Only then did Jiang Li feign a sudden realization. "Oh, so that’s how it is. I may not have many savings, but I certainly have clothes. If you don’t mind, Ranshuang, please go and pick one out."
Having finally achieved her goal, Yin Ranshuang breathed a small sigh of relief. She also felt that talking to Jiang Li was truly exhausting. ’In the future, unless it’s for something special, I don’t plan on seeking her out again.’
Jiang Li shot Wangyou a look. The young maid was clever and knew exactly which clothes to bring out for Yin Ranshuang to choose from.
Yin Ranshuang’s attention was immediately captured by the gorgeous garments. She even began to wonder, ’Does Jiang Li really have no money?’
Even if she didn’t, she could pawn these clothes for a small fortune.
Yin Ranshuang didn’t dwell on it. She painstakingly selected an outfit from the collection.
It wasn’t her favorite, but it was the one that suited her best.
After all, her figure wasn’t identical to Jiang Li’s, so not every garment would fit her properly.
Though reluctant, Yin Ranshuang had no choice but to painfully set aside the beautiful clothes that didn’t fit her.
Jiang Li watched the entire process with a smile, her true thoughts hidden deep inside. This time, she would not be commissioning a new dress for Yin Ranshuang.
’Neither Yin Ranshuang nor anyone else in the Yin Family is worthy.’
Yin Ranshuang didn’t think much of it. After all, she knew nothing of their past life and saw no issue with Jiang Li’s behavior.
’In any case,’ Yin Ranshuang thought, ’Jiang Li is much better than my second sister-in-law. At least she’s letting me go to the flower appreciation banquet and is willing to lend me clothes.’
It wasn’t that she was particularly grateful, of course, but she didn’t resent Jiang Li for not having a new dress made for her either.
In any case, Yin Ranshuang acted very pleased. After taking the new outfit from Jiang Li, she returned to her room to find jewelry to match.
’At tomorrow’s flower appreciation banquet, I will outshine all the other noble ladies. I’ll show them that I, Yin Ranshuang, am a one-in-a-million beauty, in no way inferior to any of them!’
「The next day.」
Yin Ranshuang dressed and prepared herself early, then went to Mrs. Fan’s quarters to wait for Jiang Li to pay her morning respects so they could leave together.
However, she waited for so long that she grew impatient before Jiang Li finally appeared.
’If Jiang Li wasn’t the one invited by the Princess Mansion, I wouldn’t have bothered waiting for her.’
Jiang Li paid her respects to Mrs. Fan, then turned to Yin Ranshuang. "Ranshuang, you’re here quite early today."
Jiang Li had actually arrived a quarter of an hour earlier than usual to pay her respects. On previous days, Yin Ranshuang was nowhere to be seen at this time.
Yin Ranshuang had been about to complain, but her cheeks flushed at Jiang Li’s words, and she swallowed her complaints.
Mrs. Fan, however, looked at Jiang Li with some dissatisfaction. ’Dressed so plainly for a flower appreciation banquet? Isn’t she going to embarrass the Yin Family?’
But in the end, Mrs. Fan didn’t care much about her daughter-in-law, so she wasn’t too bothered by her appearance one way or another.
Mrs. Fan said, "Alright. Since you’re going to the Princess Mansion, you should leave early to avoid being late and showing disrespect."
Yin Ranshuang stood up, and she and Jiang Li bowed before leaving together.
As the two of them sat in the carriage, Yin Ranshuang was in high spirits. She had never been to a flower appreciation banquet before and was brimming with curiosity.
But when her gaze swept over to Jiang Li, a trace of disgust showed in her eyes.
’She clearly doesn’t lack fine clothes. I don’t know why she’d dress so plainly. It makes it look like the Yin Family mistreats her.’
Yin Ranshuang’s train of thought was soon broken by excitement. She began to eagerly wonder what interesting things she would see when they arrived at the Princess Mansion.
The carriage stopped in front of the Princess Mansion.
Jiang Li and Yin Ranshuang had arrived early, so there were not many carriages at the gate. They were able to disembark and enter the mansion quickly.
Yin Ranshuang followed beside Jiang Li into the Princess Mansion, her eyes darting everywhere.
The Yin Family was respectable enough, but it couldn’t compare to the great noble families in the Capital City, let alone the Princess Mansion.
Every plant and tree here seemed novel to Yin Ranshuang.
Jiang Li kept her head slightly lowered, pretending not to notice Yin Ranshuang’s lack of decorum.
A maid from the Princess Mansion led them to the reception hall, where several wives and noble ladies were already chatting.
After greeting them, Jiang Li found a seat.
Yin Ranshuang, however, was very dissatisfied with Jiang Li’s behavior. ’This is a rare opportunity to meet these people. How could a simple greeting possibly be enough?’
’I have to befriend them!’
With that thought, Yin Ranshuang paid no mind to Jiang Li and walked over to start a conversation with the noble ladies.
But as soon as Yin Ranshuang began to speak, they fell silent and even turned to walk away.
Having been snubbed, Yin Ranshuang was in a foul mood. She pouted and stormed out of the hall.
Jiang Li’s brow furrowed slightly. She had expected that Yin Ranshuang wouldn’t know the rules of etiquette. ’In our past life, if I hadn’t constantly guided her, Ranshuang never would have made it into the circle of noble ladies.’
’But now, with no one watching her, she isn’t even trying to hide her true nature.’
Jiang Li sighed softly. ’No matter what, I’m the one who brought Ranshuang here. Embarrassing the Yin Family is one thing, but I just hope she doesn’t cause any real trouble.’
So, Jiang Li stood up and went to find her.
Yin Ranshuang had found a maid from the Princess Mansion to lead her to the garden.
There were other guests in the garden. After all, it was a flower appreciation banquet; relatively few of the female guests remained inside the hall.
And besides the female guests, there were also some men in the garden.
Yin Ranshuang’s eyes roamed the garden, quickly fixing on one person.
She saw a young nobleman bending down to pick a flower, his long, slender fingers catching her eye.
The next moment, the young nobleman straightened up, allowing Yin Ranshuang to see his face clearly.
A moon-white robe draped over his slender, upright frame, accentuating his fair skin and giving him a scholarly air.
For a moment, Yin Ranshuang felt as if the man before her had stepped right out of a painting, a dashing young gentleman from the pages of a novel.
When Jiang Li caught up, she noticed Yin Ranshuang’s transfixed gaze.
She followed her sister-in-law’s line of sight and saw the man standing by the flowers.
It was none other than Wei Zizhang—the wastrel Yin Ranshuang had fallen for in her past life.
Admittedly, Wei Zizhang was handsome, but he was by no means a good match.
Wei Zizhang was a member of the Imperial Family, but he was the son of a concubine. Even though he was from a Prince Manor, few in the Capital City gave him a second thought.
Wei Zizhang spent his time in brothels and was disliked by his father’s primary wife. He also had ambiguous relationships with countless young women.
After being deceived by him, some of those women went mad, while others chose to hang themselves.
And Yin Ranshuang had been just one of the many he had deceived.
In their past life, it was Jiang Li who had stopped Yin Ranshuang from secretly pledging her life to Wei Zizhang, and had even arranged a better marriage for her.
Later, when Wei Zizhang’s affairs with other young women came to light, he was thrown in prison.
Jiang Li thought she was saving her sister-in-law from a disastrous fate and helping her toward a better life, but it turned out to be a complete and utter joke.
It wasn’t until the Yin Family sent her away to a country estate that she learned Yin Ranshuang had long since used her money and connections to get Wei Zizhang out of prison.
Not only that, but Yin Ranshuang had been having an affair with Wei Zizhang behind her husband’s back. Even her son was Wei Zizhang’s child.