At the flower-viewing banquet, the Princess looked smilingly at the eligible young ladies and gentlemen, as if reminiscing about her own youth.
Born a princess, she had enjoyed a life that ordinary people could never hope to match. The greatest hardship she had faced was the injury to her forehead while protecting the Emperor. Remembering her daughter, whom she had lost and regained, the Princess felt a sense of comfort in her current stable life, and she also felt a growing gratitude toward Jiang Li.
This girl was the granddaughter of Master Tingshan; even with her elders gone, her status in the capital was not low. Under no circumstances should she have been reduced to such a plight as to marry a spirit tablet. Watching Jiang Li from afar, the Princess made a decision: she would keep an eye on her. If a suitable and fine young man came along, she would speak with Jiang Li and help her leave the Yin family to remarry.
No girl as fine as she was should be married to a spirit tablet. Living a comfortable life, the Princess despised such things, especially now that she felt the debt of gratitude for the life of Princess Baoqing.
Jiang Li noticed the Princess’s gaze and could guess her intentions. It seemed that her efforts had paid off; once the beauty pill took effect, the Princess would be in a better position to help her escape. Jiang Li wanted to utilize the Princess’s influence, but she did not want her benefactor to be accused of bullying others. Therefore, before leveraging that power, she would ensure the Yin family became so preoccupied with their own affairs that they would be embroiled in their own troubles.
Thinking of how the Yin family had treated her in her previous life, Jiang Li felt that whatever fate awaited them was entirely self-inflicted.
After the banquet concluded, Jiang Li returned to the Yin mansion just in time to see Wei Zizhang dropping off Yin Ranshuang. Master Yin and Mistress Fan had already received the news that their daughter had twisted her ankle and been taken to a clinic by the third son of the Prince of An’s estate. Their reaction was exactly as Jiang Li had anticipated: rather than being concerned about the impropriety of a man and woman making contact, they were delighted with Wei Zizhang.
As Wei Zizhang walked in, the eyes of Master Yin and Mistress Fan seemed glued to him. Jiang Li stood to the side, her lashes lowered to hide the emotions in her eyes. To the Yin family, Wei Zizhang was royalty of noble status; if Yin Ranshuang could form a bond with him, it would be a blessing for the Yin family. Therefore, Jiang Li didn’t need to do a thing—as long as she kept her distance, the Yin family would walk step by step toward their own abyss.
Wei Zizhang was handsome and accustomed to having women swarm around him; he had seen many such fawning displays. Although members of the royal family looked down on him for being a concubine’s son, many people outside still scrambled to latch onto him. The more obsequious the Yin family was, the more Wei Zizhang looked down on them, dismissing them as a lowly, obscure household. He even wondered why the Princess’s flower-viewing banquet would invite a girl of such origins.
He didn’t dwell on it, however. Since her status did not match his, even if he did get involved with her, at most he would take her home as a concubine. If she was unwilling to be a concubine, she could marry someone else. Having barely met her, Wei Zizhang had already planned how to deceive Yin Ranshuang into throwing herself at him. But he quickly recalled that at the Princess’s residence, he hadn’t had to do anything at all for her to initiate the contact. She was truly a girl from a common background.
Wei Zizhang acted with decorum, and the Yin family failed to perceive his true thoughts. After dropping her off, he took his leave, and Master Yin personally escorted him out.
As soon as Wei Zizhang was gone, Mistress Fan eagerly grabbed Yin Ranshuang’s hand: “Ranshuang, tell Mother, how did you manage to hook the young master of the Prince of An’s estate?”
Recalling Wei Zizhang’s gentleness, Yin Ranshuang lowered her head in shyness: “I… I believe Young Master Wei has taken a liking to me.”
Mistress Fan looked her daughter over, seeing nothing wrong with her striking attire, and nodded: “I told you, my daughter is stunningly beautiful—who could forget you once they’ve seen you? Ranshuang, listen to me: find a way to see Young Master Wei more often. It would be best if you could get him to agree to marry you and send a formal proposal.”
Yin Ranshuang’s cheeks burned hotter: “When he carried me to the clinic, he really did praise me, saying I was the most beautiful girl he had ever seen, and that he wanted to take a wife just like me.”
Mistress Fan smiled from ear to ear: “As expected of my daughter, you truly have talent. Don’t worry, Mother will find a way to prepare a generous dowry; even if you marry into royalty, no one will dare look down on you.”
Standing to the side, Jiang Li had to press her lips together to keep from laughing out loud. The matter hadn’t even begun, yet they spoke as if Yin Ranshuang were already engaged to Wei Zizhang. However, Jiang Li truly hoped they would marry. One was a deceiver of young women, and the other was blinded by vanity; it would be fitting for them to torment each other.
After Master Yin finished seeing Wei Zizhang out, he returned to the front hall and asked Jiang Li about him: “Li-girl, you grew up with your grandparents and must know many nobles in the capital. Have you heard of this third young master of the Prince of An’s estate?”
Jiang Li kept her head down, maintaining her timid, mousy demeanor: “I have heard of him.”
Master Yin waited for her to continue, but she said nothing more. Frowning, he urged: “Well? Tell me, what is this third young master like?”
Jiang Li pretended to be frightened, her voice trembling: “He is royalty. I only know that he is not yet married and is not betrothed to any young lady.”
Master Yin wanted to ask more, but Yin Ranshuang interrupted: “Father, don’t bother Sister-in-law. How would she know anything about the royal family? Better not to ask her so much.”
Deep down, Yin Ranshuang looked down on Jiang Li. Even though she had seen Jiang Li speaking privately with the Princess today, she thought nothing of it. It was likely just out of respect for Jiang Li’s grandfather. Even if the Princess was polite to Jiang Li for a moment, once she realized Jiang Li was a simpleton who couldn’t even speak clearly, she would never send her another invitation. As for the incident at the banquet where she was called a maid, Yin Ranshuang felt too embarrassed to ever mention it to her parents.
Master Yin didn’t ask any further and told Jiang Li to go back to her room. Jiang Li was more than happy to have the peace; she bowed and withdrew. With only the family of three left in the hall, Master Yin and Mistress Fan encouraged Yin Ranshuang to see Wei Zizhang more often and seize his heart.
Master Yin added: “I heard that this third young master is a concubine’s son; if you marry him, you can still be the legitimate wife.”
Hearing he was a concubine’s son, Yin Ranshuang’s heart sank. She was a legitimate daughter—how could she marry someone from a concubine’s line? Why hadn’t Jiang Li told her this? Did she not know?
Mistress Fan saw her daughter’s concern and comforted her: “Even if he is a concubine’s son, he is still of royal blood. And what does it matter if he is a concubine’s son? Once you marry him, you will be the mistress of the house and command his respect.”
Yin Ranshuang was swayed by her mother’s words. Though nothing was certain with Wei Zizhang yet, she already began to fantasize about her life after becoming his wife. The priority, however, was to heal her ankle so she would have the chance to see him again.