Chapter 55: Old Acquaintance
Left standing alone where she was, Jiang Ruan became the clear focus of everyone on the Evergreen Pine Boat. Among them, a young man in blue robes indignantly remarked, "How can they bully such a delicate young lady like this? These women are truly too much!" This was the son of the Commander-in-Chief.
Another young man nearby chimed in, "Indeed, it's far too harsh. If not for propriety, I'd have her sit right beside me."
Yet those who cherished beauty and pity were not few. Before Jiang Ruan could decide where to sit on the Exquisite Boat, a familiar voice called out to her, "Jiang Ruan, over here!" Turning, she saw Lin Zixiang.
Jiang Ruan walked over and took a seat beside her. Lin Zixiang scrutinized her carefully before nodding approvingly. "Much prettier than your sister. This red suits you far better than that fake, sickly white."
Jiang Ruan had no reply. Lin Zixiang then took her hand and announced to the group at their table, "This is Miss Jiang from Lord Jiang's residence—Jiang Ruan, Jiang Susu's elder sister."
The boats were mostly filled with small cliques, groups of noble young ladies who were already acquainted. Though Lin Zixiang had been similarly isolated at Vice Minister Shen's residence, she still had her own circle of friends among the capital's young ladies. Lin Zixiang proceeded to introduce them: "This is Miss Dong from the Provincial Governor's residence, Miss Xu from the Imperial Academy Chancellor's family, Miss Wen from the Cavalry Commander's household, and Miss Zhao, the youngest daughter of the Cloud Banner Envoy."
Dong Yinger, the Provincial Governor's daughter, had a sweet, round face and greeted her warmly. "So you're Jiang Ruan! I was just staring at you in awe earlier—I never knew such a stunning beauty existed in this world."
Her words were innocent and sincere, free of any forced flattery, and naturally endeared her to others. Wen Feifei and Zhao Jin, both from military families, carried an air of boldness. Zhao Jin laughed, "If I were a man, I'd be at your doorstep tomorrow to propose!"
"Exactly," Wen Feifei added. "With looks like this now, in a few years, no other young lady in the capital would dare show their face outside."
Jiang Ruan smiled. "Are you sisters teasing me on purpose? Today has been an eye-opener for me too—to meet such outstanding ladies, both in character and appearance. If I were a man, I'd be a heartbreaker and marry all of you to keep you hidden away."
The table erupted in laughter, the atmosphere lively and harmonious. Lin Zixiang glanced at Xu Ruoxi beside her. "Why are you so distracted?"
Xu Ruoxi, the proud and aloof daughter of the Imperial Academy Chancellor, was about to reply when a drawn-out announcement echoed from outside: "Jinying Wang arrives—Eighth Prince arrives—"
Instantly, Xu Ruoxi's eyes brightened, her cheeks flushing pink. Jiang Ruan, however, stiffened, barely managing to steady herself to avoid spilling the tea in her hand.
Following the gazes of the crowd, she looked toward the shore. There, a figure in white robes approached gracefully—refined and elegant, just as he had been in her past life, his noble bearing unchanged. Step by step, he walked toward the Evergreen Pine Boat with a faint smile. The river shimmered under the lights, reflecting the lively revelry of the crowd. On this bustling night, to meet an old acquaintance again—it felt like lifetimes had passed.The laughter and chatter on the Exquisite Boat had abruptly ceased. Xu Ruoxi's gaze didn't linger on the Eighth Prince, but rather on the figure behind him—a young man dressed in dark cyan robes embroidered with golden bat patterns, adorned with a jade belt and black boots. His strikingly handsome features exuded an imposing aura, his cold gaze like snow as he approached step by step, his noble bearing no less remarkable than the Eighth Prince's.
Xu Ruoxi's voice trembled with excitement. "It's Jinying Wang..."
Jiang Ruan lightly furrowed her brows, never expecting that the young man she had met twice was actually the renowned Jinying Wang of the Da Jin Dynasty.
The Exquisite Boat was filled with young noble ladies, all now blushing and whispering excitedly at the sight of these two extraordinary young men boarding the Evergreen Pine Boat.
"Why have the Eighth Prince and Jinying Wang come this year?" Zhao Jin's puzzled voice sounded beside her.
During the annual Lantern Festival, though many princes and nobles gathered on the Evergreen Pine Boat, the Eighth Prince and Jinying Wang had never attended before. For one, neither had shown any intention to marry, and secondly, they held little interest in such romantic affairs.
Jiang Ruan's frown had not eased since spotting them. While seeing the Eighth Prince stirred complex emotions within her, learning the handsome young man's identity left her utterly shocked.
"Luoqi weaves in the light, Xiaoshao whispers in the dark." Xiao Shao, the Jinying Wang, was a unique presence in the Da Jin Dynasty.
Born into a princely family, his father had once raised a rebellion, which was later suppressed. Surprisingly, the Emperor had neither punished him nor revoked his title. When Xiao Shao was ten, the old Jinying Wang led troops to quell the Western Rong rebellion but was betrayed by a spy and died in battle. His mother hanged herself soon after, leaving the vast Brocade Hero King Manor with only Xiao Shao as its sole heir.
Xiao Shao himself was exceptionally talented, commanding the empire's 100,000 Brocade-clad Guards at a young age. Both the Emperor and the Empress Dowager treated him with unusual leniency, even allowing him to be disrespectful in court. When the Emperor once considered appointing the Eighth Prince as Crown Prince, it was Xiao Shao who openly opposed it before the entire court. For a subject to interfere in imperial succession was taboo, yet the Emperor bore no grudge, and the matter was dropped. Some speculated that Xiao Shao's audacity stemmed from holding some secret over the Emperor, allowing him to defy the Son of Heaven. Combined with his father's rebellion, Xiao Shao earned the reputation of a "traitorous subject."
Yet regardless of rumors, Xiao Shao's influence in court remained undeniable. Strangely, he neither formed factions nor took sides, standing apart like an anomaly. In her past life, the Eighth Prince had attempted to win him over several times, only to be flatly rejected. When the old Emperor died of illness and the Eighth Prince ascended the throne, Xiao Shao was away battling the Western Rong. What happened afterward, Jiang Ruan did not know.
In her previous life, she had only seen Xiao Shao once—a distant glimpse of his dark-robed figure at a palace banquet. Back then, her heart belonged solely to the Eighth Prince, Ye Li, leaving no room for anyone else. By current reckoning, Xiao Shao was barely in his early twenties.
As Xiao Shao and the Eighth Prince Ye Li arrived on the Evergreen Pine Boat, the gathered guests greeted them warmly. A young man in green robes stood and approached Xiao Shao, grinning. "Third Brother, this is the first time I've seen you at the Lantern Festival. Have you taken a liking to some young lady?"
This was Mo Cong. Xiao Shao glanced at him but didn't bother responding, simply taking a seat by the window.On the other side, the Fifth Prince narrowed his eyes upon seeing Ye Li. "Eighth Brother, what wind has blown you here?"
"His Majesty ordered me to take a stroll. After so many years in the capital, I've yet to witness the splendor of the Lantern Festival, so here I am." Ye Li smiled politely. To the Fifth Prince, these words carried a different meaning. It was common knowledge that the Emperor favored the Eighth Prince. With this move and the Exquisite Boat filled with daughters of noble families, the old Emperor might well be intending for the Eighth Prince to select a consort, aiming to bolster his support.
(End of Chapter)
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