Jiang Li kept her head slightly bowed, maintaining a submissive appearance regardless of what Madam Fan said.
Madam Fan, having no desire to speak further with her, dismissed her.
The floral viewing banquet was scheduled for tomorrow; it had been planned for some time. The fact that the invitation was only delivered to the Yin family today clearly indicated that it was an eleventh-hour addition.
Jiang Li had anticipated this. The matter of Princess Baoqing being abducted needed to be investigated, and the Grand Princess would not have believed Jiang Li’s words at face value. Two days were enough for the Grand Princess to send people to clarify the facts and confirm that it was indeed Jiang Li who had saved the Princess, hence the sudden delivery of the invitation.
Jiang Li reasoned that even without the invitation this time, the Grand Princess would have sought to meet her sooner or later.
In her previous life, because Princess Baoqing had gone missing, this floral viewing banquet had never actually taken place. Even if it had, Jiang Li would not have had the opportunity to attend. Therefore, she did not know what would transpire at the banquet. However, she had to go, and preferably, ensure that the world would know just how poorly she was being treated in the Yin household.
Thinking of this, Jiang Li gave orders: “Help me prepare the attire for tomorrow’s banquet.”
Baizhi agreed with a grin: “Rest assured, Miss. I will certainly pick out the most beautiful clothes for you so that no one will look down upon you.”
Jiang Li, however, shook her head: “No. Prepare the most understated clothes for me—preferably without any adornments, yet still appropriate and within the rules.”
Baizhi was bewildered, failing to understand her mistress’s intent. Should one not dress outstandingly for a floral viewing banquet?
Wangyou, standing beside them, smiled and said: “We will have it ready, Miss.”
Although Baizhi did not understand, her strength lay in her obedience. Seeing her mistress nod, she went off with Wangyou to prepare.
Based on Jiang Li’s understanding of Yin Ranshuang, the girl would inevitably dress in a gaudy, attention-grabbing manner, as this was her first chance to attend a banquet at the Princess’s estate.
Yin Ranshuang’s reaction matched Jiang Li’s predictions. Although Madam Fan had told Jiang Li to take Yin Ranshuang along, she had no intention of providing the girl with new clothes. Furthermore, the banquet was tomorrow; there was no time to have a tailor measure and sew a garment unless they bought off-the-rack.
Yin Ranshuang was highly dissatisfied with Madam Fan’s pronouncement. Knitting her brows, she said: “Mother, this is my rare chance to go to the Princess’s banquet. Do you want me to lose face for the Yin family?”
Madam Fan was taken aback by her daughter’s words. It was true that dressing shabbily would bring shame upon the Yin family. But considering the Yin family’s coffers were empty—having just asked Jiang Li for money—buying Yin Ranshuang new clothes now would only invite suspicion from her daughter-in-law.
Thus, Madam Fan’s response shifted: “Even if you dress with the utmost luxury, could you possibly outshine the Grand Princess? It is sufficient to be dressed appropriately; there is no need to be too conspicuous.”
Madam Fan had never attended such a banquet—nor, given her status, could she—so she was ignorant of what to expect. Her desire for Yin Ranshuang to go was rooted in the hope that the girl, who was of marrying age, might catch the eye of a matriarch from a prestigious family and secure a good match.
Yin Ranshuang’s expression darkened, and she nearly lost her composure: “Mother, do you truly want me to go? If everyone else is dressed luxuriously and I am the only one looking drab, how will I be able to face anyone?”
Madam Fan found her daughter’s point valid, yet she was loath to spend money. She possessed little herself, and buying off-the-rack clothes would require pawning jewelry, which she was unwilling to do.
A moment later, an idea struck her: “I recall that you and your sister-in-law are similar in build. The Jiang family is wealthy, and her dowry list includes many fine fabrics and beautiful clothes. You should go and borrow one from her.”
At the mention of Jiang Li, Yin Ranshuang’s expression did not soften: “Mother, you know what she is like—always timid and subservient. Does she really have anything good?”
“I cannot speak for other things, but she certainly isn’t lacking in clothes and jewelry. Go ahead, don’t worry.”
Persuaded by Madam Fan, Yin Ranshuang went to Jiang Li’s courtyard. The version of Yin Ranshuang that appeared there was a complete transformation from the one moments ago; she was all smiles, acting as if she were incredibly close to Jiang Li.
“Sister-in-law, have you decided what you are going to wear tomorrow?”
The moment Yin Ranshuang spoke, Jiang Li understood her motive. She didn’t even need the girl to finish; her presence here alone was enough to reveal her intent. It was clearly about the clothes for tomorrow.
Jiang Li thought back to her previous life, when she would have brought out all her finest things without a second thought. Back then, she viewed the Yins as her own family and Yin Ranshuang as a younger sister. She had pampered the girl, wanting only the best for her, even helping her choose a husband. Yet, in the end, it was Yin Ranshuang who had glared at her with a vicious expression, pointing a finger and cursing her for supposedly breaking up her romance with her true love.
This time, Jiang Li would no longer intervene.
As for the clothes Yin Ranshuang wanted, Jiang Li was actually willing to lend them. After all, Jiang Li had plans for tomorrow; the more garish Yin Ranshuang dressed, the more it would highlight how difficult her own life as a new bride in the Yin household truly was, making it easier to elicit sympathy from the Grand Princess.
However, she did not intend to lend them simply because Yin Ranshuang asked.
Jiang Li pretended not to understand the underlying meaning of the question and merely nodded: “Don’t you worry, Ranshuang. I will have the clothes prepared, and there will be no need to trouble the Yin family.”
Yin Ranshuang believed she had made herself perfectly clear, yet Jiang Li persisted in acting obtuse.
Yin Ranshuang sneered inwardly, thinking the woman was simply incompetent. She had previously thought her sister-in-law was quite formidable, but it seemed she was useless and couldn’t even grasp a simple hint.
Yin Ranshuang decided to be blunt: “It’s good that you have something to wear, sister-in-law. It’s just that the Yin family doesn’t have extra money for me to spend, and I haven’t prepared a dress for the banquet. It seems I will have to embarrass the Yin family tomorrow.”
Jiang Li blinked in confusion and asked curiously: “Did Mother not say she wanted you to go to the banquet? Why didn’t she take you to buy a dress? While off-the-rack clothes are a bit expensive, surely the Yin family can afford that?”
Jiang Li did this intentionally, hoping to sow discord between Yin Ranshuang and Madam Fan. This pack of ingrates in the Yin family only cared about their own interests; she reckoned that once their interests clashed, chaos would surely ensue.
Indeed, a moment later, Jiang Li saw hatred in Yin Ranshuang’s eyes.
“Mother said there were no extra savings at home, as it all went to pay the tuition for my second brother.”
At the mention of Yin Chengzhou, Jiang Li remembered she hadn’t seen him in days. Hadn’t he been expelled from the academy?
Jiang Li asked offhandedly: “Has the second brother returned to the academy?”
Yin Ranshuang nodded, sighing slightly: “Sister-in-law, you know my second brother has studied for many years; we can’t let him just give up now. Furthermore, with the eldest brother gone, the second brother is the Yin family’s only hope. His tuition must be paid. That is why Mother has no money to buy me clothes, and I have no choice but to wear my everyday attire to the banquet.”