Speaking of the past, what was Princess Consort Ji’s typical day as a favored concubine like?
The recollection Nanny provided was just like all the palace intrigue stories Song Ci had seen: the forr Emperor’s boundless indulgence and pampering had managed to turn the initially respectful and slightly awed Princess Consort Ji into a silly damsel who flaunted her favor.
Dramatic and pretentious, naively silly, with a bizarre self-confidence, always believing the domineering Emperor loves only her and everyone else is a pile of dung—that was Princess Consort Ji’s character.
The forr Emperor probably truly loved this concubine from the common people; among all the beauties, he uniquely favored her alone, and without limit, supported her parents’ family. Relying on the elevation of Princess Consort Ji, the Ji Family acted with arrogance, causing trouble and almost rebelling to the skies.
Unfortunately, the good tis didn’t last. When the forr Emperor passed, Princess Consort Ji and her son moved to their fief, and the new Emperor ascended the throne; the Ji Family imdiately beca like a turtle retracting its head, hiding away.
"That Ji Family Head is quite shrewd indeed, able to bend and stretch, possessing the courage to give and take." Song Ci listened with relish and praised the Ji Family Head.
Niu Pan’er handed her a segnt of orange and chuckled lightly, "Sadly, the intelligence wasn’t used in the right way; they have more worthless descendants than accomplished ones."
"That’s the downside of lax family discipline—ashadly holding a good hand of cards yet lacking the skill to play them properly," Song Ci said, slowly peeling the white veins off the orange before placing it in her mouth.
When you suddenly ascend to fortune with vast wealth in hand, having such strong advantages, if the Family Head had any brains or wisdom, seizing this opportunity would easily lead to a transformation of the family courtyard; strictly educating the younger generation and disciplining them rigorously—wouldn’t you be able to nurture talented heirs capable of supporting the family in twenty years?
Nanny sighed, "Before Princess Consort Ji entered the palace, the Ji Family was either in the fields or the marketplace; those who could study were few. The official position Ji’s elder received was bestowed by the forr Emperor. How many had foresight back then?"
A gifted official position was like going through the back door; the Ji elder barely recognized a few words. How could he manage as an official? Within a few years, he was dismissed—naturally after the forr Emperor’s death.
In the past two or three generations, the only worthwhile one was the third son of Ji’s second elder, who was clever, cunning, and knew how to avoid suspicion. He served as an official in Xuzhou.
The rest were not worth ntioning.
Take Ji Qi, who recently squabbled with Song Zhiyu, as an example—just a playboy who wasted ti among won yet believed his literary talent was exceptional.
"Did the Ji Family send anyone to cause trouble after Zhiyu embarrassed soone?" Song Ci curiously asked Niu Pan’er.
Niu Pan’er sneered, "The wife waited a long ti, but no trouble ca—only an apology arrived."
Song Ci raised her eyebrow, "That considerate?"
"Exactly," Niu Pan’er cracked her knuckles and said, "The wife was thinking, whoever ca, I’d beat them one by one, two by two—let’s see if they dare bully my husband."
Hmm, very domineering and bold!
In Song Ci’s heart, she secretly delighted for little Zhiyu, thinking this boy really had good luck to end up with such a fiercely protective wife—a born lucky streak.
She glanced at Niu Pan’er’s belly, coughed, and pretended to be serious, "Be mindful of prenatal education; rumors of fighting and killing don’t sound nice—people will say we’re abusing power. If you must fight, secretly drag them into the alley and sleeve them with a sack."
Niu Pan’er’s eyes bent, she exchanged a knowing, mischievous smile with her.
Nanny: "..."
Both of these people are troublemakers.
Is this what they call prenatal education?
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