The fourteenth day of the first month was the annual Lantern Festival of the Great Jin Dynasty, a grand celebration for young people. Days before, clothing and jewelry shops of any reputation in the capital were bustling with activity, and cosmetics shops were in particularly high demand. On that day, young scholars had already gathered in taverns early in the morning, discussing who would claim the top prize on the Linglong Boat this year.

Early in the morning, Jiang Ruan was awakened by Bai Zhi and Lian Qiao, who busied themselves selecting what clothes she should wear today and which jewelry she should don. Lu Zhu regretted that she couldn’t accompany them, saying resentfully: “Miss will surely be outstanding in grace tonight. It’s such a pity this servant won’t have the privilege to witness how many people you’ll enchant.”

Lian Qiao heard the sourness in her words and laughed, scolding: “What nonsense are you spouting? Why don’t I give you my position and I’ll stay in the household instead?”

“How could that work?” Lu Zhu pouted: “I’m also working for Miss’s sake. Besides, these newly arrived girls in the courtyard are not easy to deal with. With you all away today, it’s the perfect chance for me to dampen their arrogance.”

“Miss Lu Zhu better take it easy,” Bai Zhi also rarely joked: “Don’t frighten these delicate little girls.”

“They’re just servants after all—what’s so delicate about them?” Lu Zhu’s eyes revealed a trace of disdain: “Moreover, they all have black hearts. Today I watched that Shuxiang rummaging around in the inner room several times, so I followed her. You know what I discovered? That Shuxiang actually stole one of Miss’s handkerchiefs.”

“What!” Lian Qiao, who was combing Jiang Ruan’s hair, trembled with shock and cried out, immediately stopping her movements: “Why didn’t you stop her?”

Jiang Ruan’s gaze paused momentarily as she also looked toward Lu Zhu, though she didn’t appear as urgent as Lian Qiao, seeming quite composed instead.

Lu Zhu said: “Miss told this servant to keep a close watch on those girls, especially Shuxiang, and to act according to circumstances when necessary, as long as I knew that girl was on Yanhua Garden’s side. This servant has followed human traffickers wandering the world since childhood and has seen much. If Shuxiang merely had unclean hands, that would be one thing, but what I fear most is her harboring those filthy thoughts. This handkerchief is no small matter—if it casually falls into someone else’s hands, it could ruin Miss’s reputation and wrongfully destroy a person’s entire life. Miss was sleeping at the time, and if this servant had reported to Miss first, it would have been too late, so this servant took the liberty to act.”

Jiang Ruan looked at her: “What did you do?”

Lu Zhu’s eyes flashed with pride: “I took advantage of her going out to replace Miss’s handkerchief hidden under her pillow with Second Miss’s.”

Bai Zhi was startled: “How could you do such a thing?”

Lu Zhu held her head high: “If she wants to harm Miss, we needn’t show any consideration either. If they really take action, it will be Second Miss who suffers—that’s called retribution.”

Jiang Ruan smiled slightly: “You did very well.” She had a new understanding of Lu Zhu. Initially, she had noticed this maidservant because she had dared to come forward and testify for her at the estate, feeling grateful. Later, seeing that she had traveled widely and possessed considerable knowledge, she could be of great help. Now, watching day by day, Lu Zhu’s ability to gather information in the household was also quite excellent. Today’s handling of this matter was both clever and decisive, truly showing a character that distinguished clearly between love and hate.

Lian Qiao let out a heavy sigh of relief: “Not one person from Yanhua Garden has good intentions. Lu Zhu, we’ve underestimated you all along. This kind of eye-for-an-eye approach is truly satisfying.”

“But how did you get Second Miss’s handkerchief?” Bai Zhi asked.

“A few days ago, while passing through the garden to deliver digestive medicine to Miss, I personally saw Second Miss accidentally drop it. I intended to return it when I had time, but who knew it would come in handy today? This is what they call heaven sparing no one.”

Lian Qiao burst into laughter, Bai Zhi also laughed, and seeing the two laugh, Lu Zhu joined in. Jiang Ruan wore a smile on her face, but her heart was already filled with her own thoughts. Xia Yan truly wanted to destroy her reputation, using exactly the same methods as in her previous life. This Lantern Festival, moved up three years in this life—did she want to make her notorious again? She really wondered what expression Xia Yan would have when she finally discovered it was Jiang Susu who ended up disgraced.

In Yanhua Garden, Jiang Susu sat at a table, carefully sipping a cup of lotus seed and red date tea. Her posture was dignified and elegant, her face bearing a pure and innocent smile, truly like a fairy, exquisite and translucent.

Xia Yan looked at her biological daughter with satisfaction: “Seeing that you’re also becoming a young lady, growing more lovely by the day, I wonder what kind of excellent man would be fortunate enough to marry our Susu.”

Jiang Susu said coquettishly: “Mother, what are you saying? I’m only ten years old now. Tonight on the Linglong Boat, I’m not going to look at people. I’ve practiced my seven-stringed zither for a whole month—tonight should be the time for rewards.”

“You play so well that even I might not have your musical skill,” Xia Yan said proudly: “When you recite the poetry I taught you, the young ladies and daughters on the boat surely won’t be able to compare with you.”

Jiang Susu smiled: “That would be best.” Suddenly she frowned: “Big Sister is so beautiful, and this is her first time returning to the capital. She’s bound to attract attention on the Linglong Boat.” Though she tried hard to conceal it, she ultimately revealed a trace of jealousy. Xia Yan noticed and said seriously: “You needn’t mind her. She’s just an inauspicious girl. With how your father treats her, how could she surpass you in this Jiang household? Besides, tonight you needn’t worry about her stealing your spotlight at all—I’ve already made arrangements.”

“Made arrangements?” Jiang Susu was startled, then laughed: “I knew Mother loved me.”

Xia Yan tapped her forehead: “In this household, if someone cannot become your support, there’s absolutely no reason to keep them around for nothing, lest something go wrong in the future. Jiang Ruan’s appearance is too striking. I’ve been observing these past days—if she’s not a fool, then she’s too scheming. Seeing how she dealt with Chen Zhao’s family, she’s definitely not someone easily fooled. I don’t know why, but she always makes me feel uneasy. Keeping her around is a disaster—better to resolve it early.”

“Does Mother want her life?” Jiang Susu asked.

“What would I want her life for? She just returned to the capital—we can’t make it too obvious. But after tonight, if she wants to stir up any storms in the capital again, it will be impossible.” Xia Yan said. If anyone had passed by, they would surely have been shocked by the sinister expression on this woman’s face, who was usually gentle and amiable.

“Mother, tell me your plan.” Jiang Susu straightened up: “After all, I also hope she’ll be humiliated.” This fairy-like young girl’s eyes were full of jealous color.

Xia Yan looked at her daughter disapprovingly: “I can tell you, but you must remember that after today, she’ll be someone everyone in the capital shouts to beat—an inauspicious and unchaste person. You needn’t concern yourself with her in everything, as that would lower your own status.”

Jiang Susu agreed coquettishly, and only then did Xia Yan dismiss the surrounding maidservants, keeping only a few trusted ones, and began to speak in detail with Jiang Susu.