wenyuan finally showed some satisfaction and smiled, "Cut it for me."
Ji Siyin:...
What's going on? Are you all flocking to her for services today?
No matter how unwilling they were, they had no choice but to obey the Empress's order.
He could only sit beside his mother, clumsily holding a knife, cutting apart the lamb chops to serve her the meal, growing angrier with each step.
She's not a servant!
Ji Siyin pouted, but many people below hated her to death.
Princess Nankang experienced a rollercoaster of emotions, from great joy to deep sorrow. The Crown Prince's wife, whom she had just won over, vanished just like that. How could she not feel resentment?
She wasn't actually that intolerant of others, but Ji Siyin's existence was constantly challenging her nerves.
Why do other mothers-in-law dote on their sons and plan everything for them?
Her mother-in-law, however, dotes on her youngest daughter so much!
Amidst the myriad emotions and feelings of the people below, Ye Xiqing had only one feeling.
Ji Siyin is gone, and there is no one to serve her anymore.
He stretched out his chopsticks and put Ji Siyin's hard-earned food into his mouth; it tasted like mutton.
As a meat that is gradually disappearing from the staple food scene, mutton has many delicious ways to be prepared, but in ancient times, the cooking methods were still too primitive. Even the royal chefs and the nine clans of the imperial family could only make up for some of the shortcomings.
Ye Xiqing tasted it and knew that the parts with fat might taste better.
Looking at the large hollowed-out piece, that was exactly what she wanted. As expected of a princess, she really knows how to eat.
He turned to Cui Xiaoyu and said, "Cut me a piece of meat from my belly too."
Cui Xiaoyu:......
Are you crazy? You need a princess to serve you, and now you want me to serve you too!
She was willing to serve the princess like a slave, but what kind of behavior is it to serve Ye Xiqing like a slave?
Cui Xiaoyu wished she could kick Ye Xiqing into the lake, but it was clear that Ye Xiqing had gradually gained a leadership position within the princess's gang.
Even a fool could see that the princess treated her differently. Even if she harbored resentment, she could only suppress it and angrily cut a plate of meat from her belly for her.
As a skilled worker, Ye Xiqing was much more skilled than the princess. She was pleasantly surprised and thanked her repeatedly. Then, taking advantage of the princess's inattention, she stuffed a piece into her mouth.
Cui Xiaoyu:!
What are you doing!
Ye Xiqing shrugged indifferently: "Anyway, the princess isn't here, so what's there to be afraid of?"
Cui Xiaoyu:......
Ye Xiqing's audacity shocked her, but sneaking food at the banquet was really exciting...
As the princess's attendants, they certainly didn't lack good food. Even after the banquet, the princess would "pack up" the leftovers and give them to the servants. Those who distributed the food were the first to benefit.
But no matter what it is, the word "steal" adds a unique thrill. Cui Xiaoyu is so nervous now, her adrenaline is surging, and everything tastes better than ever!
While he was cutting lamb chops for Ye Xiqing, he quickly looked down and gestured to Ye Xiqing to quickly stuff one of those pickled plums into her mouth!
Ye Xiqing was naturally happy to serve his companion, and quickly stuffed the food into her mouth. Cui Xiaoyu covered her chin, squinted her eyes, and enjoyed it very much.
Ye Xiqing then turned around and, while tugging at Zhao Yingying's sleeve, stuffed a piece of water chestnut cake into her hand.
Zhao Yingying was immediately alarmed, and flung her sleeves open, "I don't want to be complicit with you!"
Ye Xiqing and Cui Xiaoyu turned to look at her with a strange look in their eyes: This isn't right, sister, we've both gone into the water, and you're still watching from the shore?
Zhao Yingying: ...
After looking around carefully, she cautiously put a little bit of the pastry into her mouth.
These two are incredibly bold! This is a palace banquet!
But to be honest, when she saw the princess and Ye Xiqing eating pastries together in the car, she was a little envious and kept wondering how much would be left when they got back.
The sweet taste they were now enjoying was undeniable; the three of them looked at each other and chuckled.
If I become rich and powerful, let's not forget each other!
At the banquet, everyone was preoccupied with their own things, so no one noticed the trio eating and taking things in the corner, except for Shangguan Lanyi.
Sending a princess a fiefdom is said to be a good thing, but it also means that the princess, who has always been by the king's side, is going on a long journey.
Only when this moment arrived did she realize the sorrow of parting. Before she had even truly said goodbye, Li Wenyuan felt a profound emptiness.
But parents in this world who love their children plan far ahead for them, and she is no longer young.
Some might think that in her eventful life, what she enjoyed most was what she gained.
Only when she looked back did she realize that what she had become most accustomed to in her life was actually loss.
Now, she is about to lose her beloved daughter.
Perhaps it's not so much a loss, but rather that her daughter has grown up and is about to fly to a more distant place on her own.
She longed to possess all of her daughter's emotions, but she also knew that her daughter's future was a distant shore she could never reach.
In that case, let that young goose try its best to fly north.
She has the skill to capture this moment forever.
As a court attendant, Shangguan Lanyi was asked to paint a picture before the banquet began, depicting the grand feast in his artwork.
After the banquet began, she carefully observed everyone, especially the princess's table, and then watched the whole thing.
Shangguan Lanyi scratched her head with chopsticks, feeling immense pressure, as if she had lice. What should she do?
Go ahead and draw it. It's an emperor's album of memories of his daughter. Is it appropriate to draw something like this?
She really wanted to draw it, but she didn't want to!
Shangguan Lanyi struggled between reason and desire. Suddenly, she realized, who says you can only paint one picture!
She will paint a yin-yang scroll, the yang scroll, as "The Holy Mother and the Emperor Thinking of Their Son," for His Majesty to view.
This is a secret scroll; I'll keep it to myself and not show it to anyone!
Ah, she's a genius!
...
The banquet proceeded slowly, everyone had secrets, but some people witnessed everything.
A few days after the banquet, the official appointment came down: Dengzhou was to be the princess’s fiefdom, and she was to go there immediately!
The entire city of Luoyang was alarmed, and people rushed along the streets to watch the princess leave the capital.
It wasn't because Princess Yongning was so beloved in the capital that people wanted to send her off; it was simply that the scene was too magnificent!
Early in the morning, Ye Xiqing made preparations and looked at Guan's mother: "Mother, didn't I say that we should dress simply? This journey will take several months and will be very tiring."
Guan's mother, her head and arms adorned with gold and silver jewelry of all sizes, was incredibly nervous: "This isn't because of what you did before... I dare not go without wearing them..."
Ye Xiqing fell silent, turning to look at the "little maids" following her. Just like her mother, they wanted to wear all their gold, silver, and valuables, clearly having learned it from her mother. Of course, it was also possible that they were terrified when the Guan family ransacked their home.
Guan's father was already doomed, but Ye Xiqing's sabotage only hastened his demise.
Before he was finished, he was tortured and asked about the whereabouts of the divine medicine, which left him completely baffled.
But it doesn't matter, we're going to die anyway, so what's one or two more meals?
With the downfall of the Guan family, the group of singing girls and concubines that Guan's father had collected were left without a home.
Throughout history, women, as reproductive individuals, have always been regarded as an important "renewable resource".
Therefore, in activities involving the killing of the entire family, female relatives are generally not killed, but rather treated as "resources" and redistributed.
This is certainly not a good thing either; sometimes, a living punishment is no easier than a death sentence.
The pardoned Guan's mother became the best way out for the panicked women of the Guan family.
Guan's mother, Wang Lijun, raised such a daughter, so it's clear she wasn't a cold-hearted person; she took them all with her.
Now, the remaining members of the Guan family are all dependent on the eldest young lady and the mistress. Since the eldest young lady is going to the princess's fiefdom, they will naturally follow as well!
Similar to the Guan family, there was also the Chai family.
The Chai family, originally the princess's husband's family, were all executed after being implicated in a treason case, including the princess's husband.
The women of the Chai family were originally destined for exile and sale, but Princess Yongning resolutely protected the remaining members and even their ancestral property.
The execution of the prince consort had already strained the relationship between the emperor and the princess. Li Wenyuan did not want to argue about the matter further, so she allowed the princess to be willful.
But the old matriarch of the Chai family knew that everything the Chai family had now depended on the princess. The dragon on the throne never once looked away from her with its cold gaze.
When the princess is around, they still have to protect themselves; when the princess is not around, in the blink of an eye, the prying eyes of all sides can devour them clean.
The bond between a prince consort and his wife is ultimately shallow. The princess may not necessarily take care of them after leaving the capital, and by the time she returns from her fiefdom, their remains will have been cold for who knows how long.
Therefore, Madam Chai rallied her family to sell all their ancestral property and present it to the princess, begging to go to her fiefdom with her.
Ji Siyin was shocked, never expecting that the Chai family had such deep feelings for her.
This made her feel guilty; she felt ashamed for not preserving the last lineage of the Chai family.
The old matriarch of the Chai family was over eighty years old. Upon hearing this, she immediately knelt down in front of her, tears streaming down her face, saying that everything was the Chai family's own fault and that everyone in the Chai family was grateful for the princess's great kindness.
Ji Siyin has a performative personality; her "deep affection" requires others to applaud her. The words of the old lady of the Chai family perfectly align with her own desires.
So he waved his hand and added the Chai family to the list of beneficiaries, telling them to rest assured that he wouldn't take anything from them.
Just kidding, she's not short of money.
As the most powerful princess, Ji Siyin was granted a fief of four thousand households, which was only her salary. She owned countless fertile fields and beautiful shops, and her annual income was immense.
Countless people had been outraged before, and immediately after the emperor granted her a fief, a minister suggested that if the princess were to be granted a province in the future, then could the fief be revoked?
Upon hearing this, Ji Siyin immediately jumped up and down, "Why?! What kind of reward is that? Isn't that just a replacement?!"
Fortunately, it didn't work in the end, but Ji Siyin had already made a grudge against that "scoundrel." When she became emperor, she would make his whole family keep him company!
After finishing writing in her notebook, Ji Siyin began to worry about how to manage her enormous wealth in the capital.
Ye Xiqing said, "Isn't that simple?"
Merchants and artisans are more technically challenging and cannot be moved too much. They should be taken along with a few skilled managers to Dengzhou, while the rest should remain in place.
Bring along tenant farmers if you can; the world will never lack people to farm, only people without land to farm.
Then have your mother send someone to manage your businesses in the capital. No one can take them away from you, and your mother won't want them either.
When you come back, won't we just have another business out of thin air?
Ji Siyin slowly grinned: That's right!
Ji Siyin was overjoyed to suddenly have an extra resource. She brought along all the servants, relatives, and friends she could, eventually gathering more than three thousand people!
This is why everyone in the capital respects the princess. Besides her mother being the emperor, her own power is terrifying; her household servants, when armed, are like an army.
Fearing for her daughter's safety on her new post, Li Wenyuan assigned her another 500 fully armored imperial guards.
Because of this, the princess did not ride in a sedan chair, but instead rode on horseback, proudly displaying her wealth to everyone.
But as he was about to leave, he was still a little unhappy: "Why didn't my mother come to see me off?"
Lady Qi smiled and cupped her hands in greeting: "His Majesty is too busy with state affairs to come, but the princess isn't gone forever; she will return, won't she?"
Ji Siyin slowly revealed a smile: Yes! She will come back!
The day she returns, she will ascend the throne!
The young princess had no idea what separation was, nor did she understand what her ascension to the throne meant for her mother.
Her mother always tried to dominate her emotions, but she didn't realize that a daughter raised in this way would never become an emotional being.
Her mind was filled with nothing but simple thoughts of conquering, occupying, and possessing!
Only things that belong to her can evoke her emotions; as for her mother, she doesn't entirely belong to her.
This wicked young tigress treats her mother's affections as toys, baring her teeth at any moment, wanting something different.
He turned and rode away, his heart filled with nothing but anticipation for the future.
Ye Xiqing followed behind her, sitting in the rumbling carriage, and took one last look at the gradually disappearing capital city.
It's such a place full of memories, and she looks forward to the day she can return.
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