Chapter 31: At the Gate
Xia Yan hurried forward to greet her, quickly stepping up to Jiang Ruan and scrutinizing her carefully before taking her hands gently. "My dear child, you've suffered so much," she said with tender concern.
Jiang Ruan smiled as she looked at Xia Yan, whose eyes brimmed with tears, her gaze filled with apparent sincerity. Were it not for the lessons of her past life, Jiang Ruan might have almost believed the woman's affection was genuine. Still, she replied softly, "Jiang Ruan has been unfilial, causing Mother such worry."
Jiang Susu then stepped forward as well, tilting her head slightly to examine Jiang Ruan before smiling. "Da Jiejie, you’ve finally returned! Mother has been talking about your homecoming for days. Now that we see you in person, she can finally rest easy."
Jiang Ruan turned her smiling gaze toward Jiang Susu, who appeared exactly as she remembered—ethereally beautiful, innocent, and carefree, like a Celestial Fairy in the Clouds untouched by worldly troubles. The tear mole beneath her eye was as vivid as ever, though Jiang Ruan couldn't help but wonder if its crimson hue came from being soaked in the blood of the Zhao family.
No matter how many times she had steeled herself in her heart, the sight of Jiang Susu still made Jiang Ruan's breath catch for a moment. Overwhelming hatred surged through her—this very face, so pure and harmless, had been the one that ruined her entire life.
Jiang Susu, sensitive to shifts in mood, noticed the change in Jiang Ruan's gaze. Though the latter was smiling, her eyes were icy, carrying an inexplicable sense of dread. Startled, Jiang Susu instinctively took a step back, her smile stiffening slightly.
Taking a deep breath inwardly, Jiang Ruan chuckled lightly. "It's nothing. I'm back now." Her voice was soft, her smile sweet and gentle, yet Xia Yan and her daughter inexplicably felt a chill, as if those words had been spat out with venom.
Amidst the undercurrents of tension, the crowd remained oblivious, admiring the sight of the Jiang family's eldest and second daughters standing side by side—one bright-eyed and radiant, the other delicate and peerlessly beautiful. The dual display deepened their impression of Jiang Ruan, solidifying her status as the Jiang family's true legitimate daughter beyond dispute.
Then, a slightly shrill voice cut through the Jiang household's gathering: "It's been so long, Da Jiejie. You've grown even more beautiful."
Jiang Ruan lifted her gaze to see Jiang Li, the Jiang family's illegitimate daughter born to Second Madam. Jiang Li's sharp features resembled Jiang Quan's, lacking the softness typical of women. She studied Jiang Ruan before suddenly covering her lips with a laugh. "With such stunning looks, Da Jiejie, why wear such plain clothes? Unless you're afraid your sisters might envy your fine garments and hid them away on purpose?"
Her words were deliberately provocative, implying that Jiang Ruan had intentionally dressed shabbily to invite criticism. The crowd, never short of those who relished drama, watched with keen interest, well-versed in the intricacies of noble household politics.
Jiang Ruan's fingers twitched slightly within her sleeves, her smile deepening—though it never reached her eyes. Xia Yan, it seemed, was still too impatient. This was to be her first battle upon returning to the Jiang residence. If she failed to resolve this matter flawlessly today, her future standing in the Jiang household—or even her reputation as the legitimate daughter of the Jiang family in the capital—would require serious reconsideration."The wind is strong outside, we should be careful not to let Mother and my sisters catch a chill. Let’s continue our conversation indoors," Jiang Ruan said softly. Her words seemed like an excuse to avoid Jiang Li’s sharp remarks, and the crowd couldn’t help but feel disappointed, thinking that the Jiang family’s legitimate daughter was merely seeking a peaceful life, lacking the sharpness she had shown in the courtroom. Then, Jiang Ruan added, "Lianqiao, Zisu, bring the chest into the residence as well."
Lianqiao and Zisu nodded in agreement. They lifted the carriage curtain, revealing a single chest inside. Carefully, the two carried it down from the carriage, struggling under its weight, panting after just a few steps. The onlookers speculated about the treasures it might contain. After all, the Jiang family was a wealthy and noble household. Judging by the effort, the chest must hold many valuables. Could it be that the legitimate daughter was hiding her wealth, pretending to be pitiable to gain sympathy?
Jiang Li smiled faintly and whispered something to a maid beside her. The maid quickly approached Lianqiao, and Jiang Li said sweetly, "Seeing how hard Da Jiejie’s maids are struggling, the chest must be quite heavy. Let Cui'er help you."
Before Lianqiao could let go, Cui'er grabbed the chest and took a few hurried steps forward. With a loud crack , the chest split in the middle. The already loose latch gave way, and the lid toppled over, spilling half of its contents onto the ground with a clatter .
The sound drew everyone’s attention. Jiang Li’s smile widened with delight, while the crowd craned their necks to see. Xia Yan’s lips parted slightly, Jiang Susu looked on with curiosity, and only Jiang Ruan let out a soft sigh.
The wooden chest lay overturned on the ground, its sandalwood still emitting a faint fragrance. Inside were neatly rolled scrolls of books, meticulously preserved, clearly cherished by their owner.
It wasn’t unusual for a young lady of a noble family to carry books while traveling. What was surprising was that there were no other belongings besides the books. The Jiang family members wore varied expressions, but Jiang Ruan remained composed. "Lianqiao, why are you just standing there?" she chided gently.
As if just realizing what had happened, Jiang Susu smiled and said, "Da Jiejie truly loves books—a whole chest full of them! How enviable. Just the other day, I begged Father to find me a copy of the Zhuang Qin Poetry Collection , but he couldn’t. And here you have it!" Her tone was innocent, like a young girl genuinely fixated on a book.
Jiang Ruan smiled faintly. "It’s just a book. Since we’re sisters, I’ll have Luzhu wrap it up and send it to you later. These books were left behind by my mother. I would risk my life to keep them safe."
From her words, the crowd could easily infer that, given her use of "risk my life," and considering the Jiang family’s legitimate daughter had nothing but old clothes to her name, her life these years must have been harsh. They understood the implications of others taking advantage of her plight. Despite her young age, she had shown remarkable filial piety, guarding her late mother’s belongings. As for any wealth, it had likely been plundered long ago.
Xia Yan gazed at her with a warm smile, though her fingers curled slightly within her sleeves. Her expression grew even more tender. "I know you’ve always loved reading. Later, you and Susu can study together—it seems you two share the same interests."Jiang Ruan brushed aside the stray hairs on her forehead and said softly, "My sister and I share the same blood, so naturally our interests align." If their interests didn't align, how could they have fallen for the same man? If their interests didn't align, how could they engage in a life-and-death struggle over the position of the legitimate daughter of the Jiang family?
Lianqiao and Zisu quickly gathered the books scattered on the ground and were the first to help carry them back to the Jiang residence. Xia Yan busied herself with arranging their return, and as the gates of the Jiang residence closed, the onlookers gradually dispersed.
As they stepped through the vermilion gates of the Jiang residence, Luzhu supported Jiang Ruan's hand and said, "Miss, take your time, don't fall."
Jiang Ruan walked step by step with steady composure, a cold smile on her face, while a storm raged in her heart. Mother, eldest brother, Pei Er, look—I've returned!
(End of Chapter)
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