Volume One, Chapter 10: Jiang Cheng’s Secret-Após cortar os cabelos e romper com a família, todos perceberam que jamais perdoarei.(Sonhos luminosos em sono tranquilo)

Only after Jiang Zhinian had walked a considerable distance did she dare to take a deep breath. Despite the biting cold, she found herself drenched in sweat. It was not until Hongdou called out to her that she snapped back to reality upon returning to the Weiyang Palace.

The Empress, seeing that Jiang Zhinian had returned alone, understood the situation immediately.

The Crown Prince had lived his life too smoothly, and as he grew older, he had developed his own agendas. The Empress’s intentions today were twofold: first, to fulfill a promise, and second, to bring Jiang Zhinian and the Crown Prince together.

Both were of a suitable age for marriage, and it was time to discuss such matters.

She had not expected Jiang Zhinian to bring Jiang Ruozhen along. Seeing the troubled look on Zhinian’s face, the Empress assumed it was because of the Crown Prince and gently patted her hand.

"Do not worry. With the New Year approaching, there are scriptures that must be transcribed before the palace banquet, to be burned on New Year’s Eve to welcome the new year. Each year, the princesses take turns, but this year, I would like you to do it."

Still shaken, Jiang Zhinian was suddenly entrusted with such a heavy task. "Your Majesty," she stammered, "I am crude and unrefined; I fear—"

The Empress took it as false modesty. "It is settled. There are many scriptures to be copied in the Library Pavilion. Since the Crown Prince will be free towards the end of the year, I will have him assist you."

"Your Majesty..." Faced with this, Jiang Zhinian could not refuse and had no choice but to accept.

The Empress looked at Jiang Zhinian with growing favor. The Jiang clan was a distant branch of her family, once inconspicuous in the capital, but Jiang Zhinian had become increasingly impressive, catching her attention.

The current Emperor feared the interference of in-laws in politics, and the Empress’s direct relatives were kept under strict watch. Only the Jiang family had a distant relationship with her, and with Jiang Cheng being merely a Minister of Rites, the Emperor paid them no mind. The Jiang family had raised a daughter like Jiang Zhinian—she had both the means and the intellect—which was exactly what the Empress desired.

"It will also be a good chance for you to become familiar with the people in the palace." Her words carried a deeper meaning; Jiang Zhinian bowed her head, saying nothing more.

The Empress, occupied with palace affairs, allowed her to wait at the Weiyang Palace for the Crown Prince and Jiang Ruozhen. As lunchtime approached, a messenger from the Crown Prince arrived to say that he was keeping Jiang Ruozhen for a meal and that Jiang Zhinian should return on her own.

There was a hint of pity in the messenger's tone.

Jiang Zhinian did not seem to mind. After thanking the eunuch, she left the palace.

Outside the palace, Zheliu saw her mistress enter the carriage and quickly closed the curtain. It was only after the carriage had traveled quite a distance that she realized the Second Miss had not followed.

"The Crown Prince is keeping her for lunch; we are to return first," Jiang Zhinian said, her voice flat.

"Why does the Second Miss always love to snatch things that belong to you? Never mind the Master and Mistress, but who in the capital doesn't know that the Empress has long favored you to be the Crown Princess!"

Seeing Zheliu’s indignant expression, she found it strangely endearing.

"Whatever can be snatched away," she replied, "was never worth keeping in the first place. Besides, these things were meant to belong to her." Jiang Zhinian no longer cared for the Jiang family, and naturally, she would no longer feel saddened by whom they chose to favor.

However, while she was willing to let go of what was rightfully hers, she would not allow anyone to try to climb to power by stepping on her.

Jiang Zhinian’s carriage returned early. Remembering that her grandmother loved the pastries from Furong House, she took a detour to pick some up.

As Fuguang lifted the curtain to hand her the pastries, Jiang Zhinian caught a glimpse of a familiar figure in her peripheral vision.

It was Jiang Cheng.

Today was not a holiday; why was her father here? This street was primarily for women to shop for food, clothing, and trinkets. Even if Jiang Cheng had business, he should have been at a tavern or a similar place.

Seeing that her mistress was not looking at the pastries, Fuguang turned her head and also spotted Master Jiang.

Fuguang was perplexed. Before she could finish asking, "Why is the Master...", she saw a woman who still possessed a lingering charm, holding a young child, walking toward Jiang Cheng.

The two were intimate in their gestures; there was no need to guess—this woman was likely an outside mistress kept by Jiang Cheng!

Jiang Zhinian pulled Fuguang back into the carriage, closed the curtain, and ordered the driver, "Follow them."

Jiang Cheng had been married to her mother for many years, and everyone praised him as a good husband—with only one concubine in his household—and a good father who had raised a talented daughter like her.

Seen in this light, Jiang Cheng had betrayed both her and her mother.

They followed them to a small alley in the suburbs. Jiang Cheng stepped out of the carriage first and personally lifted the woman’s child down. She had always thought her father was strict for her own good.

It turned out that his tenderness was simply never meant for her.

She let the curtain fall, her expression dark and unreadable. "Return to the manor. Do not speak a word of what happened today."

Zheliu looked at her with concern, fearing she was heartbroken.

Was she sad? Not at all.

She merely felt that the Jiang family was rotten to the core, and in her previous life, she had been blind to it all.

Upon returning to the Jiang manor, her mother bombarded her with questions. This was Ruozhen’s first time in the palace; why was Zhinian back, but not Ruozhen?

Jiang Zhinian looked at her mother earnestly. That anxiety and resentment were not feigned. Remembering the scene in the suburbs, she swallowed the words that came to her lips.

It was thankless to interfere in the karma of others, a price she could no longer afford to pay.

"Mother, the Crown Prince insisted on keeping Ruozhen for a meal. He will send her back to the manor himself later. You need not worry."

Hearing this, her mother’s anxious heart finally settled. She patted Jiang Zhinian’s arm. "You child, why didn't you say so earlier? You gave me such a fright."

Thinking that Jiang Zhinian might be worried, she added hesitantly, "Perhaps it is only because Ruozhen has never been to the palace that the Crown Prince kept her. Zhinian, don't overthink it; this marriage is naturally yours..."

Jiang Zhinian raised her eyes with a faint, sharp amusement. "Is that really so, Mother?"

Was it really so?

Her mother felt an inexplicable sense of guilt. The Jiang family had failed Jiang Ruozhen, and naturally, she hoped to give her the best of everything.

"You child, you are talking nonsense again. Rest well; I will come to see you in a few days."

Jiang Zhinian did not try to keep her. She already knew the answer without asking.

That evening, the family was dining when Jiang Ruozhen finally returned. Her mother ordered an extra set of bowls and chopsticks. Jiang Ruozhen sat down and said, "Mother, Huai'an took me to the Yipin Restaurant for a meal."

*Huai'an.*

Jiang Zhinian, who was eating, felt her eyelashes tremble slightly, but she acted as if she had heard nothing and continued her meal.

Jiang Cheng and the Grandmother, however, were terrified. "Ruozhen, what nonsense are you spouting?" The Grandmother dismissed all the servants, her face stern. "Do you know whose name you just uttered?"

Jiang Ruozhen turned pale with fright. "G-Grandmother, it is the Crown Prince..."

The Grandmother slammed her jade chopsticks onto the table, her tone severe. "You knew, yet you dared to address the Crown Prince by his given name? Are you trying to get our Jiang family killed?!"

At this, Jiang Ruozhen was completely terrified. She froze, her eyes welling up with tears.

Her mother, seeing this, was heartbroken and pulled Jiang Ruozhen into her arms. "Mother! Ruozhen is ignorant; please, do not frighten her."

Jiang Ruozhen finally realized her mistake and said aggrievedly, "Grandmother, the Crown Prince told me to call him that."

The Prince had said she was different from the women in the capital; others always treated him as the Crown Prince, but she was different—they were just friends.

Therefore, the Prince had given her permission to call him Huai'an.

Even hearing this, the Grandmother’s anger did not subside. "That is the Crown Prince! How can we address him by his name so casually? Even if he allows it, you must observe decorum! This is the capital, not some small town. You must know who you can get close to and who you must keep at a distance!"