Days passed one by one, and good news came from the distant frontier. After Xiao Shao’s Imperial Guards arrived at Black Cliff Pass, they redeployed the army, changed the military formation, and successfully withstood Heavenly Jin Kingdom’s siege. War relied most on striking while the iron was hot. Heavenly Jin Kingdom had previously pursued their victory relentlessly, but unexpectedly, reinforcements had now arrived and they suffered a major setback. For a time, they didn’t continue their assault, and the two armies formed a standoff. For Great Jin’s soldiers, this gained them some time to rest and reorganize – quite a good opportunity.
On the other front, when the Western Rong people learned that Zhao Guang was leading the Zhao family army, they also retreated upon hearing the news, withdrawing within their borders, temporarily achieving peace.
These two events swept away the previously tense atmosphere in the capital, restoring it to its former state of song and dance. On this day, Lin Zixiang and Wen Feifei came to the gates of Prince Jinying’s mansion to visit Jiang Ruan.
Steward Lin was naturally delighted once again. When the former Prince and Princess Jinying were alive, the Princess had a gentle disposition and was on good terms with many officials’ wives, so visitors were constant. Different families’ carriages stopped before the mansion gates daily, creating a lively scene that also reflected the master’s good social connections. After the former Prince and Princess died, Xiao Shao happened to have a cold temperament, so aside from a few maids, Prince Jinying’s mansion had probably never seen another female set foot in it. After years of silence, who would have thought that despite Jiang Ruan’s seemingly aloof exterior, she actually had good social connections? Shortly after moving in, friends came to visit. Wen Feifei and Lin Zixiang were also quite well-known young ladies from official families in the capital, which naturally prompted Steward Lin to order the entire mansion to provide excellent hospitality once again.
After Wen Feifei and Lin Zixiang met with Jiang Ruan, Wen Feifei wiped the sweat from her forehead and said: “Sister Ruan, the servants in Prince Jinying’s mansion truly seem to respect you from their hearts. If the servants in my mansion were half as sensible as these, I’d thank heaven and earth.”
Wen Feifei was now married, having wed into a suitable military family. However, new brides always encountered some unpleasant situations upon entering their new homes. Wen Feifei was accustomed to being straightforward and had some difficulty controlling the servants. Seeing the order in Prince Jinying’s mansion and their respect for Jiang Ruan naturally made her envious.
“She’s very clever and has plenty of methods for managing servants – you couldn’t learn them anyway,” Lin Zixiang interrupted her words without hesitation, as straightforward as always. “Besides, she’s beautiful and Prince Jinying protects her. You spend every day practicing martial arts – how could your husband protect you?”
Wen Feifei looked up at the sky, pretending not to hear Lin Zixiang’s words.
Lin Zixiang turned to Jiang Ruan and said: “I originally thought this marriage disregarded your wishes and feared you might suffer grievances. Now it seems you’re quite content with it. At least Prince Jinying isn’t in the mansion, so you can live comfortably alone without awkwardness.”
Jiang Ruan smiled slightly, neither confirming nor denying. Speaking of Lin Zixiang’s personality, she was truly a unique flower among noble ladies. She spoke bluntly, didn’t understand social niceties, and others couldn’t tell if she was foolish or clever, yet she was truly perceptive. Her straightforward nature was identical to Chancellor Lin’s. People said Chancellor Lin was such a brilliant and talented civil official – how did he raise such a shocking, unconventional daughter who didn’t follow the three cardinal guides and five constant virtues? But Jiang Ruan felt that Chancellor Lin was a person of true great wisdom, and the daughter he raised was far more precious than those refined young ladies in the capital.
However, such preciousness naturally couldn’t be appreciated by ordinary people. This was precisely why Lin Zixiang remained unmarried. Speaking of it, Lin Zixiang’s appearance was quite beautiful and her family background was decent, but her standards were too high and proud. When matchmakers came to propose marriages, she found them unworthy. Chancellor Lin respected her wishes and declined those suitors. Over time, word spread that Chancellor Lin’s daughter was very picky, and gradually no one came to propose anymore. Lin Zixiang was now eighteen years old, which made her an old maid by Great Jin standards. Many people gossiped about this, but the Lin family seemed completely oblivious.
Lin Zixiang looked at Jiang Ruan, then at Wen Feifei, and said: “Indeed, marriage is no good thing. One who was originally true to her nature now gets caught up in mundane matters daily. One who was already cunning has become even more calculating. One who entered the palace has even changed her personality, becoming strangely cold all the time. And another one,” a flash of annoyance crossed Lin Zixiang’s eyes, “simply disappeared entirely – who knows what she’s up to!”
She had criticized everyone, and the last one who had disappeared was Zhao Jin. Zhao Jin’s disappearance had occurred a few months ago, but initially Lady Zhao and Master Zhao had hidden it from everyone. Later, perhaps because even deploying guards yielded no results and they were out of options, they approached Zhao Jin’s close friends for information, and only then did the group learn of this matter. Zhao Jin’s final letter only said she was going to find someone and would return after finding them.
Lady Zhao was naturally frantic with worry. According to Zhao Jin’s maid, Zhao Jin had been acting strangely those past few days – not knowing why, she seemed distracted daily with some matter on her mind, though not sad. Lady Zhao, having been a flower-like young woman herself, immediately suspected that Zhao Jin had fallen for someone and had very likely gone to seek her beloved. She alternately cursed whichever family’s son had lured away her daughter and scolded Zhao Jin for her shamelessness – how dare she do such a foolish thing? She should know that proper engagement made one a wife, while elopement made one a concubine. With Zhao Jin running off with someone like this, she probably couldn’t hold her head up for the rest of her life.
The people the Zhao family sent out still brought no news. Whenever she thought of this matter, Lin Zixiang became somewhat angry. In her view, friends should treat each other with sincerity. Before such a major incident, Zhao Jin hadn’t told her, which really showed she didn’t consider her a friend. Of course, Lin Zixiang was even more furious that Zhao Jin had done such a thing merely for a man.
Lin Zixiang believed that among all the men in the world, except for her father, the rest were all the same – arrogant, self-important, with eyes looking skyward, not understanding what loyalty meant, conceited, and truly unworthy of good women.
Seeing her indignant appearance, Jiang Ruan shook her head with a smile: “Being anxious now won’t help – it’s better to wait and see what develops. As for other matters, we’re all ordinary people anyway, just struggling to get by daily. Marriage is merely yielding to reality, but after marrying, trying one’s best to live well isn’t bad either.” She smiled: “Just as you said earlier, I’m doing quite well. Even more freely than when I was at the Minister’s mansion.”
“Exactly,” Wen Feifei, fearing Lin Zixiang would lecture again, immediately agreed with Jiang Ruan: “We’re already married – what’s the point of discussing this now? Though I’m not doing as well as Sister Ruan, I’m still much more comfortable than when I was an unmarried girl. At least I don’t have to face that bunch of jealous sisters at home competing for favor.”
Lin Zixiang thought for a moment, then sighed: “Since you don’t care about these things yourselves, why should I worry about them?”
Jiang Ruan smiled: “Speaking of which, I haven’t entered the palace recently. Sister Ying’er…”
“She seems like a completely different person now,” Wen Feifei’s eyes showed some hurt: “A few days ago when I visited her in the palace and brought some small trinkets, though she smiled, she felt very distant. In any case, I feel I don’t understand her now.”
“She doesn’t compete for favor, yet who knows what she’s doing in the palace,” Lin Zixiang also replied coldly: “She’s becoming more and more similar to those women in the palace – I can’t see any difference.”
After Dong Ying’er entered the palace, due to her connection with the Capital Magistrate, she wasn’t completely neglected. She had been favored and was fortunate to be promoted to Precious Person. With her gentle and soft nature, she had also learned how to survive in the man-eating palace, though she seemed rather listless, as if she couldn’t summon interest in anything.
Jiang Ruan smiled slightly: “The palace naturally isn’t easy to endure. If she remained as innocent and carefree as before, it would be impossible to live long.”
Upon hearing this, both Lin Zixiang and Wen Feifei’s expressions changed simultaneously. After a long while, Lin Zixiang finally said: “You see things quite clearly. If you had had the chance to enter the palace for selection…” The position of Empress would also be yours, she didn’t finish saying, but she believed Jiang Ruan knew what she wanted to say.
The group chatted for a while longer. When afternoon was approaching evening, Lin Zixiang and Dong Ying’er rose to take their leave. Just as they were leaving, Wen Feifei suddenly felt somewhat dizzy and stumbled, about to fall.
Lin Zixiang was about to board her carriage when she was startled. Before she could react, she saw a blue figure flash by quickly and catch Wen Feifei.
It was a young man dressed entirely in blue cloth robes. After helping Wen Feifei up, he didn’t hastily let go but instead held firmly onto her hand. Seeing this, Lin Zixiang immediately flew into a rage: “What kind of scoundrel are you? Let go of your hands!”
Lin Zixiang’s voice was raised very high, and immediately everyone around looked over. The man was also startled by Lin Zixiang’s sudden shout, and seeing the surrounding gazes, his face turned red as he said: “Miss, you misunderstand, I was only…”
“Let go of your hands!” Seeing he still wouldn’t release her, Lin Zixiang immediately stepped forward and pushed him away, supporting Wen Feifei herself. Wen Feifei was indeed somewhat dazed and didn’t know what had happened, only saying: “Ah Xiang, I’m fine.”
The young man was nearly knocked over by Lin Zixiang’s push and immediately became flustered and red-faced. Seeing people around pointing and whispering, he said: “Miss, you really misunderstand. I am Xia Qing, the Sacred Hand of Jinling. I’m a physician – I only wanted to see what was wrong with this lady.”
Lin Zixiang looked him over. This man was indeed fairly handsome, dressed in clean cloth clothes with a cloth bundle at his waist. His appearance was quite decent. At this moment his face was completely red – whether from anger or embarrassment was unclear – but his tone was absolutely sincere. However, the Sacred Hand of Jinling? Anyone who called themselves a “sacred hand” in medicine was usually a white-bearded old man. Medical practice required experience, and the older one was, the more experience one had. This man looked at most twenty-something – how could he be called a “sacred hand”? He’d be more like an apprentice at a medical clinic. Lin Zixiang had always despised pretentious, self-important people most in her life. Her face immediately turned cold: “Your Excellency’s small frame – I, a mere woman, nearly knocked you over with a light push. I wonder if you have some hidden ailment. What Sacred Hand of Jinling – you can’t even cure your own hidden ailments. I think you’re just a fraud seeking fame.” After speaking, she didn’t spare him another glance, helped Wen Feifei into the carriage, and departed in a grand manner.
Xia Qing stood dazedly in place, eating a mouthful of dust kicked up by the carriage. The crowd of onlookers gradually dispersed, but he remained motionless in shock. In all his years, wherever he went, he received nothing but respect and praise from others. Even young ladies who knew his reputation looked upon him favorably. Yet now he had somehow encountered this difficult person who had scolded him so thoroughly without provocation. Even though this young man usually had a good temper, he was now provoked to the point of grinding his teeth. She… she had even asked if he had hidden ailments! What kind of shocking words for a young lady to speak!
Young Divine Physician Xia remained immersed in his shocked emotions, having forgotten what he had originally wanted to tell Lin Zixiang. He shook his head and looked at the gates of Prince Jinying’s mansion before him, immediately feeling an overwhelming surge of resentment. If it weren’t for Xiao Shao requiring him to stay in the capital to become Jiang Ruan’s private physician, why would he be here, being accused in front of so many people? The more he thought about it, the angrier he became. Xia Qing flicked his sleeves and walked away.
…
In the Marquis Xia mansion, Xia Jun dusted off his sleeves and stepped out of the courtyard. Just as he emerged, he saw Xia Jiaojiao struggling with a maid over something, shouting loudly: “You’re just a lowly servant girl – what do you need such a fine bracelet for? Give it to me!”
The maid was not to be outdone, saying: “Miss, this was a reward from the Old Madam to this servant. If Miss needs it, you may ask the Old Madam directly. This servant dares not casually give away the Old Madam’s gifts to others. Moreover, Miss is of noble birth and jade-like quality – what fine things don’t you have? Why lower yourself to the level of a servant?”
The maid’s sharp tongue obviously infuriated Xia Jiaojiao, who immediately slapped her: “How dare you talk back! Who exactly is the master here!”
The maid twisted away, avoiding Xia Jiaojiao’s slap, and said: “Miss should not make things difficult for this servant. If the Old Madam’s nannies see this later and Miss gets punished as a result, that would be unfortunate.”
Hearing this, Xia Jiaojiao became even more furious: “You dare threaten me!”
The courtyard was in complete chaos. The maid looked up and saw Xia Jun standing not far away, immediately calling out: “This servant greets Second Young Master!”
Hearing Xia Jun’s name, Xia Jiaojiao was startled and immediately stopped her actions. Seeing Xia Jun standing not far away, fear flashed quickly through her eyes as she said quietly: “Second Brother.”
Xia Jun looked coldly at Xia Jiaojiao. Ever since the affair between Shen Rou and Xia Tiancai was exposed, the Xia family had become the laughingstock of the entire capital. Unfortunately, Shen Rou’s maternal family was not one that could be easily divorced. While no one died, Shen Rou’s status in the Xia family had plummeted. Xia Jiaojiao had become the shameful mark left by the adultery between the family’s younger brother-in-law and sister-in-law. Lady Xia had once called Xia Jiaojiao to the ancestral hall, intending to end matters with a cup of poisoned wine. Who knew that midway through, Xia Tiancai somehow got wind of the situation and forcibly saved Xia Jiaojiao from Lady Xia’s hands.
Unfortunately, though Xia Jiaojiao had saved her life, she could never return to her former exalted position in the Xia family. Wherever she went, she was the family’s shame, and people would discuss the Xia family’s scandals. Xia Cheng confined her to her rooms, not allowing her to leave the mansion even once. With her reputation already ruined, naturally no one was willing to marry her. Not only that, but with Shen Rou unable to protect her, Xia Tianyi despising her, and the Xia Cheng couple having grown cold toward her, Xia Jiaojiao’s life in the mansion was extremely difficult – she didn’t even live like a proper young lady. This was why she had fallen to competing with maids over jewelry.
Xia Tianyi had now resigned from his official position and spent his days in debauchery outside, no longer resembling his former steady and reserved self. Perhaps he felt that having his own younger brother personally place a green hat on his head was quite a blow. In any case, he had now become dispirited, like mud that couldn’t support a wall.
Yu Ya had dealt with Shen Rou but hadn’t achieved the happy life she had imagined. Xia Tiancai’s displeasure with her was now open, and his behavior had become even more reckless – he simply no longer spent nights in her courtyard. The Xia Cheng couple hated her for exposing the scandal and disgracing the family’s reputation, treating her very coldly. Yu Ya’s disposition had become increasingly gloomy.
Among all these people, the one living most comfortably each day was actually Xia Jun. Initially, Xia Jun had lost the opportunity to enter government service due to the ancestral hall incident and had been quite despondent for a period. Now it seemed this was nothing significant. Each day he coldly observed the absurd chaos in the Xia mansion like an outsider.
Xia Jiaojiao had originally been afraid of this second brother, and now that her status was not what it once was, she feared Xia Jun even more. She was extremely deferential to him. Xia Jun smiled, walked leisurely past her, and as he passed by Xia Jiaojiao, he flicked his sleeve and dropped a piece of broken silver.
This was an extremely insulting gesture – the kind one would make toward a beggar. But upon seeing this, Xia Jiaojiao not only wasn’t angry but immediately broke into smiles, bent down to pick up the broken silver, and said: “Thank you, Second Brother.”
…
After leaving the mansion, Xia Jun walked to a small tavern on the street and went directly inside. The tavern keeper seemed quite familiar with him and led him into a small room inside, where someone was currently sitting. The person was dressed in blue robes, sitting by the window drinking alone. The keeper withdrew, and the person turned to see Xia Jun, smiling slightly: “Cousin.”
This person was precisely Jiang Chao. Xia Jun also smiled, walked to sit across from Jiang Chao, poured himself a small cup of wine, brought it to his lips, and sniffed it: “The wine is indeed good wine. Cousin enjoys life so well – I’m ashamed of my inferiority.”
“These are merely things for the mouth and tongue, hardly worthy of notice. In the future, if there’s opportunity, there will be endless fine wines far better than this.”
Hearing this, Xia Jun drained his cup in one gulp: “Cousin speaks thus – is there some good news?”
“Naturally there’s good news,” Jiang Chao said unhurriedly, “and it’s tremendously good news.”
“Oh?” Xia Jun seemed interested: “What? Has Cousin been promoted again while serving under His Eighth Highness?”
“Not that,” Jiang Chao said flatly: “There’s something more joyful than promotion. That is, Cousin, we two share a common enemy, and now there’s an opportunity to perhaps eliminate them.”