Last time at Shen Shilang’s residence, the young ladies who came and went were mostly daughters of officials from the capital, but they did not compare to today’s gathering of those with high positions and great power. Many people were seeing the Jiang family’s legitimate daughter for the first time. Everyone had always heard that Jiang Susu from the Jiang residence was renowned for her talent and possessed the appearance of a celestial fairy, so they were all curious about this mountain village young lady who had grown up on the estate. Who would have thought that upon seeing her today, her exceptional bearing would be completely unexpected.

The Qingsong Boat and Linglang Boat were berthed extremely close to each other, both moored side by side at the dock. Every movement of the Jiang residence’s young lady as she boarded from the shore could be clearly observed by everyone on the Qingsong Boat. With Jiang Dan and Jiang Li standing before the two legitimate daughters of the Jiang residence, they were naturally overlooked. But all the gazes that had previously fallen entirely upon Jiang Susu were tonight directed straight at Jiang Ruan.

A young master in brocade robes on the Qingsong Boat became entranced by what he saw, murmuring: “One glance topples a city, a second glance topples a nation.”

Jiang Ruan walked step by step with proper composure, yet there was some irony in her heart. In her previous life, she had also walked step by step onto this Linglang Boat, but unfortunately had not received such amazed gazes from everyone. At that time, their looks toward her were filled with condescending mockery and ridicule, as if looking at a lowly person tremblingly entering high society for the first time. In this life, how had it become this situation?

What she herself did not know was that in her previous life, due to Jiang Susu and Xia Yan’s usual imperceptible indoctrination, combined with the years of being looked down upon on the estate, she had long developed a timid and self-deprecating nature. After returning to the Jiang residence, Xia Yan had pretended to treat her with intimate affection, almost doting on her, using the tactic of destruction through excessive praise. She never hired teachers to teach her literacy or qin playing, didn’t learn needlework, and was casual about etiquette. To these capital noble families who valued propriety, this was a great source of ridicule. Furthermore, regarding a person’s appearance, temperament accounts for half of it. In her previous life, she had been timid and docile, and even the finest appearance was wasted when contrasted with such behavior. Later in the palace, the Eighth Prince, in order to make her a perfect chess piece, naturally put in great effort with music, chess, calligraphy and painting, and the grace and temperament she developed in the palace was something others could never learn even if they tried. Everyone present had sharp eyes and could tell at a glance that her etiquette was flawless. The bitter lessons of her previous life had added a mysterious, settled quality to her bearing. Now moving with graceful steps, combined with that already stunning and beautiful appearance, she naturally attracted everyone’s attention.

The smile on Jiang Susu’s face remained warm, but when observed carefully, its stiffness was not difficult to detect. As she boarded the boat, Miss Xue from the Left Vice Censor-in-Chief’s residence, who was familiar with her, immediately called to her. Jiang Susu then took Jiang Dan’s hand with one hand and Jiang Li’s with the other, walking toward her, whether intentionally or unintentionally leaving Jiang Ruan behind alone.

Lian Qiao and Bai Zhi, who were following behind Jiang Ruan, both frowned slightly. Jiang Ruan lightly curved her lips. After all, she was still young and had not yet learned forbearance. Although she was already considered deeply scheming compared to other young ladies, Jiang Susu was ultimately still a ten-year-old little girl. Whenever she wanted to compete and show off, once her status was threatened, she could no longer maintain her mask.

Being left alone in this way was clearly observed by everyone on the Qingsong Boat. One young master in blue robes said indignantly: “How can they bully such a delicate little girl like this? These women are really too excessive!” This was a young master from the General’s residence.

Another young master on the side agreed: “Indeed so, it’s too extreme. If there weren’t no precedent, I would really want her to sit beside me.”

However, those who cherished and pitied the fair maiden were not just one person. On the Linglang Boat, before Jiang Ruan could decide where to sit, she heard a familiar voice calling to her: “Jiang Ruan, come here.” Turning her head, she saw it was Lin Zixiang.

Jiang Ruan walked toward her and sat down beside her. Lin Zixiang carefully examined her once over, then nodded: “Much prettier than your sister. This red is also more pleasing to the eye than that hypocritical white.”

Jiang Ruan was speechless. Lin Zixiang then took her hand and said to the people sitting at the table: “This is Miss Jiang from Minister Jiang’s residence, Jiang Ruan, Jiang Susu’s older sister.”

On the boat, most people formed small groups, with familiar young ladies from noble families sitting together at tables. At Shen Shilang’s residence, although Lin Zixiang had been isolated like her, in the circle of capital young ladies, Lin Zixiang also had her own good friends. Lin Zixiang also introduced her: “This is Miss Dong from the Metropolitan Governor’s residence, Miss Xu from the Hanlin Academy Chancellor’s family, Miss Wen from the Cavalry Colonel’s residence, and Miss Zhao, the youngest daughter of the Cloud Banner Commander.”

Dong Ying’er was the young lady from the Governor’s family, born with a delicate and lovely round face. Seeing the situation, she generously said to her: “So you are Jiang Ruan. When I saw you just now, I was so stunned that I realized there could be such beautiful girls in the world.”

Her words were innocent and frank, without deliberate flattery. Hearing this made people feel favorably toward her. Wen Feifei and Zhao Jin both came from military official families, and their behavior also carried some boldness. Zhao Jin laughed: “If I were born as a man, I’m afraid I would go to your residence tomorrow to propose marriage.”

“Exactly,” Wen Feifei said: “You’re already this beautiful now. In a few more years, all the young ladies in the capital will probably be too ashamed to leave their homes.”

Jiang Ruan also smiled: “Are you sisters deliberately trying to embarrass me? Today I too have opened my eyes wide – there are actually such first-rate girls in the capital in both temperament and appearance, especially in temperament. If I were a man, I would certainly want to be that heartless scoundrel and marry all of you sisters to keep hidden away.”

The whole table laughed again, creating quite a harmonious atmosphere. Lin Zixiang looked at Xu Ruoxi beside her: “Why are you so absent-minded?”

Xu Ruoxi was the legitimate daughter of the Hanlin Academy Chancellor, usually a person of aloof and proud temperament. Hearing this, she was about to speak when they heard a long, drawn-out voice from outside: “Prince Jinying arrives—Eighth Prince arrives—”

Xu Ruoxi’s eyes immediately gained a spark of radiance, and her complexion also became flushed. Jiang Ruan’s body stiffened, and she struggled to steady her mind to avoid accidentally spilling the tea in her hands.

She followed everyone’s gaze toward the shore, only to see a figure in white robes approaching gracefully. That person was refined and elegant, handsome and distinguished as in her previous life, walking step by step with a smile toward the Qingsong Boat. The river water sparkled with rippling light, reflecting the people raising their cups in celebration. On this lively and extraordinary night, meeting old friends again, it was already a transformation through vast changes.

The sound of conversation and laughter on the Linglang Boat had already come to an abrupt halt. Xu Ruoxi’s gaze did not rest on the Eighth Prince, but on the person behind him – dressed in black robes with gold qilin patterns and gold-trimmed borders, jade belt and azure boots. The young man’s appearance was stunningly beautiful, with compelling heroic spirit and eyes as coldly indifferent as snow. Step by step, he moved with the elegant grace of flowing clouds and water, his exceptional bearing not inferior to the Eighth Prince’s outstanding appearance.

Xu Ruoxi’s voice trembled with some excitement: “It’s Prince Jinying…”

Jiang Ruan lightly furrowed her brow. She had never expected that the black-robed young man she had encountered twice was actually the renowned Prince Jinying of the Great Jin Dynasty.