In the main courtyard of the Marquis of Zhongyong’s residence, in the main hall,
Lady Fan Suwan slightly raised her eyes to look at the young girl standing not far away.
The girl wore a green cotton dress, the clothes already somewhat faded from washing, and she wore no jewelry.
But even with such simple attire, her beauty could not be concealed.
What amazed Fan Suwan was not only the girl’s beauty, but
also the fact that the girl’s appearance was nine-tenths similar to her own!
It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that they were cut from the same mold!
“Do you know why I had you brought here?” Fan Suwan asked softly.
Jiang Zhiyu blinked her large, watery eyes. “Is it because you’re my biological mother?”
Fan Suwan’s eyes narrowed slightly, her voice tightening. “How did you know?”
“I saw her! We look so alike! And you’re just the right age to be my mother. If it weren’t for that, why would the lady of the dignified Marquis of Zhongyong’s mansion meet a country bumpkin like me?”
Hearing Jiang Zhiyu’s answer, Fan Suwan nodded inwardly. She was clever; no wonder she was her biological daughter.
Five days ago, she met Jiang Zhiyu when she went to Longfu Temple to offer incense.
Although it’s true that there are people who look alike
, such a striking resemblance, coupled with such a coincidental age, inevitably aroused Fan Suwan’s suspicion.
After returning home, she immediately sent people to investigate carefully.
This investigation uncovered a secret from seventeen years ago!
Seventeen years ago, while inspecting her shops, she suddenly went into premature labor and was rushed to a pharmacy.
Coincidentally, another peasant woman experiencing a difficult childbirth was giving birth in the next room.
That very night, the two women gave birth to daughters almost simultaneously.
It rained heavily that night.
Exhausted after giving birth, she fell into a deep sleep.
The peasant woman, incredibly audacious, secretly switched their daughters while no one was in the house!
Not only that, after taking her daughter home, she deliberately threw her into the deep mountains, hoping to be eaten by wolves and tigers.
Fortunately, the child was lucky enough to be found by another woman who had gone into the mountains to gather herbs. She took her home and raised her with great care.
Otherwise, she might never have had the chance to see her biological daughter again!
Finding her biological daughter was certainly a good thing.
But—she found her too late!
If it had been a few years earlier, she wouldn’t be so conflicted.
Now, the imperial concubine selection was in a month.
Was she really going to send her biological daughter, who had grown up in the countryside, to the palace for the selection?
Look at her faded clothes!
Her shoes were still covered in mud!
Upon entering the room, she stared around with wide eyes, showing no trace of refinement. She
knew nothing of etiquette or manners, let alone poetry, calligraphy, painting, music, or chess.
If she were to enter the palace for the imperial concubine selection, it wouldn’t help the Marquis of Zhongyong’s family advance further; she might even be ridiculed by the entire capital.
Thinking this, Fan Suwan’s gaze gradually hardened.
“You are indeed my biological daughter, but now is not the right time to acknowledge us. Therefore, I plan to announce to the public that you are a distant relative who came to our household specifically to seek refuge. From now on, you will be our cousin.”
“Although you are a cousin, don’t worry, I won’t mistreat you.
From now on, you will receive the same monthly allowance as Jing Shu, fifty taels of silver, with food, clothing, and jewelry paid separately.
Are you willing?” Hearing Fan Suwan’s words, Jiang Zhiyu was slightly surprised.A cousin?
Although she didn’t particularly care about being the eldest daughter of the Marquis of Zhongyong’s family, that family heirloom jade pendant was only passed down to the eldest daughter of the legitimate wife
. She thought it would be difficult to obtain the family heirloom jade pendant using her status as a cousin…
Seeing Jiang Zhiyu remain silent, Fan Suwan’s expression turned slightly cold. “What? You’re unwilling?”
Even as a cousin of the Marquis of Zhongyong’s family, she was still a person of great wealth and status, respected and treated with deference by many in the capital.
Wasn’t that more prestigious than her being a peasant girl? How dare she hesitate?
Jiang Zhiyu’s raven-feather eyelashes trembled, and she answered crisply,
“I’m willing!”
Cousin it is then!
Being a cousin is fine, but being able to run away would make things easier!
As long as she could stay, she would get the jade pendant sooner or later.
Ten years ago, she already knew that she was the eldest daughter of the Marquis of Zhongyong’s family, but she never thought of returning to acknowledge her relatives.
This time, she returned entirely for the Jiang family’s heirloom jade pendant.
She had a birthmark on her body, shaped like a peach blossom, within which was the spiritual spring space. Inside the space was a peach tree, surrounded by ethereal mist, but half of it was hidden in the fog.
Recently, the peaches on the peach tree have ripened, but no matter how hard she tries, she can’t get close to the tree, let alone pick any peaches.
After much thought, she realized that her spatial dimension wasn’t fully open, which was why she couldn’t approach the tree.
According to her investigation, the Jiang family’s heirloom jade pendant was a hollowed-out piece, with a peach blossom in the center!
If she could get the pendant, perhaps her spatial dimension would be complete!
Thinking of this, Jiang Zhiyu’s smile widened.
Seeing Jiang Zhiyu’s radiant smile, Fan Suwan was momentarily stunned.
Such beauty, if raised in a wealthy household from childhood, would surely bring her great favor in the palace.
Unfortunately, the current Jiang Zhiyu possessed only beauty, but was utterly incompetent.
” A pretty face alone isn’t enough to survive in the harem.
” “I’ll have someone prepare a courtyard for you, next to Jing Shu’s. You two sisters can spend more time together, and you can learn from Jing Shu—”
“No need!”
“Since you’re a cousin seeking refuge, not a proper mistress of the household, a guest courtyard will suffice.”
Fan Suwan was initially surprised, then displeased, her brows furrowing.
What was this?
A feigned retreat?
Or an expression of dissatisfaction?
Whatever Jiang Zhiyu’s purpose, she wanted Jiang Zhiyu to know that in this household, her word was law, and such petty tricks were useless!
“In that case, a guest courtyard it is! Granny Bai, arrange for a maid to take her there, and prepare some clothes and jewelry for her. The family banquet tonight can’t be so shabby.”
Granny Bai immediately obeyed, “Yes.”
…
After all, it was the Marquis of Zhongyong’s residence; even the guest courtyard was very elegantly furnished.
Jiang Zhiyu was arranged in a separate, single-courtyard house.
As soon as she entered the courtyard, she saw a tall ginkgo tree, its branches laden with ginkgo fruits swaying in the summer breeze.
The tree appeared lush and green, but Jiang Zhiyu could tell at a glance that its vitality was fading; it certainly wouldn’t live to see autumn.
As Jiang Zhiyu gazed up at the ginkgo tree, she heard the maid Wangyou’s worried and distressed voice, “Miss, don’t be sad…”
“Sad?”
Jiang Zhiyu smiled at Wangyou.
“Why should I be sad? Just being able to stay in the Marquis’s mansion is enough!”
As long as she could stay, she was sure she could get what she wanted!
Wangyou and Rendong exchanged a glance, their eyes filled with heartache.
When had their young lady ever suffered such injustice?
When they returned, they would definitely tell the Old Madam and the Eldest Young Master about this.
Jiang Zhiyu ignored what the two maids thought. She raised her hand, her slender fingers gently stroking the trunk of the ginkgo tree.
With her movement, a drop of water welled up from her fingertip and was instantly absorbed by the ginkgo tree.
All of this happened in the blink of an eye, and no one else saw it except Jiang Zhiyu herself.
Jiang Zhiyu slowly withdrew her hand, a slight smile playing on her lips.
Giving it a drop of spiritual spring water would help it regain its vitality.
She would probably be staying in this courtyard for a while; it was better for this ginkgo tree to live well.
…
Evening.
Jiang Zhiyu, led by a young maid, had just reached the entrance of the main hall of Ronghua Hall when the laughter and chatter inside abruptly ceased.
Several pairs of eyes turned towards her simultaneously, fixing firmly on her.
Besides the Lady Hou, whom she had already met that afternoon, there was also a middle-aged man with a dignified appearance and bearing.
He sat in the main seat, his status self-evident.
This was Marquis Zhongyong, Jiang Zhong.
Jiang Zhong was not only Marquis Zhongyong, but also the Military Governor of the Capital Garrison, a first-rank official, in charge of the Three Thousand Battalion, one of the imperial guards of the capital region, responsible for the defense of the capital, the security of the palace, and also the emperor’s procession and escort. He possessed
both prestige and real power.
Only a confidant of the emperor could hold such a position.
Having wielded immense power and lived a life of luxury for many years, his demeanor was extraordinary.
His gaze, naturally scrutinizing and probing, fell upon her.
“You are Jiang Zhiyu?”
Jiang Zhong’s voice was cold and oppressive.
“From now on, you will live in the manor. Don’t mention anything from before. The woman who raised you has already been given enough money—enough for her to live a comfortable life and for her son to get married. You can just stay here and be your cousin.”
Jiang Zhiyu lowered her eyes, remaining silent, but a cold glint flashed in them.
Could a life-saving grace, seventeen years of nurturing, be bought off with a meager sum of money?
No concern whatsoever, treating her as a cousin, and even trying to sever ties between her and her mother and brother.
The Zhongyong Marquis’s scheme was about to backfire on her!
Besides the Zhongyong Marquis, there was another young woman.
The woman wasn’t exceptionally beautiful, but her noble and elegant demeanor was undeniable. Every movement, every smile, was perfectly graceful; it was clear she was a carefully cultivated young lady from a prominent family.
This must be Jiang Jingshu, the eldest daughter of the Marquis’s family who has taken over her status.
As Jiang Zhiyu stared at Jiang Jingshu, Jiang Jingshu was also looking at Jiang Zhiyu, her exquisitely painted eyes shimmering, making it impossible to discern her thoughts.
The next moment, Jiang Jingshu stood up and gave Jiang Zhiyu a curtsy.
“Sister—”
“No!”
Jiang Zhiyu dodged to the side.
“My mother didn’t give me any younger sisters.”