Chapter 14: Jia Min's Extra Story

  I am the only legitimate daughter of the National Duke's Mansion, born with a golden spoon in my mouth. From a young age, I was treated like a precious treasure, and my parents held me in their hands as if they were afraid of dropping me, and kept me in their mouths as if they were afraid of losing me, with all the honors and privileges concentrated on me.

  I was clever and sensitive since childhood, learning everything quickly, mastering piano, chess, calligraphy, and painting, with a beautiful face like flowers and moon, eyebrows like spring mountains, eyes like autumn water, elegant in every way, respected by the daughters of wealthy families as the number one beauty, envied, jealous and hated by the women of various households in the capital.

  The first time I saw Lin Hai was on the way to the temple with my mother to burn incense.

  That day, I finally got out of the house!!

  Never having seen the outside world since childhood, occasionally hearing the maid's descriptions, her heart was already filled with curiosity.

  I sat in the sedan chair, unable to contain my excitement, and stole glances out of the window. The bustling streets, the throngs of people, the dazzling array of goods on display, all left me dizzy and delighted.

  At this time, a tall and slender figure, wearing a long gown made of the finest ice-blue silk with embroidered bamboo leaf patterns, rode past the sedan chair on a sorrel horse.

  His face is like jade crowned, his eyes are like bright stars, his lips are like painted with vermilion, his tall and slender figure stands upright, his clothes fluttering gently in the wind, set off by the shadow of the horse, elegant and refined, as if a divine being had descended into the world. A subtle luster flows over his skin, like the finest sheep fat white jade, dazzling my heart.

  At that moment, I seemed to hear the sound of my own heartbeat, a flush spread across my face, and I touched my slightly burning cheeks with both hands, looking somewhat evasively at the figure passing by outside until it disappeared from view, a hint of loss quietly rising.

  Later, I was in a daze and didn't know how to burn incense or return home. I didn't dare tell anyone, not even the maids, for fear of being scolded by my mother! The young man's face kept flashing in my mind, making me anxious and at a loss - is this what they mean by love at first sight?

  At that time, I didn't have the energy to do anything, and I kept seeing his shadow everywhere. I lost my appetite, and my mother found out about it when she called me over to ask questions. After knowing what happened, my mother didn't scold me, but instead said she would go investigate the other person's background, which made me extremely happy. That night, I couldn't sleep.

  A few days later, my mother gave me a stack of materials.

  His surname was Lin, his name Hai, and his courtesy name Ruhai. He was a native of Suzhou. Although he came from a family with hereditary privileges, it was also a scholarly family, and he was the third-place winner in the imperial examination.

  His ancestors had inherited the title of Marquis, and now it was his turn, which had been passed down for five generations. At first, only three generations were allowed to inherit the title, but due to the current emperor's great kindness and virtue, surpassing that of previous dynasties, an extra favor was granted, allowing his father to also inherit the title; by the time it came to him, he had to start from a humble beginning.

  He is such an outstanding man, making me overjoyed, doesn't this mean that nothing is impossible for us?

  Until it was really settled, I was still in a daze, as if in a dream.

  On the day of my grand wedding, I wore a bright red wedding dress, shining brightly, with a long trail of red decorations stretching from the Jia Mansion to the Lin Mansion, and once again became the object of envy for everyone in the capital.

  After marriage, I and he are of one mind and heart, our love is deep! I feel that I am the happiest woman in this world.

  Perhaps heaven was jealous of my perfect life, and I had no children for a long time. I could only endure the heartache and let Ruyi serve me in bed. That night was almost tears until dawn, it hurt like cutting my heart.

  It's like a dream come true, and I'm even feeling jealous of my own good fortune. It only took once, and I got pregnant. This is especially hard for me to bear after three years of infertility. When I found out the news, I hugged my nanny and cried for a long time.

  That Kanaya, that little scoundrel, has become arrogant after having a child!!

  Walking around with a flat stomach all day, coming in front of me and chatting, saying some ambiguous and unpleasant words!!!

  I was aware that she had conceived the first child of Lin's family, and I tolerated it again and again. However, she was too arrogant, so under the suggestion of Naiya, I took action to get rid of that unborn child who was already doomed to die young.

  Guilt and anxiety entwined me, making it impossible for me to sleep all night. During that period of time, I became so thin that I almost looked like I would fall over with just a gentle breeze.

  A month later, her mother-in-law's distant cousin entrusted her with a child before she passed away, and her mother-in-law promised to take good care of the child.

  She was a ten-year-old girl in simple clothes and thin figure. At that time, I still sympathized with her parents' early death, but I never expected that she would be my greatest enemy in my future life.

  After the fourth or fifth year of marriage, Lin's house still had no children born. The mother-in-law was anxious and women were sent in one by one! And these maids around me, each and every one of them is a seductress, thinking they can climb into my husband's bed. I hate to think that those seductresses would be sold far, far away.

  My heart is bitter, but I can only swallow the bitter taste silently. The four words "virtuous and magnanimous" are too important for me now, who made me always childless?

  The wet nurse said that the eldest illegitimate son must not be born, so I stirred up trouble and let them fight among themselves! I didn't take matters into my own hands, it's none of my business if they can't give birth. Let me tell you, these foxy vixens should all be beaten to death with sticks.

  Nowadays, my mother-in-law's gaze towards me is getting more and more unpleasant, I have a bad premonition. Sure enough, a month later, my mother-in-law brought home a concubine for my husband. The woman was none other than Chen Lanxi, who had just finished her three-year mourning period.

  That day, the mansion was bustling with excitement, but my heart was icy cold, sitting alone by the window until dawn. My beloved husband, in a bridal chamber with another woman, once again made me feel the piercing pain that cut to the bone.

  Fingers embedded in the flesh, fresh blood slid down along the palm lines, drawing a beautiful arc, blooming into a cluster of gorgeous flowers on the ground.

  Months later, Lin's mansion had three pregnant concubines at the same time, but I was not among them.

  My heart is filled with hatred and jealousy, this time I have no more guilt!! Framed Zhang Shi and the little servant for private communication, in front of her face, beat that innocent little servant to death, Zhang Shi was so scared that she miscarried; Li Shi was sold by me for theft. Originally wanted to deal with Chen Lan Zhi, but mother-in-law intervened and took her away.

  A few months later, Lin's mansion welcomed their young master, the eldest son of Lin.

  I never had the chance to take action, my mother-in-law arranged for someone to guard him tightly, so he was able to grow up safely! But I am not resigned to it, since he didn't come out of my belly, he doesn't have the qualification to live, I don't believe that just because we were able to prevent it once, we can prevent it for a lifetime.

  Unfortunately, another bad news came, that cheap woman Chen Lanqi is pregnant again.

  I'm consumed with jealousy to the point of near madness, my eyes are red with rage, I'm so resentful! I want a child but can't have one, while others give birth one after another. Why is heaven so cruel to me, Jia Min?

  I smashed the cup in my hand and the porcelain in the house to vent the resentment and grievance in my heart.

  Fortunately, the second child is a girl, just a money-loser who will eventually get married and leave, not worth my effort to deal with.

  My mind and eyes were all on Lin Ziqian that little brat, not long after, my mother-in-law's body began to deteriorate, I started to slowly set up the layout, once she was gone, I made my move.

  But it can't be too obvious, so the following is a chronic poison, which will only die after three or four years.

  After doing all these things, I feel relieved.

  Two months after the mourning period for my mother-in-law was over, I finally became pregnant with a child. I was overjoyed and hugged my nanny, laughing loudly one moment and crying loudly the next! I carefully protected this hard-won child, lest I accidentally miscarry, I thought I would go crazy.

  I excused myself from paying respects to the concubines, and most of the household chores were handed over to Nai Nai, so I could focus on taking care of my pregnancy.

  When I was six months pregnant, the doctor told me that I had a boy, and I looked forward to the birth of the child every day.

  I didn't expect to have a difficult delivery, it was so painful I almost died!

  Finally gave birth, barely holding on to find out that the child born with great difficulty was actually a girl. At that moment, I almost went crazy. Why? The doctor had been extremely sure it was a boy, so why did a girl come out instead?

  I spat out a mouthful of blood and fainted.

  Because of the production loss of physical strength and injury to the vital energy, the following days were spent lying in bed recuperating. What I couldn't accept was that Chen Lanqi, that cheap woman, had the good fortune to give birth to three sons in a row!

  Everything went black before my eyes, my whole body was icy cold, as if I had fallen into an ice cave. Chen Lan Zhi, I, Jia Min, am at odds with you and cannot coexist.

  In the following years, I used all sorts of methods. Whether it was poisonous flowers, poison, framing, and other sinister plots, but those few little brats were still jumping around energetically, it's really eerie~~

  Mother came to tell me that she wants the two of us to become closer relatives, I think it's great!! My mother's family is the Rongguo Mansion, Daiyu will be married into a wealthy and noble family, enjoying endless blessings and good fortune! I'll wait for Father to return from his trip and tell him about it! But unexpectedly, Father doesn't agree! I was so heartbroken that I cried!

  The next day, I found out that it was actually Chen Lanqi who had done this evil deed! My blood rushed up, and a mouthful of blood spurted out. I clearly felt the flow of life ebbing away! I called for someone to go find Master, determined that no matter what, I would settle the matters of the two jade pieces before I died!!

  The old man came, but no matter how I cried and begged, he refused to give in!

  I was so angry that I couldn't catch my breath, feeling all the strength in my body being drained away. My heart was filled with resentment and anger, my hands fell weakly to my sides, and I slowly closed my eyes.