Revenge of the First Daughter - Chapter 181
Chapter 181 Fair Competition
Yun Xiao looked at the Jin Emperor with an embarrassed expression, her brows furrowed tightly, and a faint smile flashed across her low eyebrows.
There are always a few accidents in this world that will change things.
Imperial Concubine Hua held the handkerchief and smiled softly. “Your Majesty, you should have made your decision earlier. Otherwise, Princess Changping and County Lord Hui Ning will probably be wronged to the end. However, I am curious which family’s girl His Highness the Third Prince admires.”
If he had power and influence, the Emperor would definitely suspect that Zhou Jingyan had the intention of seizing the first wife.
Once the Emperor’s attention was drawn, the Jin Emperor would probably really point the county princess of Huining to Zhou Jingyan.
However, Hua Fei was confident that the woman Zhou Jingyan had chosen would not attract the attention of the Jin Emperor.
Zhou Jingyan lowered his eyebrows and said respectfully, “It’s the Yun Clan’s Fourth Young Lady.”
After he finished speaking, the corner of his eyes turned to Yun Xiao. Sure enough, he smiled when he saw the flames spraying out of Yun Xiao’s eyes.
“Oh? Who is this Fourth Miss Yun? Why have you never heard of her?” Hua Fei’s eyebrows narrowed as she thought for a while, but she didn’t seem to have figured out who Yun Xiao was.
However, when Hua Fei said this, she unconsciously glanced in Yun Xiao’s direction.
Yun Xiao bit the corner of her lips and took a step forward. She respectfully said, “It’s the daughter of the Yun Clan of the Eastern Jin Dynasty.” The Eastern Jin Dynasty always valued agriculture over commerce. The status of merchants looked good, but these people from the Imperial Clan thought that they were inferior to the untouchables.
That was why Yun Xiao boldly replied, hoping that for the sake of Fourth Miss Yun’s low status, Zhou Jingyan’s thoughts would be cut off.
It was just that, helplessly, the Jin Emperor had let Yun Xiao down. He said with great interest, “Fourth Miss Yun? I wonder what her character is like?” It was just a merchant, not some noble, which surprised the Jin Emperor.
Yun Xiao bit her tongue and cursed herself. In her previous life, Zhou Jingyan had been able to ask for an imperial edict to grant him and her a marriage. This meant that the Jin Emperor was very happy that his son did not marry an influential person, but he had even sent him to the door.
However, Yun Xiao quickly thought of a way to remedy the situation. She lowered her eyebrows, and a trace of resentment flashed through her lowered eyebrows. “Reporting to Your Majesty, Fourth Miss Yun just retreated from the marriage with the eldest young master of the Shen Clan two months ago.” Those who retreated from their marriage had always had a bad reputation. Now, by saying this, he had always dispelled the interest of the Jin Emperor.
The interest between the Jin Emperor’s eyebrows faded, but he still looked at Yun Xiao first, “Continue.”
Yun Xiao fiercely pinched herself before she said, “Fourth Young Miss Yun helped her father manage his business after leaving the marriage with Young Master Shen. Now, she often goes to restaurants and other places outside.”
After Yun Xiao said this, Sure enough, he saw the Jin Emperor furrowed his brows. Indeed, this Emperor Shang was not that easy to do, If she was innocent, she would marry him. However, Fourth Miss Yun was not only the daughter of a merchant, she had also retired from marriage with her subjects. Let alone this, Fourth Miss Yun actually appeared in public to do business. The Jin Emperor was a little worried about her character. Because she was worried, her expression became more and more embarrassed.
Yun Xiao coughed lightly and continued, “Fourth Miss Yun is quite famous in the capital. People often mention the Fourth Miss of the Yun Family. Furthermore, it seems that Fourth Miss Yun and County Head Huining are at odds.” That’s the point.
With the Eldest Princess and county princess Hui Ning’s disturbance today, they would definitely be at odds with Yun Xiao. If Zhou Jinyan married Yun Si as his imperial concubine, then the one suffering would definitely be county princess Hui Ning. The Jin Emperor had already felt guilty towards county princess Hui Ning, so he was pushing county princess Hui Ning into the fire pit.
Hearing this, the Jin Emperor wrinkled his eyes.
When Yun Xiao saw this, a faint light appeared in the depths of her eyes.
The Jin Emperor looked at county princess Hui Ning, who was still holding a sharp weapon and kneeling, and sighed, “Changping, put down the sharp weapon in your hand first. You are still a princess, and you have to take care of our dignity. Hui Ning, get up as well. Don’t worry, I will make the decision for you in today’s matter.”
Hearing this, the happiest person was Yun Xiao. Since the Jin Emperor had said this, he was probably already dissatisfied with Yun Xiao in his heart. As long as he added a few more words, Zhou Jingyan’s thoughts would surely be in vain, right?
However, when Yun Xiao lowered her eyebrows, she also noticed the expression of county princess Hui Ning looking at her, with a faint doubt and suspicion.
Yun Xiao coughed dryly and glared at county princess Huining. She said silently, “If you’re not satisfied with what I said, then quickly refute it. You can’t be the Third Prince’s princess either.”
County Lord Hui Ning thought that Yun Xiao knew that she was retreating by advancing. She looked embarrassed and glared back, “You’re crazy. Since you’ve belittled yourself, why should I say something nice to you?”
Yun Xiao smiled, but this trace of laughter froze at the corner of her mouth. She only heard Zhou Jingyan say, “Father, this son has something to say.”
The Jin Emperor also noticed that the one who had been talking was Yun Xiao, this maidservant, and Zhou Jingyan really didn’t say anything, “Speak.”
Zhou Jingyan bowed first and then said, “Father, even though the Yun Family’s fourth young miss is a mess, I still like her. To make Father laugh at her, I have had the privilege of seeing the Yun Family’s fourth young miss before. The Yun Family’s fourth young miss has never given me a good look and has always invited me out.”
After he finished speaking, he laughed self-mockingly. Under everyone’s astonished gazes, he continued, “However, the Fourth Young Lady has saved my life. If it wasn’t for the Yun Family’s Fourth Young Lady saving my life last time, I would have been dead. The Yun Family’s Fourth Young Lady has given me all my life. Even if the Yun Family’s Fourth Young Lady doesn’t like me, I can’t be heartless.”
His words were burning, as if something really happened, causing everyone’s eyes to wrinkle.
It’s really troublesome to give the county princess the position of side concubine and not return the favor of saving her life.
County Lord Hui Ning clenched his hands tightly under his wide sleeves and winked at the maidservant beside him. The maidservant immediately respectfully stepped forward and said, “Third Highness, my county lord saved you last time.”
As soon as she finished speaking, county princess Hui Ning’s expression turned slightly pale, implying anger, “Don’t talk nonsense.” Last time, Zhou Jingyan only thought of Yun Xiao, which made her feel cold.
She really wanted to grab Zhou Jingyan and ask him why he didn’t like her.
However, the truth was right in front of him, and asking such a question was clearly a form of self-humiliation.
But she was unwilling! Really unwilling!
“Oh? What’s going on?” A trace of curiosity bloomed in the Jin Emperor’s eyes. Obviously, he did not understand how strange this matter was.
County Lord Hui Ning winked at Ban Xia. Ban Xia immediately knelt down and respectfully said, “When Prince was assassinated last time, His Highness the Third Prince was rescued by the Second Young Master of Yun Clan. When the County Lord heard about it, he immediately brought His Highness the Third Prince back and asked for medicine for His Highness the Third Prince.”
She was concise, but she said something that everyone was more concerned about. Wasn’t Third Prince Zhou Jingyan saved by Yun Clan’s fourth young miss? Don’t you have the kindness to save your life?
Moreover, when Zhou Jingyan was seriously injured and unconscious, county princess Hui Ning was indeed asking for medical advice. Everyone had heard about these things, not to mention that Zhou Jingyan’s injuries were healed by the doctor brought by county princess Hui Ning.
In this way, the county princess’ kindness was greater than that of the Yun Family’s fourth young miss, let alone that the Yun Family’s fourth young miss had not done anything.
Zhou Jingyan’s eyes wrinkled tightly, and a hint of disgust and impatience appeared in the depths of his eyes. “I don’t know the inside story, do you have the right to speak here?”
Ban Xia’s expression turned pale as he retreated with an embarrassed expression.
However, everyone’s attention was focused on the inside story. Obviously, the truth was not as simple as it seemed.
The Jin Emperor frowned as he looked at the Eldest Princess. Then, he looked into Zhou Jingyan’s eyes with a look of inquiry. He reached out to pinch the space between his eyebrows and sighed, “What exactly happened to you?”
Zhou Jingyan tightly shut his mouth, but didn’t explain. When everyone’s patience was almost exhausted, he said, “Father, I can’t tell you more about the inside story. However, I have already promised the position of imperial concubine. Naturally, there is no reason for me to take it back. Cousin, I will take responsibility, but I can’t give the position to cousin.”
“You, bastard!” The Eldest Princess’s voice was harsh.
The Jin Emperor glanced at the Eldest Princess impatiently before finally saying, “How do you plan to be responsible to Hui Ning?”
Zhou Jingyan pondered for a long time before saying, “Although I can’t give my cousin the position of princess, I will hire her as a princess. As for the internal affairs of the manor, I will leave it to my cousin to take care of.”
Although he wasn’t a princess, his power was equal to that of a princess, and he was able to obtain the power of the Third Prince’s Manor. This method was indeed not bad.
But county princess Hui Ning was unwilling. Zhou Jingyan still made up his mind to marry Yun Xiao! How could it be! In her previous life, Zhou Jingyan had married Yun Xiao, and was extremely proud of her. In her opinion, Zhou Jingyan had fallen in love with Yun Xiao early in the morning and handed over the power of the clan to her. She just couldn’t bear to let Yun Xiao suffer!
She wanted to retort, but the Eldest Princess pulled her sleeve and gave her a look. The anger in County Lord Hui Ning’s heart gradually calmed down.
With her parents’ orders and the matchmaker’s words, no matter how much pain she had in her heart, she couldn’t tell him about her own marriage. Otherwise, not to mention taking charge of the clan, she would probably really provoke Zhou Jingyan.
Her eyes were deep, but she had made up her mind that she would use her actions to prove that she was more useful than Yun Xiao to Zhou Jingyan!
Moreover, she also noticed something that made people happy, and that was that Yun Xiao was unwilling to marry Zhou Jingyan.
Obviously, County Head Huining wasn’t the only one who noticed this. The Eldest Princess also noticed it.
Just then, the Jin Emperor asked her if she was dissatisfied, and the Eldest Princess said, “Huining is still young, and the Yun Family’s fourth young miss is also young. Since that’s the case, why don’t you give Huining and the Yun Family’s fourth young miss a chance to see if the Third Highness is still wholeheartedly willing to marry the Yun Family’s fourth young miss as the imperial concubine after a year?” In short, the Sacred Will was no less than it was now, and the two girls were competing fairly.
Of course, the Eldest Princess was confident in her daughter! Right now, she was stopping the Jin Emperor from issuing an imperial edict and letting Hui Ning be his side concubine. And now, she had also left a sliver of an opportunity for her daughter.
Imperial Concubine Hua’s beautiful face carried a smile. She squinted at Yun Xiao, who was respectful, and the corner of her mouth curled into a faint smile. “Eldest Princess, this proposal is indeed not bad.” In this way, Yun Clan and Eldest Princess would rush to please Zhou Jingyan, which would be even more beneficial to Zhou Jingyan.
Since no one stopped him, even Zhou Jingyan did not say anything. This matter was settled by the Jin Emperor. However, before leaving, he did not forget to say, “Tomorrow, the Xuanyun Clan’s fourth young lady will enter the palace.”
This sentence struck Yun Xiao like a thunderbolt from the blue. The lightning was so tender that it was dumbfounded and somewhat dumbfounded.
