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https://www.xbanxia.com/books/279418.html
Title: 流放前，王妃溜進皇宮搬空國庫 / Exiled Princess: From the Palace Heist to Becoming a Rich Madame
Author: 風涼人暖
Chapter 1: Transmigrated
"Ru'er, this is your last chance. Will you marry him or not?" A furious voice echoed in Jiang Ru's ears, making her shiver involuntarily.
What on earth was happening? Wasn't she supposed to have met her demise in the jaws of zombies?
And now... she was alive again?
Jiang Ru slowly opened her eyes, but before she could fully take in her surroundings, a sharp pain shot through her head, and memories that didn't belong to her flooded her mind.
Simultaneously, a mysterious force tugged at her consciousness. Jiang Ru focused her mind and suppressed that mysterious force.
Wait... she had transmigrated into a world from a novel called the "Da Yan Dynasty" right before the apocalypse.
She was now Jiang Ru, an unfavored legitimate daughter in the prime minister's mansion, with a heartless father and a scheming stepmother.
At this moment, her heart sank as she remembered the current plot – her father was forcing her to marry the unconscious Prince An.
Actually, whether the original owner agreed or not, as a cannon fodder character in the story, she would still end up in Prince An's mansion on her wedding day.
Jiang Ru felt a sense of suffocation in her chest, and she took a deep breath to dispel the tension.
Now, it seemed that the original owner had been driven to death by anger. No matter, with the script in her hands, she remained unfazed.
Since she was here, she might as well play along!
Jiang Ru paid no attention to the tense atmosphere in the courtyard and recalled the plot...
The prime minister's wife, Lady Pei, had a smug look on her face as she comforted her husband. She added fuel to the fire, "Lord Jiang, don't be too hard on Ru'er. She inherited her mother's stubbornness and hot temper... She'll come around eventually."
With these words, Jiang's father recalled the unpleasant memories and angrily raised his hand...
"I'll marry!" Her voice was cold and decisive.
Jiang Ru slowly opened her clear and bright eyes, as pristine as a tranquil pond.
At the moment Prime Minister Jiang raised his hand, Jiang Ru's loyal maids, Dong Xue and Lao Mama, shielded her.
Their voices choked, "Miss, please don't... agree!"
Prince An is still in a coma, and there are rumors about his "hidden ailment"...If she married him, wouldn't she become a widow?
Jiang Ru looked at Dong Xue and Lao Ma, who were protecting her, and pulled them behind her.
The other servants thought to themselves, "Ah, the neglected young lady has finally seen reason."
Madam Pei's face revealed a hint of delight. Finally, she could dispose of those dowry items left behind by that wretched woman.
Prime Minister Jiang's raised hand paused in mid-air, then clenched into a fist. "Ru'er, it would have been good if you had been this obedient earlier."
"Three days from now, you shall obediently marry into Prince An's residence."
"Let me tell you, Prince An is the late Emperor's favorite youngest son, with a revered status and extraordinary looks. If it weren't for his recent illness, why would you have the chance to marry him?"
Prime Minister Jiang's tone dripped with disdain, but his thoughts told a different story.
The late Emperor had a special fondness for Prince An, and it was rumored that he had secretly nurtured a power base for him.
If he could control this force himself, he would surely wield immense influence in the future.
Just the day before, during the morning court session, the Emperor, in an attempt to show how "caring" he was towards his brother, came up with a plan to celebrate Prince An's recovery.
Since childhood, Prince An had been unruly and willful. His behavior worsened after he learned of his "hidden ailment" two years ago, becoming even more irritable and quick to resort to violence.
Hence, when the Emperor proposed a celebration for him, no one in the court dared to step forward.
At that moment, he thought of Jiang Ru, his useless daughter...
The Emperor was delighted, and immediately issued a decree for their marriage.
Once she married into Prince An's residence, he planned to use her to uncover those secrets.
Listening to Prime Minister Jiang's words, Jiang Ru's lips curved with a hint of mockery.
She raised her delicate chin, her gaze indifferent and aloof, exuding an unruly air. "In that case, I'll entrust you all to prepare my mother's dowry as per her list. When I enter Prince An's residence, I will meticulously inspect each item on my mother's dowry list that she left for me."
Her voice was ethereal yet carried an undeniable sense of authority.
The servants who had served her food were suddenly chilled by her current demeanor, sensing an ominous presence.
Madam Pei couldn't contain herself, her face still retaining some charm. "Prime Minister, those... are meant for our Yao'er..."
Before Madam Pei could finish, Jiang Ru's imposing aura surged, and her gaze fixed firmly on Madam Pei's face. "My mother's dowry is meant for me. The wife of the Prime Minister's residence also comes from a prestigious family. To covet the main wife's dowry... Well, you know what that implies."
There was no need to say more; it was a threat!
She was determined to marry her daughter to the Crown Prince, and at this crucial moment, she wouldn't dare go too far.
Jiang Ru's resolute stance shocked everyone.
Was this the same meek young lady from before?
Dong Xue and Lao Mama, while pleased with their mistress's newfound assertiveness, were also concerned about Madam Pei's possible retaliation.
But this was the kind of presence expected from the legitimate daughter of the Prime Minister's residence.
Suddenly, Prime Minister Jiang seemed to see a glimpse of Nangong Li.
With this thought in mind, he looked at Jiang Ru with a slightly less severe gaze...
Ever since her mother's passing, Jiang Ru, the daughter, had hardly made her presence felt in the Prime Minister's residence. Now, she seemed to have taken on more of her mother's qualities.
"Madam Pei, as Ru'er said, prepare all her mother's dowry."
Ignoring her usual dignified demeanor, Madam Pei, in a hurry, grabbed Prime Minister Jiang's sleeve. "Prime Minister, those items can't all be given to Ru'er. Yao'er is going to marry the Crown Prince, and a meager dowry will make her look downgraded..."
Prime Minister Jiang shot a sharp look at Madam Pei, questioning her displeasure. "What about your own dowry back then?"
Then, with a disdainful snort, he left in a huff.
A woman's vision could sometimes be so narrow.
Times had changed, and he was no longer the impoverished young man who had entered the officialdom relying on his wife's wealth.
He had no interest in the wealth left behind by Nangong Li.
Jiang Ru's red lips curled slightly, a glint of coldness flashing in her eyes. "Farewell, Father!"
The original host might have feared this old man, but she didn't.
In the original storyline, the original host was timid, and her mother's dowry had all been given to Madam Pei's two children. When it came to her, she was left with nothing.
As for Jiang Wenhao, the Prime Minister's son...
Thinking of this, Jiang Ru couldn't help but chuckle.
As someone who had once been an observer's perspective, she naturally knew the weaknesses of the characters in the story!
Whether it was Prime Minister Jiang or Madam Pei...
Madam Pei watched Prime Minister Jiang's departing figure, slowly clenching her fists.
What had gotten into that old man?
Wasn't he the one who disliked Nangong Li and her daughter?
Chapter 2: The Space
Madam Pei stared at the face that bore a striking resemblance to Nangong Li, lost in thought.
This Jiang Ru... her scheming runs deep.
Could it be that her previous timid demeanor was all an act? Well, she had been pretending right under her nose for all these years. Madam Pei thought bitterly, "I should have listened to my mother and married this little brat off to that old man."
Although it was supposed to be a wedding for the delight of Prince An, Prince An's status was undeniable. Even if the Crown Prince met Prince An's consort, he would have to address her as "Imperial Aunt."
What a mistake!
The more Madam Pei thought about it, the angrier she became. She glared at Jiang Ru with a malicious look. "Jiang Ru, don't get too cocky. If the wedding doesn't happen as planned, you'll be accompanying Prince An in death, hmph!"
Jiang Ru shrugged it off, flicking nonexistent dust off her sleeve. She countered with a mocking tone, "Who can say what will happen in the future? Right?"
As tension mounted between them, the courtyard seemed to crackle with tension.
When Jiang Ru spoke those words, her voice was icy, devoid of any warmth, sending an inexplicable chill down Madam Pei's spine.
Madam Pei regained her composure and said, "Well, let's see how things play out, hmph!" With that, she left with a few servants, exuding an air of superiority. Jiang Ru, how long do you think you can be so arrogant?
Once these people left, the courtyard felt considerably emptier.
Jiang Ru looked at the old and young servants who were secretly wiping tears away and teasingly said, "Enough of the tears. Your young mistress is the future consort of Prince An, after all."
In the original storyline, because the original host refused to marry Xiao Chengjin, her maids were beaten to death by Prime Minister Jiang.
Dong Xue and Mama Liu exchanged glances and both knelt down, "Regarding the matter of Prince An's wedding, we hope Young Miss will reconsider."
Jiang Ru helped them up, a touch of helplessness in her tone. "The matter of the wedding has already been ordered by the Emperor..."
It was only then that Dong Xue and Mama Liu realized that their young miss's situation was indeed quite dire.
"Alright, I'm tired. You may leave," Jiang Ru said and then returned to her room, closing the door behind her.
She needed to examine the mysterious power in her sea of consciousness.
Jiang Ru sat at the table, gently closed her eyelids, and allowed her thoughts to slowly enter her sea of consciousness.
This is... space?
Jiang Ru thought to herself, "Enter!"
With a flash, she found herself in that mysterious space.
Jiang Ru covered her mouth, unbelieving of what she saw before her...
In the end, she had unexpectedly opened her personal space after death, even though she hadn't awakened any special abilities in the apocalypse.
Oh dear, Heaven and Earth, you finally remembered your estranged daughter, Jiang Ru!
However, this space seemed a bit different from the spaces of those with abilities.
In the apocalypse, those with spatial abilities could only store objects in their spaces, but this space seemed to allow for farming...
Jiang Ru felt considerably refreshed upon entering this space. She had a premonition that this space contained spiritual energy! There was a fishpond, fertile soil, mist-covered mountains, like a paradise on Earth. And that quaint courtyard... this setup was just too "perfect"!
Jiang Ru covered her mouth, exclaiming in her heart, "Oh, Heaven and Earth, I love you!"
When her gaze fell on the stream behind the courtyard, a flash of insight crossed her mind. This is... a spiritual spring.
My goodness! This is the proper way to transmigrate into another world. Thinking back to the days of famine and desperate escape in the apocalypse, Jiang Ru still felt some lingering fear.
She was still unsure about the time difference between the space and the outside world. After squatting down by the stream, she first examined her reflection in the water.
Hmm, although she looked a bit thinner, her features were somewhat similar to her past life. She was a beauty, hehe!
Jiang Ru cupped a handful of spiritual spring water and drank it. Feeling refreshed, she left the space.
In this second chance at life, she needed to plan her future carefully.
Since she had taken over the original host's body, those in the Prime Minister's residence who had mistreated her would naturally be dealt with personally.
Jiang Ru sat at the table, rhythmically tapping her fingers on the tabletop as she reconsidered the original plot.
Xiao Chengjin, handsome in appearance, but with a temper, and averse to women, likely due to a hidden ailment.
Well, she could understand Xiao Chengjin a bit now.
Back to the main point.
In the original plot, the Emperor, who seemed to cherish his younger brother Xiao Chengjin greatly, was actually wary of him. On his deathbed, the previous Emepror secretly summoned five-year-old Xiao Chengjin. The Emperor fears that his younger brother held his father's will or some important token.
Now, with Xiao Chengjin approaching adulthood, the Emperor was worried about nurturing a potential threat and planned to remove him soon.
Xiao Chengjin's recent coma was orchestrated by the Emperor himself.
In the upcoming plot, the Emperor would first stage a show of brotherly love, but soon enough, he might take advantage of Xiao Chengjin's illness to eliminate him.
In the storyline, the Emperor issued a decree: Xiao Chengjin had secretly hoarded troops and intended to rebel. As of today, he was stripped of his title, reduced to a commoner, all family property confiscated, and he was to be exiled a thousand miles away to Jizhou, never to return to the capital for life.
Upon hearing this news, Prime Minister Jiang immediately announced the severance of ties with the original host.
The wedding was canceled, and it was Jiang Ru who ended up in exile. The original host became a scapegoat in the eyes of the capital's citizens.
This whole matter was baseless and exaggerated. To display his generosity and benevolence towards his younger brother, the Emperor arranged for a group of guards to escort Xiao Chengjin, the original host, and others to Jizhou in full view of the citizens.
This gesture further endeared the Emperor to the people.
The original host, being of a timid disposition, was already terrified by the turn of events and spent her days in tears.
During their exile journey, they encountered several waves of assassins, all of whom were dealt with by Xiao Chengjin's private guards.
Upon reaching the outskirts of Jizhou, they settled in a village called Huaxi Village.
Misfortunes never come singly.
Jizhou was experiencing a severe drought, and crops in the fields died, plunging the entire region into famine.
At the time, the wealthy families had raised grain prices. The money the original host had brought was quickly running out.
Because of her embarrassment and an unwillingness to ask her servants for money, the original host, who had never experienced such hardships, harbored resentment towards her current life.
In a fit of anger, she got involved with a wealthy young man from the town.
Not long after, Xiao Chengjin woke up.
Jiang Ru speculated that he must have been healed by a certain divine doctor!
After waking up, Xiao Chengjin knew that the original host had been implicated because of him, but he didn't trouble her. Instead, he handed her a document of divorce and a sum of money to settle down.
The original host became a concubine for that wealthy young man, but she was killed by his main wife in less than half a year.
This was the life trajectory of the original host, who had been nothing more than cannon fodder.
So, Jiang Ru only needed to wait for Xiao Chengjin to wake up and hand over the divorce document.
As for the future direction of the world in the book? She had no way of knowing.
Following the original host's memories, Jiang Ru got up and retrieved the dowry list from a box on the dressing table, reading through it.
It was no wonder she was the daughter of a merchant; this dowry was extravagant!
Shops, residences, fertile fields... Was she on her way to becoming a wealthy woman?
Chapter 3: Miss Takes Revenge
Jiang Qinián, considering himself virtuous and looking down upon the original host's mother's merchant background, shamelessly squandered her money.
Because of this, shortly after marrying the original host's mother, Jiang Qinián, in an attempt to salvage his own reputation, took in Pei Shi as a concubine, despite her status as an official's daughter.
At the time, Jiang Qinián held the position of Assistant Minister of Revenue.
If not for these funds paving your way, could you have risen in the official ranks?
Bah! A freeloader through and through.
No matter how he tried to present himself as virtuous and upright, he couldn't wash away the stain of being a freeloader.
Jiang Ru placed her hand on a teacup and thought, "Collect."
As expected, the cup was successfully stored in her space.
Now, with this space, she wouldn't have trouble taking things away, no matter how many they were.
Those shops and properties could all be sold before their exile.
Furthermore, she would take everything that belonged to the original host's mother.
Let this family rely on Jiang Qinián's meager salary for their livelihood!
...
Pei Shi hurried back to her room, tossing things to the floor in a fit of rage.
Nangong Li's dowry wasn't just a collection of gold and jewelry. She had already leased out both sets of residences and her various shops and fertile fields to relatives. Did she really have to give all of these to that little brat?
No, absolutely not!
Back then, she had driven Nangong Li to an early grave to control the household expenses of the Prime Minister's Mansion.
Without the income from those businesses, their life in the Prime Minister's Mansion would plummet.
Yao'er's dowry was secondary; Han'er was still young, and there would be more places to spend money on in the future!
Thinking of this, Pei Shi's hands clenched slowly, and her nails embedded themselves in her palms without her feeling any pain.
She would use these next few days to make that wretched girl willingly hand over the management of these businesses.
Back then, even her mother couldn't beat me, let alone a little girl who hasn't seen the world!
...
Jiang Ru stood in the courtyard, gazing into the distance. A gentle breeze wafted by, carrying a faint scent of magnolia blossoms.
It was March in the sun, and the flowers were in full bloom. It was time for a leisurely stroll.
In the memories she had received, the original host had never left the Prime Minister's Mansion since her mother's death, and she hadn't stepped out of this courtyard after experiencing some events.
She had once been the darling of everyone.
Without her mother's support, the servants in the Prime Minister's Mansion all disregarded her. This stark contrast had made it difficult for the original host to accept, so she could only shrink into this corner of the world.
Jiang Ru sighed softly and saw the two people bustling about in the small kitchen.
"Dong Xue, there's no need to prepare lunch today. I'll eat in the front courtyard," she said.
Dong Xue and Lao Ma Ma exchanged a glance at her words. They knew that their young miss had probably come out of the shadow of losing her mother. Dong Xue came out of the kitchen and smiled, "Miss, let me help you change."
Jiang Ru nodded slightly.
In fact, most of the original host's clothes were worn by Jiang Yunyao, and those despicable servants had conspired against the original host.
Today, she would take back all the monthly silver owed to the original host in one go.
Jiang Ru let Dong Xue help her change into a simple and elegant outfit and then leisurely walked to the front courtyard.
Her appearance surprised the servants. Why would the young miss come out? It must be because she was going to prepare for the wedding with Prince An and had given up on everything else.
Just then, Jiang Ru suddenly saw an old woman walking briskly toward her from the front.
She suddenly remembered that it was this old hag who had pushed the nine-year-old original host into the water back then.
The original host was too young at that time, and she was afraid of the servants by Pei Shi's side.
Jiang Ru smirked and intentionally leaned toward the middle of the road.
She knew that this group of servants was watching the commotion. Inwardly, she mocked them, "Watch closely. I will deal with each of you over the next three days."
This Zhou Po was Pei Shi's accompanying dowry maid. When she saw Jiang Ru appear in the front courtyard, she had been planning to secretly deliver a message to Pei Shi.
Just as Zhou Po touched the hem of Jiang Ru's clothes, Jiang Ru deliberately stumbled and shouted angrily, "Aiyo! Did that stupid servant bump into this young lady?"
Zhou Po rolled her eyes and replied with disdain, "Aiyo! Isn't this our young miss? Why didn't you watch where you were going?"
Jiang Ru had been waiting for this response.
With a wicked smile, she countered, "Why didn't I watch where I was going?"
And the conversation took a sharp turn.
"Dong Xue, give her a resounding slap. Today, I want this insolent servant to learn who... failed to watch the road." Jiang Ru's voice remained cold, devoid of any fluctuation, emanating a sinister aura.
Dong Xue was momentarily stunned by Jiang Ru's aura, but after regaining her senses, she came before Zhou Po and slapped her hard.
To hell with you, you old witch, for always bullying our young miss! Ouch, my hand hurts.
"Ahh!"
The blow left Zhou Po with a trace of fear in her heart. She covered her burning face and, for a moment, her lowered gaze revealed a hint of malice.
With Madam supporting her, she had no reason to fear the famous but groundless young miss!
The entire Prime Minister's Mansion was under Madam's influence, and they must have already reported to Madam.
When Madam arrives, she'll cry and complain about this wretched girl and make sure she gets punished.
What Zhou Po didn't know was that the people she referred to as informants had already been shocked by the scene before them!
"Miss, just now the old slave..."
Seeing that Zhou Po was still defiant, Jiang Ru sneered, "Dong Xue, keep hitting her until she admits her mistake."
Dong Xue quickly understood her young miss's intentions: this was about revenge! Regardless, she would vent her young miss's pent-up anger. If Madam were to investigate later, she would willingly accept the punishment on her behalf.
Dong Xue rolled up her sleeves, took a swing with her left and right hands, and gave Zhou Po a thorough thrashing...
Zhou Po's face visibly swelled, and her lips even had traces of blood.
She was left dizzy from the beating, and the pain on her face reminded her that this time, the young miss was playing for real.
Suddenly, she became frightened. She immediately knelt on the ground, begging for mercy with a trembling voice, "Miss, spare me, please!"
Jiang Ru took a step forward, raising her toe and placing it on Zhou Po's right hand pressed against the ground.
"Nine years ago, it was this hand of yours that pushed me into the pond...right?" Her voice remained calm, but it sent shivers down one's spine for no apparent reason.
Zhou Po froze, her body stiffening. She hurriedly kowtowed and stammered, "Y-yes, it was... that's right!"
Jiang Ru ruthlessly ground her toe onto her hand. Her words were sharp, "You think you're wrong now? Do you know that, back then when I fell into the water, I had a fever for days and nearly died?"
Standing on the side, Dong Xue couldn't help but shed tears. So... the young miss remembered.
If it weren't for Steward Ji secretly delivering some fever-reducing medicine that night, the young miss might have truly...
The surrounding servants were all in shock, especially the older ones, who suddenly felt like they were seeing the late Madam's shadow again.
Chapter 4: She Never Loses in Verbal Battles
Today, Jiang Yunyao had made plans with her girlfriends to visit the newly opened Jinsheng Silver Pavilion to admire some jewelry. She was in a joyful mood and discussing the news of Jiang Ru's upcoming wedding to Prince An.
Since the Emperor granted this marriage, she had no choice but to comply.
Upon returning to the Prime Minister's Mansion, she heard cries not too far away.
Furrowing her brows in annoyance, she muttered to herself, "Who dares to make such a racket in the Prime Minister's Mansion?"
Jiang Yunyao's maid, Chunmei, had sharp eyes and soon noticed Jiang Ru's figure. She timidly said, "Miss, it seems like we've seen Miss Jiang!"
"What?"
Jiang Yunyao was astonished by the news, and a trace of disbelief crossed her pretty face.
"Let's go take a look!"
The mistress and servant hurried forward.
When Jiang Yunyao saw the bruised and swollen Zhou Po kneeling on the ground, her heart was instantly filled with anger. She rushed over and asked, "Nurse, what happened to you?"
Then, she turned and questioned Jiang Ru, "Jiang Ru, what are you doing?"
Upon seeing someone supporting her, Zhou Po's wails grew even louder. "Save me, please!"
Jiang Ru, annoyed by Zhou Po's cries, kicked her to the ground and said darkly, "Troublesome servant, if you dare make another sound, I'll rip out your tongue."
Trembling, Zhou Po instinctively covered her mouth with her hands, her eyes filled with fear.
Jiang Ru was satisfied with Zhou Po's reaction before shifting her gaze to the irritated Jiang Yunyao...
"Jiang Er, you greet your elder sister without even saying hello? How refined!" The mockery in her tone was obvious.
Jiang Yunyao's eyes widened suddenly, momentarily at a loss for words...
Wasn't this fierce woman in front of her the cowardly girl from Liuli Court?
Observing Jiang Yunyao's reaction, Jiang Ru's lips curled into a cold smile. "Huh, Jiang Yunyao, the capital's number one talented lady, so intelligent and virtuous. Now, it seems... that's all just talk."
For Jiang Yunyao, who had been adored by everyone and was the future Princess Consort, these words were a fatal blow.
She was the future wife of the Crown Prince in everyone's eyes.
All those young gentlemen in the capital were infatuated with her! Now, she was being ridiculed by this talentless and ugly woman!
Under the sunlight, Jiang Ru appeared somewhat slender, but her exquisite face was exceptionally radiant. Especially her aura was not to be underestimated.
At this moment, Jiang Yunyao inexplicably felt a sense of oppression.
It didn't matter; Jiang Ru was about to marry Prince An, that living corpse.
Humph! In this lifetime, she would definitely become an unrivaled figure, and everyone would look up to her.
This lowly wench, what could she achieve?
For some reason, since the moment Jiang Ru agreed to marry Prince An, she even had a feeling that Jiang Ru was slipping from her control.
No, she must be overthinking it.
She signaled to Liu Pozi, who was nearby. Liu Pozi understood and quickly took a few steps forward, raising her sharp voice to shout, "Madam, please come quickly! Miss Zhou is about to be beaten to death."
Pei Fei pretended to rush over a few steps, her face full of concern as she looked at Zhou Po. "Someone, quickly help Madam Zhou up."
Jiang Yunyao was about to report the incident, but she was immediately silenced by a glare from Pei Fei. She could only stand quietly on the side and watch.
Pei Fei turned around, her face dark, and looked at Jiang Ru's maid and Jiang Ru herself. "Miss Jiang, why did you beat Madam Zhou?"
Jiang Ru met Pei Fei's gaze directly. "I was simply teaching this arrogant servant a lesson. If word gets out that the servants in the Prime Minister's Mansion dare to be unruly in front of their masters, where will the Prime Minister's Mansion's prestige be?"
Pei Fei's anger surged, and she glanced at the pitiful Zhou Po. Her brain quickly worked...
Jiang Qinian cherished his reputation above all else. If this matter reached his ears, Zhou Po might end up being sold off.
Jiang Ru's actions today were undoubtedly a retaliation, or perhaps, a formal declaration of war against her.
For now, she could only swallow her anger.
With a different perspective, a cold glint flashed in Pei Fei's eyes. She smiled falsely and said, "Ru'er, you're about to become a bride. Why do you still have such a fiery temper?"
How's that? Did I strike a nerve? You're no match for me in this verbal battle.
Jiang Ru chuckled, "Indeed! Once I marry into Prince An's residence, I'll become the legitimate Princess of Prince An."
By then, you'll have to pay your respects to me as Princess An.
Humph! When it comes to verbal battles, Jiang Ru has never lost.
Hearing this, Pei Fei's complexion alternated between green and white.
Right! How could she forget that Jiang Ru was about to enter the Royal Palace.
The atmosphere suddenly fell into silence.
A maid approached, bowing slightly, and said, "Madam, it's time for lunch."
Pei Fei, maintaining her appearance as the lady of the house, replied coldly, "Madam knows, you may proceed."
"Help Madam Zhou up and have the mansion's physician check on her." After saying this, Pei Fei walked toward the dining hall.
Jiang Ru raised an eyebrow and said to her companion, Dong Xue, "Let's go."
As they passed by Jiang Yunyao, Jiang Ru pretended to be nostalgic. "It's been eight years since I dined in the hall. I wonder if there have been any changes? Perhaps someone... has taken over my seat."
Jiang Yunyao: "..."
Is this cowardly girl implying that I've taken her place?
Humph! There's no place for her in the hall anymore.
Jiang Qinian was momentarily stunned when he saw Jiang Ru.
Ever since that winter when she fell ill, she had set up a small kitchen in the yard by herself.
"Ru'er greets father!"
After bowing to Prime Minister Jiang, Jiang Ru followed her predecessor's memory and went to her designated seat.
Jiang Qinian thought to himself that since his daughter was about to marry into Prince An's residence, she would have very few opportunities to dine together with him in the future.
"Ru'er, please sit down!"
Jiang Ru nodded slightly and sat gracefully.
Pei Fei watched Jiang Ru sitting there, her hands tightly twisting a silk handkerchief.
At this moment, if she were to make a fuss about where she sat, would Prime Minister Jiang become angry?
Jiang Yunyao, who followed behind, had an expression that was difficult to describe when she saw Jiang Ru sitting in her spot.
It wasn't just a matter of seating; it was a symbol of her status in the Prime Minister's Mansion.
Jiang Ru, your existence is redundant, just like your deceased mother.
How could Prime Minister Jiang not be aware of the rivalry between them? He felt that for now, he should favor Jiang Ru. After all, he had important tasks to entrust to her.
"Are you all dead, you bunch of servant dogs? Hurry up and fetch a chair for Second Miss." After Jiang Qinian spoke, the servants who were observing the situation carefully began to act.
The Second Miss was about to make a move!
What to do?
If only I hadn't tripped her earlier.
Upon hearing this, Jiang Yunyao's eyes welled up with tears, and she looked like a wronged maiden.
Seeing her tearful appearance, Jiang Ru couldn't help but shiver.
Tsk, tsk! What an Oscar-worthy performance. The world owes you an "Academy Award."
Chapter 5: Treat Others as You Wish to Be Treated
Jiang Qinian glanced at Jiang Yunyao, his brows slightly furrowed.
Pei Fei, sensing the atmosphere, hurriedly got up and took Jiang Yunyao's hand. "Come, Yao'er, sit by your mother."
Ignoring Pei Fei and her daughter, Jiang Qinian quickly finished his lunch and went straight to his study.
This lunch was quite enjoyable for Jiang Ru. After all, the people present were not in the best mood...
Jiang Ru looked at the untouched roast goose on her plate and picked it up, handing it to Dong Xue. "Dong Xue, you and Lao Ma have taken good care of me. Take this back to the Glass Pavilion and enjoy it!"
"Yes, Miss." Dong Xue didn't hesitate, taking the plate and heading toward the Glass Pavilion.
She couldn't contain herself any longer. She wanted to show off how her mistress had dealt with Zhou Po.
The people in the dining hall were left dumbfounded by Jiang Ru's actions.
Pei Fei put down her utensils and wiped her lips with a silk handkerchief, wearing the expression of a lady of the house. "Ru'er, it's a shame to waste the roast goose on the servants. You..."
A glint of coldness flashed in Jiang Ru's eyes as she retorted without reservation, "If Zhou Po, that unruly servant, can see the family physician, what's wrong with my people enjoying roast goose?"
The atmosphere in the dining hall became somewhat awkward.
Just then, a young boy dressed in a blue court outfit walked in.
This young boy was none other than Jiang Wenhao, the young master of the Prime Minister's residence.
His gaze subconsciously turned to the seat where Jiang Yunyao used to sit. When he saw an unfamiliar face, he arrogantly inquired, "Who are you?"
Jiang Ru raised an eyebrow, looking at the boy of about ten years old. "It seems that the young master of the Prime Minister's residence doesn't know how to greet his elder sister properly."
With that, she shifted her gaze to Pei Fei's gloomy face.
The term "elder sister" stoked Pei Fei's resentment.
She was an official's daughter, while Nangong Li was just a merchant's daughter. Because she was a secondary wife, she would always be inferior to that wretched woman Nangong Li. Even her own children were the same.
"Hao'er, she's your elder sister. You should greet her properly in the future, understand?" Pei Fei ground her teeth and uttered these words with a look that said, "You better listen."
Jiang Wenhao was the only son of the Prime Minister's residence. He had been pampered since childhood and had already developed into a little tyrant who looked down on others.
When he saw Jiang Ru's taunting smile, he instantly flared up.
"I have only one elder sister, and that's her." Jiang Wenhao pointed to Jiang Yunyao, who was sitting beside him.
Jiang Ru chuckled, "Tsk tsk! If your father knew that his 'only' son had turned out like this, would he be punished to kneel at the ancestral hall?"
When the original owner was eight years old, she hadn't yet recovered from the grief of losing her mother. Because she refused to greet Pei Fei and show respect, Pei Fei, who was pregnant at the time, tearfully complained to Prime Minister Jiang. That time, Prime Minister Jiang had punished the original owner to kneel in the ancestral hall for a night.
Seeing the cold glint in Jiang Ru's eyes, Pei Fei knew that she was recalling the time when she was punished to kneel in the ancestral hall.
"Ru'er, Hao'er is still young, and he's not familiar with you. Don't blame him," Pei Fei said through gritted teeth, giving Jiang Ru a look that said she should cooperate.
Having eaten her fill, Jiang Ru slowly stood up. When she passed by Pei Fei, she spoke softly in a voice that only the two of them could hear, "Hao'er's appearance... doesn't quite resemble Father, does it?"
Pei Fei's legs went weak, and a trace of panic flashed in her eyes. She tried to maintain her composure. "I don't understand what you're talking about."
Jiang Ru extended her slender jade finger, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear, with a look that said she knew everything. "Not understanding is fine. Tomorrow morning, have all the dowry prepared by my mother ready."
Before leaving, Jiang Ru gave Pei Fei a knowing look and departed with a sense of satisfaction.
Pei Fei watched Jiang Ru's departing figure, her chest heaving with anger. Cutting the grass but not removing the roots... it would lead to endless trouble. This wretched girl couldn't be allowed to stay.
No, she still had to go and celebrate the wedding for Prince An. If anything happened to her now, would the Emperor allow Yunyao to replace her?
For a moment, Pei Fei's thoughts surged, and the uncontrollable anger consumed the last shreds of her rationality.
"Ah..."
Seeing the dining table overturned, Jiang Yunyao and her younger brother clung to each other in fear, trembling.
Jiang Ru, listening to the sounds coming from the dining hall, smiled contentedly.
It was just a matter of treating others as they had treated her, and the reaction was unexpectedly intense.
The original host's mother was slandered for maintaining normal business relations with partners, portraying her as unfaithful to her husband. But the real unfaithful one was... the thief crying "thief."
As for Prime Minister Jiang and his involvement in this, what did it have to do with her?
Jiang Ru thought about how today was the day to receive her monthly allowance and decided to make her way to the account room...
...
At the Glass Pavilion.
After Dong Xue returned and placed the plate down, she excitedly recounted what happened in the front courtyard to Granny Liu. Afraid that Granny Liu wouldn't believe her, she even stretched out her slightly swollen hand to show it off.
Granny Liu touched Dong Xue's hand with her rough fingers and murmured with teary eyes, "You silly girl."
...
In the account room.
When Steward Ji saw Jiang Ru appear, he suddenly stopped counting on the abacus.
Miss, after enduring silently for so many years, you've finally left the Glass Pavilion.
Actually, he had heard about what happened in the front courtyard just now. He just found it hard to believe...
"Steward Ji, greetings to Miss!" Steward Ji's nose tingled, and his voice choked up.
Jiang Ru pretended to help Steward Ji up, and her bearing as the legitimate daughter was well executed. "Steward Ji, what's the monthly allowance for the second miss of our Prime Minister's residence?"
Hearing this, a glint of light flashed in Steward Ji's eyes. "Miss, the second miss's monthly allowance is fifty taels."
"Very well. Based on this fifty-tael monthly standard, make up all the monthly allowances owed to me for these nine years," Jiang Ru said casually and then found a chair to sit down, waiting.
"Yes, Miss." Steward Ji approached the table, pulled out an abacus, and began to calculate energetically.
The other two servants in the account room exchanged glances. One of them quietly left the room.
Jiang Ru watched the panicking servant's departure and couldn't help but smile faintly.
Go ahead! I'm afraid you won't go report this.
After Steward Ji finished calculating, he reported the amount, "Miss, the monthly allowance for these nine years, based on the fifty-tael standard, amounts to a total of four thousand eight hundred sixty taels."
Jiang Ru: "..."
She was shocked when she saw the numbers. Well, well! That's a lot of silver!
"Steward Ji, for these nine years, all the clothes the second miss wore every season were handed down to me. Let's round it up to five thousand taels," Jiang Ru said, her eyes twinkling.
Steward Ji, watching Jiang Ru's money-loving appearance, spoke with a hint of pleasure, "I'll arrange for someone to bring it to the courtyard, Miss."
Jiang Ru blinked her eyes and whispered, "Over these years, thank you, Steward Ji!"
Steward Ji nodded slightly, and in his eyes, there was a hint of approval.
What a clever young lady!