Chapter 38 - 26: The Blind-Eyed but Clear-Hearted Marquis
"Miss Ji is truly a dutiful child." The Commandery Princess of Yong’an looked at Ji Liruo with even more satisfaction. Dutiful, kind, gentle — such a woman is indeed a good match for Ning’er.
Seeing the satisfied look in the Commandery Princess’s eyes, Lady Ji felt even happier. Her husband was right; as long as they praised Liruo’s dutifulness, the marriage would only become more secure. As long as Liruo becomes the wife of the young Marquis, her own status will naturally rise. Let’s see if those little vixens dare to ensnare her husband then; when the time comes, no one will stand up for them if she scratches their faces.
Ji Liruo kept her head down, appearing shy. In reality, her eyes were filled with deep loathing and impatience. What her mother said didn’t come from genuinely believing her to be dutiful, but was only said following her father’s instructions.
How sad it is...
From childhood to adulthood, she truly worried a lot about her mother.
Yet in the end, it still can’t outweigh a single word from her father.
"Mother, Commandery Princess, I would like to go for a walk." Ji Liruo could no longer stand the atmosphere here and spoke up softly.
"Go ahead, go ahead." The Commandery Princess of Yong’an said with a smile. She planned to let Ning’er go for a stroll soon too, giving the two a chance to be alone together.
"Don’t go too far, take someone with you." Lady Ji also instructed.
Ji Liruo nodded, paid her respects, and then turned and left with her maid.
Walking under the corridor of Xuanling Temple, Ji Liruo looked up ahead.
In her childhood, Xuanling Temple was not particularly bustling. This place was very desolate, genuinely cold and tranquil. Unconsciously, Ji Liruo arrived at the corner of the wall in the Lamei Garden.
"Miss?" The maid behind her couldn’t help but ask, seeing Ji Liruo standing dazed at the corner.
In response, Ji Liruo suddenly lashed out in anger.
"Go away!" Ji Liruo’s face twisted, yelling at the maid, "Get far away from me. Let me be alone for a while."
The maid had never seen Ji Liruo like this before. Frightened, she turned pale and hurriedly bowed her head and withdrew, leaving Ji Liruo standing there alone.
Ji Liruo stood in the corner, gazing at the large stones at the corner, a look of nostalgia on her face.
After a long time, she took out an old brocade bag from her sleeve, staring blankly at it. The brocade bag was clearly used by a child, as it had a vividly embroidered little tiger on it. However, the corners of the bag were already slightly worn.
"Little brother..." Ji Liruo whispered a few words, her eyes reddening as she clasped the brocade bag tightly to her chest, as if using all the strength in her body.
Ji Liruo stared blankly at the stones in the corner, memories flooding back, almost overwhelming her.
Who would know, this was the most beautiful place in her childhood memories. It was here that she met the person who redeemed her life...
Her father, young and flirtatious, married her mother, who came from an unremarkable family, out of infatuation. After a few years of sweetness, he grew tired and continually took concubines one after another. Bringing new people into the backyard fueled her mother’s jealousy to madness. The endless quarrels between her parents gave way to concubines who seized the opportunity, leading to her mother’s failure in domestic struggles.
During one hysterical argument, her mother clawed at her father’s face, which led to her usually nonchalant grandfather finally losing his temper. Under the instigation and provocation of the concubines, her father sent her mother and the young Liruo away to Xuanling Temple for seclusion.
𝕗𝕣𝐞𝐞𝘄𝐞𝚋𝚗𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹.𝚌𝕠𝚖
Although they called it seclusion, everyone knew what was really happening. She and her mother were exiled to this austere Nun Temple, with no known date of return. As the legitimate daughter, her life wasn’t even a tenth as good as that of the illegitimate daughters.