Leaving Qixia Palace, he encountered Pingting waiting outside. She blocked his path and asked, "Brother, how did it go?"
He shook his head. "The Emperor said he would consider it. Your mother dislikes my brother, seeing him as merely a military man. This marriage is unlikely..."
Pingting listened calmly, yet felt a pang of disappointment. She had anticipated such an answer, but its confirmation still brought her sorrow.
Fan Zehao returned to the mansion and relayed the same words to Fan Xudong.
He let out a wry chuckle, tinged with world-weariness and a hint of bitterness. "I earned this general's title with my life, and yet it seems to be of no use."
As if growing up in an instant, he raised his head, his demeanor turning chillingly cold. "Thank you, elder brother. In that case, we shouldn't aim too high. Let's let it be."
If there was blame, it was for fate's shallow ties and deep affection, nothing more.
When Zhao Jiaqi learned of the failed proposal, she felt great sympathy for Xudong's difficult romantic journey. The man and woman were willing, but due to their status, it ultimately ended without fruition.
On the twenty-seventh of the twelfth lunar month, an uninvited guest arrived at the residence of the Prince of Zhen.
She specifically asked for the Princess, her expression decidedly unfriendly. The butler's brow furrowed upon seeing the visitor.
Steward Wang respectfully ushered the guest inside and settled her in before personally going to the Princess's quarters.
"Princess, the wife of Viscount Yongyi has arrived. This servant perceived her as quite aggressive. She is in the front hall at the moment!" Steward Wang spoke with deliberation.
Zhao Jiaqi was utterly bewildered. "Viscountess Yongyi?"
Who on earth was this person?
In a place as small as the capital, she only knew the Prime Minister's wife. As for other ladies and young mistresses, she didn't know any!
"Viscountess Yongyi, she is the mother of Commander Xiao Ce!" The butler's words clarified the visitor's identity.
So, it was Elder Brother Xiao's mother. It was the end of the year; why would she suddenly visit?
Didn't prominent families always send a calling card before visiting in person?
Without time for further thought, Zhao Jiaqi tidied her appearance slightly and, with Qiufen in tow, proceeded to the front hall.
The moment the two women met, sparks flew. Ji Yuwan scrutinized her without any pretense.
Zhao Jiaqi, in turn, observed the newcomer. From the sharp gaze, she could clearly sense a strong hostility directed at her.
"You are the Princess?" Ji Yuwan blurted out directly.
"Indeed. May I inquire if Madam has any business with this Princess?" Zhao Jiaqi asked calmly from her grand chair.
Ji Yuwan let out a cold snort and walked to the grand chair beside her, sitting down unceremoniously.
She huffed, "I never expected the Princess would consider a lowly village girl a sister. Not only did she seduce my son, but she also aspires to marry into my Viscount's family as the mistress of the household. Does she even know her own worth? If the Princess cannot manage that girl, Li Sisi, do not blame me for beating her to death with a stick!"
Xiao Ce and Li Sisi?
Zhao Jiaqi's brow furrowed. She had initially thought this was Elder Brother Xiao's mother, and despite her rudeness upon entering, Zhao Jiaqi had held back. But this only seemed to embolden her arrogance.
"Presumptuous! You, a mere Viscountess, fail to pay your respects to this Princess, yet you utter wild pronouncements, slandering and insulting me, and even threatening me! Who gave you the right to act so? Do you disregard the Prince? Or are you dissatisfied with the Emperor's enfeoffment of my husband as Prince, and are you protesting silently?"
"Viscountess, do you know your offense!" She slammed her palm onto the armrest of the chair and glared at her, shouting.
Damn it, she had come to this wretched capital, and hardly any good things had happened. Instead, vexing matters arose one after another. Did they think she was easy to bully just because they hadn't shown their might?
Ji Yuwan stood up, twisted her body, and unwillingly curtsied to her, squatting slightly. "Ji Yuwan pays respects to the Princess. Princess, greetings."
Zhao Jiaqi looked at her coldly. Reluctant, and ignoring her, she let out a cold laugh. "Kneel!"
Ji Yuwan raised her eyes in shock, meeting Zhao Jiaqi's furious gaze. After a few seconds of defiant staring, she dared not say another word and obediently knelt on the ground.
"So what if this Princess was born a village woman? You are still kneeling before me now! This Princess will teach you some manners this time!"
This was the first time Zhao Jiaqi had spoken so harshly, especially to Xiao Ce's mother.
Xiao Ce and her husband were like brothers. Logically, Ji Yuwan should not have given her such a hostile reception upon entering the Prince's mansion, let alone uttered such unpleasant words to her face!
Everyone knew that both of them hailed from farming families. To openly mock her for befriending a village girl and then threaten to beat her to death?
Was she saying this to her, or was she putting on a show of force?
What should not have happened had, in fact, occurred.
"Steward Wang, send someone to fetch Sisi back. Also, send someone to the palace to convey a message to Xiao Ce, asking him to come to the mansion so we can clarify matters face-to-face."
"Yes, this old servant will do so at once!"
Steward Wang dispatched a嬷嬷 (mómó - wet nurse/elderly female servant) to the milk tea shop to find Sisi. He then turned to Fan Xudong and explained the entire situation, asking him to summon the Prince and Xiao Ce back.
In the front hall, Zhao Jiaqi slowly sipped her tea. Ji Yuwan trembled on the ground, unsure if it was from fear or from her knees hurting from kneeling. Zhao Jiaqi, who was drinking tea, paid no attention.
Upon hearing that the Princess urgently sought her, Sisi almost ran back. Seeing her sitting calmly, her worried heart settled.
Noticing a stranger present, she swallowed the word "sister" that was about to escape her lips and quickly changed to, "Princess, you were looking for me?"
Zhao Jiaqi nodded slightly. "Sit down first. I will have some questions for you later!"
Sisi was confused but obediently sat down on a chair. She looked curiously at the person kneeling on the ground and then at Zhao Jiaqi, utterly perplexed.
Normally, her sister had the best temper. Even when the servants made mistakes, she never scolded them excessively. What was going on today?
Soon, Fan Zehao returned with Xiao Ce.
As soon as he entered the hall, Xiao Ce saw a woman kneeling on the ground. Upon closer inspection, it was his mother. He rushed forward to help her up. "Mother, why are you here?"
Ji Yuwan's face was ashen. She shook her head at Xiao Ce, cautiously glancing at Zhao Jiaqi seated above. Without the Princess's permission, she dared not rise!
When she had first entered, she had been consumed by anger. She had assumed this Princess was a rustic woman who knew nothing and could be easily intimidated.
Who would have thought that this Princess was not the insignificant person rumored to be, but was sharp-tongued and had silenced her with just a few words?
Moreover, she had personally handed her own head to her.
Even if he wasn't a Prince of pure royal blood, his status was far more glorious than that of their Viscount's family.
Now, it was bad. She had been careless!
Li Sisi, standing to the side, heard that it was Xiao Ce's mother and looked at him. Then she glanced back at Zhao Jiaqi. Suddenly, she seemed to understand something. She became restless, nervously twisting her handkerchief, her head bowed low.
Fan Zehao sat down on the grand chair beside Zhao Jiaqi and looked at his wife, raising an eyebrow slightly.
His wife was angry, and very angry at that.
He was truly curious how this woman had managed to anger his wife to the point of silence, making her drink water as if to quench a fire.