The shadows of the trees fell fragmented across the window as the sun had already risen, hanging over the eastern wall of the courtyard.
In Jiang Xuerong’s dream, however, dawn had yet to break. It was the deep of night, and the streets were bustling with fireworks. The cries of street vendors filled the air, carrying the aroma of roasted flatbreads, savory pancakes, and all manner of delicacies that drifted straight into her nostrils. Just as she was about to take a bite of the crispy, savory sesame cake in her hand, the voice of her maid, Yin Chan, suddenly echoed from afar, pulling her from her dream.
“Fourth Miss, Fourth Miss…”
Jiang Xuerong forced her eyes open and saw Yin Chan’s somewhat anxious face. She rolled over, closed her almond-shaped eyes again, and spoke with a lazy drawl, “Oh, don’t wake me. I was just about to eat my sesame cake…”
Yin Chan sighed, long since accustomed to this sight. She nonetheless pushed her to get up, urging, “Fourth Miss, it’s time for morning greetings. If you don’t get up now, you’ll be late…”
Hearing the words “morning greetings,” Jiang Xuerong finally showed a reaction. With her eyes still half-closed and her mind in a daze, she sat up and sighed, resigned to her fate as she let Yin Chan fuss over her.
Yin Chan skillfully helped Jiang Xuerong change into a lotus-pink ruqun, which made her look all the more delicate and lovely.
Jiang Xuerong had fair skin, and her charming face was even whiter than snow, like congealed jade, delicate enough to be broken by a mere breath. Her almond eyes drooped lazily, revealing a hint of bewildered innocence. Her nose was high-bridged but not overly prominent, fitting perfectly on her palm-sized face—like the finishing touch on a traditional ink wash painting.
Looking at the Fourth Miss’s face in the bronze mirror, Yin Chan couldn’t help but feel moved. In her eyes, among the several young misses of the Jiang family, the Fourth Miss was the most beautiful.
It was a pity that while she was beautiful, she was also utterly lacking in ambition.
Thinking of this, Yin Chan couldn’t stop sighing.
There were five misses in the manor. The eldest miss had married two years ago. The second miss, born of the legal wife, had always been gentle, dignified, and a quintessential lady of a great household; anyone who mentioned her had only praise. The third miss was well-versed in poetry and books, possessing quite a scholarly reputation. The fifth miss was skilled at the zither and had once performed at the Empress Dowager’s birthday banquet, earning her praise.
Compared to them, the Fourth Miss… had nothing but her pretty face.
What made Yin Chan sigh even more was that the Fourth Miss wasn’t stupid. She was clearly capable of learning the zither, chess, poetry, and calligraphy, but she simply didn’t put in any effort, leading to her lack of achievement in her studies.
Setting aside her lamentations, Yin Chan hurried to wash and dress Jiang Xuerong. She styled her hair into a Flying Immortal Chignon and fastened it with a magnolia hairpin, completing her grooming.
However, because she had risen late, she was still a step behind when they arrived at Madam Sun’s Yayun Courtyard. Her sisters were already waiting at the door to pay their respects to Madam Sun.
Jiang Xuerong stepped quickly into the courtyard. Sweeping her gaze around, she saw only one spot left next to her second sister, Jiang Sixian. She lowered her eyes and braced herself to take her place beside her.
“Second Sister.”
Jiang Sixian’s gaze drifted over coldly. She had always looked down on Jiang Xuerong’s lazy ways, and being in a foul mood today, she lectured, “Fourth Sister, it would be best if you corrected this bad habit of sleeping in. It might be fine while you are still in your maiden home, as Mother is generous and does not take offense. But when you marry into your husband’s family in the future, your mother-in-law may not be as magnanimous. She might even think our Jiang family failed to educate its daughters properly.”
Jiang Sixian was exceptionally beautiful, though her features and temperament leaned toward the cold and stern. Thus, when she pulled a long face and remained silent, she possessed quite a majestic air. As the legitimate daughter of Madam Sun, she was the most favored in the family. With the eldest miss already married, the second miss was the highest in the sibling hierarchy; when she spoke, the others had to listen.
Jiang Xuerong quickly complied. “Second Sister is right. It is my fault. I will certainly work hard to break this bad habit in the future.”
This, of course, was merely a polite formality. If she could have changed, she would have done so years ago; why wait until today? But she didn’t want to clash with Jiang Sixian, so it was better to just agree for now. As for the future, Jiang Sixian wouldn’t keep staring at her until she actually changed.
Thinking this, a wave of sleepiness hit her again. Facing Jiang Sixian’s cold expression, Jiang Xuerong silently lowered her head and stifled a yawn.
Seeing her perfunctory attitude, Jiang Sixian huffed, refusing to let it go. “You had better actually work hard to change. Otherwise, with such a lazy temperament, what kind of good marriage could you possibly find?”
Jiang Xuerong hadn’t expected Jiang Sixian to be so persistent. For a moment, she didn’t know how to respond and could only give an awkward smile. “Second Sister, rest assured, I will definitely change.”
She cursed her bad luck inwardly, sensing that Jiang Sixian was in a bad mood today, and only hoped she wouldn’t continue.
Jiang Sixian was about to say more when she saw Nanny Yang, who attended Madam Sun, lifting the curtain to come out. She immediately left Jiang Xuerong behind and stepped forward. “Nanny Yang, is Mother awake?”
Watching her back, Jiang Xuerong patted her chest and let out a sigh of relief.
The fifth miss, Jiang Lanzhi, patted Jiang Xuerong’s shoulder from behind, her eyes curving into smiles. “Fourth Sister, don’t be sad. Second Sister is in a bad mood today, and you just happened to run into her.”
Jiang Xuerong shook her head, saying it was no matter. It was just a few words anyway; as long as she didn’t take them to heart, it wouldn’t hurt her.
Jiang Lanzhi watched Jiang Sixian’s back and spoke mysteriously, “Fourth Sister, do you know why Second Sister is in a bad mood?”
Jiang Xuerong shook her head. “Why?”
Jiang Lanzhi lowered her voice and leaned into Jiang Xuerong’s ear. “I heard that Father wants to arrange a marriage for her, but Second Sister is unwilling.”
Jiang Xuerong asked further, “To which family?”
Jiang Lanzhi covered her mouth and giggled. “The family doesn’t matter. What matters is that Second Sister only has The Crown Prince in her heart; she’s set on becoming the Crown Princess. But unfortunately, The Crown Prince has been focused solely on state affairs and has no interest in selecting a consort. It’s been several years now, and Second Sister is no longer young. She can’t afford to wait anymore.”
Indeed, Jiang Sixian was nineteen this year. In Da Qi, women usually married at fifteen or sixteen; nineteen was already considered being an old maid. Duke Jiang’s family status was high, and Jiang Sixian was both talented and beautiful. If The Crown Prince were to select a consort, she would indeed have a very high chance of being chosen.
As for The Crown Prince himself, Jiang Xuerong had only seen him a few times from a distance. She remembered him as an outstanding man, graceful as a jade tree, a gentleman of exceptional poise, and widely praised. It was no wonder Jiang Sixian was so obsessed.
Jiang Xuerong sighed. She couldn’t quite understand Jiang Sixian’s obsession. No matter how good a man was, he couldn’t be eaten for dinner.
“Young misses, please come in. Madam is finished dressing.” Nanny Yang’s words interrupted their conversation.
Jiang Xuerong and Jiang Lanzhi both fell silent and entered the room.
Madam Sun sat in a red sandalwood armchair, looking elegant and dignified. Jiang Sixian stood by her side, her face still somewhat dark.
The three of them greeted her in unison. “Greetings to Mother.”
Madam Sun smiled. “No need for such formality. Sit down.”
The three of them thanked Madam Sun and took their seats. Jiang Sixian hadn’t moved from her spot, and only after Madam Sun shot her a glance did she sit down reluctantly.
According to routine, there would be some small talk next. Jiang Xuerong felt sleepiness wash over her again. She wanted to yawn but knew it was unseemly, so she forced it down, though her thoughts drifted uncontrollably.
Her gaze fell on the lush Podocarpus bonsai by the windowsill. The bonsai was a vibrant, glossy green, as if a bucket of green paint had been splashed over it, and then splashed onto Madam Sun’s head, transforming into that emerald ruyi hairpin.
Jiang Xuerong couldn’t help but curl her lips. Somehow, she felt that the bucket of green paint had also been splashed into her dream from this morning, glowing faintly on the sign of the sesame cake stall. She thought of that mutton sesame cake she hadn’t managed to bite into; it must have been delicious.
Jiang Xuerong couldn’t help but swallow her saliva, thinking that as soon as she returned to Ruoshui Pavilion, she would ask her concubine mother to make her some mutton sesame cakes.
Because she was distracted, she naturally didn’t pay attention to Madam Sun’s words. By the time they were leaving, she only noticed Yin Chan’s joyful expression, as if something good had happened.
“What is it?” Jiang Xuerong asked blankly.
Hearing this, Yin Chan knew she hadn’t heard a word. She gave her a look of disappointment. “Fourth Miss, I really don’t know what to say to you… Madam just said that several misses in the manor have reached marriageable age, so in a few days, a Flower Appreciation Banquet will be held to look for potential husbands for the misses. Fourth Miss, this is a great opportunity. You must seize it.”
Jiang Xuerong gave an “oh” and said she understood, but she didn’t take it to heart. Compared to some Flower Appreciation Banquet, mutton sesame cakes were much closer to her heart.
Jiang Xuerong quickened her pace, heading toward Ruoshui Pavilion.
Before she had gone far, she bumped into Concubine Bai and Concubine Su.
The two were standing in the middle of the path, neither giving way to the other. The atmosphere was quite tense.
Jiang Xuerong had originally intended to just walk past, but she felt a bit curious, so she quietly moved closer, wanting to hear what they were arguing about.
Hiding in a corner, Jiang Xuerong heard Concubine Su say, “I must ask Elder Sister to step aside. If I stay in this hot sun too long, I will get dizzy, and I still have to serve Master tonight.”
Concubine Bai said sharply, “Heh, Master was originally supposed to come to my courtyard last night. It was clearly you who interfered and dragged Master to yours.”
Concubine Su held her handkerchief and chuckled. “Sister must be joking. Master is a grown man; he obviously went with me because he wanted to. If Sister is unsatisfied, she can try to get Master to go back to her courtyard.”
Concubine Bai stomped her foot and sneered, “Fortune’s wheel always turns. Just you wait, you woman named Su!”
Listening to the snide remarks behind them, Jiang Xuerong silently commented in her heart: Splendid.
After speaking, Concubine Bai brushed past Concubine Su’s side. Concubine Su pointed at Concubine Bai’s retreating back and began cursing under her breath.
Seeing this, Jiang Xuerong also slipped away silently.
When she returned to Ruoshui Pavilion, Zou Ruoshui was watering the small vegetable patch in the courtyard.
“Concubine Mother, can we have mutton sesame cakes for lunch?” Jiang Xuerong asked.
“Sure,” Zou Ruoshui replied. She looked up from the garden, squinting slightly against the piercing sunlight. In the backlit glow, her skin was soft and fair; she didn’t look like someone in her thirties at all. Zou Ruoshui used her handkerchief to shield herself from the sun and swayed her hips as she stepped out of the patch.
Jiang Xuerong looked at Zou Ruoshui’s figure and thought of Concubine Bai and Concubine Su whom she had just seen.
Besides the main wife, Madam Sun, Duke Jiang had six concubines. For as long as Jiang Xuerong could remember, the vying for favor and jealous displays in the inner household had never stopped, but Zou Ruoshui rarely participated. Consequently, most of the time, Ruoshui Pavilion had very little presence.
Jiang Xuerong had once asked Zou Ruoshui why she didn’t compete for their father’s favor like the others.
Zou Ruoshui’s answer was: “Having enough to eat and drink is sufficient. Dealing with men? How foolish.”
Compared to dealing with Duke Jiang, Zou Ruoshui preferred growing flowers, fruits, and vegetables in her own small courtyard, content in her corner.
But Zou Ruoshui wasn’t entirely above competing for favor. After all, in an era where a woman’s husband was her world, life wouldn’t be easy without his favor. When there were concerns about food or clothing, she would put on a display of tenderness to please Duke Jiang. Precisely because she didn’t compete often, whenever she did show such tenderness, Duke Jiang would always fall for it.
Influenced by her mother, Jiang Xuerong had naturally developed a relaxed temperament, living by the principle that “having enough to eat and drink is sufficient.”
Zou Ruoshui walked to the veranda and instructed the maid, Yin Que, “Go to the kitchen and ask for some mutton. I’ll go knead the dough.”
Jiang Xuerong hugged Zou Ruoshui and rubbed against her. “I knew Concubine Mother was the best.”
Zou Ruoshui gave a doting look and shook her head.
However, once the dough was kneaded and Yin Que returned, she came back empty-handed. Her face was full of dejection as she told Zou Ruoshui, “Concubine Mother Zou, the people in the kitchen said there is no more mutton today and told us to come back another day. But I clearly saw a large piece of high-quality mutton sitting right there on the counter. Naturally, I wasn’t satisfied and questioned them, but who knew they would say that mutton was to be sent to Concubine Su’s courtyard.”
Yin Que had been bullied in the kitchen, and as she spoke, her eyes reddened. “How many times has this happened? Every time, they shortchange us. They are clearly picking on us on purpose. Even the jewelry given to the misses a few days ago—the pieces sent to our courtyard were all the leftovers…”
Such incidents were too numerous to count.
Zou Ruoshui’s willow-like brows furrowed slightly. She looked down at the ball of dough on the counter and murmured, “Come to think of it, I haven’t seen your father in quite a while.”