In late spring, the back garden of the Dingbei Marquis Manor was a riot of blooming flowers.
Trellises of banksia roses climbed along the covered walkway, their pale purple clusters drooping down as a breeze shook a flurry of star-like petals onto the ground. Jiang Wan wore a moon-white soft silk Pei-zi today, paired with a pale lilac pleated skirt, the hem embroidered with a few inconspicuous winding lotus flowers using only silver thread. Instead of her usual elaborate hair buns, she wore a loose, hanging bun pinned with a red-gold and kingfisher-feather hairpin. As she walked, the kingfisher's tail feathers swayed gently, catching the sunlight in a dazzling display of shifting colors.
Ever since the recent banquet, the servants in the manor looked at her differently. Previously, they regarded her merely as a foolish legitimate daughter wholeheartedly devoted to the Crown Prince. Now, however, they felt as though the Eldest Miss had suddenly enlightened overnight; the timidity in her gaze was gone, replaced by an ineffable composure.
"Miss, walk slowly and mind the pebbles underfoot," whispered Lü'e, her personal maid, following closely behind while carrying a food box that held freshly chilled sour plum soup.
Jiang Wan let out a soft sound of acknowledgment, her gaze falling upon the thriving Xifu crabapple tree not far away. In her past life, it was right under this crabapple tree that she received the pouch sent by the Crown Prince for the very first time. Back then, she had foolishly believed it to be a token of affection from a fine match; now, looking back, it was nothing more than casual bait tossed aside by him.
"Miss, look over there—" Lü'e suddenly let out a low gasp, pointing toward the moon gate ahead.
Jiang Wan followed the direction of her finger and saw a young gentleman dressed in a treasure-blue brocade robe standing beneath the moon gate, holding a folding fan as if waiting for someone. With a face as fine as jade and a high-bridged nose, the young man was none other than her maternal cousin and the legitimate son of the Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, Shen Yan.
Shen Yan and the Dingbei Marquis Manor had always moved in close circles, but in her past life, Jiang Wan's heart was entirely set on the Crown Prince, and she habitually neglected socializing with such relatives. Consequently, despite their kinship, the two of them were not close.
"It's the Young Master Cousin," Lü'e muttered under her breath. "It looks like he came to pay his respects to Old Madame."
Jiang Wan nodded slightly and was about to turn away to avoid him when Shen Yan had already spotted her. A look of surprise crossed his face before he quickly strode over.
"Cousin?" Shen Yan walked up to her, looked her up and down, and spoke with a hint of bewilderment. "Is it really you? I thought I was seeing things."
The former Jiang Wan was always timid and shy around male guests, never daring to raise her head, let alone stand her ground as she was doing now, gazing at him with a calm expression.
Jiang Wan curtsied, her voice light and clear: "I trust Cousin is well."
Shen Yan raised an eyebrow, unable to help himself. "Cousin is certainly different today compared to the past. At the banquet the other day, I thought my eyes were playing tricks on me when I saw how gracefully you handled things. Looking at you today, it's as though you've become a completely different person."
He paused, then smiled. "Still, it's for the better. I always felt Cousin was too constrained in the past; looking like this now makes you appear much more vibrant."
A faint, self-mocking smile touched Jiang Wan's heart, though her expression remained indifferent. "Cousin jests. It's just that after falling ill a few days ago, I happened to figure out a few things."
"Oh?" Interest piqued, Shen Yan twirled his folding fan. "I wonder what Cousin has figured out? Might you share it with your cousin here?"
He was genuinely curious about this cousin's transformation. Within the manor, everyone knew that the legitimate daughter of the Dingbei Marquis Manor was entirely devoted to the Crown Prince, ready to disregard even the Marquis Manor's reputation for his sake. Yet now, she seemed to have suddenly awakened, not only cleverly striking back against her half-sister at the banquet but also helping the manor resolve the crisis of their farming estates, earning a much milder expression even from the Marquis himself.
Unwilling to dwell on the matter, Jiang Wan simply replied indifferently, "Nothing more than trivial matters of romance; I'd hate to be laughed at by Cousin. But what brings Cousin to the manor today?"
Seeing her reluctance to delve deeper, Shen Yan chose not to press further and went along with the conversation. "Mother asked me to bring Old Madame some fresh fruits from the south. I just delivered them and was planning to head back when I happened to run into Cousin here."
His gaze fell upon the crabapple tree behind Jiang Wan as he suddenly smiled. "Come to think of it, does Cousin remember? When you were little, you loved playing under this crabapple tree the most. Once, you even accidentally took a fall and went crying to our maternal aunt, complaining that the birds in the tree had frightened you."
Hearing this, Jiang Wan felt a start in her heart. That memory was so distant she had nearly forgotten it. In her previous life, ever since coming of age, her mind was entirely consumed by the Crown Prince; how could she possibly remember such trivial childhood affairs?
Looking at the genuine smile in Shen Yan's eyes, a trace of warmth unexpectedly stirred within Jiang Wan. Perhaps, aside from the filthy schemes and betrayals, there were still some pure bonds in this world worth cherishing.
"Cousin has quite a good memory," Jiang Wan curved the corners of her lips in a rare smile. "It's been so many years, yet Cousin still remembers."
"How could I forget?" Shen Yan looked at her, his gaze gentle. "Cousin back then wasn't quite like this..." He paused, seemingly weighing his words. "This... distant."
The former Jiang Wan, though shy, always held a naive and carefree sparkle in the depths of her eyes. Now, however, she seemed shrouded in a thin mist, making her impossible to see through.
Jiang Wan did not reply, choosing instead to quietly watch the banksia roses before her. Sunlight filtered through the trellis, casting mottled light and shadow across her face and accentuating the exceptionally soft lines of her profile.
Watching her quiet demeanor, Shen Yan suddenly felt a dryness in his throat. He cleared his throat, wanting to say something more, when a dainty voice sounded from behind them.
"Oh my, aren't this Cousin and Eldest Sister? Why are you two chatting out here?"
Jiang Wan and Shen Yan turned around simultaneously to see Jiang Rou approaching with swaying steps, dressed in a pink gauze gown. A sweet smile graced her face, though a flash of jealousy darted quickly across her eyes.
She had been hiding behind the rockery for quite a while. Ever since Jiang Wan humiliated her at the recent banquet and subsequently gained favor in their father's eyes, she had been harboring a bellyful of anger. Hearing today that Shen Yan had arrived, she deliberately dressed herself up prettily, hoping to try her luck, only to find Jiang Wan and Shen Yan talking animatedly, the atmosphere between them indescribably harmonious.
The smile on Shen Yan's face faded somewhat at the sight of Jiang Rou, and he merely nodded slightly. "Younger Sister Jiang Rou."
Acting as though she failed to notice his aloofness, Jiang Rou walked straight up to Jiang Wan and affectionately linked arms with her, her tone intimate. "Sister, I've been looking all over for you. So this is where you were chatting with Cousin. Cousin, you mustn't blame Sister; ever since she recovered from her illness, she's taken to staying by herself, and I was starting to think her temperament had turned reclusive."
As she spoke, she deliberately cast a sidelong glance out of the corner of her eye toward Shen Yan, the implication clearly suggesting that Jiang Wan had deliberately pestered Shen Yan for conversation.
Without batting an eye, Jiang Wan withdrew her arm and spoke in a flat tone, "Cousin and I met by chance and simply exchanged a few words. But Younger Sister, what brings you to the garden?"
With a roll of her eyes, Jiang Rou smiled. "I just went to deliver something to Mother and passed by here, thinking Sister might be taking a walk, so I came to look. I never imagined I'd actually run into you."
Mid-sentence, she suddenly let out an "Oh!" and her body tilted as if she were about to fall, the silk handkerchief in her hand slipping to the ground in the process.
"Younger Sister, what's wrong with you?" Jiang Wan feigned surprise and took a step back, neatly avoiding the direction Jiang Rou was lunging toward.
Quick-witted, Shen Yan reached out to steady her, but only managed to grab a corner of Jiang Rou's sleeve.
With a thud, Jiang Rou tumbled to the ground, her hair bun somewhat disheveled, and an aggrieved expression immediately surfaced on her face. "Sister, why... why did you push me?"
Her fall was not particularly heavy, but her posture was exceedingly wretched; the hem of her skirt was covered in mud, and her face had brushed against some dirt.
Looking completely bewildered, Jiang Wan asked, "Where is Younger Sister getting this from? When did I ever push you? Clearly, you lost your footing and fell on your own."
"You did push me!" Sitting on the ground, Jiang Rou's eyes reddened. "I just wanted to come over and speak with you, but you deliberately dodged and gave me a shove, making me fall! Cousin, you saw it all, didn't you?"
She turned her gaze toward Shen Yan, hoping he would vouch for her.
Shen Yan frowned. He had seen the situation clearly; it was obviously Jiang Rou who had thrown herself at Jiang Wan, causing Jiang Wan to instinctively step aside and resulting in Jiang Rou losing her balance. How could she possibly claim that Jiang Wan pushed her?
"Younger Sister Jiang Rou, one cannot speak recklessly," Shen Yan said in a deep voice. "I saw clearly just now that you simply lost your footing."
Not expecting Shen Yan to side with Jiang Wan, Jiang Rou grew anxious. "Cousin! How can you help her speak? She is..."
"I am the legitimate daughter of the Dingbei Marquis Manor and your elder sister," Jiang Wan interrupted, her voice calm yet carrying a hint of majesty. "Younger Sister, in the manor's garden, in plain sight of everyone, what reasoning do you have to frame your elder sister like this?"
With that, her gaze swept lightly across the surroundings, and sure enough, she spotted a few sweeping maids hiding behind the rockery to peek.
Panic flashed across Jiang Rou's face under her gaze, and she argued stubbornly, "I didn't frame you! You pushed me!"
"Oh? Is that so?" Jiang Wan let out a cold laugh. "Then do tell, which hand did I use to push you? And why would I push you?"
Jiang Rou was left speechless by the question. Her plot had been a temporary impulse to frame Jiang Wan and Shen Yan for illicit relations, thereby making Shen Yan misunderstand Jiang Wan while letting the servants witness it to spread gossip and ruin Jiang Wan's reputation. Yet not only did Shen Yan refuse to assist her, he even helped Jiang Wan speak; furthermore, Jiang Wan was no longer someone she could easily manipulate as before, actually daring to turn the questioning back on her.
"I... I..." Anxious to the point of speechlessness, Jiang Rou actually let tears fall. "Sister, how could you treat me like this? We are biological sisters after all!"
Crying, she secretly observed Shen Yan's reaction, hoping to evoke his sympathy.
Far from feeling any sympathy as he looked at her tear-streaked face, Shen Yan felt a sense of annoyance. Previously, he had only considered Jiang Rou lively and cute; now, however, she struck him as someone fond of stirring up trouble and distorting the truth. Looking back at Jiang Wan beside her, who remained calm and composed throughout with clear eyes, the contrast with Jiang Rou's affectation was stark.
"Enough," Shen Yan said in a deep voice. "Younger Sister Jiang Rou, if you are feeling unwell, you should return to your room to rest. Why make a scene here?"
Never expecting Shen Yan to speak to her thus, Jiang Rou wept even harder. "Cousin, how... how can you say that to me? I..."
"Alright, Younger Sister," Jiang Wan interrupted, her tone tinged with a hint of fatigue. "Since you claim I pushed you, let us go see Father and have him judge the matter. Let Father see how I, as the elder sister, supposedly bully a good sister like you."
As she spoke, she made a motion as if to head out.
The mention of seeing their father threw Jiang Rou into a panic. Their father's attitude toward Jiang Wan had already changed drastically; if he learned that she was framing her sister here, she would undoubtedly receive a severe reprimand.
"No... no need, Sister." Jiang Rou scrambled up from the ground, brushed the dirt off herself, and forced a smile. "I... I was just unsteady on my feet for a moment and joking with Sister. Sister, don't take it to heart."
Jiang Wan raised an eyebrow. "Oh? Is that so? I thought Younger Sister truly wanted to lodge a complaint against me."
"How could that be!" The smile on Jiang Wan's face stiffened somewhat. "Sister is the legitimate daughter; how would I dare lodge a complaint against Sister? I... I have matters to attend to, so I'll return first."
Without waiting for a response from Jiang Wan and Shen Yan, she hurried off in a rush, forgetting even to pick up the silk handkerchief dropped on the ground.
Watching Jiang Rou's panicked retreat, Lü'e couldn't help letting out a snort of laughter. "Miss, look at the state she's in—serves her right!"
Without a word, Jiang Wan bent down and picked up the silk handkerchief from the ground. It was a pink silk handkerchief embroidered with Twin Lotus flowers, still stained with a bit of dirt.
Watching Jiang Wan's actions, Shen Yan spoke thoughtfully, "Cousin, thank you for just now."
Jiang Wan looked up at him, somewhat puzzled. "Why does Cousin say that?"
"If not for you, I fear I would have been pestered by Younger Sister Jiang Rou today." Shen Yan gave a wry smile. "I used to think her lively in temperament, but now she appears somewhat..."
He left the sentence unfinished, but Jiang Wan already understood his meaning.
"Cousin flatters me." Jiang Wan handed the handkerchief to Lü'e. "It was merely a matter of convenience."
Looking at her, Shen Yan said earnestly, "Cousin, I misjudged you in the past. You are wonderful, truly."
A stir ran through Jiang Wan's heart as she raised her eyes to look at him. Sunlight filtered through the gaps in the banksia roses, casting its light upon Shen Yan's face; his gaze was sincere and warm, devoid of the slightest impurity.
For some reason, being looked at like this made Jiang Wan feel somewhat ill at ease. She averted her gaze and spoke softly, "Cousin flatters me. The hour is getting late; shouldn't Cousin be heading back?"
Only then did Shen Yan realize he might have acted somewhat improperly, and he hurriedly cupped his fists in salute. "It was presumptuous of me. Then Cousin, I shall take my leave."
"Safe journey, Cousin."
Watching Shen Yan's retreating figure, Jiang Wan let out a soft sigh.
Lü'e stepped closer and whispered, "Miss, this Young Master Cousin seems quite decent, much better than that Crown Prince."
Jiang Wan shot her a glare. "What nonsense are you uttering?"
Even so, in her heart she had to admit that Shen Yan was indeed far more candid than the Crown Prince.
"Let's go, time to return." Jiang Wan turned and walked toward her own courtyard.
The sunlight was pleasant, and the banksia roses still bloomed luxuriantly. Yet Jiang Wan knew that beneath the tranquil surface of this manor, undercurrents were already surging. Jiang Rou would not let the matter rest, her stepmother Madame Li would not sit idly by, and neither would that high-and-mighty Crown Prince...
Her path of rebirth had only just begun.
Upon returning to the courtyard, Lü'e served the sour plum soup. Jiang Wan took a sip, the ice-cold liquid sliding down her throat and dispelling a trace of her vexation.
"Miss, do you think that little hussy Jiang Rou will go complain to Madame?" Lü'e asked worriedly.
Setting down her teacup, Jiang Wan's gaze turned cold. "She naturally will. However, the more she does so, the more it shows her guilty conscience."
Madame Li had always favored Jiang Rou; if Jiang Rou went to complain, Madame Li would likely come make trouble for her. However, Jiang Wan was no longer the former Jiang Wan who could be easily manipulated at will.
"When soldiers come, block them with armor; when water comes, earth covers it," Jiang Wan said indifferently. "If she wants to play games, I'll play along with her. However, I cannot always remain on the defensive; I must find an opportunity to let them know that I, Jiang Wan, am not someone to be trifled with."
Recalling how Madame Li and Jiang Rou had joined forces to frame her in her past life, a glint of frost flashed in the depths of her eyes. This debt, she would collect piece by piece sooner or later.
"Miss, do you have any plans?" Lü'e asked curiously.
Without answering directly, Jiang Wan simply looked out the window. The pomegranate tree in the courtyard had already sprouted new leaves, and in a few months, it would burst into fiery red blossoms.
"The time is not yet right," Jiang Wan said softly. "Wait a little longer."
She needed time, strength, and above all, a suitable opportunity.
At that moment, the sound of footsteps came from outside, and the maid Xiaotao hurried in with a somewhat panicked expression. "Miss, this is bad! Madame has sent for you to go to the main hall, saying... saying she has an urgent matter to discuss with you."
Lü'e's expression changed. "It really has come!"
Jiang Wan, however, remained extraordinarily calm. She straightened her robes and stood up. "Understood, I am going right now."
What was meant to come would come eventually; she had long since prepared herself.
Stepping out the door, the sunlight remained bright, but Jiang Wan knew that a new storm was about to quietly unfold within the main hall of the Dingbei Marquis Manor. And this time, she would not retreat.