Volume One, Chapter 11: Why Is He Here?

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Madam Jiang thought Jiang Ruo Zhen was naive; serving a prince was like taming a tiger. Today, the Crown Prince indulged you enough to let you call him by his name, but if you anger him tomorrow, it would be a matter of life and death. Yet Jiang Ruo Zhen heard something else beneath those words.

Tears streamed down her face as she squeezed her grandmother’s hand tightly. “Grandmother, Ruo Zhen understands. You think your granddaughter grew up in a small, forgotten place and has brought shame to the Jiang family.”

“You believe I should keep my distance from His Highness the Crown Prince, while my sister, having grown up in the capital, is the one who should be close to him. But I also wish to grow up in the capital, to be near my parents and fulfill my filial duties...”

Even Jiang Ruo Qi, upon hearing this, felt a pang of sympathy.

“Grandmother, it’s not Ruo Zhen’s fault she wasn’t raised with us. She is the true victim.”

Madam Jiang’s heart ached, but as her mother-in-law, how could she openly disagree? Jiang Zhi Nian hesitated mid-motion, the word “victim” marking her unmistakable role as the despised “perpetrator” in this family drama.

Sure enough, Jiang Cheng set down his chopsticks with a cold tone. “Jiang Zhi Nian, you entered the palace with Ruo Zhen today; why did you leave her alone inside with the Crown Prince?”

“Ruo Zhen is young and inexperienced. As her elder sister, you should have stayed by her side to guide her.”

“Mother, please don’t blame Ruo Zhen for not understanding.”

Madam Jiang had lost all appetite; she regretted speaking up for Jiang Ruo Zhen and inadvertently drawing Jiang Zhi Nian into this.

“What does this have to do with Zhi Nian?” Madam Jiang retorted.

Caught between his mother and his wife and daughter, Jiang Cheng was in a bind. No matter whom he sided with, he would be at a loss.

So he blamed Jiang Zhi Nian, knowing she was sensible and cared about the family’s harmony. He didn’t truly hold it against her. A few words and it would pass.

“If she hadn’t failed to watch over Ruo Zhen, you wouldn’t be displeased today.”

Jiang Ruo Zhen timidly tugged at Jiang Cheng’s sleeve, her voice trembling with tears. “Father, please don’t blame sister. It was His Highness who asked her to leave first.”

“She is the eldest sister. Even if she was asked to go, she should never have just abandoned you like that!”

At these words, Jiang Zhi Nian’s chopsticks slipped from her fingers and clattered to the ground. She rose abruptly, letting out a bitter laugh.

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“Ruo Zhen is a person, not a dog. Father, how do you expect your daughter to ‘watch over’ her?”

Jiang Ruo Zhen and the others looked at her in surprise, but before they could respond, Jiang Zhi Nian continued.

“Subjects serve their sovereign; fathers and sons have their roles. Naturally, whatever His Highness the Crown Prince commands, I obey. I am merely adhering to etiquette—what fault is there in that?”

Now, if Jiang Cheng wanted to say Jiang Zhi Nian was wrong, he would be criticizing the Crown Prince himself.

He dared not do that. Yet having his face swept aside like this left him uneasy. Just as he was about to speak, Jiang Zhi Nian rose first, helping Madam Jiang back to the Songhe Courtyard.

She guessed her grandmother had lost her appetite. Rather than disturb the family’s dinner and risk angering her, it was better to take her away.

Along the way, Madam Jiang was filled with remorse. “It’s all my fault, Zhi Nian. You’ve been wronged.”

Just as Grandmother said, today’s matters had nothing to do with her, yet Jiang Cheng had dragged her into it.

To add guilt to blame, there’s never a lack of excuses.

Even if Grandmother hadn’t mentioned Jiang Ruo Zhen today, she would find other reasons to trouble her.

Jiang Zhi Nian took a breath and forced a smile. “Grandmother, I’m fine.”

“You’re old and can’t do much to help. Don’t blame your parents either—they’re just...” Madam Jiang trailed off, unable to voice the reason.

Even a grandmother couldn’t say such things lightly; after all, she had raised her daughter for over a decade. How could she pretend not to care?

For Jiang Zhi Nian, if the family’s bias were merely favoritism, she might not resent them. But in her past life, it led to her untimely demise. These grudges and hatreds would not be so simple!

“Grandmother, I’ll have the kitchen send you another bowl of soup. You haven’t eaten much tonight,” Jiang Zhi Nian changed the subject. “Starting tomorrow, I’ll be entering the palace to transcribe scriptures. Don’t forget to take your medicine.”

“Transcribing scriptures?” Madam Jiang’s cloudy eyes brightened. “That’s a rare honor. Zhi Nian, once you marry into the Eastern Palace, I’ll be at ease.”

Fortunately, she would not have to wait long.

Jiang Zhi Nian said nothing, silently accompanying her grandmother back to the courtyard. Only after seeing her safely home did she return to Linlang Pavilion.

...

The next day, as Jiang Zhi Nian was verifying the household expenses for the month, a messenger arrived at the main hall, announcing that a decree had come from the palace.

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It was likely the Empress’s edict, summoning her to transcribe scriptures.

Upon arriving at the front hall, two neat rows of gifts awaited: one for Jiang Zhi Nian, the other for Jiang Ruo Zhen.

After the decree was read aloud, Jiang Ruo Zhen eagerly approached the gifts, picking up a bolt of persimmon-colored silk. Holding it against herself, she beamed, “Mother, I want to make a dress from this fabric to wear when spring arrives for outings.”

There were also some pieces of jewelry, far more exquisite than those in her makeup box—surely selected by Huai An after learning of her favor!

Jiang Zhi Nian remained composed. Though all palace gifts were fine, she was no stranger to them. As she prepared to have everything collected, a figure she feared suddenly appeared at the door.

Lu Jun Yan wore a dark round-collared robe, his long hair tied high. Today, his eyes were veiled with a gauzy light silk. With Yun Chu leading the way, he walked as any normal man would.

“Greetings, Young Master Lu!” everyone bowed respectfully except Jiang Zhi Nian, who only nodded coldly, her gaze sharp and wary, fixed on Lu Jun Yan.

Why was he here?

Why had he come to appear now?

Her mind exploded like fireworks. With each step Lu Jun Yan took inside, her breath grew shallow.

Yesterday, in the palace, this Young Master Lu had dared to speak arrogantly to her. Today, he had even followed her to the Jiang family!

No. She had been too frightened to notice yesterday—but what he said was precise... perfectly accurate.

When Jiang Zhi Nian learned embroidery, the first pattern she practiced was the drooping begonia. At first, her stitching was unrefined and she feared ridicule, so she embroidered it onto her undergarments, a habit she maintained ever since.

Not even Jiang Mu might know this habit.

How did he know? Could he be colluding with the Jiang family to harm her?

She didn’t know and could only feign calm. Others might not notice, but as Lu Jun Yan entered, he ignored everyone else and walked straight to Jiang Zhi Nian.