Zeng Feizi's crush is Jian Guangyang, the eldest son of the Marquis of Wei.
The Marquis of Wei's mansion was once one of the most powerful and influential families in the Sima Dynasty. However, the descendants were unworthy and squandered the family fortune that their ancestors had worked so hard to build. By the time it came to Jian Guangyang's generation, the Marquis of Wei's mansion was just an empty shell.
Although the Sima Dynasty was peaceful and prosperous, with a clean government and an open social atmosphere, the powerful families still adhered to the traditional values of scholars, farmers, artisans, and merchants. They considered merchants, whether they were wealthy tycoons or small vendors, to be nothing more than a group of lowly people reeking of money.
Having weathered decades of ups and downs, Zeng's father had a clear, far-sighted, and open-minded perspective. Although the Marquis of Wei's mansion was all show and no substance, it was still a truly distinguished family. Jian Guangyang, born with a silver spoon in his mouth, was hardly a suitable match for Zeng Feizi.
Lovers don't listen to advice. Zeng Feizi was determined to marry Jian Guangyang and took advantage of her father's absence while inspecting the shops to secretly marry him.
By the time Zeng's father found out, the deed was already done, and his regret was futile. In utter disappointment, Zeng's father gave most of the Zeng family's business as a dowry to Zeng Feizi, and then severed all ties with her, never to speak to her again.
Zeng Feizi was heartbroken and lost. Jian Guangyang took advantage of her vulnerability and firmly grasped her heart, causing Zeng Feizi to work tirelessly for the Marquis of Weiguo's mansion, toiling away her entire life.
A year after their marriage, Zeng Feizi gave birth to their son, Jian Gongxin. Two years later, their daughter, Jian Piaoyi, was born. After that, Zeng Feizi had no more children. The Jian family did not have many offspring, and the dutiful matriarch, Zeng Feizi, personally arranged for Jian Guangyang to take several concubines, resulting in the birth of several illegitimate children.
Ten years later, Zeng Feizi, preoccupied with business and household affairs, aged prematurely and gradually fell out of Jian Guangyang's favor. Because she was always busy and had no time to care for her own children, the children she carried for ten months and risked her life to give birth to were obedient and respectful to her husband's concubines, but indifferent and disdainful of their biological mother.
Zeng Feizi was filled with remorse, so she tried to make it up to her children by treating them with utmost care and indulgence, granting them every wish. She handed over the reins of the Weiguo Marquis's mansion to that concubine; she wanted the business empire she had painstakingly built; she wanted…
But when her hair turned completely white and she could no longer earn money for them, her children secured an imperial decree for that concubine, while she, the biological mother and rightful matriarch of the Marquis of Wei, could only be confined to a dark and gloomy room, eating scraps and barely surviving.
If you don't take good care of yourself when you get old, you'll only hasten your death.
Zeng Feizi, only 55 years old, died in a dark and gloomy room. It wasn't until her body decomposed and the stench filled the air that the servants noticed.
Zeng Feizi was a famous woman who enjoyed a glamorous early life and was known as a wealthy and prosperous woman in Beijing. However, her later life was filled with untold suffering. Her husband abandoned her and did not set foot in her yard for twenty years, while her children treated her like a stranger.
Ji Xiaoxiao picked up a bright red, juicy cherry and slowly put it into her mouth. The cherry was sweet and juicy; with one bite, a wonderful sweetness filled her taste buds.
The original owner of this body was starved to death. Before she died, filled with resentment, her face twisted into a gnarled, tree-bark-like mask as she swore to the heavens that one day she would make Jian Guangyang utterly disgraced, make the Marquis of Weiguo's mansion infamous for eternity, and make that vile woman suffer a terrible death. As for the siblings Jian Gongxin and Jian Piaoyi, they wanted to portray a deep mother-son bond with that vile woman, and she would grant their wish.
Ji Xiaoxiao patted her chest, and a servant brought her hot tea. After taking a sip, she felt completely refreshed.
What's going on over there?
Zhang Mama, who had followed the original owner for many years, immediately understood which side was over there.
Granny Zhang curled her lips, her tone filled with obvious contempt and sarcasm, "Reporting to Madam, that little slut has impure thoughts and instigated the young master to come to you."
Ji Xiaoxiao snorted coldly, "They don't come to my place without a reason. What do Jian Gongxin and Hu Yanyan want from me this time? Last time it was the stewardship of the Marquis's mansion, the time before that it was the glass, jade, and white jade Guanyin, and the time before that..."
The more Zhang Mama listened, the more terrified she became. That vile woman was incredibly cunning; she had actually managed to trick the young master into taking so many rare treasures from the madam. She was truly despicable.
"Madam, we received a report from the servants that this time, the young master has taken a liking to the Golden Brocade Shop in your possession," Zhang Mama whispered in Ji Xiaoxiao's ear.
Ji Xiaoxiao narrowed her eyes slightly, and her hand holding the tea cup trembled. "Is it Hu Yanyan who has taken a liking to her? Or is it Jian Gongxin? Granny Zhang, please tell me in detail."
Upon hearing this, Granny Zhang silently grieved for Ji Xiaoxiao for a moment. How could a perfectly good mother and son have become like mortal enemies, locked in a life-or-death struggle, all because of that vile woman's wickedness?
Now it seems that the lady was angry about what the prince had done. But no matter how angry the lady was, she was pregnant for ten months and it was a piece of flesh that had fallen from her body. Could she just throw it away?
"Madam, the young master is only temporarily bewitched by that vile woman. When he grows up, he will see through her true colors and know who truly cares for him." Granny Zhang kept praising Jian Gongxin, determined not to give up until she got what she wanted.
Ji Xiaoxiao understood Zhang Mama's little scheme; she was ultimately doing it for her own good. She wouldn't let that ingrate Jian Gongxin's kindness chill Zhang Mama's heart, who genuinely cared for her.
“Granny, Jian Gongxin is already fifteen years old. You don’t need to protect him anymore. He can’t see through the demons and monsters in the Marquis’s mansion. That’s his incompetence. Granny, you’ve been with me your whole life. When I was his age, I had already traveled all over the country with my father and helped the Zeng family build a empire. You know how much hardship I endured.”
When talking about those arrogant and unrestrained days, Ji Xiaoxiao revealed a hint of nostalgia.
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