Afterwards, everything was decided as thus: in three days, all of the young ladies of the Jiang fu would go onto Ling Long Boat. Everyone was well aware of what the Old Jiang Madame had in mind when she decided upon this. Jiang Su Su’s expression remained the same, however, she was unable to conceal the slightest trace of excitement in the depth of her eyes as she must have believed that this would once again be her chance to propel herself greatly into the limelight. Meanwhile, contrary to what one might expect, Jiang Li had been given a way out by Jiang Quan and had her confinement removed. Moreover, when one saw her at Gui Lan Yuan, it seemed that she too had begun to curb her own arrogance and exercise much more restraint.
Once Second Yiniang caught wind of this chance, she was naturally thrilled. Ill at ease, Jiang Dan stood on the same spot and on her face was an expression filled with timidity, so much so that she had no concerted idea of how she should have comported herself and her hands were frozen. Jiang Ruan could not help but glance at her a few more times. Due to her being in a state of feeling incomparably inferior in her past life, she did not particularly go out of her way to be mindful and take note of Jiang Dan. Now that she observed her, this youngest sister of hers in the Jiang fu was just overly timid.
The Old Jiang Madame then spoke of some things that they would have to take note of and then waved her hand in dismissal as she permitted everyone to leave. Before leaving, Xia Yan especially stopped Jiang Ruan, “Ruan niang, I have selected a few yatou on your behalf. Later, I will send them to your courtyard, and you can first have a look at these yatou and see if they would be useful. If you feel that they are unsuited for your needs, we can switch with some others instead.”
Jiang Ruan slightly smiled in thanks and did not seem the slightest bit angry. Xia Yan’s smile became increasingly abstruse and after the two people replied courteously to one another, they then parted ways.
After waiting for a while for Xia Yan and Jiang Su Su to walk further away, Lu Zhu then commented, “Furen seems a little too anxious, as if she would not feel at ease with herself if she did not cause another to be disgraced.”
“If outsiders were to look upon this scene, they would all assume that it was done for me, this daughter’s benefit, and she would be beyond reproach,” Jiang Ruan did not take it to heart.
Lu Zhu had stayed with Lian Qiao for a long while now, so she no longer glossed over her words. As if she needed to make a clean breast of things, she spoke up, “Who are these words of her trying to deceive, even nubi, this servant, can tell their train of thought. Here in this fu, who is not well aware of it. Although the Old Madame also does not say anything, still after being in this fu for such a long time, her temperament would be neither naive nor still.
With a splutter, Jiang Ruan laughed. Due to Lu Zhu being a nubi from the rural residence and not a person of the Jiang household, her loyalty towards the Jiang fuwas inferior to Lian Qiao’s or Bai Zhi’s. When they were discussing the fu’s matters, it was as if she were casually talking about another family’s matter. As Jiang Ruan laughed, Lu Zhu then recomposed herself and flushed, “Nubi has gone overboard, I request for Miss’ chastisement.”
“What you said is very true,” Jiang Ruan remarked. Lu Zhu was not at all partial towards the Jiang fu and this, for her, was actually on the contrary a good thing. After all, what Jiang Ruan planned to do was in conflict in all regards to what the Jiang fu’sstance was. For Lian Qiao and Bai Zhi, it might perhaps be hard to accept such actions; therefore, some of these affairs, she could hand them over to Lu Zhu to manage instead.
As they walked forth, someone ahead was striding in their direction. Leisurely, that willow waist travelled delicately and lovely swayed along with their pace. While that person had yet to arrive before them, still at the tip of one’s nose, a whiff of faint sweet perfume travelled forward. That person was clothed in a short mint-coloured cotton lined coat and a light olive coloured long skirt, just like a gently swaying orchid in the wind. That person was the Fifth Yiniang, Hong Ying.
As she saw Jiang Ruan, Hong Ying’s eyes curved as she faced Jiang Ruan and greeted her with a bow, “Eldest Young Lady.”
Jiang Ruan lightly smiled, “Fifth Yiniang is becoming more and more beautiful.”
Hong Ying’s charming face reddened, “The Eldest Young Lady is truly jesting, these words, nubi does not deserve such praise.”
Jiang Ruan smiled even more amiably; Hong Ying was a discreet one, and, contrary to her expectations, especially sharp-witted. At the very least, she would not clearly refuse her expression of goodwill. She then grasped onto Hong Ying, “However, these words of mine are absolutely true. With an elegant demeanour such as Fifth Yiniang’s, it’s not surprising that Father extremely dotes on you.” Her voice then lowered, “Now that I have returned to the Jiang fu, the affairs in the fu are all foreign to me. As it turns out, with one look at Fifth Yiniang, I feel a sort of cordiality between us. In the days ahead, I have to request Fifth Yiniang’s continued guidance and care. If some day, I have done something wrong and have stirred up Father’s anger, I hope Fifth Yiniang can still help me to say a few words.” As she said this, she unflinchingly stared at Fifth Yiniang.
These remarks were clearly said with significance and profound overtones, as if they were suggesting something. In a split second, Hong Ying was a little startled and as she raised her head, right then she saw that Jiang Ruan’s gaze was filled with smiles. Hong Ying slightly felt as if her gaze was covered with a layer of fog. Although it could be obviously interpreted as limpid and clear like a bottomless pool of water, what was unexpected was the feeling that is also made one’s heart well up with uncertainty. As she reckoned in the depths of her heart for a few turns, a frightened expression revealed itself on her face, “What sort of words is Eldest Young Lady saying- if I am able to be of help to Eldest Young Miss, then nubi would definitely spare no effort in doing so.”
Jiang Ruan slightly smiled, “Then I will first thank Fifth Yiniang in advance. From what I can tell, in this fu, the only one that I can rely on here is exactly a person like Fifth Yiniang. With Fifth Yiniang’s appearance, grace and poise, it truly is something that the primary wife, the furen of the Jiang fu, could not compare to either.”
As she heard this, in the depths of her heart, Hong Ying could not help but be surprised and tried to sound Jiang Ruan out as she looked to her and smiled, “Eldest Young Lady, don’t joke with nubi like this. Furen is like jade leaves on a golden branch, a blue-blooded nobility and a peerless beauty while nubi has a low and humble family background. Naturally, the difference between us is like a comparison between the clouds in the sky and the mud on the ground; the gap could not be bigger.”
“Fortunes rise and fall, so will the times change. I believe Yiniang has heard of this before?” Jiang Ruan remarked, “Who could possibly be able to predict the matters of the future, so Fifth Yiniang shouldn’t undervalue oneself and be unduly humble. Having a low and humble family background does not necessarily mean that there can not be good future prospects.”
Hong Ying paused and then lowered her head slightly as she lightly spoke, “In three days’ time, it will be the Lantern Festival; Eldest Young Lady has gone to the Old Jiang Madame’s?”
For her to have suddenly talked about this with her, Lu Zhu who had been following behind her could not help but be somewhat surprised as she heard Jiang Ruan remark, “That’s right, along with the rest of my sisters.”
“Eldest Young Lady’s is honest and generous. It’s just that, for some things, it’s still best to be careful. Lately, the furen and the Second Young Lady have been rather strange. Eldest Young Lady… Be sure to take care of yourself.” Once she imparted these words, Hong Ying no longer lingered and without looking at Jiang Ruan’s expression, she hurriedly left. Her maid, Lu Zhu standing behind her looked on thoughtfully, “Miss, there appears to be some hidden meaning behind Fifth Yiniang’swords.”
“She’s an intelligent person,” Jiang Ruan continued, “if only she could have brought this up and pointed it out to me in my past life too, how great it would have been.”
That last remark of hers was spoke in an extremely low voice and Lu Zhu could not hear it clearly as she stared on blankly, “What?”
Jiang Ruan chuckled, “Nothing, let’s return.”
Once they had returned to Ruan Ju, just as Xia Yan had said, the newly sent over maids had already arrived at her courtyard. Upon seeing Jiang Ruan’s return, they uniformly stood in a row before her.
Bai Zhi and Lian Qiao were the first-rank servant girls that personally served her while Lu Zhu was a servant girl of the second-rank. In the Jiang fu, every young lady had two first-rank servant girls, four second-rank servant girls, six third-rank servant girls. Yan Hua Yuan had sent over four maidservants and had even persuaded Jiang Ruan to personally pick the remaining servants a few days later.
The four maidservants, that stood and formed a row, were without exception all good-looking young girls on the cusp of their maidenhood. Yet, even though Jiang Ruan had entered her courtyard, she did not spare them a glance and walked directly over to a soft divan and flipped through a book.
Lian Qiao and Bai Zhi did not say a word and quietly stood by Jiang Ruan’s side. Now and then, they would be of service and serve her hot tea. They had truly regarded those few young girls in her courtyard as thin air.
Just like this, more than half of a shichen (two hours) had passed. Finally, someone could no longer endure it and one of the maidservants took the initiative to walk forward towards the divan and softly state, “We, nubi, greet Eldest Young Lady.”
At this, Jiang Ruan then slowly raised her head; appearing like an extremely unruly, bold person, she swept a glance over these maidservants. Yet, those raised pair of charming eyes were filled with keen radiance as her gaze finally fell upon the face of the maidservant who had stepped forward.
The maidservant had been gifted with the countenance of a flower and a face like the moon; she had beautiful features and also possessed a somewhat educated vibe. This added an extra flavour to her good looks. Moreover, her head drooped lowly, she completely portrayed an entirely humble, modest appearance.
“What is your name?” Jiang Ruan lightly smiled.
“Nubi is called Shu Xiang.” The servant girl agreeably replied.
Shu Xiang, Jiang Ruan leisurely swallowed a mouthful of tea. She was the servant girl that had accompanied her into the palace in her past life. With a look at her modest and respectful appearance, she seemed good, honest and amiable. At that time, it was precisely because of her ability to read that Jiang Ruan had taken a fancy to her and then, had kept her by her side. Yet, her last impression of her was of that day, the very day before she had become a human swine. In the prison, Jiang Su Su had come forth to visit her and by her side, was Shu Xiang as her personal maid.
Now, she had once more been sent back to her(JR’s) side.
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