Chapter 40: Favor
"Perhaps she's just like you," Cai Que, standing nearby, chimed in with a smile. "After all, she is your granddaughter. Back in the day, Old Madam was one of the most renowned noble ladies in the capital. Who wouldn’t praise your impeccable manners, talent, and beauty? The eldest young lady seems quite astute—maybe it’s innate. Even growing up in the countryside, she carries herself with the grace of someone from the palace."
"You sweet talker," Old Madam Jiang scolded playfully. "Who knows what that girl has promised you to make you speak so highly of her."
"I’m not flattering the eldest young lady—I’m trying to please you, Old Madam," Cai Que retorted.
Granny Zhang joined in the laughter. "Old Madam, there’s no need to worry so much. It’s a good thing the eldest young lady understands propriety. From what I’ve seen, she stands out even among the noble young ladies of the capital. The Jiang family should be proud to have such a daughter."
Old Madam Jiang nodded. "Let’s just hope she performs well tomorrow."
The next morning, Lianqiao woke Jiang Ruan early. Jiang Ruan had instructed Zisu to take care of Granny Zhou, so today, Luzhu and Lianqiao would accompany her. After Luzhu helped Jiang Ruan finish breakfast, Lianqiao eagerly prepared to dress her. Luzhu teased, "Sister Lianqiao, you’re so impatient—one might think you’re the one attending the gathering today."
"You little wretch, spouting nonsense! I ought to tear your mouth," Lianqiao shot back. "Our young lady hasn’t dressed up properly in so long. I’ve always said she’s a natural beauty. Just imagining the stunned looks on everyone’s faces when she steps out later makes me overjoyed."
Jiang Ruan chuckled. "The true beauty of the Jiang family isn’t me."
"You mean the second young lady?" Lianqiao, ever blunt, continued without hesitation. "The second young lady is pretty, but her looks are too plain. While it suits her now that she’s young, as she grows older, such simplicity will become dull. How could she compare to our young lady’s striking charm?"
Jiang Ruan laughed. "Don’t you know the current trend in the capital favors such refined and delicate beauties? Someone like me would be considered too flashy."
Luzhu, who had been tidying the table, couldn’t help but interject. "Young lady, you’re mistaken. Scholars may claim to admire the lotus for rising untainted from the mud, but in reality, people spend fortunes to buy a single peony from Luoyang. Who would pay a fortune for a pond lotus?"
Lianqiao nodded. "Exactly."
Jiang Ruan shook her head and said nothing more. Luzhu finished washing her hands and guided Jiang Ruan to the dressing table. "What hairstyle would you like, young lady?"
"Whatever you think is best," Jiang Ruan replied. "Just make sure it’s appropriate."
After about an incense stick’s worth of time, they were finally ready. Outside the Jiang residence, two carriages stood prepared—one for Jiang Susu, Jiang Ruan, and Xia Yan, and another for Jiang Dan and Jiang Li. Both carriages would depart together for the Shen residence. Vice Minister Shen and Jiang Quan had a longstanding professional relationship, often supporting each other in official matters.
When Lianqiao and Luzhu followed Jiang Ruan out, they saw Jiang Li and Jiang Dan had already arrived, standing beside Xia Yan and chatting with Jiang Susu. Jiang Li was the first to notice Jiang Ruan and called out with a smile, "Da Jiejie, you’ve kept Mother and all of us waiting for so long—what grand airs you must have!""It's my fault," Jiang Ruan smiled. "After all, it's my first time visiting the Shen residence since returning. I asked the maids in the courtyard about some matters to avoid any breaches of etiquette, lest others say our Jiang family lacks manners."
Xia Yan smiled warmly. "No need for such formalities. Today, Ruan-niang is dressed so beautifully that one can hardly recognize her. Truly stunning."
Jiang Li and Jiang Susu both showed a flicker of surprise in their eyes. The red dress from Ruyi Pavilion was dazzlingly bright. They had assumed Jiang Ruan would never be able to carry it off—that the dress would overshadow her. Yet, unexpectedly, Jiang Ruan and the dress complemented each other perfectly, as if the garment had been made for her from the start. There was not a trace of awkwardness; instead, she wore the bold, fiery red with an air of cool detachment and serenity, which then subtly transformed into a faint allure. It was impossible not to stare. Everyone present felt overwhelmed by her beauty, realizing that the once-bullied eldest miss had become entirely unrecognizable.
Jiang Ruan smiled. "My younger sisters are also very beautiful. Mother, your words flatter me too much."
Amidst this warm exchange, they each boarded their own carriages. Once inside, Jiang Susu nestled into Xia Yan's embrace, her sidelong gaze fixed on Jiang Ruan. She had expected Jiang Ruan to feel uncomfortable squeezed into the same carriage with the three of them. Yet, to her surprise, Jiang Ruan picked up a travelogue and began reading calmly, her expression serene. This left Jiang Susu, who had intended to speak, with no opening to do so.
The journey passed without incident. After some time, the carriage stopped in front of the Shen residence. As they alighted, a servant from the Shen household came out to greet them. Xia Yan handed over the invitation card, and soon a plump elderly matron emerged from within, smiling. "Madam Jiang, you've arrived! Our mistress has been eagerly awaiting you."
Xia Yan responded with a smile. After a short walk, they were led into the main hall, where Madam Shen was indeed waiting with tea. Upon seeing Xia Yan, she greeted her warmly. "Sister, you haven’t visited much lately. If not for my birthday, I’d still be waiting for you to come."
Xia Yan laughed. "Ruan-niang just returned, and I’ve been busy settling everything. Don’t hold it against me."
Madam Shen then turned her shrewd eyes to Jiang Ruan, a flash of admiration crossing her face. "This must be the eldest Miss Jiang. What a striking beauty."
Jiang Ruan stepped forward to greet her. Even in the face of Madam Shen’s somewhat impolite remark, she remained composed and poised. "You flatter me, Madam Shen."
Madam Shen’s gaze was as if she were appraising an object. Lianqiao and Luzhu, standing beside Jiang Ruan, felt displeased but subtly shifted their positions to block Madam Shen’s probing stare.
A trace of resentment flickered in Jiang Li’s eyes. Unwilling to be overlooked, she stepped forward and addressed Madam Shen with a sweet smile. "Greetings, Madam."
Madam Shen, however, responded to Jiang Li with indifference, merely acknowledging her before turning her attention to Jiang Susu. "Su Su has grown even more lovely these days. She looks like a little fairy—it makes me envious."
"Mother, what’s this talk of envy?" Before she could finish, a delicate voice rang out from outside. A young girl in a pink dress entered and, upon seeing Jiang Susu, rushed over excitedly. "Su Su-jie!"
Jiang Susu smiled and took her hand. "Mingzhen-mei."Shen Mingzhen was the cherished pearl of Vice Minister Shen's household. The Shen family had three sons but only one daughter. In her previous life, Jiang Ruan's impression of Shen Mingzhen was merely that she was Jiang Susu's close friend, yet for some reason, she always harbored hostility toward Jiang Ruan. Every time conflicts arose between her and Shen Mingzhen, it was Jiang Susu who mediated. The claim that Jiang Ruan was a "pretty face with no substance," only capable of vulgar dances and music fit for lowly entertainers, owed much to Shen Mingzhen's efforts.
In her past life, Jiang Ruan couldn't understand why Shen Mingzhen insisted on opposing her when she had never provoked her. But now, everything became clear. On the path of her previous life, filled with enemies everywhere, separated by the chasm of life and death, seeing this old acquaintance again made time seem to whirl back to when nothing had yet happened. Yet in this life, she wondered—what would Shen Mingzhen's fate be?
(End of Chapter)
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