Tianzhu cast a disdainful glance at Jiang Quan and carefully helped Jiang Ruan into the carriage. Among the commoners outside, the sharp-eyed ones noticed the slap mark on Jiang Ruan's face and connected it to the rumors of Xia Yan's miscarriage and Jiang Quan striking Ruan without question. They began to gossip: "The Princess of Great Peace is such a delicate person. How could Lord Jiang bring himself to hit her? That red mark on her face is truly heartbreaking."
Another chimed in, "What do you know? Lord Jiang has always favored the children born to that so-called talented woman. When the late madam passed, he sent the Princess of Great Peace to the countryside estate. What kind of birth father would do such a thing?"
A woman spat in disgust, "Pah! What talented woman? She's clearly a shameless harlot. Who knows if the Second Young Lady Jiang and Second Young Master Jiang are even Lord Jiang's children? They might well be the bastard offspring of some adulterer."
The crowd gasped in realization, eagerly launching into fresh speculation—this time questioning the true parentage of Jiang Susu and Jiang Chao.
Luzhu lifted a corner of the carriage curtain. Some of the outside chatter inevitably reached their ears. "These people certainly have vivid imaginations," Luzhu remarked. "If Second Young Lady and Second Young Master heard this, they'd be too furious to show their faces."
Jiang Ruan smiled faintly. In this world, the mouths of commoners could never be silenced. With just a little guidance, rumors could swell to deafening heights—enough to ruin a person's entire life. Like in her previous life, hadn't she been driven step by step to her tragic end by such gossip? Now reborn, it was time for the self-proclaimed fairy Jiang Susu and the arrogant Jiang Chao to taste this bitterness. As for Jiang Quan—the depth of his love for Xia Yan would now be matched by the intensity of his hatred.
...
Upon entering the palace to meet Empress Dowager Yide, the Dowager immediately frowned at the sight of Ruan's face. "How did this happen?"
Yang Gugu beside her also studied Ruan's cheek, recalling the rumors outside. The Dowager, secluded deep in the palace, paid little attention to outside affairs and thus remained unaware of the Xia Yan incident.
"It's nothing," Jiang Ruan replied with a smile.
The Dowager glanced at her, then turned to Tianzhu. "You speak."
Those accustomed to wielding authority naturally carried an air of command. Tianzhu knelt and answered, "Reporting to Your Majesty, the young mistress was struck by the master. When the madam miscarried and falsely accused the young mistress, the master flew into a rage and hit her. The Eighth Prince was present at the time."
Jiang Ruan nearly laughed inwardly—Tianzhu had just dragged Ye Li into this as well.
The Dowager grasped the situation immediately and erupted in anger. "How dare they lay hands on someone under my protection! Hong'an, why was the Eighth Prince visiting your residence?"
Ruan appeared to ponder briefly before shaking her head. "I'm not certain. Perhaps he came with Marquis Xia to discuss political matters with my father."
The Dowager was no stranger to court intrigue, having manipulated power struggles in her youth to install the new emperor. She immediately detected the implications. Considering the Eighth Prince's increasingly obvious ambitions, her frown deepened. The sight of the slap mark on Ruan's face reignited her fury. "That Jiang household is beneath contempt. You'll stay with me these next few days—let's see if your father dares be so bold then!" After a pause, she added, "And what of that Xia Yan now?"Auntie Yang smiled and said, "Your Majesty, please calm your anger. This servant knows a thing or two about the matter. Let the Princess sit down and have some tea first, and this servant will explain everything to you properly."
...
Since Jiang Ruan had stayed in the palace, her days had been leisurely beyond compare. Empress Dowager Yide had deliberately intended to leave Jiang Quan hanging and never mentioned Jiang Ruan returning to the residence. Those with ulterior motives speculated that Empress Dowager Yide was backing the Princess of Great Peace, making the news of the princess's favor all the more credible.
Meanwhile, the Jiang residence was in turmoil. On the day Jiang Quan had intended to wait for Jiang Ruan's return to humble her, an imperial decree from the Empress Dowager had kept Jiang Ruan in the palace, leaving him unsettled. These past few days, wherever he went, people whispered behind his back. In the end, Jiang Quan feigned illness and stayed home, avoiding court.
Jiang Susu and Jiang Chao were equally furious, as rumors had recently resurfaced claiming that the two siblings were not Jiang Quan's biological children but the offspring of an adulterer. The Jiang family's bloodline was thrown into chaos, the inner courtyard was in disarray, and they became the laughingstock of the entire capital. Jiang Chao had only just begun to shed his former image of incompetence under Ye Li's guidance, making slight progress in his career. Yet with this scandal, people's attitudes toward him changed once again.
Jiang Susu fared no better than Jiang Chao. As the legitimate daughter of the Jiang family, she had always been invited to gatherings and social events hosted by other young ladies. But these days, not a single invitation card had arrived, and even if she did attend, she found herself isolated. What did it matter if she was as beautiful as a celestial being or as pure as ice? She was still nothing but a bastard.
Jiang Dan listened to these developments in the courtyard, utterly delighted, and chuckled softly, "Da Jiejie is truly formidable, no wonder she has won the Empress Dowager's favor."
Her personal maid cautiously reminded her, "Miss, in a few days, the third young lady will be getting married."
Jiang Li's wedding was imminent. With Xia Yan completely out of power and Hong Ying pregnant, the household affairs had unexpectedly fallen into the hands of Second Madam. Jiang Li was Second Madam's only daughter, so the wedding was bound to be grand. According to the servants, the dowry was nearly on par with that of a legitimate daughter. The Left Vice Minister, who was originally engaged to Jiang Dan, was now marrying Jiang Li instead. Jiang Dan waved her hand dismissively. "Let her be." The maid glanced at Jiang Dan, noting her calm expression, and added, "Miss should also think about her own future. Once the third young lady is married, it will be your turn. But..." But so far, no one had come to propose to her.
When Xia Yan was still in charge, she had been preoccupied with Jiang Susu's affairs and naturally neglected Jiang Dan. Now that Second Madam was managing the household, she wouldn't genuinely care for Jiang Dan either. Jiang Quan had long forgotten her existence. In this vast residence, she, a motherless concubine-born daughter, had almost become a forgotten corner.
Jiang Susu had Jiang Chao as her elder brother, and Jiang Ruan was now the Princess of Great Peace. Among those left in the residence, she was the only one left. If she continued waiting meaninglessly like this, she would soon pass the prime age for marriage, and even if she wanted to find a good match, it would likely be too late.
"What is there to fear?" Jiang Dan replied as if she hadn't heard her maid's words at all. "Once August passes, won't it be time for the imperial selection of consorts again?"
The maid was shocked. "Miss, you mean to..." But even if she participated in the selection, given Jiang Dan's status and looks within the Jiang family, her chances were indeed slim.But now that Jiang Ruan had become the Princess of Great Peace and Jiang Li was about to marry, Jiang Quan naturally wouldn’t be willing to send Jiang Susu into the palace. With the Jiang family turning in circles, wasn’t Jiang Dan the only suitable candidate left?
Yet everyone knew that entering the palace, though it brought wealth and honor, wasn’t necessarily a good thing. Leaving aside other considerations, the Emperor was old enough to be Jiang Dan’s father. How could any decent young girl willingly run toward the palace? Moreover, Jiang Dan was not favored in the Jiang family and had no mother. If she truly entered the palace without any support, wouldn’t she be devoured until not even her bones remained?
Though the maid thought this way, she dared not voice it aloud and could only silently lower her head. Jiang Dan smiled faintly, her eyes gleaming with an unusual light.
...
In the General's Residence, when Zhao Guang learned of this matter, he naturally flew into a rage. How could his precious granddaughter be subjected to such scolding in the Jiang family? Did they think the General's Residence was easy to bully?
Zhao Yuanping said calmly, "Father, why are you so angry? Didn’t you see that Ruan has already gone to the palace to seek the Empress Dowager? With the Empress Dowager’s backing, no one would dare bully her."
Speaking of this, Zhao Guang also felt aggrieved. Since Jiang Ruan had been enfeoffed as a princess and returned to the capital, she had not once set foot in the General's Residence. Li Shi had even sent her invitation cards, but Jiang Ruan had declined them all. Zhao Yulong, who had inherited Zhao Yuanping’s temperament, was naturally very dissatisfied, claiming that Jiang Ruan had merely used the Zhao family in the past and now that she had climbed onto Empress Dowager Yide’s coattails, she refused to have anything more to do with the General's Residence.
Zhao Guang didn’t believe Zhao Yulong’s words—Jiang Ruan was not the type to cling to power—but he also didn’t understand why she was keeping her distance from the General's Residence now. Not seeing his granddaughter for so long naturally made him somewhat resentful. And the fact that Jiang Ruan would rather seek Empress Dowager Yide’s protection than turn to the General's Residence for help wounded this battlefield-hardened general deeply. Seeing Zhao Yuanping’s indifferent expression only fueled his anger further. He kicked him hard and snapped, "What are you doing just sitting here? Annoying!" With that, he grabbed the sword hanging on the wall and went to the courtyard to practice.
Zhao Yuanping curled his lip, assuming his father was just venting his frustration. After some thought, he too couldn’t fathom why Jiang Ruan was distancing herself from the Zhao family. It had needlessly hurt Su Shi and his brothers. That girl had always been inscrutable—even someone as clever as him couldn’t figure her out.
...
Jiang Ruan and Luzhu had just finished lunch with the Empress Dowager, who was now resting. Jiang Ruan wanted to go to the study to find some books to read. Luzhu asked, "Why haven’t you visited the General these days, miss?"
Luzhu was also very curious. Though Jiang Ruan was usually cold in temperament, she always maintained proper etiquette on the surface, leaving no room for criticism. If she treated even those people with such care, how much more so her own maternal grandparents? During the flood incident, Jiang Ruan had used the grain she had purchased to shield the Zhao family from disaster. Luzhu could tell that Jiang Ruan was not indifferent to the Zhao family. But why had she grown so distant now? Even they, as servants, couldn’t understand.Jiang Ruan shook her head, though her mind was crystal clear. Being tied to the Jiang residence meant that in the Emperor's eyes, she could easily be associated with Ye Li. The supreme ruler in the palace appeared to favor Ye Li on the surface, but privately, he was well aware of the truth—otherwise, in her past life, Ye Li wouldn't have resorted to the desperate measure of poisoning the old Emperor. The more she distanced herself from the Zhao family now, the safer it would be. Getting too close to her might invite the Emperor's suspicions again. The Emperor's heart was unfathomable; who knew what calamities it might bring upon the Zhao family?
More importantly, the more indifferent she appeared toward the Zhao family, the more hesitant those who sought to exploit her connection to the General's Residence would become.
These thoughts she could not share with anyone, keeping them buried deep within. As she turned the corner of the corridor, she spotted a man approaching from the opposite direction—one who stood out far too conspicuously in the palace. Dressed in an emerald-green python robe with a deep purple and gold-patterned belt, his entire outfit shimmered blindingly. That alone would have been enough, but the overwhelming scent of perfumed powder wafted toward her from a distance. Upon closer inspection, the man was adorned with several sachets, all embroidered in vibrant reds and greens, unmistakably items meant for women.
The man looked up, revealing a face bearing some resemblance to Ye Li's. He wasn’t unattractive, but the dark circles under his eyes betrayed a life of excessive indulgence. When he noticed Jiang Ruan, he paused in surprise.
Jiang Ruan was wearing a light-red embroidered gown with floral patterns. Since she was in the palace to see the Empress Dowager, Yang Gugu had styled her hair in the latest palace fashion—the plum blossom makeup—which only accentuated her breathtaking beauty and graceful demeanor. The man’s gaze immediately glued itself to her, shamelessly raking over her from head to toe.
Luzhu was so furious she nearly exploded. Without a second thought, she stepped in front of Jiang Ruan and shouted, "How dare you! How insolent to disrespect the Princess!"
The man’s eyes flicked to Luzhu. Though Luzhu was a charming young girl, lively and sweet in her own right, she paled in comparison to Jiang Ruan’s radiance. After a cursory glance at Luzhu, the man fixed his stare back on Jiang Ruan and asked in a mocking tone, "Princess? Which princess might this be?"
Jiang Ruan was no stranger to this man. In her past life, she had encountered him several times in the palace. Back then, Xia Jiao Jiao had deliberately arranged for him to see Jiang Ruan’s beauty, leading him to harass her in the gardens. Fortunately, Ye Li had intervened. But afterward, whenever this man had the chance to enter the palace, he would seize every opportunity to pester her. He was none other than the infamous good-for-nothing prince—Third Prince Ye You.
Among the imperial princes, aside from the most competitive Fifth Prince Ye Hua and Eighth Prince Ye Li, there were the untalented Crown Prince and the incompetent Fourth Prince Ye Lang. But Third Prince Ye You was a special case. His birth mother had passed away early, and though raised under another consort, he grew up unruly. By the age of eighteen, he had already left the palace to establish his own residence, his reputation for debauchery spreading far and wide. Obsessed with beauties, he kept eighty-eight concubines in his household yet had never taken a formal consort. Though Ye You was notorious for his lust, he had never crossed the line in other matters. The Emperor, preferring to turn a blind eye, had forbidden him from entering the palace unless absolutely necessary. Thus, Ye You’s appearances in the palace were exceedingly rare.In her past life, Ye You had become engaged to Lin Zixiang not long after this, with the marriage personally arranged by Noble Consort Chen. With Lin Zixiang's temperament, life in Ye You's household was naturally miserable—daily ostracized by concubines, she eventually lost her child and was falsely accused by one of Ye You's favored concubines. Unable to bear the resentment, the strong-willed Lin Zixiang took a dagger and perished together with that concubine.
The incident caused an uproar, and the Emperor was furious. Lin the Chief Secretary beat the drum to appeal for justice, but as this was merely a household matter, Ye You could at most be charged with poor household management. Apart from a salary deduction, he faced no real punishment and continued his debauched lifestyle as usual. He had never cared about reputation, so public opinion meant nothing to him. Lin the Chief Secretary, consumed by anger and resentment, fell ill and passed away not long after. His wife followed him in death with a white silk noose. Just like that, the once-prominent and upright Lin family was no more.
Now, this man appeared before Jiang Ruan again, his gaze as repulsive as filthy sludge.
Ye You scrutinized the young girl before him. Having sampled countless beauties over the years, this was the first time he had encountered such peerless beauty. Her stunning looks aside, it was her cold, aloof demeanor that truly stirred his desire. Today, he had entered the palace to discuss his marriage prospects with Noble Consort Chen. Ye You's birth mother had passed away early, and the Empress loathed him. Noble Consort Chen was a beauty, but unfortunately untouchable—and too ruthless in her methods. She had promised to arrange for Lin the Chief Secretary's legitimate daughter, Lin Zixiang, to become his wife. However, Ye You looked down on Lin Zixiang—a rigid, wooden beauty who was difficult to charm, with an unyielding temperament. But since a principal wife was merely a decoration to him, Ye You didn't particularly care.
(End of Chapter)
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