Volume One, Chapter Four: Alone, I See You're Nothing Special After All
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Zheliu stood in a daze. She often spoke up for Miss when she felt she was wronged, but Miss had always taken it lightly. Could it be that today Miss truly took it to heart?
The two of them had just reached the Jade Pavilion when the sky began to drift with light snow—the first snowfall of the year.
Jiang Zhinian paused, reaching out from beneath her cloak to catch a snowflake, her gaze lost in thought. Fu Guang stepped out of the house just in time to see this and hurried over to pull her back.
“Miss, it’s snowing. It’s so cold—come inside quickly.”
A wave of sadness crept into her heart as the cool touch of her fingertips was clasped by Fu Guang’s hand. Indeed, how could it not be cold when it snowed?
But they never cared about her feelings.
Inside, the charcoal brazier had long been lit, and the warm foot bath prepared was pressed into her hands. Zheliu poured her a cup of hot tea.
Jiang Zhinian’s voice broke the silence. “The snow is falling early this year; business won’t be good. There’s no need to send money to Minister Huang at the Ministry of War anymore.”
It was time to let Brother know. Now that he had reached this point, was it truly because of his “loyal service,” or was it because of the money he despised?
—
On the day the Rong’an Marquis’s mansion held a banquet, Jiang Zhinian accompanied her grandmother.
She wore a gown of pale yellow brocade with subtle patterns, draped in a cloak the color of plum blossoms. The pearl hairpins on her head had just been placed there by her grandmother. Amid the crowd, she was a bright and stunning presence.
“Although today is to meet the Crown Princess, don’t be impatient. It might only backfire, especially with the Rong’an Marquis’s heir—he has an eye condition, so be careful not to say the wrong thing,” the old madam Jiang gently reminded her, patting her hand.
Her mother asked, “Why are you telling her this, Mother?” with an ambiguous tone.
“True, there is no one else in the capital as refined and intelligent as Zhinian,” the old madam smiled, seemingly oblivious to her daughter’s tone.
Jiang Zhinian gave a faint smile to mask the chill in her heart.
Though she wasn’t her mother’s biological daughter, her mother had given no less to the Jiang family over the years. The Jiang family had no branch divisions, but the second and third branches eyed each other fiercely. Grandmother’s health could not bear too much strain, and there were still two concubines in Jiang Cheng’s household.
Yet her mother, proud and unwilling to fight, had, since Jiang Ruochen’s return, handed over the household affairs entirely to Jiang Zhinian.
That year, her mother could care for Jiang Ruochen with peace of mind and conspire with Jiang Ruoqi to harm her only because Jiang Zhinian had settled the hidden troubles within the household.
In the end, they treated her like this. Fine—if her mother had that “leisure,” then she would let her worry about it herself from now on.
—
During the banquet, a servant from the Rong’an Marquis’s mansion hurried in to report that the Crown Prince was coming to congratulate Madam Lu on her birthday. The focus should have been on Madam Lu, yet everyone present now turned their eyes to Jiang Zhinian.
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Jiang Zhinian, who had just taken a bite of a pastry, paused, sensing something amiss.
Sure enough—
In the next moment, someone spoke.
“I heard the Crown Prince passed through Cheng County and happened upon the Jiang family’s young lady. At first, I thought it was the eldest Miss Jiang.”
“Sister Song, I heard it was more like he spoke only with the second Miss Jiang,” came another voice.
Looking up, Jiang Zhinian saw the young ladies from the Song and Li families—those she had defeated in a recent contest, still not over their loss?
In her previous life, she might have retorted sharply, but now, having faced life and death, she only found it amusing.
“Miss Jiang excels in everything in the capital, but it seems the flower never quite falls on her head...” Jiang Zhinian’s tone was neither humble nor angry. “Miss Song, is it your family’s custom to speak ill of the Crown Prince?”
“Jiang Zhinian, you’ll only be left here pitying yourself. The Crown Prince doesn’t like you, and even if you begged the Emperor, it wouldn’t help!” came the retort.
Jiang Zhinian smiled faintly. “The emperor’s grace is thunder and rain alike, but it’s not for Miss Song to concern herself with, is it?”
With that, she turned away, no longer paying them any mind.
Let the flower fall on whoever it pleases. Thinking back on her past life, the Crown Prince and Jiang Ruochen had secretly colluded, willing to do anything to be together.
If that flower truly landed on their heads, they would be upset.
“The Crown Prince has arrived—”
At the moment the Crown Prince stepped in, all chatter ceased. Everyone rose to bow, including Madam Lu.
Once all were standing, they noticed behind the Crown Prince Shen Huaian a delicate figure. Draped in the Crown Prince’s cloak, she was wrapped entirely within it.
Who else but Jiang Ruochen?
Jiang Zhinian’s mother nearly stood in surprise upon seeing Jiang Ruochen but relaxed only after Jiang Ruochen smiled and shook her head.
Aside from that, Madam Lu’s gaze flickered. Whoever this woman was, Madam Lu clearly disliked her. As the matriarch of the Rong’an Marquis’s household, her seniority and status overshadowed almost everyone present.
Only members of the royal family could stand and receive her salute.
Yet Jiang Ruochen followed closely behind the Crown Prince, openly receiving Madam Lu’s grand salute...
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“I come bearing birthday gifts to congratulate the old madam on her longevity. May your days be bright as the sun and moon, and your life as long as the pine and crane!”
Before Madam Lu could respond, Jiang Ruochen’s sweet voice added, “Ruochen also wishes the old madam longevity as enduring as the southern mountains!”
Madam Lu feigned puzzlement. “And who might this be...?”
“This is the eldest daughter of Minister Jiang of the Ministry of Rites,” Shen Huaian announced.
Everyone’s eyes turned sharply to Jiang Zhinian. After all, Shen Huaian’s position as Crown Prince’s consort was nearly confirmed, pending only the imperial decree.
Yet now it seemed the second Miss Jiang was closer to the Crown Prince?
Just as Song Hui had said, Jiang Zhinian’s reputation in the capital was known far and wide, but the second Miss Jiang was scarcely heard of. This was the perfect moment for Jiang Zhinian to introduce Jiang Ruochen to the capital’s nobles.
Even her mother and Jiang Ruochen cast glances toward her.
Jiang Zhinian appeared oblivious, calmly meeting their gazes. Her eyes shone like stars, her refined noble bearing, honed over a decade, forming a stark contrast with Jiang Ruochen.
Jiang Ruochen looked somewhat embarrassed, her tone gentle. “Sister, you’re here too.”
Of course—was there a ghost standing here now?
“That day, Sister left in a hurry and missed the Crown Prince’s carriage. Later, the refugees rebelled. Fortunately, the Crown Prince came to help. Sister, please don’t misunderstand.”
Jiang Zhinian bypassed Jiang Ruochen’s self-reproachful look and noticed her mother’s worried expression upon hearing this.
Shen Huaian then said, “If she hadn’t abandoned you, how would you have fallen into danger? There’s no need to apologize to her.”
“Your Highness, it’s not that—Sister had urgent matters to attend to,” Jiang Ruochen hastily explained, but it fell flat.
Urgent matters? Simply saying she went back to fetch money—could those few words tire Jiang Ruochen to death?
Yet since she truly hadn’t intended to fetch money, Jiang Zhinian didn’t argue further. “I acknowledge my mistake,” she said.
Those four words felt like a punch to cotton for Shen Huaian but shocked Song Hui and the others. They remembered how fiercely competitive Jiang Zhinian had been before—she would have argued even with the Crown Prince.
Shen Huaian thought she must be feeling guilty. Since Jiang Ruochen had already explained, he said no more, merely remarking, “I see you are nothing special after all!”