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Jiang Jiao was startled by Han Yue's imposing presence, involuntarily taking a step back, her body trembling slightly as she spoke with a hint of fear, "What do you want? This is the Prime Minister's Residence; you'd better not cause any trouble."
Jiang Xi felt a warmth in her heart but did not regard Jiang Jiao as a threat. She merely replied coolly, "Since you think Feng Concubine is of noble birth, go ask her for money. Don't make yourself so unpleasant here."
"Han Yue, throw her out."
Han Yue responded loudly, "Yes!"
With a dagger in hand, Han Yue slowly approached Jiang Jiao. Watching Jiang Jiao's face grow pale, she couldn't help but sneer, "Are you going to leave or not?"
The pressure and gaze from Han Yue completely intimidated Jiang Jiao. She spat out a harsh remark, "Just wait!" before hastily fleeing.
Jiang Xi watched her retreating figure with an expressionless face and turned to Han Yue. "She just mentioned that tomorrow is Huai'an Princess's birthday."
The concubine came from the Minister's residence; although she was a secondary daughter, she was still a proper lady from an official family.
Compared to the merchant-born Prime Minister's Wife Yuan, she had always considered herself superior and never looked down on Madam Jiang.
Especially since Jiang Xingzhi openly disdained the Legal Wife's background, the Feng family naturally felt emboldened.
So when Jiang Jiao returned to the Jade Pavilion in tears, both surprised and suspicious, her eyes widened. "What did you say? Jiang Xi is back? Isn't she at the Regent's Palace?"
Jiang Jiao grabbed her mother's hand and angrily said, "I don't know."
Then she maliciously speculated, "She must have been abandoned by the Regent; otherwise, why would she return quietly without saying anything? They didn't give her any money."
"Jiang Xi even said I was disrespectful to her mother and told me to recognize my own status, saying that my mother is just a concubine and doesn't deserve to speak in front of her."
The Feng gritted her teeth, her face filled with anger. "It's simply despicable!"
Then she let out a cold laugh. "It doesn't matter. Jiang Xi is just a brainless fool, all talk and no substance. When she meets Huo Xingwen, she won't hesitate to cling to him, pretending to be reserved and noble."
Jiang Jiao wiped away her tears. "So what do we do now? If we can't get the money, we won't be able to buy that bracelet I desire. How can we attend Huai'an Princess's birthday banquet tomorrow?"
The Feng adjusted her hair in front of the mirror, speaking confidently. "Don't worry. Mother is beautiful, and with Xuan'er, the only son of the Prime Minister's Residence, making a good impression on your father, how can we not handle a mere Yuan?"
The Feng smiled assuredly. "Mother will go help you get three thousand taels of silver. No, three thousand isn't enough; we need at least five thousand."
Claiming to be a genuine lady from a prestigious family while looking down on merchant daughters, she shamelessly asked for money and when that failed, went to Jiang Xingzhi to play the victim, crying out, "Master, Huai'an Princess is the favorite daughter of the Eldest Princess. Jiao Jiao has finally gotten the chance to interact with noble ladies; why should Jiang Xi's return cut off this opportunity? Is she deliberately making things difficult for Jiao Jiao because she's unhappy herself?"
"Is this how Madam teaches her daughter? I have always taught Jiao Jiao to be respectful to her elders. I wonder if it's my lack of courtesy today that upset the young lady."
Jiang Xingzhi listened to Concubine's one-sided words and accused his first wife of being unreasonable: "The Eldest Daughter of the Prime Minister's Residence has no tolerance at all."
He immediately summoned his personal guard. "Go tell Madam that I need silver; have her bring me five thousand taels."
The Feng almost burst into laughter but managed to hold it back as she served Jiang Xingzhi a piece of meat. "The Prime Minister is truly good to me; I need this meat to nourish my body."
Jiang Xingzhi was flattered by her words, his heart blooming with joy. "Don't mention such mundane matters as silver in front of me again; I find it tiresome."
Every time he heard about silver, he couldn't help but think of his first wife's background—a lowly merchant girl who brazenly occupied the position of Prime Minister's Wife, which was quite displeasing to him.
The Feng nestled against him delicately. "My lord is a virtuous minister with the world in mind; I am merely a worldly person tainted by money. My food, clothing, and everything depend on it; I rely on you for guidance."
Jiang Xingzhi's vanity was satisfied as he snorted, "You only know how to talk."
The Feng rolled her eyes inwardly, knowing he loved this kind of banter, but her smile grew even brighter as she continued to serve Jiang Xingzhi food.
At that moment, the personal guard Luffy returned, bowing to report, "Prime Minister, the young lady is injured, and the madam is in a bad mood. She refuses to see anyone."
Upon hearing this, the Feng's expression changed. She thought to herself: So this is a deliberate attempt to go against me.
Jiang Xingzhi paused for a moment before recalling that Jiang Xi had been attacked by Jiang Yue yesterday. He frowned and asked, "Is the young lady seriously injured?"
Just as Luffy was about to respond, the Feng interjected, "My lord, do you truly believe it was Jiang Yue who harmed the young lady? Jiang Yue is gentle by nature; she has to live under the watchful eye of her elder sister in the Prime Minister's Residence. What reason would she have to attack Jiang Xi?"
Jiang Xingzhi seemed to consider this and his expression darkened slightly. "Are you suggesting that Jiang Xi deliberately framed Jiang Yue?"
The Feng smiled faintly. "I wouldn't dare think that way; I merely express my doubts. My lord, if you want to uncover the truth, it’s not difficult—just go see if the young lady is truly injured."
She couldn't believe that the delicate and beautiful Jiang Xi would dare to harm herself.
Jiang Xingzhi pondered for a moment and found some merit in her words.
Since becoming Prime Minister, he had no desire to step into the Yuan courtyard again, yet now he had no choice but to stand up and investigate what was really going on.
Meanwhile, Jiang Xi anticipated her father’s arrival and smirked mockingly. The Feng would certainly not let go of this opportunity without a fight; she was curious how she would stir trouble in front of her father.
Madam Jiang smiled lightly, "Three thousand taels have suddenly risen to five thousand."
"The Feng has always been a lion in front of your father," she remarked.
Jiang Xi let out a cold snort. "Mother, don't worry. From now on, they won't get a single tael of silver from me."
Madam Jiang looked at her daughter in surprise. "When did you become so assertive?"
"Xi'er, have you been stimulated by something recently?"
Jiang Xi thought to herself that it wasn't stimulation; four years of deep affection had resulted in betrayal. Not only had she ended up with a tragic fate, but the noble and ascetic Regent also faced an unfortunate end, burdened with lives lost. How could he continue to be as boundlessly kind as before?
After a moment, she raised her gaze to her mother. "Do you still love Father? Do you have any lingering feelings for the man who wronged you?"
Madam Jiang, with her naturally carefree disposition, replied, "What is there to hold on to? Clinging to things that shouldn't be clung to only punishes oneself. I'm not that foolish."
She surveyed the exquisite furnishings in the room. "Perhaps I just don't want my years of hard work to benefit those lowly people. Back when your father was poor and destitute, I provided the funds for him to come to the capital for the imperial examination. I supported his meals and education, and when he entered government service, all the expenses were covered by me. One could say that I am the greatest contributor to his current status."
"I will request a divorce myself. Everything in the Prime Minister's Residence will belong to that lowly woman. After all my years of effort, I end up making someone else a bride. She dreams too beautifully!"
Upon hearing this, Jiang Xi felt a sense of relief; it seemed her mother was utterly disappointed in her father. With this, she would have no reservations in her future actions.
Jiang Xingzhi was loyal to the new emperor and had played a significant role in causing the Regent's demise in their past life, showing no concern for Jiang Xi's life or death as the Eldest Daughter throughout it all.
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