The Xie family’s garden gathered most of the noble young ladies of the capital, arranged from front to back according to family status.
The Zhongyong Earl’s household had long been in decline, and Jiang Fu, being an orphan from the second branch, was relegated to a remote corner.
A long table was set up in the garden, laden with various pastries for the noble ladies to enjoy.
But those who could attend the Xie family’s banquet were all favored daughters of their households, naturally looking down on these few plates of pastries.
Yet Jiang Fu was different.
The second master of the Jiang family had been a leisurely scholar during his lifetime, relying solely on the family’s wealth to get by. Jiang Fu’s birth mother, Qiu Niang, was an orphan without parents. It was said that when she married the second master, she brought only a chest of tattered books, without even a decent dowry.
If not for the second master’s desperate insistence on marrying her, Madam Jiang would never have allowed her into the household.
Even after entering the household, Madam Jiang disliked this second daughter-in-law, and consequently, she could not bring herself to be affectionate toward Jiang Fu either. Otherwise, she would not have locked the courtyard gate to focus on Buddhist prayers after the second branch couple passed away, completely ignoring how harshly the main branch treated Jiang Fu.
When Lin Xueyan made a scene publicly, Jiang Fu was drooling over the lotus flower pastry before her.
Whoever the Xie family had hired as their chef, this lotus flower pastry was fried exceptionally temptingly. The petals were layered like living flowers, and the center was likely filled with sweet bean paste. The sweet fragrance wafted into her senses, and Jiang Fu finally couldn’t resist reaching out.
“Jiang Fourth!”
Lin Xueyan had insinuated and mocked her thoroughly. Anyone else would have been so ashamed they’d want to crawl into a hole, but Jiang Fu was different—not only did she not care, but she also had the mind to eat pastries.
Lin Xueyan was nearly furious to death.
Her sudden loud shout startled Jiang Fu, who immediately retracted her hand.
The young girl’s plain face was tender with youth. Though not the youngest among these noble ladies, her years of confinement in the inner quarters and lack of worldly experience made her more naive than the others.
At this moment, her expression was bewildered, and her gaze toward Lin Xueyan held confusion, as if asking why this unfamiliar noble lady was shouting at her.
Seeing Lin Xueyan staring at the lotus flower pastry in front of her, Jiang Fu suddenly understood.
“…Is this not allowed to be eaten?”
“Pfft!”
Xu Yun couldn’t help but laugh aloud.
This Fourth Miss Jiang was truly a remarkable person.
With Xu Yun leading the way, laughter gradually spread throughout the garden. Lin Xueyan, humiliated and enraged, shouted, “Quiet! No laughing!”
But this wasn’t the Lin household, so naturally, no one listened to her.
Lin Xueyan grew to hate Jiang Fu, and by extension, Jiang Yao and Jiang Lin as well.
Amidst the surrounding noble ladies’ incessant mockery, her face flushed red as she shoved Jiang Yao fiercely.
“Truly a family! Don’t even look at your own status—are you fit to stay here? Get back to where you belong!”
Jiang Yao stumbled from the push, nearly falling, but fortunately, Jiang Lin caught her from behind.
Unlike Jiang Fu, who had grown up amidst malice and found others’ disdain and provocations commonplace, not feeling embarrassed or hurt by them, Jiang Yao was different.
She had worked hard to ingratiate herself with Lin Xueyan, pleasing her by speaking ill of Jiang Fu, and had managed to squeeze half a foot into the circle of upper-class noble ladies. Yet before she could even stand firm, she was driven out due to misplaced anger.
Jiang Yao dared not be angry with Lin Xueyan and instead harbored a deep grudge against Jiang Fu.
That wretch should have been kept locked up all along!
“Alright, the lakeside is all set up. Everyone, let’s go enjoy the lotus flowers.”
Miss Xie stepped forward to smooth things over, and the garden quieted down.
Lin Xueyan glared angrily at Jiang Fu before following Xie Chan to the central garden lake.
The two were far apart, so Jiang Fu did not directly feel her anger. At the moment, she was simply regretting not being able to eat the lotus flower pastries.
Ah, I wonder if there are any by the lake.
The young girl’s thoughts were too transparent, written all over her face. Xu Yun found it amusing and took the initiative to approach her for a conversation.
“Does Fourth Miss Jiang like pastries?”
Jiang Fu noticed someone beside her and turned to see a round, cheerful face with a dimple at the corner of the mouth when smiling—a sight that brought joy to anyone who saw it.
She rarely encountered kindness, but she could sense that Xu Yun genuinely wanted to talk to her.
Jiang Fu nodded, her voice soft and gentle. “Yes, I do.”
“My family’s cook makes pastries like no other, even better than the Xie family’s. Would you like me to invite you to try them?”
Better than the Xie family’s? How delicious must that be?
Jiang Fu couldn’t imagine it. She thought the Xie family’s pastries were already incredibly tasty, even though she hadn’t had the chance to try them yet.
“I… I can’t leave the house.”
Of course, she wanted to go, but Lady Jiang of the main branch forbade her from going out. If it weren’t for the invitation from the Xie family today, who knew when she would have been able to leave again.
Xu Yun was utterly charmed by her delicate and adorable appearance and couldn’t resist reaching out to pinch her cheek. The young girl’s face still carried a hint of baby fat, and it felt as soft as expected.
“I’ll send you an invitation.”
The girl’s eyes suddenly lit up, and Xu Yun’s smile deepened.
“My name is Xu Yun. I’m the eldest daughter of the Vice Minister of Works and two years older than you. You can call me Sister Yun.”
“Sister Yun.”
Although Jiang Fu was the fourth in line among the Jiang siblings, the two from the main branch of the Jiang family were far from being sisters to her—they barely refrained from bullying her. Xu Yun was the first person who genuinely wanted to befriend her.
“Good girl.”
The intimate scene between the two made Jiang Yao grit her teeth in frustration. How could Jiang Fu, after angering Lin Xueyan, act as if nothing had happened? It was one thing for Lady Xie to help her out of the situation, but now Xu Yun was actively seeking her friendship.
“That little wretch!”
Seeing Jiang Yao trembling with rage, a flicker of calculation flashed in Jiang Lin’s eyes.
“Second Sister, don’t be angry. Miss Xu may not genuinely want to befriend her. After all, she and Miss Lin have always been at odds. The closer Xu Yun gets to Jiang Fu, the more Miss Lin will resent her.”
“You’re right!”
With Jiang Lin’s guidance, Jiang Yao quickly understood.
Jiang Fu was just an orphan with no one to rely on. What could possibly make Xu Yun want to befriend her? It was surely just to oppose Lin Xueyan and make her unhappy.
Jiang Fu was merely a living target caught in the middle, needlessly attracting more jealousy and hatred.
“Hmph! Even so, I won’t let her off easy. Come, let’s go to the lake. Today, I’ll make sure that little wretch is humiliated so she won’t dare to show her face outside again!”
By now, the noble young ladies had gradually gathered by the lake. Because members of the Xiao family might attend today, everyone had dressed up extravagantly, eager to wear their finest outfits in hopes of catching the eye of either the eldest son of the Xiao family or the third master.
“Will the third master really come today? Could it be just a rumor?”
“Everyone is just speculating. Besides, how could the third master of the Xiao family take notice of us? There’s a bit more hope with the eldest son, though.”
The noble young ladies whispered among themselves, and when the eldest son of the Xiao family was mentioned, many glanced toward Jiang Fu.
Xu Yun had been called away, leaving only Jiang Fu and her maid, Bai Xing, by the lake. At the moment, Jiang Fu was gazing absentmindedly at the lotus flowers in the lake, her mind occupied with the recipe for calming incense. She planned to find an opportunity to buy the ingredients on her way back to the residence.
The voices of the crowd reached her ears, and upon hearing the name of the Third Master of the Xiao family, she couldn’t help but tremble.
Would Xiao Jing… also come?
“Miss?”
Jiang Fu’s panic was noticed by Bai Xing, who called out to her softly.
Jiang Fu snapped back to reality, suppressing her fear. “I’m fine.”
She wasn’t afraid. Xiao Jing didn’t know she had dreamed of him in a lustful way, so he wouldn’t do anything to her.
Yes, she wasn’t afraid!
Not far away, Jiang Yao and Jiang Lin watched her. Exchanging a glance, their eyes filled with scheming intent. “Let’s go over there.”