Chapter 30: Sisters
Seeing her speak with such sincerity, Li Mi comforted her, saying, "Miss Jiang, you worry too much. This matter has nothing to do with you. The temple does need to be thoroughly investigated, but you should set off early so as not to delay your return to the capital." His words were not unfounded. Although everyone in the temple was suspect, Jiang Ruan was the least likely culprit. For one, she had merely been passing through and stayed overnight by chance. Secondly, the massacre of so many bodies bore the marks of skilled martial artists. The fact that such a slaughter last night had gone unnoticed by anyone in the temple indicated the killers were highly skilled—hardly something four delicate women like Jiang Ruan and her maids could have accomplished.
With things having reached this point, insisting on staying would only cause trouble. Jiang Ruan thus instructed Zisu and the others to pack their belongings, then boarded the carriage with Imperial Censor Wang to bid farewell to Li Mi.
The remaining journey was already very close to the capital, and by noon, the carriage arrived at the city gates.
Luzhu, who had never been to the capital before, curiously lifted a corner of the carriage curtain and exclaimed in awe, "So this is the capital! I’ve always heard how prosperous it is, and now I see it’s true—it’s so beautiful!"
Zisu and Lianqiao also looked outside. The two of them had been away from the capital for six years, and returning now filled them with indescribable excitement. They were overjoyed for Jiang Ruan, feeling as though their hardships had finally paid off. Jiang Ruan, however, showed none of their elation. Slowly lifting the curtain on her side, she caught sight of a sleek black steed galloping past the carriage. The horse was a rare and magnificent breed, and she couldn’t help but watch it for a moment longer. When she looked again, all she saw was a faint silhouette of its rider, whose bearing was peerlessly elegant.
Jiang Ruan smiled faintly and surveyed her surroundings. The capital’s streets were bustling, crowded shoulder-to-shoulder with people, no different from what she remembered. She recalled how, when she had left the capital for the countryside, it had been in a mourning carriage with only a handful of lonely attendants. Now, coming and going had spanned a lifetime, and the person returning was no longer the same as before.
She tilted her head slightly, letting the winter breeze brush against her face. Lianqiao was about to urge her to lower the curtain to avoid catching a chill when she caught sight of Jiang Ruan’s expression and was startled. Though her mistress’s face was expressionless, her gaze was icy, exuding an aura so sinister it was as if she were a vengeful spirit returned from hell—enough to send shivers down one’s spine.
As the carriage neared the vicinity of the Jiang residence, Imperial Censor Wang parted ways with Jiang Ruan. Having recently impeached Jiang Quan, he held the man in utter contempt and had no desire to see him. He instructed the coachman to escort Jiang Ruan and her party back to the Jiang residence while he took his leave.
The closer they got to the Jiang residence, the more nervous Zisu and the others became. For them, the Jiang household might signify an improvement in their circumstances, but it also marked the beginning of strife. Jiang Ruan, on the other hand, appeared the calmest of all—though the torrent of hatred churning within her was something only she knew.
The Jiang residence was located on one of the most prosperous streets in the capital. Having received word from the servants, the household had prepared to welcome the Jiang family’s legitimate daughter. Jiang Quan was absent, so Xia Yan personally came out to greet her. Given the emperor’s displeasure and the rumors circulating among the common folk, only by demonstrating the Jiang family’s high regard for this legitimate daughter could the storm gradually be quelled.Among the common folk, some saw Xia Yan personally stepping out with her maids and servants. Those who knew the ins and outs of the matter even lingered outside the Jiang residence, waiting to witness the spectacle. Before long, a sizable crowd had gathered at the gates. Xia Yan made no move to have the servants drive them away—the more witnesses, the better.
The carriage trundled along slowly before finally coming to a halt in front of the Jiang residence.
"The eldest young miss has returned!" a matron standing beside Xia Yan announced loudly. Instantly, a gentle smile blossomed across Xia Yan's face.
The onlookers watched the carriage with curiosity. Jiang Ruan's actions in the courtroom had already spread throughout the capital, and everyone was eager to catch a glimpse of the noble yet ill-fated Jiang family's legitimate daughter.
Two maids soon alighted from the carriage. One lifted the curtain while the other extended her hand, ready to assist the person inside.
"Da Jiejie!" A delighted voice rang out as a young girl in white emerged from behind the Jiang residence gates. Though only eleven or twelve years old, she was already breathtakingly beautiful—graceful as an ink painting, her enchanting eyes veiled like mist. Dressed in a lily-white jacket and skirt with white brocade, her fair skin seemed even more jade-like, her lips as pink as cherry blossoms. The most captivating feature was the teardrop mole beneath her eye, lending her a delicate, ethereal beauty reminiscent of a Celestial Fairy in the Clouds. She wore no ornaments save for two emerald ribbons in her hair, exuding an aura of purity and refinement that softened hearts.
Some in the crowd recognized her. While Jiang Ruan, the legitimate eldest daughter, remained obscure due to her lack of favor, Jiang Susu's fame was widespread in the capital. The Jiang family's treasured pearl, she was renowned for her peerless beauty and exceptional talent, hailed as the foremost beauty of the capital.
With such a stunning young maiden present, fewer eyes turned toward the carriage.
"Young miss, take care," a crisp voice suddenly called from within the carriage.
A moment later, a slender, jade-like hand emerged. The hand was so fair and delicate it seemed almost boneless, yet its mere appearance inexplicably stirred the hearts of those watching, drawing gazes that had been fixed on Jiang Susu back to the carriage.
Inside, a maid helped the rumored legitimate daughter of the Jiang family step into view.
The young girl, in the bloom of youth, wore plain clothes and a simple wooden hairpin. Her oversized dark green cotton jacket and light gray coarse skirt were worn with age. Her long hair was loosely tied into a bun with a wooden pin, a few stray strands framing her petite, jade-like ears—so captivating one couldn't look away.
She slowly raised her head, revealing an exquisite oval face. While Jiang Susu's complexion was already fair, hers was even fairer, as if glowing with a dewy radiance. Perhaps from the fatigue of travel, a faint blush tinged her cheeks. Her luminous eyes swept lightly over the crowd, their upturned corners carrying a subtle allure that sent ripples through the onlookers' hearts. Jiang Susu's refined attire made her appear peerlessly pure, but this girl's shabby clothing only accentuated her striking beauty. One couldn't help but wonder—what breathtaking sight she would make dressed in vibrant colors.Generally speaking, the more striking a woman's beauty, the more likely it is to appear gaudy. A refined and elegant beauty like Jiang Susu is the kind that endures. Yet this plainly dressed girl possessed features that were exquisitely beautiful and striking, yet her expression carried a gentle aloofness with an inexplicable sense of depth—as though she had weathered many heavy years. There was no trace of frivolity, only a composed radiance. Despite her young age, her every movement exuded a mature grace.
Step by step, she walked toward the entrance of the Jiang residence. Observant onlookers noticed that the girl held her back perfectly straight, each step executed flawlessly. Initially, people had assumed that the Jiang family's eldest daughter, left unattended in the countryside, would surely lack proper manners. But now it seemed this girl was not only noble in character but also impeccably well-bred, with a beauty that could rival even the Jiang family's second daughter, Jiang Susu.
(End of Chapter)
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