The Poisonous Consort, the Regent's Beloved

Ji Nanqing covered his face in disbelief as he looked at Ji Zhiyun, his eyes filled with anger and surprise. "You actually dared to hit me?"

Ji Zhiyun rubbed her wrist, her eyes cold and firm. She glanced at Ji Nanqing and said speechlessly, "You have been disrespectful to your superior by calling the princess by her given name. I will teach you a lesson on behalf of the princess to avoid being punished."

Why does this sound so familiar?

"Miss, I can't hold it in anymore." A low voice came from behind. Biluo covered her mouth, trying hard to suppress her laughter, but her shoulders still trembled slightly as she tried to hold it in.

Upon hearing this, Su Fuying's lips curled up slightly, revealing a faint smile.

She gently patted Biluo's hand, signaling her to calm down. Then, she turned to look at Ji Nanqing, a hint of mockery flashing in her eyes.

"It seems there are still some sensible people in General Ji's mansion." Su Fuying said softly, her tone slightly teasing.

Upon hearing this, Ji Zhiyun straightened her back and gave Ji Nanqing a defiant look. Ji Nanqing, on the other hand, turned ashen with anger, glaring at Ji Zhiyun as if she wanted to devour her alive.

However, she dared not easily retaliate against Ji Zhiyun's provocation.

After all, Ji Zhiyun is the legitimate daughter, and if she is really provoked, no one will be happy.

"Your Highness is too kind," Ji Zhiyun replied respectfully, bowing her head.

Watching the two of them sing in unison, Ji Nanqing was simply incredulous. She had suffered such a great injustice for no reason today, and now she was going to be beaten?

"Alright, stop making a fool of yourself here."

Ji Zhiyun frowned in disgust, took off a jade pendant from her waist and put it on the counter. "Take this jade pendant to the Ji residence before sunset and exchange it for three thousand taels of silver. I don't care about anything else."

After saying that, he turned around and left.

Su Fuying's gaze swept over the shopkeeper. "Before sunset."

Everyone assumed that Su Fuying was reminding the shopkeeper to go to the Ji residence to get the silver, so they didn't think much of it.

Su Fuying then left, leaving the rest to her own devices. Ji Zhiyun added three thousand taels; she had just observed for a while and must know exactly how much Ji Nanqing could offer.

Once on the street, Bilu couldn't hold back any longer. She burst into laughter, "Miss, you're amazing! Didn't you see their expressions? It was absolutely hilarious!"

Su Fuying reached out and tapped Biluo on the head. "Girls should be careful when they're out in public. What if they can't get married in the future?"

"what?"

Upon hearing this, Biluo suppressed her smile, lowered her head, and said, "Miss, I don't want to get married. I want to stay by your side for the rest of my life."

"Silly girl, how could that be? Even if you get married in the future, you can always come back to see me."

Biluo is a year younger than her and will be of marriageable age next year. Here, girls are expected to get married when they reach marriageable age, but Su Fuying doesn't want her to get married so soon.

After all, in her mind, it was very unscientific to get married at this age; one should at least wait until they are eighteen and their bodies are fully developed.

Biluo was rather sullen throughout the journey, and it was only after Su Fuying bought her a bag of candied fruit that she was able to cheer her up.

As the sun set, the two passed a teahouse, and Su Fuying turned around and went straight upstairs.

Biluo looked puzzled, but still followed behind.

They asked the waiter for a private room and sat there for about half an incense stick's time. Just as Biluo was about to speak, she heard Su Fuying call out to the door, "You've been following me all afternoon, aren't you tired?"

The door was pushed open, and a familiar face came into view.

Ji Zhiyun.

"Miss Ji."

Although Biluo didn't know what Miss Ji was doing with her young mistress, she still bowed respectfully.

Ji Zhiyun responded and bowed to Su Fuying, saying, "Greetings, Princess Yongle."

Meimei, the maid behind Ji Zhiyun, also bowed and then winked at Biluo.

Seeing her young mistress here, Biluo stared straight ahead, seemingly oblivious to everything around her.

Su Fuying rarely saw this little girl so serious, so she couldn't help but chuckle. "You two, go down first."

With permission granted, Meimei grabbed Biluo, and the two of them dashed out.

Su Fuying looked at the person still standing and said indifferently, "Speak, why are you following me?"

She knew, of course, that Ji Zhiyun meant no harm, but the fact that he had followed her around like a freak for an entire afternoon made her feel a little uneasy.

“Princess, actually I came to thank you,” Ji Zhiyun suddenly said.

"Thank me?" she looked at him questioningly.

“Yes, I rarely have a proper opportunity to teach her a lesson while I’m at home. You’ve helped me today. That slap felt so good,” Ji Zhiyun said with a smug look on her face.

She couldn't help but laugh: "I see, then I must have stumbled upon this by accident."

Ji Zhiyun scratched her head sheepishly: "I had to endure it in the manor. But I really couldn't hold back today. Thank you for your help, Princess."

"You are the legitimate daughter, why are you being bullied by a concubine's daughter?"

A hint of hatred flashed in Ji Zhiyun's eyes: "She and her mother always scheme to appear weak in front of my father. I'm not good at these things, which makes my mother and I feel like we're caught in the middle."

At this point, Ji Zhiyun sighed, "Fortunately, my father and mother truly loved each other, and my father believed in my mother and me, otherwise those two women would have succeeded long ago."

Su Fuying naturally knew who Ji Nanqing was, and she looked at her with interest, "Then why did you keep them in the manor, and why did you help her today?"

"Five years ago, my father was preparing to send them to the estate, but unexpectedly, my father was seriously injured and even the imperial physicians could not save him. But that woman somehow found a way to save him."

“If I don’t help her clean up the mess today, I’ll be the one who loses face for my father, and I don’t want that.”

"Oh? That's amazing?" Su Fuying was quite curious; this young lady was quite family-oriented.

"Yes, afterwards they often used this incident to blackmail my father, but my father is a man of principle. In the end, he still let them stay."

Su Fuying couldn't understand it at all. Logically speaking, her mother was so smart, so why would she give birth to such a stupid daughter? And Su Wan'er was the same.

"So, you followed me all afternoon just to thank me?" Su Fuying asked, raising an eyebrow.

Ji Zhiyun scratched her head a little embarrassedly, then smiled brightly and said, "Actually... I wanted to make friends with you. Everyone around me is too hypocritical; not a single one of them is sincere. But when I first met you, I felt that you were different from others, and I wanted to befriend you."

Su Fuying never expected that this seemingly tough girl would be so adorable inside.

Seeing that Su Fuying remained silent, Ji Zhiyun lowered her head in disappointment and murmured to herself, "I know there's a huge gap between our social statuses. It's okay if you don't want to be friends with me. Just pretend I didn't say anything." After saying that, she turned around and prepared to leave.

Seeing Ji Zhiyun's dejected figure, Su Fuying slowly spoke: "It's not because of anything else, it's just that I don't like making friends."

Upon hearing this, Ji Zhiyun's disappointment eased slightly, and she turned to ask, "Does that mean you won't befriend other noble ladies?"

Su Fuying nodded in agreement.

Ji Zhiyun finally felt a little relieved and bid farewell to Su Fuying before leaving.