Jiang Lingyuan bit her lip and tugged at Xiao Yan’s sleeve, hinting for him to introduce her to the crowd.
But the moment Xiao Yan entered the courtyard, his attention was drawn to Jiang Lingzhi.
Seeing her chatting and laughing with a group of people, completely indifferent to her young uncle-in-law seated on the Plain Litter, he couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow.
Just as he expected—she was a social butterfly at heart!
Widowhood must be difficult for her. She must be regretting the marriage swap to death. He ought to find an opportunity to console her someday…
Jiang Lingyuan whispered, “Husband, there are so many people in this garden I haven’t met yet…”
“What’s the rush? You’ll get to know them gradually,” Xiao Yan completely missed her hint. “Look, they’re all chatting and laughing over there. Why don’t you join them and enjoy the lively atmosphere?”
Jiang Lingyuan was exasperated. They were all gathered around Jiang Lingzhi!
In her view, Jiang Lingzhi was nothing but a country bumpkin who’d dared to swap marriages right in the ancestral hall. Shouldn’t the entire Guogong Fu despise her?
Why was everyone fawning over her and sharing laughs now?
She bit her lip, comforting herself inwardly—perhaps it was all just superficial politeness, and everyone was merely putting on a show for Xiao Jingyi’s sake.
Fortunately, he would soon be dead.
Jiang Lingzhi had endless suffering awaiting her. No matter how much she basked in the spotlight now, it was only temporary!
Even so, Jiang Lingyuan couldn’t stand seeing Jiang Lingzhi putting on such airs, as if she’d transformed from a sparrow into a phoenix.
Xiao Yan also stood up and went to banter with a group of gentlemen.
Jiang Lingyuan couldn’t very well stop him, so she had no choice but to sit by herself on the cold bench.
Her maid Chun Liu, observing her expression, cautiously suggested, “Second Miss, perhaps we should also go and have a word with the Eldest Miss?”
At this, Jiang Lingyuan immediately turned and glared fiercely at Chun Liu, her displeasure evident. Chun Liu paled with fright and didn’t dare say another word.
The other maid, Xia Yue, chimed in smugly, “Chun Liu, we can’t call her Second Miss anymore. This is Guogong Fu—you must address her as Consort Yuan. Otherwise, if someone overhears, they’ll say we lack manners.”
This only made Jiang Lingyuan’s expression darken further.
These two maids really knew how to hit a sore spot.
They were originally accompanying maids arranged by Chu Shi for Jiang Lingzhi’s dowry, but they had voluntarily followed Jiang Lingyuan back to the Jiang family.
Jiang Lingyuan had brought them to Guogong Fu with the intention of flaunting them in front of Jiang Lingzhi.
Little did she expect these two fools would upset her so much she felt suffocated.
An announcement sounded at the entrance: “Princess Rui has arrived—Princess Lingshu has arrived—”
The entire courtyard fell silent as all eyes turned toward the entrance.
Jiang Lingzhi, who was pushing Xiao Jingyi, also looked over curiously.
They saw a dignified, elegant, and beautiful noblewoman enter the courtyard, accompanied by a proud-looking young woman in her twenties.
Xiao Jingxi whispered in Jiang Lingzhi’s ear, “Fourth Sister-in-law, that’s Lingshu. She used to pester Fourth Brother all the time.”
No sooner had she spoken than Jiang Lingzhi felt a gaze full of jealousy and resentment fall upon her.
She looked up and saw Lingshu staring daggers at her. Jiang Lingzhi curved her lips into a bright, cheerful smile in response.
Lingshu was so infuriated she rolled her eyes…
“There’s no need for formalities. Today is essentially a family gathering, and I’m a guest as well.” Princess Rui gave a light laugh before settling into a nearby round-backed chair.
She waved from a distance toward Xiao Jingxi: “Jingxi, have your fourth sister-in-law come over so your aunt can take a look at her.”
Xiao Jingxi appeared somewhat troubled, but Jiang Lingzhi had already anticipated this was directed at her. Maintaining her composure, she said: “It’s no trouble, I’ll go see her as well.”
She then pushed Xiao Jingyi’s wheelchair forward.
After offering a curtsey, Princess Rui cheerfully gestured to a nearby seat: “Sit down so we can talk.”
“Yes.”
Jiang Lingzhi sat slightly sideways, exchanging assessing glances with Princess Rui.
Princess Rui was truly stunningly beautiful, and Princess Lingshu beside her had inherited her mother’s beauty in full measure.
Jiang Lingzhi couldn’t help but wonder – how strange, doesn’t Xiao Jingyi appreciate beautiful women?
…Then what should I do?
As Princess Rui examined Jiang Lingzhi, she too felt inwardly surprised.
This woman raised in the countryside since childhood was actually bright and lovely in appearance, and her manners appeared impeccable – comparable to those noble young ladies from prominent families in the capital.
After completing her assessment, Princess Rui spoke in a seemingly gentle, teasing tone: “You dared to switch grooms in the ancestral hall – quite bold indeed. Did you calculate that Jingyi would return from the dead?”
Hearing her words, Jiang Lingzhi sensed this was a probe and responded half-truthfully: “Perhaps it was simply fate. Xiao Yan and I were incompatible according to our birth charts, which made me consider switching grooms. But my chart happens to be auspicious for the General, so he returned from death.”
Princess Rui stared intently at Jiang Lingzhi, but Jiang Lingzhi maintained an innocent expression.
“Is that so?” Princess Rui smiled as if genuinely convinced, then asked: “How is Jingyi doing now?”
Jiang Lingzhi thought this was probably what Princess Lingshu was most concerned about.
She sighed and answered: “Not well. The physician said if he doesn’t wake within three months, then…”
Pausing briefly, she added with a touch of shyness: “So my most urgent task now is to continue the General’s lineage.”
She spoke quite bluntly, hoping to scare off Princess Lingshu and prevent her from desperately clinging to Xiao Jingyi… She certainly didn’t want to gain a sister-wife!
“You’re truly shameless.” Princess Lingshu glared at Jiang Lingzhi, her words filled with hostility.
She had been infatuated with her cousin Xiao Jingyi for years, stubbornly waiting until she turned twenty. Unfortunately, Xiao Jingyi had always treated her with indifference.
Four months ago, when she heard her cousin had died, she immediately entered a Buddhist convent to practice as a lay devotee.
Later, learning that her cousin had returned from death, she hurried down the mountain to see him.
But upon returning, she discovered her cousin had actually married!
And this Jiang woman he married – not only was she some country girl raised in the countryside, but she was also his nephew’s former fiancée who had switched grooms in the ancestral hall on their wedding day!
Princess Lingshu had nearly fainted from anger.
Her brilliant, heroic cousin ended up marrying this… thing? She, a royal princess, actually lost to some discarded country girl?
The more she thought about it, the more unacceptable it felt.
“What does Your Highness mean by that?” Jiang Lingzhi replied without changing expression. “Continuing the family line is a new bride’s responsibility. Since I married your cousin, I naturally must fulfill my duties and perform what a wife should do.”
Princess Lingshu said bitterly: “What a sharp tongue you have!”
“Enough, Lingshu!” Princess Rui shot her daughter a sidelong glance before smiling at Jiang Lingzhi. “Don’t take it to heart. Lingshu is just worried about her cousin, that’s all.”
Jiang Lingzhi blinked. “It’s fine. Once my cousin gets married, she’ll naturally understand.”
Princess Lingshu’s eyes reddened with fury. Besides Xiao Jingyi, she didn’t want to marry anyone!
But Xiao Jingyi—how could he only have three months left to live? If she married him, what would become of the rest of her life?
Seeing Lingshu like this, Princess Rui knew her daughter had likely given up completely.
She breathed a relieved sigh and said playfully to Jiang Lingzhi, “You’re quite right. It’s time we started considering potential husbands for the princess.”
No sooner had she spoken than Princess Lingshu swept a teacup from the table beside her.
With a sharp crack, the teacup shattered into pieces on the ground.
Instantly, all eyes in the courtyard turned toward them.
“Lingshu! You’re tired. Come back to the manor with me.” Princess Rui glanced at her daughter, her expression filled with unmistakable relief.
Rising to her feet, she smiled warmly at Jiang Lingzhi and removed an exquisitely crafted phoenix hairpin from her hair. “I hope you’ll help Jing Yi continue the family line soon.”
Jiang Lingzhi understood this was a token of gratitude for making Princess Lingshu abandon her hopes.
She accepted it with a smile. “Thank you, Your Highness.”
As Princess Rui left with Princess Lingshu, the expressions of the women in the courtyard shifted, and they immediately swarmed around Jiang Lingzhi once more.