She stood quietly at the bow of the boat like this, as if she didn’t belong to this world. For a moment, everyone fell silent, all of them utterly spellbound.
The young gentlemen on the Qingsong boat had long been staring in fascination, murmuring: “To think such absolute beauty exists in the mortal world. Having witnessed this today, even death would bring no regrets.”
Jiang Susu sat upright inside the boat cabin, her face having already turned iron-blue. That face which usually wore a serene and beautiful smile had twisted into a hideous expression. Jiang Li also clenched her hands tightly, her silver teeth nearly grinding to pieces.
The Fifth Prince opened his mouth, a flash of greed crossing his gaze: “She’s actually on par with Second Miss Jiang…”
Xuan Li’s expression was complex. Somehow, he always felt that there was something about this young lady that deeply attracted him, making him want to step forward and get a clear look at her appearance.
Everyone remained silent for a full quarter-hour. The young master from the General’s residence on the Qingsong boat was the first to loudly declare: “Perfect in both beauty and talent—calling her the foremost beauty of the capital wouldn’t be an exaggeration!”
Jiang Ruan turned her head toward him and smiled gratefully, just a slight smile. Seeing her absolutely stunning countenance, that young master’s face actually reddened, his gaze immediately becoming infatuated.
Upon hearing this, Jiang Susu’s complexion became extremely unsightly. She couldn’t understand how Jiang Ruan, living on a rural estate and never having hired a teacher, could know how to whistle and dance so well. Such dancing—she had always been proud of her own talents and believed she couldn’t dance to Jiang Ruan’s level. Moreover, with the boat swaying, how could she dance so steadily without even stumbling once?
Jiang Susu would never know that in her previous life, Jiang Ruan had been in the palace. Because she didn’t receive the Emperor’s favor, she was often bullied by the favored consorts in the palace, who made her dance at palace consorts’ birthday celebrations. Such practice of dancing without her feet touching the ground—even after living another life, she would never forget. She could originally dance in someone’s palm; now, what did such a swaying boat amount to?
Everyone began to echo in agreement, and the praise she received was actually much more than what Jiang Susu had received. People always love fresh things. While Jiang Susu was certainly good, she had monopolized the title of the capital’s foremost talented lady for many years. Combined with her constant appearance as an unworldly fairy maiden, now with the addition of a charming and alluring eldest Miss Jiang who was completely different from her, as long as Jiang Ruan showed even slight excellence, people’s gazes would all be drawn to her.
The men praised her highly, but the women’s expressions weren’t very pleasant. Originally, the Jiang family already had Jiang Susu, and now with the addition of Jiang Ruan, wouldn’t all the good men in the capital be completely enchanted by these two sisters?
When Jiang Ruan returned to her seat, Lin Zixiang said: “So you can also dance—one truly must look at you with new eyes.”
Zhao Jin and Wen Feifei, being straightforward by nature, also nodded: “It truly dazzled us. But that whistling was really wonderful—could you teach us?”
“Previously, when I was at the estate, there were no instruments. When bored, I would whistle for amusement.” Jiang Ruan explained. Such an explanation was reasonable and logical, and made people feel more sympathy for her.
Dong Ying’er looked at her: “But why did you choose ‘Guangling San’? Generally, noble ladies wouldn’t choose such a piece on a day like today.”
Jiang Ruan smiled slightly: “It’s the only one I know how to whistle.”
Xu Ruoxi’s complexion was somewhat pale as she kept her head down without speaking. Everyone knew she was feeling unhappy inside, so they all pretended not to notice to avoid embarrassing her.
The several noble ladies who performed afterward were merely going through the motions. However, after Jiang Ruan’s thrilling Guangling dance earlier, watching these lackluster performances only felt tedious.
At this year’s Flower Lantern Festival, the Jiang family had produced such a dark horse. Everyone thought that this year’s rabbit flower lantern would surely fall into Jiang Ruan’s hands. On the Qingsong boat, the subject of everyone’s discussion had changed from the usual Jiang Susu to today’s Jiang Ruan.
After the performances, it was time for everyone to walk to the bow and release flower lanterns into the river. These flower lanterns to be released into the river were all crafted with exquisite precision. After the young masters and misses wrote their wishes on paper strips and placed them inside the lanterns, they would personally push them into the river.
Jiang Ruan also followed everyone toward the bow, her smile exceptionally captivating.
In her previous life, she hadn’t been able to wait until the flower lantern release before that shameful incident occurred. When she was cowering and trembling on the boat, it was Eighth Prince Xuan Li who came over carrying a flower lantern and said to her: “Do you have any wishes?”
His tall frame blocked the contemptuous gazes of the crowd. At that moment, she only wanted to grasp the warmth offered by the person before her. In that flower lantern, the wish she made was to be able to stay by his side.
A young lady’s wish ultimately became a thorough conspiracy. Actually, when Jiang Ruan thought about it, the person she should hate most shouldn’t be Xuan Li. Compared to Xuan Li, Jiang Susu had taken much more from her. But Xuan Li’s mistake was that he shouldn’t have given her hope, making her think she had grasped a life-saving straw in desperate circumstances, only for it to turn out to be a fatal club. After having warmth and care, to then be told that everything was false.
Bai Zhi handed her the distributed flower lantern, and Lian Qiao offered paper and brush. Jiang Ruan thought for a moment, took the paper strip from Lian Qiao’s hands, didn’t write anything, and directly rolled it up to place inside the flower lantern.
This behavior of hers was seen by Jiang Susu, who had been watching her actions. She walked over to her side and asked: “Why isn’t elder sister writing anything on the flower lantern?”
Jiang Susu deliberately made her voice somewhat loud. Since Jiang Ruan was currently the center of attention, immediately, people on both boats looked toward her.
“Having no desires, what should I write?” Jiang Ruan said indifferently.
Jiang Susu smiled: “How could elder sister have no desires? For instance, praying for father’s health, for elder brother to win first place in the examinations, for the Jiang residence to prosper, or praying for when mother might give us another little brother—in any case, how could you have no desires?”
These words were equivalent to accusing Jiang Ruan of being disloyal, unfilial, unkind, and unrighteous, and not wholeheartedly thinking of the Jiang family’s benefit. Such heart-piercing words made even Lian Qiao and Bai Zhi frown. Upon hearing this, Jiang Ruan let out a cold laugh. Father? How could Jiang Quan count as a father? He wished nothing more than to sell her to pave the way for Jiang Susu and her brother. Mother? Her mother’s bones had already rotted to ash—no such person existed in the world anymore. Elder brother? Currently with no news, his life or death unknown. Wasn’t Jiang Susu’s statement like sprinkling salt on wounds?
“Second sister doesn’t know,” Jiang Ruan’s voice was gentle and soft, seemingly without any anger: “Father’s health is naturally robust—otherwise how could he serve the court? As for second brother taking the top examination rank, that’s not something we can help with. As for mother having a little brother, that’s the business of Guanyin, the Goddess of Mercy who grants children—what does it have to do with us?”
She slightly raised her lips: “Worldly matters depend on human effort. With a sincere heart, one can seek prospects, but ultimately, one still must pursue one’s own path, isn’t that so?” Her voice took on a trace of melancholy: “Previously, I also frequently burned incense and worshipped Buddha, yet ultimately, mother passed away and elder brother’s fate remains unknown. Tell me, can what the heart seeks truly be realized? In the end, it still depends on the individual.”
These words drifted into everyone’s ears, and Mo Cong couldn’t help but burst into laughter. Seeing Xiao Shao looking at him, he quickly said: “I just think this Miss Jiang speaks truly wonderfully. Cough, that matter about having children really isn’t something they can manage.”
Jiang Ruan’s words were both humorous and carried Buddhist philosophy. Hearing about her pitiful background, everyone’s impression of her was filled with even more sympathy. Jiang Susu was so angry her face turned ashen, yet she still had to pretend to look cheerful.
Next came the time for everyone to release flower lanterns. Jiang Ruan bent down to place the flower lantern in her hands into the river. Just as she was about to stand up, Jiang Susu beside her maintained her expression but quietly extended her foot, intending to trip her.