The next day, Jiang Li, Ye Mingyu’s group, and the Tongxiang villagers set off on the road to the capital in a grand procession.

Thanks to the wealth Feng Yutang had plundered from the people, they didn’t need to worry about travel expenses along the way. With so many people, the journey was naturally slower, but since they departed early, it didn’t matter much.

The Ye family reluctantly bid farewell to Jiang Li. Old Madam Ye especially stood at the city gate, watching until Jiang Li’s figure completely disappeared from sight before leaving with the Ye family.

In the carriage, Xue Huaiyuan sat with Jiang Li. Over these days, everyone had grown accustomed to Jiang Li’s affectionate treatment of Xue Huaiyuan. Now cleaned up, though Xue Huaiyuan looked gaunt, he had recovered somewhat of his former refined appearance. In truth, Xue Huaiyuan was not unattractive at all—otherwise Xue Fangfei and Xue Zhao wouldn’t have such outstanding looks.

Jiang Li had brought many clean garments from the Ye family and had them changed onto Xue Huaiyuan. If not for his constant childlike playing by himself, one could vaguely see traces of his former self.

When Ye Mingyu found time to duck into the carriage, Jiang Li was patiently wiping pastry crumbs from Xue Huaiyuan’s clothes with a handkerchief. As Ye Mingyu watched, he suddenly had a strange feeling. Jiang Li and Xue Huaiyuan clearly had no relationship whatsoever, no family connection, and in terms of appearance, there was nothing similar about them. But somehow, whether it was their expressions or something between their brows, there seemed to be a slight resemblance.

They looked like father and daughter.

Realizing this thought, Ye Mingyu gave an inward start and silently scolded himself for overthinking. How could Jiang Li and Xue Huaiyuan be father and daughter? Jiang Li’s father was the powerful First Minister of the capital. Such a thought would not only insult Jiang Yuanbai but also Ye Zhenzhen.

Pushing aside these jumbled thoughts, Ye Mingyu asked: “A-Li, we still have quite a journey ahead. Right now your father doesn’t know what you’ve been doing. When we return to the capital, he’ll certainly find out. He’ll definitely not let you appear publicly. Why don’t you give me instructions on what to do next? Or write it down and I’ll follow your directions.”

Ye Mingyu could tell that although Jiang Li’s actions in Tongxiang were done under Jiang Yuanbai’s name, Jiang Yuanbai definitely didn’t know about them. Having his daughter stir up such a huge matter in Tongxiang—never mind anything else—as a young lady of a noble house and the First Minister’s daughter, Jiang Li certainly shouldn’t appear publicly again to avoid causing more trouble. No matter how bold Ye Mingyu was, he couldn’t stop Jiang Li from going home.

But once Jiang Li returned home, she might not be able to come out again for some time.

The capital wasn’t like the jianghu, and the Jiang family wasn’t like the Ye family. Ye Mingyu didn’t know if he could successfully extract Jiang Li from there. In that case, it would be better to prepare two plans. As long as Jiang Li temporarily couldn’t come out, Ye Mingyu could take Jiang Li’s instructions and complete the task without her appearing publicly.

Jiang Li smiled and shook her head: “That won’t work. In the capital, relationships between official households are very complex. The Ye family are merchants—if someone wants to suppress this matter, it’s entirely possible. It’s different if I’m involved, because I’m backed by an official family, which will naturally attract attention. The Xue family case needs to become bigger and bigger to have any chance. The bigger it becomes, the more anxious the other side will be. When they panic, they’ll make mistakes, and then our opportunity will come.”

“But…” Ye Mingyu hesitated. “Your father…”

“Don’t worry, I’ll persuade him,” Jiang Li smiled. Jiang Yuanbai was a smart man. With what she had done, she’d already offended the Right Minister through the Ye family matter, and now offended Princess Yongning through the Xue family case. Having already made enemies, the superficial peace of the past would be broken. Once a beginning was made, it would be difficult to stop.

Jiang Yuanbai understood this principle. Caught between a rock and a hard place, even if he didn’t want to act, he had no choice. So with this matter, either they continued through to the end and dealt the opposition a heavy blow, or they stopped midway and let the opposition seize the initiative.

Jiang Yuanbai might be confused about inner household matters, but in official career matters he was extremely shrewd. Jiang Li believed he would make the same choice as her.

However… she wondered what expression Princess Yongning would have when she learned what Jiang Li had done?

She must be furious.

…

The capital was located in the northern territories. In winter, snow fell every single day.

In the heavy goose-feather snow, poor families still had to brave the cold wind to sell their labor, wearing thin single-layer garments, earning a few copper coins a day on the ice-covered streets for household expenses.

Wealthy families had it much better. With heated floors burning hot, their mansions were warm. Delicate young ladies could sit indoors, holding hand warmers provided by maids, watching the snow scene outside while composing poetry and painting, playing music and reading books.

In the Princess’s mansion, it was warm as spring.

Long wool carpets covered the floor, embroidered with elaborate patterns—even bare feet wouldn’t feel cold stepping on them. Therefore, the young woman seated in the high seat wore thin gauze garments even in winter, slightly revealing a corner of her embroidered paired-lotus bellyband, blooming seductively like a lotus flower about to open in summer.

She reclined against someone’s knees.

The man was handsome and refined, smiling gently at the lovely person on his lap.

Her rosy lips spoke lingering verses: “Not combing my hair for days, silk strands falling on both shoulders, wrists stretched upon my lord’s knees, where is there not to be pitied…” As she reached the last word, her voice dropped with seductive suggestion, her neck arching up as her red lips gently pressed against the man’s thin lips.

The servants in the hall all lowered their heads, not daring to look. When Princess Yongning was intimate with her lover, no one dared to watch.

“Yongning…” A sigh escaped from between his lips and teeth.

This sigh drove the woman into a frenzy. Looking into his eyes, she was almost intoxicated by the gentleness within. Suddenly she said: “Shen Lang, when will we marry?”

The man—currently Secretariat Drafter and one of Emperor Hongxiao’s favored officials, Shen Yurun—froze, as if suddenly awakening from sinking desire. He leaned back slightly, avoiding Princess Yongning’s intimate embrace.

Princess Yongning also sensed his distance and immediately snapped out of her previous immersion. But the next moment, she pressed forward again relentlessly, saying coquettishly: “Shen Lang, why won’t you speak?”

“Princess,” Shen Yurun no longer called her ‘Yongning.’ He frowned: “My wife hasn’t been deceased for even a year…”

Xue Fangfei again! Princess Yongning’s heart filled with hatred. He always said he needed to observe mourning for Xue Fangfei, to show the world his devotion. But Yongning knew this was just an excuse.

He refused to marry her because his heart still held that wretch! Even dead, he couldn’t forget Xue Fangfei! He showed her tender affection only because she had Prince Cheng as a brother, because she was a princess—he stayed with her for power and wealth!

Princess Yongning understood this, but understanding was useless, because she loved him. The more restrained and proper Shen Yurun was, the more she couldn’t control herself. His hot-and-cold, near-and-far behavior was fatal poison to her. If his heart held Xue Fangfei, she would tear Xue Fangfei from his heart piece by piece until she vanished into ashes.

What you can’t have is always best. The more she couldn’t have Shen Yurun, the more she wanted him. Whether Shen Yurun’s feelings were genuine or false, she would bind him to her side. In this life, he could only look at her, one woman. If she couldn’t have his heart, she would at least have his person. Now it seemed obtaining this man’s heart would take more time, and she had already waited too long, lost her patience. So she couldn’t wait to possess this person.

She wanted Shen Yurun to become her Prince Consort.

“Shen Lang,” Princess Yongning said sweetly, “I’ve already reached marriageable age. Yesterday Mother Consort even spoke to me about finding me a suitable match… Born into the imperial family, marriage isn’t up to me. If not for having you in my heart and constantly maneuvering, I’d probably already be someone else’s wife by now.”

Shen Yurun looked at her gently. Sometimes he was cold to Yongning, sometimes affectionate with her. Yongning was left unsettled and unable to stop, just like this moment.

So her voice softened again, almost melting into a puddle of water. Her body also became soft as water, tightly enveloping Shen Yurun.

“Tell me, if Mother Consort truly marries me off to someone else one day, would you be heartbroken? Would you regret it?”

Shen Yurun said softly: “Naturally heartbroken, and regretful.”

Princess Yongning immediately smiled radiantly: “Then what are you waiting for? As long as I inform Mother Consort, it can be done.”

“But…”

“Are you going to say you need to mourn Xue Fangfei again?” Time after time, Princess Yongning’s patience finally ran out. She still smiled, but her tone carried coldness. Her bright red nails lightly traced across Shen Yurun’s face. “Shen Lang, everyone knows how Xue Fangfei died—because she had an affair with someone, felt ashamed, and died of melancholy. Everyone sympathizes with you. Even if you don’t observe mourning, even if you marry someone else the very next day, no one in the world would speak a word against you.”

“Xue Fangfei is a dead person, but I’m a living one. You want to mourn a dead person—would you watch me slip away? Brother has already met you several times and has the intention to value you highly. If you make me sad over this, Brother will also be angry… I wouldn’t want to create misunderstanding between you two because of me.” Her words were vague and ominous.

This was a blatant threat.

Shen Yurun was currently receiving special favor from Prince Cheng. He hadn’t yet had the chance to display his abilities and become Prince Cheng’s trusted confidant. Prince Cheng would rebel sooner or later, and from the looks of it, with high chances of success. In the ups and downs of worldly affairs, Shen Yurun also wanted to accomplish great things.

Princess Yongning could be his stepping stone or his stumbling block. She could build a bridge between Shen Yurun and Prince Cheng, or she could crush that bridge.

He knew she was capable of it.

Shen Yurun looked at her. Princess Yongning smiled at him lingeringly, murmuring: “Shen Lang, just agree… agree…”

He knew she had always lacked patience. When she first took interest in him and discovered he had a wife, she swiftly removed Xue Fangfei. The patience she’d shown with him was already unprecedented. Perhaps he should feel fortunate that Princess Yongning’s patience with him had lasted this long. Once her patience ran out and she sought someone else, he would lose his chance forever.

The chance to change his fate.

Shen Yurun laughed softly.

His smile contained a trace of strange mockery. The mockery vanished instantly, replaced by deep tenderness. He said: “Alright.”

Princess Yongning’s smile froze as she looked at him: “What did you say?” She had prepared for another rejection, but had also simultaneously decided that this time, she wouldn’t back down another step. Whether through threats, coercion, or forceful seizure, she would become Lady Shen, regardless of whether Shen Yurun was willing.

But he actually said yes.

Princess Yongning jumped up. In an instant, her usually proud and rather harsh face showed childlike genuine joy. She threw her arms around Shen Yurun’s neck, saying happily: “Shen Lang, you agreed! Tomorrow I’ll enter the palace to tell Mother Consort, and have her discuss this with Imperial Brother!”

Shen Yurun indulgently patted her back, embracing her in return. The servants all kept their heads down. With Princess Yongning’s back to him, no one saw the coldness that flashed through Shen Yurun’s eyes.

He knew Princess Yongning’s bottom line, so he had to withdraw at precisely the right moment. Many times, one increment more was too much, one less was insufficient. He needed to have proper measure, not be anxious, so he could slowly, slowly obtain what he wanted.

When leaving the Princess’s mansion, Princess Yongning was very reluctant to part.

She hoped Shen Yurun could stay overnight, but Shen Yurun refused. He said that given his current position, many in court were watching him, wanting to catch him in some mistake. If someone grabbed hold of a weakness, there would be trouble.

Princess Yongning had to give up. Thinking that since Shen Yurun had already agreed, she would soon become his legitimate wife and firmly possess Shen Yurun alone, she felt this brief separation was bearable.

Shen Yurun left the Princess’s mansion, walked down the street, and finally returned to the Shen residence.

The Zhuangyuan Manor was golden and brilliant, as new as when the Emperor first bestowed it. The gatekeeper bowed to him. Shen Yurun walked into the courtyard and stopped at the flower garden.

The gentle smile he had maintained suddenly cracked. Then he bent over as if nauseated by something and began to dry heave violently.

As his head spun and his chest felt heavy, he seemed to see a pair of feet. Following those feet upward, he saw his most familiar bedside companion.

That woman’s appearance was absolutely stunning, devastatingly beautiful. She said nothing, only quietly watched him, just as always, nothing changed. Yet in those cool eyes, Shen Yurun still saw mockery.

Just as he had mockingly looked at Princess Yongning.

He reached out his hand, wanting to touch that blurry shadow, but the shadow shattered.

Madam Shen’s voice rang out: “Yurun, what are you doing?”

Shen Yurun swayed, straightened up, and said softly: “Nothing.” He went back to his room.

Nothing. What’s gained must be lost. He had lost some things. Though it occasionally made him sad, still, he had gained much more.

He had finally changed his fate. He was no longer that poor scholar everyone looked down upon.

A completely different life from before was just beginning.

…

Ten days after Jiang Li left Tongxiang, news of her return to the capital finally reached Jiang Yuanbai.

Not just news of her return, but also widespread rumors throughout the capital that Second Miss Jiang of the Jiang family had caused a huge commotion in Tongxiang, Xiangyang over a convicted criminal’s case, and was even bringing villagers to the capital to file complaints.

This matter caused tremendous waves in the capital. The capital had never seen anything so bizarre. An official family’s young lady, perfectly fine, just returning home to visit relatives—how did she get involved in a convicted criminal’s case? A convicted criminal’s case was one thing, but bringing villagers to the capital—did she want to be an upright magistrate and enter court as an official?

Court colleagues looked at Jiang Yuanbai with strange expressions. Some from Prince Cheng’s faction who were at odds with Jiang Yuanbai deliberately said to him: “Truly the tiger father has no dog daughter! Your esteemed daughter has your distinguished bearing—seeing injustice and drawing her sword to help, this is a righteous deed, a righteous deed indeed!”

In noble ladies’ circles, they thought Jiang Li was meddling in others’ affairs. Doing so much was just to show off and attract attention. Making such a fuss, constantly appearing in public—she’d completely disgraced official family young ladies, doing nothing but outrageous things. Good thing she wasn’t their own sister, or she’d drag down their reputations too.

Among common folk, curiosity about Jiang Li’s deeds grew even stronger. Jiang Li had already gained widespread fame among the people after her brilliant performance at the examination grounds. Now involved in some convicted criminal’s case—no matter how you looked at it, this was good theater. Common people couldn’t wait to see what Jiang Li would do. It had almost become an entertainment event in the capital. Everyone eagerly awaited the day Jiang Li would return to the capital to see what surprises she would bring.

Regardless of how others viewed it, Jiang Yuanbai was quite annoyed. Jiang Li and Ye Mingxuan had gone home to visit Old Madam Ye—how did they stir up such huge trouble? He didn’t attribute this to Jiang Li, since Jiang Li and Xue Huaiyuan didn’t even know each other, so naturally there was no reason for her to interfere in this case. Jiang Yuanbai suspected this was the Ye family’s idea, most likely the Ye family borrowing Jiang Li’s hand to interfere in this case.

Setting aside the Ye family’s Guxiang silk matter, the Bureau of Weaving Director later subtly mentioned this to him, and only then did Jiang Yuanbai learn that Jiang Li had used his name to make the Director handle matters. That was one thing—the Ye family had a marriage connection with him after all. With Jiang Li helping the Ye family out of trouble in Xiangyang, it didn’t harm the Jiang family’s reputation. Even if she offended a few people, as a dignified First Minister, he wasn’t afraid of anyone over such matters.

But the Xue family case was different. Never mind that Jiang Li hadn’t even returned yet and had already caused citywide uproar—if Xue Huaiyuan was an upright official who could still be harmed to such an extent, and Feng Yutang dared to act so tyrannically in Tongxiang, he naturally had backing. Jiang Yuanbai had already heard rumors that behind the Xue Huaiyuan case, there was involvement from a noble personage in the capital.

Who exactly this noble personage was, Jiang Yuanbai didn’t know. In the past, he might not have been concerned, but now with Prince Cheng and the Right Minister eyeing the Jiang family like tigers watching prey, once they caught the Jiang family in any mistake, his opponents would certainly kick them when they were down. Jiang Yuanbai’s current strategy was to “seek stability,” so he didn’t want to create any incidents.

As soon as Jiang Li returned to the capital, he would confine her to the mansion and make her reflect properly, so she would know that as a member of the Jiang family, she couldn’t disregard the family’s reputation and act recklessly. This would also separate her from Tongxiang and the case, and send those people away.

In Shuxiu Garden.

Jiang Youyao stepped into the room without even closing the door, immediately demanding: “Mother, have you heard? That little wretch Jiang Li is coming back!”

During Jiang Li’s absence, Jiang Yu’e had become a concubine and been carried into Zhou Yanbang’s mansion. Jiang Yu’e left very hastily—perhaps fearing that staying in the Jiang mansion would allow Jiang Youyao to make things difficult for her. Shortly after Jiang Li left, she moved into the Zhou mansion.

Shen Ruyun wouldn’t marry into the Zhou family until spring this year.

Of the young ladies in the entire Jiang mansion, only Jiang Youyao and Jiang Yuyan remained. Jiang Yuyan had a timid, cowardly nature. With Jiang Yu’e gone, she almost never wanted to leave the third branch’s courtyard. But even if she weren’t so cowardly, Jiang Youyao wouldn’t deign to associate with a concubine-born daughter.

These past days, Jiang Youyao had gradually calmed down. She thought very clearly—whether or not she could marry Zhou Yanbang, there were two people she absolutely couldn’t let go. One was Jiang Yu’e, the other was Jiang Li. Jiang Yu’e actually dared to covet her fiancé—this was a provocation! And Jiang Yu’e succeeded because Jiang Li helped fan the flames—they were in cahoots!

As for Shen Ruyun, before marrying into the Zhou family, she didn’t count as Lady Zhou. In that case, who could predict what might happen midway? Who said she had absolutely no chance?

After the Zhou Yanbang incident, Jiang Youyao seemed to have grown up considerably, becoming more malicious and calculating. Sometimes sitting to the side, her expression carried traces of Ji Shuran’s shadow.

Ji Shuran frowned, having a maid close the door, then reproached: “Why are you shouting? Be careful your father hears and is displeased.”

Though Jiang Yuanbai wasn’t particularly warm toward Jiang Li, she was still his own daughter. If Jiang Yuanbai saw Jiang Youyao behaving so improperly, he would naturally be displeased.

“But she’s coming back!” Jiang Youyao stamped her foot. “Mother, have you figured out how to deal with her?”

Ji Shuran felt a headache coming on.

When news of Jiang Li’s imminent return to the capital reached her ears, she couldn’t hide her shock. The assassins she sent out were all first-rate experts. This matter was arranged by her elder sister, Chen Ji Shi. The guards following Jiang Li shouldn’t have been a match for those people.

She had been anxiously waiting in the capital for news, but no reply came. Ji Shuran had already felt uneasy, until Jiang Yuanbai received that letter.

She gritted her teeth. It seemed Jiang Li had escaped disaster. Otherwise, after so much time, those people couldn’t have failed to succeed. She actually had such ability!

Jiang Youyao didn’t know about her secret arrangements and only said impatiently: “Mother, what should we do now? It’s her fault I’ve become a laughingstock in the capital, that I lost Young Master Zhou. I absolutely won’t let her off!”

“I know,” Ji Shuran sighed. “I’ll find a way to resolve this matter. Don’t worry. Even before returning to the capital, she’s already caused so much trouble. Your father is already very displeased. Your grandmother won’t stand on her side this time either. If she truly offends someone she shouldn’t, I won’t need to act—she’ll have brought about her own destruction. The future is long. I’m still the first branch’s madam after all. There will be plenty of opportunities to act against her.” She looked at Jiang Youyao, her expression becoming somewhat more serious. “As for you, Youyao—Young Master Zhou is in the past. In the future, Mother will find you a better husband. Don’t keep thinking about him. You wanting to marry into the Zhou family again now—it’s impossible.”

Jiang Youyao’s eyes immediately reddened. After a pause, she said: “I know, Mother. I won’t.”

Ji Shuran had a maid bring a handkerchief. While wiping Jiang Youyao’s tears, she said: “Mother doesn’t want to make you sad. You’re Mother’s daughter—naturally Mother hopes you’ll live well and not suffer grievances. Since the Zhou family has decided to let Shen Ruyun enter their doors, even considering Junior Minister Shen’s position, they won’t let you have further contact with Young Master Zhou. Of course, I don’t think much of a family like the Zhou family anyway.”

“There are countless men in the world, not just Zhou Yanbang. You deserve better. No one can compare to you,” Ji Shuran said gently.

Jiang Youyao buried her face in Ji Shuran’s embrace. The hand hidden in her sleeve gradually clenched into a fist.

Still unwilling to accept it.

…

News of Jiang Li spread everywhere. Having reached the Jiang family, it naturally also reached the Zhou family.

Jiang Yu’e was washing clothes in the courtyard.

Her long hair was styled in a married woman’s coiffure, and her garments were splashed with water droplets. She was dressed even worse than when she lived in the Jiang family’s third branch. Several maids just stood to the side chatting as if they couldn’t see Jiang Yu’e working hard at washing clothes.

Jiang Yu’e’s heart was filled with humiliation.

She had never lived like a servant before. Even in the Jiang family where she needed to curry favor with Ji Shuran and her daughter, nominally at least, she was a young lady of the Jiang family, and they hadn’t mistreated her.

But since entering the Zhou mansion, what awaited her wasn’t Zhou Yanbang’s tender affection. On their wedding night, he only glanced at her once before leaving. Since then, he had never come to her courtyard again. She had entered the Zhou family as a concubine, and the Zhou household servants didn’t treat her as their mistress. Mocking her behind her back was commonplace. Now they had become so bold they didn’t even put her in their eyes to her face.

Jiang Yu’e wanted to find someone to reason with, but she didn’t know who to look for. She couldn’t even leave the Zhou family’s main gate. Behind her back, the Zhou family said she “climbed into bed while the young master was drunk.”

Jiang Yu’e hated Zhou Yanbang, hated Jiang Youyao, and hated Jiang Li even more. If not for Jiang Li’s interference back then, how would she have come to this?

She almost wanted to vent all her anger on the washing paddle. As she washed, a pair of boots suddenly stopped before her.

Jiang Yu’e froze, slowly raising her head.

Zhou Yanbang’s handsome face appeared before her eyes. Jiang Yu’e couldn’t believe her eyes.

After so many days, Zhou Yanbang had never met with her once. Jiang Yu’e gradually understood that she had thought Zhou Yanbang at least had a tiny bit of affection for her. Now it seemed there was none at all. He hated her for ruining his career path, for making him lose face at the palace banquet, for ending his betrothal to the Jiang family.

He blamed everything on her. He was punishing her.

Jiang Yu’e said tremulously: “Young Master…”

Zhou Yanbang looked at her coldly. His former refined elegance had completely vanished. After the palace banquet, he seemed like a different person, gloomy and brooding, no one knew what he was thinking. He glanced at what Jiang Yu’e was doing and said: “I heard Jiang Li is returning to the capital.”

Jiang Yu’e was startled. She had also heard about Jiang Li leaving the capital, supposedly to visit the Ye family in Xiangyang. How ridiculous—just merchants, what was there to visit? After over a decade of no contact, such a hypocritical display.

“Jiang Yu’e, do you want to be my person?” Zhou Yanbang looked down at her from above, his tone utterly frivolous.

But Jiang Yu’e didn’t feel insulted. Instead, a surge of joy welled up from her heart.

“When Jiang Li returns to the capital, you’ll help me lure Jiang Li out,” he said.