Fresh blood still flowed from her arm, yet Songyin did not utter a sound, seemingly oblivious to the pain as she struggled to organize her memories and assess the current situation.
Two years ago.
The Jiang family was merely a destitute household in a village under a small county town. Jiang Tan’er had suddenly crossed over from another world and began building a fortune through culinary skills.
It was also around that time that she buried her master and regained her freedom.
Alone and in search of her family, she ventured out but encountered Jiang Tan’er.
During their first meeting, she happened upon an elderly man suffering from heatstroke by the roadside and promptly rescued him. At that moment, Jiang Tan’er appeared, immediately recognizing the old man’s identity and helping to locate his family.
Of course, the old man was a wealthy patriarch who later provided Jiang Tan’er with considerable assistance in that small county town.
And so, she became acquainted with Jiang Tan’er.
Jiang Tan’er was warm, lively, and her smile was as radiant as the rising sun, captivating all who saw her.
As for her, she had no family or surname. Since childhood, due to her difficult temperament, she had been sold multiple times.
Later, although she was purchased by a divine physician, she remained confined in one place for years, deprived of freedom, and only encountered those on the brink of death. It was hard not to be drawn to a vibrant woman like Jiang Tan’er.
Thus, it was only natural that she became friends with Jiang Tan’er. The Jiang family treated her well, and after spending time together, she came to regard them as family.
A year ago, Jiang Tan’er brought back an injured man.
Under her care, the man recovered and developed mutual affection with Jiang Tan’er. This man was none other than the Seventh Prince of the current dynasty.
Before the Seventh Prince departed, he left a letter that allowed the Jiang family’s sons to study at the largest academy in the capital, which led to the Jiang family’s move to the capital.
Now, the Jiang family had been in the capital for three months.
Three months was a short time, yet the Jiang family had already stirred up quite a few incidents.
Thanks to repeated assistance from the Seventh Prince, Jiang Tan’er was able to attend various banquets hosted by official families’ daughters, attracting many unusual gazes.
The Jiang family’s status was vastly different from others, often leading to cold treatment. Each time, Jiang Tan’er would return home aggrieved, angry, yet resilient, and then confide in her about the malicious young ladies she had encountered.
She rarely went out and knew nothing about those people, relying mostly on Jiang Tan’er’s accounts to judge their character.
The Xie family, in Jiang Tan’er’s words, were the worst of them all.
A few days ago, Jiang Tan’er had clashed with a young lady from the Xie family. The reason was that Jiang Tan’er had stolen the spotlight at a banquet by reciting five poems in a row, but the Xie family’s young lady pointed out that the styles varied too greatly, as if they were not written by the same person.
Some believed Jiang Tan’er was talented, while others agreed with the Xie family’s young lady.
The situation turned ugly.
Yesterday, in front of a large crowd, the Xie family’s young lady suddenly flushed red in the cheeks and acted as if intoxicated or delirious. Ignoring her maidservant’s attempts to stop her, she exposed her shoulders and neck, damaging her reputation and becoming a laughingstock.
Before this strange incident, the Xie family’s young lady had only met Jiang Tan’er.
Today, Jiang Tan’er went to see the Seventh Prince. Xie Jiyan, intent on avenging his sister, could not find her at all.
As someone close to Jiang Tan’er and possessing medical skills, Xie Jiyan naturally shifted the blame to her, leading to the earlier scene where her arm was slashed.
The deed was indeed Jiang Tan’er’s doing, but she had left no evidence. On the other hand, Xie Jiyan’s public assault would inevitably draw criticism and lose him the moral high ground.
It was also because of this sword strike that it later became Jiang Tan’er’s justification for retaliating against the Xie family.
…
“Sister Songyin, you’re injured?!”
Songyin was deep in thought when Jiang Tan’er rushed into the clinic.
Jiang Tan’er possessed a lovely face, delicate and charming, with eyes so clear and bright they resembled blooming, vibrant flowers. She had a unique charm, a dazzling pearl that could be spotted in a crowd at a single glance.
Yet the intentions hidden beneath that innocent smile disgusted her!
In her previous life, Jiang Tan’er had ultimately married into the royal family and demanded that she accompany her.
At that time, Songyin had already planned to leave the capital to continue her search for someone, but with Jiang Tan’er now a princess consort, she had no choice but to follow her to the prince’s residence.
On the surface, she was Jiang Tan’er’s friend, but in reality, she was a dowry physician.
If her master knew she had ended up in such a state, he would laugh so hard his coffin might crack.
After all those years of hard work—studying medicine relentlessly, apprenticing under a master—she had finally earned her freedom, only to become half a servant once again!
And in the end, she had even died for Jiang Tan’er!
As Jiang Tan’er rose to become a princess consort, she had made many enemies. When she was suddenly targeted for assassination, in that critical moment, the Seventh Prince had used Songyin as a shield to save Jiang Tan’er.
Both were lifesaving favors, yet that damned prince showed such blatant favoritism.
What shocked her even more was that, as she lay dying, Jiang Tan’er finally revealed the truth!
Jiang Tan’er had known all along that she was of the Xie family bloodline.
However, Jiang Tan’er believed that her father had remarried and was not a devoted man, and that her siblings were malicious and unworthy of being her family. So, for her own good, Jiang Tan’er had kept it a secret!
She had even caused the Xie family to be ruined!
“Songyin, don’t blame me. I did it all for your own good. If a family as wicked as the Xie’s clung to you, your life would be ruined… In this life, being able to be sisters with you has truly made Tan’er happy. Thank you, Sister A’yin, for everything you’ve done for me. I will never forget you…”
Recalling these words Jiang Tan’er had spoken as she lay dying, Songyin felt a surge of anger.
Those words echoed in her ears, and as she faced the younger Jiang Tan’er before her, Songyin’s fury erupted.
“Slap!”
Songyin raised her uninjured hand and struck Jiang Tan’er squarely across the face.
Jiang Tan’er couldn’t die yet, but the system hadn’t said she couldn’t be hit.
Jiang Tan’er froze in shock, clutching her cheek as she stared at Songyin with a mix of anger and disbelief. “Sister A’yin, what are you doing?!”
“You used my ‘Springtime’ on the Xie family’s young lady, didn’t you? When you asked for this medicine, you clearly said you only wanted to embarrass Miss Xie a little. Why did she end up losing her reputation?!” Songyin demanded.
She wasn’t wrongfully accusing Jiang Tan’er.
Miss Xie had questioned the authenticity of Jiang Tan’er’s poem, which had infuriated Jiang Tan’er, who believed Miss Xie was deliberately targeting her.
After returning, Jiang Tan’er had recounted the incident to Songyin, embellishing the details.
She claimed that Miss Xie couldn’t write poetry herself and was jealous of her talent.
She also said that Miss Xie pretended to be dignified but was inwardly arrogant and vulgar, and that it was unfair how such a person was praised in the capital. Determined to expose Miss Xie’s true nature, Jiang Tan’er had asked for a bottle of medicine.
The medicine was called “Springtime.” In small doses, it would cause flushed cheeks and red rashes that would fade within two hours. But if used excessively, it would lead to full-body rashes, fever, and, as it was a drug, even some loss of reason.
Yet Miss Xie had clearly consumed a considerable amount, which is why her reputation was damaged.
Jiang Tan’er grew somewhat angry upon hearing her words.
There were outsiders present in this medical clinic!
“Ayin, must you say these things in front of so many people? Yesterday, when I went to apologize to Miss Xie, we truly made amends. Later, she got drunk and lost face on her own—how can that be blamed on you or me?” Being struck in public made Jiang Tan’er feel very uncomfortable, but considering Songyin’s character, she patiently added, “Look at you. Xie Jiyan injured you so badly, yet you still stand up for these outsiders. You’re just too easy to bully!”
Songyin knew Jiang Tan’er was reminding her.
Her injuries were caused by the Xie family, and she was also involved in the matter concerning Miss Xie.
Speaking of it openly in front of everyone would not be good for anyone.
“Outsiders?” Songyin scoffed softly, looking at her calmly. “Jiang Tan’er, are the Xie family truly outsiders to me?”