Nian Xuan was a servantsâ child born in Xieâs Family, and was arranged as a fellow of Yun Fenghuang. At that time, there were several servantsâ children. Nian Xuan was too stupid and ignorant to realize she was framed by others. Therefore, she was not prominent among them.
As they grew up, Yun Fenghuang and Ms. Jiang observed their changes and chose four among them in succession as trusted attendants. Nian Xuan was one of them unexpectedly.
After Xie Fenghuanâs affair, there was only one trusted attendant leftâNian Xuan. And when Yun Fenghuang set off from the north to Dijing City, she took Nian Xuan with her.
It could be seen that Ms. Jiang and Yun Fenghuang trusted Nian Xuan very much⊠However, Ms. Jiang told Nian Xuan the above, while enjoined her daughter the following privately, âAll members of Nian Xuanâs family work for me, and I decide their fates. They dare not make trouble. As for Nian Xuan, she has been naĂŻve and simple since childhood. Although she can barely help you, we can know what she is thinking with a glance. If she has bad intentions one day, you can deal with her easily.â
In fact, even if Ms. Jiang didnât say so, it was difficult for Yun Fenghuang to trust anyone around her wholeheartedly.
After all, Xie Fenghuanâs infamy was closely related to one of her trusted attendants she took with when she got married.
Xie Fenghuan did not marry afar, but under the eyes of Xieâs Family. However, even so, there were still servants who dared to frame their masters like this, not to mention that Yun Fenghuang was here in Dijing, and now even in the Imperial Harem.
â⊠It has only been a few days since I joined the Imperial Harem. Even though Yuanâs Family sent people to the north since the day of my joining, they couldnât bring back any news.â Yun Fenghuang groaned, âHow can they know the relationship between me and Qi Jiulu?â
Thinking of this, she felt that Nian Xuan was quite suspiciousâŠ
And even if she didnât doubt Nian Xuanâs loyalty, the girl was always stupid. Maybe she didnât even realize when she was coaxed into telling the truthâŠ
Yun Fenghuang thought for a long time. Since Nian Xuan had come back, she finally decided to see changes before took actions.
Anyway, now there were Xi Jing and Xi Le sent by the Empress. Nian Xuan only needed to take care of herself. After she recovered, without Yun Fenghuangâs support, she could not do anything since the two new maids were either smart or aggressive⊠So, Yun Fenghuang could just keep her here.
After she made up her mind on this, she had time to recall what Auntie Zhu said just now. Qi Jiulu and Chao Jingyou got married.
In fact, this news was not supposed to make her forget herself.
After all, since she left the north three years ago, she knew that she and Qi Jiulu were destined to be apart no matter how deep their affection was.
They would not even meet in this life.
No matter how much she didnât want to accept the fact, and how pitiful and grieved she felt⊠It had been three years, even the deepest wound had already been self-cured enough for her to keep calm when she heard the name.
Not to mention that Yun Fenghuang was sensitive, but not fragile.
She just didnât expect that Qi Jiulu married Chao Jingyou.
Chaoâs Family was a rising star in the north in recent years, of course, compared with the old families such as Qiâs Family and Xieâs Family. The truth was, Chao Jingyou was a member of the fourth generation since Chaoâs Family emerged.
Therefore, Chao Jingyou, like Yun Fenghuang, was a young lady who grew up with a splendid life.
Chao Jingyou was two years younger than Yun Fenghuang. Both of them had good backgrounds, high positions and talents. They seemed to be very suitable to be intimate friends. However, in fact, the two had never been in harmony since childhood and just always pretended to be friendly.
The reason was very simple. At that time, Qiâs Family wanted to pick a wife for Qi Jiulu. His mother, Ms. Chen, the wife in charge of Qiâs Family, actually preferred Chao Jingyou. Because Chao Jingyouâs mother was famous for her gentleness and virtue; while Yun Fenghuangâs mother was a little bit different. Although Ms. Jiangâs reputation was not bad, as a legitimate mother, she treated the daughter of a concubine as her daughter. Everyone should consider that she was virtuous and kind.
However, she was aggressive. Among all the wives of Xieâs Family, she was the only one who seized the power instead of her eldest sister-in-law⊠Of course, she was brilliant, so even the eldest sister-in-law who was replaced by the former could not talk something bad about her. Even if she was unwilling to be replaced, she could not stop this trend that Ms. Jiang became the hostess of Xieâs Family and seized the actual power.
Maybe men did not care about these things, but Ms. Chen, who was also the wife in charge, had noticed that.
Inevitably, she was afraid that with a mother like Ms. Jiang, Yun Fenghuang might also be hard to get along with. Sheâd better choose Chao Jingyou to keep the family in harmony.
However, the mother of Chao Jingyou had only one son and three daughters, while Ms. Jiang had four sons and one daughter. Therefore, the head of Qiâs Family, who was expecting the prosperity of his offspring, especially boys, decisively rejected Ms. Chenâs proposal. As long as his prospective daughter-in-law could have many more children after marriage, he did not mind that she had the same temperament as her mother.
As a non-eldest daughter-in-law, Mr. Jiang could run a respectable family, and brought up the concubineâs daughter in a virtuous manner. Such a capable woman was worth to be selected even if she had a quick temper and was aggressive!
At most, as an elder, Ms. Chen should tolerate her a little bit.
After all, since the future daughter-in-law was not sophisticated, Ms. Chen, as her mother-in-law, had to tolerate her no matter what.
After all, the hostess of the previous generation of Qiâs Family also treated Ms. Chen very well.
At least, in the eyes of the head of Qiâs Family, his mother treated his wife very well, just like a mother treated her daughter.
So, it was reasonable that Ms. Chen should love her daughter-in-law.
Mr. Chen was speechless.
She particularly hoped that her husband would be a woman in his next life, trying to get along with a so-called good mother-in-law like the old lady of Qiâs Family: her mother-in-law only treated her well because of her conscientious serve and obedience!
Now that she finally had a son, it was her turn to enjoy the treatment as a mother-in-law, why should she continue to tolerate her daughter-in-law?!
However, the choice of the next hostess of a tribe was a big deal. Even as the wife of the head of Qiâs Family, Ms. Chen was not qualified to make the final call.
The seniors of Qiâs Family unanimously approved the choice of the head, so Ms. Chen had to accept the decision even if she didnât want to!
Bearing her husbandâs words in her heart, Ms. Chen tried to keep in harmony with Yun Fenghuang. But she really didnât like her future daughter-in-law. Especially when the two girls grew up, they were both the same as their mothers. Only Chao Jingyou was even gentler and more considerate than her mother, while Yun Fenghuang was more aggressive than hers⊠Yun Fenghuang only got her gentle and virtuous reputation thanks to her mother, but actually was very picky, aggressive, rude and obstinate. If she married her son, it would make her live shorter even if she just thought about it!
Ms. Chen was dissatisfied, so she preferred Chao Jingyou in public to Yun Fenghuang, the official future daughter-in-law.
Ms. Jiang had investigated these things, and of course, she warned her daughter to guard against this prospective mother-in-law.
Actually, Ms. Jiang and Yun Fenghuang didnât really care much about Ms. Chenâs attitude. Because Yun Fenghuangâs prospective father-in-law liked her very much, very much. Also, Qi Jiulu was also partial to her⊠Besides, her family also backed her up and she was not vulnerable. So, she didnât think that her prospective mother-in-law could deal with her even if she was very discontented.
Unexpectedly, something bad happened to Xie Fenghuan.
At that time, Chao Jingyou came to visit specially, with a very courteous and polite attitude. Ms. Xie thought she came here to comfort Yun Fenghuang, so she even treated her with gratitude for the thought that Chao Jingyou was returning kindness for evilness.
However, when they met in the Xiao Hua Hall, Chao Jingyou picked up a cup of tea but didnât drink it, and just sneered, âMy mother has been very self-blaming all these years, saying that she was unlucky to only have a son, or I could be the prospective hostess of Qiâs Family, not you. But given the situation, it seems that what belongs to you will eventually be yours.â
Seeing that Yun Fenghuangâs expression was changing, she didnât stay too long. She put down the tea bowl and said goodbye. When she walked to the doorway, she laughed again and said, âIt is said that your family is notorious and dirty. Otherwise, how could your family raise a shameless daughter like your sister? I donât dare to drink the water in your house. Iâm afraid that after going out, people will think that I am not pure anymore.â
Yun Fenghuang didnât intend to meet Qi Jiulu again after Qiâs Family proposed to dissolve the engagement, but given what Chao Jingyou said to her, she still specially asked him out and let him swear that he could marry anyone in the future, except the girls of Chaoâs Family!
⊠At that time, Qi Jiulu was hysterically opposed to the familyâs decision to cancel the engagement. After Yun Fenghuangâs words, he took out his sword without hesitation, and cut his palm to swear that in his life, except Yun Fenghuang, even if he would have no offspring, he would not marry anyone.
Although Yun Fenghuang knew it was impossible, she was also moved at that time.
But it had only been three years now. He got married and his wife was Chao JingyouâŠ
Yun Fenghuang looked at the lights not far away, thought for a long time, and lowered her head to smile. Childhood sweetheart⊠childhood sweetheart was nothing!
Were all the girls from respectable families dead?
Were there only girls in Chaoâs Family?!
Qi Jiulu, well doneâŠ
Well doneâŠ
You could not live without marrying that bitch, could you?!
âBut itâs also a good thing for me.â She was very uncomfortable. And then she closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and calmed down to think, âAt that time, the asshole Qi Jiulu liked me very much. Compared with my casual words, what his father and mother said was nothing. When his mother complained a little about me, he refuted for me immediately as he was present. He behaved as if he forgot his mother once he had a wife⊠If a childhood sweetheart like him could change his heart so easily after three years, what about the Emperor? He has been dragged by Consort Yue for many years. I donât believe that he doesnât feel bored sometimes!â
Yuan Lianniang, who was born in a respectable family and was spoiled by her family, chose to join the Imperial Harem and had survived here for several years, which was all based on her affection for Emperor Chunjia and Emperor Chunjiaâs affection for her⊠If she found out that Emperor Chunjia was actually tired of her already, even, all those years, he had another intention for indulging her, how would she react?
Yun Fenghuang narrowed her eyes and smiled grimly: we were both used to be indulged by men⊠Among all the girls who were once indulged by men, she shouldnât be the only one who was so unlucky, right?
Anyway, since she had framed Consort Yue several times, it did not matter to frame her again.
After thought for a while, Yun Fenghuang called Xi Le to serve her.
Xi Le reminded her when she was serving, âAccording to the rules, Gui Ren still lacks three eunuchs and two maids⊠Oh, since Nian Xuan is back, we still lack a maid. In terms of residence, Xi Xing Building was provided originally for Bao Lin to live. Itâs not appropriate for Gui Ren to live here anymoreâŠâ
âDo you have any advice?â Yun Fenghuang looked at herself in the copper mirror and asked lazily.
Xi Le said softly, âIn terms of residence, it depends on your preference. I just feel that there is only a eunuch at the moment, and it is not very convenient to do some heavy work. Whatâs more, with all the places in Xi Xing Building, I am afraid that just a few maids here could not keep the house safe. There are chances for others to sneak in before we know. Plus, given what happened to Xin Qing⊠I think that youâd better take two maids with you if you go out.â
So, the servants here should be supplemented.
Yun Fenghuang responded casually, âThen I will talk to Her Highness tomorrow.â
Seeing that Xi Le seemed to be hesitant, she raised her eyebrow, âWhatâs wrong?â
Xi Le thought for a while and whispered, âHer Highness has sent me and Xi Jing here. As for the rest maids, why donât you ask Noble Consort Shu? After all, she is your sister, andâŠâ
She looked at Yun Fenghuangâs complexion, and seemed not to dare to continue.
Yun Fenghuang laughed, âGo ahead. And what?â
â⊠And I am afraid that defeating Consort Yue would not be enough for you to be one of the four noble consorts!â Xi Le was silent. Then she gritted her teeth, put down the silver comb, and knelt down beside Yun Fenghuangâs skirt, saying slowly, âAfter all, Consort Yue herself is just a concubine!â
Yun Fenghuang looked at the humble maid in front of her melancholily: she was still thinking how to separate Emperor Chunjia and Consort Yue, so that she could achieve her goal to prove her value to the Empress indirectly. However, it had already occurred to her maid to target at Noble Consort Shu directly⊠Even a maid was so ambitious, but she felt depressed for the bastard Qi Jiulu for at least fifteen minutes, which was shameful!
Indeed, it was right that people survived in disasters but died in comfort. It seemed that she had been too comfortable in the last two days!
All right, she had to do something tomorrow⊠no, today⊠Well, she could not be lazy. Why didnât she start now?!