Though the maid thought this way, she did not dare voice it aloud and could only lower her head silently. Jiang Dan smiled faintly, an enigmatic light in her eyes.
…
At the Commanding Marshal’s Residence, Zhao Guang was furious upon hearing this news. His precious granddaughter was scolded like this at the Jiang manor? Did they think the Commanding Marshal’s household could be bullied so easily?
Zhao Yuanping calmly said, “Father, why such a rage? Don’t you see Princess Ruan has already sought out the Empress Dowager’s protection? With the Empress Dowager backing her, no one dares bully her.”
Bringing up this matter, Zhao Guang also felt frustrated. Since being made a princess upon returning to the capital, Jiang Ruan had not once set foot in the Commanding Marshal’s Residence. Lady Li had sent her invitations which Jiang Ruan all declined. Zhao Yulongalso disliked this, claiming Jiang Ruan had initially just used the Zhao family, but now clung to Empress Dowager Yide and ignored their household.
Zhao Guang did not believe Zhao Yulong’s words – Jiang Ruan was not one to latch onto others. Yet he was unclear why she now kept a distance from their residence. Not seeing his granddaughter for so long naturally caused some resentment. That Jiang Ruan would seek Empress Dowager Yide’s protection instead of their help also wounded this battle-hardened marshal. Seeing Zhao Yuanping’s indifferent attitude only further infuriated him. He viciously kicked him, “What are you lazing around for? Annoying!” He grabbed his sword hanging on the wall and went to practice in the courtyard.
Zhao Yuanping smirked wryly, recognizing his father’s hidden displeasure was making him act insane. He pondered but could not fathom why Jiang Ruan had cut ties with the Zhao family, inexplicably saddening Lady Su and his brothers. This young lady had always been inscrutable, outwitting even his own perceptiveness.
…
Jiang Ruan and Lu Zhu had just finished the afternoon meal with the Empress Dowager, who was now resting. Jiang Ruan wanted to fetch some books from the study room when Lu Zhu asked, “Why hasn’t the princess visited the Commanding Marshal these days?”
Lu Zhu was quite curious. Though Jiang Ruan’s demeanor was cold, she typically maintained proper etiquette, never leaving an opening for criticism. If she treated others so, how much more so her maternal grandparents? During the flood that year, Jiang Ruan used the grain she bought to aid the Zhao family. Lu Zhu could tell she cared for them. Yet her current distance left even servants like them puzzled.
Jiang Ruan shook her head, but her mind was clear as a mirror. Being tied to the Jiang manor, in the Emperor’s eyes, she could too easily be associated with Ye Li. The ruler seemed quite fond of Ye Li, yet privately understood. Otherwise, Ye Li would not have taken such a desperate gamble poisoning the former Emperor in the previous life. The cleaner her relationship with the Zhao family now, the safer. Getting too close could make the Emperor suspicious again. The imperial heart was difficult to fathom – who knew what calamity could befall the Zhaos?
More importantly, the more distant she was from the Zhao family, the more hesitant those who wished to use her to target the Commanding Marshal’s household would become.
These matters she could not disclose to others, only concealing them in her heart. As she turned down the corridor, she saw a man approaching. This man stood out strikingly in the palace – clad in a green python robe with a deep purple and gold patterned belt, dazzlingly adorned from head to toe. If that was not enough, his heavy fragrance of cosmetics could be detected from afar. Upon closer look, he had several embroidered sachet pouches hanging all over him – clearly women’s accessories.
The man looked up, revealing features somewhat resembling Ye Li’s. He was not unsightly, but his eyes were darkly rimmed, betraying excessive indulgence. Noticing Jiang Ruan, he paused.
Jiang Ruan wore a pale red embroidered pleated dress today. Being before the Empress Dowager in the palace, Granny Yang had applied the recently fashionable plum blossom makeup on her. It only enhanced her exquisite beauty and graceful demeanor. The man’s gaze seemed glued shamelessly to her from head to toe.
Lu Zhu was nearly enraged to bursting point. Without thinking, she stepped before Jiang Ruan and shouted, “How audacious to be so disrespectful to the princess!”
The man’s eyes fell dismissively on Lu Zhu, who was quite a lovely young lady, normally sweet in speech. But Jiang Ruan’s beauty overshadowed her. After glancing at Lu Zhu, his gaze returned fixatedly to Jiang Ruan as he brazenly said, “Princess? Which princess might you be?”
This man was not unfamiliar to Jiang Ruan, who had encountered him a few times in the palace in her previous life. Back then, Xia Jiaojiao had deliberately allowed him to see Jiang Ruan’s face, leading to him accosting her in the gardens. Fortunately, Ye Li had rushed over to intervene. Afterwards, whenever this man had a chance to enter the palace, he would seize the opportunity to harass her. He was the infamous “Useless Prince”, the Third Prince Ye You.
In the palace, aside from the competent Fifth Prince Ye Hua and Eighth Prince Ye Li, there was only the talentless Crown Prince and the incompetent Fourth Prince Ye Lang. This Third Prince Ye You was a unique existence. His birth mother passed away early, and he was raised by another consort, growing utterly unruly. By eighteen he had already established his own manor, notorious for his immorality across the realm. He indulged excessively in beauties, keeping eighty-eight concubines in his manor yet not taking a principal wife. Though Ye You loved beautiful women, he did not overstep in other areas, so the Emperor turned a blind eye, only forbidding him from entering the palace without reason. Thus, Ye You’s appearances in the palace were pitifully rare.
It was not long after this in the previous life that Ye You became engaged to Lin Zixiang, a match arranged by Consort Chen. With Lin Zixiang’s temperament, she naturally had no good days after marrying into Ye You’s manor, constantly suppressed by the concubines. She even miscarried, then slandered by one of Ye You’s favored concubines. The resentment overwhelmed the fierce-natured Lin Zixiang, who ultimately killed that concubine and herself with a dagger.
This incident caused an uproar. The outraged Emperor could only punish Ye You lightly as the head of household, merely docking his allowance with no actual penalty. He continued his daily revelry, indifferent to his tarnished reputation and remaining stubbornly unrepentant despite public condemnation. Scholar Lin could not quell his anger before falling deathly ill. Lady Lin soon followed with ritual suicide, extinguishing the esteemed Lin family’s illustrious lineage.
Now this man reappeared before Jiang Ruan, his gaze as sickening as filthy sludge, if nothing else.
Ye You carefully studied the young lady before him. Having indulged in countless beauties over the years, this was the first time he had encountered such a peerless beauty. Her looks were out of this world, but it was her cold, aloof aura that truly stirred his desire. He had entered the palace today to discuss his marital affairs with Consort Chen. With his birth mother long deceased and the Empress deeply disliking him, the beautiful yet vicious Consort Chen took some interest. She had decided to betroth the eldest daughter of Scholar Lin, Lin Zixiang, as his principal wife. But Ye You looked down on the rigidly wooden beauty Lin Zixiang. An unsubmissive temperament mattered little, as a principal wife to him was merely for show. Thus, Ye You did not dwell much on it.
(End of Chapter)
