Volume One, Chapter 17: The Beginning of the Division with the Jiang Family

“Grandmother always praised your intelligence, saying you learn the shop’s affairs quickly.”
By the age of ten, she had already been learning bookkeeping from her grandmother, and at eleven, she was taken to the shop to gain hands-on experience. Over the years, the Jiang family’s business had indeed never suffered losses under her management.

But why should she use her own money to support Jiang Ruozhen?

Just because Jiang Ruozhen was their biological daughter, did that mean she had to serve her like a dog?

She withdrew her bandaged hand. After sending Zheliu and the doctor out, Jiang Zhinian continued, “Brother and Father look down on merchants the most, don’t they despise me for being so obsessed with money?”

“I just think a woman shouldn’t always be so conspicuous. If you were more like Zhenzhen, doing what a woman should do at home—”

“Then from now on, I will do what is proper at home!”

“Supervisor He, please deliver the account books to the Lady’s quarters later.”

Jiang Zhinian tugged at the corner of her mouth and glanced at Jiang Ruoqi. “Or perhaps Brother would like to share some of Mother’s burdens?”

Jiang Ruoqi felt there was no point trying to communicate with Jiang Zhinian now; whatever he said would only be twisted by her.

Perhaps because she was still angry and injured, he said gently, “Zhinian, I didn’t mean it like that. You should rest and heal. I’ll go to the ancestral hall and kneel in apology to you.”

With that, Jiang Ruoqi turned to leave. Jiang Zhinian’s gaze turned icy. An apology? When had she ever needed one?

If there were to be an apology, it would be far more than just kneeling at the ancestral hall!

Supervisor He stood there, unsure whether to stay or leave.

Jiang Zhinian gave her orders, “Take it to the Lady’s quarters. From now on, I will no longer manage the Jiang family’s business.”

Over the years, she had managed the family’s assets, pouring the profits into the household treasury, but the additional income she earned had long been used to establish her own enterprises.

The Jiang family was somewhat aware of these matters.

Before, she and the Jiang family had never been separated as “you” and “me.”

But today marked the beginning of that division.

Supervisor He hesitated. After all, the Lady’s mind was elsewhere, unlikely to take over.

“If the Lady refuses, just say that my hand is injured and I have to enter the palace soon, so I really have no energy to manage it.”

Jiang Ruozhen had been taking expensive medicines for over a year, enough to nourish even a skeletal frame. Since she had no major illness, the medicine should have stopped long ago.

Yet, her mother doted on her, insisting the treatments continue.

Fine, then let her mother deal with it herself. The profits from all the Jiang family’s businesses would be used up by Jiang Ruozhen, and the entire Jiang household could go to ruin!

Supervisor He said no more and quietly withdrew.

---

Exhausted in body and mind, Jiang Zhinian dined under Fuguang’s care. Thinking about having to enter the palace tomorrow, she decided to rest early.

Zheliu attended to her washing, dissatisfied, “Miss, with such injuries, can you really just let it go?”

Let it go?

How could she possibly?

In the past two days, the Jiang family’s concern had all been for Jiang Ruozhen. After a few days, when they came to their senses, they would surely have demands for her!

---

During the following days of copying scriptures in the palace, Jiang Zhinian neither met the Crown Prince nor Lu Junyan.

She could quietly focus on her copying and avoid dealing with the Jiang family members.

But with her hand injured, she had to slow down to write neatly.

Jiang Zhinian instructed Fuguang to prepare her writing desk so she could continue copying when she returned to the Linglang Pavilion.

There would be many days like this before the palace banquet.

On the day she was to leave the palace, Jiang Zhinian stepped out and noticed a black carriage with familiar woven patterns on the curtains.

It was Lu Junyan’s carriage.

Jiang Zhinian paused and immediately decided to turn and avoid it, planning to leave once his carriage had departed.

“Miss Jiang, wait!” Yun Chu poked her head out from the curtain. “My master invites you to join him for a chat.”

Young and sharp-eyed, she immediately called out upon seeing Jiang Zhinian.

Jiang Zhinian inhaled slightly; that Lu Junyan was truly relentless.

There was nothing for her to discuss with him this lifetime.

But here at the palace gate, with so many onlookers, the more they lingered, the harder it would be to explain.

Yun Chu even got down from the carriage to invite her.

Jiang Zhinian’s hand trembled slightly beneath her long sleeves. Zheliu was about to curse loudly, but she stopped him. “Zheliu, have the Secretary’s mansion carriage follow us.”

Then she followed Yun Chu into the Marquis of Rong’an’s carriage.

She had already decided how to face Lu Junyan with cold words.

Apparently, her words in the scripture library had not been harsh or direct enough, leaving him unscathed and emboldened to provoke her repeatedly.

Having been reborn, Jiang Zhinian would never allow Lu Junyan to ruin her again!

---

As soon as she lifted the curtain and looked up with a cold expression, the first face she saw was a familiar one.

Jiang Zhinian froze for a moment.

Xu Wenjing smiled gently. “Little junior sister, long time no see.”

“Senior brother Wenjing, what are you doing… in Lu’s carriage?”

She knew Xu Wenjing had been in the capital recently but hadn’t expected any contact these past few days.

The Marquis of Rong’an’s carriage was quite large, spacious enough for the three of them; Yun Chu sat outside with the coachman.

Once the curtain was lowered, the cold wind was completely blocked, and the carriage was filled with the scent of tea.

“His heir requested I come to the capital to treat his eye ailment,” Xu Wenjing explained simply. “A few days ago, I received your letter and prepared some scar-removing ointment.”

Treat eye ailments? Even the imperial physicians renowned for their skills could not cure it, yet Senior Brother Wenjing possessed such medical skill?

Xu Wenjing took out a small porcelain bottle. He was about to ask where exactly she was injured.

His gaze fell on Jiang Zhinian’s face and noticed the long, scabbed-over scratch.

A healer must observe, listen, inquire, and examine.

Xu Wenjing instinctively reached out to take a closer look at the wound.

Unexpectedly, Lu Junyan, seated beside him, accidentally knocked over the tea, interrupting Xu Wenjing’s action.

“Sorry about that,” Lu Junyan said. After Xu Wenjing tidied up, he asked, “Miss Jiang, where are you hurt?”

Jiang Zhinian seemed not to hear and refused to respond. Xu Wenjing handed her the ointment bottle. “Little junior sister, you have a scratch on your cheek.”

Turning to Lu Junyan, he said, “Junior sister, remember to apply this ointment. It will ensure no scar remains.”

Jiang Zhinian nodded slightly. “Thank you, Senior Brother Wenjing.”

When she reached out to take it, Xu Wenjing noticed the bandages wrapped around her hand and was shocked and angry. “Junior sister, your hand! Who hurt you so badly?”

Jiang Zhinian withdrew her hand, her gaze settling on Lu Junyan, but she said nothing.

Xu Wenjing understood the implication and remained silent for a moment before speaking again, “I will have someone send this directly to the Secretary’s mansion shortly.”

Knowing Jiang Zhinian and Lu Junyan were not close, he admitted his decision was somewhat presumptuous. “Little junior sister, I will visit you properly another day. For today, I must trouble the heir to escort you home.”

“No need to trouble the heir,” Jiang Zhinian quickly refused. “The Secretary’s mansion carriage is following behind. If we turn into the alley, I can switch to the Jiang family’s carriage.”