A good minister?
The Emperor's affection for Jian Guangyang gradually diminished.
The fiery sunset stained the sky like blood, and a cold breeze carried fluffy white snowflakes.
"Madam, it's snowing," said Granny Zhang, wrapped comfortably in her cotton coat.
Ji Xiaoxiao stood in the corridor, stretched out her hand, and a snowflake landed in her palm.
It was icy cold; the snowflakes melted into clear water.
"Winter is here." Ji Xiaoxiao was worried about Liao Kongmin, who was far away on the frontier. She wondered if he was hungry enough to eat, warm enough to wear when he was cold, and if everything was going well for him and if he was free from illness and disaster.
The snow fell heavier and heavier, and the Wutong Garden was covered in a blanket of white.
The sun persisted for a while, but eventually set behind the mountains. Servants lit lamps, and lanterns were hung high, illuminating the entire Wutong Garden.
Ji Xiaoxiao enjoyed the snow scene for a short while before returning to the main hall for dinner.
"Alright." Ji Xiaoxiao wiped her mouth with a handkerchief, looking blissfully satisfied.
After the servants had cleared away the leftovers, Zhang Mama said, "Madam, the eldest young lady has arrived."
Jian Piaoyi?
Ji Xiaoxiao smiled. This young lady has been given to that young lady. She's so eager to be Hu Yanyan's daughter, acting all high and mighty. Now she's just waiting respectfully to be summoned.
"Let her in." Ji Xiaoxiao put down her handkerchief.
A moment later, Jian Piaoyi walked in gracefully.
“Mother,” Jian Piaoyi said respectfully.
Ji Xiaoxiao gave a soft "hmm" and then fell silent.
Jian Piaoyi waited and waited, but had no choice but to speak herself, "Mother, in three days, I will be getting married. I... I will not forget you, Mother." Jian Piaoyi lowered her head and wiped her eyes with a handkerchief.
Ji Xiaoxiao hummed in agreement again, without making any other reaction.
Jian Piaoyi paused in her hand movements, opened her mouth as if to speak but then stopped.
Ji Xiaoxiao was annoyed by Jian Piaoyi and waved for the servants to leave.
"The person is gone. Just say what you want to say. Your crying and wailing are giving me a headache."
Jian Piaoyi readily admitted her mistake, saying, "Time will tell. Mother, I have spent these past few years with Hu Yanyan, and only now have I seen through her true nature. Hu Yanyan is all show and no substance; all her past actions were intentional. It's pitiful that I have been tormented by Hu Yanyan for three years, living a life worse than that of a pig or a dog..."
Jian Piaoyi deeply regretted her past actions. She had taken a liking to Hu Yanyan, the daughter of the Prime Minister and a talented woman from the capital, and had even pretended to be her daughter with a concubine. She had hoped that they would share in each other's glory, but unexpectedly, things took a turn for the worse. Her biological mother despised her, and she was raised under the concubine's name. The legitimate daughter had become a concubine's daughter in a ditch, a loss that outweighed any gain. It was too late for her to regret it.
"Let's get down to business." Who cares if you live or die?
Jian Piaoyi was momentarily speechless, but she suppressed her anger and continued, "Although I am engaged, Aunt Hu has only prepared a small dowry. The family I am marrying into is, after all, a distinguished family. Although they have declined somewhat in recent years, they still have a solid foundation. With only this much dowry, I will feel inferior and unable to hold my head high, and I will be looked down upon by my husband's family. So, Mother, I am your daughter. Could you please help me out a little?"
"No." Ji Xiaoxiao refused outright.
Subsidize her? Dream on! Ji Xiaoxiao would rather feed her gold and jewels to the dogs!
"Jian Piaoyi, you call me 'Mother' because you are a concubine's daughter, and according to the rules, you must call me that. But that doesn't mean you are my daughter. If you want compensation, go find your father, your biological mother." Ji Xiaoxiao called over a servant and asked Jian Piaoyi to leave Wutong Garden.
Jian Piaoyi pounded on the gate of Wutong Garden. She wanted to break it open as she always had, but she didn't dare. After all, she was now a concubine's daughter.
After pleading for a while, Jian Piaoyi arrived at Lanxinyuan.
"Auntie." Ever since Jian Piaoyi became Hu Yanyan's daughter, she grew up overnight and, according to custom, obediently called Hu Yanyan Auntie.
"You've come." Hu Yanyan's tone was cold and hard, lacking the warmth she had shown before.
Jian Piaoyi was used to all of this and went straight to the point with Hu Yanyan.
"You want more dowry? No way." Hu Yanyan flatly refused. Dowry is money, and not a penny more is allowed.
One wanted it, the other wouldn't give it; their opinions were contradictory, and the two women started arguing.
Jian Guangyang dragged his tired body back. He had just arrived at the gate of Lanxinyuan when the noise from Jian Piaoyi and Hu Yanyan made his head throb.
As soon as he pushed open the door, Jian Guangyang slapped the two of them.
He works himself to the bone outside, why can't they get along well and give him a break?
We're all one family!
As it turns out, the Jian family just couldn't make things easy for him.
"My lord, please do not obstruct us any further. We are only acting under orders. Please do not make things difficult for us." The leader, dressed in the uniform of the yamen, cupped his hands in greeting and walked past Jian Guangyang straight inside.
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