Volume One, Chapter Three: I Am a Woman Too

Page (1/3)

Jiang Zhinian paid no heed to what was happening behind her; she slipped into the carriage and immediately headed back to the Jiang residence without a moment’s delay. Her urgency stemmed from two reasons: first, she was unwilling to sew a bridal garment for Jiang Ruozhen in vain, so she feigned a need to return home to fetch money; second, the refugee gathering was too dense and volatile, making the situation prone to accidents. In her previous life, she had warned Jiang Ruozhen that these refugees, fleeing from all directions, had complicated identities and were difficult to control or guard against.

Unfortunately, Jiang Ruozhen had not listened. When the refugees rioted later, they were nearly trapped and barely escaped by sacrificing all their money.

Jiang Zhinian urged the horses onward without rest through the night and finally arrived at the Jiang estate at dawn the next day.

Supporting herself on Zheliu, she descended from the carriage and stood before the grand gate of the Jiang family. She looked up and gazed deeply at the plaque hanging over the entrance. It was at this very spot, with her hair disheveled, clothes tattered, and body aching and chilled, that she had looked upon her father, mother, and elder brother—only to be met with disdain, curses, and false accusations, without an ounce of pity.

Her hand trembled slightly as she turned to look down the nearby street.

It was there that she had died, her blood staining the snow red, only to be covered again by the white.

“Zhinian? Why have you returned?” A familiar voice sounded, causing her to tremble slightly before she composed herself and turned around.

It was her mother, who looked utterly surprised. Seeing the inquisitive expression on Jiang Zhinian’s face, she quickly changed her demeanor and hurried over—not to look at Jiang Zhinian—but to search behind the carriage. Circling around and finding only this single carriage, her tone softened, “Where is Ruozhen? Weren’t you here to pick her up? Where is she?”

Jiang Zhinian wondered when exactly the Jiang family’s hatred toward her had begun, to the point of wishing her harm.

Seeing her mother’s utter lack of concern for her overnight journey, only to question her so sharply, even with all she had endured in her past life, her heart ached and her nose flushed red. But it was only for a moment before she forced herself to calm down and recited the excuse she had long prepared: “Ruozhen stayed behind in Cheng County to distribute porridge. Their funds are insufficient, so I came back to ask you for some money.”

Hearing this, her mother finally relaxed and realized she had overreacted earlier, then turned her attention to Jiang Zhinian with concern. “Zhinian, Cheng County is a day’s journey from the capital. You traveled overnight—aren’t you exhausted?”

Jiang Zhinian forced a faint smile. “Thank you for your concern, Mother.”

Concerned, yes—her mother cared, but not for the imposter she had become.

“Hurry back to your room and rest. I will send someone to take care of Ruozhen.”

Jiang Zhinian had no desire to speak further with her mother. Before returning to the courtyard, she first went to pay respects to her grandmother. The stewardess of Pine Crane Hall hurried to inform the matriarch, who was delighted upon seeing her. “Zhinian is back? Didn’t they say she wouldn’t return for several more days?”

Seeing her grandmother, Jiang Zhinian felt a warmth in her heart. In this vast Jiang household, perhaps only her grandmother treated her as family.

“Grandmother…” Just as she suppressed the rising tears, they welled up again.

Her eyes stung, as if separated by worlds.

Page (2/3)

Endlessly wronged, she longed to speak but could not, unwilling to burden her grandmother with worry.

“You’ve come back just in time. The day after tomorrow, the Lord of Rong'an’s estate is hosting a banquet. Prepare yourself to attend.”

The matriarch brought out her own makeup box and selected a few precious yet elegant pieces of jewelry, lowering her voice to say, “Though it’s the Lord of Rong'an’s banquet, it is actually arranged for the Crown Prince’s selection. You must be alert!”

The banquet in two days? When she had left, her mother had never mentioned such an event. In her previous life, she had missed it because of the delay in Cheng County.

Could it be that her mother had known about the Crown Prince’s selection banquet all along?

No wonder her mother insisted she go to Bailu Academy to fetch Jiang Ruozhen—it was to make her miss this banquet.

Moreover, previously, her elder brother would have already taken on the task of fetching Jiang Ruozhen.

The Jiang clan had meticulously groomed her to this point, all to send her into the Eastern Palace and climb the ladder to become the Empress.

Yet her mother had harbored a different intention—did the Jiang family elders know?

Jiang Zhinian chatted with her grandmother for a while when Jiang Ruoqi hurried in, greeting the matriarch before his gaze landed on her.

“Zhinian, how could you leave Ruozhen alone in Cheng County?”

Seeing her elder brother again, Jiang Zhinian no longer felt any sibling affection. She only remembered how, before her death, he had called her a harlot!

She looked at Jiang Ruoqi coldly. “The Jiang residence left her guards and maids. How can she be alone?”

Jiang Ruoqi was taken aback, clearly not expecting the once obedient and sensible Zhinian to speak to him this way. Before, she had always smiled at him and obeyed every word.

“What use are those fools? Ruozhen is a lady, and Cheng County has many refugees—”

“But brother, I am a woman too,” she said calmly, though a faint sorrow lingered in her tone.

“You cannot compare yourself to Ruozhen!” Jiang Ruoqi blurted without thinking, then immediately regretted his words.

He quickly studied Jiang Zhinian’s expression, expecting her to be deeply hurt or even cry. He felt helpless, after all, he had once cared for her.

Yet Jiang Zhinian merely averted her reddened eyes.

Page (3/3)

“Enough, Ruoqi!” the matriarch interrupted sharply. Since Jiang Ruozhen’s return, it seemed there was no place for Zhinian in this household.

Blood is thicker than water, and their favoritism for Ruozhen, their desire to make amends to her, was understandable.

But Zhinian had been their daughter and sister for over a decade.

Could there be no shred of affection left?

“Zhinian just returned. She’s been busy for the Jiang family and traveled all night. As your elder brother, you should be concerned, not question her like this. That is not the behavior of a brother!”

“Grandmother, just because she knows a bit of commerce, do you favor her so much?” Jiang Ruoqi protested instinctively.

“And you? Do you favor Ruozhen? How can you say such nonsense!” The matriarch’s tone suddenly turned stern, silencing Jiang Ruoqi.

But then she turned to Jiang Zhinian. “Your brother speaks rashly. Don’t take his words to heart. You must be tired from the overnight journey. Go rest.”

Jiang Zhinian lowered her eyes and obediently nodded. She knew her grandmother understood everything but did her best to maintain a semblance of peace.

Still, the actions of the Jiang family were unforgivable.

After leaving Pine Crane Hall, she raised her eyes, and Zheliu followed behind her, speaking with dissatisfaction.

“Master only cares for the Second Miss and speaks so harshly. What does it mean ‘only knows a bit of commerce’?”

“If it weren’t for your commercial skills, how could Master have established himself in the court?”

“Brother has always looked down on me, tainted by the smell of copper coins. You know that well enough,” Jiang Zhinian sighed deeply, long accustomed to this.

Jiang Ruoqi’s official position was bought with her money. Year after year, piles of silver flowed into his hands. The Jiang family appeared prosperous and respectable on the surface but was rotten at its core.

Political dealings required money; maintaining the household required money; and this year, even more funds were spent to nurture Jiang Ruozhen.

If not for the profits from the businesses she had managed over the years, relying solely on the Jiang family’s foundation, they wouldn’t have enjoyed such a flourishing life.

“If brother doesn’t need it, then we need not go out of our way to please him.”