The Jiang family had firmly held its place at the head of prestigious families for many years, relying on a once-in-a-generation political genius who had advanced rapidly in her official career ever since passing the imperial examinations.
Everyone knew that Jiang Ruotang enjoyed deep imperial favor as a close confidante of the Emperor. Otherwise, she would not have been personally granted a royal marriage by His Majesty to wed the Princess. Even when the Princess later died in an unexpected tragedy, His Majesty merely held Jiang Ruotang strictly accountable for the first two days. Once the Jiang Manor concluded the funeral arrangements, Jiang Ruotang spent a month in self-reflection behind closed doors. Upon her release from house arrest and return to the court, she continued to rise step by step, as if no rift had ever existed between her and the Emperor.
She advanced all the way from Minister of Justice to Prime Minister, glowing with success and appearing extraordinarily fortunate. For a brief moment, she believed she would lead the Jiang family to remain forever at the very pinnacle of noble houses, becoming the paramount family with the deepest heritage.
Yet she died as well.
She died silently and without a sound from a cup of poisoned wine.
In her own manor, on the anniversary of Madam’s death, she drank a cup of wine and perished from the poison.
So this was her ultimate fate after all.
In her final moments before death, her memories flashed before her eyes like a revolving lantern, and she once again recalled the words that maid had spoken to her.
She had said that Madam liked her.
Yet Madam, since you liked me, why didn’t you speak up?
You were always throwing and smashing things in front of me for no reason. Was it truly not out of annoyance at seeing me return, but because you actually liked me?
It was also Jiang Ruotang’s first time marrying a wife and her first time living day and night with a woman. There were many things she did not know. If she were given another chance, she would certainly…
The Prime Minister who once held sway over the whole court slowly closed her eyes, bright red blood competing to stream from the corners of her mouth.
“My Lord, My Lord? Lord Wang has already sent over the documents you requested. Would you like to review them now?”
Jiang Ruotang woke up with a jolt, her body leaning back involuntarily. Bright light pierced her eyes, causing her to raise a hand instinctively to block it. As the scenery before her gradually grew clear, she was left momentarily stunned. Her raised hand fell open, clenching and unclenching as she stared blankly at her palm.
Was I not dead?
Where is this place? The underworld?
Her gaze fell upon the stacked official documents and dossiers before her. Knitting her brows tightly, she could not help but feel exhausted. Did a person still have to process official business upon arriving in the underworld?
…
A familiar, respectful voice sounded beside her, “My Lord? Are you feeling unwell? Should your subordinate fetch a physician to examine you?”
The person’s expression carried a slight hint of worry.
Her Lord had always taken official duties seriously, and there was never a precedent for her falling asleep while on duty at the Ministry of Justice. She must have been exhausted recently and felt too unwell to hold up.
Jiang Ruotang was rubbing her temples in frustration when she heard the voice. She lifted her eyelids instinctively, only to freeze when she saw the person. Hesitating, she spoke, “Chi Xin, why are you here? Are you dead as well?”
Chi Xin went completely blank.
Her expression clearly showed a trace of panic, but she quickly reined in her emotions, lowering her head to ask earnestly, “Does My Lord wish for your subordinate to die?”
She was a guard trained entirely by the Jiang family and was willing to die for her Lord.
Only then did Jiang Ruotang realize something was wrong. She looked around her surroundings, her brows knitting slightly, finding this official office exceedingly familiar. It seemed to be… the place where she handled official duties when she was the Minister of Justice!
The woman sitting behind the desk trembled her eyelashes violently. Pinching her fingers, she suddenly asked in a deep voice, “What year is it right now?”
A trace of doubt flashed through Chi Xin’s mind, but as a guard accustomed to obeying any order from her master, she gave the answer without hesitation, “My Lord, it is currently the thirty-second year of Yong’an.”
The thirty-second year of Yong’an; it was actually the thirty-second year of Yong’an.
She had actually returned to more than a decade ago.
Jiang Ruotang was in a trance, then raised her head abruptly as if remembering something, “Which month of the thirty-second year?”
Ever since Madam’s passing, that specific day had been deeply engraved in Jiang Ruotang’s heart.
The third day of the third month in the thirty-second year of Yong’an: her wife had set fire to herself, leaving her in the most decisive manner possible. Since then, she had been widowed for more than ten years.
Had it not been for Madam’s personal maid scolding and accusing her while revealing the truth, she would not have known that Madam had long harbored a desire to die. The fire had been set from inside the room. Prior to the fire, Madam had driven all the maids outside, saying she wished to be quiet alone, and had even bestowed many of her previously beloved ornaments upon them, leaving behind only… everything she had given her during their three years of marriage.
Chi Xin did not know what was wrong with her Lord, but she answered honestly, “The second day of the third month, My Lord. Have you been so weighed down by busy official duties lately that you are exhausted?”
How could she forget even the month and day?
The second day of the third month.
She had actually returned to this exact day: the second day of the third month in the thirty-second year of Yong’an.
Jiang Ruotang stood up abruptly, her sweeping sleeves brushing off the official documents on the desk.
With a cold expression, she made a swift decision, “Request leave on my behalf today. Prepare a horse; I must return to the manor immediately!”
Chi Xin was already numb with surprise. Upon hearing the command, she went to handle it without another word.
Jiang Ruotang mounted the horse in front of the Ministry of Justice’s official gates. Ignoring the puzzled gazes of passing colleagues and officials, she pulled the reins tight and galloped away in a cloud of dust, though her inner thoughts were far from calm.
Madam, do you truly admire me as they said, to the point where you cannot go on living without me?
After Madam died, her surrounding maids all returned to the imperial palace. However, as Jiang Ruotang was first the Minister of Justice and later the Prime Minister, it was not difficult for her to find opportunities to meet those maids and ask about Madam’s past affairs.
She did not rely solely on what that one maid had said that day, so she sought opportunities to question several others, discovering many things… she had never known before.
For instance, Madam used to lean against the courtyard gate and crane her neck, eagerly anticipating her return, waiting until late at night every time before returning to her room in disappointment under the maids’ persuasion.
For another instance, Madam often ordered people to inquire about her news. If she learned that she was close to someone, regardless of whether that person was male or female, Madam would sulk, locking herself in her room without eating or drinking, waiting for her to come and comfort her.
Yet she had never comforted her. She had never considered it something worth being angry about, nor had she ever imagined that someone would fly into a jealous rage over her speaking a few words to others.
During the days when she refrained from entering the inner courtyard, Madam was said to have missed and cared for her deeply. Yet Madam had still never expressed it to her.
Why didn’t you speak up?
Since you liked me, since you wished to see me, and since you wanted to share a bed with me, why didn’t you say so!
The sound of horse hooves came to a sudden halt, and Jiang Ruotang dismounted swiftly. Beneath her crimson official robes, a face as cold and distant as mountain snow was revealed. She tossed the reins into the hands of the gatekeeper, “Has Madam left the manor today?”
The gatekeeper bowed his back and replied with extreme care, “This lowly one has not received any news of Madam intending to leave the manor.”
Then she was at home.
Jiang Ruotang flicked her official robe, her long legs stepping across the manor gate as she walked briskly toward the inner courtyard.
Halfway there, as if remembering something, she turned back to the front court in quick strides.
She retrieved an item from the study.
Madam’s birthday gift was something she had prepared long ago. It consisted of a wide variety of dazzling and eye-catching items, among which a set of glass-like glazed lotus head ornaments was the most precious and rare.
She had encountered it by chance and specially spent a fortune to buy it, all to present it to Madam as a birthday gift.
Jiang Ruotang considered that there was no romantic love between herself and her wife, but she had never lacked in giving her proper respect and dignity.
Since Madam had married her, she truly regarded Madam as the other master of the Jiang family.
“Deliver the rest of the items to Madam’s courtyard shortly.”
The full head ornament set was somewhat heavy, so Jiang Ruotang only selected a glazed lotus hairpin from it, placed it into a box, and carried it with her.
The servants waiting in the front court hastily agreed upon hearing their master’s order.
Gripping the box tightly, she walked at a fast pace all the way from the front court to the inner courtyard. While her demeanor appeared free and decisive, her mind was far from peaceful.
She could not help but wonder: Will Madam still be identical to the Madam in my memories?
Does Madam truly love me, to the extent that she cannot bear to lose me?
The maid guarding the entrance suddenly saw the Prince Consort, whom she had not seen for several months. Her eyes widened slightly in shock. In the next moment, she turned her head, intending to call out in joy, only to be stopped by Jiang Ruotang’s sharp gaze.
Her expression changed, and she lowered her head back down in fear, her thin lips pressed tightly. She was filled with worry; the Prince Consort looked as though she had come with ill intent. Could it be that she was not here to celebrate Her Highness’s birthday, but rather to cause trouble for Her Highness?
Then, what should be done? Who could be called upon to protect Her Highness?
She wished to step in front of Her Highness herself to forbid the Prince Consort from being rude to her. However, given Her Highness’s temperament… seeing the Prince Consort would likely make her forget herself in joy. Even if she were scolded by the Prince Consort, she would never allow them to intervene or show disrespect to the Prince Consort. What should be done?
It was truly worrying to death.
Jiang Ruotang paid no mind to the servant’s wild thoughts. Standing at the courtyard gate, she could see at a glance the slender woman radiating a gloomy and depressed air along the covered walkway. Seen from afar, her fingertips seemed to be twisting a flower petal. Whatever the maid beside her whispered in her ear, she merely nodded absentmindedly, then raised her head, looking toward her with a sense of loss and melancholy, only to freeze…