Volume One, Chapter Five: Claiming Undue Credit

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This was the grand birthday celebration of the honored Lady Rong’an, so why bring up their own trivial family matters at her banquet? Jiang Zhinian did not want to get entangled any further, feeling it would only lower her dignity.

“Huai’an, what nonsense are you spouting at Lady Lu’s banquet?” Outside the hall, a commanding female voice rang out. Though originally gentle, it carried an unmistakable authority that silenced all who heard it.

Everyone bowed respectfully as the Empress entered, casting a glance at the person beside the Crown Prince.

After dismissing the courtiers’ salutations, she was assisted to the main seat. Her gaze was cold and unreadable, betraying no hint of emotion. “I had just stepped outside and heard your voice. You just returned from the south and haven’t even reported back at court, yet you’re already running about recklessly. Your audacity grows by the day!”

“Mother, forgive me. I heard that Lady Lu was celebrating her birthday and thought it fitting to send Miss Jiang back at the same time, so—”

“You sent Zhinian back to the capital?” The Empress looked toward Jiang Zhinian. Jiang Ruozhen quickly stepped forward, “Your Majesty, it was my fault for delaying the Crown Prince’s schedule. Please forgive me.”

Shen Huai’an frowned slightly, shielding Jiang Ruozhen behind him. “Mother, do not blame Miss Jiang. She spent many days distributing porridge to refugees in Cheng County and encountered danger, which caused my delay.”

The Empress remained silent for a moment, and the room fell utterly still. Her gaze flickered between Jiang Zhinian and Jiang Ruozhen, then she suddenly let out a faint laugh. “Zhinian, you’ve been sensible since childhood. You and your sister have been helping the people in Cheng County with porridge distribution. Such benevolence deserves great reward.”

“What kind of favor do you seek?”

Though she addressed “you” collectively, only Jiang Zhinian’s name was mentioned, the implication clear to all—her position remained unshakable.

Both Shen Huai’an and Jiang Ruozhen were surprised. Shen thought Jiang Ruozhen was the one distributing porridge; why would Jiang Zhinian receive any favor?

Jiang Zhinian, having no pressing needs, considered briefly before saying, “Your Majesty, my grandmother’s health has been poor lately. I humbly request that Your Majesty command the palace physicians to visit the Jiang residence monthly to check her pulse.”

The Empress nodded slightly, about to grant the request when Jiang Ruozhen stepped forward. “Your Majesty, I believe it is our duty to aid the people, not to seek reward.”

Hearing this, Jiang Zhinian glanced sideways at her, then lowered her eyes.

“Miss Jiang has truly high moral character and purity.”

“She is quite different from her sister,” someone remarked.

One wore ambition plainly on her face; the other was dignified and aloof.

It was Jiang Ruozhen who stayed in Cheng County to distribute porridge, not Jiang Zhinian. Yet she had the audacity to petition the Empress for this favor.

The Empress’s gaze was inscrutable as she said simply, “Such a favor I can provide. I will order someone to visit the Imperial Medical Department. Consider it no favor at all. You two sisters may take your time to decide.”

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After speaking, she rose, holding Hongdou’s hand. Lady Lu quickly rose after her. “Your Majesty—”

Hongdou interrupted, “Lady Lu, no need to escort us further.”

The Empress walked on without looking away, pausing briefly as she passed Shen Huai’an. “Huai’an, aren’t you leaving yet?”

Shen Huai’an had no choice but to follow. Jiang Ruozhen’s eyes were full of disappointment, as if the past few days of camaraderie were nothing but a fleeting illusion.

She comforted herself that at least the Crown Prince recognized her distinction from other women.

-

The Jiang Residence.

“Get down on your knees!” Jiang Cheng roared, pointing at Jiang Zhinian. “I told you to fetch Ruozhen. Why did you leave her alone in Cheng County?”

“If it weren’t for the Crown Prince, would Ruozhen have been able to return at all? As the elder sister, is this how you care for your sibling?”

Jiang Zhinian glanced at Jiang Ruozhen, then at their mother—Ruozhen hesitant to speak, their mother silent.

Finally, she could only force a bitter smile and knelt on the cold floor.

“When I returned, I already told Mother that we had run out of money to continue distributing porridge, so I went back to the residence to fetch more.”

“Smack!”

A cup of tea was thrown down very close to Jiang Zhinian. The scalding tea splashed, burning her hand, which quickly reddened. The tea spread slowly across her gown on the floor.

The winter wind blew cold, seeping deeply into her bones.

“Is that your excuse?”

They had finally found Ruozhen after so long, only for her to almost ruin everything again! Sixteen years ago, it was because of her they lost Ruozhen!

“I’ll ask again! Why did you claim credit for Ruozhen’s efforts at the Rong’an Marquis’s residence today?”

The words landed heavily. Jiang Zhinian looked up at Jiang Cheng, her beloved father, realizing this was how he truly regarded her.

All the money spent on distributing porridge this time was hers—how could it be that she was falsely taking credit for Jiang Ruozhen’s work?

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She shifted her gaze to Jiang Ruozhen, who indeed had told Jiang Cheng nothing.

Feeling guilty under his scrutiny, Jiang Ruozhen hurried to kneel beside Jiang Zhinian. “Father, please don’t blame Sister. She went to Bailu Academy to fetch me and was exhausted, so she didn’t join me in distributing porridge…”

“Besides… she bought the rice and grain all along the way.”

Jiang Cheng’s expression softened somewhat but his tone remained awkward. “Buying supplies isn’t hard work. Ruozhen, why are you defending her? If it weren’t for the Crown Prince, how could you have returned so completely intact?”

Jiang Zhinian could no longer bear it. She slowly stood, composed but resolute. “Father, purchasing supplies may not be effort, but I provided a considerable amount of money.”

For the first time in sixteen years, Jiang Zhinian spoke so firmly to Jiang Cheng. Her tone was polite and proper, yet it carried an invisible sting.

She was his daughter. How dare she defy him so?

Furious, Jiang Cheng pointed at her nose. “Jiang Zhinian! You are a child raised by our family, yet all you care about is money and greed!”

“Do you know what people say about you outside?”

“From scholars to merchants! You’re a nobleman’s daughter, yet you go out to do such lowly things! And then you falsely claim credit before the Empress, making the entire capital laugh at our family!”

A cold smile flickered in Jiang Zhinian’s eyes. False credit? A joke? Lowly work? If the Jiang family scorned money, then she would return it all to them.

“Father, the money came from my private funds. How can that be me claiming credit?”

“It’s just some money. Return it from the Jiang family’s treasury and settle it!” Jiang Cheng, in his anger, did not even consider how much was spent on the porridge and agreed readily.

Just as Jiang Zhinian hoped.

But Jiang Cheng did not know that Jiang Ruozhen was aware. She quickly called after him, “Father!”

“Father, you and Sister need not be so formal. Hearing such words would only upset Sister… Father, everything Sister did was for the Jiang family. Please don’t be angry…”

“It was my fault for insisting on staying in Cheng County,” Jiang Ruozhen’s eyes reddened. She never expected the situation in Cheng County to spiral out of control. If she had known what it would cost her reputation, she would have given it all up.

Perhaps feeling her own hardship, she pursed her lips and began to sob quietly. Their mother watched, heart aching, and quickly stepped forward to embrace Jiang Ruozhen, scolding gently, “Enough! Enough! Ruozhen just returned. Why throw such a tantrum? Look how frightened you’ve made her.”