The expressions of both Xia Yan and Jiang Susu changed slightly at the same time. The ladies had already begun quietly discussing: “What mountain village girl? I think this bearing looks more like someone who came from the palace.”

“Exactly. She looks on par with Second Miss Jiang – nowhere near as terrible as described.”

“Her looks are also good, actually even more radiant than Second Miss.”

For the first time, the crowd’s focus wasn’t gathered solely on Jiang Susu. Jiang Ruan continued walking forward with her gaze straight ahead, her expression showing no fluctuation, wearing a smile on her face as if this weren’t her first time visiting the Shen manor. Such composure and tranquility made those who had originally wanted to watch the spectacle look at her with new respect. The round-faced woman’s complexion had already darkened considerably, while conversely, the high-cheekboned lady nodded repeatedly.

Shen Mingzhen, who followed behind, was already furious. She glared viciously at Jiang Ruan, then directly walked over to take Jiang Susu’s hand, not sparing Jiang Ruan another glance as she walked into the ladies’ seating area.

Xia Yan smiled faintly, as if she hadn’t seen anything, chatting and laughing with Madam Shen as she walked into the seating area and sat down. Although Jiang Li had an arrogant temperament, she had close friends among the various young ladies. Perhaps to deliberately isolate Jiang Ruan, she even took along Jiang Dan, whom she usually paid little attention to. Whether intentional or not, only Jiang Ruan was left standing alone by the seating area, not knowing where to sit.

Though the ladies and misses were amazed by Jiang Ruan’s appearance and bearing, all the honored guests present were familiar with Madam Shen and naturally had to maintain relations with the Jiang manor. The current madam of the Jiang manor was Xia Yan, not Zhao Mei, so those in the know wouldn’t actively help Jiang Ruan out of her predicament. Moreover, Jiang Ruan’s beauty was too overwhelming – the young ladies feared sitting with her would steal their spotlight. For a moment, she was left completely alone.

Lu Zhu and Lian Qiao stood behind Jiang Ruan, both feeling somewhat stifled, thinking that this visit to the Shen manor as guests felt more like they’d come to lose face, creating pointless embarrassment.

Just at this moment, a clear female voice came from the seating area: “Miss Jiang, please sit here.”

A young maiden in her teens stood up from among the ladies’ seats. This young lady wore a blue cotton jacket with green flowers, had slightly dark skin, but very delicate features with a trace of hidden heroic spirit in her brows and eyes. Jiang Ruan had known this young lady in her previous life – she was called Lin Zixiang, the eldest daughter of current Grand Historian Lin. She was someone with an extremely righteous character. In her previous life, Lin Zixiang had married the Third Prince as a secondary consort. Although Grand Historian Lin didn’t have much real power in court, he held an important position. After Lin Zixiang married the Third Prince, she wasn’t favored, and after Grand Historian Lin was dismissed from office by the Emperor, her life became extremely destitute. The Third Prince was a beast in human clothing with countless concubines in his manor. The child in Lin Zixiang’s belly was killed by one of the Third Prince’s favored concubines, and when the Third Prince protected his favorite concubine, Lin Zixiang couldn’t bear the humiliation and took a knife to die together with that concubine.

In her previous life, the palace women would casually discuss this matter as gossip, but Jiang Ruan felt melancholy about Lin Zixiang’s fate. Such a woman of strong character had ended up dying miserably, and after death was even made the subject of discussion – truly an injustice of heaven. In her previous life at palace banquets, Jiang Ruan had seen Lin Zixiang from afar in the consorts’ seating area. Lin Zixiang’s dejected appearance in simple clothing among the gorgeously dressed women had immediately caught Jiang Ruan’s attention. They were the same type of person – married to men they didn’t want to marry, imprisoned for life in small cages.

Jiang Ruan smiled at Lin Zixiang and walked over to sit beside her. Lin Zixiang nodded at her, and Jiang Ruan said softly, “Thank you.”

“I just can’t stand them acting this way,” Lin Zixiang said. “These wealthy noble families are always so self-righteous, yet everywhere they make things difficult for a young girl.”

Such mature words, and seeing Lin Zixiang’s completely serious expression, Jiang Ruan couldn’t help but laugh, her good feelings toward her increasing even more.

Seeing Jiang Ruan talking with Lin Zixiang, Jiang Li felt secretly resentful. Shen Mingzhen was talking with Jiang Susu, and seeing this scene also frowned: “What ability does that Jiang Ruan have? Lin Zixiang usually has her eyes turned up to the sky – why would she specifically talk to her!”

Jiang Susu smiled: “Eldest sister is always so likeable.”

“She’s clearly a seductress,” Shen Mingzhen said angrily. Turning to see Jiang Li glaring at Jiang Ruan, she thought for a moment: “Sister Su’er, I see that Jiang Li also dislikes her. How about we help Jiang Li?”

Jiang Susu was stunned, then smiled: “Why say such things? Don’t get any crooked ideas. Eldest sister just returned from the estate – if anything goes wrong, her reputation will definitely be damaged. How could she face people in the capital in the future?”

Shen Mingzhen also smiled: “Sister Su’er is truly kindhearted, but you must distinguish between different people. Look at how she deliberately wore this red outfit today – isn’t it to steal your spotlight? Knowing you love plain colors yet dressing so brightly, I think it’s pure provocation. Sister Su’er, you can’t just yield in everything.”

“This…” Jiang Susu hesitated somewhat. Her uncertain appearance made Shen Mingzhen feel she’d been wronged even more, so she said: “Sister Su’er, don’t be afraid. I’ll stand up for you.” Having said this, she waved to Jiang Li sitting on the other side: “Sister Jiang Li!”

Jiang Li turned around somewhat flattered and got up to walk to Shen Mingzhen’s side. Among the capital’s young ladies from prominent families, concubine-born daughters and legitimate daughters were actually divided into two circles. Although Jiang Li desperately tried to please Shen Mingzhen, Shen Mingzhen only befriended Jiang Susu, leaving her to feel jealous. Now that Shen Mingzhen took the initiative to greet her, though she knew there must be some purpose, she still smiled in response.

A trace of contempt flashed in Shen Mingzhen’s eyes, but her smile remained sweet as she hooked her little finger: “Sister Jiang Li, I have something private to tell you.”

Jiang Li leaned her ear over, and Shen Mingzhen whispered a few words in her ear. Jiang Li’s expression was first somewhat surprised, then became hesitant, looking uncertainly at Jiang Susu sitting to the side. But Jiang Susu only lowered her head to drink tea, still wearing the same smile as always, making her emotions unreadable.

“Sister Jiang Li, have you decided?” Shen Mingzhen looked up at her, her tone becoming even more coquettish: “I’m only doing this for your sake.”

Jiang Li remained silent for a long while, finally gritting her teeth: “Fine, thank you for your help, Sister Mingzhen.”

Shen Mingzhen giggled and pulled Jiang Li to sit beside her: “Since that’s the case, let’s talk some more.”

Jiang Li paused, then sat beside her as instructed. The two huddled together and began speaking in low voices again.

During all of this, Jiang Susu sat to the side with her head lowered drinking tea, seemingly completely unaware of what Shen Mingzhen and Jiang Li were doing. Only when Jiang Li sat down did she look up and glance at Jiang Ruan from afar, a trace of malice in her eyes.

But unexpectedly, when she looked up, Jiang Ruan seemed to sense her gaze and turned her head slightly. Their eyes met, and Jiang Ruan smiled at her faintly. The upturned corners of her eyes clearly revealed a trace of amusement, yet inexplicably made Jiang Susu’s spine turn cold. When she looked again, Jiang Ruan had already turned her head away, as if nothing had ever happened.