Chapter 301 (2/2)

After the informal ceremony was completed and everyone dispersed her own courtyards, Liu Hanyun brought Xi-er with her to Feiwan Courtyard.

She asked, ”Madam, do you still think that Xis.h.i.+ is someone that can be allowed to stay?”

Ji Man poked at the jade waist accessory that was carved with the word ”Ning” and said with a smile, ”It's not an issue of whether or not she can stay. The marquis likes Haohao, and Haohao needs someone to care for him. Xis.h.i.+ is Haohao's biological mother.”

With a serious expression, Liu Hanyun said, ”Forgive Hanyun for speaking bluntly, Xis.h.i.+ isn't a simple person. Since Haohao is the heir, then he should be given to you to raise. And yet, the marquis insists on having Xis.h.i.+ raise him. What will you do in the future once the marquis pa.s.ses away and the little heir had grown up without having any affection for you?”

Ji Man thought; by that time, she should have already fulfilled her goal and returned to modern-day to eat watermelon while enjoying air conditioning.

”Moreover, Xis.h.i.+ continues to act inappropriately, but the marquis keeps tolerating her behavior. If one day Xis.h.i.+ does something that harms you and the marquis pardons her behavior by using the excuse that Xis.h.i.+ doesn't know the rules, will you really not feel wronged?”

Ji Man raised her eyes and interrupted her, ”Hanyun, you've changed.”

Liu Hanyun was startled.

”In the past, you wouldn't have cared about stuff like this.” Ji Man looked at Xi-er, who was nestled in Liu Hanyun's arms. ”Is it because you have a child now, so the things you want have increased?”

Lightly biting her lip, Liu Hanyun didn't deny the accusation.

”It's better if you don't get forget your original self.” Ji Man patted her shoulder. ”If you stay the same as before, then the marquis will treat you the same as before. You'll have Xi-er to take care of you for the rest of your life, so you don't need worry about the future either.”

The room was silent for a while, then Liu Hanyun stood up and said, ”Madam, you were right to lecture this servant. This servant will withdraw first.”

”Be careful with walking. It's slippery outside because of the snow.” Ji Man waved her hand.

Did she seem like someone that was easily manipulated? Xis.h.i.+ was someone that the marquis wanted to protect. There was no way that she wouldn't recklessly try to harm her.

---

Soon, the t.i.tle and related fiefdom for the second prince was announced. She didn't know who had privately talked with the emperor, but the second prince, who was usually ignored by the emperor, was surprisingly given Zhangjun as his fiefdom. Zhangjun was a wealth territory that was very close to the capital. It was a pretty good place.

Although the second prince was getting a t.i.tle before the first prince and third prince, this almost meant that the second prince wasn't in the running for the position of the crown prince anymore. And so, Zhao Zhe and Zhao Jue didn't have anything to say. In contrast, Pengyue came over to thank her before leaving for Zhangjun.

”I won't forget the promise that I made to you,” Pengyue seriously said, ”If you ever meet with difficulty, Ah Li and I will definitely do our best to help you.”

Smiling, Ji Man agreed, ”Okay.”

Errong had already returned to Jing Province, and one after another, many people in Nie Clan had been demoted to a lower rank. Although the third prince was still regardless highly by the emperor, Nie Clan seemed to be on the precipice of a crisis.

T/N: The t.i.tle of this chapter (When falsehood is taken for truth, the truth becomes falsehood) is a line from Dream of the Red Chamber.

Translator Ramblings: Ji Man downplays Xis.h.i.+'s threat to her because she believe that Xis.h.i.+ isn't smart and thinks that Liu Hanyun's warnings are only because she wants to use her to get rid of Xis.h.i.+ to help Xi-er's status. But, if Xis.h.i.+ was kicked out of the estate, wouldn't Haohao automatically be given to the main wife to raise? This would cement Haohao's position as the heir even more, secure Nie Sangyu/Ji Man's future, and drastically decrease the likelihood of Xi-er ever becoming the marquis's heir. Am I missing something?

When I was re-reading the novel, it was more obvious that Xis.h.i.+ gets away with a lot of things just by playing the ”I'm an ignorant peasant that doesn't know any better” card. It's also possible that Xis.h.i.+ genuinely doesn't know the rules and other customs because no one tells her anything until after she messes up. See Exhibit A: Wen Wan, who messed up a lot in the beginning because she wasn't aware of the stricter rules in a n.o.ble household since Ning Yuxuan didn't bother hiring a tutor for her.

Anyways, I'm guessing that based on the t.i.tle of this chapter that the author's intention when we read this story arc is to feel doubtful and unsure what the real truth is.

P.S. It was so cute and sweet when Haohao dropped the gold ingot by Ji Man's feet.