A Good Landlord in the Tang Dynasty: Starting from the Village Chief

Chapter 45: The Pearl Will Eventually Be Covered in Dust

Ji always liked to cover her face with thin silk. She would wear a reed veil when she went out, and even wear a veil at home.

Li Yi initially thought that Ji had a scar on her face that disfigured her.
"Take off your veil."

When Ji Qu took off her veil, Li Yi discovered that Ji's face was very clean.

Fair face, dark eyes, phoenix eyes, willow-shaped eyebrows,

This is definitely a beauty.

She has picturesque eyebrows and eyes, a tall figure, and an indescribable graceful beauty, and is very elegant.

Li Yi could even say that she was a level higher than Luzhu, with whom he had had physical intimacy.

Li Yi looked at her face, even a little absent-minded.

Ji silently put her veil back on.

"You look so much less beautiful with this veil on. Why do you always wear a veil when you are so beautiful?"

"I am just a lowly slave,"

"When you are at home from now on, don't hide your face,"

"Ah."

Ji felt a little embarrassed when Li Yi looked at her, and her face turned red.

Li Yi smiled slightly.
He asked curiously, "You are so beautiful, why haven't you been chosen as a concubine in the palace?"

Although most of the palace maids in the Ye Ting were criminals, wives, concubines, and daughters of convicted officials, many young ones were indeed favored by the emperor, or were awarded to princes and ministers as concubines.

For example, Yang Su's concubine daughter was confined to the imperial harem at the age of twelve after her brother Yang Xuangan's failed rebellion. Later, when Li Yuan ascended to the throne, he took the sixteen-year-old Yang into the harem and appointed her as Yangpin. There was also another Yang, Yangpin's aunt in terms of seniority, but younger than her. She was originally a county princess during the Sui Dynasty, but was later confined to the imperial harem for her involvement in Yang Xuangan's rebellion. After Li Yuan ascended to the throne, he also took this woman into the harem, and she was known in the palace as Little Yangpin.

Logically speaking, since Li Yuan took the two Yangs, who were slaves in the Ye Court, as concubines, why didn't he also take Ji? Although Ji was a few years older than the Yangs, she was only nineteen years old and very beautiful.

Ji said, "Both the Yang Concubine and the Yang Concubine were unmarried before entering the palace, and they were from the famous Hongnong Yang family."

Li Yi found this quite plausible. The Hongnong Yang clan was one of the six major clans in Guanzhong. Concubine Yang was the daughter of Yang Su. The Hongnong Yang clan was not only a royal family in the previous dynasty, but also a top clan today. After Li Yuan took control of Guanzhong, he took the two Yangs as concubines in an attempt to win over the Yang family.

In history, after Li Yuan entered Chang'an, he actually married many women from prominent families at an old age. For example, Concubine Xue was the daughter of the literary master Xue Daoheng. The Hedong Xue family was also a famous family in the world.

After Yuwen Huaji was defeated, Yuwen Shiji took his sister to Guanzhong to seek refuge with Li Yuan, and married his sister into the palace as a gift.

Concubine Cui was the daughter of Cui from Boling, one of the Five Surnames, and Concubine Zhang was the daughter of Zhang from Wujun, whom Li Yuan married after winning over the scholars from the south of the Yangtze River.

Concubine Guo was from the Guo family of Hedong, and Concubine Wang was from the Wang family of Taiyuan.
Concubine Yin De and Concubine Zhang, who caused chaos in the palace at the end of the Wude period, were palace maids secretly sent by Pei Ji, the supervisor of the Jinyang Palace, when Li Yuan was stationed in Taiyuan.

In Ji Lingyi's words, the emperor has no shortage of beauties.

Li Yuan did take palace ladies from the palace as concubines, but that was because of their backgrounds, and Ji Shi obviously did not have such a background.

She was married before.
Li Yi thought that being married was no big deal.

Li Yuan had married women before, for example, Concubine Mo, who was the wife of an official of the previous dynasty. Li Yuan took her into the harem when she was 31 years old. Later, she gave birth to Prince Jing Yuanjing for Li Yuan.

It can only be said that there were too many people and beauties in the Ye Ting Palace, and Li Yuan had just become emperor and could not take care of them all at once.

This is a good deal for Li Yi.

After spending some time with Ji, Li Yi discovered that she was not only able to read and write, but was also well-versed in classics and history. She must have come from a prominent aristocratic family, otherwise it would have been impossible for her to marry the second son of General Li Zixiong.

"Can you tell me about your family situation?"

Li Yi really couldn't think of any noble family with the surname Ji.

Ji Lingyi was silent for a long time before finally speaking, "My family is from the Ji family of Luoyang, Henan. They are military families for generations. Later, my family moved to Chang'an. My great-grandfather's name was Liang, and he was the governor of Yanzhou in the Western Wei Dynasty. My great-grandfather's name was Zhao, and he was the minister of the Northern Zhou Dynasty, the governor of Yongzhou, and the founding duke of Dongyang County.

My grandfather’s name was Wei, and he was the Duke of Fenyuan County, the Minister of Agriculture in the Sui Dynasty. My father’s name was Quan, and he was the Yingyang Langjiang of the Sui Dynasty…”

Li Yi was a little surprised to hear about this illustrious family background. It was indeed a family of generals from the Northern Wei Dynasty to the Western Wei Dynasty, the Northern Zhou Dynasty, and the Sui Dynasty. Every generation had general managers, provincial governors, dukes, and generals. Otherwise, she would not be a match for the son of General Li Zixiong.

However, Li Yi had no impression of names like Ji Wei and Ji Quan.

at night,

Li Yi, who was still staying at Wang Dalang's house, asked Wang Dalang about Ji Wei.

"Could it be that the palace maid that His Majesty bestowed upon you is Ji Wei's granddaughter?"

"Ah."

"Hiss!" Wang Dalang took a breath, "I really didn't expect it."

"Who is Ji Wei?"

"He was a prominent figure in the past. Let's put it this way. Ji Wei came from a military family in Guanlong. He served in the Eastern Palace during the early years of the Kaihuang era and was a close confidant of Crown Prince Yang Yong. During the Renshou era, he held the important position of Crown Prince Left Guard Commander. However, during the Jin-Guang succession struggle, he was bribed and fabricated crimes against the Crown Prince at a crucial moment.

Later, Yang Yong was deposed and Emperor Daye ascended the throne. Ji Wei was promoted step by step due to his merits, and the Ji family also became prominent and powerful in the court.

Ji Wei's sister married Yuan Zhi, the Minister of the Imperial Household of the Sui Dynasty. He also betrothed his granddaughter to the second son of General Li Zixiong, betrothed his eldest grandson to the granddaughter of Emperor Wen's brother-in-law Dou Rongding, and betrothed another granddaughter to the grandson of Li Yuantong, the Minister of Justice. In short, Ji Wei, along with Yuwen Shu, Duan Da, and others, were all deeply favored by the Emperor of Daye and held splendid power.

Finally figured out Ji's family background,

"Who is left in the Ji family now?" "Ji Wei and Ji Quan are both dead. Only the younger generation remains in the Ji family. Ji Wei's eldest grandson, Ji Wen, married the sixth daughter of the current Minister of Civil Affairs, Dou Jin. Dou Jin is the younger brother of the current Prime Minister, Dou Kang."

The Dou Kang brothers were cousins of Li Yuan's wife, Dou, and Dou Kang was also a good friend of Li Yuan who grew up together.

The Dou family is now very prominent in the court.

Dou Wei, the recently deceased Prime Minister and Minister of Internal Affairs, was Dou Kang's cousin. Dou Gui, Duke of Ling and Governor of Qinzhou, who had defeated tens of thousands of Jihu in Weibei earlier this year, was Dou Wei's nephew.

"What is Ji Wen's current position?"

"I don't know about that. I can help you find out tomorrow. It's possible that he was serving in Qizhou. Dou Jin was originally the governor of Fufeng. After Your Majesty entered Guanzhong, he surrendered the county to you."

"Then please help me find out about Ji Wen and the Ji family."

No matter what, Ji Wen is Ji Sujun's brother, and the Ji family is also her maternal family.

Wang Lingshi sighed, "Who would have thought that the daughter of an aristocrat, who had married into a wealthy family, would end up being a slave in the imperial palace for five years."

Li Yi nodded. Yes, she is still his servant.

In the feudal era, there was no such thing as a crime that affected family members. Prosperity and adversity were shared by all.

Although the Ji family was not implicated in Li Zixiong's rebellion, after the death of Ji Wei and his son, only a few younger generations were left in the Ji family, and it was difficult for them to support the family business. In addition, the world was in chaos, and the brothers Ji Wen, Ji Sigong, Ji Sizhong, and Ji Siyi were left helpless.

Fortunately, the Ji family had arranged a good marriage for Ji Wen in his early years, and with the support of his father-in-law Dou Jin, he was also protected.

But Ji Sujun, who married Li Zixiong's son, suffered a miserable fate. Less than a month after her marriage, she was implicated and sent to the palace as a slave.

"Are you really resigning?"

"Yes, I have already resigned. His Majesty is aware of it and has approved it. He even rewarded me with a dose of imperial medicine."

Ginseng, deer antler, and donkey-hide gelatin are all good tonics.

Emperor Li Yuan was truly amazing. Not only did he not blame Li Yi for not appreciating his kindness, but he even rewarded him. If such a person didn't become the emperor, who would?
Li Mi, who seized the Wagang base, or the nagging Wang Shichong?
Wang Dalang could only say that he could not understand Li Yi. If he had the opportunity to be the Prince's Official, he would not despise the low rank or the lack of real power.

"I'm going back to the countryside tomorrow morning. I'm sorry to bother you these past few days."

"Why are you being so polite? When you come to Chang'an next time, just come to my house."

"Lüzhu, why don't you stay?" Li Yi said.

"A gift once given away cannot be taken back. You are slapping me in the face. If you think Luzhu is of barbarian origin or that she has not served you well, you can just sell her off."

"That's not the case. Luzhu is a very good person." Li Yi said.

He also knew that Wang Dalang had given him a maid because he saw that he had become an official and wanted to invest in him in advance. Now that he had resigned from his official position, it was a bit embarrassing.

night,

Lu Zhu walked past Ji Sujun with some pride, took Li Yi's hand and went into the bedroom.

Once this young body tasted the pleasure, it became somewhat out of control, unable to extricate itself.

There were several storms in one night,
It was late to get up again during the day.

After washing up, Li Yi said goodbye to Wang Dalang. Village Chief Wang had already gone home yesterday.

"Stay a few more days."

"No, I'll be out for a few days. School will be closed for a few days."

Li Yi led the horse and went out with two maids, first to the nearby West Market.

First, they bought two mules, which could be used to ride home and grind the millstones in the workshop. Then they went to a brush shop and bought some brushes and ink sticks.

After strolling around for a while,
So he set off for home.

"Do you want to go back to the Ji family first? I heard that the Ji family is in Liquanfang, north of the West Market."

Su Jun hesitated for a moment, then shook his head.

"never mind."

"Your brother may be working in Qizhou, but there should be someone at home." Li Yi said.

Su Jun became resolute, "No, I haven't been in the palace for five years, and no one from the Ji family has come to see me once, nor has they written me a single letter or sent me a single message. When my husband's family was confiscated, the Ji family cut off all ties with me. They no longer consider me a daughter of the Ji family."

"I lost my home five years ago."

When she said this, tears welled up in her eyes.

The grandparents who loved her the most in the family had long since passed away, and her parents were also gone. Although there were still uncles and brothers in the family, they had abandoned her and forgotten her for a long time.
Why should she go back?

She is just a slave now. Even if she goes back, she will probably not be welcomed. Why should she get hurt again?

Li Yi felt that the Ji family had distanced themselves from her because they were forced by circumstances, but they had not visited her once in the past five years, not even a single letter.
It's indeed a bit too much.

"Then let's go back."

Carrying the bags of purchased items, the three of them rode mules out of Chang'an City and headed south towards Yusuku River.

(End of this chapter)