Since yielding had brought such miserable results, in this life, when it came to protecting her family, no one would ever make her take a single step back again!
As long as she was here, no one would dare to set their sights on the Jiang family!
Her life, the Jiang family's future—absolutely nothing could go wrong again because of her choices!
"Nian'er, what's wrong?"
Jiang Lingyun's voice pulled Jiang Henian back from her memories.
Jiang Henian raised her hand to touch her face and only then realized that she had been crying silently, tears streaming down her cheeks.
At this moment, the old man and the young man before her were both watching her with worried expressions.
Jiang Henian clenched her fists inside her sleeves, then gently released them after a breath.
She lifted a serene smile, as if none of this suffering had ever happened.
"I suddenly remembered a story Princess Kangle told me. It was rather moving."
The excuse was clearly flimsy, but after Jiang Bai and Jiang Lingyun exchanged a glance, they both chose to "believe" her.
"You're too soft-hearted. Since it's just a story, don't take it to heart. If your second brother saw you like this, he'd definitely think I was bullying you again!"
Jiang Henian laughed out loud. Hearing the concern in the person before her, the feeling of having regained what was lost refused to settle.
After returning to her own courtyard, Jiang Henian looked at the two maidservants before her.
Qingju and Bai Zhi.
Loyal or treacherous—one lifetime of experience had been more than enough for her to see through the true faces of these people.
The coldness on Jiang Henian's face made Qingju somewhat uneasy.
She instinctively stepped forward two paces: "Miss, are you alright? Are you feeling unwell somewhere?"
Jiang Henian smiled, then beckoned Qingju to come closer.
Qingju, not understanding what was happening, leaned her ear toward Jiang Henian's cheek at her mistress's gesture.
Jiang Henian stared at Bai Zhi, who stood a few steps away, but whispered a request into Qingju's ear.
After hearing it, Qingju stood frozen in place.
"Miss, you…"
Jiang Henian offered no further explanation: "Go. Just be careful."
Qingju's eyes reddened as she nodded vigorously, then rushed out with unsteady steps.
Seeing this scene, Bai Zhi was burning with curiosity.
"Miss, what did you just say to Qingju? She ran off in such a panic—has something happened?"
Jiang Henian nodded: "Qingju is a timid girl. From now on, when I go out, you'll be the one at my side!"
Bai Zhi, forgetting all about why Qingju had run off, knelt on the ground with a face full of joy.
"Thank you, Miss! Rest assured, Miss, as long as you have orders, this servant would gladly go through fire and water!"
Jiang Henian raised an eyebrow slightly: "Oh? Then you'd better keep your word!"
Watching Bai Zhi nod incessantly to show her loyalty, Jiang Henian curled the corners of her lips.
Everything the Jiang family had suffered in the previous life—whether it was the one who sharpened the blade, the one who handed it over, or the one who swung it—not a single one would escape!
So when the Donggong sent out invitations the next day, inviting the sons and daughters of nobles to attend a tea gathering, Jiang Henian accepted without a moment's hesitation.
The moment she stepped into the Donggong, the hatred in Jiang Henian's heart nearly drowned her entirely.
"Sister Jiang, you're late today!"
Jiang Henian followed the voice and saw Su Ruo standing not far away, dressed today in a pink long skirt, gentle and elegant, watching her.
Jiang Henian clenched her fists inside her sleeves, but quickly released them again.
Since their first scheme had failed, Lu Huan and Su Ruo must have been unable to eat or sleep in peace—that was why they'd hastily organized this tea gathering.
"Sister Jiang, it's been a while."
Jiang Henian smiled slightly. Indeed, it had been a while—and she was perfectly fine.
"Sister Su."
Seeing that Jiang Henian appeared to be perfectly normal, Su Ruo's worry lessened by a fraction.
"At the Empress Dowager's birthday banquet yesterday, I didn't even have a chance to exchange a few words with you, Sister. The next moment I turned around, you were gone. I searched everywhere for you."
Jiang Henian naturally noticed that Su Ruo's eyes were fixed unblinkingly on her face.
So she spoke with complete candor: "Yesterday I was called away by Princess Kangle, which is why I left the banquet early."
Su Ruo was momentarily stunned: "Princess Kangle? Didn't she just return from Qingyang City not long ago? Are you that familiar with her?"
Jiang Henian nodded: "Mm, Princess Kangle is innocent and carefree. She invited me to Gongzhu Fu to admire a painting she had just completed."
"Why? Did Sister Su need something from me?"
Su Ruo's expression stiffened, but she still squeezed out a smile: "What could I possibly need? I only heard that you had won the favor of Master Miaoxian, so I wanted to ask you for an introduction."
Jiang Henian furrowed her brows with a troubled look: "I'm afraid I'll have to disappoint Sister Su. Master Miaoxian returned to Youzhou yesterday."
Su Ruo smiled with an understanding air: "Then I've missed my chance. But it doesn't matter—your talent is known to everyone in the capital. I'm sure learning from you would be just the same."
Jiang Henian lowered her gaze: "Everyone is too generous with their praise."
Su Ruo took Jiang Henian's hand and led her into the gardens of the Donggong, earnestly introducing every sight and object within the Eastern Palace.
Jiang Henian pretended not to notice Su Ruo's attitude of practically conducting herself as the mistress of the Donggong, and instead lifted her gaze toward the garden entrance.
The man approaching from that direction—even if he were reduced to ashes, she would still remember him!
Rage blazed in her chest like a towering inferno, her fingertips trembling with fury.
Yet as Lu Huan drew near, she still made every effort to conceal the emotions in her eyes.
"Your subject-daughter pays respects to the Crown Prince."
"Cousin Crown Prince? What a coincidence! I thought you were in the front courtyard."
Whether Su Ruo and Lu Huai had truly met by chance—all three of them knew the truth in their own hearts.
"I just heard the Chancellor's wife searching for you, cousin. Perhaps you should go see her first."
Su Ruo turned to look at Jiang Henian: "Sister Jiang, wait here for me a moment. I'll come back to find you shortly."
Jiang Henian pretended to know nothing, nodding and smiling at Su Ruo.
"Sister Su, go ahead and attend to your matters! Don't worry about me."
After Su Ruo left, Jiang Henian gave Lu Huan a slight bow, appearing as if she was about to take her leave.
"Miss Jiang, would you stay a moment and hear what I have to say?"
Jiang Henian finally raised her head to look at Lu Huan.
This face—gentle and refined in appearance—was nonetheless the one she despised and loathed most, both in her past life and this one.
Perhaps her hatred was simply too intense, for a trace of it inadvertently slipped through.
Lu Heng momentarily doubted whether he had seen correctly—why else would such an emotion appear in Jiang Henian's eyes?
But when he looked again more carefully, the young woman before him was still that gentle, soft-spoken girl.
He let out a breath, and the strange feeling in his chest subsided somewhat.
"Miss Jiang, I heard from the matron that you came to the Donggong yesterday?"
Jiang Henian's eyes were filled with bewilderment: "Your subject-daughter has never come to the Donggong."
Lu Heng was uncertain whether Jiang Henian knew about his tampering with the wine, so he dared not speak openly and plainly. He could only patiently probe for information bit by bit.
"But yesterday I heard the Donggong guards mention that you had visited the Eastern Palace."
Jiang Henian shook her head again: "Crown Prince, your subject-daughter truly has never come to the Donggong. Before the birthday banquet had even concluded, Princess Kangle had already taken me to Gongzhu Fu."
Lu Huan's expression immediately soured: "Gongzhu Fu?"