The words subtly shifted the blame onto drunkenness. Had Yue Jian not been present, they might have fabricated accusations against her. Hearing this, Yue Jian offered a bitter smile; this was her choice, and she had to see it through, even if it meant kneeling.
Bowing low before Wei Lan Xuan, she had nothing more to say.
After all, she had been her maid for so many years and had never committed any major offense. Though Wei Lan Xuan was angry, she did not wish to take Yue Jian's life.
"Since you've lost your virginity, it won't be appropriate for you to accompany me to the Liang family. When we return home, I'll arrange for you to marry A Li. Whether you continue to serve in the manor with him or go to my dowry estate as a farmer, you can decide for yourself."
"Miss..." Yue Jian looked at her tearfully, her eyes filled with both guilt and gratitude. She had done something so shameful, yet her mistress was still offering her a way out. She kowtowed to Wei Lan Xuan again, "Miss, this servant would rather die than leave you. I will go to your dowry estate and become a farmer!"
Wei Lan Xuan looked at her with complex emotions, her determined expression evoking a touch of pity.
"Have you thought this through? Although the estate is on the outskirts of the city, life as a farmer is vastly different from your current life in the manor."
"I have thought it through. Your estate also needs someone to look after it, and this servant is willing to go."
A Li, standing nearby, was surprised by this sudden turn of events. He had initially thought that with Yue Jian's help, he could follow them to the Liang manor and perhaps become a steward, maybe even a confidant of the young lady, which would be a meteoric rise.
Unexpectedly, after having his way with her, his promising future was ruined. However, he dared not utter a word now; if he angered the young lady, he might even be flayed. He could only lower his head and follow Yue Jian, thanking Wei Lan Xuan for her kindness.
Having a nearby maid help Yue Jian up, Wei Lan Xuan looked at A Li with displeasure. "You may go. Tomorrow, I will have your father come to formally propose. The wedding will be postponed until the third month, and then you two will go to the estate on the outskirts of the city. The people there are honest and won't gossip. Yue Jian can go there to rest and recuperate, and we'll discuss things after the child is born."
Wei Lan Xuan's words clearly left room for maneuver. A Li did not grasp it, but Yue Jian understood perfectly. If the child was born, perhaps she would still have a chance to return to her mistress's side!
She let out a long sigh, tears streaming down her face as she looked at Wei Lan Xuan.
"Alright, go out and tidy up. Have someone bring my stewed soup later. You can rest for the next few days. Let Bei Tang and Nan Hu come to serve you."
"Yes!"
Bei Tang and Nan Hu were also Wei Lan Xuan's maids, though not as close to her as Yue Jian. Now that Yue Jian was in this predicament, it seemed they might also be married off.
While the Wei family was embroiled in a series of trivial matters, the Jun Hua Hall on the other side was currently solemn and majestic.
Emperor Qi sat high on his dragon throne, his gaze surveying the realm, inspiring awe. Many envoys from smaller nations marveled at the prosperity of the powerful nation. The officials on either side were spirited, determined to show the visiting envoys what the pillars of the Great Jin were.
With Prime Minister Bai falling ill, the court was led by Duke Wei, a veteran of three dynasties, along with Old Prince Kang and Duke Zheng standing beside him.
Among the princes, the First Prince appeared neat and tidy today, his countenance radiating the bearing of a dragon's son. The Sixth Prince behind him remained as gentle as jade, not drawing attention. The Ninth Prince, preoccupied with other matters, wore a meaningful expression.
"Envoy Budlais from Xue Yu greets His Majesty of Great Jin. May the diplomatic ties between our two nations be eternal. Long live His Majesty, ten thousand years, ten thousand years!" As the envoy spoke, he did not kneel but offered a bow to Emperor Qi, his eyes showing sincerity.
"Envoy Bu's words resonate deeply with me. Xue Yu and Great Jin have always coexisted peacefully, and it should remain so in the future."
Budlais presented a mythical beast carved from ice jade. Emperor Qi's eyes lit up.
"Some time ago, a rare piece of ice jade was unearthed from the ice fields. It is indestructible. Our Emperor ordered it to be fashioned into a beast of auspicious omen for Great Jin. We heard that the Qilin is a benevolent beast and His Majesty's favorite, hence it is presented to His Majesty to symbolize the friendship between our nations."
"Excellent, excellent! A Qilin carved from ice jade, imbued with an even greater celestial aura, masterfully crafted, masterfully crafted! Reward him!"
Emperor Qi, seated on his throne, was overjoyed and very pleased with this gift from afar.
The gift from the envoy of Xue Yu made the other nations feel overshadowed. However, the Third Prince of Jiao Ren, not to be outdone, stepped forward and said, "The gift from Xue Yu is exquisitely crafted and magnificent. This humble prince is filled with admiration. Alas, Jiao Ren has no famous jade mines within its borders, otherwise, I would have had an even more lifelike Qilin made to present to His Majesty." "Haha, the Third Prince has a bold tongue. Tell me, what have you brought to present to your father today?"
The First Prince and this foreign prince seemed to get along exceptionally well, having shared drinks at the imperial posthouse a few days prior. Their intimate tone in the grand hall now was cause for vigilance, especially for Duke Wei.
Although Jiao Ren was not as powerful as Great Jin, it was not significantly weaker. If the First Prince gained its assistance, it might not be a good thing for them.
He had been busy with the northwestern war efforts these past few days and had neglected them. The First Prince had indeed acted swiftly.
The Third Prince smiled at the First Prince and immediately said, "My father knows that Your Majesty has always been interested in maritime affairs. He specifically ordered me to present blueprints for building warships. These ships are equipped with forty-eight heavy cannons and three thousand fire cannons. If successfully built, they will surely dominate the seas."
With that, he presented a resplendent golden cylinder. Emperor Qi was overjoyed. "Quickly, bring it here for me to see!"
As the eunuch beside him was about to descend, the First Prince had already taken the cylinder and respectfully presented it to Emperor Qi, not forgetting to flatter him by saying, "With this treasure, Father will surely bring peace to the four seas!"
His words were not absolute, but it was clear to everyone that this was aimed at the Qingli people, who had been causing trouble. They resided on islands and were skilled in naval warfare. Decades ago, they had fought fiercely with Great Jin.
If their nation had not been severely weakened by a tsunami, the coastal regions of Great Jin might have already been occupied by them.
Therefore, all eyes were fixed on the Qingli envoy, expecting to see her flustered reaction. However, the divine maiden remained the divine maiden. Her face was veiled, and she did not even bat an eyelid upon hearing these words.
This disappointed those who were eager to witness a spectacle.
"Haha, the Third Prince's gift is excellent. I am greatly pleased. We must have a few drinks at the palace banquet later."
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
The Third Prince of Jiao Ren turned to look at the Qingli divine maiden, who showed no reaction. With a hint of schadenfreude, he said, "May I ask what celebratory gift the divine maiden has brought this time? I have heard that the Queen of your country is skilled in embroidery. Could it be a masterpiece from the Queen?"