Eighth Young Lady was cheerful and honest. She had never thought about entering the palace. Instead, she felt that the palace was very scary. When she heard old madam's words, she naturally nodded in agreement.
Qin Huining, on the other hand, lowered her head and remained quiet and obedient without saying a word.
She wasn't willing to let go of this opportunity, but what could she do? Your Majesty was high and mighty. Even if she wanted to do something, it was useless. Your Majesty had to choose a woman through the family's connections to participate in the selection. She couldn't bypass the Family Qin and participate in the selection herself.
Anyway, she was just an adopted daughter and didn't have a proper noble birth. If there was anything in the family, they had to think about Qin Yining and Qin Baoning first. It wouldn't be her turn.
%%%
In just one night, the news of Qin Yining's accusation spread throughout the capital. No one knew who secretly added fuel to the fire, but the details of how Qin Yining was kidnapped and abused by Prince Zhongshun were described vividly. It was as if they were the spirits behind the scenes to be able to see it so clearly.
The message spread from one to ten, and from ten to a hundred. Who in the upper-class circle didn't know that the Family Qin's daughter was kidnapped by Prince Zhongshun?
When they thought of how Prince Zhongshun had killed and framed Pang Zhongzheng's old officials when he first entered Beiji, everyone felt deep sympathy for Miss Family Qin.
However, Qin Huaiyuan had used the scheme of sowing discord to harm Pang Zhongzheng. It was natural for a daughter to repay a father's debt.
Qin Yining's name card was naturally returned, and her participation in the election was completely over.
Qin Yining took Lian Xiaozhou and her trusted maidservants with her all day long. Every day, except for going to old madam early in the morning to complete the etiquette, she spent the rest of the time doing needlework in her room. She rarely came out.
When Second Furen heard that Qin Yining took her maidservant to do needlework all day, she praised her several times in front of old madam.
"Sister Yi, you're a sensible girl after all. Now that we don't have any money for ourselves, we can only stay in the guest house. Although this place takes care of our food and lodging, we're a family. What if we want to buy something? I can't ask Your Majesty in Da Zhou for money either. I see that Sister Yi is now working with the maidservants. Presumably, she wants to supplement the family's income. "
Old Madam's heart ached when she heard that.
Although there were many things that Qin Yining didn't do to her liking, she had to admit that she had a good view of the overall situation.
Old madam then called upon the womenfolk in the family to do needlework together.
Qin Huining and Eighth Young Miss stayed by old madam's side every day. Qin Huining carefully catered to her, while Eighth Young Miss had no one to rely on because she had lost her birth mother and di mother. The two of them were extremely filial to old madam.
With the "rebellious and unruly" Qin Yining as a comparison, in addition to the fact that old madam and Qin Huining had raised her for more than ten years, and Eighth Young Miss was innocent and obedient, the two of them were very liked by old madam. However, Qin Yining became the most disliked of the three granddaughters.
Qin Yining didn't care about this at all. As usual, she returned to her room after saluting every day.
Occasionally, one day, she would hear a little maidservant by Second Young Mistress Han's side and a maidservant by Second Furen's side complaining.
"There aren't many people left in our family. Only Fourth Young Miss is pampered. She actually needs five maidservants to serve her. Qin Fu isn't as rich as before. How can she be so arrogant? Even our furen doesn't have that many servants by her side."
"That's right. Our second young mistress only has me and Xiao Tao as her personal attendants."
Qin Yining stopped in her tracks and held Lian Xiaozhou's hand. She turned her head to look at the two maidservants who had their backs facing her. She lightly laughed and said, "Escaping from disaster all the way, those who survive are all lucky. The maidservants by my side have always been very lucky. Naturally, they will all live to be a hundred years old. However, good luck also has a time when it runs out. Don't get too carried away and turn good luck into bad luck. "
The two maidservants were startled and suddenly turned their heads. They saw Qin Yining wearing a light green embroidered cotton cloak and standing in the corridor with her maidservant. The gazes of several people looking at them were unfriendly.
They had not forgotten how this Fourth Young Miss used to be in charge of the inner residence. The two of them kept quiet out of fear and were unable to speak.
Bing Tang ridiculed, "This family has already lost all their money and is now eating food from the government. They haven't touched anyone's money, yet there are still people gossiping. In the future, if they can't stay in the guest house and have to go out, they will have to rely on my master and young miss. There are still people who don't know life from death. Could it be that they won't eat when the time comes?"
"Isn't that so." Ji Yun sneered and said, "They really don't have any rules."
The two maidservants were so scared that they didn't dare raise their heads. They stood there like quails.
Qin Yining did not have any interest in reaching out to the second furen and Han second young mistress. She also didn't care as she left with her people.
The two maidservants watched as Qin Yining walked away without any intention of dealing with them. Only then did they let out a long sigh of relief.
After another ten days, the Anyang Eldest Princess and Marquis North Pacifying Ji Zeyu's wedding was approaching. The capital became lively.
Pang Xiao was Ji Zeyu's sworn brother and naturally had to help out. He was so busy that he only had time to secretly watch Qin Yining a few times.
After eating the Laba Congee, on the tenth day of the twelfth lunar month, a grand wedding shook the capital. Although the Family Qin stayed in the guest house, they could hear the sounds of firecrackers and the heated discussions of the people. There were also curious maidservants who secretly went to watch. When they came back, they vividly described the event.
In summary, it could be summed up in one sentence: The imperial family was marrying off their daughter and the marquis was marrying.
Outsiders could only see the grandeur of the wedding.
Only the bride and groom knew their own feelings.
Li Helan didn't know how many times she cried. When she saw Pang Xiao accompanying Ji Zeyu at the Princess Residence, she almost shed tears on the spot.
Ji Zeyu was expressionless the entire time. His handsome face was like an ice sculpture. He didn't look like he was marrying, but more like he was attending a funeral.
No one dared to slander Marquis North Pacifying for being dissatisfied with this marriage. They only dared to talk about Marquis North Pacifying's personality. He was too honest and too serious.
On the second day of the wedding, Pang Xiao and Ji Zeyu had arranged to eat wine at the Prince Residence. Both of them drank until they were dead drunk. Ji Zeyu didn't even return to the Prince Consort's Residence and directly stayed in the Prince Residence.
When they returned home, Li Helan naturally had to be shy in front of Li Qitian and obediently thank him.
Ji Zeyu stayed in the Imperial Study to talk with Li Qitian. Li Helan went to the Imperial Harem.
The Empress fell ill because of her father's death. They only met briefly before Li Helan went to the Palace of Compassionate and Peaceful.
As soon as she saw the Empress Dowager, Li Helan couldn't hold back her tears.
"The Prince Consort wasn't warm to me. He only dealt with me on the wedding night. Later, I ordered a mama to go to the Prince Consort's Residence to summon him. The servant said that the Prince Consort went to drink with his friends. With the Prince Consort's personality, how could he have friends? He must be unwilling to serve me. That's why he was so evasive. "
The more she thought about it, the more wronged Li Helan felt. She leaned on the Empress Dowager's knees and sobbed.
Although she had been in love with Pang Xiao for a long time, Ji Zeyu was a man with military achievements. He was also handsome. He was also the man that all the women in the world flocked to. How many women could escape his occasional smile?
Li Helan and Ji Zeyu became husband and wife. Naturally, she had many fantasies about him. However, Ji Zeyu was so cold to her. He didn't even kiss her in the bridal chamber. It was as if he was only doing it for the sake of Pang Xiao …
Li Helan naturally couldn't say this kind of secret. However, when she thought about her marriage with Ru Yi, she felt sorry for herself.
The Empress Dowager was very calm. She patted Li Helan's back to comfort her until she stopped crying. Then, she said, "Lan 'er, don't cry. I don't think that the Prince Consort is that kind of person. Is there some misunderstanding? Or … "
The Empress Dowager frowned. Her voice was a bit sharp. "Or is it that you still haven't given up on Pang Zhixi and he found out?"
When Li Helan heard this, her heart skipped a beat. Her expression was a bit sluggish. "It shouldn't be."
"Have you ever gone to find Pang Zhixi again?" The Empress Dowager stared at her daughter sternly.
Li Helan shook her head repeatedly. "No, no. Pang Zhixi sent me back to the palace and handed me over to Imperial Brother. He spoke so bluntly. Why would I go find him? "
The Empress Dowager frowned. After thinking for a moment, she said, "How can there be an impenetrable wall in this world? Perhaps the Prince Consort found out. It's just that he's used to being silent. Which man in this world isn't proud? Moreover, he's such a proud son of heaven. He's your Prince Consort, but you've always had someone else in your heart. How do you want the Prince Consort to face you? "
Li Helan's heart turned cold. She already understood a bit. However, how could she admit defeat on the surface? She straightened her neck and said, "I'm a princess. He has to serve me well as a princess! When I tell him to come to the princess's residence, he has to rush over from the Prince Consort's residence. I don't want to see him, so he has to obediently stay in the Prince Consort's residence. He's not allowed to take in even a bedwarmer by his side! He's here to serve me. Do you want me to accommodate him? "
When the Empress Dowager heard Li Helan's words, she angrily poked her forehead.
"The Prince Consort is not an ordinary man who lives off a woman. If you have such thoughts, then don't expect to be a happy husband and wife! In any case, you only want a servant to serve you, not a husband! Why are you still complaining about him? "
"I … …"
Li Helan was speechless for a moment.
She knew what she wanted in her heart.
She wanted Pang Xiao's love. However, now that she was married to Ji Zeyu, she really liked Ji Zeyu's handsome face.
She hoped that Ji Zeyu would chase after her like a flock of ducks and be obedient to her. She didn't want Ji Zeyu to treat her so coldly.
She also envied those couples who were harmonious and raised their brows. However, she was unwilling. She always thought that if she and Ji Zeyu didn't have a good life, would her Imperial Brother pity her? Would she and Pang Xiao still have hope … …
She knew that she wanted too much. Perhaps she wouldn't be able to get it at all. However, she couldn't help but think about it!
The Empress Dowager looked at Li Helan's appearance and didn't know how to teach her. She really sighed heavily.
In contrast to Li Helan's confusion, Qin Yining was very happy today.
Because Master Zhong had finally arrived in the capital with a group of her confidants!
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