A Dream within a Dream

"No need, your original name is quite pleasant—just Tianzhu will do."

Tianzhu nodded. "Yes, Miss."

Jiang Ruan then dismissed the crowd outside and returned to her courtyard with this newly acquired maid.

As soon as they arrived at Ruan Residence, Jiang Ruan entered her room. Luzhu was outside watering the flowers and blinked curiously at Tianzhu. Tianzhu followed Jiang Ruan inside, while Lianqiao and Zisu withdrew, closing the door behind them, leaving only Jiang Ruan and Tianzhu alone.

Jiang Ruan studied the woman before her with keen interest and asked, "Are you Prince Xiao’s personal guard?"

"No," Tianzhu replied swiftly without raising her head. "This servant was previously a gatekeeper. There are very few women in the Brocade-clad Guards, so the master sent Tianzhu to protect you."

"Since your master has given you to me, from now on, your master is no longer Xiao Shao—it is me. If one day I order you to betray Xiao Shao, you must obey." Jiang Ruan’s tone was indifferent.

Tianzhu stiffened, abruptly lifting her head.

She had been puzzled before—just who was this girl who had caused their master to punish Ye Feng for three whole years? The entire Brocade-clad Guards had been curious. Yet all they could hear were rumors, and only those specifically tasked with gathering information about Jiang Ruan knew the details, which others were not privy to.

Though her skills were not the best among the Brocade-clad Guards, among women, she was certainly no weakling. When Xiao Shao ordered her to serve as a personal guard to a noble young lady, Tianzhu had initially been somewhat resentful. Earlier, Jiang Ruan’s straightforward acceptance of her at the Jiang residence had already surprised her, but now these words left Tianzhu utterly stunned.

Meeting Jiang Ruan’s gaze, she couldn’t help but freeze.

What kind of gaze was this? Absolutely cold and heavy, as if it carried an examination that pierced the soul. They had been trained since childhood to kill—only killers possessed such icy eyes. But the eldest daughter of the Jiang family couldn’t possibly be an assassin.

Under Jiang Ruan’s indifferent stare, Tianzhu felt an inexplicable unease. She pressed her lips together and remained silent.

"Loyalty to a former master is hard to abandon—I understand." Jiang Ruan’s voice remained calm. "But Tianzhu, remember this: as long as you cannot see me as your master, I, in turn, cannot regard you as a confidante. Among my maids, you alone possess martial skills, so there may be tasks I entrust only to you. However, until you truly acknowledge me as your master, I will not treat you with sincerity."

The bluntness of these words sent a chill through Tianzhu’s heart—Jiang Ruan wouldn’t even deign to deceive her. Tianzhu felt a tremor in her chest and, after a long silence, said, "Tianzhu understands."

Jiang Ruan tapped the teacup before her. "In the coming days, keep a close watch on my second sister’s courtyard. Don’t neglect Madam’s courtyard either."

Tianzhu bowed her head. "Yes."

...

Days passed uneventfully, as if everything was peaceful and serene. Jiang Quan was occupied with official duties, while Jiang Chao was rarely at the residence. Xia Yan and Hong Ying stayed quietly in their own courtyards, focusing on nurturing their pregnancies, and no conflicts arose. Jiang Susu reappeared, but compared to her former arrogance, she seemed gentler and more refined. Even Old Madam Jiang praised her, saying her time at the temple had done her good—she now exuded a Buddhist serenity, her temperament softened further. Thus, the events of three years ago were all blamed on the "possessing" ghost.If there was anything noteworthy, it was the coming-of-age ceremonies for Jiang Li and Jiang Dan. Jiang Li's ceremony was particularly grand, as Second Madam had always been one for extravagance. Since Jiang Ruan and Jiang Susu's ceremonies had not been held in the capital, Jiang Li's celebration was arranged with the pomp befitting a legitimate daughter.

The Left Vice Minister's family also attended, though they made no particular remarks. The wedding was set for late summer, primarily because the Left Vice Minister was no longer young, and his family had been pressing for the marriage. Moreover, this engagement had been settled three years prior, and neither family had raised any objections.

Jiang Dan appeared at Jiang Li's ceremony without a trace of resentment, behaving with utmost docility and offering sincere blessings for Jiang Li's coming of age. This softened the disdain some had held for her, and many began to regard this illegitimate daughter as gentle and magnanimous, earning her considerable goodwill.

However, Jiang Dan's ceremony paled in comparison to Jiang Li's. With Xia Yan now pregnant, Hong Ying also expecting, and Old Madam Jiang in poor health—aside from the neglected bedroom maid Lian Ye—the responsibility of hosting Jiang Dan's ceremony fell to Second Madam. Naturally, Second Madam ensured Jiang Dan's celebration was far less impressive than Jiang Li's, handling it with blatant indifference. Yet Jiang Dan remained obedient, showing no displeasure. Jiang Ruan watched with a faint smile. Jiang Dan's thoughts grew more inscrutable by the day. While Jiang Quan saw her as meek, Jiang Ruan knew her younger sister was far from simple.

Setting these matters aside, life in the Jiang household seemed peaceful and harmonious, as though it had always been a warm and loving family rather than a treacherous battleground.

By the time the peach blossoms at the gate had withered, Xia Yan's pregnancy had become quite noticeable. She suffered from morning sickness, her appetite had improved, and she had gained weight. This pregnancy was more taxing than when she had carried Jiang Susu and Jiang Chao, likely due to her age and lack of self-care. The elegant and refined woman of the past was now unrecognizable.

In contrast, Hong Ying blossomed into even greater beauty. Whether due to her pregnancy or not, her complexion grew rosier by the day. Unlike Xia Yan, though her belly had begun to show, she took meticulous care of her appearance. The once aloof woman now exuded a seductive charm, becoming increasingly alluring.

On one side was his slightly plump wife, and on the other, his ever more enchanting concubine. Jiang Quan was not typically one to indulge in lust, but men inevitably favored novelty and beauty. Moreover, while Xia Yan had already borne him Jiang Susu and Jiang Chao, Hong Ying was carrying his child for the first time. Though he ensured Xia Yan was well cared for, he visited Hong Ying's courtyard far more frequently.

The pleasant days of spring passed swiftly, and soon the summer heat arrived. Luzhu purchased large blocks of ice to cool the rooms. Though ice was a luxury, Jiang Ruan lacked for nothing, thanks to the generous allowances bestowed by the Empress Dowager.

Lianqiao brought in a chilled lotus seed porridge, which Jiang Ruan tasted. It was refreshingly sweet and delightful, a perfect summer treat. The modest cluster of bamboo in the western corner of the courtyard provided a soothing shade of emerald, ensuring that despite the scorching sun outside, the Ruan Residence remained comfortably cool.Luzhu, who loved the coolness, took on all the embroidery work in the room, and Jiang Ruan didn’t scold her for it. Tianzhu sat by like a mere ornament, watching Luzhu embroider handkerchiefs. In truth, Tianzhu was far from unskilled—on the contrary, her needlework was so exquisite that no one would doubt it was the handiwork of a renowned embroiderer in the capital. Precisely because of her outstanding talent, it felt somewhat puzzling. Although Jiang Ruan usually wore brightly colored clothes, she wasn’t particularly concerned about such things, so she simply told Tianzhu not to bother with embroidery and just focus on gathering information.

The room was pleasantly cool, but outside, the sun grew increasingly scorching. By afternoon, after lunch and a bowl of chilled sweet dessert, Jiang Ruan began to feel drowsy. Just as she was about to rise and take a short nap on the couch, someone arrived in the courtyard.

The visitor was Du Juan, Old Madam Jiang’s maid. Tianzhu asked, “What brings you here?”

Du Juan smiled. “An old colleague of the old master came to visit Madam and gifted two bolts of Silk Fish Silk. Madam asked me to bring one to the young lady.”

Jiang Ruan asked, “Do Third Sister and Fourth Sister also have some?”

Du Juan smiled at Jiang Ruan. Nowadays, no one in the Jiang residence dared to underestimate this eldest young lady. Back when the late madam was alive, she and the eldest young master and young lady were neglected by the master, and even the lowest servants could mistreat them. Everyone had assumed they would never rise again. Who could have guessed that the eldest young master would become a general of the Da Jin Dynasty, and the eldest young lady would be ennobled as a princess? Even without the title, the General’s Residence made it clear they stood behind her—who would dare look down on her now? Truly, fate was a mysterious thing. She replied, “No, there were only two bolts in total. Madam originally intended to give them to the mistress, but the mistress said she was too old for such finery and that it would look better on the young ladies of the house. By status, you and Second Young Lady are the most deserving, and besides, Third Young Lady and Fourth Young Lady are still too young.”

Jiang Ruan nearly laughed inwardly. Jiang Li and Jiang Dan were already of marriageable age—the four sisters were close in age, so this was clearly a distinction between legitimate and illegitimate daughters. There was nothing inherently wrong with that, except it was Xia Yan who had proposed it. Jiang Ruan instructed Zisu to accept the Silk Fish Silk and said to Du Juan, “In that case, please thank Grandmother for me, Sister Du Juan.”

Du Juan hurriedly declined with a smile, “Young Lady, you flatter this servant too much.” As she observed Jiang Ruan’s cheerful demeanor, she couldn’t help but sigh inwardly. Jiang Ruan usually didn’t put on airs, and even after becoming a princess, she never demanded that the servants treat her with the deference due to her rank. Yet, the moment she stood there and cast a casual glance, one couldn’t help but feel an inexplicable weight in their chest. No one dared to underestimate her.

After chatting with Jiang Ruan for a while longer, Du Juan hastily took her leave.

Only after Du Juan had left did Jiang Ruan instruct Zisu and Lianqiao to unfold the Silk Fish Silk. Originating from Persia, Silk Fish Silk was exceedingly rare in the Da Jin Dynasty—a single bolt could easily be worth a hundred gold. It was, in fact, a type of brilliantly colored silk thread. Sure enough, as Du Juan and Zisu unfolded it, Luzhu gasped in admiration.

Each strand of the silk was as lustrous as jade, emitting a faint pearl-like sheen that delighted the eye. If used to embroider a single flower on a garment… it would undoubtedly make waves among the noble ladies of the capital for quite some time.Luzhu exclaimed excitedly, "This thread is so beautiful. Why not have Tianzhu embroider a flower on it? No, no, flowers are too gaudy and would just ruin such exquisite thread. How about fireflies? Tianzhu's hands are so skillful, she could create a masterpiece."

Tianzhu walked over to the Silk Fish Silk and gently ran her fingers over the thread. Luzhu winced and said, "Be careful. Don’t damage it."

No sooner had she spoken than Tianzhu bent down and lightly sniffed the thread.

Jiang Ruan watched her thoughtfully. After a moment, Tianzhu straightened up, carefully rolled the Silk Fish Silk back up, and placed it aside, her brow furrowing imperceptibly.

Jiang Ruan studied her and asked, "Is there a problem?"

"The Silk Fish Silk itself is fine," Tianzhu replied. "But this particular batch has been treated with a special incense that reacts with the silk to produce a unique effect."

Jiang Ruan raised an eyebrow. "What effect?"

"If a pregnant woman smells this fragrance, she will miscarry within three days. Even young maidens who inhale too much of it may become infertile," Tianzhu said calmly.

"What?" Lianqiao gasped, so furious she nearly lunged forward to tear the thread apart. "How could this be? How could Old Madam Jiang send such thread?"

Tianzhu explained, "The incense is still fresh—it must have been soaked and dried overnight."

"It wasn’t Grandmother. It was Xia Yan," Jiang Ruan said with a faint smile. Though Xia Yan, now pregnant, couldn’t handle many matters personally, she still tightly controlled the household accounts. Any gifts from Old Madam Jiang’s acquaintances would naturally pass through Xia Yan’s hands, making it effortless for her to tamper with them. Jiang Ruan had suspected something was amiss the moment Du Juan mentioned that the Silk Fish Silk had been given only to her and Jiang Susu. Xia Yan never failed to disappoint.

"What is she trying to do? How dare she plot against you right here in the mansion!" Zisu fumed, though she no longer harbored any hope that Jiang Quan would intervene on Jiang Ruan’s behalf.

"She’s not just targeting me," Jiang Ruan said with a smile. "Fifth Concubine’s pregnancy has already passed the three-month mark."

Hong Ying’s belly had grown noticeably larger, and Xia Yan must have been growing increasingly restless. But Hong Ying was meticulous, guarding her courtyard so tightly that not even a fly could slip in. Jiang Quan had even granted her permission to use her own kitchen, making it nearly impossible for Xia Yan to act. Yet, the child in Hong Ying’s womb remained a thorn in Xia Yan’s side—she believed that the only sons in the Jiang household should come from her own body.

Driven to desperation, Xia Yan had devised this scheme. Though Jiang Quan disliked Jiang Ruan, the household knew that Hong Ying and Jiang Ruan were on good terms. Servants often remarked that, compared to her stepmother Xia Yan, Jiang Ruan seemed to favor Hong Ying—a fact Jiang Quan begrudgingly tolerated without interference.

Hong Ying frequently visited Ruan Residence. Given how rare and beautiful the Silk Fish Silk was, most girls Jiang Ruan’s age would eagerly use it for embroidery. If Jiang Ruan wore clothing adorned with the silk and sat with Hong Ying for a while, Hong Ying would miscarry shortly after. When the matter was investigated and traced back to the clothing, Xia Yan could easily argue that since both Jiang Ruan and Jiang Susu had received the silk and only Jiang Ruan’s caused harm, the issue couldn’t lie with the material itself. In the end, it would appear as though Jiang Ruan had poisoned the concubine’s unborn child.One stone kills two birds—not only eliminating the child in Hong Ying's belly but also tarnishing Jiang Ruan's reputation with a vicious label. Even as a noble lady, such a damning accusation would be too heavy for her to bear.

Xia Yan had played her hand masterfully, truly a sight to behold.

Jiang Ruan smiled faintly. After waiting so long, the venomous snake lurking in the shadows had finally emerged. Now that it had struck, it was time to see whose blade fell faster.

Tianzhu pondered for a moment. "Miss, shall this subordinate switch the silk thread with Jiang Susu's?" Even though she now served Jiang Ruan, Tianzhu still referred to herself as "this subordinate," as she had under Xiao Shao.

"No need to use a sledgehammer to crack a nut," Jiang Ruan shook her head. "There's no need for you to step in. Someone else will solve this problem for us." Since Xia Yan was targeting Hong Ying, how could Hong Ying not retaliate?

She asked Tianzhu, "Do you understand fragrances?"

"I once assisted my master in dealing with sorcerers from the Eastern Barbarian Country, so I know a little. The incense used here isn’t particularly rare."

"Good. Is there a way to counteract it?"

"I'll try."

...

When Hong Ying arrived at the Ruan Residence as usual, she accepted the tea poured by Zisu while eyeing Jiang Ruan’s attire with slight astonishment. "This embroidery of yours is quite exquisite. The threads even seem to glow."

Jiang Ruan’s crimson chrysanthemum-patterned upper garment was adorned with a vividly embroidered snow-white phoenix. The craftsmanship was so refined that the phoenix appeared lifelike, and the faint pearlescent shimmer of the threads made it seem as though the bird might take flight from the fabric at any moment.

Jiang Ruan smiled. "Grandmother sent over some Silk Fish Silk. It’s quite beautiful. If you like it, Aunt, you may take the remaining threads back with you."

Such silk was rare to begin with, and Hong Ying, who adored beauty, was overjoyed at the offer. She immediately took the material back with her.

After Hong Ying left, Tianzhu looked at Jiang Ruan strangely. After a moment of silence, she finally asked, "Why did you do this, Miss? Wouldn’t it have been better to simply have me switch the threads back?"

"Of course not," Jiang Ruan replied with a faint smile. "Xia Yan must be dealt with, but Hong Ying is too clever. Clever people, if left without leverage, are hard to trust in the long run."

Of course, the most important reason Jiang Ruan didn’t share with Tianzhu was that, due to Pei Er in her past life, while she wouldn’t pity the child in Xia Yan’s womb, she also wouldn’t take the initiative to kill it. Having Tianzhu act was one thing, but guiding Hong Ying to do it was another. The art of killing with a borrowed knife was something Xia Yan and Jiang Susu had mastered in their previous lives—this time, she wouldn’t fall short.

Jiang Ruan instructed Hong Ying, "First thing tomorrow morning, go and inform Fifth Aunt that the silk thread contains incense that induces miscarriages—that it was the Madam’s doing."

...

The next morning, just as dawn broke and Jiang Ruan was still washing up, Hong Ying stormed into the Ruan Residence in a frenzy, clutching the Silk Fish Silk. The shocking news had clearly unsettled her, stripping away her usual composed elegance and leaving her visibly agitated. She demanded without preamble, "Eldest Miss, what in the world is going on?"

The previous day, she had been so taken with the Silk Fish Silk that she brought it back to her courtyard, already planning what patterns to embroider. But early that morning, Tianzhu had come to inform her that the silk had been tampered with—mixed with substances that could cause a miscarriage.Jiang Ruan poured her a cup of tea: "Auntie, don’t worry. I’ve also fallen victim to this. She sighed. If a young maiden uses this kind of incense, she might... become infertile in the future."

Hong Ying was stunned—this was something she hadn’t considered. Hesitantly, she looked at Jiang Ruan: "Eldest Miss, what will you do now?"

"What else can I do? Find a physician to examine me." Jiang Ruan shook her head.

Hong Ying said, "How can this be? The madam is so vicious, wanting to harm you and even the child in my belly. Such behavior is truly despicable. I am but a lowly servant, but you are a noble lady, the legitimate eldest daughter of the Jiang family. How can you swallow such an insult? The Empress Dowager dotes on you. If you report this to her, she will surely stand up for you."

Jiang Ruan gave her a faintly mocking glance. Hong Ying was no fool—she still wanted to use Jiang Ruan against Xia Yan? There was no such easy bargain in this world. Jiang Ruan was no bodhisattva; why should she clear obstacles for others?

"Do you truly think it’s better to report this to the Empress Dowager?" Jiang Ruan asked.

Hong Ying’s heart skipped a beat, sensing the implication in Jiang Ruan’s words. Hesitantly, she replied, "Is... there something inappropriate about that?"

"Auntie, think carefully. Silk Fish Silk causes a miscarriage within three days of use. To be honest, my Ruan Residence isn’t entirely clean either. Moreover, many maids saw you carrying the Silk Fish Silk back yesterday. The Jiang residence isn’t large—such a small matter can easily be uncovered with a little investigation. Since you’re pregnant but showed no signs of miscarriage after handling the Silk Fish Silk, what do you think Madam will suspect if she finds out?"

Hong Ying froze, suddenly understanding Jiang Ruan’s meaning. A chill ran down her spine.

Jiang Ruan continued, "I could indeed report this to the Empress Dowager. But if Madam is truly exposed, she won’t go down without a fight. She despises you so much that even in death, she’d drag you down with her. The imperial physicians aren’t like ordinary ones who can be bribed—they’ll detect any issue at a glance. In that case, Auntie, you might meet a tragic end. As for me, I’ll be fine—Madam’s crimes against me will be repaid. But are you willing to see all your painstaking efforts vanish into thin air? Are you willing?"

Each word was like a bewitching spell. Hong Ying murmured, "No... I’m not willing."

Jiang Ruan smiled faintly.

Hong Ying looked at Jiang Ruan and suddenly grabbed her sleeve: "Miss, please save me! I don’t want to be harmed by Madam. I... I just want a place in this household!" She finally realized—only this eldest daughter of the Jiang family, the current Princess of Great Peace, could save her. Though Jiang Ruan had said nothing, Hong Ying knew she must have a way.

"No need to panic, Auntie." Jiang Ruan patted her hand, her smile growing gentler. "Madam is certain you’ll miscarry. If you don’t within three days, she’ll grow suspicious. But what if the Silk Fish Silk you took wasn’t the one laced with incense?"

Hong Ying slowly released her grip, staring blankly at Jiang Ruan."There are two bolts of Silk Fish Silk in total. One is to be delivered to my courtyard, and the other to Second Sister's courtyard. Since we want to show that everything is clean, I suppose Second Sister will also make a dress from this fabric. If the maids mistakenly took the wrong material, then the concubine didn’t miscarry—she was merely fortunate."

Hong Ying slowly came back to her senses. If it were Jiang Ruan's fabric that was left untouched, and Jiang Susu's fabric that was laced with the fragrance, then she naturally wouldn't miscarry—because the one who would miscarry... was someone else entirely.

Hong Ying opened her mouth slightly, looking at Jiang Ruan with disbelief. "Eldest Miss makes it sound so simple, but how could this concubine possibly switch the fabrics?" After a brief pause, she added, "Eldest Miss has many capable people around her. Could Eldest Miss perhaps—"

"Fifth Concubine," Jiang Ruan interrupted before she could finish, "though there is enmity between Madam and me, it is not urgent enough to act on immediately. If I wish to retaliate in the future, I will naturally find a way. But you, Concubine, cannot afford to wait. Within three days, if you cannot switch the fabrics, then you will have no choice but to..." She smiled faintly. "Find a way to miscarry. That method is also feasible, of course, but then you will have lost your bargaining chip."

Hong Ying's heart skipped a beat. Every word Jiang Ruan spoke struck at her core. Yes, if she wanted to avoid suspicion, she would have to fake a miscarriage—but in doing so, she would lose her leverage. If she could switch the fabrics, not only would she render Xia Yan's schemes futile, but she could also emerge completely unscathed. After all, wasn’t it Xia Yan herself who had tampered with the fragrance?

(End of Chapter)