Jiang Li kept her head slightly lowered, maintaining an appearance of complete obedience no matter what Mrs. Fan said.
Having no desire to waste more breath on her, Mrs. Fan dismissed her.
The flower-viewing banquet had been scheduled for tomorrow, a date set well in advance. However, the Yin family only received their invitation today, making it obvious they were a last-minute addition.
Jiang Li had expected this. The kidnapping of Commandery Princess Baoqing needed a thorough investigation; the Eldest Princess would never take Jiang Li’s words at face value. Two days was more than enough time for the Eldest Princess to send her people to uncover the truth and confirm that Jiang Li was indeed the one who had saved Commandery Princess Baoqing. Only then did she have the invitation delivered.
Jiang Li figured that even without an invitation this time, the Eldest Princess would have eventually summoned her for another meeting. In her previous life, this flower-viewing banquet was cancelled due to Commandery Princess Baoqing’s disappearance. Even if it had taken place, the past Jiang Li would never have had the chance to attend. Consequently, she had no idea what might happen at the event. Regardless, she had to go. It would be the perfect opportunity to let outsiders know just how difficult her life in the Yin family truly was.
With this in mind, Jiang Li instructed, "Prepare the clothes I’ll be wearing to the flower-viewing banquet tomorrow."
Bai Zhi agreed with a beaming smile. "Don’t worry, Miss! I’ll pick out the most beautiful outfit for you. We definitely won’t let anyone look down on you."
Jiang Li shook her head. "No, prepare the plainest clothes for me. It’s best if they have little to no decoration, as long as they still adhere to the rules of etiquette."
Bai Zhi was completely baffled and failed to grasp her young miss’s intentions. Shouldn’t one dress up to stand out at a flower-viewing banquet?
Beside them, Wangyou offered a knowing smile and said, "We will get them ready."
Though Bai Zhi didn’t understand, her greatest strength was her obedience. Seeing Jiang Li nod, she followed Wangyou to make the preparations.
Knowing Yin Ranshuang, Jiang Li was certain she would dress as extravagantly as possible to draw attention, having finally secured a rare chance to attend a banquet at the Princess Mansion. As it turned out, Yin Ranshuang’s reaction was exactly as Jiang Li had guessed.
Although Mrs. Fan had told Jiang Li to bring Yin Ranshuang along, she had no intention of preparing a new outfit for her daughter. Besides, the banquet was tomorrow. It was too late to call a tailor for custom measurements; their only option would be to buy ready-made clothes from a boutique.
Yin Ranshuang, however, was highly dissatisfied with Mrs. Fan’s words. Frowning deeply, she complained, "Mother, I finally have the chance to go to a flower-viewing banquet at the Princess Mansion! Are you really going to let me humiliate the Yin family?"
Mrs. Fan was momentarily taken aback by her daughter’s argument. Indeed, if Yin Ranshuang didn’t dress opulently enough, it would be a loss of face for the Yin family. However, Mrs. Fan remembered that the family’s accounts were empty. They had just asked Jiang Li to lend them money; if they suddenly bought ready-made clothes for Yin Ranshuang now, it would surely arouse Jiang Li’s suspicions.
Thus, Mrs. Fan changed her tune. "No matter how extravagantly you dress, could you possibly outshine the Eldest Princess? As long as your attire is appropriate and presentable, there’s no need to be too flashy."
Mrs. Fan had never attended such a flower-viewing banquet. Given her status, she was unqualified to participate anyway, so she had no real idea what these events entailed. The only reason she wanted Yin Ranshuang to go was that her daughter had reached marriageable age. If she could catch the eye of a madam from one of the noble families at the banquet, she might secure a highly favorable marriage match.
Yin Ranshuang’s expression changed dramatically, and she nearly lost control of her emotions. "Mother, do you really want me to go to this banquet? When the time comes, everyone else will be dressed to the nines! If I’m the only one looking shabby, how can I even show my face?"
Mrs. Fan felt her daughter had a point, but she couldn’t bear to part with her money. She hardly had any savings left to begin with, and buying ready-made clothes would mean pawning her jewelry, which she was unwilling to do.
But a moment later, an idea struck her. "I’ve noticed that you and Jiang Li are of a similar build. The Jiang family is wealthy, and her dowry list contains plenty of fine fabrics. She must have some exquisite clothes. Go and borrow an outfit from her."
At the mention of Jiang Li, Yin Ranshuang’s expression scarcely softened. "Mother, you know how timid and submissive she is. Does she really have anything good?"
"I can’t speak for other things, but she definitely doesn’t lack clothes and jewelry. Just go, you can rest assured."
Persuaded by Mrs. Fan, Yin Ranshuang made her way to Jiang Li’s courtyard. The Yin Ranshuang who appeared there was a complete departure from her earlier self. With her eyes curved into a beaming smile, she feigned an incredible closeness with Jiang Li.
"Jiang Li, have you decided what kind of dress you’re going to wear tomorrow?"
The moment Yin Ranshuang spoke, Jiang Li understood her underlying meaning. In fact, she didn’t even need to speak; just seeing Yin Ranshuang show up in her courtyard was enough for Jiang Li to guess her intentions. It was undoubtedly about an outfit for tomorrow’s flower-viewing banquet.
Jiang Li thought back to her previous life. Back then, she had practically laid out all her best belongings without a shred of stinginess. In her eyes, the Yin family had been her own family, and she had treated Yin Ranshuang like a biological younger sister. Jiang Li had pampered her, wanting to give her only the best, and had even helped select a husband for her. But in the end, it was that same Yin Ranshuang who had pointed a finger at her with a hideous, contorted expression, viciously cursing Jiang Li for tearing her away from her true love.
This time, Jiang Li would no longer meddle.
As for the clothes Yin Ranshuang wanted, Jiang Li was perfectly willing to lend them to her. After all, Jiang Li had plans for tomorrow. The more gorgeously Yin Ranshuang dressed, the more it would highlight just how terribly she, the newlywed bride, was treated in the Yin family, thereby easily drawing the Eldest Princess’s sympathy. However, she didn’t plan on handing the clothes over the moment Yin Ranshuang asked.
Pretending not to understand the hint, Jiang Li simply nodded. "Don’t worry, Ranshuang. I’ll have someone prepare my clothes. There’s no need to trouble the Yin family with it."
Yin Ranshuang thought she had made herself perfectly clear, yet Jiang Li still looked as though she hadn’t caught on. She scoffed inwardly, thinking Jiang Li was nothing but a useless fool. Previously, she had thought Jiang Li was quite formidable, but now it seemed she was good for nothing—she couldn’t even understand simple words.
Deciding to be more direct, Yin Ranshuang said, "It’s good that you have something to wear, Jiang Li. Sadly, the Yin family has no spare money for me to spend, and I haven’t prepared any clothes suitable for a flower-viewing banquet. It looks like I’ll be embarrassing the Yin family tomorrow."
Jiang Li blinked in apparent confusion and asked curiously, "Didn’t Mrs. Fan say she wanted you to go to the banquet? Why didn’t she take you to buy some ready-made clothes? Boutique clothes might be a bit pricey, but surely the Yin family can afford them, right?"
Jiang Li’s move was calculated to drive a wedge between Yin Ranshuang and Mrs. Fan. This den of ungrateful wretches in the Yin family only ever looked out for themselves. As long as their interests clashed, chaos was bound to ensue.
Sure enough, the very next moment, Jiang Li caught a glimpse of resentment in Yin Ranshuang’s eyes.
"Mother said the family has no extra savings left. It was all given to Chengzhou to pay his tuition fees," Yin Ranshuang muttered.
The mention of Chengzhou reminded Jiang Li that she hadn’t seen him over the past few days. Hadn’t he already been expelled from the academy?
Jiang Li asked casually, "Has Chengzhou returned to the academy to study?"
Yin Ranshuang nodded and sighed softly. "As you know, Jiang Li, Chengzhou has been studying for years. We can’t let him give up now. Besides, with my eldest brother gone, Chengzhou is the Yin family’s only hope. His tuition absolutely must be paid. That’s why Mother has no money to buy me clothes, and I’ll just have to wear my everyday garments to the flower-viewing banquet."