Chapter 13

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Today, Jiang Gui wore not only plain clothes but also wore a pale, weary face. Having fallen into the water yesterday and caught a chill, coupled with a restless night due to heavy worries, she looked exceptionally haggard.

As soon as Madam Xie received news that Lady Gu was coming to their courtyard, she summoned Jiang Gui over.

“Didn't you say it was your fifth sister who pushed you into this marriage proposal?” Madam Xie demanded.

“Mother, it really was fifth sister who pushed me. She must be jealous of me and did it on purpose...” Jiang Gui began.

“Silence!” Madam Xie slammed the table in anger. In the past, she had thought that this illegitimate daughter was as obedient as Lady Liu, the previous concubine, but now it seemed she was even more scheming than the one who had already married out.

“You’re talking nonsense. Your fifth sister is simple-hearted; how could she be so calculating? I think your pride is too high—you even look down on a marriage into the Duke’s household. Don’t think I don’t see through you. Are you perhaps interested in the Crown Prince of the Prince of Fortune’s estate?”

Jiang Gui’s face changed instantly upon hearing this.

She wanted to deny it, but then she thought it better to tell her stepmother than to keep making excuses to turn down marriage proposals. If she could persuade her stepmother to help...

“Mother, it’s my fault.” She knelt on the ground. “The Crown Prince said he likes me. The original me didn’t believe it, but he swore it was true, and I... I thought maybe he was sincere.”

Madam Xie found this laughable. Young men often fancied a lady’s beauty, believing they had found a treasure and would enjoy a lifetime of affection. But how many of those legendary romances ended in true union? In the end, love fades with age and cannot withstand the weight of family status and parental arrangements.

Looking at the kneeling illegitimate daughter, a trace of pity appeared in her eyes.

“You believed his words? Then tell me, if he truly likes you, why hasn’t he sent a matchmaker to formally propose?”

“He... must think I’m unwilling.” Jiang Gui wept, pleading, “Mother, could you give me some time to explain everything to the Crown Prince?”

Madam Xie sighed and told her to stand.

Compared to the previous dynasty, the Great Yin was less harsh on women, and it was not uncommon to see women walking freely in Yongjing city. Love matches and private engagements leading to happy marriages were not rare, but the rules of noble families remained strict—marriages had to be between equals.

In a household like the Prince of Fortune’s, not to mention an illegitimate daughter, even the legitimate eldest granddaughter of the Jiang family would not dare to dream of such a match.

“Very well. I will give you a chance to speak with the Crown Prince at Murong Sheng’s birthday banquet. But remember, don’t disgrace the Jiang family name. Our Jiang women will never become mere concubines!”

The chance Madam Xie referred to was Murong Sheng’s birthday banquet.

Ordinarily, the birthday parties of young nobles in prominent families were modest affairs, not attracting the major clans of the capital to attend with gifts. But the Prince of Fortune’s status was extraordinary—such a banquet was filled with guests.

The entire third branch of the Xie family attended, and the most nervous was Lady Gu.

Because Jiang Ji had once accused Murong Sheng before Murong Fan, Lady Gu feared attending the Prince’s estate would only bring disgrace upon herself, and more gravely, upon the entire Jiang family.

In the end, Madam Xie persuaded her, saying that some things cannot be avoided forever; the sooner dealt with, the easier it would be to remove the thorn later.

Lady Gu agreed and braved the banquet with her daughter.

As the person involved, Jiang Ji was fully prepared.

At the banquet, the Prince of Fortune was absent; only the Princess Consort Zhao was present.

Zhao was a beauty of noble bearing, tall and well-formed, with slightly upturned eyes resembling Murong Sheng’s, carrying an air of haughty pride.

Murong Sheng was her only son, and she doted on him deeply. Hearing that the young lady considered her son a scoundrel filled her with rage.

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Even before the Jiang family arrived, Zhao had been suspecting Jiang Ji.

When Jiang Ji stepped forward to bow, she looked at Zhao with suspicion and disbelief. “You’re the Crown Prince’s mother? You look no older than twenty. You’re not joking, are you?”

Zhao was taken aback by such a response.

“Don’t I look the part?”

Jiang Ji shook her head, her large black-and-white eyes full of doubt. Suddenly, she seemed to have an idea, her eyes brightening. “You must be the Crown Prince’s sister!”

But then, as if doubting herself, she murmured, “But I’ve never heard he has a sister.”

Just a few words, yet Zhao couldn’t help but smile.

Before this, she had thought the girl accusing her son was either cunning or flirtatious. She never expected this fifth Miss Jiang to be not only beautiful but also an unmistakably immature child.

As princess consort, she would not stoop to quibble with a child.

“I’m not lying. I really am Murong Sheng’s mother.”

At that moment, Jiang Gui stepped forward, passing Jiang Ji.

“I pay my respects to the princess consort. My younger sister is reckless; please do not blame her.”

“Who are you?”

“My name is Jiang Gui, the fourth daughter of the Jiang family.” Jiang Gui’s manners were polished, and her bow graceful, doing her best to present a proper image. “My fifth sister is ignorant; if she offended the princess consort, please forgive her.”

Zhao waved her hand generously. “It’s no trouble.”

But some onlookers, eager for drama, feigned surprise. “There was a rumor in the capital recently that a Jiang family girl went to Prince Fangye and accused the Crown Prince. I wonder which Jiang girl it was?”

Upon hearing this, Jiang Gui immediately knelt to apologize.

“Princess consort, if you must blame someone, please blame me. Do not punish my fifth sister—she is frail and cannot bear any hardship.”

Outsiders thought this elder sister was responsible and brave, standing up for her sister without hesitation. Not only admirable in courage but also in character.

Lady Gu was uneasy, repeatedly trying to rise but restrained by Madam Xie.

Madam Xie whispered, “The matter between fifth young lady and the Crown Prince is just childish quarrels. Even if there’s punishment, we should not intervene.”

The phrase “punishment” made Lady Gu’s heart race with fear.

She looked anxiously at her daughter, her heart in her throat.

“What accusation?” Zhao’s voice was calm as she pointed at Jiang Ji with nail-polished fingers. “Step forward and tell me properly—what exactly happened?”

Jiang Ji obediently stepped forward two paces, just passing Jiang Gui.

“Your Highness, I was the one who lodged the complaint. The Crown Prince was rude to me, and I didn’t want to suffer that loss, so I reported him to Prince Fangye. Children quarrel like this all the time. I could report you to your elders, and you could report me to mine. There’s nothing to make a fuss about.”

She said this with a puzzled expression, as if she really did not understand.

Zhao was certain again: this was truly a child, beautiful but naïve and innocent in every word and deed.

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“You’re right, that’s how it should be.”

“See? See?” Jiang Ji brightened, her large eyes shining with pure joy. “I told you I did nothing wrong. The princess consort understands.”

Everyone’s expressions varied at her words.

Lady Gu breathed a sigh of relief seeing Zhao was not angry.

Only Jiang Gui was inwardly resentful.

“Princess consort, if you do not mind, I would like to play a piece on the qin to apologize on behalf of my fifth sister.”

Her words immediately silenced the room.

All eyes turned to her, their gazes subtle and curious.

After a long moment, Zhao casually said, “Very well.”

The servants of the Prince’s estate quickly brought a qin and placed it in the center.

Jiang Gui’s heart pounded fiercely; she had long learned that the princess consort loved the qin and was quite skilled herself. She had practiced day and night for this very opportunity.

As the music began, many expressed admiration.

Zhao unconsciously revealed a look of appreciation, gradually drawn in by the melody.

“Snap!”

Suddenly, a string broke.

Jiang Gui’s face turned pale as she stared at her hand in disbelief.

Someone displeased by her stealing the spotlight sneered, “Miss Jiang, the fourth daughter, probably isn’t sincere. Otherwise, how could the string have broken?”

To question sincerity could make a trivial matter serious.

Lowering her head, Jiang Gui muttered, “Can’t someone else apologize? Must my fifth sister do it personally?”

Troublemakers immediately called out to Jiang Ji, “Fifth Miss Jiang, it seems you must apologize yourself. Do you have any skills to show to win the princess consort’s favor?”

Jiang Ji: “...”

In her previous life, exhausted by survival, she had no talents. In this life, apart from a little needlework, she had no special skills.

After a long pause, Zhao said nothing to refuse.

Jiang Ji could only grit her teeth and step forward. “Then I will perform a magic trick for the princess consort.”