Tong Yingying and the scholars approached and realized that something was wrong. Why was this Tasty Pavilion surrounded by layers of soldiers?

  Emperor Huilin had always been benevolent and cared about the feelings of the people. For her transgression, he would most likely only punish Qiao Jinniang. Why did the soldiers surround those people?

  When Tong Yingying was still wondering why, a large bunch of rotten vegetable leaves and rotten eggs were thrown at her.

  “Passed a note? Duck eggs? You shameless b*tch. How dare you steal the credit of Flower Picking Childe and the Crown Princess? How dare you make use of us?!”


  “You shameless illegitimate daughter of the Tong family! Bah!”


  Before Tong Yingying could react to what was happening, she was smashed in the face by the rotten vegetables and eggs.

  The soldiers who were stopping the people retreated aside, and Tong Yingying was surrounded by a mob of people.

  Hearing everyone cursing Tong Yingying as an “illegitimate daughter”, Qiao Jinniang asked Lu Chen, “Why are they calling her an illegitimate daughter? Wasn’t she born by a concubine of Imperial Censor Tong?”


  An official of the Ministry of Rites saluted and replied, “When her mother gave birth to her, she was not Tong Lei’s concubine yet. When she was young, she was a very famous prostitute in Chunfeng Street, who was crazily chased by many scholars, including Tong Lei.”


  Qiao Jinniang nodded. If a child was born before their mother was married or taken as a concubine, they were an illegitimate child, and their status would be very low.

  She asked again curiously, “Then why could Tong Lei still be an imperial censor given the fact that he has an illegitimate daughter?”


  The official explained, “Tong Lei had taken Tong Yingying’s mother as his concubine before he became an imperial censor, and his brother-in-law was Duke Wu, so no one dares to mention the illegitimate daughter thing again, but in everyone’s heart, Tong Yingying is still an illegitimate daughter, and forever an illegitimate daughter!”


  Tong Yingying didn’t grow up in the Tong family but by her mother’s side, who was very famous in Chang’an, so not many people called her an “illegitimate daughter”.

  After entering the Tong Mansion, she was the daughter of Imperial Censor Tong, and was very famous for her talent, so no one dared to call her that again.

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  But she didn’t expect that the mob would call her an “illegitimate daughter” again today, and many people even spat at her.

  Tong Yingying was extremely annoyed, and seeing that the tide had turned against them, the scholars surrounding her all scurried off like frightened rats.

  In just two hours, Tong Yingying went from being praised by everyone to being despised and spat at by everyone, looking extremely pitiful.

  Seeing her shaking all over and looking so pitiful, the people stopped.

  Tong Yingying clenched her hand tightly. She must return the humiliation she suffered today to them one day!

  Qiao Jinniang gave Nuomi and the others a look. She never believed in such a thing as returning evil with good. Rather, she preferred the phrase ‘an eye for an eye’. Tong Yingying deserved no sympathy.

  Receiving Qiao Jinniang’s signal, Nuomi walked up to Tong Yingying and said, “You instigated the people to smash Tasty Pavilion, so you have to compensate us.

  “Our restaurant has been smashed into such a state that we can’t operate for at least three days. Our restaurant earns 1,000 taels of silver per day, so you should at least compensate 5,000 taels. Come, hand over the money or we will send you to jail!”


  For the sake of his reputation, Imperial Censor Tong didn’t indulge in corruption at all. He didn’t even take the ice cube subsidy in summer and the charcoal subsidy in winter provided by the imperial court to fish for fame.

  The Tong family actually lived on Mrs. Tong’s dowry.

  Tong Yingying has always had a bad relationship with Mrs. Tong. Although the latter seemed to be partial towards her, she just wanted to marry her into a wealthy family and earn a fat betrothal gift. Now she had to pay more than 5,000 taels of silver. Even if she sold herself, she couldn’t get so much money!

  An official of the Minister of Rites said, “Your Royal Highness, Your Highness, it’s getting late. The Duke and the Duchess have been waiting for a long time…”


  Only then did Qiao Jinniang get on the carriage agan, and Little Lu Xi threw himself into Qiao Jinniang’s arms and said, “Mommy, what’s going on outside?”


  Qiao Jinniang said, “Nothing, Xi’er, remember, don’t be self-righteous.”


  Tong Yingying just got what she deserved.

  Tong Yingying couldn’t be considered vicious, but she overestimated herself, which made her act stupidly. Maybe because of the compliments of the scholars around her, she thought she was superior to other women.

  When they arrived at the Duke Mansion, everyone was greeting them at the door. When Qiao Jinniang and Lu Chen came out of the carriage, everyone saluted and kowtowed to them. Qiao Jinniang hurriedly asked them to arise.

  But Qiao Jinniang didn’t see Zheng Xiao. “Where are Mother and Ruoyi?”


  Duke Anyuan said awkwardly, “They went back to the Qiao Mansion.”


  Old Madam Qiao glared at her son. This useless man still couldn’t make Zheng Xiao forgive him, although the latter lived in the Duke Mansion for more than two months for Jinniang’s wedding! She simply said to Qiao Jinniang, “Your Highness, please come in.”


  Old Madam Qiao was really afraid that Qiao Jinniang would turn around and go to the Qiao Mansion. If so, the Duke Anyuan Mansion would be a big joke.

  Qiao Jinniang, for the sake of her old grandmother, still stayed in the Duke Mansion. Seeing that even Ruofeng and Ruowan were gone, she asked, “Where are Ruofeng and Ruowan?”


  Old Madam Qiao replied, “They went to the Southwest to join the women’s army. Princess Xiliang’s provocation sounded the alarm for our family. Even if Ruofeng stayed in Chang’an, she couldn’t go out, so she might as well go to the Southwest, which is an entirely new world for her……”


  Qiao Jinniang also had a yearning for the Southwest. It would be great if one day she could go to the Southwest to enjoy the scenery there.

  She didn’t stay in the Duke Mansion for a long time before she left the Duke Mansion, and secretly went to the Qiao Mansion with Lu Chen and Xi’er.

  The Qiao Mansion was very lively. Zheng Xiao and Princess Shou’an lived opposite each other and were close in age, so they soon became friends.

  When they were young, their temperaments were very different, but now they chatted about clothes and jewelry and played cards together.

  Seeing Qiao Jinniang and Lu Chen coming over, Zheng Xiao hurriedly saluted. “Greetings, Your Royal Highness, Your Highness.”


  “Mother, please get up.” Qiao Jinniang took Zheng Xiao’s hand. “Are you playing cards?”


  Zheng Xiao said, “Yes, the princess let me win a lot of money.”


  Princess Shou’an said, “You keep winning not because I let you win but because you have the Midas touch!”


  The other two noble ladies also praised Zheng Xiao. One of them said, “Mrs. Zheng, we’re really envious of you. Both your daughter and your son are so outstanding.

  “I came today as a matchmaker. A girl fell for your son, and it just so happens that the Crown Princess is also here today.”


  Princess Shou’an asked, “Oh? Which girl is it? Young Master Qiao is top-notch in appearance, bearing and family background. If the girl is not good enough, don’t mention it.”


  The lady smiled and said, “I don’t dare to come if the girl is not good enough. She is very excellent, and I bet you’ll be satisfied with her!”


  Zheng Xiao asked, “Which girl is it?”


  The lady said, “It’s the niece of Duke Wu who returned to Chang’an several days ago.

  “She and Young Master Qiao were classmates in the academy, and she was back only two days ago. I heard that she was literally the apple of Old Madam Zhou’s eye!”


  When Lu Chen heard it, he left and went to look for Qiao Lu in the study in the front yard.

  Hearing it was Zhou Shihui, Zheng Xiao hesitated. The Duke Wu Mansion was the Queen’s natal family after all.

  Although Zhou Shihui grew up among the folks, the Zhou family doted on her very much and treated her no worse than the biological daughter of Duke Wu.

  Qiao Jinniang asked the lady, “Why did they ask you to be the matchmaker?”


  The lady smiled and said, “Old Madam Zhou asked me to mention this matter to you first so as not to make things difficult for the Qiao family, and Miss Zhou likes Young Master Qiao very much. She even said that she doesn’t want anything. She just wants to marry Young Master Qiao.”