Since it was her first time at the Shen manor, Jiang Ruan only talked with Lin Zixiang, while the other young ladies around merely watched her from afar. Jiang Susu was quite well-liked by everyone, with no small number of people being affectionate toward her.

Lin Zixiang glanced at Jiang Susu, who was talking with the legitimate daughter of Colonel Lin, and snorted coldly: “Putting on airs!”

“Why do you say that?” Jiang Ruan picked up the tea cup in front of her and asked.

“On the surface aloof and noble, but deep down vulgar and common. What is such a person if not hypocritical? They even call her some ‘jade tower immortal fairy’ – nothing but worldly prejudice blinded by appearances.” Lin Zixiang’s words were quite merciless, making Lu Zhu behind her want to laugh.

Grand Historian Lin was in charge of palace literature, history, and astrology. Since literature and history emphasized impartiality, Grand Historian Lin, like Censor Wang, was an upright and incorruptible person. Lin Zixiang had inherited Grand Historian Lin’s straightforward temperament completely. Lin Zixiang’s frank nature was naturally unpopular among the various young ladies, but Jiang Ruan found it excellent. It was rare to find such honest and straightforward people in the world – such people were infinitely more lovely than those with Buddha mouths but snake hearts. Only with Lin Zixiang’s temperament, marrying someone like the Third Prince who was dissolute and debauched would ruin her entire life – truly cause for deep regret.

Lin Zixiang noticed Jiang Ruan’s expression and frowned: “Why are you looking at me like that? As if you’re looking at some pitiful person.”

“Is that so?” Jiang Ruan smiled and changed the topic: “Miss Lin dislikes my second sister so much, yet is willing to sit with me. I’m truly grateful.”

“It has nothing to do with you,” Lin Zixiang was equally merciless with Jiang Ruan. “I just don’t want to see them bullying a young girl. You and your second sister are the same – both putting on airs. However, you don’t act like an untainted fairy as she does, which makes people feel more comfortable.”

Jiang Ruan admired Lin Zixiang even more and said: “I can hardly be called a fairy. I’m too busy entangled in worldly affairs every day. I deal with mundane matters and eat common grains – I’m just an ordinary person.”

Hearing her words, Lin Zixiang couldn’t help but look at Jiang Ruan a few more times: “You do have self-awareness.”

Lian Qiao wanted to speak but held back, finally restraining herself. Jiang Ruan didn’t mind at all, knowing this Miss Lin meant no harm – she just had a sharp tongue. Such people were actually wise despite appearing foolish, just a bit solitary and upright in character – weren’t they also pure-hearted?

The time for tea and conversation passed unknowingly, and they saw Jiang Li stand up from her seat and walk to Jiang Ruan’s side, saying in a low voice: “Eldest sister, I need to visit the washroom. Would you accompany me?”

Jiang Ruan smiled: “But I don’t know the way.”

Jiang Li glanced at Shen Mingzhen: “It’s fine. Miss Shen’s maid will lead the way. I just feel a bit scared going alone. I already asked mother, and she agreed. We’re sisters, so please trouble eldest sister to look after Li’er for a while today.”

Her voice was neither high nor low, just right for the surrounding ladies and misses to hear, making it difficult for Jiang Ruan to refuse. After all, accompanying her concubine-born sister to the washroom wasn’t a big deal. Since Jiang Li was being so humble, and she had just returned to the capital, she couldn’t afford any unfavorable rumors to spread.

Jiang Ruan nodded: “Why say such things? I’ll accompany you.” She stood up, and when Lu Zhu and Lian Qiao moved to follow, Jiang Li reached out to stop them: “We’ll just go and come right back. I didn’t bring my own maids either, so let these two maids stay here. Miss Shen’s maid will suffice.”

Lu Zhu and Lian Qiao looked worried, but Jiang Ruan smiled at them: “It’s fine, I’ll go and come right back.”

Jiang Li happily took Jiang Ruan’s hand and left the seating area. After the two departed, Madam Shen seemed to just notice two people were missing from the seats and said to Xia Yan sitting beside her: “Where have your manor’s eldest miss and third miss gone?”

Xia Yan smiled and glanced at the seats, saying casually: “Perhaps they went to the washroom. With so many people watching, nothing will happen.”

Shen Mingzhen smiled smugly and took Jiang Susu’s hand: “Sister Su’er, just sit back and enjoy the show later.”

Jiang Susu felt somewhat uneasy and looked at her hesitantly: “Don’t do anything excessive. Eldest sister is new here…”

“You’re just too kindhearted,” Shen Mingzhen said impatiently. “It’s just giving her a lesson, so she won’t dare to be so ostentatious in the future.”

Meanwhile, Jiang Ruan and Jiang Li walked unhurriedly along the small path in the Shen manor garden, with Shen Mingzhen’s personal maid Xiao Cui leading the way. Jiang Li kept stealing glances at Jiang Ruan from the corner of her eye, only to see that Jiang Ruan maintained her smile throughout, seemingly completely unaware of what was about to happen. This put Jiang Li at ease.

When they reached a deserted small corridor, Jiang Li clutched her stomach and looked at Jiang Ruan: “Eldest sister, I can’t hold it anymore. How about I have the maid take me to the washroom first, and I’ll come back to find you later?”

“Can you manage alone?” Jiang Ruan asked with concern.

“It’s fine, I’ll come out quickly,” Jiang Li frowned, looking truly uncomfortable. Xiao Cui also said: “Miss Jiang, I’ll escort Second Miss to the washroom. You can sit in that room beside us for a while. This is a room the manor uses to receive guests – there’s fragrant tea and snacks inside.”

Jiang Ruan looked at the door, thought for a moment, and nodded: “Alright, Li’er, you must hurry.”

“I know. Eldest sister, please go in quickly,” Jiang Li urged.

Jiang Ruan pushed the door open and went in. Outside, Jiang Li and Xiao Cui saw this and hurriedly lifted their skirts to leave. When no more footsteps could be heard outside, the door was pushed open again, and Jiang Ruan emerged from inside. She tightened the bright red cloak around her and a cold smile appeared on her face.

She didn’t know who would enter that room later, but whoever came in to be alone with her would definitely be “discovered” by the “worried” Jiang Li and others who came looking for them. One thing would lead to another, and her reputation would be in complete ruins.

This was perhaps Shen Mingzhen’s idea. Though Shen Mingzhen was meeting her for the first time today, she could devise such a vicious scheme to frame her. Perhaps Jiang Susu had also fanned the flames considerably. What Jiang Susu was best at was using others to do her dirty work.

But using others as tools wasn’t something only Jiang Susu knew how to do.

Jiang Ruan slowly walked along the deserted corridor, moving leisurely and with great interest. If Jiang Li were present, she would be greatly shocked, because this practiced manner clearly didn’t look like someone visiting the Shen manor for the first time.

She was indeed visiting the Shen manor for the first time, but in her previous life in the palace, Jiang Quan and the Eighth Prince would always inform her of confidential matters. At the time, she thought this meant they had no secrets from her and treated her as one of their own, so she always committed this information to memory, hoping to help someday.

She never expected it would help her now. Those confidential matters also included secrets about the Shen manor. Jiang Li’s biggest mistake was assuming that she, not knowing the way, could only obediently wait in that room for someone to come. Unfortunately, whether in her previous life or this one, she knew the layout of the Shen manor by heart.