Jiang Ruan picked up the tea from the table, took a light sip, then raised her eyes to look at Chen Fang beside her.

Chen Fang bit her lips tightly. During these years at the estate, she had long grown accustomed to Jiang Ruan’s destitute and gloomy state. Who would have known that after falling into the water, Jiang Ruan seemed to have become a completely different person – like a flower that had been slowly withering suddenly gaining infinite vitality and beginning to bloom anew. The temperament Jiang Ruan now possessed was foreign to Chen Fang. This official family’s young lady’s every gesture and movement was now filled with beauty, as if she was accustomed to a life of luxury and privilege, carrying a kind of noble phoenix-like bearing.

Chen Fang naturally didn’t know that in her previous life, after Jiang Ruan was sent to the palace, the palace was filled with both open schemes and hidden plots. One careless step could result in being seized by others for any small fault, and her behavior and mannerisms couldn’t have even the slightest error. The palace rules were very strict, and the governess nannies’ almost harsh training had made her grasp of etiquette reach perfection. Living constantly in the palace’s unique environment, her noble temperament had naturally developed. Such etiquette appearing on a palace beauty wasn’t anything remarkable, but when it appeared on a destitute young lady of tender years who had long resided at a countryside estate, it possessed a kind of grace that remained pure despite emerging from mud.

“What matter brings you here?” Jiang Ruan asked.

Such an attitude was truly like a master speaking with her own servant. A flash of resentment crossed Chen Fang’s face, which she barely suppressed. She touched her hairpin and smiled: “Miss, a few days ago someone sent over a pot of Moonlight Beauty flowers from outside. It’s been well cared for, and these past days the flower buds have grown larger and larger. It looks like they’ll bloom tonight. If Miss is interested, why don’t you go take a look?”

“Moonlight Beauty?” Jiang Ruan pondered: “This season doesn’t seem to be when Moonlight Beauty flowers bloom.”

Chen Fang quickly said: “Exactly! Usually Moonlight Beauty flowers bloom in summer and autumn, but this pot bloomed early – it’s very rare. Why don’t you go take a look, Miss?”

Before Jiang Ruan could speak, Lian Qiao said: “Late at night when it’s freezing cold outside, how can we let Miss wander around? What if she catches cold? Miss’s current constitution can’t withstand such ordeals.”

Bai Zhi also said: “Why don’t we bring the Moonlight Beauty into the room instead? Miss can look at it indoors.”

Chen Fang frowned: “Moonlight Beauty, as the name suggests, is meant to be appreciated under the moonlight to be interesting. If viewed indoors, it would be the same as any ordinary flower – what would be the point of that? Besides, this Moonlight Beauty is recorded in the account books. Moving it around casually is not something this servant can decide.”

Lian Qiao was about to speak again, but Jiang Ruan smiled slightly: “In that case, I’ll go take a look tonight.”

“Miss,” Bai Zhi tried to dissuade her: “It’s too cold outside. If you catch cold and damage your health, it would be troublesome.”

Chen Fang covered her mouth and laughed: “Sister Bai Zhi, Sister Lian Qiao, Miss has already agreed, yet you’re still saying such things. The most important thing for us servants is to listen to our master’s instructions. How can you arbitrarily make decisions for Miss? Wouldn’t that be bullying Miss?”

These words were aimed at the heart. Both Lian Qiao and Bai Zhi’s expressions changed. Jiang Ruan put down her teacup and said slowly: “Fang’er speaks correctly, though I’ll discipline my own people myself. But Fang’er is beyond my expectations – I didn’t know you also enjoyed such elegant pursuits as appreciating flowers under moonlight.”

Chen Fang stroked a strand of long hair hanging over her chest: “Although this servant grew up at the estate, I usually enjoy reading poetry. Appreciating flowers under moonlight is an elegant pursuit that this servant also quite enjoys.” After thinking, Chen Fang added: “Oh right, tonight at the hour of the Rat, Miss must come to the pear orchard as agreed. The Moonlight Beauty is placed at the entrance of the pear orchard, and this servant will also be there then.”

“I understand.” Jiang Ruan nodded.

Chen Fang breathed a sigh of relief: “This servant will withdraw first. Miss, please don’t forget.” After speaking, her gaze swept around the room once more before she left quite joyfully.

After Chen Fang left, Lian Qiao said indignantly: “What a thing! Talking about elegance – bah! Thinking that wearing other people’s clothes makes her a real master! She should piss and look at her own reflection to see who she is – shameless!”

Bai Zhi looked at Jiang Ruan with worry: “Is Miss really going to the pear orchard? Miss, this servant has something that must be said. Chen Fang is a sharp-tongued and mean person. Such sudden kindness is truly abnormal – be careful she has some other ulterior motive.”

Jiang Ruan smiled faintly. Of these two maids, Bai Zhi and Lian Qiao, in her previous life before entering the palace, Lian Qiao had been beaten to death for speaking disrespectfully about Jiang Quan. Actually, it was just because Lian Qiao was unwilling to let herself replace Jiang Susu in entering the palace, so she went to plead with Jiang Quan. Somehow she angered Jiang Quan and met a miserable death. When all was said and done, it was all because she was eager to protect her mistress. Although Lian Qiao was fiery and straightforward, she had proper boundaries. For Jiang Quan to fly into such a rage, Jiang Susu and her daughter probably contributed to it.

Bai Zhi did accompany her safely into the palace. Presumably Jiang Susu and her daughter saw that Bai Zhi had a gentle nature and couldn’t stir up any waves, so they felt comfortable letting her accompany them. During the palace coup, she had Bai Zhi escape with Pei’er, but Pei’er was ultimately captured. Presumably Bai Zhi’s fate was also more dire than fortunate.

These two maids accompanied her through her brief and tragic previous life, wholeheartedly staying by her side, yet she couldn’t protect either one. Just like Pei’er and Big Brother.

Seeing that Jiang Ruan hadn’t answered for a long time, Bai Zhi and Lian Qiao looked at her with some confusion, startled by the coldness in Jiang Ruan’s eyes. Just as they were about to say something, Jiang Ruan smiled again, the coldness from moments before instantly swept away: “I know.”

“Knowing she has ill intentions, Miss still wants to go?” Lian Qiao asked: “It’s too risky.”

“This appointment must be kept.” Jiang Ruan said: “Just not to appreciate flowers, but merely to collect debts.”

“Collect debts?” Lian Qiao was even more confused.

“Lian Qiao, there’s something I need you to handle.” Jiang Ruan instructed Lian Qiao to lean in close and whispered some instructions.

Now speaking of Chen Fang, after leaving Jiang Ruan’s room, she walked forward happily. After exiting the courtyard, the person waiting outside saw her come out and hurried forward to ask: “How did it go? Did she agree?”

“Of course she agreed.” Chen Fang curled her lips: “She’s so destitute now. When I mentioned the Moonlight Beauty, she naturally wouldn’t pass up this opportunity. Brother, where’s what you promised to give me?”

Chen Zhao grinned happily and pulled out a crystal-clear jade bracelet from his chest: “Good little sister, your brother didn’t dote on you for nothing. After this succeeds, your brother will definitely thank you properly.”

Chen Fang eagerly took the bracelet from Chen Zhao’s hand and put it on, saying with satisfaction: “The quality is quite good.” Then she remembered something and glared at Chen Zhao: “Do you really like her? What’s good about that vixen? Master doesn’t like her either, so there’s really no future in it.”

“Ah, I’m not marrying her,” Chen Zhao said contentedly: “Having such a beautiful concubine at home, I won’t need to visit brothels anymore. Wouldn’t that save a lot of money? I’ve never tasted an official family’s young lady before. Even though she’s a destitute miss, she still has delicate skin and tender flesh. Cough, I won’t discuss these things with you anymore. I’ll go first – remember to keep it secret.”

“I can’t be bothered with you.” Chen Fang snorted lightly and also turned to walk away.