Jiang Shiyuan stared at the triangular zongzi that had just been delivered to the table, her mind wandering.
In a daze, she finally realized she had been reborn.
Because of her poor health, she rarely touched glutinous foods. It was rare for her to make a trip outside, but the sun had been too intense for her to bear, so she had retreated into this elegant private room by the river. Even the bustling noise from outside was significantly muffled here.
“I’ve troubled Sister-in-law to stay here with me. On such a grand occasion, you really should have gone out to see the sights.”
As soon as she spoke, her voice was clear and melodious.
She idly waved an ice-silk fan with a jade frame. Her dress, made of soft “mist-silk” in an aqua hue, lent her an air of cool elegance. Her sleeves pulled back slightly to reveal a portion of her wrist, which was adorned with a high-quality emerald bracelet—translucent, rounded, and richly colored without losing its delicate charm.
She appeared as languid and relaxed as a cat.
“By His Majesty’s grace, the families of all officials were permitted to gather at Qu Yang Pool to watch this year’s dragon boat races. The intention was to have a lively celebration to bring good fortune. But look at you—you’ve come all this way and yet you won’t even show your face. The rumors outside saying you’re hiding because of the broken engagement are starting to seem true.”
The one responding was a dignified woman sitting beside Jiang Shiyuan.
Her hair was pinned up meticulously, adorned with subtle pearl and jade hairpins. Her slender back was held perfectly straight, marking her as someone with an excellent upbringing.
She was Jiang Shiyuan’s eldest sister-in-law, Lady Xiang, the wife of the eldest young master of the Marquis Wenyuan’s estate. The two had been close friends since childhood, and now that they were family, they were even closer than most.
Holding a lychee that had been rushed from Lingnan via express courier, Lady Xiang carefully peeled away the shell to reveal the translucent, succulent fruit. She handed it to Jiang Shiyuan with an expression of palpable affection. Jiang Shiyuan took the lychee and took a small bite. It was firm yet juicy, sweet and refreshing—perfect for the season.
“Let them say what they want; I don’t care. I live my life behind closed doors. Who could be more carefree than me? Don’t you agree, Sister-in-law?”
As she spoke, her cheeks were flushed with a faint rosy hue from the heat, as beautiful as the sunset. Her eyes sparkled with spirit, making her look utterly captivating.
Lady Xiang smiled and looked out at the festivities on Qu Yang Pool, shifting the topic.
“Your Second Aunt thought she was so clever, snatching that marriage alliance with the Prince Chun’s estate. But now, the second Miss Jiang has been married for less than a month, and I hear the Princess Consort is already looking for side concubines for the Heir. Having to deal with such matters so early in a marriage… I wonder if she regrets it now!”
Regret? Probably not.
The “Second Miss Jiang” Lady Xiang spoke of was Jiang Shijin.
She was the daughter of Jiang Shiyuan’s second uncle. Because the uncle had passed away early, leaving behind a widow and an only daughter, Jiang Shiyuan’s father had pitied them for having no one to rely on and had done his best to look after them for years.
He gave money where needed and exerted effort where he could.
He never expected that he was merely inflating the mother and daughter’s greed. This led to the incident during the Lantern Festival, where Jiang Shijin stole Shiyuan’s credit and reputation to share a romantic encounter with the Heir of Prince Chun.
Once the affair came to light, the Second Aunt and the Grandmother came to plead before Shiyuan. After much persuasion, their goal was simply to let the second sister, Jiang Shijin, take her place in the marriage.
In truth, Jiang Shiyuan hadn’t wanted this marriage from the start.
In her past life, she had spent three years in Prince Chun’s estate. Initially, she too thought it was a perfect match.
Her father-in-law was cheerful and easy-going, her mother-in-law was strict about rules, and her husband, the Heir, though royalty, lacked any of the typical vices of the nobility. Instead, he enjoyed the company of scholars and literati. Consequently, his reputation in the capital and throughout the Sui Dynasty was excellent.
Everyone praised him as a “bright moon in the world,” humble and polite.
But people are complex; one only discovers if someone is a wolf or a leopard after living with them. Within months of entering the estate, that family stopped acting. Because Shiyuan was frail and unable to conceive, even the concubines dared to give her cold looks and used petty methods to torment her.
By the time her life force was spent, no one remained by her side except her dowry maids, Liuhua and Lvluo.
She thought she had finally found release, but when she opened her eyes, she was back in the 13th year of the Shengkang Era, before she was married.
The grievances she suffered in her past life were still vivid in her mind. Therefore, she didn’t care for this marriage at all. She had originally planned to find a way to break the engagement, but she hadn’t expected her grandmother and Second Aunt to set their sights on the Heir of Prince Chun themselves.
As for the marriage itself, Jiang Shiyuan never took it to heart. Her only disgust stemmed from their complete lack of regard for the future of the family’s men, caring only for their own social climbing.
However, several months had passed, and now that both families had “gotten their wish” with the marriage, she didn’t feel like dwelling on it.
“Whether it’s a blessing or a curse, since she chose to marry him, she must endure the outcome. I won’t waste my energy on her. I’d rather spend my time with my aunt, urging you, Sister-in-law—when will I be able to hold a little nephew?”
Lady Xiang was teased into a state of bashful silence. Her face flushed, appearing more radiant and womanly compared to Jiang Shiyuan.
Hearing the drums and gongs outside grow louder with cheers, Jiang Shiyuan, who had been lounging lazily, felt a spark of curiosity. She stood up and walked to the window, using her fan to shield her eyes from the sun. Watching the lively scene on Qu Yang Pool, the corners of her mouth curled upward.
“Sister-in-law, come quickly! Second Cousin and Third Cousin are in the same boat. It looks like they might take the prize today!”
Lady Xiang stood up to join her. When she saw the dozens of men on the black-and-red, gold-painted dragon boat looking toward the finish line with fierce determination, she wore a playful expression.
“Cousin Pei is there too. Anian, did you see him?”
“Cousin Pei? He came as well?”
Lady Xiang pointed into the distance. Jiang Shiyuan followed her gaze and indeed saw the man.
Among the thirty-six officials, he was the most high-spirited.
A youth of eighteen or nineteen, he stood at the very front of the dragon boat, commanding the drums and gongs. Dressed in vibrant, well-fitted clothes, he was tall and sturdy, looking radiant under the sun. A red silk ribbon was tied to his drumstick, fluttering in the wind alongside the banners.
“He arrived in the Western Capital three days ago and is currently staying at our house. Grandmother said she’ll host a family banquet soon to welcome him. You and your father must come join the fun.”
Before Jiang Shiyuan could agree, her train of thought was interrupted by someone speaking behind them. When the two turned to see who it was, Lady Xiang’s face immediately clouded with displeasure.
The newcomer wore a moon-white long skirt embroidered with begonia patterns. The flower centers were stitched with golden silk and adorned with round, lustrous pearls that shimmered in the light. Her hair was perfectly styled, fastened with a begonia white-jade hairpin.
She had a slender waist and a delicate, pretty face.
She was the one who had stolen Jiang Shiyuan’s marriage—the eldest daughter of the Jiang family’s second branch, Jiang Shijin, now the Consort of the Heir of Prince Chun.
“What a coincidence to run into Big Sister and Cousin-in-law Wang here. It’s so lively outside, why aren’t you watching? Standing back here, I’m afraid you can’t see clearly. Or is it that Big Sister’s illness has worsened and you can’t handle the sun?”
Since her marriage, Jiang Shijin had not yet met her elder sister, Jiang Shiyuan.
Having finally caught this opportunity, she naturally had to come forward to flaunt her status. Lady Xiang had been annoyed with her for days; hearing these sour words, she immediately shot back.
“We stand high so we can naturally see further. But why has the Consort of the Heir come uninvited?”
The triumph in Jiang Shijin’s eyes hadn’t even faded before it was blocked by Lady Xiang’s words. After a flash of surprise, she became somewhat incensed.
She was now the legitimate Consort of the Heir, no longer the obscure Second Miss of the Jiang household. Hearing Lady Xiang speak to her this way naturally fueled her dissatisfaction. Putting on airs, she gave a cold laugh.