The legitimate daughter returns to the capital and embarks on a splendid life, tearing apart the fak

The inner quarters of Minister Zheng's residence.

Zheng Jie swept everything off the dressing table, turned around abruptly, glared at the kneeling maid Cui'er, and said sharply, "Are you telling the truth? That wretched girl Yun Jin was really made a county princess?!"

Cui'er lay prostrate on the ground, her forehead pressed against the cold earth, her voice trembling: "Miss, it's absolutely true. It's all over the streets. Everyone's saying that His Majesty has bestowed upon her the title of Princess of Ninghai, and... that she'll be granted Ninghai as her fief."

"What did you say?" Zheng Jie's eyes widened in disbelief. "A fiefdom?! She actually has a fiefdom?! She's just a country bumpkin, a adopted daughter of the Yun family, how dare she be granted the title of County Princess! Is His Majesty blind?"

The maid was so frightened that she didn't dare to breathe. Her mistress's words were too outrageous. She dared to say them, but she herself didn't dare to listen. Cui'er could only bury her head in her knees as much as possible to minimize her presence.

As Zheng Jie cursed, she grew angrier and angrier. She got up, rushed over, grabbed Cui'er's arm, and twisted it hard.

Cui'er trembled all over in pain, but she bit her lip tightly and dared not cry out.

Even after Zheng Jie finished pinching him, the anger in her heart hadn't subsided. Her chest heaved violently with rage as she paced back and forth on the ground, muttering to herself:

"Why her? Why is she getting better and better? Why do I have to marry that old man...?"

She stopped abruptly, a glint of madness flashing in her eyes. "I have to get out! I have to find a way! I can't just sit here and wait to die!"

She quickly threw on her coat and rushed out the door. Cui'er, terrified, scrambled to her feet and clung tightly to her leg, crying and pleading:

"Miss! Miss, you can't go out! Master said you must stay here and wait for your wedding. You're not allowed to go anywhere. If you go out, Master will beat me to death!"

Zheng Jie kicked her away, gritting her teeth as she said, "Why should I wait to get married? He doesn't care about me, I'll find my own way! If you stop me again, I'll kill you right now!"

Ignoring Cui'er's attempts to stop her, she pushed open the door and strode out.

But as soon as she reached the courtyard gate, she was blocked by two burly old women.

One of the old women gave her a forced smile and curtsied, her tone neither soft nor hard: "Second Miss, Master has ordered that you are not allowed to leave this courtyard. If you need anything, just tell us to take care of it."

Zheng Jie gritted her teeth and said, "I want to get out! Do you dare stop me?"

"This old servant wouldn't dare," the old woman said, but her body didn't move an inch. "It's just that the master has given the order that if you are let out, my whole family will be kicked out of the manor. Miss, please have mercy and don't make things difficult for this old servant."

Zheng Jie was so angry that she started cursing, calling the two old women dogs and servants, but no matter how much Zheng Jie cursed, the two women stood at the door without moving.

Zheng Jie was exhausted from cursing. Seeing that the two remained unmoved, she knew that she would not be able to leave through this door today no matter what.

Finally, he stomped his foot angrily, turned around and went back into the house, slamming the door shut with a bang.

Once inside, she slumped into a chair, her eyes fixed on the window.

After a long while, she suddenly called out towards the door, "Cui'er!"

Cui'er hurriedly entered and cautiously called out, "Miss, what can I do for you?"

Zheng Jie said calmly, "Go and invite my mother over. Tell her I'm sick, very sick, and I want to see her."

Cui'er hesitated for a moment, then answered "yes" and turned to leave.

The two old women didn't stop her; as long as she didn't leave the mansion, Cui'er was still free to move around.

In the main courtyard, Vice Minister Zheng, who had been on leave for the past two days, was at home with nothing to do. He was discussing with Madam Zheng whether they could send a satisfactory New Year's gift to the Fifth Prince in order to secure a good position for himself at the beginning of next year.

Upon hearing that Cui'er was requesting an audience, Madam Zheng immediately put down the account book in her hand, stood up, and said, "Is Jie'er ill? I'll go see her."

"Halt." Without even looking up, Minister Zheng ordered unhurriedly, "Cui'er is here? Let her in and give us her report."

Cui'er entered and knelt down to greet the two of them.

Minister Zheng looked at her and suddenly asked sternly, "Is the Second Miss really ill?"

Cui'er trembled with fright and stammered, "Second...Second Miss said...she's sick and wants to see Madam."

Minister Zheng snorted coldly and asked, "Tell me, what happened before you arrived? Tell the truth, and I might spare you. But if you utter a single lie, I'll have you sold to a filthy place!"

Cui'er was so frightened that she dared not hide anything anymore, and stammered out the whole story.

Madam Zheng was anxious and tried to speak several times, but Minister Zheng stopped her by raising his hand.

After Cui'er finished speaking, Minister Zheng slammed the account book shut on the table with a bang, and said angrily:

"Go back and tell her to stay quietly in the courtyard and wait for her wedding. If she has nothing to do, she can embroider her wedding dress. Her marriage was personally arranged by the Eldest Princess; not even the First Prince could change it, let alone me. No one can help her. Tell her to give up on that idea as soon as possible!"

He paused, then added, "Tell her that Madam will visit her when she has time. Go ahead!"

Cui'er quickly kowtowed and withdrew.

Madam Zheng cried out anxiously, "Master! Jie'er, she..."

Vice Minister Zheng looked up at her, his tone carrying a hint of reproach:

"They're all your good daughters! What does it have to do with her that the Yun family adopted a goddaughter?! And she even dares to take advantage of Princess Yamin?!"

Who is the Eldest Princess? She's the Emperor's sister! How dare she offend her? She's got what she deserves! Who can she blame but herself?

Besides, I'm just a lowly Vice Minister! Can I possibly oppose the Prince of Zhennan, or the Eldest Princess? I can barely protect myself! If she marries the Prince of Zhennan, perhaps our Zheng family will still have a way out! Otherwise… humph!

With that, he turned and left.

Madam Zheng watched his retreating figure, then plopped down in a chair and let out a long sigh! For the sake of the Zheng family, she had no choice but to sacrifice her daughter. She hoped her daughter was sensible and wouldn't cause any more trouble!

……

Cui'er returned to the west courtyard. Zheng Jie greeted her excitedly, "What did my mother say?"

Cui'er dared not conceal anything and repeated Zheng Shilang's words verbatim. After finishing, she cautiously explained, "Miss, Master... Master saw through it at a glance, this servant had no choice!"

"Get out! Get out! You piece of trash!" Zheng Jie pointed angrily at the door, her voice filled with hysteria.

Cui'er was so frightened that she didn't dare to breathe and quickly retreated.

After Cui'er left, Zheng Jie plopped down in a chair, her eyes glazed over.

After what seemed like an eternity, tears finally rolled down her cheeks, and she practically choked out each word through clenched teeth:

"Nobody in my family cares about me. My dad doesn't care about me, my mom doesn't care about me either. Fine, fine! Then I'll figure it out myself! I refuse to believe it, she's just an adopted daughter, isn't she?"