Jiang Zhuo could not remember how she left Qingshou Palace, nor how she returned to her residence.
She only vaguely remembered sitting indoors for a long time, dazed and unfocused.
Qin Sile, Tao Sile, and several others came by. They had originally intended to offer congratulations, but upon seeing Jiang Zhuo’s present state of utter desolation, their words turned instead into comfort and condolences.
“By the Mandate of Heaven, the Emperor decrees: Jiang Zhuo, daughter of the late Vice Councillor Jiang Dun, is gentle in temperament and upright in virtue, and has served the Empress Dowager with utmost devotion. Now, because her father was killed on the road, special consolation is granted. She is hereby conferred the title of Lady of Pucheng County, granted the honorific name Zhaoning, bestowed a fief of five hundred households. Respect this decree.”
That was how the edict was written.
People all spoke of His Majesty’s immense grace—not only granting Jiang Zhuo her father’s home county as a fief, but also having the Empress Dowager adopt her as a granddaughter, repurchasing the former Jiang residence, and allowing Jiang Zhuo to continue living in the capital.
Such imperial favor—this subject’s daughter bows in gratitude.
Jiang Zhuo no longer knew how many times she had recited such polite words of thanks, nor how many times she had kowtowed with deference and obedience.
She only felt numb.
Having lived a second life, was she still unable to change fate?
Now that she had been ennobled as a county lady, it was inconvenient for Jiang Zhuo to remain in the palace. After bidding farewell to everyone at the Music Bureau, Nanny Li led Jiang Zhuo out of the palace to the Jiang residence. Jiang Dun’s death had come too suddenly, and Jiang Zhuo did not know how to handle many matters. Nanny Li had been granted leave by the Empress Dowager to assist Jiang Zhuo in managing the necessary affairs.
However, because Jiang Dun had met with disaster in Quzhou, his remains had not been brought back. Jiang Zhuo kept everything simple. She placed only one set of her father’s official robes in the coffin, set up a mourning hall, and did not host a funeral banquet.
The first person to arrive at the Jiang residence was a middle-aged man with a dark complexion and disheveled beard and hair.
Had he not been wearing a bright red official robe, he would likely have been stopped outside by the gate servants.
“Jiang Zhuo pays her respects to Prime Minister Wang.” Dressed in plain mourning clothes, Jiang Zhuo bowed slightly in greeting.
The visitor was none other than the Grand Chancellor, Wang Wenyi.
As her father’s superior, Jiang Zhuo was not unfamiliar with this unkempt prime minister, for Jiang Dun had been almost entirely cultivated by him.
“The dead are gone; the living must carry on,” Prime Minister Wang said with a nod, offering brief consolation. “If you encounter difficulties in the future, you may also come to me.”
Prime Minister Wang had come before morning court. After giving Jiang Zhuo a few instructions, he departed.
Next came Shen Guanzhi.
“Congratulations, elder sister, on your marriage to Prince Jing.”
With deep mourning still upon her, Jiang Zhuo was offering congratulations, yet there was not the slightest smile on her face.
“At most I am only a secondary consort. Younger sister need not be so distant.” Shen Guanzhi embraced Jiang Zhuo the moment they met, her voice full of concern. “It has only been a month—how have you grown so thin?”
“So you do know you’re only a secondary consort!”
A shrill, willful voice rang out from behind Shen Guanzhi.
It was Shangguan Xue.
“You ignore the proper princess consort and instead crowd around some lowly concubine, flattering her shamelessly. No wonder even the Empress Dowager thinks you’re only fit to be a musician!”
Previously, over the position of Princess Consort of Prince Jing, Shangguan Xue and Jiang Zhuo had been bitter enemies.
Now that Shangguan Xue was officially betrothed to Prince Jing, this visit of condolence seemed more like a display of dominance.
“Miss Shangguan, please mind your words!” Upon hearing Shangguan Xue mention the Empress Dowager, Nanny Li immediately stepped forward to defend Jiang Zhuo. “Her Majesty values Lady Zhaoning’s talent, which is why she summoned her into the palace to attend her. Other young ladies may not even have such fortune.”
“And who are you? A mere servant dares to lecture me?”
Today was Jiang Dun’s grand mourning. Nanny Li was dressed entirely in white, her status not apparent. Moreover, Shangguan Xue had never seen Nanny Li before and did not know she belonged to the Empress Dowager, assuming her to be merely an old servant of the Jiang household.
Seeing the two about to quarrel in the courtyard, Jiang Zhuo sighed and stepped forward to intervene.
“It is Jiang Zhuo’s poor hospitality. Please do not blame us, Elder Sister Shangguan.”
“Who wants to put on some fake act of sisterly affection with you? If not for my father forcing me to come, do you think I would step foot in this place?”
Shangguan Xue snorted coldly, strode into the inner hall, lit a stick of incense, did not even bow, and then came back out.
Before boarding her carriage, she did not even accept the return gift of pastries Jiang Zhuo had prepared in advance.
“Miss Jiang, you are far too good-tempered. You are now a county lady. Miss Shangguan is merely engaged to Prince Jing and has not yet officially married into the princely residence. How can she speak to you like this?”
“She has always been like this. Why take it to heart?” Jiang Zhuo replied calmly, lowering her eyes. She understood that Nanny Li would certainly report today’s events to the Empress Dowager.
At times, gentleness and forbearance brought more than open contention ever could.
“A-Zhuo, you seem different from before,” Shen Guanzhi said softly from the side, holding Jiang Zhuo’s hand with concern.
“People always grow up,” Jiang Zhuo answered evenly, without the slightest ripple in her eyes.
Shen Guanzhi hesitated as if wanting to say something, but in the end said nothing.
After paying respects, she did not leave with the other guests, but instead stayed behind to help Jiang Zhuo receive condolences and manage offerings.
Jiang Zhuo did not refuse, and cast her a grateful glance.
As the number of guests gradually increased, a lavish carriage stopped in front of the Jiang residence, drawing the attention of many in the courtyard.
“Earlier, I failed to recognize true greatness. Today I have come especially to beg forgiveness from Lady Zhaoning.”
A tall, thin man dressed in ornate clothing stepped down, deliberately affecting elegance as he held a paper fan. His sharp, shifty eyes gleamed with calculation.
It was Qian Yunyi.
He stepped down from the carriage smiling.
The disgust in Jiang Zhuo’s heart deepened.
“…Please come in,” Jiang Zhuo said, making an effort not to show it on her face.
“Surely Lady County Magistrate isn’t still blaming me for what happened that night?”
Seeing Jiang Zhuo show little reaction, Qian Yunyi pressed further, growing more presumptuous.
Jiang Zhuo said nothing and simply took a step back.
The household guards immediately stepped forward, blocking Qian Yunyi as he attempted to advance again.
Having gained no advantage, Qian Yunyi turned and went toward the inner courtyard.
“You’re quite magnanimous.”
A cold voice sounded behind Jiang Zhuo. Without turning around, she already knew who it was.
“The fact that he could come out today shows that General Xie and I are both people who understand propriety.”
Jiang Zhuo did not turn around. Instead, she signaled her subordinates to keep an eye on Qian Yunyi, lest he cause trouble again.
“…His father is the Minister of Revenue,” Xie Guanlan explained helplessly.
In this capital, there were simply too many people with powerful fathers.
Jiang Zhuo kept her gaze lowered. If Jiang Dun had not met with disaster, if calamity had not befallen the Jiang household, she might well have been just like Shangguan Xue and Qian Yunyi—another spoiled scion.
After that, Zhao Mingjing, Ling Heng, and others came in succession to offer condolences.
Zhao Mingjing still spoke gently to console her, but compared to before she entered the palace, his attitude was no longer as attentive.
As for Marquis Wuwei, Ling Heng, though he had come to mourn, his gaze never once left Jiang Zhuo.
Jiang Zhuo continued to keep her head lowered, politely declining and thanking each in turn.
Though Jiang Dun had been aloof in life and made many enemies, now that he had passed so suddenly, death had erased past grievances, and many old acquaintances still came to pay their respects.
Yet human hearts were unpredictable. Among those who came, quite a few harbored intentions of watching Jiang Zhuo’s misfortune, or coveting the Jiang family’s property.
Facing these people with hidden agendas, Jiang Zhuo finally understood why her father had disliked socializing and entertaining guests in life.
Now, Jiang Zhuo disliked it as well.