Jiang Zhao had just returned when she was called by Mrs. He for a lecture.
Mrs. He sized up Jiang Zhao standing below and couldn't help but think about what the wife of the Duke of Su had said to her the other day.
Even if she didn't want to admit it, she had to admit that her daughter was definitely more beautiful than Yu'er in terms of appearance.
She was like a newly bloomed peony, with a dazzling beauty mixed with a touch of compassionate divinity. Even if you looked at the whole capital, you couldn't find a second one.
A trace of regret flashed in Mrs. He's eyes. If Jiang Zhao had grown up by her side since childhood, with her eye-catching appearance and her upbringing, she would surely become a popular person in the capital.
The other day, hearing the words of the Marquis of Ningyuan, he also had the intention of letting Jiang Zhao make friends with the powerful.
However, the aristocratic families always prefer the gentle and demure women when choosing a wife. Jiang Zhao's eye-catching appearance will make people think she is frivolous. She is not the candidate for a wife.
Moreover, Jiang Zhao was brought up in the place like the morgue, which made people feel unlucky and not on the table.
Mrs. He coughed softly: "Tomorrow is your sister's coming-of-age ceremony."
"All the powerful and noble people in the capital will be present. You haven't learned the rules of the mansion yet. You don't need to go there tomorrow."
"You should always remember that your sister is the main character. There is a huge difference between you two. Yu'er is the cloud, and you are the mud in the ground. You should put yourself in the right position, remember what you should do and what you shouldn't do, and don't have any inappropriate thoughts."
"If you make a mistake and lose the face of the Marquis Mansion, your mother will never forgive you."
A trace of sarcasm flashed on Jiang Zhao's face. Which mother would divide her two daughters into cloud and mud.
"Mother's teachings, I will surely remember them." She didn't want to go to that kind of occasion. She was happy to be free.
Seeing her attitude was quite respectful, Mrs. He softened her tone: "Jiang Zhao, don't blame your mother. You are also the flesh that fell from your mother's body. Your mother loves you."
"Your father has other considerations for you. When your sister gets a good marriage, your father and I will surely make plans for you. We won't treat you badly."
Jiang Zhao was too lazy to listen to Mrs. He's high-sounding words. She perfunctorily answered a few words and left.
...
That night.
Because tomorrow was Jiang Yuzhu's coming-of-age ceremony, the Marquis of Ningyuan came back from dealing with the official business and slept in Mrs. He's room.
Mrs. He took over the Marquis of Ningyuan's robe and handed it to the maid. She put the hot soup in front of him: "The soup was just cooked. Husband, try it."
"I have arranged everything for Yu'er's coming-of-age ceremony tomorrow."
"However, Jiang Zhao is wild and unruly. I'm worried that she will offend the noble people. So I told her not to go there." Mrs. He said and walked around behind the Marquis of Ningyuan to knead his shoulders.
The Marquis of Ningyuan took a sip of the soup and nodded before saying: "You and I are husband and wife. You can say what you want. Why do you need to say these scenes?"
"You are just worried that Zhao'er will steal Yu'er's limelight."
"However, madam, you should think about the overall situation."
Mrs. He was exposed. Her hand that kneaded the Marquis of Ningyuan's shoulders paused: "Husband, what are you talking about? I'm doing this for the sake of the Marquis Mansion."
"Jiang Zhao is too beautiful. She will surely make the ladies of the aristocratic families dislike her."
The Marquis of Ningyuan patted Mrs. He's hand: "You should be happy that Zhao'er has this capital. Although the aristocratic families pay attention to being gentle and virtuous, when it comes to the beauties, especially the beauties like Zhao'er, there are many powerful people who want to take them into their rooms and hide them in the golden house."
Mrs. He's heart skipped a beat: "Husband means that you want Jiang Zhao to be a concubine..."
"Husband, Jiang Zhao is our legitimate daughter. It's really a disgrace to be a concubine." Although Mrs. He was the mistress of the family, she knew how difficult it was to be a concubine.
Jiang Zhao was born from her. How could she be willing to let her daughter be a concubine.
Moreover, although it was an open secret for the aristocratic families to use their daughters to climb up the powerful, what was the use of a concubine?
Just like what the wife of the Duke of Su said, if Jiang Zhao could marry well in the future, she would have a good face and could sit firmly on the position of the Marquis's wife.
The Marquis of Ningyuan snorted coldly and brushed off Mrs. He's hand: "If it's an ordinary family, she should be the main wife."
"However, if it's a royal family, even if it's a concubine, what's wrong with it? As long as it's done properly, there will surely be a chance to be promoted in the future."
The Marquis of Ningyuan's voice was low and full of warning: "You should remember that in this matter, there is no difference between the two sisters. Since they were born in this Marquis Mansion, they should take the rise and fall of the family as the most important thing."
"Not only Jiang Zhao, but Yu'er is the same. The Jiang family will pave the way for them. But whether they will be the mistress of the family or the beautiful birds in the cage, it depends on their own abilities."
The Marquis of Ningyuan's meaning was obvious. Mrs. He only felt cold. He was so cold-blooded that he would rather use Yu'er's future happiness to exchange for power and status.
However, she still underestimated the Marquis of Ningyuan's heartlessness. Before she could shed tears, she heard the Marquis of Ningyuan say: "Someone from the palace will come tomorrow."
"Although I intended to let Yu'er enter the palace before, I pity her for being too young. Now that she has come of age, if the palace has this intention and takes a fancy to Yu'er, send her there."
"Enter the palace!" Mrs. He suddenly raised her voice and walked quickly to the Marquis of Ningyuan: "I thought you had given up this idea. You still want to send Yu'er to the palace!"
"The emperor is already in his sixties, and Yu'er is in her prime. The harem is a place that eats people without spitting out bones! I will never allow Yu'er to waste her good years in the palace!"
"You are really so cruel!" Mrs. He burst into tears. She was really panicked. She couldn't help but push the Marquis of Ningyuan with her hands and wanted to use the old trick again: "I don't want to live anymore! I will go back to my mother's house now and let everyone see how you force our mother and daughter!"
The Marquis of Ningyuan was troubled by Mrs. He. He took a deep breath and suddenly raised his hand to grab Mrs. He's arm: "If you want to go back, go back."
"But you should think clearly. Tomorrow is Yu'er's coming-of-age ceremony. If you want Yu'er to be laughed at by the world, you can go!"
"He Jinlan, do you really think I'm afraid of your elder brother! I've tolerated your little temper these years because I pity you and don't want you to lose face in front of the children. But you don't know your place!"
"If you don't want the position of the Marquis's wife, hand over the housekeeping now. There are many people who want it!"
This was the first time the Marquis of Ningyuan had gotten so angry at her, which made Mrs. He freeze in place.
The Marquis of Ningyuan threw Mrs. He away: "As long as you are quiet, no one will shake your position as the Marquis's wife."
"If you ruin my good deeds, you know the consequences."
Mrs. He fell to the ground and couldn't come back to her senses for a long time. She knew that the Marquis of Ningyuan always said what he meant.
The Marquis of Ningyuan took a deep breath and looked at Mrs. He on the ground and sighed.
He helped her up in person: "Madam, don't blame your husband for being cruel."
"A woman is like a vine and needs to rely on a tree. As long as this tree is tall enough to shelter our Jiang family, the rest is not important."
"You should think about it. You are a married woman after all. The Duke of Su's Mansion can't protect you for a lifetime. If the Jiang family falls, not only your mother and daughter, but also their three brothers will have nothing to rely on."
"You don't need to care about Zhao'er. I will tell someone to go there. You just need to treat them equally tomorrow. I want everyone to see the two beauties of our Jiang family, especially the legitimate eldest daughter Jiang Zhao."
"Okay, I'm tired. You should rest earlier."