I have suffered enough in my previous life, my cousin will never marry me

Chapter 15 Entering the Palace
"how could be."

Ji Ningxi was about to show her joy when Ye Wanshu explained solemnly, "After all, we haven't seen each other for many years. I was worried that Aunt Zhou and the people in the mansion wouldn't know my measurements, so I specially asked the maids to prepare some spare clothes to avoid causing trouble for Aunt Zhou when I return."

Chunhong and Xingtao worked together to lift the packages in their hands.

Seeing that the two girls didn't make any other moves, Ji Ningxi looked unhappy: "Big sister is really considerate of my mother."

The word "mother" sounded particularly irritating to Ye Wanshu.

"Of course. After all, we have the relationship between master and servant."

Looking at the arrogant Ji Ningxi, she deliberately emphasized her tone: "Your mother works like a slave to take care of the house for me, my father and my mother. Even if she has no merit, she has worked hard. As a master, you should always be more considerate of your servants."

"Who are you calling a servant?"

After all, she was spoiled by her father when she was growing up. The first time she heard someone say that her mother was a servant, Ji Ningxi was immediately very angry.

But before she could open her mouth to reprimand him, Aunt Zhou stopped her with a look: "Xi'er, don't be rude in front of your elder sister."

As soon as he finished speaking, he turned and looked back at Ye Wanshu with a smile: "Wanwan, don't be offended. Your father loves your sister, so he allowed her to call me mother in private."

"The word 'privately' is very well said."

Ye Wanshu glanced at her and said, "I just wonder what Madam Zhou means by the word 'privately'?"

Concubine Zhou didn't think she was right about this. She pursed her lips with a guilty conscience and said, "Wanwan, your father has been so worried about your marriage these days. Why are you making things difficult for me and adding to his frustration?"

Although the tone was plain, the reminder was already very strong.

At this juncture, Ye Wanshu didn't have the time to confront the mother and daughter. As long as they didn't provoke or disgust her, she was willing to keep her distance from them for the time being.

Given her father's doting on Aunt Zhou, she had to find the right opportunity to take revenge and must not arouse her father's suspicion.

"It's rare that Aunt Zhou can put herself in my father's shoes."

Ye Wanshu said in a deep voice, "If that's the case, Aunt Zhou should control the people in the courtyard and avoid causing criticism for father. After all, the foundation of our Ji family rests entirely on father."

Aunt Zhou naturally understood the deeper meaning of her words. After all, the Ji family was not a family as powerful as the Gu family, and they could not do whatever they wanted.

Even though the master dotes on her to the core, she is, after all, just a concubine. The empress dowager attaches great importance to etiquette and will not tolerate anything that violates the etiquette. Not to mention that the empress dowager does not like the master in the first place, and these can become handles for her to attack him.

Seeing the anger rising in her daughter's eyes, Aunt Zhou softened her tone. "Wanwan is right. Aunt Zhou will keep it in mind. I've had the yard cleaned up for you. I'll take you there right away."

"No need," Ye Wanshu raised her hand. "Don't bother me, Auntie. I can go by myself."

After saying that, he pointed to a servant to lead the way, and then led Chunhong and Xingtao straight into the courtyard.

Seeing her swaggering into her backyard, Ji Ningxi was very angry, and all her dissatisfaction was written on her face.

"Mother, why are you letting her go? She's not even a member of the Ji family. It's already a great favor from my father to let her come back."

"Stupid." Aunt Zhou glared at her angrily, "Why are you arguing with her about such nonsense? When she gets married, everything in the mansion will be yours."

After hearing this reminder from her mother, Ji Ningxi's thoughts suddenly became clearer: "Mother is really smart. No wonder father has relied on her the most for so many years."

Aunt Zhou curled her lips in satisfaction, then reminded her, "Since that girl is so bothered by this, don't call me mother in front of others anymore."

Ji Ningxi pouted unhappily: "Yes."

Aunt Zhou glanced at everyone in front of her and continued to remind them, "One more thing. The fact that Prince Qi came to visit you earlier must not be known to the master, and certainly not to the eldest lady."

"Mother, why is this happening to me?"

Ji Ningxi looked at her anxiously and confusedly: "Didn't Dad arrange a marriage for Big Sister at the Prince Yongning's Mansion in Yuezhou? Why did we hide the fact that Prince Qi wanted to befriend Dad from him?"

"What do you know? Naturally, I have to make plans for Prince Qi before I can discuss it with your father."

Aunt Zhou snorted coldly, "How can that girl be considered for a marriage in the Yongning Palace? Even that arrogant old pig-dog Concubine Zhang has always looked down on you. If your elder sister were to marry Prince Qi, and he were to be crowned as the heir, Concubine Zhang would no longer dare to look down on our family."

Ji Ningxi was even more unhappy after hearing this: "Mother, you knew that Prince Qi would be appointed as the crown prince, so why did you still want my elder sister to marry him? I am my father's most beloved daughter, and the future queen must belong to a daughter."

"My silly girl."

Concubine Zhou, with a look of disappointment on her face, pulled her forward and said earnestly, "Even the Yongning Palace looks down on you, so how could the Qi Palace be willing to marry you as its principal wife? Do you still want to be a concubine, bowing down to others like me?" Seeing that her daughter still had a sullen face and didn't understand her painstaking efforts, Concubine Zhou continued, "The Qi Palace already has many children and grandchildren, and a courtyard full of beautiful women. Even if you could really marry him, I'm afraid that before you even get comfortable as a princess, you'll be schemed against by those with ulterior motives and have no chance of survival."

"On the other hand, the Yongning Palace has a strict family tradition and a clean backyard. It has been operating in Yuezhou for so many generations and has deep roots. That is a truly good place to go. I have been planning for you for so many years, all for this day."

I'm afraid that damn girl Ye Wanshu still thinks that the Yuezhou Fu family is not a good family and doesn't want to marry Prince Yongning at all.

Ji Ningxi saw that her mother had no intention of arranging a marriage between her and Prince Qi's mansion, so she kept her mouth shut. After all, she had extensive connections in Lin'an, so she could always find a way to marry into Prince Qi's mansion.

She must be the queen in the future, so she will not marry a member of the unpopular royal family and will do anything to suppress her elder sister.

Aunt Zhou thought her daughter had taken her words to heart and said with a smile, "I heard that Prince Yongning is very proud and has been in the military since he was young. I'm afraid he doesn't know our Ji family's legitimate daughter well enough."

As soon as he finished speaking, he whispered to the old maid in front of him, "Madam Liu, go and spread the word immediately. We must let Prince Yongning know that the eldest daughter was rejected by the Rongguo Mansion and married into the Yongning Mansion instead."

"Yes, I will make sure that the entire Yongning Palace will know about this today." Mother Liu responded and left.

Aunt Zhou was very satisfied with her arrangements. She glanced at her daughter complacently and then led people back to the inner courtyard.

Inside the Wuping Marquis' Mansion

After resting for a few days, Gu Tingzhou's injuries were almost healed. When they heard from the maids that Ye Wanshu had secretly given things to someone in the street, the two brothers immediately became furious.

"Wanwan is becoming more and more unscrupulous now." Gu Tingzhou slammed the table angrily.

Fortunately, he has been reflecting on himself these past few days, wondering whether he should show her some mercy and give her a chance to mend her ways.

Gu Tingchen couldn't help shaking his head. "This woman, on the one hand, instigated her aunt and father to embarrass us brothers, and on the other hand, she hooked up with other men. She has absolutely no shame."

"Ji Yuan is highly trusted by the Emperor. If he gets to the Emperor before us and asks for his approval, I'm afraid this marriage will be difficult to cancel."

Gu Tingzhou's face showed deep anxiety: "No, no matter whether my uncle is willing to help or not, we must go to the palace immediately and must not let her evil plan succeed."

The two brothers stood up at the same time, only to see Jiang Yueling and their aunt walking in together.

Chang was holding a letter in her hand. Seeing the two brothers hurrying along, she frowned and asked, "Tingzhou, your injury hasn't fully healed yet. Are you going out?"

Gu Tingzhou glanced at the letter in her hand and said bluntly: "Aunt, I must go to the palace to see my aunt today."

Chang's face showed hesitation: "Tingzhou, have you thought it over? Are you sure you want to cancel the engagement?"

Gu Tingzhou nodded, and after glancing at Jiang Yueling, his eyes became more determined: "No matter how my aunt punishes me today, I will break off the engagement with that woman."

Chang Shi was not in a position to persuade him any further, so she handed the letter that the Marquis had brought back to him and said, "In that case, your aunt will accompany you to the palace."

"Thank you, auntie, for your help."

Gu Tingzhou was a little worried about Jiang Yueling, and said in a deep voice: "Yueling, you must think it over carefully."

Jiang Yueling placed her index finger against his red lips and said, "Young Master has sacrificed so much for me. Even if I have to sacrifice my life today, I will accompany you into the palace."

Gu Tingzhou smiled with relief: "Tingchen and I really didn't make a mistake in choosing him."

Gu Tingchen just smiled and said nothing.

Seeing this, Chang's face turned slightly cold for a moment, and he could only smile and say, "Let's go."

In the backyard of the Ji family, Ye Wanshu, Chunhong and Xingtao cleaned up the room. Thinking that there would be results in the palace today, they told the two maids to take out the tea leaves they brought, boil water, and patiently tasted the tea in the yard.

The emerald green buds rolled in the heat wave, slowly opening up one by one and gradually releasing a rich tea aroma.

The fragrance spread throughout the house, as if the whole person was covered with the gentle green of spring.

It was not until she arrived in Lin'an City that she felt the beauty of tea tasting.

Quietly gazing at the busy figures of the two maids, Ye Wanshu leaned back gracefully on the rattan chair, looking at the blue sky above her head with a faint smile.

It's all finally coming to an end.

(End of this chapter)