Marriage of the Di Daughter

After the lively palace banquet, the Empress Dowager proposed to enjoy the lotus by the pond outside the Yuming Hall.

The pond in the palace was dug by craftsmen, imitating the Yongning River in Yanjing City, so it is very wide. In summer, the ten-mile lotus pond is green, the moon is in the sky, and the stars are dotted, which is very beautiful.

The sweltering heat of the past few days has been swept away, making people feel refreshed.

Appreciating the flowers after the banquet is probably the favorite of the nobles.

Jiang Li also followed the Jiang family to the lotus pond, and Ji Shuran and Jiang Youyao also followed her every step of the way. Jiang Li knew that this was not Ji Shuran's intention to express her affection for her stepdaughter, but she didn't care about it.

On the water promenade, the ladies and ladies sat down. There were melon and fruit snacks on the table. Jiang Li was walking to the other end. Suddenly, he felt something was stuffed in his hand. When he looked back, he saw a strange man. The court lady passed by herself.

She squeezed the thing in her hand tightly, and she could vaguely distinguish it as a note, she couldn't help but glance at Ji Shuran and Jiang Youyao, thinking it was Ji Shuran's arrangement. But seeing that there was nothing wrong with Ji Shuran, as if he hadn't noticed it, he was a little puzzled for a while.

But when she finally reached the pavilion in the center of the lake, Jiang Li deliberately stayed behind, taking advantage of Ji Shuran and Jiang Youyao's absence, she opened her palm, and there was indeed a note, with a line of small characters visible under the dim light of the lantern.

See you at Yuxiu Pavilion at the east gate behind the garden. Signed: Zhou Yanbang.

Jiang Li was startled, Ji Shuran was already calling her, so she immediately crumpled up the note, and wanted to throw it into the lake, but suddenly thought of something, and hid it in her sleeve again.

As soon as he walked to Ji Shuran's side, Ji Shuran smiled and said, "Li'er walked a bit slower."

Jiang Li responded with a smile, but in her heart she was extremely angry at Zhou Yanbang's note. Zhou Yanbang should not be someone arranged by Ji Shuran. Given Jiang Youyao's importance to Zhou Yanbang, she would never let anything involve Zhou Yanbang. Zhou Yanbang should be his own idea.

Jiang Li never expected that Zhou Yanbang would also step in here. Somehow this Ningyuan Hou Shizi came to be so confident that he would really go to the appointment with a note. Perhaps Zhou Yanbang thought that Miss Jiang Er had no more affection for him? But Jiang Li carefully recalled the few times she and Zhou Yanbang had met after returning to Yanjing City, but she did not show the slightest interest in Zhou Yanbang.

Mostly a person who pretends to be passionate, no matter how cold he is to him, he can always find evidence that the other party loves him.

Jiang Li thought in her heart that she and Ye Shijie would not do what Ji Shuran wanted today, but just like that, it seemed too cheap for Ji Shuran.

Since coming to the Jiang family, Jiang Li has been looking at everyone in the Jiang family from the perspective of an outsider. She sympathizes with the real Second Miss Jiang, but before her family's revenge has been avenged, she doesn't want to be too involved in the Jiang family's turmoil, so as to save more accidents.

Therefore, adhering to the idea that people will not offend me and I will not offend others, when Ji Shuran harmed her, she would fight back, and Jiang Li thought it was not too much. But this time, Ji Shuran really angered Jiang Li.

Ji Shuran's method is too low, it reminds her of herself at the beginning, the past scene repeats itself, new and old hatred, Jiang Li is very willing to take revenge at this moment.

The world says that real revenge is to take away the most cherished things in people's hearts and tear them into pieces. What Ji Shuran loves most is Jiang Youyao and Jiang Bingji. Jiang Bingji is too young to lose. But Jiang Youyao is different.

What Jiang Youyao is most obsessed with now is not Zhou Yanbang, the son of Ningyuan Hou. Ji Shuran's mother and daughter tried their best to snatch this marriage from Miss Jiang Er, and they were always on guard against this marriage being snatched back by Miss Jiang Er. Right now Jiang Youyao hates Jiang Li even more because of Zhou Yanbang, Zhou Yanbang is Jiang Youyao's weakness.

Jiang Li rubbed the short piece of paper in her sleeve with her fingers, and smiled suddenly.

Since Zhou Yanbang himself wanted to wade into this muddy water, he couldn't blame her for causing trouble. Jiang Youyao is always on guard against herself, but she doesn't know that Zhou Yanbang is a beautiful man in Yanjing City, she is not the only woman who wants to marry Zhou Yanbang, for example, her former sister-in-law Shen Ruyun, for example, the third wife of the Jiang family, born to a concubine Jiang Yu'e.

If Jiang Yu'e had a chance to marry into the Ningyuan Houfu, what would Jiang Yu'e choose? On the one hand, there are sisters who are eagerly called out on weekdays, and on the other hand, there are good people who may never meet again in the future. Jiang Yu'e's choice, Jiang Li is very much looking forward to.

Ji Shuran looked up at Jiang Li from time to time, time passed slowly, Jiang Li stretched out her hand to her forehead, and said softly: "Mother, I'm a little dizzy..."

how so fast Ji Shuran was puzzled, she thought it would take a while for the medicine to take effect. Now that Jiang Li said this, she had to agree, and she was afraid that people would see the clues if she stayed any longer, and something might happen, so she had to advance Let Jiangli go.

Ji Shuran said to a court lady who was standing beside her all the time: "Take the second lady back to the room to have a good rest, and I will pick her up later."

Jiang Youyao tentatively asked, "Second Sister?"

Jiang Li frowned slightly, and waved her hand, but accidentally bumped into a cup on the side, which was full of tea, and all the tea was splashed on Jiang Yu'e's skirt.

Jiang Yu'e screamed "Yeah" and stood up quickly.

Jiang Li's eyes widened slightly, and she seemed to be a little more awake, and said quickly: "I'm sorry, Fifth Sister, I didn't mean to get on your clothes." Then she looked at the stain on Jiang Yu'e's body apologetically: "It's okay now. What should I do? Why don't you go change clothes with me, just in time for me to take a rest."

"No need..." Ji Shuran was about to stop her.

"Mother, this is a palace banquet. After all, Fifth Younger Sister doesn't look good wearing dirty clothes. There should be some emergency clothes in the palace. If it's not good, there should be some at the Empress Li's place. It's better for Fifth Younger Sister to change."

Jiang Yu'e was just a little annoyed, she was wearing this dress for the first time today, because it was the material that the old lady asked someone to cut, how could she have the opportunity to wear such a good dress on weekdays, now it was all ruined by Jiang Li. Hearing Jiang Li talking about Concubine Li suddenly, her heart skipped a beat, if the clothes Li Concubine found for her, at least they were made of palace materials, maybe even better than those given by the old lady. Immediately stood up and said with a smile: "Auntie, it's okay, I will go with the second sister, the second sister is right, wearing dirty clothes, I am afraid that others will say that our Jiang family is disrespectful to His Majesty. I am on the way I can still take care of my second sister."

Ji Shuran's palms were slightly wet, Jiang Yu'e didn't know her plan, Ji Shuran really didn't want Jiang Yu'e to spoil her affairs. But after thinking about it, I was relieved. When I was halfway there, someone led Jiang Yu'e away, but Jiang Li was still as planned. Moreover, the medicinal effects of ginger pears are exerted so quickly, leaving the banquet early, there is also enough time to make arrangements. Ji Shuran winked at the maid beside her, and said, "In that case, you two should go first."

Yang didn't say a word. Although Jiang Yu'e was her daughter, Jiang Yu'e always fawned on the big house, and was closer to Ji Shuran, the eldest aunt, than to her own mother. Yang was used to it.

Jiang Yu'e, together with Jiang Li, left with the unfamiliar court lady.

Not far from the Huxin Pavilion, on the edge of the water promenade, there are many empty tea houses, which are prepared for the nobles in the palace to rest or change clothes when they have a temporary headache. There are no people there on weekdays, and it is very quiet.

Jiang Li and Jiang Yu'e walked together, maybe because they drank too much wine at the palace banquet, Jiang Yu'e also felt dizzy while walking, Jiang Li talked to her about Jiang Youyao's marriage while walking.

"... Today, I heard my mother talk about the marriage between the third sister and Zhou Shizi again. The third sister looks very happy. I see that Mrs. Ningyuan Hou is also very satisfied with the third sister."

"...Speaking of which, the third sister's marriage is really not bad, and Zhou Shizi can be regarded as one of the best in Yanjing City. It's just that Zhou Shizi and I have no fate, and we will probably have to find someone else in the future."

"... Fifth Younger Sister is about to reach the age of Ji. I heard from a servant in Father's yard that Third Uncle is also asking Father to show Fifth Younger Sister if there is a suitable family. I wonder whose mansion Fifth Younger Sister will enter in the future."

When Jiang Li mentioned this suddenly, Jiang Yu'e suspected that Jiang Li was taking revenge on herself. Shi Qing, who told her last time that Jiang Youyao and Zhou Yanbang were engaged, must be sad. But at this moment, Jiang Li poked a knife in her heart again, and Jiang Yu'e couldn't help but feel a little resentful when talking about her marriage.

Jiang Yu'e said: "The second sister is very concerned about my marriage, but I am still young, a little younger than the second sister. The second sister also said that my father is no better than the eldest uncle. If I really want to find someone, naturally I can't talk to the second sister. The third sister compares." When Jiang Yu'e said this, she was still a little bit angry. Normally, she would not say such a thing, but today she may be a little drunk, and she speaks a lot bolder.

Jiang Li glanced at her, and that look seemed to contain a bit of pity: "Why can't people pick their own background? In my opinion, fifth sister, you are not worse in appearance than third sister, and you are also talented. It's not low, but it's because of your birth. If you are the daughter of the eldest son, you and Zhou Shizi are also very suitable."

It's okay if you don't talk about it, when Jiang Yu'e talked about it, Jiang Yu'e thought of all the injustices she and Jiang Youyao had in Jiang's house, she felt aggrieved, her heart was sour, and she didn't answer Jiang Li's words for a while.

Jiang Li said to herself: "It's a pity, fifth sister, you have such a good-looking talent, and you will probably only be able to match an unknown man in the future. Let alone being compared with Zhou Shizi, you can't even be compared with ordinary official children. .That’s right, being a regular wife to an ordinary person may not be as good as being a concubine to the prince of Zhou. Unfortunately,” she hesitated to speak, shook her head, and sighed: “People are worse than others, and they are all fate. .”

Jiang Yu'e felt even more uncomfortable. What she hated most in her life was being compared to others. But when she was in Jiang's house, it seemed that anyone could come up and trample on her at will. Hateful in her heart, but unwilling to lose the upper hand in her mouth, Jiang Yu'e said: "I have such a fate, of course I am not as good as the third sister, but the second sister is also kind-hearted. Zhou Shizi was originally able to marry the second sister, but now he is married. Even the second sister's brother-in-law, the second sister can actually face her calmly. No wonder people stay in the temple for a period of time, they will be pure-hearted and ascetic."

Jiang Yu'e thought, Jiang Li's calm appearance must be pretending. If it were her own, she definitely wouldn't feel so relaxed. But every time Jiang Yu'e wanted to appreciate Jiang Li's knife, she always returned in vain. Jiang Li just didn't know how to get angry.

Sure enough, this time, after listening to Jiang Yu'e's provocative words, Jiang Li just smiled lightly and said, "So what if you are willing? After all, it's already like this, and I will have a chance in the future. Some are picky, but Fifth Sister..." She gave Jiang Yu'e a meaningful look, but didn't continue.

Jiang Yu'e knew what Jiang Li had left to say, and Jiang Yu'e would never pick more people than Jiang Li.

Probably because of the anger and resentment in her heart, Jiang Yu'e also felt hot in her heart and dizzy in her head, and she didn't know what to say for a while.

While talking, Jiang Li paid attention to the expression of the palace goddess leading the way from the corner of her eye. Seeing that the court lady listened to her conversation with Jiang Yu'e, but was not moved at all, Jiang Li became more vigilant.

After walking for a while, another court lady suddenly came to meet her. She only smiled at Jiang Yu'e: "Madam Li asked the maid to take Miss Jiang Wu to the side room to pick clothes first," and smiled at Jiang Li: "Second Miss Jiang first Go to the front room and sit and rest, Miss Jiang Wu finishes picking out the clothes, and the slave will send the lady back."

Jiang Li sneered in her heart, Ji Shuran's people really couldn't wait to send Jiang Yu'e away, and did a full set of acting, she smiled slightly, pressed her forehead, and said to Jiang Yu'e: "In this case, fifth sister, let's go first, I have a headache Great, go to rest first, and wait for you in the room."

Jiang Yu'e was so angry after eating ginger pears along the way, naturally she would not say anything wrong, besides, being able to pick out the clothes that Concubine Li had prepared for her made Jiang Yu'e a little bit happy. Jiang Yu'e complied, and saw Jiang Li turn around with the maid who led the way first, and continue walking forward.

But the moment he turned around, something suddenly fell out of Jiang Li's sleeve.

Jiang Yu'e was so close, she stooped and picked it up subconsciously. It was a note. Jiang Yu'e was about to tell Jiang Li to stop, but in an instant, she saw the note clearly by the light of the lantern hanging on the promenade. handwriting on it.

Jiang Yu'e's voice suddenly swallowed into her throat.

She stood up clutching the note, and saw Jiang Li's back walking farther and farther away, her heart beating fast.

On that note, it turned out that Zhou Yanbang wanted to meet Jiang Li in private, and it seemed that it should be tonight. Jiang Yu'e's first reaction was to give this note to Ji Shuran, to expose Jiang Li's scandal to others. Thinking about it this way, her dizziness actually improved a lot.

Jiang Yu'e hid the note in her sleeve, and the figures of Jiang Li and the maid had already turned the corridor and were no longer seen. Jiang Yu'e just turned around, looked at the court lady who was about to take her to pick out clothes, and said with a smile: "My second sister is really careless, and I don't even know what I dropped. I have to find a way to return it later." Give it to her. Let's go."

Jiang Yu'e also followed the maid who appeared halfway, turned around and walked in another direction.

On the other side, Jiang Li, who was following the maid to the tea room, raised the corners of her mouth calmly.

When she dropped the note, but there was no sound behind her, she knew that Jiang Yu'e was hooked.

Under such circumstances, Jiang Yu'e couldn't have missed Jiang Li dropping the note. Jiang Yu'e didn't call out to stop her, but she could clearly see the handwriting on the note.

What Jiang Yu'e wanted to do was to go to Ji Shuran to ask for credit, but even if she gave this note to Ji Shuran, it would not explain anything, because Jiang Li did not go to the appointment after all. However, if Jiang Yu'e had listened to what Jiang Li had just said along the way, she would have made a different choice.

With Jiang Yu'e's temperament of being competitive and unwilling to be inferior to others, it is easy to be blinded by the immediate interests. What Jiang Li said, "Being a concubine to Zhou Yanbang is better than being a wife to an ordinary family", but any woman with a brain and dignity would not agree with it, but Jiang Yu'e is not necessarily so.

For now, just deal with this end.

Jiang Li followed the leading lady and turned a corner again before arriving at the tea room at the end of the corridor. The palace maid smiled and said, "Second Miss Jiang, please go in and rest first, there are tea and snacks inside, and the maidservant will bring some copper ice to relieve the heat."

Jiang Li said: "You go."

The maid left, and Jiang Li sat down quietly. After a while, she stood up, walked to the burning incense in the room, and with a curl of her lips, she easily broke the incense into two pieces.

Probably experienced such a thing once, at this moment, Jiang Li's heart was surprisingly calm. Her hand touched a small machete in her sleeve, which was given to her by Jiang Jingrui when she heard that she was going to study in Mingyi Hall. The scimitar is currently hidden in Jiang Li's sleeve, and no one in the palace would have thought that Jiang Yuanbai's daughter would bring such a sharp weapon into the palace, otherwise Jiang Li would not be able to tell even if she had a mouth.

She was not in a hurry, and sat down in front of the small table again, resting her face on her hand, as if she was taking a nap, but she tapped lightly on the table with her other hand, and the oil lamp in front of her tapped lightly, and it was very dazzling. .

The maids outside would not leave yet, Jiang Li thought, at least until Ye Shijie also came in. I just don't know how delirious Ye Shijie is, but if Ye Shijie is really delirious, Jiang Li doesn't mind letting him wake up at the price of bloodshed, so she lightly stroked the sleeve on her sleeve again. machete.

I don't know how long it took, but the oil in the oil lamp was less than half, and suddenly someone was talking outside. After a while, the door opened with a creak, and someone came in from the outside.

Jiang Li still dozed off with her chin propped on.

"Young Master Ye, you can rest here for a while, and then I will get you some refreshments." A woman's voice said.

Jiang Li didn't understand, the door was gently closed again, and the sound of stumbling footsteps came suddenly.

Jiang Li's heart tightened, and she felt the smell of alcohol suddenly lingering on the tip of her nose. She endured and endured, and she didn't know if the maid outside was still there, she just felt that someone was pushing her.

At that moment, the memories of the previous life suddenly flooded into my mind.

Although Xue Fangfei didn't remember anything at that time, she only remembered that she was drunk, but after waking up, facing countless people's contemptuous gazes and accusations, she replayed what might have happened over and over again in her heart, and the more she thought about it, the more she felt. It's disgusting, and the more I think about it, the more terrifying it becomes.

Although it turned out in the end that it was just a conspiracy, she was never able to forgive herself who was weak and powerless at the mercy of others.

Jiang Li suddenly pulled out the scimitar in her sleeve, and pinned it precisely against the opponent. Her voice was cool, restrained and filled with uncontrollable violence, and said, "Ye Shijie."

The other party's breathing suddenly became gentle.

She opened her eyes, and saw that the tip of her knife was pressed against Ye Shijie's throat. The latter's cheeks were flushed and he smelled of alcohol. He looked like a drunk, but he looked at her with astonished eyes.

Jiang Li frowned slightly.

Ye Shijie was not drunk, he was sober.

...

Jiang Yu'e was taken to another side room by the maid who led the way and waited to change clothes.

In fact, she couldn't wait to bring the note in her sleeve to Ji Shuran to show Ji Shuran, so she didn't even have the patience to wait for the person who brought the clothes. When I felt a little irritable, I couldn't help but read the note that fell from Jiang Li's body again.

Jiang Yu'e thought in her heart, but she didn't expect that Jiang Li said on the surface that she didn't care about Zhou Yanbang anymore, but she didn't expect that she still had no ties to Zhou Yanbang in secret. Speaking of which, Jiang Li is also Jiang Yuanbai's daughter. If this matter is really revealed, the palms and backs of the hands will be full of flesh, and the two daughters of the Zhou family will not be able to offend them. I wonder who will Zhou Yanbang marry?

She should marry Jiang Youyao, after all, Jiang Youyao is the one who is engaged to Zhou Yanbang now.

In the end, Zhou Yanbang still wanted to marry Jiang's family members.

For some reason, Jiang Yu'e's heart suddenly recalled what Jiang Li had just said.

"Fifth Sister, with your looks and talent, you will probably only be able to marry an unknown man in the future. Not to mention being compared with Zhou Shizi, you can't even be compared with ordinary officials' children. That's right, to be a regular wife for ordinary people, Maybe it's not as good as being a concubine for Prince Zhou."

Jiang Yu'e thought bitterly, why wasn't she the person Zhou Yanbang asked to meet? It is clear that she is no worse than Jiang Li and Jiang Youyao, but because of her background, she is not even qualified to be in Zhou Yanbang's eyes?

Thinking that the person Jiang Li and Jiang Youyao were entangled with was the prince of Ningyuan Hou like Zhou Yanbang, but his future husband-in-law didn't know if he could compare with Zhou Yanbang's toe, Jiang Yu'e suddenly felt sick, as if I have no interest in anything, and even the idea of ​​seeing Jiang Li make a fool of herself has faded away.

Feeling dizzy from time to time, Jiang Yu'e's heart gradually heated up, and suddenly, a bold idea flashed through her mind.

What if the person meeting with Zhou Yanbang today is himself?

If I used this note to be with Zhou Yanbang in the name of Jiang Li, would Zhou Yanbang feel pity for himself and develop a little love for himself, so that he would find a way to include himself in Ningyuan Hou? Government?

Jiang Yu'e didn't immediately want to be Zhou Yanbang's wife like an idiot's dream. She knew that with her own identity, it was absolutely impossible to become Zhou Yanbang's official wife. But isn't it good to be a concubine, a noble concubine? Jiang Li is right in saying that it is better to be a concubine for Zhou Yanbang than to be a regular wife for the children of common people. At least Zhou Yanbang is a young talent praised by everyone in Yanjing City. , it is not a loss.

The more she thought about it, the more she felt that this was feasible. Jiang Yu'e looked at the note in her palm, and suddenly clenched her palm tightly.

So she decided.

At this time, the maid who delivered the clothes outside the door was returning with the clothes. Seeing this, Jiang Yu'e hurriedly stood up.

She couldn't wait to change into clean clothes and go to Zhou Yanbang's appointment, her anxious appearance aroused some doubts among the maids. Jiang Yu'e wanted to distract others, so she smiled and said: "I suddenly want to go to the latrine, and I will go after changing clothes. Sister doesn't need to accompany me here, just point me in the direction."

The court lady was probably just the person Ji Shuran called to send the letter, and there was nothing else to do after the work was done, so she didn't doubt Jiang Yu'e's words, so she pointed Jiang Yu'e in the direction and said: "Not far, miss, go straight ahead." Go, go to the end and turn right and you will see it."

Jiang Yu'e changed her clothes, opened the door and went out. She first walked towards the hut, and when she reached the end and turned to the right, she turned her head again, seeing that there was no one following her around, she immediately turned her head and walked in another direction.

It is exactly what Zhou Yanbang said in the note, Yuxiu Pavilion at the east gate behind the garden.

Jiang Yu'e walked very fast, and at the end, she started to trot all the way.

When she was running, the refreshing night wind blew on her face, which was very cool and comfortable, but it didn't extinguish the flame in Jiang Yu'e's heart at all, but her heart was getting hotter and hotter.

She had already made up her mind, and when she saw Zhou Yanbang, she told him her admiration, and said that she had suffered a lot in Jiang's house, and she would shed a tear or two when she introduced it. Men, there is no one who is not proud of their admiration for beauties, and even those who call themselves honest and gentlemen can't bear to blame the girl's love. Besides, men like to take pity on the weak, she was so pitiful, she would shed tears when the time came, even if Zhou Yanbang didn't pay attention to himself before, he couldn't help but soften his heart.

As long as she gets Zhou Yanbang's words, as long as she can get in touch with Zhou Yanbang... Jiang Yu'e bit her lip, she can get rid of her fate of marrying a commoner who has no status in the future!

At this time, thinking back to Jiang Li's words just now, the irony and vague contempt in those words made Jiang Yu'e's heart burn like fire.

What about the big Jiang family? Between Jiang Li and Jiang Youyao, only one person is destined to marry Zhou Yanbang. Whether it is Jiang Li or Jiang Youyao, one of them will always be the loser.

If I can enter Ningyuan Hou's Mansion, there will always be one, there will always be a daughter of the eldest son who will lose to me. Married as a concubine, it doesn't matter if it depends on the face of the main wife. Jiang Yu'e thought, Jiang Li used to pretend to be noble, and Jiang Yu'e was spoiled by Ji Shuran, so they naturally didn't know how to please men.

But Jiang Yu'e is confident that she can win Zhou Yanbang's heart.

Just as he was thinking wildly in his heart, Yuxiu Pavilion in the East Garden had already entered.

The attic above the water was pitch black at the moment, and there wasn't even a single lamp burning inside, so it could be seen that no one came here on weekdays. Zhou Yanbang would choose a place, or maybe this place was his favorite early in the morning, and he was waiting for a tryst with Jiang Li today.

Jiang Yu'e smiled lightly, raised her feet and walked inside.

Her heart became hotter. I don't know if it was because of her mood. Jiang Yu'e even felt that she was sweating slightly on her forehead, and even her breathing became a little stagnant. Soothe the heat.

She stopped, let out a long breath, and stopped in front of Yuxiu Pavilion.

As long as she enters this door, she can turn a sparrow into a phoenix, and get rid of a possible mediocre life in the future. This is the money she earned for herself, and it has nothing to do with Sanfang.

Jiang Yu'e opened the door and stepped in.