Chapter 004: Venting Frustrations

It was not until midnight that Ji Cheng fell into a drowsy sleep, and before long, it was time to get up and pay a visit to Ji Lan.

Ji Cheng had nothing to say, he could only keep nodding to indicate that he understood.

But whether she can achieve her wishes remains unknown to Ji Cheng, and she has no confidence at all, only able to take one step at a time. Although she came with a very utilitarian mindset, she also cautiously hopes to meet someone whose appearance may be slightly unattractive, as long as their temperament is gentle and they are easy to get along with.

Meanwhile, Ji Lan was still rambling, "At that time, I thought to myself, with my talents and beauty, I would have been better off serving the emperor in the palace, which would have spared me this suffering. Before the esteemed Consort Xue arrived, she was the most favored in the harem, and even the princesses had to show her respect; in her presence, no one dared to let out a sound. Even her family has risen to prominence; her brother is currently holding significant power in the Ministry of Personnel."

Ji Cheng turned over and lay on her back, and she did not blame Ji Lan. Everyone has their own family and position, and in the end, her aunt still helped them, even though it was a significant request.

"What are you talking about, whether it is troublesome or not? Your obedient aunt welcomes you with open arms." Ji Lan took Ji Cheng's hand and said, "What Aunt just said was also for your own good. Our background is not particularly favorable, and everyone is watching you. Any small mistake can be exaggerated beyond measure, and you will understand this better if you stay a few more days. The rules of the family are something I have painstakingly established; there were many hardships back in the day. Some of the servants in the Duke's residence have been with the Duke for several generations, and they carry themselves with more authority than the masters. It took me over ten years to bring them under control. When dealing with these people, the more money you throw at them, the less they will respect you."

Ji Cheng wiped the tears from the corners of his eyes and said, "Our family is immensely grateful to Aunt and Uncle. If it weren't for Aunt, we might not even have found a way to seek help." Ji Cheng expressed what was on his mind

Even Ji Cheng cannot guarantee whether, after getting married, she will still be as devoted to helping her natal family

Ji Cheng repeatedly thought that among the countless officials, big and small, in the capital, there must be someone she finds appealing, and who also finds her appealing

The three sons of the Shen family: the eldest inherited the title, the second achieved merit and was granted the title of Earl, while your uncle-in-law is neither here nor there. His current position was obtained through monetary donation and connections, yet he has no real authority. The old lady favors the eldest and the second, and the two elder brothers look down upon their ineffectual younger brother. The expressions of the sisters-in-law are undoubtedly unpleasant. Every time I go to plead with them, I cannot sleep for entire nights. You have never had to plead with anyone, so you cannot understand the difficulty and embarrassment involved. Ji Lan clutched the fabric of her chest, looking as if her heart was twisted in pain.

Let us not dwell on these matters any longer, as it only brings sadness. You need only to understand my difficulties. This time you come to the capital, your aunt will surely do everything in her power to assist you. If it truly comes to fruition, we, as aunt and niece, will have each other's support in the capital. However, the waters in the capital are indeed very deep; the eyes of the high-ranking families are always looking down from above, and the sudden airs of the newly rich are truly looked down upon. In fact, with your talents and beauty, if you could serve the Emperor in the palace, would you not then have to worry about others daring to cause trouble for the uncle of the nation? There is no Empress Dowager in the palace; if you serve the Emperor well, living comfortably and freely, all the noble ladies in the capital would have to kneel before you, which would be immensely satisfying.

However, Ji Cheng has never believed that life after marrying into a prominent family would be an easy affair; to gain something inevitably means to lose something. She was already mentally prepared for this.

This is already the second time Ji Lan has confided her troubles to Ji Cheng, as if she is determined to make her understand that marrying into a prominent family is not as wonderful as she imagines, and there are many hardships involved

In hindsight, when Ji Cheng grew up, he realized how childish and ridiculous his initial thoughts were; Ji Lan had no obligation to help them. Therefore, the current Ji Cheng is grateful to Ji Lan; without her, the Ji family would probably not even know how to find the door.

Liu Ye'er listened to the rustling sounds made by the turning over in bed after a while and couldn't help but say, "Miss, tomorrow I will find a few maids to move the furniture in the west room, so that you can practice just like at home, and then you won't have trouble sleeping."

It is said that the noble ladies of the capital are not easy to deal with. Ji Cheng sighed; she did not aspire to marry into a prominent family, as life within those grand households is often not easy. It would be best to marry someone from a family with fewer members, whose husband is highly capable and has a promising future, even if he is a widower.

"I know you all envy me, but who can understand the difficulties I face after marrying into the Duke's residence of Qi?" Ji Lan spoke with apparent emotion, "In my family, one sister-in-law is a princess, and the other is the legitimate daughter of a marquis, their arrogance is unbearable. The old lady looks down on my background, and even the servants in the house show me no respect. When I was pregnant with my first son, just as I had conceived, the old lady sent someone to my room. At that time, I was young and impetuous, and I lost that precious son just like that." Ji Lan spoke while wiping her tears.

"Who says otherwise?" Ji Lan let out a bitter laugh, and the maidservant attending her, having received her glance, quietly withdrew.

Ji Lan chuckled lightly and said, "You just arrived yesterday; you should have bathed to wash away the dust. It is indeed my oversight."

Ji Cheng listened attentively, occasionally nodding, and held Ji Lan's hand, saying: "Thank you, aunt, for sharing these heartfelt words with me. I understand in my heart that you have also had a difficult time over the years."

Ji Lan's movements paused slightly, and she then realized that her niece was indeed a remarkable person. However, Ji Lan was not afraid of being smart; sometimes, intelligent people are easier to deal with, as they always know what they want.

Two people were conversing when Shen Cui, who is Ji Cheng's cousin, walked in and called out playfully, "Mother"

"However, even though the Ji family is wealthy, there is no need to come here and cause trouble for my aunt, is there?" Ji Lan said, turning her tone and reprimanding directly.

No, both my father and our entire family are immensely grateful to Aunt, especially my second brother, who has been eager to come and pay his respects to her. However, this time, my elder brother is going to Beijing for his studies, and someone must remain at home to fulfill our filial duties in front of our parents, which is why he did not come.

Ji Lan did not expect Ji Cheng to agree immediately; she would naturally know what choice to make after encountering difficulties in the capital later on

At that time, regarding your second brother's matter, your father must have complained about me at home quite a bit, right?

Ji Cheng was certainly more demanding than Ji Lan had ever experienced, and it was much more difficult. When her father came to seek help from her aunt, he must have felt just as embarrassed.

"Do not try to intimidate me. I can understand your resentment towards me; after all, that is my maternal family. Would I really be willing to watch them suffer without doing anything? It feels like a knife is stabbing my heart. However, your uncle is useless and cannot help at all." Ji Lan seemed to have finally found an audience, pouring out all her grievances.

Ji Lan believed that in the distant land of Jin, the emperor was far removed from the common people, and that Ji Cheng, a daughter confined to her boudoir, would certainly be unaware of court affairs. However, little did she know that since Ji Cheng had made up her mind to come to the capital, she would certainly take the initiative to inquire about matters in the city.

That period of time was a complete upheaval in Ji Cheng's life, filled with fear and terror that cannot be expressed in words. Therefore, it is impossible for her not to harbor resentment towards Ji Lan, who never extended a helping hand. Ji Lan dangled the resources in her hand and sold them at an extremely high price, only to later feign reluctance in offering assistance.

Hmm," Ji Cheng replied. In fact, the so-called practice refers to the health and fitness methods taught to her by that female instructor. After practicing, her whole body feels exhausted, which indeed makes it easier to sleep. Since coming to the capital from Jin, she has not had the conditions to practice for a long time.

Ji Cheng's expression did not change, but her heart had already tightened. She did not expect that Ji Lan would actually have such an idea. The emperor, an old man in his forties, almost fifty, had been infatuated with women since his youth, exhausting himself completely. He ascended the throne in his thirties, and after becoming emperor, he became even more excessive, having no children for a long time, until a few years ago when he finally had a firstborn son.

Ji Cheng immediately lowered his head and said with great trepidation: "Yuqian has grown up in Jin and has not seen much of the world, so she is unaware of the rules of the gentry. I have already spoken about them yesterday, and she will not make the same mistakes again. Aunt, you manage such a large household by yourself and also have to raise children. Now that A Cheng has arrived, it has caused you quite a bit of trouble..."

Although what Ji Lan said was very beautiful, Ji Cheng knew that she had her own selfish motives. She truly did not want to burden her parents any longer, but she also did not want to continue living a life that could be easily crushed by someone pinching it with two fingers, like an ant. To live, one must first make oneself strong, even if it means relying on the power of others, and only then can one speak of future matters

Aunt, I have heard that the Emperor is nearly fifty years old. A Cheng does not possess such ambitions, nor does he dare to compare himself with the ladies of the palace. I am clumsy with words and fear that I do not have that kind of fortune.

What Ji Cheng did not know was that the connections among the prominent families were intricate, and behind the Zhu family was a significant force. Moreover, Ji Lan was clearly a married daughter, akin to water that has been poured out, and she had no intention of getting involved in murky waters. In the end, it was her father who brought half of the family fortune to plead with Ji Lan to manage the situation, which ultimately quelled the disaster

Did you sleep well last night?" Ji Lan asked while allowing Ling Long to comb her hair.

Ji Cheng sighed and recalled her aunt, Ji Lan. At that young age, she had never considered the possibility of marrying someone else; she only wished to grow up quickly and share a life with Zi Yun. Little did she expect the incident involving Zhu Jijun to occur. Even when it did happen, Ji Cheng at that time believed that her aunt's marriage into such a family would naturally resolve any issues with the Zhu surname.

That being said, if it were Ji Lan returning to Jin, I fear that the Ji Cheng family would never dare to be so negligent; it is simply a matter of status, whether noble or humble

Quite good, aunt.