Constrained by the status of the Duchess of Yongchang, Mada Zhao could only swallow her frustration and forced a smile, "It’s good if the Lady is not offended. I will certainly discipline this girl properly and have her cultivate her temperant."
The Duchess of Yongchang glanced at Fan ijiao, who, oblivious to whether the words were good or bad, had a smug look on her face. Internally cursing her as a fool, the Duchess’s expression softened into a smile, but she said nothing.
Mada Zhao, feeling uneasy, fawned with small gestures, fearing that the Duchess of Yongchang would be displeased, and the promising match she had ntioned earlier would fall through.
The Duchess of Yongchang, having been irritated, and since her objective had been achieved, had no desire to stay any longer; after sitting for a short while, she made her excuses to leave. Declining Mada Zhao’s offer to see her out, she led her entourage of maids and nannies in a grand procession out of the Zhao family’s residence.
Watching the Duchess of Yongchang depart with much fanfare, Fan ijiao was full of envy. Why hadn’t she been able to marry into a noble family and live such a life of luxury?
Thinking back to her own marriage to a man of minor position, whose salary was not even sufficient for her expenses and who treated her harshly, to the point of daring to divorce her. Although she had already exacted her revenge, it still did not extinguish the resentnt in her heart.
Seeing ijiao’s deanor, Mada Zhao felt extrely sympathetic. Recalling the Duchess of Yongchang’s earlier words, she sent away the maids in the room and said to Fan ijiao, "ijiao, do you know why the Duchess of Yongchang ca to visit?"
Fan ijiao, still lost in her daydreams, asked without much interest, "Why?"
Mada Zhao, proud and touched, patted the back of ijiao’s hand and sighed, "ijiao, you are truly blessed. The Duchess of Yongchang ca here to propose a marriage for you!"
Fan ijiao’s eyes widened in disbelief, "A marriage proposal? To whom?"
Knowing her granddaughter was eagerly awaiting the answer, Mada Zhao did not beat around the bush, joyfully saying, "It’s the Duchess of Yongchang’s nephew. It is said that his household is very wealthy; marrying into his family, you wouldn’t need to suffer any hardships."
Hearing this, Fan ijiao was overjoyed and asked eagerly, "Has Grandmother accepted the proposal?"
This eager manner betrayed no consideration to why the Duchess of Yongchang’s nephew would take an interest in her, a woman who’d been divorced and ca from an unremarkable family background.
Mada Zhao chided, "A lady should retain her dignity; who would hastily agree to a proposal on the first visit?"
Upon reflection, Fan ijiao felt what her grandmother said made sense and did not argue further.
Mada Zhao reminded her, "The man you favored previously has beco a Champion Scholar and is on good terms with the Crown Prince. His future is unquestionably bright. Now you have the Duchess of Yongchang’s nephew as an option too. Both families are impressive, which do you prefer?"
Upon hearing this, Fan ijiao was reminded of the humiliation she experienced in the teahouse, and her smile suddenly turned gloomy, her eyes flashing with deep hatred.
Mada Zhao saw this and knew sothing was amiss. Rembering that her granddaughter had returned in tears earlier, she quickly asked, "Did you have a conflict with the Mo Family?"
Seething with anger, Fan ijiao said, "Hmph, it’s that lowly girl who was granted the title of County Lord, daring to slap my personal maid. It’s unforgivable!"
Then, she exaggerated the humiliation she suffered at the teahouse, casting herself as a pitiable damsel and Princess Hejia as an arrogant, domineering figure who did not respect the Zhao Family.
Fan ijiao grew up under Mada Zhao’s care. How could Mada Zhao not know her temperant? But her granddaughter was her own flesh and blood, while Princess Hejia was a stranger with no relation to her. Since her granddaughter was aggrieved, others must be at fault.
Mada Zhao echoed her granddaughter’s account, cursing Princess Hejia thoroughly.
Feeling triumphant, Fan ijiao saw the right mont and clung to Mada Zhao’s arm, feigning distress: "Grandmother, my heart is aching, and if I don’t vent this anger, I’ll go mad!"
"Tsk, tsk, tsk, what nonsense are you spouting? Would your grandmother stand by and watch you suffer?" Mada Zhao spat, patting Fan ijiao’s shoulder in reproach.
"Grandmother, stop, please! I know I was wrong!" Fan ijiao turned from tears to laughter, pleading as she nestled into Mada Zhao’s embrace, "But that vile girl is a County Lord, what can we do about her?"
Mada Zhao, patting ijiao’s hand, fell silent for a mont before sneering, "There are powerful people everywhere in Jing City, there’s always soone who can deal with her! Isn’t your aunt’s in-law’s family more formidable than a re County Lord? Once she marries into your aunt’s in-law’s family, isn’t there soone to take her down?"
Fan ijiao replied, begrudgingly, "My aunt’s in-law’s family is even more prestigious than Yongchang’s Mansion, hmph, that’s letting her off too easy!" If possible, she really wanted to marry that wretched girl off to the vilest man in the world, so she would never be able to turn her fortunes around.
Mada Zhao sneered, "What does it matter how powerful they are? A woman’s life will be more bitter than bitter herbs if she never ets a good man!"
Saying so, Mada Zhao tenderly stroked ijiao’s head, reassured, "Now that you have such a fine match with the Duchess of Yongchang’s nephew, we can put the Mo Family on hold. When your uncle returns, I will discuss it with him. If things don’t work out with the Duchess, then we can consider the Mo Family again. We must secure your future."
ijiao obediently nodded, resting her head on Mada Zhao’s lap, a dark glint flickering in her eyes.
Unnoticed by all, a majestic bird perched on the high roof. It had overhead the supposed secret conversation inside, and its anthropomorphic eyes glead with contempt.
Hmph, daring to sche against Yanyan, even considering making Yanyan’s Father a fallback option, they’re truly courting death!
When the bird realized it could glean no more valuable information, it rustled its wings, deliberately lifting the roof tiles with its claws amidst a racket. Amidst the crackling noise and the shocked screams of the two won inside, it spread its wings and soared toward the north of Jing City...
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