Jiang Wanqian had been waiting at the crossroads for Jiang Yu for the better part of a cup of tea. She had feared Jiang Yu might rise early, so she had come even earlier herself. However, as the wait dragged on, Jiang Wanqian’s patience began to wear thin. A servant passed by and mentioned he hadn't seen Sanniang pass through this way at all. When Jiang Wanqian’s maid suggested they go to Jiang Yu’s courtyard to check on her, Jiang Wanqian refused. She still couldn’t bring herself to lower her pride and show such overt concern for Jiang Yu, so she decided to wait a little longer, intending to play it off as a chance encounter.
When she finally saw Jiang Yu, Jiang Wanqian’s impulsive nature got the better of her, and her tongue ran away with her. Only after the words had left her mouth did she realize her gaffe. In truth, this was the normal time to pay respects to Old Madam Jiang; it was she who had arrived early out of fear of missing Jiang Yu. She had genuinely wanted to show concern for her own sister, but her sharp tongue always ended up making things awkward for them both.
Just as Jiang Wanqian expected Jiang Yu to snap back at her, she saw Jiang Yu curl her lips into a smile and ask, "Big Sister, were you worried about me going to pay my respects to Old Madam Jiang alone, so you waited specifically for me?"
Jiang Yu had inherited the delicate beauty of the women of Jiangnan from Lady Li. Now that she no longer used dark powder to conceal her naturally pale, cold skin, her bright smile made her appear incredibly radiant. Jiang Wanqian was left stunned by her smile.
"Big Sister, what's wrong? Is there something on my face?" Jiang Yu touched her cheeks, confused as to why Jiang Wanqian was staring at her so intently.
Realizing she had made a scene, Jiang Wanqian’s ears turned bright red. She said in a flustered tone, "Nothing. Let's hurry to the Old Madam’s place; we mustn't be delayed."
She didn't know why, but Jiang Yu felt so different from the girl she had seen yesterday. It was as if she had suddenly become so beautiful that one couldn't look away. As if struck by a thought, Jiang Wanqian stopped in her tracks and asked, "Wait, your face? Why has it suddenly turned so fair?"
"Oh? Has it? Maybe I just applied some powder to look brighter? Didn't Mother say yesterday that I had tanned quite a bit?" Jiang Yu said dismissively.
Jiang Wanqian didn't press the matter further, choosing not to dwell on it.
As the two reached the entrance of the Old Madam’s courtyard, they bumped into Jiang Yingxi and Jiang Xueshu, who were approaching from the other side. The four women exchanged glances, saying nothing.
Finally, it was Jiang Xueshu who broke the silence. She stared intently at Jiang Yu’s face, her own expression turning increasingly sour, until she angrily demanded, "Jiang Yu, how did your face… how did it become so fair?"
The accusatory tone was truly laughable. Jiang Xueshu had been hoping that upon Jiang Yu’s return, she would serve as a foil to highlight her own beauty. After all, Jiang Xueshu’s reputation as the Capital’s greatest beauty was inseparable from her fair, delicate skin. Although she lacked Jiang Yingxi’s poise, her face was small and exquisitely featured, which had led the public to hail them as the Capital’s most talented woman and greatest beauty, respectively.
However, Jiang Yingxi was far more popular than Jiang Xueshu; after all, noble families looked for more than just a pretty face. To put it simply, if Jiang Yingxi and Jiang Xueshu stood side by side, it was always Jiang Yingxi who caught the eye. Jiang Xueshu had counted on Jiang Yu being a contrast to her beauty, but the girl standing before her now was anything but ugly. Was she here to make her look good, or to steal her thunder?
"Fourth Sister, how can you say that? Isn't it a good thing that I've become fairer? Why do you sound like you're interrogating me?" Jiang Yu asked, looking genuinely bewildered. Her look of utter innocence made Jiang Xueshu want to burst with rage.
"You—"
Just as she was about to call Jiang Yu pretentious, Jiang Yingxi cut her off.
"That’s enough. It’s almost time, let’s go in."
"Second Sister is right. I’ll go in with Jiang Yu," Jiang Wanqian said, nodding to the other two before taking Jiang Yu into the courtyard.
Jiang Xueshu refused to let it go; she was infuriated by Jiang Yu’s "tea-like" act. She was used to bullying Jiang Yu, and having the tables turned on her was something she couldn't swallow.
"Enough! Must you cause a scene in front of the Old Madam? If she blames you later, I won’t be able to protect you. Besides, there are plenty of ways to deal with her; there’s no need to cause an open conflict," Jiang Yingxi scolded with a cold face. This younger sister was far too reckless, and despite being told countless times, she never listened. Jiang Yingxi was exhausted by her behavior.
Jiang Xueshu resented being lectured by Jiang Yingxi, but she revered her elder sister’s judgment too much to argue, so she merely sulked in silence.
Jiang Wanqian led Jiang Yu into the main hall of the Old Madam’s courtyard. The Old Madam had not yet arrived, so they sat to the side to wait. Before long, Jiang Yingxi and Jiang Xueshu entered. One by one, the others who were expected to pay their respects arrived, including Lady Li and Madam Zhao.
Seeing that Jiang Yu and the others had arrived so early, the others couldn't help but look on with a flicker of surprise. Soon after, the Old Madam emerged. Upon seeing her, everyone immediately stood and bowed, saying in unison, "Greetings to the Old Madam."
"Mm, sit," the Old Madam said, her expression indifferent as she took her seat at the head of the table, looking weary and as though she hadn't slept well.
Seeing this, Madam Zhao immediately asked with concern, "Did the Old Madam not rest well last night?"
The Old Madam glanced at her and nodded. "That is the way of old age; it is hard to get to sleep."
"The Old Madam is not old at all; you look as though there is hardly any age difference between us," Madam Zhao said with a flattering smile.
The Old Madam smiled but did not reply. Instead, she looked at Jiang Wanqian, who was sitting below, and said, "Wanqian, stay behind later to help me transcribe the scriptures. The rest of you may leave if there is nothing else."
Old Madam Jiang had always been reserved, rarely showing her joy or anger. She held high hopes for her grandsons, but among her granddaughters, she was closest to Jiang Wanqian. It was precisely for this reason that Madam Zhao had never dared to target Jiang Wanqian over the years, choosing instead to use and abuse Jiang Yu. After all, the Old Madam had reached her position by seeing it all; if anyone touched her favorite granddaughter, she would certainly investigate it to the end.
Seeing that the Old Madam remained as close to Jiang Wanqian as ever, Madam Zhao gripped her silk handkerchief so tightly it nearly tore. Why did she not like her own daughter, Yingxi? It was understandable that she disliked Xueshu for her volatile temper, but why not Yingxi? Madam Zhao could not fathom it.
"Old Madam, Jiang Yu has returned. You weren't aware, were you?" Madam Zhao pretended to be concerned for Jiang Yu, then turned to her and said, "Yuer, why haven't you stepped forward to pay your respects to the Old Madam properly?"
As she said this, she cast a triumphant glance at Lady Li. *What a useless woman, not even daring to fight for a chance for her daughter to shine. How is someone like her fit to be the mistress of the Jiang Family?* Being suppressed by a person like that had always been a thorn in Madam Zhao’s side. *A wife of equal status? How laughable! I, Madam Zhao, will be the legitimate wife! That woman, Lady Li, will certainly not exist in the future; she is the shame of my life.*
The Old Madam lifted her eyelids, glanced at the young woman sitting below, and asked, "Has Sanniang returned?"
It turned out the Old Madam still remembered Jiang Yu. Lady Li felt a wave of joy and hurriedly replied, "Yes, Sanniang has returned. Yuer, hurry and stand forward so the Old Madam can see you."