The vast Shen Manor could hardly be expected to go searching for some unknown little maid. Jiang Ruan’s words were perfectly reasonable, leaving Shen Mingzhen speechless. She could only curse Jiang Li viciously in her heart once more before glaring at Jiang Ruan and sitting down uneasily.
Jiang Susu maintained her smile as she picked up the teacup before her, taking a light sip. Her gaze, however, secretly followed Jiang Ruan, noticing that Jiang Ruan’s expression showed no disturbance. The steam from the hot tea enveloped her beautiful features like viewing flowers through mist, making it impossible to discern the emotions within. Jiang Susu felt her heart being lifted by something, an intuitive unease, so she could only pretend nonchalance while chatting and laughing with the other young ladies around her.
With Jiang Ruan’s safe return, Jiang Li’s side gained no advantage. Shen Mingzhen beckoned another maid over, who hurried away. Soon they saw Jiang Li and Xiao Cui rushing over. Jiang Li’s face bore barely suppressed anger. Walking up to Jiang Ruan, she spoke with considerable irritation: “Why did you return first?”
Before Jiang Ruan could speak, Lin Zixiang on the side found it hard to bear, saying disdainfully: “The Jiang Manor is at least an official household of good standing. How can there be such disregard for hierarchy, with a concubine-born sister being so disrespectful to the legitimate young miss?”
She spoke these words quite loudly, causing many wives from official families around them to look over. Jiang Li’s face reddened, her heart filled with rage. Then she heard Jiang Ruan laugh: “It’s nothing. We sisters don’t have so many rules between us. Li-niang was just momentarily anxious.”
Lin Zixiang frowned: “If this were in our manor, there would certainly be proper instruction given.”
This time Jiang Ruan said nothing, only smiled. Her expression showed no anger, making it somewhat difficult to discern her meaning. Jiang Susu stood up, laughing: “What’s the matter? Elder sister just returned from the estate and doesn’t understand many things clearly. Third sister is young—elder sister shouldn’t hold it against her.”
These words were cleverly spoken, making it seem like Jiang Ruan was at fault when originally it wasn’t her doing at all. When some of the wives and young ladies around who didn’t understand the full situation looked toward Jiang Ruan, their expressions carried a hint of strangeness, as if Jiang Ruan had indeed been harsh toward her concubine-born sister.
Jiang Ruan smiled, staring unblinkingly at Jiang Susu. Jiang Susu felt her heart go numb under those upturned alluring eyes, her back unconsciously stiffening. Jiang Ruan sneered inwardly. Jiang Susu had always maintained the appearance of a fairy while doing seemingly kind deeds. Even in her previous life, if not for reaching the final step when she was arrested and thrown into prison as a country-destroying demoness, this sister had constantly comforted and advised her with peace and patience. How was it that now she couldn’t maintain her composure, even deliberately bringing up the matter of returning from the estate to make everyone keep their distance from her?
Could it be that in this lifetime her own temperament had changed, and Jiang Susu’s temperament had changed as well? Or had Jiang Susu always been this way, only in her previous life she had trusted wholeheartedly and turned a blind eye to all of her usual heart-piercing words?
Lin Zixiang looked coldly at Jiang Susu. Her nature was aloof and proud, not concealing her dislike for Jiang Susu. She let out a derisive snort through her nose: “Fake and affected!”
Jiang Susu was momentarily stunned, forcing a smile but saying nothing more. This made it seem even more like Lin Zixiang was bullying others with her power while Jiang Susu bore the grievance for the greater good.
Lu Zhu behind them nearly laughed out loud. Lin Zixiang was indeed a remarkable person—in front of a whole room of people, she dared to so blatantly embarrass Jiang Susu, yet not one person dared to say she was wrong. Jiang Ruan smiled slightly: “It was my fault for not explaining clearly to Li-niang. Li-niang, just now I waited for you for a long time, but when you were delayed in returning, I feared mother would worry here. I happened to encounter a little maid and had her bring me back first. That little maid should have come to inform you—how is it that you didn’t encounter her?”
Jiang Li held back her frustrated anger. She naturally hadn’t seen the little maid Jiang Ruan mentioned, but Jiang Ruan probably wasn’t lying either—otherwise, how could she have so easily found her way back on her first visit to the Shen Manor? This way, Shen Mingzhen’s arrangements were wasted effort, needlessly earning Shen Mingzhen’s displeasure. Jiang Li cursed Jiang Ruan viciously in her heart once more before responding with a neither cold nor warm attitude: “If elder sister didn’t want to wait for younger sister, so be it. Why speak of all these unnecessary things?”
Jiang Ruan fell silent again, only smiling as she sat down to the side. This manner of conduct, falling under the eyes of the various wives, had already aroused some speculation, which was now confirmed. It seemed this legitimate daughter of the Jiang Manor was not as favored upon her return as the Jiang family itself claimed. Even a concubine-born sister could challenge her so confrontationally, suggesting her days were quite difficult indeed. It was only pitiful that her temperament and magnanimity were remarkably good—not like the petty-mindedness of someone from the countryside, nor purely weak, yet not argumentative either. She was gracious and generous, truly having the bearing of a legitimate eldest daughter.
Jiang Li hadn’t expected that today’s scheme would not only fail to harm Jiang Ruan but actually earn Jiang Ruan a good reputation, while also incurring Shen Mingzhen’s displeasure toward herself. Her heart filled with hatred for Jiang Ruan. Just as she looked up and saw Jiang Susu’s expression slightly stiff, she suddenly began to laugh. Jiang Ruan’s return to the manor was not good for her, but it similarly affected Jiang Susu. Otherwise, why would her fairy-like sister repeatedly lose composure today? It must be the first time her beauty had been outdone. As both were Jiang Manor sisters, although Jiang Susu usually seemed like a fairy untouched by worldly matters, it was ultimately because she held the title of the capital’s most beautiful. Now with Jiang Ruan’s arrival, absolute beauty had become twin beauties, with someone to match her shoulder to shoulder or even surpass her. How could Jiang Susu feel good about this?
With this thought, Jiang Li began to feel somewhat gleeful.
The day passed quickly. Xia Yan led several people in taking their leave to return to the manor. After returning, she first reported the day’s situation to Madam Jiang. Xia Yan smiled: “Ruan-niang performed excellently today. Not one of the wives and ladies present failed to praise Ruan-niang’s outstanding appearance, saying they hadn’t seen her before, but seeing Ruan-niang today, she truly has exceptional beauty, worthy of the four characters ‘national beauty and heavenly fragrance.'”
Madam Jiang’s expression changed slightly. For a girl to be too outstanding in appearance was not necessarily a good thing. If she were like Jiang Susu with that pure and otherworldly beauty, that would be fine, but Jiang Ruan’s beauty was bright and alluring. Speaking of it this way, it was more curse than blessing.
In Ruan Residence, Lu Zhu delivered a warmed hand-warmer to Jiang Ruan’s hands. Having spent a day at the Shen Manor, though only smiling and making conversation, it was still exhausting work, and Jiang Ruan was already somewhat weary. Bai Zhi properly closed the door and brought a silver basin for Jiang Ruan to wash her hands, carefully using a soft cloth to dry Jiang Ruan’s hands while softly saying: “Miss, I heard from the manor’s servants that Prefect Qian from the estate has been dismissed from office by the palace.”
Qian Wanli? Jiang Ruan thought for a moment: “Because of Censor Wang?”
“I heard it was because many prisoners in the jail had grievances. The relatives of the inmates submitted petitions to the capital, which happened to be received by an upright official. Upon investigation, they discovered years of wrongful cases. Qian Wanli had taken quite a lot of ill-gotten money. The prisoners in jail cried out their grievances so fiercely that they couldn’t be suppressed as usual. This matter was being discussed in every street and alley. The Emperor, in his fury, dismissed Qian Wanli from office and even said his property would be confiscated.”
Jiang Ruan gazed at the rippling water in the silver basin, involuntarily thinking of the young widow she had encountered that day in the prison. It seemed her grievances could also be redressed. Heaven’s justice and karmic retribution—sometimes it wasn’t entirely without reason after all.