Chapter 193

Chapter 193 The Successor to the Title in the Ji Family

“Your Highness.” Ji Youran hurried to the yard where Crown Prince lived. When she reached the door, she composed herself and asked someone to go in and report. Then, she followed that person inside. When she saw Pei Luo’an, she immediately bowed. Her eyes were weak and red. She looked extremely pitiful!

“What is it?” Pei Luo’an glanced at her indifferently, and a trace of impatience flashed through his eyes.

In the past few days, Ji Youran had used this matter to trouble him a lot. It wasn’t that he didn’t want to help the Ji Family’s second branch inherit the title, but there really was nothing he could do now.

Thinking of how Father had reprimanded him just now, Pei Luo’an felt depressed.

Most importantly, at that time, Pei Yuanjun was still there. Pei Yuanjun’s eyes were as if smiling, and he leaned against the chair railing. Pei Yuanjun looked at Pei Luo’an with a bit of ridicule in his eyes, which made Pei Luo’an even more aggrieved and angry.

Originally, when he went into the palace, he wanted to talk to Father that Ji Yongming’s matter should not be changed so as to avoid the enmity of the Ji Family’s second branch. However, what did Father say? Father said that it was rumored that the Ji Family’s second branch was trying to seize the title of Earl Ling’an and even sent a daughter to Eastern Palace. Their goal was to tempt the Crown Prince so that the Crown Prince would only care about the beauty in front of him and forget the late Crown Princess.

When saying this, Father looked at Pei Luo’an with a bit of doubt and even a bit of indifference.

At that time, Pei Luo’an immediately stopped talking. He did not dare to say anything about directly giving the title to the second branch and even broke out in cold sweat. Pei Luo’an had a rough idea of what Father meant—Father felt that Pei Luo’an was ungrateful because if he could even give up on Ji Hanyue, what could he not give up?

He could not give Father the impression that he was heartless, greedy for women, and ungrateful.

In that instant, Pei Luo’an understood his own situation. He immediately knelt down and confessed that he was ignorant. He showed his agreement with Father’s idea, and then he expressed his love for Ji Hanyue and his respect for Ji Yongming.

Only after he finished speaking did the Emperor’s expression become a little better.

“Go back. Your second younger brother will be Young Master Ling’an, and when he comes of age, he will inherit the title.” Pei Luo’an suppressed the depression in his heart and said coldly to Ji Youran.

He was obviously the eldest son of the Emperor, and he was wife-born. He was the current Crown Prince and would be the Emperor in the future, but he had never had much dignity in front of Pei Yuanjun. When Pei Luo’an thought of this, he felt aggrieved. He always felt that Father was too good to Pei Yuanjun.

On what basis?

“Your Highness!” Ji Youran looked at Pei Luo’an in shock and said in a sorrowful voice, her hands and feet cold.

Just now, her mother had sent a message saying that something bad was going to happen. That was why she came to the Crown Prince again and asked for help. She had not expected things to be so serious. What was going on? What on earth was she plotting for? Why did it become like this? Now that Ji Hanyue was gone, wasn’t everything supposed to be hers?

“Leave!” Pei Luo’an said in a deep voice.

He was also in a bad mood. Seeing Ji Youran now was like seeing himself in the imperial study. How could he be happy?

“Your Highness…” Ji Youran called out miserably.

“Still not leaving? Since you have already married into Eastern Palace, you are a member of Crown Prince’s Mansion from now on. Keep yourself out of the Ji Family’s affairs.” Looking at Ji Youran in front of him, Pei Luo’an was inexplicably upset and said harshly.

If Ji Hanyue were here, according to her way of dealing with affairs, things would not have come to this point, and she would also not come to ask him for help at this time without understanding the actual situation.

The more Ji Youran begged him, the more he felt that he was useless, and he became more and more sullen and annoyed.

He pressed his hand hard on a music score on the table, and his eyes were cold.

It was an old music score. Ji Hanyue had casually placed it here. It was a part of the score that she had not yet finished. Although Ji Hanyue’s embroidery was ordinary, she could be called a talented lady in other aspects. Writing music was her strong suit, and this score was something she had created in Crown Prince’s Mansion when she felt inspired some time back then.

It was a pity that it was not finished yet.

Pei Luo’an was in a bad mood today, so he specially sent someone to look for the score. Originally, he wanted to continue writing it, but now he felt even more irritated. He felt as if a bright and beautiful face had appeared in front of him. With a dignified and appropriate smile, the face looked up and spoke in a delicate voice. Instantly, his heart seemed to be fiercely pulled by something.

He suddenly stood up and walked past Ji Youran, who was still kneeling on the ground. He flung his brocade robe and strode out.

“Your Highness, Your Highness!” The cry of Ji Youran came from behind, but Pei Luo’an left without looking back.

Only Ji Youran, whose face was full of tears, was still kneeling there.

The servants all lowered their heads, as if they couldn’t see what was happening. They stood there quietly, but their hearts were throbbing wildly.

Did this mean that Princess Ji had lost favor? So Princess Ji couldn’t be the Crown Princess of Eastern Palace, could she?

The matter of Earl Ling’an’s Mansion asking for an heir had soon come to an end. The second branch’s concubine-born son, Ji Yuanhai, had been moved to the first branch to become Earl Ling’an Ji Yongming’s stepson. He was to recognize Ji Yongming as his father and the Crown Princess as his sister. Although he was still young now and had yet to directly inherit the title, he could still be Young Master Ling’an.

Ji Yuanhai was also a smart person. After the eunuch who came over finished announcing the decree, Ji Yuanhai knelt down again and begged the eunuch to ask for the decree from the Emperor to release Concubine Xiang.

He said that Concubine Xiang was the only elder from the first branch, that she accompanied the Madam when the latter married into the mansion, and that she was the concubine specifically assigned to Earl Ling’an by the Madam. Her identity was not ordinary. Moreover, she went to the governor this time for the sake of his younger sister.

Although Ji Yuanhai was young, his manner was calm, and his words and actions did not show any trace of timidity. He seemed to be a capable person. Plus, he was Earl Ling’an’s stepson and the Crown Princess’s stepbrother, so it was impossible for the Emperor and the Crown Prince to treat him unfairly.

It was just a matter of sending a message. The eunuch, who was the messager, did Ji Yuanhai a favor and agreed without hesitation.

When he went back to deliver the message, he deliberately pointed this out. What happened after that was much simpler. Concubine Xiang was the plaintiff, and she had already been beaten up. After that, she was sent to prison. As for the matter of Third Lady Ji, nothing was found for the time being. But no matter what was going to be found out, Concubine Xiang, the plaintiff, was allowed to go back temporarily.

Since the Emperor had given the Ji Family’s first branch a favor, it was not difficult for him to make use of this opportunity to do another thing. Therefore, the Emperor announced an oral decree, which was sent to the governor’s place. He ordered that Concubine Xiang go back to Earl Ling’an’s Mansion for the time being, and that if there were a need, they could bring Concubine Xiang to the court again.

“My lady, Concubine Xiang has returned to the mansion!” Granny Miao excitedly reported the good news she had heard to Qu Moying.

Previously, Granny Miao and Granny Zhou went to see Concubine Xiang and also sent Qu Moying’s words to Concubine Xiang to reassure her. Now that what they said to her was true, how could Granny Miao not be happy?

Qu Moying put down the brush in her hand and picked up a wet towel to wipe her hands. She turned around and sat down in the chair. Her ankle was basically healed now, and she did not want to use the wheelchair anymore.

Now, the first branch had Concubine Xiang as well as Ji Yuanhai. They gained a solid foothold in the mansion, but Xiao would not give up so easily.

“Ask Granny Zhou to go see Concubine Xiang again and ask her what she needs. If she needs help, she can come to us.” Qu Moying pondered for a moment and said slowly, “Even though Aunt and Cousin Hanyue are gone, there are still other cousins and Concubine Xiang.” n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

Since Ji Yuanhai had been recognized as the first branch’s heir, he had become her younger brother.

As long as the Ji Family’s first branch was still around, her relationship with the Ji Family would not be broken.

“Understood.” Granny Miao nodded knowingly and left. She turned around at the door and went straight to see Granny Zhou.

The people from the embroidery workshop happened to come by, bringing two sets of clothes that had been made for Qu Moying before. The Old Lady wanted them to send the clothes to her as soon as they were done, no matter how many sets there were.

The Old Lady was afraid that Qu Moying would have no decent clothes to wear if she needed them all of a sudden.

After letting Yu Chun take a look, Qu Moying accepted the clothes. Then, she asked Yu Chun to make another trip to the embroidery workshop. Although the clothes sent to her just now were very good, Qu Moying asked them to deal with the details more simply. She only needed to wear clothes that fit her status. She did not need to be too eye-catching or overly gorgeous.

Just after Yu Chun left, Yu Dong came back with a food basket. He had gone to the kitchen to get some snacks for Qu Moying.

Qu Moying did not like to eat snacks that were especially sweet and sticky. She liked salty and fragrant snacks. Coincidentally, the kitchen had made some. The manager in the kitchen specially mentioned it to Yu Dong.

Everyone in the mansion heard that the Fourth Lady was going to manage the family affairs with the Third Lady, so they did not dare to look down on the Fourth Lady.

They had all seen the situation when the Fourth Lady first entered the mansion. Compared to the current situation, there was a big difference. Those who were a little scheming had already made their own plans.

Regardless of whether they were the servants of the Second Madam or the Third Lady in the past, at the very least, if they could form a good relationship with the Fourth Lady now, they should do it.

She was no longer the useless and blind lady who had no backing.

Although they were servants, they had at least this bit of insight. In the past, the Second Madam was the number one person in West Mansion’s backyard, and the Old Lady did not manage any affairs, but what about now? Although the Third Lady was not in a disadvantageous position and even surpassed the Fourth Lady, back then, the Fourth Lady’s status was even lower and the Second Madam’s was even higher.

Out of the blue, some of the servants were not optimistic about Qu Qiuyan.

“My lady, I saw something happened in East Mansion just now.” Yu Dong said after taking out the snacks from the food basket.

“What is it?” Qu Moying raised her watery eyes and looked at Yu Dong.

“I saw one of East Mansion’s maids crying and running over. She was in a sorry state and seemed to have stumbled. There was dust on her body and head, and her hair was messy. She cried and came over, looking very anxious.” Yu Dong thought about it and said. At that time, he happened to walk through that path. East Mansion’s people came over noisily. “That maid seems to be a private maid by the Second Lady’s side.”

If she were just an ordinary maid of East Mansion, Yu Dong certainly would not recognize her. However, although he did not see clearly, he still recognized she was the Second Lady’s private maid. Therefore, Yu Dong stood still and hid behind a tree. He looked a few more times, but he could not found out anything.

“Was she heading to Grandmother’s yard?” Qu Moying gently took a bite of the snack and nodded. After carefully tasting it, she asked.

“Yes, she was heading to the Old Lady’s yard. My lady, do you want me to inquire about it?” Yu Dong nodded.

“Don’t move around too much. Just wait and see!” Qu Moying shook her head and looked at the dessert in her hand. It looked good and tasted good. “Bring one plate of the snacks to Granny Yan. I hear that she also likes this kind of salty dessert.”

Did Qu Qiuyan say something to Qu Caiyue?