Jian Guangyang's words were resounding and powerful, shaking the hearts and minds of everyone present.
"Father."
"My lord."
Jian Piaoyi and Hu Yanyan spoke at the same time.
"What's wrong? Are you not satisfied with my arrangements?" Jian Guangyang asked.
The concubine and the legitimate daughter address each other as mother and daughter, which is against the rules, but Jian Guangyang is happy to see it. Hu Yanyan is the daughter of the prime minister. Her daughter is close to ladies from noble families. Perhaps she will be influenced by her surroundings, and Jian Piaoyi may become the second "Hu Yanyan".
The eldest daughter of the Jian family is well-educated, virtuous, and kind; it would make him very proud. Thinking this, Jian Guangyang did not refuse Ji Xiaoxiao's request.
"Jian Piaoyi, you're not willing?" Jian Guangyang said sternly.
I did this out of kindness for her, and she's not even grateful! My daughter!
Jian Guangyang regretted it; he regretted demeaning himself and negotiating with Zeng Feizi.
"No, Father, I am not unwilling, it's just... it's just..."
"Just what?"
Unable to give a clear explanation, Jian Guangyang didn't mind resorting to family discipline.
If you don't discipline them for a day, they'll be climbing on the roof and tearing off the tiles. These little rascals need a good beating to behave.
Jian Piaoyi moved her mouth, unwilling to do it well.
"That's good." Jian Guangyang looked at the other person involved, "Yanyan, what about you?"
Now that she's in a difficult situation, what can Hu Yanyan, as a concubine, do?
"It is entirely up to Your Excellency to decide." Hu Yanyan curtsied.
Both of them agreed, and Jian Piaoyi was successfully registered under Hu Yanyan's name.
Jian Guangyang had other important matters to attend to, and once those were settled, he strode away from Wutong Garden. Jian Gongxin, anxious, followed closely behind, ignoring his sister Jian Piaoyi's pleading eyes, and hurried back to his own private haven.
My little beauty, your prince brother is back!
"Mother (Madam), we'll be leaving now."
On the way, Jian Piaoyi and Hu Yanyan looked at each other in silence.
The legitimate daughter has become an illegitimate daughter, leaving Jian Piaoyi feeling empty inside. She had always longed to be Hu Yanyan's daughter, and now that her wish had come true, she was now an illegitimate daughter.
A concubine's daughter!
Jian Piaoyi smiled sadly.
"You may all leave. I need to take a nap."
Everyone assumed that Ji Xiaoxiao was just tired and, without suspicion, quietly left the room.
The door creaked shut.
"Are you leaving?" Ji Xiaoxiao looked reluctant to part with him. They had only been in love for a few days, but Liao Kongmin was already eyeing the world, leaving her, a poor woman confined to her chambers, feeling lonely and cold.
Liao Kongmin pinched Ji Xiaoxiao's cheek. "Isn't it all because of you?"
It was finally time to part ways, and the two spent a crazy day together.
"Remember, life is the most important thing."
Ji Xiaoxiao stuffed the silver notes and medicine she had prepared beforehand into Liao Kongmin's hands. Liao Kongmin accepted them all with a smile.
"I'm leaving."
With a flick of his sleeve, Liao Kongmin took away most of Ji Xiaoxiao's treasure.
Time flies like an arrow, and three years have passed in the blink of an eye.
In the three years that followed, Jian Gongxin married and had children, and Jian Piaoyi finally got engaged. The Marquis of Wei's mansion appeared harmonious and peaceful, but in reality, it was rife with undercurrents and lurking dangers.
The emperor only saw the new bride laughing, but never heard the old one crying; Jian Guangyang had been neglected by the emperor.
Ultimately, the problem lies with Jin Jin Fang.
Jin Jin Fang was put under Hu Yanyan's management, and initially it improved, paying off its debts and even making a profit, earning a fortune. However, Hu Yanyan was ultimately a sheltered woman, skilled in managing the household with countless tricks up her sleeve, but lacking in business acumen.
Hu Yanyan practiced nepotism, and within three years, all the employees and managers of Jinjinfang were replaced by her people. The people she hired were capable, but they were blinded by money. Jinjinfang was filled with glittering gold and silver, and over time, they naturally developed inappropriate thoughts.
You take a little, I take a little, not much, not much, so I'll take a little more. Little by little, it adds up, like grains of sand forming a tower, and Jin Jin Fang's working capital was completely depleted. Insufficient working capital can be a fatal blow to a business.
On the other side, Hu Yanyan was in charge of Jinjinfang. She was not the kind of stubborn, kind-hearted person who would remain unmoved by a large amount of wealth. Jewelry, clothes, estate purchases, private savings, her son's betrothal money—Hu Yanyan secretly hid hundreds of thousands of silver notes.
If the upper beam is crooked, the lower beam will be crooked too; if Jin Jin Fang doesn't fall, it will be an injustice to Heaven.
A year ago, Jin Jin Fang encountered serious problems, with its debts increasing significantly compared to before. When the creditors came knocking, Hu Yanyan panicked and frantically asked Jian Guangyang to mediate.
Jian Guangyang doesn't handle money or housing expenses. Hu Yanyan needs a large sum of money, which Jian Guangyang can't come up with in a short time.
The debt collectors didn't care about any of that. They didn't care if you were the emperor or the emperor himself; paying back debts was a matter of course. If the Marquis of Wei's family didn't pay, they would make a scene, shamelessly make a scene, to see if they would lose face or if the Marquis of Wei's family would be as thick as a rock and not afraid of boiling water.
Driven to desperation, Jian Guangyang ordered the arrest of the "troublemakers," inadvertently angering the people. They were honest people, simply reclaiming their rightful money; what wrong had they done? The Marquis of Wei's household was abusing their power, veritable parasites on the land.
Left with no other option, Jian Guangyang released the "troublemaker" without charge.
Unable to get the money back, and with the creditors continuing their harassment, the Marquis of Wei's residence was never at peace. Rage rose in his heart, and malice took hold; Jian Guangyang embarked on a path of no return.
Jian Guangyang held a high-ranking official position, wielding great power and influence, and was surrounded by sycophants. He subtly hinted that the debt problem would be completely resolved.
Things can be good or bad. The Jin Jin Fang affair is now resolved, but the current emperor is displeased with Jian Guangyang. Under the emperor's nose, his ears and eyes are sharp; how could Jian Guangyang's acceptance of bribes be hidden from him? Initially, the emperor valued Jian Guangyang highly because of his unwavering loyalty and because Jian Guangyang was honest, upright, and incorruptible—the kind of good minister the emperor needed.
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