"Auntie, don't fret," the maid beside her soothed. "Perhaps Madam has been fortunate and hasn't used the Silk Fish Silk yet, which is why she hasn't miscarried."
Hong Ying's mind settled somewhat. It was indeed possible that Xia Yan hadn't used the Silk Fish Silk. Pregnant women would find any fine clothing wasteful—maybe Xia Yan was saving it for postpartum garments? Thinking this, Hong Ying relaxed slightly, but immediately her expression twisted with resentment again. "How can she be so lucky!"
...
Xiao Shao handed the letter to Jin Er, who hurried out the door. Guan Lianghan, noticing this, blinked in surprise. "It's not even New Year yet—what are you writing to the old man for?"
"Old man" was Guan Lianghan's nickname for their master, Yaqi Xiansheng. Come to think of it, Xiao Shao hadn't paid his respects even once since returning from the Eastern Barbarian Country. Xiao Shao replied, "I'm going to Mount Canaan."
Mount Canaan was where Yaqi Xiansheng resided and where the eight martial brothers of their sect usually trained. Yaqi Xiansheng was quite the extraordinary figure—versed in astronomy and geography, skilled in medicine, and knowledgeable in military strategy and formations. The late Emperor had once invited him to assist the court, but the then-youthful Yaqi Xiansheng flatly refused, stating that the will of heaven could not be reversed and one must not act against it. Mount Canaan was protected by an array no one in the world could decipher, making it impossible to find under ordinary circumstances.
"Going to Mount Canaan? Wait for me, Third Brother!" Mo Cong jumped up. "I'm coming too!"
"What for?" Guan Lianghan asked, puzzled. Mo Cong was restless by nature and had always feared Yaqi Xiansheng the most during their time on the mountain.
"That Imperial Tutor Liu Min in court has been gaining more and more of the Emperor's trust lately. Last time I submitted a memorial, Liu Min picked it apart without mercy. Normally, I wouldn't mind, but this guy is like a stubborn, unyielding rock—everything has to be absolutely just, not a single grain of sand out of place. It's infuriating!"
Mo Cong was a true scion of a noble family—clever and cunning, with a strong sense of justice, but having grown up in the political arena cradled by his father, he understood all too well that water too clear breeds no fish. Dealing with an inflexible pedant like Liu Min was enough to make him want to spit blood. Hence, he sought their master's guidance.
"That new top scholar?" Guan Lianghan had always harbored some prejudice against scholars. "Stubborn fool. Why bother reasoning with such a sour bookworm? Just beat him up."
"Assaulting a court official—aren't you afraid the Imperial Censor will submit a memorial?" Xiao Shao glanced at the eager Mo Cong, who immediately deflated like a punctured ball. Seeing his provocation fail, Guan Lianghan looked somewhat disappointed before turning back to Xiao Shao. "When are you leaving?"
"Now," Xiao Shao answered.
...
After several days without seeing Xiao Shao, Jiang Ruan found herself feeling unaccustomed to his absence. Realizing this, a faint unease settled in her heart. She had grown used to solitude, yet Xiao Shao had managed to make her accustomed to his presence in such a short time—for Jiang Ruan, this was not a good sign.
Though she still didn't know exactly what Xiao Shao did day to day, she understood it couldn't be anything easy. The capital was full of idle, bird-watching noble youths, but Xiao Shao was different from those pampered aristocrats. He rarely put on airs, and his demeanor made it easy to overlook his status—like a particularly reliable ally.However, what Xiao Shao did was ultimately none of her concern. Compared to that, the demons and ghosts within the mansion were far more pressing. Take Hong Ying, for instance. A few days ago, she had pestered Jiang Quan to invite a physician to examine the pregnant women in the household. Xia Yan, the principal wife, was nearing her due date and already in an unpredictable mood. Without hesitation, she refused Hong Ying’s request. Hong Ying then wheedled Jiang Quan, and in the end, Xia Yan was practically forced to have her pulse checked. The physician declared her pulse steady, but Xia Yan, provoked by Hong Ying’s actions, suffered a disturbance in her womb. Jiang Quan was furious and had scarcely visited Hong Ying’s courtyard these past few days. Out of guilt, he spent all his time accompanying Xia Yan whenever he returned home.
Luzhu remarked in puzzlement, “How strange. The mistress clearly no longer has a child in her belly, so how could it still be detected?”
“Having suffered a loss, Xia Yan naturally became wiser. If she hadn’t left herself such a safeguard, wouldn’t she have been utterly defeated by Hong Ying long ago?” Jiang Ruan was flipping through the invitation card Dong Yinger had sent her, inviting her to visit the residence of the Metropolitan Governor the next day. Since her return, she hadn’t yet met these so-called bosom friends. In truth, her time had been too short—returning from the estate to the capital, then leaving the city with Empress Dowager Yide—to form any genuine connections. Now, with her high-profile return to the capital, she needed to begin integrating into the upper echelons of society. These social ties had to be carefully maintained.
“So we’re just going to watch Fifth Concubine suffer?” Luzhu asked. “The young lady doesn’t actually like Fifth Concubine either, does she?”
Though Jiang Ruan had always outwardly sided with Hong Ying and appeared cordial, her maids had discerned from the incident with the Silk Fish Silk that she didn’t truly regard Hong Ying as one of her own.
Jiang Ruan smiled. Human desires were endless. Hong Ying might have initially aspired only to be a dutiful concubine, but after receiving guidance, she now coveted the position of the Jiang family’s principal wife. When dealing with such greedy individuals, one should never place excessive trust in them. Moreover, she had always rejected every member of the Jiang household—how could there be any fondness?
Lianqiao chuckled. “Enough about that. Speaking of which, the young lady hasn’t seen Miss Dong and the others in three years. I’ve heard from outsiders that Miss Dong has reached marriageable age and will be wedded into the Chang family by the end of the year at the latest.”
Dong Yinger? Jiang Ruan frowned slightly. In her past life, Dong Yinger had married Chang An, the third-rank Salt Transport Commissioner of the capital. Their betrothal had been arranged since childhood and was considered a well-matched union. Later, they lived a blissful and contented life. During a palace banquet in her past life, Jiang Ruan had glimpsed them from afar. The couple had appeared deeply devoted, stirring a pang of envy in her at the time.
Now, the timing seemed about right. It appeared that after this late summer, Dong Yinger would be married off. Once Dong Yinger was wed, Lin Zixiang would soon follow. In her past life, Lin Zixiang had married the Third Prince, Ye You. Ye You’s mother had died early, leaving him unrestrained, and he had grown into a dissolute wastrel. After establishing his own household, he had scarcely appeared in the palace, becoming the most inconspicuous of the princes. Yet this prince was also notorious for his debauchery, with a harem of concubines. In her past life, Noble Consort Chen had personally arranged the marriage between Lin Zixiang and Ye You, which ended with Lin Zixiang perishing together with Ye You’s favorite concubine, leading to the downfall of the Lin family. Jiang Ruan frowned. Calculating the time now, there were still some days before Noble Consort Chen would arrange the marriage. She needed to devise a way to avoid it—or perhaps seek help from Empress Dowager Yide.Shaking her head, Jiang Ruan temporarily set these matters aside, thinking she would inquire for more information when she met Lin Zixiang the next day.
...
The following day, Zisu and Lianqiao dressed her up early in the morning. Since this was Jiang Ruan’s first meeting with the noble ladies after returning to the capital, and Dong Yinger, being a kind soul, had naturally invited many noble ladies. Now that Jiang Ruan held the prestigious title of a county princess, she couldn’t carry herself as casually as before, lest others find fault with her.
Once fully dressed and ready, Jiang Ruan said, “Tianzhu and Zisu will accompany me outside. Lianqiao, you and Bailu stay in the residence and handle matters carefully regarding the Delicate Splendor Courtyard.” Although Zisu and Lianqiao were first-rank maids while Tianzhu and Luzhu were second-rank, Jiang Ruan treated them equally. Tianzhu had martial skills, making her the best to bring along, while Zisu was steady-natured—she would need to learn how to interact with noble ladies in the future. Lianqiao was bold, and Luzhu was clever; keeping them in the residence was wise, especially since Hong Ying and Xia Yan had grown increasingly cautious. If they tried to shift blame onto the Ruan Residence, these two maids could hold their ground.
Lianqiao and Luzhu had no objections to this arrangement. Granny Zhou had been sent back to the Zhao family three years prior. Blind and with Zhao Guang feeling guilty toward her, she would naturally live out her days in comfort. Jiang Ruan considered whether she should find a governess to keep up appearances.
In the backyard of the Capital Magistrate’s residence, a group of young ladies sat together, chatting and laughing over tea and pastries.
County Princess Rongya laughed, “Why hasn’t that Eldest Miss Jiang arrived yet? Could it be that now that she’s a county princess, she’s putting on airs and deliberately making us wait?”
County Princess Rongya was the beloved daughter of Prince Yong, a cousin of the late emperor with whom he had shared a close bond. During the Eight Princes’ Rebellion, Prince Yong had aided the current emperor, earning him high status in the Da Jin Dynasty. Three years ago, Rongya had seen Jiang Ruan once on the Exquisite Boat, but she had always been proud, considering herself a true noble lady and looking down on Jiang Ruan, an outcast raised in the countryside. Now that Jiang Ruan had suddenly risen to become a county princess on equal footing with her, Rongya couldn’t help but feel jealous, her words laced with resentment.
Zhao Jin frowned, and Wen Feifei also seemed displeased. Both came from military families and had little patience for the petty squabbles of noble ladies, finding Rongya’s words distasteful. Lin Zixiang, ever blunt, didn’t hide her displeasure and retorted sharply, “The time on Yinger’s invitation card for Ruan Meimei hasn’t even arrived yet. Your Highness arrived three quarters of an hour early, yet you accuse Ruan Meimei of being late. Does that mean the time on Yinger’s invitation isn’t valid, and we should all follow Your Highness’s schedule instead?”
County Princess Rongya flushed at Lin Zixiang’s words, seething with anger. While she could have snapped back at others, Lin Zixiang was impervious to both soft and hard tactics. Arguing further would only disgrace her as a county princess. Though Rongya gritted her teeth in frustration, she maintained a composed demeanor and said lightly, “I can’t be bothered to argue with you.”Lin Zixiang was about to say more when Dong Yinger quickly stepped in to mediate, "Come now, let's all speak less. Today, I invited you here. If we end up quarreling, it would be my fault." She had invited several noble young ladies today to ease her own melancholy mood, not to stir up trouble.
Several other noble ladies also joined in to smooth things over. As they were speaking, Dong Yinger's maid came running over with a smile, announcing, "The County Princess has arrived."
The girls turned to look toward the entrance and saw a young woman in red slowly approaching from outside the courtyard. She wore a vermilion skirt embroidered with pink-orange magnolia flowers and a long crimson brocade robe woven with gold. A single ruby Ruyi hairpin adorned her hair. As she walked, the hem of her skirt remained perfectly still—like a flame from afar, yet as cool as ice up close. Her beauty was beyond words. When Jiang Ruan was younger, her charm had not yet fully blossomed. Now, in the prime of her youth, the innocence of a maiden blended seamlessly with her inherent allure, creating a breathtaking radiance that seemed to halt one's breath.
With each step Jiang Ruan took, County Princess Rongya's expression darkened. In the face of such beauty, Rongya felt like nothing more than a ridiculous clown. The prouder one was, the harder it was to bear being outshone—especially by someone like Jiang Ruan, whom Rongya had once looked down upon. She felt utterly humiliated. When Jiang Ruan drew near, Rongya covered her mouth and tittered, "Miss Jiang, why have you come alone? I thought your younger sister would be with you. The second Miss Jiang is such a delightful person. Since you're both legitimate daughters of the Jiang family, is your relationship not as close as the rumors say?"
Jiang Ruan glanced at her lightly, easily guessing Rongya's thoughts. She smiled faintly and said, "You're mistaken."
"What?" Rongya was taken aback, unsure of what Jiang Ruan meant.
Dong Yinger had intended to find a way to defuse the situation, but Jiang Ruan's sudden remark left her at a loss. She could only look at Jiang Ruan in confusion.
Jiang Ruan spoke softly, "County Princess Rongya is mistaken. Since we hold the same rank, you should address me as 'County Princess.' If word got out that you didn't, wouldn't it be an insult to the royal family?"
Rongya had never expected Jiang Ruan to make an issue of this—or more accurately, she hadn't expected Jiang Ruan to dare speak to her like this. To assert her status as a county princess right in front of her! Yet Jiang Ruan was absolutely correct. Rongya, who always prided herself on maintaining the demeanor of a noble lady, had no choice but to force out the words, "County Princess…"
Jiang Ruan replied gently, "No need for such formalities. Today is just an ordinary gathering among sisters. Let's set aside the rules and etiquette—just call me by my name as usual."
"You—!" Rongya had never been toyed with like this before. She nearly choked on her anger, glaring at Jiang Ruan. Just then, a snicker broke the tension—Lin Zixiang could no longer hold back her laughter.
Feeling utterly humiliated, Rongya couldn't bear to stay a moment longer. She stood up abruptly and snapped, "So today, you all came here just to bully me, is that it? Fine, I'm leaving!" With that, she stormed off in a fury. Once Rongya left, several other noble ladies who were close to her also took their leave. Before long, only a handful of them remained.Dong Yinger wanted to chase after them, but Lin Zixiang pulled her back abruptly: "Let them go. Honestly, putting on such airs of nobility, with everyone scrambling to flatter and fawn over them—it's truly nauseating. And you, why on earth did you invite her in the first place?"
Dong Yinger sighed. Unlike Lin Zixiang's straightforward temperament, the daily affairs of the Capital Prefecture were complex, requiring careful handling of relationships at all levels. If Lin Zixiang had inherited her father the Chief Secretary's unyielding integrity, Dong Yinger had mastered her father Minister Dong's art of diplomacy to perfection. Dong Yinger enjoyed an excellent reputation among the noble ladies of the capital—lively, adorable, and charming, everyone was willing to do her favors.
Zhao Jin chimed in: "What's there to worry about? So one noble lady left, but here comes another. Are you afraid the pastries won't get eaten?"
This finally drew a laugh from Dong Yinger. But as her laughter faded, her brows gradually furrowed again.
Wen Feifei glanced at her: "Why are you upset again? With Ruan Meimei's rare return, why not set aside those troubles for now?"
"What's bothering Sister Yinger?" Jiang Ruan asked with a smile.
"What else could it be but that marriage arrangement with the Chang family?" Lin Zixiang said.
"The Changs are a fine family in the capital," Jiang Ruan replied gently. "Besides, you grew up together—what could be wrong with that?"
Yet Dong Yinger responded irritably: "I don't want to get married yet."
"What nonsense," Zhao Jin said. "You're always telling us we'll become old maids if we don't marry soon, yet here you are playing hard to get. Are you feeling shy?"
"I told you it's not that," Dong Yinger insisted. "I just don't want to marry yet."
Jiang Ruan observed Dong Yinger's demeanor. About to become a bride, she showed no trace of bashfulness—unless there was no affection for that person in her heart at all. This was somewhat different from the previous lifetime. After a moment's thought, Jiang Ruan smiled and asked: "Sister Yinger, are you dissatisfied with Young Master Chang? Or has he offended you in some way?"
(End of Chapter)
OpenNovel