The wooden chest lay overturned on the ground, the fine yellow pear wood still emanating a faint fragrance. What had spilled out were all scrolls and books, preserved extremely well, clearly showing their owner’s careful protection.
It wasn’t surprising for a young lady to travel with books, but what was surprising was that besides the books, there were no other belongings whatsoever. The expressions on the Jiang manor residents’ faces varied greatly, yet only Jiang Ruan spoke as usual: “Lian Qiao, what are you standing there for?”
As if only now understanding, Jiang Susu laughed: “Elder Sister truly loves reading – a whole chest full of books, it really makes one envious. Just the other day I begged Father to bring me a collection of Zhuang Qin’s poems, but Father couldn’t find it. Elder Sister actually has it here.” She spoke with innocent charm, as if truly a little girl fretting over a single book.
Jiang Ruan smiled slightly: “It’s merely a book. Since you and I are sisters, I’ll have Lu Zhu wrap up the book and send it to you shortly. These books are all things Mother left behind – I would risk my very life to protect them completely.”
From her few words, the crowd could easily guess that since she used the phrase “risk my very life,” and seeing that the Jiang manor’s legitimate daughter had no other luggage besides worn clothes, her days these past years must have been quite harsh. Everyone understood the concept of robbing someone in their time of need, yet it was rare for someone so young to show such filial devotion, protecting the possessions left by her deceased mother. As for money and valuables, they had probably been plundered clean.
Xia Yan looked at her with a smile, her fingers hidden in her sleeves contracting slightly, yet her expression became even more pitying: “I know you’re a child who loves reading. Later you can be with Su’er – you sisters truly share similar interests.”
Jiang Ruan brushed the stray hair from her forehead, saying softly: “My younger sister and I share blood thicker than water, naturally we share similar interests.” If they didn’t share similar interests, how could they both fall for the same man? If they didn’t share similar interests, how could there be such a fight to the death over the position of the Jiang manor’s legitimate daughter?
Lian Qiao and Bai Zhi quickly gathered up the books scattered on the ground, taking the lead in carrying them back into the Jiang manor. Xia Yan busied herself organizing the return to the manor. Once the Jiang manor’s vermillion gates closed, the onlookers gradually dispersed.
The moment she stepped through the Jiang manor’s vermillion gates, Lu Zhu supported Jiang Ruan’s hand: “Miss, go slowly, don’t stumble.”
Jiang Ruan walked step by step with extreme steadiness, her face bearing a murderous smile while her heart howled like a fierce wind. Mother, Elder Brother, Pei’er, look – I’ve returned!
The cleared courtyard was still being tidied, so Xia Yan first led Jiang Ruan into the main hall, where several concubines were waiting for her. Jiang Susu seemed quite happy along the way, constantly telling Jiang Ruan about interesting household matters. From afar, they truly appeared as harmonious as loving sisters.
Upon entering the main hall, it was indeed as Xia Yan had said – several concubines had already arrived and were standing respectfully. The leading woman, slightly older and wearing a tea-colored straight jacket and skirt, smiled kindly at Jiang Ruan: “Eldest Miss.” Jiang Ruan’s gaze swept over her – this was the Jiang family’s First Concubine, originally a servant girl promoted to concubine for Jiang Quan after Zhao Mei became pregnant. Unfortunately, she was not favored, never conceived, and was merely a decoration in the manor.
Jiang Ruan also smiled slightly in return. Jiang Li walked to a woman wearing a peach-colored jacket with an embroidered peony branch long skirt, acting coquettishly: “Concubine Mother.” The woman was quite beautiful, with willow eyebrows raised rather high, and a high voice as she laughed: “Oh my, isn’t this the Eldest Miss? I was wondering why Madam had us come today – turns out the Eldest Miss has returned from the estate.”
Jiang Ruan ignored her cutting words. The Second Concubine was the concubine-born daughter of the Personnel Minister, considered a political alliance. Due to the Personnel Minister’s influence, the Second Concubine was quite favored in the manor. Her daughter Jiang Li was very close to Xia Yan, and had opposed Jiang Ruan since childhood. When Zhao Mei was still alive, she had suffered many losses at the Second Concubine’s hands.
Jiang Ruan’s gaze fell on a girl standing alone to one side – this was Jiang Dan, born to the Third Concubine. The Third Concubine died after giving birth to Jiang Dan, and when Zhao Mei was alive, Jiang Dan was raised by Zhao Mei’s side. After Zhao Mei’s death, Jiang Dan’s whereabouts became unknown. Jiang Ruan still remembered that in her previous life when she entered the palace, Jiang Dan had not yet married, and later there was no more news of her. She only remembered that in the manor, Jiang Dan seemed to dislike speaking and appeared quite taciturn.
The last woman was much younger than the other concubines. Jiang Ruan remembered her too – this young woman was quite capable, and in her previous life had nearly reached the point of rivaling Xia Yan. Named Hong Ying, she was a courtesan from the pleasure quarters, originally bought by Jiang Quan as a gift for his superiors, but somehow he kept her as his own concubine. In her previous life, she had wholeheartedly relied on Xia Yan and held a very hostile attitude toward Hong Ying, but seeing this situation now, she couldn’t be more pleased.
Hong Ying was indeed as she remembered – born beautifully touching, yet without a trace of the worldly air of the pleasure quarters. Instead, she appeared exquisite and translucent, like crystal-clear water. No wonder Jiang Quan, who didn’t particularly favor women, would look upon her with new eyes. Who wouldn’t like such a pure and understanding flower?
Indeed, in a room full of lovely women, whether for show or momentary novelty, the one Jiang Quan truly cherished was still Xia Yan alone. With her superior methods and her husband’s favor, it would be quite difficult for her not to establish a firm foothold in the Jiang family. Xia Yan had borne one son and one daughter – Jiang Susu and Jiang Chao. Xia Yan explained: “The master took Chao’er to Minister Wang’s residence today. Ruan’er probably won’t see them until evening.” No wonder Jiang Chao was nowhere to be seen in the main hall. Jiang Quan was determined to bring Jiang Chao into official service, constantly taking him to colleagues’ homes and personally instructing him from a young age – in stark contrast to his coldness toward Jiang Xinzhi.
Thinking of her elder brother, Jiang Ruan’s gaze stung slightly. She unconsciously clenched her fists in her sleeves, took a deep breath, then smiled lightly: “No need to make such arrangements for me. I am originally a person of the Jiang manor – returning home should be just like any ordinary homecoming.”
Everyone around fell quiet upon hearing her words. Jiang Susu laughed: “Elder Sister speaks correctly, but since Elder Sister has just returned to the manor, and the manor has changed quite a bit these past years, why don’t we have the nannies explain everything to Elder Sister in detail later, lest Elder Sister not recognize the paths.”
Jiang Li also giggled: “I’m just afraid Elder Sister has grown accustomed to those interesting mountain paths, and when walking our Jiang manor’s roads, might find them somewhat unfamiliar.”
Jiang Ruan smiled slightly: “How could that be?”
How could that be? Every plant and tree of the Jiang manor had already been buried deep in her heart along with the blood and tears of her previous life. Every person and every place here would constantly exist in her nightmares. Whenever she awakened from the nightmares of her previous life, every scene in her dreams reminded her what kind of hell the Jiang manor was.
She had planted a seed of revenge here, and now that the seed was in the ground, she would wait for it to slowly sprout.