After the lively palace banquet, the Empress Dowager proposed going to admire the lotus flowers by the pond outside Yuming Hall.

The palace pond had been dug by craftsmen in imitation of Yanjing City’s Yongning River, making it exceptionally spacious. In summer, the ten-mile lotus pond stretched in sheets of emerald green, and under the bright moon with twinkling starlight, it was truly beautiful.

The consecutive days of oppressive heat were swept away entirely, leaving one refreshed and invigorated.

Admiring flowers after the banquet seemed to be a customary preference among the nobility.

Jiang Li also followed the Jiang family members to the area around the lotus pond. Ji Shuran and Jiang Youyao stayed close by her side without leaving for a moment. Jiang Li knew very well that this was certainly not because Ji Shuran wanted to show affection toward her stepdaughter, but she didn’t particularly care about such matters.

On the water corridor, the ladies and young misses took their seats as they came to them. There were melons, fruits, and refreshments already arranged on the tables. As Jiang Li was following along toward that direction, she suddenly felt something being pressed into her palm. Looking back, she saw an unfamiliar palace maid brushing past her.

She gripped the thing in her hand tightly. From what she could vaguely make out, it seemed to be a slip of paper. She couldn’t help glancing at Ji Shuran and Jiang Youyao, thinking this must be Ji Shuran’s arrangement. But seeing that Ji Shuran showed no unusual behavior, as if she hadn’t noticed this at all, Jiang Li felt somewhat puzzled.

When she finally reached the lakeside pavilion, Jiang Li deliberately lagged behind. Taking advantage of Ji Shuran and Jiang Youyao’s absence, she secretly opened her palm. Sure enough, it was a note. By the dim lantern light, she could make out a line of small characters.

“Meet at Yuxiu Pavilion at the rear garden’s east gate.” The signature read: Zhou Yanbang.

Jiang Li was stunned. Ji Shuran was already calling for her, so she immediately crumpled the note into a ball. She had wanted to throw it into the lake, but suddenly thinking of something, she hid it back in her sleeve instead.

Just as she reached Ji Shuran’s side, Ji Shuran smiled and said, “Li’er walked a bit slowly.”

Jiang Li responded with a smile, but in her heart she was furious to the point of laughing at Zhou Yanbang’s note. Zhou Yanbang should not be someone arranged by Ji Shuran. Given how much Jiang Youyao valued Zhou Yanbang, she would never let anything involving Zhou Yanbang become entangled with him in any way. Zhou Yanbang must have acted on his own initiative.

Jiang Li never expected that Zhou Yanbang would also insert himself into this matter. She didn’t know where this heir to Marquis Ningyuan got such confidence that she would actually go to the rendezvous just because of a slip of paper. Perhaps Zhou Yanbang believed that Second Miss Jiang still harbored feelings for him? But Jiang Li carefully recalled all the few times she had encountered Zhou Yanbang since returning to Yanjing City, and she hadn’t shown the slightest bit of interest in Zhou Yanbang during any of them.

Presumably, a narcissistic person could always find evidence that the other party admired them, no matter how coldly they were treated.

Jiang Li calculated in her heart that today things between her and Ye Shijie wouldn’t go as Ji Shuran wished. But merely that seemed to let Ji Shuran off too easily.

Since arriving at the Jiang family, Jiang Li had always viewed every member of the Jiang household from an outsider’s perspective. She sympathized with the real Second Miss Jiang, but before avenging her own family’s blood debt, she didn’t wish to become too entangled in the Jiang family’s conflicts, lest unexpected complications arise.

Therefore, adhering to the principle of “I won’t offend others unless they offend me first,” when Ji Shuran tried to harm her, she would strike back. Jiang Li considered this not excessive. But this time, Ji Shuran had truly enraged Jiang Li.

Ji Shuran’s methods were truly too despicable, reminding her of her own past. With scenes from the past replaying, old hatred combined with new grievances made Jiang Li extremely willing to take revenge at this moment.

People say that true revenge is snatching away what someone treasures most in their heart and tearing it to pieces in humiliation. What Ji Shuran treasured most were Jiang Youyao and Jiang Bingji. Jiang Bingji was too young and had nothing to lose. But Jiang Youyao was different.

What Jiang Youyao was most obsessed with now was none other than Zhou Yanbang, the heir to Marquis Ningyuan. Mother and daughter Ji Shuran and Jiang Youyao had schemed in every way to snatch this marriage alliance from Second Miss Jiang’s hands, and were constantly on guard lest Second Miss Jiang snatch this marriage alliance back. Right now, Jiang Youyao even hated Jiang Li because of Zhou Yanbang. Zhou Yanbang was Jiang Youyao’s weakness.

Jiang Li’s fingers caressed the short note in her sleeve, and suddenly she smiled.

Since Zhou Yanbang wanted to wade into these murky waters himself, he couldn’t blame her for redirecting this trouble elsewhere. Jiang Youyao was constantly on guard against her, but didn’t realize that Zhou Yanbang was a handsome man in Yanjing City, and she wasn’t the only woman who wanted to marry Zhou Yanbang. For instance, her former sister-in-law Shen Ruyun, or for another instance, Jiang Yu’e from the Jiang family’s third branch, born of a concubine.

If Jiang Yu’e had an opportunity to marry into Marquis Ningyuan’s mansion, how would she choose? On one side were the cousins she warmly addressed every day, on the other was a good match that might never come again in her lifetime. Jiang Li very much looked forward to seeing Jiang Yu’e’s choice.

Ji Shuran kept glancing up at Jiang Li. As time slowly passed, Jiang Li raised her hand to support her forehead and said softly, “Mother, I feel a bit dizzy…”

So quickly? Ji Shuran was puzzled. She thought the drug’s effects would take a while longer to gradually manifest. Now that Jiang Li said this, she had no choice but to respond. She was also afraid that staying longer would allow others to notice something suspicious. To avoid any incidents, she could only let Jiang Li leave early.

Ji Shuran said to a palace maid who had been standing beside her, “First help Second Miss back to her room to rest properly. I’ll come get her later.”

Jiang Youyao asked tentatively, “Second Sister?”

Jiang Li frowned slightly and waved her hand, but accidentally knocked over a cup beside her. The full cup of tea spilled entirely onto Jiang Yu’e’s skirt.

Jiang Yu’e cried out “Ah!” in alarm and quickly stood up.

Jiang Li’s eyes widened slightly. She seemed to clear up a bit and hurriedly said, “I’m sorry, Fifth Sister. I didn’t mean to get it on your clothes.” She looked at the stain on Jiang Yu’e’s clothes with an apologetic expression. “What should we do now? Why don’t you come with me to change clothes? I can rest at the same time.”

“There’s no need…” Ji Shuran was about to stop her.

“Mother, this is a palace banquet. It’s ultimately unseemly for Fifth Sister to wear soiled clothing. The palace should have some emergency clothes, or if not, Noble Consort Li’s place should certainly have some. Fifth Sister should change after all.”

Jiang Yu’e was indeed somewhat annoyed. This outfit was her first time wearing it today. Since it was fabric that Old Madam had someone tailor, when would she normally have the opportunity to wear such fine clothing? Now it had all been ruined by Jiang Li. Suddenly hearing Jiang Li mention Noble Consort Li, her heart stirred. If Noble Consort Li found clothes for her, they would at minimum be palace fabrics, and might even be better than what Old Madam had given her. She immediately stood up and smiled, “Eldest Aunt, it’s no matter. I’ll go together with Second Sister. Second Sister is right—wearing soiled clothing might make others say our Jiang family is disrespectful to His Majesty. I can also look after Second Sister along the way.”

Ji Shuran’s palms grew slightly damp. Jiang Yu’e didn’t know about her plan, and Ji Shuran really didn’t want Jiang Yu’e to ruin things. But thinking it over, she felt relieved. When they got halfway there, she could have someone lead Jiang Yu’e away, and Jiang Li would still proceed according to the original plan. Moreover, since Jiang Li’s drug effects were taking hold so quickly and she was leaving early, there would be ample time to make arrangements. Ji Shuran exchanged a glance with the palace maid beside her and said, “In that case, you two go ahead first.”

Yang Shi said nothing. Although Jiang Yu’e was her daughter, Jiang Yu’e constantly curried favor with the main branch and was closer to Ji Shuran, her eldest aunt, than to her own mother. Yang Shi had long grown accustomed to this.

Jiang Yu’e then left together with Jiang Li, following this unfamiliar palace maid.

Not far from the lakeside pavilion, at the edge of the water corridor, there were many empty teahouses prepared for palace nobles who temporarily needed to rest or change clothes if they had a headache or fever. They were usually deserted and very quiet.

Jiang Li walked along with Jiang Yu’e. Perhaps because she had drunk too much wine at the palace banquet, Jiang Yu’e also felt her head growing foggy as she walked. As they walked, Jiang Li began discussing Jiang Youyao’s marriage with her.

“…Today I heard Mother mention Third Sister and Young Master Zhou’s marriage again. Third Sister seemed very happy. I saw that Madam of Marquis Ningyuan was also quite satisfied with Third Sister.”

“…Speaking of which, Third Sister’s marriage alliance is truly not bad. Young Master Zhou is considered one in a hundred in Yanjing City. It’s just that Young Master Zhou and I had no fate. In the future, I’ll probably have to seek another family.”

“…Fifth Sister will soon come of age as well. I heard Father’s servant mention that Third Uncle is also asking Father to look for suitable families for Fifth Sister. I wonder which household Fifth Sister will eventually enter.”

Jiang Li suddenly brought up these topics, and Jiang Yu’e suspected Jiang Li was retaliating against her. Last time when she told Jiang Li the news about Jiang Youyao and Zhou Yanbang’s betrothal, Jiang Li must have been heartbroken. But now Jiang Li was stabbing at her own heart, bringing up her own marriage prospects. Jiang Yu’e couldn’t help feeling somewhat resentful.

Jiang Yu’e said, “Second Sister is quite concerned about my marriage prospects. But I’m still young, even younger than Second Sister. As Second Sister said, my father can’t compare to Eldest Uncle. If he’s really looking for someone, naturally it can’t compare to what Second Sister and Third Sister can get.” When she said this, Jiang Yu’e carried a bit of sullenness. Normally she certainly wouldn’t say such things, but perhaps being somewhat drunk today, she spoke much more boldly.

Jiang Li glanced at her. That glance seemed to contain a trace of pity. “Speaking of which, why can’t people choose their own birth? In my view, Fifth Sister, compared to Third Sister, your appearance isn’t inferior, your talent and learning aren’t lacking either. You only lose in terms of birth. If you were a daughter of the main branch, you and Young Master Zhou would be very well-matched.”

Rather than making things better, this made them worse. When Jiang Yu’e thought about all the injustices between herself and Jiang Youyao in the Jiang household, she immediately felt indignant. Her heart turned sour, and for a moment she didn’t respond to Jiang Li’s words.

Jiang Li continued talking to herself. “What a pity. With Fifth Sister’s appearance and talent, in the future you’ll probably only be matched with some unknown man. Forget about comparing to Young Master Zhou—you might not even compare favorably to ordinary official families’ sons. Yes, indeed. Being a proper wife to ordinary people might not even be as good as being Young Master Zhou’s concubine. Such a pity.” She stopped herself mid-sentence, shook her head, and sighed. “When comparing people to people, some can’t measure up. It’s all fate.”

Jiang Yu’e felt even worse. What she hated most in her life was being compared unfavorably to others. Yet in the Jiang household, it seemed anyone could step on her. Hating this in her heart yet unwilling to lose in words, Jiang Yu’e said, “I naturally have this fate and can’t compare to Third Sister. But Second Sister is broad-minded too. Young Master Zhou originally could have formed a union with Second Sister, but now he’s become Second Sister’s brother-in-law, yet Second Sister can still face this calmly. No wonder they say people who stay in temples for a while all become pure-hearted and passionless.”

Jiang Yu’e thought that Jiang Li’s carefree appearance must be feigned without doubt. If it were her, she absolutely wouldn’t feel so relaxed inside. But whenever Jiang Yu’e wanted to stab at Jiang Li’s heart, she always returned empty-handed. Jiang Li simply never seemed to get angry.

Sure enough, this time after hearing Jiang Yu’e’s provocative words, Jiang Li only smiled faintly and said, “Whether I’m willing or unwilling, what does it matter? Things are already this way. Besides, I’ll have opportunities in the future too. Though not comparable to Young Master Zhou, there will still be choices available. But Fifth Sister…” She looked at Jiang Yu’e meaningfully without continuing.

Jiang Yu’e knew what Jiang Li’s unfinished words meant. The people Jiang Yu’e could choose from would never be as many as what Jiang Li had.

Perhaps with urgent anger combined with resentment in her heart, Jiang Yu’e also felt her heart growing hot and her head dizzy. For a moment she didn’t know what to say.

While talking, Jiang Li used her peripheral vision to observe the leading palace maid’s expression. Seeing that maid listen to her conversation with Jiang Yu’e without being moved in the slightest, Jiang Li became even more alert.

After walking for a stretch, another palace maid suddenly approached from ahead. She smiled only at Jiang Yu’e, “Noble Consort Li has this servant lead Fifth Miss Jiang to the side room to select clothes first.” Then she smiled at Jiang Li, “Second Miss Jiang, please go rest in the front room first. After Fifth Miss Jiang selects her clothes, this servant will escort the miss back.”

Jiang Li sneered inwardly. Ji Shuran’s people really couldn’t wait to send Jiang Yu’e away. Playing the act completely, she smiled slightly, pressed her forehead, and said to Jiang Yu’e, “In that case, Fifth Sister, go ahead. My head aches terribly. I’ll go rest first and wait for you in the room.”

Jiang Yu’e had suffered a bellyful of anger from Jiang Li along the way, so naturally she wouldn’t object. Moreover, being able to select clothes prepared by Noble Consort Li for her made Jiang Yu’e feel somewhat excited. Jiang Yu’e agreed. She only saw Jiang Li turn around with the original leading palace maid and continue walking forward.

But just at the moment of turning around, something suddenly fell from Jiang Li’s sleeve.

Jiang Yu’e was close by and instinctively bent down to pick it up. It was a slip of paper. Jiang Yu’e was about to call for Jiang Li to stop when, in that instant, by the lantern light hanging on the corridor, she clearly saw the characters on the note.

Jiang Yu’e’s voice suddenly caught in her throat.

She stood up clutching the note, watching Jiang Li’s receding figure. Her heart beat rapidly.

On that note was actually Zhou Yanbang arranging a private meeting with Jiang Li, and it seemed to be tonight. Jiang Yu’e’s first reaction was to take this note to Ji Shuran and let Jiang Li’s scandal be exposed before everyone. With this thought, even her dizziness improved somewhat.

Jiang Yu’e hid the note in her sleeve. Jiang Li and the palace maid’s figures had already turned past the corridor and could no longer be seen. Only then did Jiang Yu’e turn around to look at the palace maid who was watching her and about to lead her to select clothes. She smiled, “My Second Sister is really careless. She doesn’t even know when she drops things. I’ll just have to find a way to return it to her later. Let’s go.”

Jiang Yu’e also followed the palace maid who had appeared halfway and turned to walk in another direction.

On the other side, Jiang Li, who was walking toward the tearoom following the palace maid, subtly curved up the corners of her mouth.

The moment she dropped that note and heard no sound from behind, she knew Jiang Yu’e had taken the bait.

In that environment, when Jiang Li dropped the note, Jiang Yu’e couldn’t possibly have missed seeing it. Yet Jiang Yu’e didn’t call out to stop her, so she must have seen clearly the writing on the note.

What Jiang Yu’e wanted to do was nothing more than go find Ji Shuran to claim credit. But even giving this note to Ji Shuran couldn’t prove anything, because Jiang Li ultimately didn’t go to the rendezvous. However, if Jiang Yu’e had taken to heart the words Jiang Li said all along the way, she would make a different choice.

With Jiang Yu’e’s competitive nature and unwillingness to be beneath others, she was easily blinded by immediate benefits. What Jiang Li had said—”being Zhou Yanbang’s concubine would be better than being an ordinary person’s wife”—any woman with brains and dignity wouldn’t agree with it. But Jiang Yu’e might not be the same.

Right now, she just needed to deal with this side of things.

Jiang Li followed the leading palace maid around another corner and finally reached the tearoom at the end of the corridor. The palace maid smiled, “Second Miss Jiang, please go inside to rest. There’s tea and refreshments inside. This servant will go get some copper ice to help with the heat.”

Jiang Li said, “Go ahead.”

The palace maid left. Jiang Li sat down quietly. After a moment, she stood up and walked to the burning incense in the room. With a curve of her lips, she easily snapped that incense stick in two.

Perhaps because she had experienced such a thing once before, at this moment Jiang Li’s heart was surprisingly calm. Her hand touched the small curved knife in her sleeve—that was what Jiang Jingrui had given her before when he heard she was going to study at Mingyi Hall. Right now that curved knife was hidden in Jiang Li’s sleeve. No one in the palace would think that Jiang Yuanbai’s daughter would bring such a sharp weapon into the palace. Otherwise, even with a mouth, Jiang Li couldn’t explain it clearly.

She wasn’t in a hurry either. She sat back down at the small table, supporting her face with one hand, looking as if she were dozing. Her other hand lightly tapped the table surface, causing the oil lamp before her to drop lamp flowers that flickered brilliantly.

The palace maid outside wouldn’t leave yet. Jiang Li pondered in her heart that they would at least wait until Ye Shijie also entered. She just didn’t know to what extent Ye Shijie’s consciousness was unclear. However, if Ye Shijie truly was severely disoriented, Jiang Li didn’t mind using the price of bloodshed to wake him up. She gently stroked the curved knife in her sleeve again.

Not knowing how much time had passed, she only saw that the lamp oil in the oil lamp had decreased by a small half when suddenly voices came from outside. After a while, the door creaked open and someone entered from outside.

Jiang Li still supported her chin, feigning sleep.

“Young Master Ye, you rest here for a moment. This servant will go add some more tea and refreshments.” A woman’s voice said this.

Jiang Li didn’t move. The door was gently closed again, and stumbling, staggering footsteps suddenly came.

Jiang Li’s heart tightened. She felt the overwhelming smell of alcohol suddenly surround her nostrils. She endured again and again, not knowing whether the palace maid was still outside. She only felt someone pushing and jostling her.

At that moment, memories from her past life suddenly flooded into her mind.

Although Xue Fangfei at that time didn’t remember anything and only remembered getting drunk on wine, after waking to face countless people’s contemptuous gazes and accusations, she had replayed in her mind again and again what might have happened. The more she thought about it, the more disgusted she felt, the more terrifying it became.

Although it was later proven to be only a conspiracy, her weak, powerless self who was left to be slaughtered at will—she could never forgive that.

Jiang Li suddenly drew out the curved knife from her sleeve and precisely held it against the other person. Her voice was cool, restrained yet containing a barely controllable violence as she said, “Ye Shijie.”

The other person’s breathing suddenly became calm.

She opened her eyes to see her knife tip pressed against Ye Shijie’s throat. His face was flushed red, reeking of alcohol. He looked like a drunkard without doubt, yet he was looking at her with a startled expression.

Jiang Li frowned slightly.

Ye Shijie wasn’t drunk. He was clear-headed.

…

Jiang Yu’e had been led by the guiding palace maid to wait in another side room to change clothes.

She was actually somewhat impatient to bring the note from her sleeve before Ji Shuran to show her, so she didn’t even have the patience to wait for whoever was bringing the clothes. When her heart grew irritable, she couldn’t help but carefully read again the note that had fallen from Jiang Li.

Jiang Yu’e thought to herself that she never expected Jiang Li, who said on the surface that she no longer cared about Zhou Yanbang, was unexpectedly still having secret entanglements with Zhou Yanbang. Speaking of which, if this matter were truly exposed, Jiang Li was also Jiang Yuanbai’s daughter. Both the palm and back of the hand were flesh—he couldn’t afford to offend either legitimate daughter of the Zhou family. She wondered whom Zhou Yanbang would ultimately marry.

He should still marry Jiang Youyao, after all, Jiang Youyao was the one currently betrothed to Zhou Yanbang.

Zhou Yanbang would ultimately form a marriage alliance with someone from the Jiang family’s main branch.

For some reason, what Jiang Li had said earlier suddenly surfaced again in Jiang Yu’e’s heart.

“With Fifth Sister’s appearance and talent, in the future you’ll probably only be matched with some unknown man. Forget about comparing to Young Master Zhou—you might not even compare favorably to ordinary official families’ sons. Yes, indeed. Being a proper wife to ordinary people might not even be as good as being Young Master Zhou’s concubine.”

Jiang Yu’e thought resentfully, why wasn’t she the one Zhou Yanbang was meeting? Clearly she was no worse than Jiang Li and Jiang Youyao. Was it just because of her birth that she didn’t even have the qualification to catch Zhou Yanbang’s eye?

Thinking about how Jiang Li and Jiang Youyao were entangled with someone like Zhou Yanbang, the heir to Marquis Ningyuan, while her own future husband might not even measure up to one of Zhou Yanbang’s toes, Jiang Yu’e suddenly felt listless, as if she couldn’t muster interest in anything. Even her thought of seeing Jiang Li embarrassed had faded.

Her forehead occasionally felt dizzy. Jiang Yu’e’s heart gradually grew heated. Suddenly, a bold idea flashed through her mind.

What if she were the one meeting Zhou Yanbang today?

What if she used Jiang Li’s name, used this note to be with Zhou Yanbang? Would Zhou Yanbang pity her and develop even a trace of affection for her, and thus find a way to bring her into Marquis Ningyuan’s mansion as well?

Jiang Yu’e wasn’t daydreaming about immediately becoming Zhou Yanbang’s wife. She knew that with her status, she absolutely couldn’t become Zhou Yanbang’s legitimate wife. But being a concubine, being a valued concubine—wouldn’t that be quite good? Jiang Li had said one thing correctly: being an ordinary commoner’s legitimate wife wasn’t as good as being Zhou Yanbang’s concubine. At least Zhou Yanbang was a talented youth praised by everyone in Yanjing City, from a large and prosperous family, and handsome beyond compare. Marrying him really wouldn’t be a loss.

The more she thought about it, the more feasible it seemed. Jiang Yu’e looked at the note in her palm and suddenly clutched it tightly.

She had made up her mind.

Just at this moment, the palace maid bringing clothes returned, carrying the garments. Seeing this, Jiang Yu’e quickly stood up.

She couldn’t wait to change into clean clothes and go to Zhou Yanbang’s rendezvous. Her eager manner made even the palace maid somewhat puzzled. Jiang Yu’e wanted to get rid of others, so she smiled, “I suddenly need to use the privy. I’ll go after changing clothes. Sister, you don’t need to stay here with me. Just point me in the right direction.”

That palace maid was probably just someone Ji Shuran had called to deliver a message. After completing her task, she had nothing else to do, so she didn’t doubt Jiang Yu’e’s words. She pointed Jiang Yu’e in a direction, “It’s not far. Miss, just keep walking straight ahead. When you reach the end, turn right and you’ll see it.”

Jiang Yu’e changed her clothes and pushed open the door to walk out. She first walked in the direction of the privy. After walking to the end and turning right, she looked back to see no one following her. She immediately turned around and walked in another direction.

Exactly toward what Zhou Yanbang’s note mentioned: Yuxiu Pavilion at the rear garden’s east gate.

Jiang Yu’e walked very quickly. In the end, she actually began running.

As she ran, the refreshing night breeze blew against her face, cold and comfortable. Yet it didn’t extinguish the flames in Jiang Yu’e’s heart in the slightest. Instead, her heart grew hotter and hotter.

She had already thought it through. Upon seeing Zhou Yanbang, she would tell him of her admiration, speak of her suffering in the Jiang household. She would shed a tear or two at that moment. Men couldn’t help but feel proud when beautiful women admired them. Even those who claimed to be gentlemen couldn’t bear to blame a young lady’s heartfelt affection. Moreover, men all liked to pity the weak. Since she was delicately pitiful, once she shed tears, even if Zhou Yanbang hadn’t paid attention to her before, he would inevitably soften his heart.

As long as she gained Zhou Yanbang’s favor, as long as she could establish a relationship with Zhou Yanbang… Jiang Yu’e bit her lip. She could escape the fate of marrying some commoner with no status whatsoever in the future!

Recalling Jiang Li’s words from earlier at this moment, the mockery and subtle contempt in those words made the fire burn even more fiercely in Jiang Yu’e’s heart.

So what about the Jiang family’s main branch? Between Jiang Li and Jiang Youyao, only one could marry Zhou Yanbang. Whether it was Jiang Li or Jiang Youyao, there would definitely be one loser.

If she could enter Marquis Ningyuan’s mansion, one of them—one of the main branch’s legitimate daughters—would have lost to her. Entering as a concubine and having to look at the legitimate wife’s expressions didn’t matter. Jiang Yu’e thought that Jiang Li habitually pretended to be noble and aloof, while Jiang Youyao had been indulged by Ji Shuran to the point of being impossibly spoiled. They naturally wouldn’t know how to please men.

But Jiang Yu’e was confident she could capture Zhou Yanbang’s heart.

While her mind wandered with these thoughts, she had already entered the east garden’s Yuxiu Pavilion.

The pavilion over the water was pitch dark at this moment. Not even a single lamp was lit inside, showing that no one usually came here. Zhou Yanbang really knew how to pick a place. Or perhaps this location was one he had spotted long ago, just waiting for today to have a secret meeting with Jiang Li here.

Jiang Yu’e smiled softly and lifted her foot to walk inside.

Her heart grew even more fervent. She didn’t know if it was because of her mood, but Jiang Yu’e even felt fine sweat beginning to seep from her forehead. Even her breathing became somewhat stagnant. She wanted to find something cold to press against herself to relieve this heat.

She stopped for a moment, let out a long breath, and halted before Yuxiu Pavilion.

As long as she entered this door, she could transform from sparrow to phoenix, escape a potentially mediocre life in the future. This was a prospect she had fought for herself, unrelated to the third branch.

Jiang Yu’e opened the door and stepped inside.