Hong Ying had come to see Jiang Ruan twice, but she did not seem as favored as the rumors suggested. Although Jiang Quan doted on Hong Ying, her lowly birth status meant that with her current pregnancy, the household authority fell to the second paternal aunt. This aunt had never been frugal, constantly making things difficult for Hong Ying. Over time, the rear courtyard of the Jiang manor became a battleground between the two women, leaving Hong Ying unable to gain any real advantage.
After talking at length with Jiang Ruan, who remained non-committal, Hong Ying felt somewhat displeased but did not voice it, only smiling as she departed. Once she left, Zhuan Qiu remarked, “Could the Fifth Madam be hoping our Young Mistress would back her up?”
“Back her up for what?” Zi Su frowned disapprovingly. “It’s best the Young Mistress avoids getting entangled in such matters.”
Soon it was the day of Jiang Li’s marriage ceremonies. As the daughter of a vice minister from the Ministry of Appointments, wedding the concubine of Minister Jiang helped strengthen ties between the two families. The vice minister’s household was an illustrious one in the capital, so the aunt personally oversaw Jiang Li’s grand wedding with a lavish dowry of fifty-five chests – extremely generous for a concubine’s daughter, rivaling the dowries of many legitimate daughters.
The aunt truly doted on Jiang Li, giving her most of the betrothal gifts sent by the bridegroom’s family. Jiang Li was now walking on air, tail practically sticking up towards the heavens if she had one.
As the day’s bride who had to wear wedding attire, it would not do for Jiang Ruan to wear bright red. In the end, she chose a light pink outfit, with Zi Su doing her hair before going to see Jiang Li.
Having just had her face powdered painfully by the bridal attendants, Jiang Li frowned until spotting Jiang Ruan enter, when she unconsciously straightened her back with a hint of smugness.
Jiang Ruan had Tian Zhu pass Jiang Li’s maid the additional dowry gifts. The maid presented them to Jiang Li, who opened it to find a gold bracelet inlaid with large, lustrous pearls – clearly an exquisite piece. Delight instantly flashed across Jiang Li’s face before being swiftly suppressed as she feigned nonchalance, “Big Sister, this bracelet is truly impeccable, even better than Second Sister’s gift.”
Standing aside, Jiang Shusu’s eyes flashed with indignation. Her own additional gift to Jiang Li had been a fine celadon bangle, also a rare treasure but paling in comparison to Jiang Ruan’s. Yet it was already the best she could afford. Ever since Xia Yan’s fall from grace, she drew pointing fingers wherever she went, so Jiang Shusu angrily stopped leaving her courtyard. However, Jiang Quan no longer bestowed precious jewelry like before, and her grooming casket had gone unreplenished for ages. Seeing Jiang Ruan simply yet luxuriously adorned stoked her resentment – cursing Jiang Li’s ingratitude for using despicable means to snatch someone else’s marriage, then Jiang Ruan, a wilderness orphan now soaring high after clinging to the Imperial Ancestress’s coattails, fancying herself a phoenix.
Though nominally sisters, none of the three viewed each other favorably. Jiang Ruan smiled, “Congratulations, Third Sister.”
Jiang Li was immensely smug. Ever since childhood in the manor, she had envied Jiang Ruan and Jiang Shusu – the latter was protected by Jiang Quan and Jiang Chao. Now that Xia Yan had fallen, Jiang Li could scarcely suppress her schadenfreude. But her greatest grievance was Jiang Ruan, who despite having an incompetent birth mother still occupied the legitimate daughter’s position. Through some stroke of fortune, she had even become a princess. Whenever recalling this, Jiang Li burned with jealousy. Becoming the wife of a principal minister was already an enviable prospect, yet because of Jiang Ruan, she still felt diminished.
“Big Sister is too kind,” Jiang Li smiled.
Tian Zhu felt some disdain – this airheaded Second Miss wore her every thought on her face, completely devoid of appeal. Just then, Jiang Dan entered, prompting the returning aunt to immediately block her from Jiang Li.
“Auntie Dan has yet to congratulate Third Sister on her new marriage,” Jiang Dan smiled, having her maid present the additional dowry gifts. “Congratulations, Third Sister.”
When Jiang Li saw Jiang Dan, she immediately frowned. She knew exactly how this marriage came about. Seeing Jiang Dan now seemed to remind her of something. With a cold laugh, she ordered her maid to open the box. Clicking her tongue twice, she then reached into the box and picked out a plain silver bangle, shaking her head and saying, “Fourth Sister. It’s not that I’m saying anything, but your makeup really is a bit impoverished. Although we are daughters from a concubine, we are still daughters of an official family. Such a trifle, even the poor would disdain using it.”
To be fair, the bangle was indeed not fancy, but it wasn’t as terrible as Jiang Li described. For Jiang Dan, it must have been one of the more expensive items in her makeup case. Jiang Li’s words were harsh and cruel, yet she herself seemed unaware, and the second sister-in-law also appeared indifferent. Jiang Dan slightly lowered her head, her shoulders trembling in a pitiful shrinking motion.
Had it been in the past, Jiang Susu would have said a few words to maintain her fairy-like image, and the Jiang Ruan from her previous life would have definitely sided with Jiang Dan. But the situation was different now, and not a single person spoke up. Jiang Ruan smiled, “Third Sister, please dress up beautifully. I’ll go out first to be the most beautiful bride today.”
Jiang Li smiled proudly, “With Elder Sister’s auspicious words, I naturally will be.”
Jiang Ruan then left with Tian Zhu.
Outside in the hall, it was indeed lively with guests happily celebrating the host. Hong Ying, heavily pregnant, was greeting guests, and even the long-unseen concubine Lian Ye had come out to help due to the shortage of hands. The guests spoke polite words, but their eyes could hardly conceal their mockery.
Jiang Quan had now become the biggest joke in the capital. Guests came to celebrate on the surface but gossiped behind his back.
The legitimate wife had been cuckholded by the master yet could not be divorced. The concubine came out to greet guests – it was probably unprecedented in an official’s family of the Grand Minister rank.
Jiang Ruan’s gaze lightly swept over the crowd but stopped on one person.
That person’s silk robes could not conceal his dissolute air, his bright eyes roaming over the ladies among the guests, as if searching for prey.
Jiang Ruan suddenly turned, her voice growing a bit cold, “Tian Zhu.”
“Yes.”
“How are your killing skills?” she asked.
“I dare not boast, but I can handle ten people,” Tian Zhu replied.
“Be vigilant today,” Jiang Ruan lowered her eyes. Ye You had also come? Good, she wanted to know who had invited Ye You – Jiang Susu? The second sister-in-law? Or Jiang Li?
……
The wedding ceremony took place at the residence of Left Censor Jiang. Without brothers, Jiang Chao carried Jiang Li in the bridal sedan, amid celebratory festivity drawing the attention of all in the capital. It was indeed a grand affair.
After the wedding rites, while Left Censor Jiang toasted the guests outside, Jiang Li was sent to the bridal chamber. After the rowdy bedchamber ceremony, it was time for toasts. Though Jiang Li’s head was still covered, her voice was unprecedentedly gentle and soft. After toasting the second sister-in-law and Jiang Quan’s birth parents, she toasted her siblings. Jiang Li sweetly raised a wine cup, “This cup is for my elder sister. Now that I’m married, though we’re both daughters of the Jiang family, we’ve seldom gathered in the past, which is truly regrettable. With this cup, I wish to renew our sisterly affection.”
(End of chapter)
