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The silk and satin shop in the eastern part of the city was a secret property owned by Auntie Liu. When she arrived at the shop, Zuo Xiangyun had already been there, ransacking a vibrant collection of fabrics.
"Daughter, why do you always take so many fabrics back with you?" Auntie Liu asked, eyeing the pile of cloth that looked like a small mountain on the table, deeply pained, "All these cost silver!"
"You think I want to give them away? But without these things, how can I shut those women's mouths?" Zuo Xiangyun said unhappily as she sat down on a chair, "I'm at a critical juncture of life and death right now; you can't drag me down!"
"What happened to you?" Auntie Liu sat beside her and asked with concern.
"There's no use telling you," Zuo Xiangyun said impatiently, "If you were the matriarch of Zuo Residence, you might have a say."
Auntie Liu was choked up by this.
Both her daughters had begun to disdain her status!
Seeing Auntie Liu's pallor, Zuo Xiangyun continued, "As a concubine, with King Qi being kind to me, can I possibly reduce my dealings with those women?"
"What exactly is the matter?" Auntie Liu asked, both worried and helpless, "Your sister said you want Zuo Xiangning to marry Second Young Master Gu. Second Young Master Gu is such a good man, why don't you think of a way to get your sister to marry him? Although Zuo Xiangning has spent some time with you, she isn't your blood sister! Be clear on this!"
"You all need not concern yourselves with anything, just do as I say," Zuo Xiangyun leaned in close to Auntie Liu's ear and whispered, "Regarding Xiangyu's marriage, I have other plans with the eldest imperial son."
"What can we do? Because of Zuo Xiangning's incident in the lake, Madame Jiang has been like a mad dog, biting at me every day," Auntie Liu said, frowning. "Moreover, Zuo Xiangning's marriage must get Zuo Xiangrong's approval before it can proceed, even my father and the Old Madam may not have the final say."
"What if Zuo Xiangning herself insists on marrying?" Zuo Xiangyun said with a meaningful smile, "As long as Zuo Xiangning marries over, I will be King Qi's consort, Xiangyu will be the Legal Wife of the Eldest Young Master Gu, the matriarch of the Gu Family, and that slut Zuo Xiangrong will become an abandoned woman!"
Auntie Liu stared at her eldest daughter in shock, trembling with fear but also somewhat excitedly asked, "What, what are you planning to do?"
Zuo Xiangyun whispered into Auntie Liu's ear, and Auntie Liu nodded repeatedly. After returning to Zuo Residence, she brought the newly-purchased sweets and went to the Xianglan Residence.
As a result, Zuo Xiangning and Madame Jiang took a trip to Mingyue Mountain, had dinner outside, and only returned to the residence after dark.
Auntie Liu looked on at Madame Jiang with both envy and jealousy. Being the matriarch was great; you could do whatever you wanted.
Thinking again about how both of her daughters had been harmed by being "born of a concubine", she believed even more in Zuo Xiangyun's words.
She had to find a way to expedite Zuo Xiangning's marriage.
Just as Zuo Xiangning was about to change her clothes, she heard Pan Xia say that Auntie Liu had come.
She couldn't help but frown, finding Auntie Liu's information network too efficient; she and Madame Jiang had just entered the residence, and already she had received the news.
"Ningning, I heard you were ill recently; are you feeling better now?" Auntie Liu's speech was as dramatic as in the opera, trilled and crooned.
Men might like listening to this, but women found it to be too frivolous!
Zuo Xiangning lifted the corner of her mouth, "Auntie Liu is so quick in getting the news, but it seems you're quite slow when it comes to my illness. I have been out for two days now, and only now Auntie Liu got the news that I was sick?"
Seeing her lie exposed, a flash of annoyance crossed Auntie Liu's face, but she quickly took out the sweets from her hand and placed them on the table, smiling, "I made these for you, and especially added Frosted Sugar."
"Thank you for your kindness, Auntie, but I no longer like sweets," Zuo Xiangning said with a smile as she pushed the candy box that was originally on the table toward her, "These were made for me by the Imperial Chef in the palace at my elder sister's request—why don't you taste them and see how they are?"
The smile on Auntie Liu's face stiffened slightly, "You went to the Chu King's Mansion with Madame Jiang, huh."
Zuo Xiangning always listened to Zuo Xiangrong most, and her bad attitude must mean there was no good reason for their meeting.
"My elder sister is about to give birth to the little imperial grandson, so I need to spend time with her," Zuo Xiangning smiled, "This is His Majesty the Emperor's first grandchild; it can't be taken lightly."
That was exactly what Auntie Liu didn't want to hear.
The better Madame Jiang's children did, the more secure Madame Jiang's position would be as the legal wife.
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"It hasn't been born yet, who knows if it's a boy or a girl?" She no longer beat around the bush with Zuo Xiangning and said bluntly, "Ningning, I had your second brother inquire about that Second Young Master Gu, who is a fine match you wouldn't find even with a lantern; you must not miss out."
"If he's that good, why doesn't Auntie let third sister marry him?" Zuo Xiangning asked with a tilted head and a smile.
Auntie Liu was taken aback by Zuo Xiangning's question, "It's you whom the Gu Family fancies."
"But I've not taken a fancy to him." Zuo Xiangning thought for a moment and then said, "Anyway, third sister is older than me, why don't I beg Madam to let third sister marry him?"
"How can that be?" Auntie Liu, recalling Zuo Xiangyun's words, said hastily, "She can't marry Second Young Master Gu."
"Then whom is third sister going to marry?" Zuo Xiangning immediately asked.
"She is going to marry..." Auntie Liu almost let the cat out of the bag without thinking, but seeing the puzzled look on Zuo Xiangning's face, she hurriedly put on a bitter expression and said, "Your third sister has a hard life and cannot compare to you. Up until now, not even one person has come to propose marriage. If you can settle the marriage with Second Young Master Gu, it'll be some time before Master and Madam even start thinking about her."
Auntie Liu used to put on this air of having suffered a great injustice, and Zuo Xiangning would be brimming with sympathy for her, agreeing to all her requests.
But the Zuo Xiangning of today was no longer the same as before.
"Aunt doesn't need to worry, Madam always has third sister's marriage on her mind," Zuo Xiangning said earnestly, "I heard that the third son of Director Li from next door is not too bad..."
Auntie Liu's expression changed before Zuo Xiangning could finish, "He's a wastrel who has learned nothing virtuous. Can it be that she actually intends to betroth Xiangyu to such a man?"
Zuo Xiangning blinked her clear black and white eyes and said, "A reformed prodigal is worth more than gold, and Third Young Master Li has turned over a new leaf."
Auntie Liu looked at the seemingly innocent Zuo Xiangning and cursed inwardly, "Fool," losing the mood to discuss anything else with Zuo Xiangning. She simply said, "Your second sister is currently highly favored by His Highness Prince Qi. If you marry into the Gu Family, with your second sister looking out for you, you're assured an easy life. I treat you as if you were my own daughter and would never harm you. Think it over carefully."
After speaking, Auntie Liu left in a hurry.
She needed to find out whether Madame Jiang truly intended to marry Zuo Xiangyu to the Third Young Master Li of the Li Family.
Zuo Xiangning watched her leave, barely holding back her laughter.
Zuo Xiangyun, a concubine, what could she protect?
Unless the eldest imperial son became the Emperor and she became a Consort.
Only a pity that it was the Second Prince who became the Emperor... Zuo Xiangning's thoughts suddenly stirred.
Could it be that Gu Zhiqing and Gu Zhicheng were at odds with each other?
Gu Zhiqing sided with the Second Prince while Gu Zhicheng with the eldest imperial son?
Or perhaps King Qi was aware that Gu Zhicheng was an impostor, wanting to marry her to that foolish Gu under the guise of drawing the Gu Family in?
Why not just find any woman to marry that fool?
Why must it specifically be her?
Although the Zuo Family was not of the Meritorious Noble Families, they too held a position in the capital. Even as a daughter born of a concubine, there was no reason for her to marry a fool.
Moreover, the truth would come to light sooner or later, could the Gu Family keep her secluded from the world for a lifetime?
Zuo Xiangning had someone from Zhang Rui's household take a message to Zhang Rui first thing the next morning; she wanted to see him.
"He's already here, waiting for you outside," replied someone from Zhang Rui's household, "Should I let him in to see you now?"
Zuo Xiangning hurriedly had someone show him in. Seeing his flustered appearance, she couldn't help but ask with concern, "What's happened?"