The next day.
Granny Li from Second Madam Gu Shi’s courtyard came over: “Madam, Second Madam sent this old servant to inform you that Princess Rui will be bringing Princess Lingshu to the Peony Banquet in a few days, and asks you to prepare accordingly.”
Princess Lingshu?
The one who sent that plaque to Xiao Jingyi?
A peculiar thought suddenly surfaced in her mind—could it be that Princess Lingshu fancied Xiao Jingyi?
Thinking this, she voiced her question: “Granny Li, about this Princess Lingshu…”
Granny Li sighed and tactfully replied: “Our General was quite renowned in his prime, and many young ladies in the capital admired him. But our General has always maintained his integrity, never showing particular closeness to anyone.”
Jiang Lingzhi nodded, understanding—unrequited love.
Then there was nothing to worry about!
But Xueying and Yunrou grew anxious.
Second Madam had specifically sent Granny Li to warn them—their mistress’s rival in love was coming, and they must prepare their mistress thoroughly!
Xiao Jingyi, lying on the bed, overheard Granny Li’s words and felt a pang of concern.
He had no feelings for Lingshu, but he remembered her as willful and persistent. He worried this country girl might not handle it well.
Unable to help, he could only hope that seeing him unconscious and bedridden might help Lingshu finally let go.
Meanwhile, Xueying and Yunrou had sprung into action.
One went to the storage room to select jewelry, while the other rummaged through the wardrobe, determined to dress Jiang Lingzhi impeccably!
Two days later, Jiang Lingzhi’s monthly courses finally ended.
The two maids resumed their efforts, bathing her in milk and flower petals, then applying moisturizing oils and fragrant balms.
After all the fuss, Jiang Lingzhi felt she smelled as if she’d been marinated in perfume.
Finally, the day of the Peony Banquet arrived.
Jiang Lingzhi was pulled out of bed early.
Xueying chose an Ivory White Openwork Gold Begonia Cloud Brocade Wide-Sleeved Shirt for her, paired with a light purple Moonlight Phoenix Tail Pomegranate Skirt—elegant and noble.
Yunrou, with her skilled hands, styled her hair into a lively Flying Immortal Bun and pinned it with a Tassel Butterfly Hairpin.
Jiang Lingzhi looked at herself in the mirror and clicked her tongue, thinking how true it was that clothes make the person—the reflection did look quite convincing.
Her smooth, jade-like oval face, delicate nose, red lips, and white teeth, especially those smiling peach-blossom eyes, indeed bore some resemblance to Second Young Master Jiang.
This thought startled her.
Bah.
She quickly suppressed the idea.
Then, she selected a Bamboo Green Spring Shirt for Xiao Jingyi.
With his hair tied in a Jade Crown, perhaps from lying down for so long, his sharp aura had faded considerably, revealing a gentle youthful quality.
After admiring him for a while, she had someone wheel him out.
Second Madam Gu Shi was bustling around the garden, beaming and chatting animatedly—she loved such moments in the spotlight.
Spotting Jiang Lingzhi and the others entering, she immediately approached with a smile, exclaiming warmly: “Fourth Sister-in-law, it’s been days! What Jade Nectar have you been drinking in your room? Look at this face, this figure—what a stunning beauty!”
Who doesn’t enjoy being complimented? Jiang Lingzhi politely replied: “Second Sister-in-law, you’re the one glowing from within. From afar, I thought you were a celestial consort descended from heaven.”
Gu Shi, in her thirties, had raised a son and a daughter, both promising and accomplished.
Their son Xiao Yu had just passed the imperial examination at the provincial level at the age of eighteen, and their daughter Xiao Yue was already engaged to the heir of the Yongding Houfu.
Gu Shi, who had never endured much hardship and had maintained herself quite well, blossomed into smiles at such praise.
She even began to feel more convinced that the Old Madam was right—wasn’t Fourth Madam Xiao a true bringer of good fortune?
How delightful it was to speak with her!
Gu Shi even teased Xiao Jingyi, “Fourth Brother, your second brother has cultivated a courtyard full of peonies, but your bride—ah, she truly outshines even the flowers.”
Xiao Jingyi had no idea what Jiang Lingzhi looked like.
But he instinctively assumed that a country girl, at best, might have delicate features—hardly deserving of such praise as surpassing flowers.
His second sister-in-law’s compliments were merely social niceties.
Yet to him now, none of that mattered.
No matter her appearance, even if she were as plain as Zhong Wuyan, he would acknowledge her as his bride since he had married her.
After a few lighthearted remarks, Second Madam Gu Shi went back to greeting guests.
At that moment, there were still many unfamiliar faces in the courtyard—all relatives or connections of the Guogong Fu who had come to admire the peonies.
As Jiang Lingzhi pushed Xiao Jingyi further inside, she gazed with keen interest at the pots of peonies vying for beauty: “Husband, there are so many peonies here I don’t recognize. Once you wake up, you must teach me their names.”
Xiao Jingyi thought to himself that he actually knew many varieties of peonies.
But he was rather surprised that, amid all the bustle, no one had come to socialize with the country girl.
After all, she was the Fourth Madam Xiao—shouldn’t these ladies come forward to pay their respects?
How utterly improper!
What he didn’t know was that not only was no one paying respects to Jiang Lingzhi, but countless eyes were fixed on her—disdainful, critical, and sharp, with very few showing kindness.
The maids Xueying and Yunrou clearly felt the tension.
Jiang Lingzhi, however, remained perfectly composed, utterly unbothered.
Back in the countryside, whenever she returned from gathering pigweed in the hills and passed through the village entrance, the gossiping women’s stares had been far more piercing.
She had long grown thick-skinned.
Some onlookers even began to comment openly:
“Oh, so this is the country girl who’s returned from the countryside?”
“Looks rather ordinary, doesn’t she? Plain features and a bland figure—how did she muster such audacity?”
“Haven’t you heard? The Qintianjian declared her marriage to the General was destined by heaven.”
They spoke loudly, as if deliberately ensuring Jiang Lingzhi could hear.
Jiang Lingzhi thought to herself, they were clearly talking nonsense—she had looked in the mirror before coming. How could she be plain with a bland figure?
By any measure, she could be described as having flower-like beauty and a graceful, willowy figure!
“Let me hear who’s spouting nonsense in our Guogong Fu?” A clear, sharp voice rang out from the entrance.
Jiang Lingzhi turned to see Second Miss Xiao Jingxi, her almond-shaped eyes wide with a half-smile, declaring, “Anyone who dares spew such filth again can leave right now!”
Many who heard her immediately fell silent, their faces darkening.
Xiao Jingxi warmly took Jiang Lingzhi’s hand: “Fourth Sister-in-law.”
Jiang Lingzhi smiled and nodded in return.
Just then, another commotion arose at the courtyard entrance.
Everyone turned to see Xiao Yan arriving on crutches.
Following behind him were his two concubines, Jiang Lingyuan and Shui Yun.
Jiang Lingyuan was dressed with exceptional grandeur today, lending her naturally delicate and graceful demeanor an air of dignified elegance.
Following behind Xiao Yan, her brow gradually furrowed.
She had come today with the intention of outshining all others.
Having entered the household for several days, she still hadn’t acquainted herself with all its members, as concubines were exempt from the tea-serving ceremony to recognize relatives.
In contrast, Shui Yun, the Good Concubine who had grown up in the estate since childhood, held a distinct advantage over her.
Therefore, she resolved to seize this opportunity to make a striking appearance before everyone.
Only in this way could she ensure that both the upper and lower ranks of Guogong Fu and its relatives would remember her.
But to her surprise, the crowd merely glanced at her indifferently before withdrawing their attention as if she were no more significant than a stray cat or dog.
Turning back, they continued clustering together and murmuring: “Why is Princess Funing so favorable toward Jiang Lingzhi?”
“…Then we’d better avoid provoking Jiang Lingzhi for now!”
“Exactly, exactly! Let’s go greet her!”
Thus, a group of female relatives swarmed around Xiao Jingxi and Jiang Lingzhi to converse.