“To witness Your Majesty’s grace today is already the greatest fortune of this humble girl. I have always been fond of the pipa’s pure tone; my lifelong wish is merely to devote myself entirely to the study of music.”
Jiang Zhuo hesitated briefly, then spoke.
In truth, she had considered, for a moment, repeating the path of her previous life—first securing a betrothal with Prince Jing. As long as she behaved obediently in the inner courtyard, with Shen Guanzhi’s temperament, her treatment would not have been terrible.
And if Prince Jing ascended the throne someday, she might even receive a concubine title.
But Jiang Zhuo was gambling—on a sliver of survival for her father, and on a turning point for the Jiang family.
In her previous life, the Jiang estate was raided only a few days after she became engaged to Prince Jing.
It was impossible not to suspect Prince Jing of involvement.
“It seems the prince is willing, yet the maiden has no heart for him.”
A low, warm voice spoke with a trace of amusement.
A hand with long, defined fingers lifted the other half of the curtain. The newcomer had sword-straight brows, bright star-like eyes, and wore crimson noble robes with a golden jade belt—his aura was strikingly regal.
“Brother Ling, it seems you’ll be heartbroken this time.”
It was Prince Jing, Zhao Mingjing.
Jiang Zhuo inhaled slowly, suppressing the turmoil of memories in her heart.
The Empress Dowager gave Jiang Zhuo no further evaluation. Her gaze instead shifted to Shen Guanzhi beside her.
“And you? I recall you are…”
“This humble girl is Shen Guanzhi, daughter of Court Attendant Doctor Shen Qishan.”
Seeing that the Empress Dowager struggled to recall her name, Shen Guanzhi stepped forward to supply it.
“What reward do you seek? Don’t tell me you too have decided you won’t marry.”
With a hint of displeasure, the Empress Dowager glanced again at Jiang Zhuo, her expression cool.
“Marriage is determined by the will of one’s parents and the matchmaker’s word. I will follow the decisions of my elders.”
Bowing with her head lowered, Shen Guanzhi looked obedient and respectful.
“Now that is sensible.”
The Empress Dowager’s expression eased. She said no more, merely nodding before the maid beside her lowered the curtain again.
Prince Jing returned quietly behind the screen.
Ling Heng, however, remained annoyingly persistent, trailing after Jiang Zhuo.
“Little beauty, won’t you reconsider? My Marquisate of Wuwei has wealth and power—we would never mistreat you.”
“Marquis Ling, please mind your manners.”
Princess Zhao Shuyue, the host of the banquet, reminded him coldly. Only then did Ling Heng retreat reluctantly.
Afterward, several more high-ranking ladies performed their talents. When the Empress Dowager saw someone whose looks and family background both sufficed, she often provided personal remarks.
But by the time they reached the daughters of fourth-rank officials, the Empress Dowager claimed fatigue and returned to the palace.
Once the figure behind the curtain had left, the banquet quickly wrapped up.
Jiang Zhuo noticed that Shen Guanzhi and a few others whom the Empress Dowager had questioned closely were given jade pendants. Others received only perfumed sachets.
As for her…
Looking at the embroidered bird-pattern sachet in her hand, Jiang Zhuo could only give a helpless, bitter smile.
“You—how did you dare make that decision on the spot just now?” Shen Guanzhi, collecting her reward, spotted Jiang Zhuo nearby. Shocked and frustrated, she hurried over. “What if something went wrong—”
She had held back a stomach full of words during the performance, but since their seats were far apart, she hadn’t been able to speak until now.
“If I hadn’t done that, how would Sister Guanzhi have caught the Empress Dowager’s eye?” Jiang Zhuo maintained her soft smile. “Did you not see how Liang Xuan’er from the Minister of Rites’ family waited so long and still wasn’t called up? She was practically green with frustration.”
“They came for nothing—and so did you!” Shen Guanzhi burst out. “Do you realize you just ruined most of your marriage prospects? If your father finds out—”
“Sister’s father doesn’t care about Sister. My father doesn’t care about me. We’re the same kind of people.” Jiang Zhuo took her hand and pleaded teasingly, “All I ask is that once Sister becomes wealthy in the future, you remember to feed me.”
“You, you…” Shen Guanzhi touched Jiang Zhuo’s head and sighed.
It was said that marriage was a woman’s second life. For a chance to shine at a banquet, for a prettier hairpin, sisters within a household would fight endlessly.
Yet Jiang Zhuo had given away her opportunity so easily.
Shen Guanzhi didn’t know whether to call her foolish or pure-hearted.
But the matter was done. Saying more was useless. The banquet ended, and they parted ways for home.
When Jiang Zhuo returned to the Jiang residence, Jiang Dun was already waiting in his study.
“How was the banquet today?” he asked casually as he sipped tea, seemingly unconcerned.
“It did not go well. I fear I was not selected.”
Jiang Zhuo answered frankly.
“Marriage depends on affinity. Not marrying into the imperial family might even be a blessing for you.” Jiang Dun flipped a page leisurely. “I heard that you strictly limited the household’s coming and going yesterday. Did something happen?”
Now that they had reached the true topic, Jiang Zhuo’s expression grew serious.
“Yesterday, I rested in a meditation room at Baima Temple because of heatstroke. I vaguely overheard people in the next room speaking your name…”
She paused, deliberately letting an uneasy tremor enter her voice.
“Continue.”
Realizing the matter might be serious, Jiang Dun put aside his book and listened intently.
“They—they said you were secretly exchanging letters with the Fifth Prince… intending to rebel—”
“Nonsense! The Fifth Prince has been stationed in the northwest for years—how could he possibly be connected to me?!”
Before she could finish, Jiang Dun, inheriting the Jiang family’s quick temper, slammed his sleeve across the table. The teacup shattered on the floor, splashing her skirt. He then demanded anxiously:
“What else did they say?”
“They… they said they would report it to His Majesty soon.” Jiang Zhuo shrank back, adding details to make her tale more convincing. “I had heatstroke that day, so I wasn’t fully alert. I didn’t hear everything clearly. Only that two men were talking—one with a thin voice. The more I thought about it upon returning home, the more frightened I became. So I ordered the courtyard gates locked, fearing the servants might leak news.”
“Truth cannot be disguised, nor falsehood made real. The court these days…” Jiang Dun exhaled deeply, calming slightly. “In that case, you failing to be chosen today is a blessing.”
“What does Father intend to do?” Jiang Zhuo asked with furrowed brows.
“The court is unstable. Last month I already requested retirement and permission to return to my hometown, but His Majesty did not grant it. Now, it seems this official post is as good as resigned.” Jiang Dun stroked his beard. “It’s only a pity that I haven’t yet found you a good match in the capital. You will have to return to the countryside with me.”
Jiang Zhuo opened her mouth to respond, but a commotion erupted outside.
“What is it?” Jiang Dun demanded sternly.
A servant rushed in, panicked.
“Master! Young Miss! The Empress Dowager’s decree has arrived!”
Jiang Dun gave Jiang Zhuo a suspicious look. Seeing equal confusion on her face, he gathered the household to receive the decree.
Kneeling in the courtyard among the servants, Jiang Zhuo felt an intense anxiety welling in her chest.
In her past life, the scene had been identical—her receiving the decree amid the joyous congratulations of the household, happily accepting her engagement to Prince Jing… unaware that her nightmares would begin from that moment.
Sharing a roof, serving the same husband—any favor she received meant someone else lost it.
The hierarchy, bullying, and cruelty within Prince Jing’s manor had fueled her and Shen Guanzhi’s eventual enmity.
A twisted environment nourishes twisted desires.
Looking back now, many of her actions in that life were not her true intentions—she simply had no power to choose.
After living again, could she truly face Shen Guanzhi without jealousy, without resentment?
Biting her lip, Jiang Zhuo asked herself—
But no answer came.