Just then, a stunningly beautiful woman emerged from the winding covered corridor. She wore a rose-red ruqun embroidered with silver peonies, her hair styled in an elaborate peony coiffure. Adorning it was a magnificent phoenix hairpin, from whose beak hung a pearl as large as a longan, resting against her forehead. As she walked, the pearl swayed only ever so slightly.
Only women of the highest rank within the imperial family were permitted to wear a complete phoenix hairpin.
Who was she?
“I had nothing better to do,” she said casually. “Watching a pack of dogs bark is entertaining enough.”
“Changning, come over. This is my Fourth Sister-in-law” Eldest Young Madam Lu said with a smile.
Jiang Lingyuan stepped forward and gracefully curtsied. Every movement she made was smooth and elegant, composed and unhurried.
“Greeting, Your Highness, Princess Changning.”
Princess Changning carefully looked Jiang Lingyuan over before nodding in approval.
“Your younger sister-in-law is quite impressive.”
As she spoke, she continued walking ahead.
“Let’s go sit in the pavilion.”
Eldest Young Madam Hu didn’t dare utter another word. Only after everyone had dispersed to mingle freely did she quietly breathe a sigh of relief. Her legs gave way involuntarily, and she stumbled backward. Had someone beside her not steadied her, she would have embarrassed herself on the spot.
In the end, she was simply the type who bullied the weak and feared the strong.
Third Miss Hu looked at her with open disdain and warned coldly,”Eldest Sister-in-law, you already humiliated our family enough. If you truly care about the Marquis of Cheng’en’s Manor, stop offending people recklessly. No matter how insignificant that Miss Jiang used to be, she’s now married into the Duke of Yu’s Manor. She’s no longer someone you can provoke.”
To be honest, Third Miss Hu had admired Lu Yun as well. A man as refined and distinguished as he was naturally attracted women.
But she was far more practical and rational. Once she realized there was no possibility between them, she promptly turned her attention elsewhere.
Eldest Young Madam Hu lowered her head in silence. However, after Third Miss Hu had walked away, she stared after her with eyes filled with venom.
Jiang Lingyuan knew nothing of this.
She followed Eldest Young Madam Lu and Princess Changning to the pavilion. The view of the Duke of Qin’s Manor gardens from there was quite beautiful. Jiang Lingyuan spoke very little, simply listening as Princess Changning and Eldest Young Madam Lu chatted.
Princess Changning herself was something of a remarkable figure.
When she was still an imperial princess, she had been on excellent terms with the Sixth Prince. After he ascended the throne, her own status naturally rose with his, and she had lived a carefree and comfortable life ever since.
Of course, Princess Changning and Empress Hu had disliked one another from the very beginning. Every meeting between them was like tit for tat, so she also held little affection for anyone from the Hu family.
As she idly admired her crimson-painted nails, Princess Changning asked in an offhand manner,”Have your Fourth and Fifth Misses been betrothed yet?”
Lu Xiaoyue and Lu Xiaoyu were both fourteen this year. It was the age when noble families began looking for suitable husbands, though households of their standing never hurried their daughters into marriage.
Still, Princess Changning would never ask such a question without reason.
Eldest Young Madam Lu immediately understood the implication.
The Late Emperor’s three-year mourning period would end the following year, after which the imperial consort selection could begin again. If the Duke of Yu’s Manor wished to avoid becoming entangled in it, the best course would be to arrange engagements for the family’s daughters as soon as possible.
Quickly catching the hint, Eldest Young Madam Lu smiled.
“We’re already looking. There are so many outstanding young gentlemen in the capital that it’s hard to choose.”
Naturally, girls of their status were also highly sought-after daughters-in-law.
Princess Changning merely nodded as if she had only asked in passing before changing the subject.
“You rarely visit Huaxiangrong after getting married. To be honest, it just isn’t as enjoyable without you.”
Eldest Young Madam Lu smiled helplessly.
“I spend every day managing the household. Where would I find the time? Now I can only invite Huaxiangrong’s beauty specialists to come to my courtyard.”
“That’s true,” Princess Changning laughed. “After all, it’s located on an estate outside the capital, which is rather inconvenient for you. That’s exactly why it’s better not to get married.”
“If the Prince Consort heard you say that, he’d surely be unhappy,” Eldest Young Madam Lu teased.
A sweet smile spread across Princess Changning’s face.
“He’s clingy enough as it is.”
Princess Changning’s husband held only a post in the Hanlin Academy and possessed little real authority. However, he was handsome and refined, and the couple was famously devoted to one another.
Jiang Lingyuan, meanwhile, found herself thinking about Huaxiangrong.
Located on an estate covering more than a hundred mu outside the capital, it was an establishment exclusively for women, offering fine dining, entertainment, and a wide variety of beauty and body treatments.
It had been founded by her grandmother.
Now, it was under Jiang Lingyuan’s ownership.
After thinking it over, she chose not to mention it. Bringing it up herself would inevitably sound like showing off.
Before long, members of Eldest Young Madam Lu’s natal family from the Duke of Rong’s Manor arrived. Eldest Young Madam Yang also came over to chat with them.
She had a gentle temperament and, having grown up alongside Eldest Young Madam Lu and Princess Changning, got along very well with both of them. She was equally kind toward Jiang Lingyuan.
At noon, all the married ladies from the various noble households dined together in the rear garden.
The Duke of Qin’s Manor naturally cared about its reputation, so the banquet was prepared with exceptional care.
Jiang Lingyuan, however, ate very little.
She had a slight aversion to sharing dishes with people she wasn’t familiar with, so she only selected a few dishes she particularly liked.
After lunch, the entertainment began in earnest.
There were games of pitch-pot, cuju, and shuanglu, while the unmarried young ladies displayed their talents in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting.
As for married women like Jiang Lingyuan, they generally did not participate.
At that moment, Sixth Miss Xu from Grand Secretary Xu’s family approached her.
“You must be Fourth Young Madam Lu?”
Sixth Miss Xu possessed a scholarly elegance without any trace of arrogance. She appeared gentle and approachable.
Jiang Lingyuan, however, knew that Sixth Miss Xu had long admired Lu Yun.
Unlike Eldest Young Madam Hu’s younger sister, who had been rather obvious about it, Xu Ruiya had always been much more subtle.
She was celebrated as one of the capital’s most talented young ladies, and many people had long praised her and Lu Yun as a perfectly matched pair in both talent and appearance.
Considering that Lu Yun intended to pursue a career as a civil official, someone like her would indeed have been an ideal wife.
She had also been Eldest Madam’s preferred choice for a daughter-in-law.
The moment Sixth Miss Xu approached, many people quietly turned their attention toward them, eager to see what would happen.
Jiang Lingyuan smiled politely.
“That’s right. May I ask who you are, Miss?”
Although she knew exactly who the young woman was, pretending not to recognize her was perfectly reasonable. After all, the girl had approached her so abruptly without even introducing herself.
Seemingly oblivious to the subtle snub, Sixth Miss Xu smiled warmly.
“I thought Fourth Young Madam Lu already knew me. My grandfather is Grand Secretary Xu. I’m the sixth daughter among my sisters. My given name is Ruiya, and my close friends jokingly gave me the courtesy name Wenxi.”
That was certainly interesting.
Lu Yun’s courtesy name was Xihe.
Her courtesy name was Wenxi .
She was practically making sure Jiang Lingyuan would notice the similarity.
Her methods were subtle and clever, but Jiang Lingyuan paid them no mind.
No matter how much Xu Ruiya tried to provoke her, she could never marry Lu Yun now. After all, for the legitimate daughter of a Grand Secretary to become someone’s concubine would make her the laughingstock of the capital.
Keeping her expression perfectly calm, Jiang Lingyuan asked,”What brings Sixth Miss Xu here?”
Seeing that Jiang Lingyuan had remained completely unfazed, Xu Ruiya showed no annoyance.
“This is my first time meeting Fourth Young Madam Lu, yet I feel as though we’ve known each other for years. I wonder if Fourth Young Madam Lu would honor me by coming over and offering some guidance on my qin playing?”
Xu Ruiya’s mastery of the qin was renowned throughout the capital and was the accomplishment of which she was most proud.