Although Jiang Yu already knew the man’s identity, hearing it spoken aloud by the guard still stirred a sense of emotion within her.
In her previous life, shortly after Xiao Yan passed away, Lord Zhou, the Chief Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, had done something that shocked the entire imperial court. Having reached the pinnacle of his career, he had chosen that exact moment to resign from his post and retire to his hometown. Consequently, Jiang Yu had never met the legendary Lord Zhou in her past life; it was only by a stroke of fate that their paths crossed in this one.
Upon hearing the news, the guard at the gate of Marquis Pingchang’s Estate turned pale and hurried inside to report. Jiang Yu remained in the carriage, unmoved. Since someone was willing to assist her, she would naturally wait for the opportune moment to appear.
Soon, the Marquis of Pingchang, Jiang Zhiping—Jiang Yu’s biological father—and his equal-ranked wife, Madam Zhao, came out to greet them. Although the Marquis’s estate held a noble title, it had gradually fallen into decline because the descendants were uninspired; fewer and fewer of them served in the imperial court. Most simply inherited their titles, and none of the men who sought an official career had achieved anything of note. By Jiang Yu’s generation, however, Madam Zhao’s son, Jiang Zifeng, showed some promise, and Jiang Yu’s own brother, Jiang Ziqi, was also held in high regard.
Because the family coffers had long since dwindled, Jiang Zhiping had been arranged by his father to marry Li Wanrong, the eldest daughter of the wealthy Li family in Jiangnan—Jiang Yu’s mother. At the time, her dowry had been exceptionally generous. Yet, just a year later, Jiang Zhiping had taken Zhao Shuying, the daughter of a Doctor of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, as his wife. To avoid slighting her, he elevated Zhao Shuying to the status of an equal-ranked wife, granting her a position of prestige within the estate that far eclipsed that of the primary wife, Li Wanrong. There was no help for it; because Li Wanrong was merely the daughter of a wealthy merchant, even the servants treated her with negligence. Her mother was a quintessential Jiangnan woman—delicate, gentle, and moving—but she was so yielding that people perceived her as weak. Toward the equal wife, Zhao Shuying, Li Wanrong would always retreat and concede.
In her previous life, this was exactly what Jiang Yu had despised most about her mother! She was the legitimate wife of a Marquis, yet she lived worse than a concubine.
"I don’t know what brings you here, Brother Zhou. Please, come inside," Jiang Zhiping said with a smile to Lord Zhou, who had yet to descend from his carriage.
These days, the Marquis’s estate was in decline and held little sway among the aristocratic families of the Capital. Thus, he had pinned all his hopes on his daughters. The young masters of the Jiang family were nowhere near as famous as the Jiang daughters. Each one was graceful and dignified, and if they could marry into prominent households, it would bring immense glory. Jiang Zhiping harbored ambitions for his second daughter, Jiang Yingxi, that he dared not speak aloud. He only hoped that one day, she would fly to the branches and become a phoenix, restoring the former glory of the Jiang family.
At that moment, Lord Zhou finally stepped out of the carriage. "Marquis, it has been a long time," he said with a smile.
"Indeed. You have been busy with official duties, Brother Zhou. As for an idle man like me, it is only natural we don't see each other often."
Jiang Zhiping was known externally for having the best temperament and character of any Marquis. As for taking an equal wife, in the noble circles of the Capital, such things were hardly worth mentioning—it was merely a trifle of a man’s private life. Furthermore, when Jiang Zhiping had married Li Wanrong, many in the noble circle had felt it was a pity for a dignified Marquis to marry a merchant’s daughter. But what the outsiders did not know—and what the family knew all too well—was that the Marquis’s estate had been poorly managed, suffering heavy losses across many properties. They were struggling to maintain appearances, to the point where they could not even pay the servants' wages behind closed doors. If he hadn't married Li Wanrong, who knows what a laughingstock the estate would have become.
"Not at all, not at all. We all merely serve the country. But I do have a reason for coming to the estate today. Marquis, you owe me a favor—" Having said this, Lord Zhou turned toward the carriage behind him and called out, "Miss Jiang, come out."
*Miss Jiang?* There was another Miss Jiang in the carriage?
Just as Jiang Zhiping was bewildered, Madam Zhao, who stood beside him, seemed to realize something; her face shifted, though only for a fleeting second before she regained her composure.
As everyone turned their eyes toward the carriage at the rear, Jiang Yu’s two personal maids emerged first. Then, the two of them helped a slender, graceful young woman step down.
Although Jiang Yu was only fourteen, her figure was already lithe and graceful. She had inherited her mother’s features, and her small, palm-sized face appeared even more touching and pitiable. Her large, watery eyes seemed to speak, instantly stirring compassion in anyone who looked at her. She moved with a gentle gait and a dignified manner, looking nothing like a wild girl raised in the countryside. The only drawback was that perhaps due to her long years spent at the manor, her skin glowed with a faint honey-colored sheen, which stood in stark contrast to the extreme paleness sought after by the noblewomen of the Capital.
*These useless, bumbling idiots!* Madam Zhao cursed inwardly, furious. They had thrown away silver for nothing, and now that Jiang Yu had returned completely unscathed, the bandits’ claim that she was dead seemed like a fool's errand.
"Lord Zhou." Jiang Yu walked to Lord Zhou’s side and offered a graceful bow. Her etiquette was flawless, no less refined than that of a specially trained noblewoman.
When Jiang Zhiping saw his daughter, his eyes brightened slightly. *Such features, such a figure—a real beauty.* But compared to Yingxi, she was still lacking. She had followed her mother’s looks, appearing a bit too "common." Recalling Jiang Yu’s previous behavior, he still felt a strong dislike for her.
"Father." Only after acknowledging Lord Zhou did Jiang Yu look toward Jiang Zhiping, tears welling up in her eyes as if on cue.
"Sanniang? Was it not arranged for people to bring you back to the Capital? Why has it taken so many days for you to return?" Jiang Zhiping asked with a frown, looking at the daughter he had banished to the countryside.
Jiang Yu did not answer; instead, she cast a pitiful look toward Lord Zhou.
Lord Zhou: "..."
*Very well, so that is the game.* "Xiao Yan, oh Xiao Yan, you truly are..." Lord Zhou laughed inwardly. He did not feel angry at being used by a young girl; however, he truly did not wish to meddle in someone else’s family affairs.
"Marquis, why be so quick to anger? Miss Jiang encountered ruthless bandits on her way back to the Capital. By chance, I happened upon them and rescued her. She has been shaken, so please, do not blame her."
Upon hearing this, Jiang Zhiping’s expression changed instantly. "Such a thing happened? Then my daughter—" Jiang Zhiping was deeply worried about the threat to Jiang Yu’s reputation. Although he disliked her, he had hoped to use her for a beneficial marriage. If her reputation were ruined, she would not only lose her utility but could potentially implicate his Yingxi.
"Rest assured, Marquis. Do you not trust me?" Lord Zhou looked at Jiang Zhiping with a smile, though the warmth did not reach his eyes.
"How could that be? Then many thanks, Brother Zhou." Jiang Zhiping hurriedly replied.
With Lord Zhou’s testimony, who would dare spread rumors about Jiang Yu? This had been clarified by the Chief Minister of the Court of Judicial Review himself. Jiang Yu wanted to see if Madam Zhao would still dare to make that foul move.
Once Lord Zhou’s party had departed, the smile on Jiang Zhiping’s face vanished instantly. It was truly a case of a face for the public and a face for the shadows. Jiang Yu was already accustomed to her father’s shifting expressions. Since she no longer held any expectations for him—after how he had treated her mother in her past life—she would be sure to exact a price from him in this one.