Zi'an didn't know about the affairs of the palace. She went to the Ministry of Revenue to apply for money today. The Ministry of Revenue didn't delay too long because the decree to confer the title of Princess Danqing also came with a piece of land, which Princess Danqing could use.
However, to build another mansion, it is still necessary to ask the Empress Dowager or the Regent for her opinion. After the approval comes down, the Ministry of Revenue did not delay and informed Zi'an that it would submit a written application to the Regent's meeting room within three days.
Before building the mansion, Zi'an had to cut off all contact with the Prime Minister's residence.
The artificial lake of the Xiangfu connects the front yard and the back yard, and there are rockery and winding corridors built in the lake, which can directly lead from the front yard to the back yard. This means that even if the land is blocked, it is still possible to get there through the corridor in the lake.
Zi'an went to tell the old lady about this matter.
"What did you say? You want to tear down the corridor and the rockery?" The old lady was very angry after hearing Zi'an's words and refused outright, "Impossible, I won't agree to it. You are breaking the rules by building another mansion. There is already an elegant room in the back garden. I can let Chen Linglong move out and you can live in the elegant room. Also, the bamboo forest cannot be cut down."
Zi'an said, "Madam, I am not discussing this with you. I am just here to inform you that the rockery can be left intact, but the corridor in the lake must be demolished. Don't worry, I will ask someone to measure it and will not occupy an inch of the Prime Minister's Mansion or the lake surface."
"You dare?" The old lady said in a timid tone, "If you dare to tear down the corridor, I will make sure you can't stay in the back garden."
Zi'an looked at her exasperated face. It seemed that just as Murong Jie said, this rockery corridor was really her Feng Shui formation.
Zi'an said calmly, "Madam, you shouldn't be so overbearing. That's not your place. Who doesn't say harsh words? But now is not the time to say harsh words and do whatever you want. The Prime Minister's Mansion has been arrogant for many years, and you, Madam, have been overbearing for many years. It's time to calm down now."
The old lady looked at her sullenly, "Are you saying that it is time for you, Xia Zian, to be arrogant and overbearing? You are a frog in the well. You just got the protection of the regent. Do you think you can be arrogant?"
Zi'an said suddenly, "I dare not. I just want to take back what my mother deserves. No matter where I go, I am right."
The old lady held her breath and said, "What do you want? Do you really want to go against me?"
Zian couldn't believe that these words came out of her mouth, "Old lady, do you think I'm against you?"
"Isn't it? Aren't there many such things these days?"
Zi An laughed and said sarcastically, "Yes, I am a bastard. I am against you. I was the one who begged you to force me to marry the King of Liang and then I regretted the marriage. It was also me who went to the Empress Dowager's palace to explain the regret of the marriage, forcing the Prime Minister and Madam Linglong to go to the palace to tell the Empress Dowager the reason. It was also me who wanted to burn myself to death in the Great Fire of China. Is this what you mean, Madam?"
The old lady slammed the table and stood up, "Xia Zian, don't be so presumptuous. Your father raised you to this age and provided you with good food and drink. Can't you do something for the family? How can the King of Liang not be worthy of you? Your father married you to the King of Liang for your sake. At least you are a princess. After you marry him, you will have no worries about food and clothing, and you will have a lifetime of wealth and glory. All the disputes today are caused by your regret of the engagement. You are a sinner of the Xia family."
"Prince Liang is indeed very kind, but what is your true intention? Don't talk so great and think of me. If you really care about me, you won't let Chen Linglong and His Royal Highness the Crown Prince beat me to death in the yard."
The old lady said sternly, "Are you dead? If you were dead, would you still be standing here and shouting at me? Your father was watching you the whole time that day. If you were really in danger, your father would have come out to save you long ago. Beating you was for your own good."
Zi'an suddenly smiled and stared at the old lady, "This is truly the most shameless thing I have ever heard, bar none."
She turned around and said coldly, "Whether the old lady agrees or not, the corridor will definitely be demolished."
"You dare, you dare?" The old lady's voice swept in from behind like a storm, but Zi'an pretended not to hear it.
She returned to Xiazhi Garden, took out Xia Zian's tablet from the cabinet and wiped it gently. "I finally understand why your resentment has been lingering in my heart. Because that day you knew that your biological father was not far away and watched you being beaten to death. Xia Zian, don't worry, I will definitely help you avenge this death."
Someone was startled suddenly. Zi'an looked over and saw Yuan Cuiyu walking out from behind the beaded curtain. She was holding a piece of brocade in her hand and tears were streaming down her face.
"I remember there was a piece of brocade inside, and I wanted to take it out to make you some clothes." Yuan Cuiyu wiped her tears, walked over, and looked at the tablet in Zi'an's hand with a dazed look in her eyes, "I didn't even know that you made a tablet for her."
"Mother," Zi An placed the tablet and looked into her eyes, "Did you see it?"
"I can see it, but not as clearly as before. From a distance, I can only see a blurry shadow. I saw it when I woke up this morning. I wanted to tell you, but you went out to the Ministry of Revenue." Yuan Cuiyu said.
Her blindness was caused by a blood clot pressing on the eye nerve. Zi'an gave her acupuncture every day, and the blood clot would slowly dissipate and her vision would recover little by little.
"I didn't know. It turns out that he had been standing there watching Zi'an being beaten to death. You said Zi'an's hatred had not subsided. How did you know?" Yuan Cuiyu looked at her and asked, her eyes still blurred by tears.
Zi'an was silent for a moment, "I have the memories and feelings she left in my mind. I can even often feel her resentment."
"Do you still have any memory of her?"
"Most of the memories are there." Zian said.
Yuan Cuiyu was a little shocked.
In that case, what is the difference between her and the original Zi'an? She has the same memories and emotions, so she is still the same person. It can be said that she has some more memories from somewhere unknown. Perhaps, she is still Zi'an at heart, but the beating reminded her of her previous life.
Yuan Cuiyu became excited as she thought about this.
However, she was a rational person after all, and this thought did not last long, because the person in front of her was nothing like Zian except for his memories and body.
Even so, she was not disappointed, because she and Zi'an shared the same memory.
"Zi'an," Yuan Cuiyu suddenly grabbed her hand, "promise me not to let him go. No matter how cold and vicious he is to me, I deserve it. I am blind, but he has no right to hurt Zi'an."
"Mother, don't worry. I have never thought of letting him go. I will not let go of anyone who harmed Xia Zian." Zian swore.
No matter whether it is the Xia Zian of the past or the Xia Zian of the present, anyone who bullies him will have to pay the price.
(End of this chapter)