From Qingcheng Mountain to Yanjing City, the journey wasn’t particularly long. Traveling at a leisurely pace, they would arrive in ten days.

From the mountain top to the foot of the mountain, what changed wasn’t just the weather but also the scenery along the way.

The journey gradually became hotter, but even such weather couldn’t dampen Tong’er’s curious and excited mood. The closer they got to Yanjing City, the more frequently she carefully lifted a corner of the carriage curtain to secretly peek at the scenery outside the window.

Yuxiang sat beside Jiang Li. Although Nanny Sun had supposedly come to fetch her, whether intentionally or not, she hadn’t brought any young maids to serve Jiang Li. So throughout the journey, it was still Yuxiang and Tong’er who accompanied Jiang Li.

The carriage was a good one, with soft cushions spread inside. Tong’er had just lowered the carriage curtain in her hand when she turned back to look at Yuxiang and said, “Sister Yuxiang, we’re about to enter the capital. Miss and I haven’t returned to the capital for many years. I don’t know what’s fashionable in the capital now or what the situation is like. Sister Yuxiang, could you teach me so I don’t make a fool of myself when we return?”

Tong’er was about the same age as Jiang Li. When Jiang Li had been sent to Qingcheng Mountain, Tong’er had at most been a little girl who knew nothing. Her impression of the capital was truly very vague.

Yuxiang laughed and said, “If not ten times, you’ve said this at least eight times along the way. I’ve told you everything I should tell you. Besides, it’s just returning to the capital—why so nervous? Look at Second Miss, she’s not worried at all.”

Tong’er glanced at Jiang Li, who was reading, and suddenly smiled as if thinking of something. “That’s natural. Our miss isn’t a young lady from an ordinary family, so naturally there’s no need to be nervous.”

Hearing this, Yuxiang also smiled, but couldn’t help glancing at Jiang Li. Throughout the journey, Jiang Li had either been reading or resting with her eyes closed. Unlike Tong’er’s endless curiosity, Jiang Li displayed extraordinary calmness and extraordinary indifference toward returning to the capital.

Yuxiang didn’t understand. Regardless of why Second Miss Jiang had originally been sent to Qingcheng Mountain—whether she had been framed by her stepmother or had truly tried to harm her stepmother—after being away from the Jiang residence for so many years, upon returning to the capital, shouldn’t she show at least some emotion? Excitement, nervousness, curiosity, or perhaps anger, unwillingness, or even timidity about approaching home?

But there was nothing. Second Miss Jiang simply sat quietly in the carriage, quietly making the journey. Toward the capital she was about to see and the relatives she hadn’t seen in so long, she acted as if it had nothing to do with her. That gentle compliance and tranquility between her brows sometimes looked more like indifference.

The carriage wheels rumbled along. By the time they reached the city gate, it was nearly noon.

The city guard checked Nanny Sun’s party’s travel permit and let them through. As soon as they entered Yanjing City, their ears seemed to fill with liveliness.

Nanny Sun’s voice came from outside, laughing, “Second Miss, we’ve entered the city.”

Jiang Li lifted the carriage curtain. The moment she opened it, she met the curious eyes of the people outside. Tong’er also hadn’t expected there to be so many people outside and was momentarily stunned.

Yuxiang smiled and explained, “The Chief Minister’s residence’s carriages are magnificent and exquisite. When the common people see them, they naturally pay attention. It seems that the news of Second Miss returning to the residence has already gotten out. Today these common people are like this mostly because they’ve received the news.”

Jiang Li smiled. “Thank you for the explanation, Sister Yuxiang.”

Yuxiang quickly said she didn’t deserve such thanks.

The sun outside was truly dazzling. Jiang Li only took a quick glance before lowering the carriage curtain. Tong’er still wanted to look outside but had to give up. She felt somewhat uneasy in her heart and wanted to comfort Jiang Li with a few words, but Jiang Li was just leaning against the carriage cushion, unhurriedly drinking tea.

As if she wasn’t worried at all.

Tong’er tugged at Jiang Li’s sleeve and said in a low voice, “Miss, once we return to the residence, this servant will definitely protect you well.”

This dry oath pleased Jiang Li. Jiang Li shook her head and said, “There’s nothing to fear.” The carriage curtain blocked those curious gazes from outside, yet it made Jiang Li’s heart even clearer, like a bright mirror.

After the incident at Qingcheng Mountain, everyone knew that Second Miss Jiang had been sent to a depraved nun’s temple. Presumably Liu Yuanfeng hadn’t passed up the opportunity to submit a memorial impeaching the Ji family, with Madam Liu’s help naturally involved. Since Ji Shuran wanted to prove herself a virtuous stepmother, she inevitably had to silence the gossiping masses. Not only did she have to bring Jiang Li back, but she also had to let all of Yanjing know that she had been brought back.

This display had to be lavish—whether the carriage or the guards, it was all part of the face Ji Shuran had to show. Invisibly, however, this elevated Jiang Li’s own status, letting the people of Yanjing City know that even if Second Miss Jiang had a viper’s heart for poisoning her stepmother and legitimate elder brother, even if she had been sent to a nunnery and disappeared for seven years, she was still the precious legitimate daughter of the Chief Minister’s residence and could not be slighted.

She just didn’t know whether the current Chief Minister’s wife, Jiang Li’s stepmother Ji Shuran, felt troubled while doing all this.

The corners of Jiang Li’s mouth curved up slightly. She didn’t fear the future that awaited her in the Chief Minister’s residence. Even if mountains of knives and seas of fire, wolves and tigers lay ahead, she feared nothing. Someone who had died once had even her courage tempered into iron. By becoming Second Miss Jiang, from now on, she would bear both Second Miss Jiang’s future and past.

And what she ultimately wanted to do was to use the Jiang family’s power and influence to approach that person—the path of revenge for two people.

The carriage traveled along, and after an unknown amount of time, it finally stopped at a certain place.

The hustle and bustle outside seemed to quiet down.

Nanny Sun’s voice rang out from outside. “Second Miss, we’re home.”

We’re home.

This was Jiang Li’s home now.

Outside the carriage, at the residence gate, spectators were everywhere. A few days ago, the news that Second Miss Jiang would be returning to the residence had spread throughout all of Yanjing City. Seven years ago, the matter of Second Miss Jiang poisoning her stepmother had been quite lively for a while, and Jiang Yuanbai was currently a pillar minister of the court. Naturally, the Jiang family’s affairs attracted countless people’s attention.

Including this Second Miss Jiang who hadn’t returned to the residence in seven years.

Outside the Jiang residence’s main gate also stood a large group of people. At the front was a gentle and beautiful woman of considerable charm, and standing beside her was a girl who was delicate and lovely, with features as exquisite as a lady in a painting. Standing beside these two was a man of tall stature, handsome appearance, and very refined bearing.

These were Jiang Yuanbai, along with his wife Ji Shuran and daughter Jiang Youyao.

The whispered voices of the common people reached their ears.

“Third Miss Jiang is truly extremely beautiful. I wonder what Second Miss Jiang looks like?”

Another person scoffed, “Third Miss Jiang takes after her mother. Just look at how celestial and graceful Madam Jiang is. I’ve heard that Second Miss Jiang’s birth mother, that first Madam Jiang, was quite plain-looking. If Second Miss Jiang also takes after her mother, tsk, the difference would be vast.”

“You can’t say it like that—you haven’t even seen her.”

“So what if I haven’t seen her? Never mind appearance, Second Miss Jiang stayed in a nunnery for seven years. She doesn’t understand rules or etiquette—how could she compare to Third Miss Jiang’s conversational skills and cultivation? Besides, that nunnery was unclean and impure. Who knows what she might have picked up there? That would make her even less presentable…” The voice grew quieter, as if fearing being held accountable for loose talk.

Hearing these discussions, Jiang Youyao could barely restrain herself from raising the corners of her mouth, but seeing Ji Shuran beside her maintaining a dignified and proper appearance, she concealed her inner thoughts.

Nanny Sun had been calling for so long, yet there was no movement from inside the carriage. On this side, Jiang Yuanbai frowned slightly. Just when the common people were getting somewhat impatient, suddenly a crisp voice rang out from inside the carriage.

“Miss, this servant will help you down from the carriage.”

The carriage curtain was lifted, and someone helped Second Miss Jiang down.