The wooden chest was overturned on the ground. The high-quality yellow pear wood still exuded a faint fragrance, and out of the inside were volumes of books. The books were well preserved, and it was obvious that the owner had cherished them.
It was not surprising that a young lady from a noble family would bring books with her, but what was surprising was that apart from the books, there was no other luggage. Everyone in the Jiang fu had different expressions, and only Jiang Ruan spoke as usual, "Lian Qiao, what are you doing in a daze?"
As if she had just understood, Jiang Su Su smiled and said, "Da Jiejie really loves to read, a chest full of books. Looking at it, it really makes one envious. Previously, I asked Father to give me a collection of Zhuang Qin's poems. Father could not find it, but Da Jiejie has it." She spoke innocently, as if she was really a little girl who was brooding over a book.
Jiang Ruan smiled slightly, "It's just a book. Since you and I are sisters, I will let Lu Zhu wrap the book and send it to you later. This chest of books was left behind by Mother, and I will protect it even if I have to risk my life. "
From her words, it was not difficult for the crowd to guess that since she had used the word "risk her life," and seeing that the di daughter of the Jiang fu had no other luggage besides an old set of clothes, she must have had a hard time these past few years. Everyone understood that she had taken advantage of the situation. It was rare for her to be so filial at such a young age, and to protect the belongings left behind by her deceased mother. It was just that the money had most likely been looted clean.
Xia Yan looked at her with a smile, and her fingers in her sleeves slightly shrank, but her expression became even more distressed, "I know that you are a child who loves to read. Later, you can be together with Su'er, you two sisters have similar interests."
Jiang Ruan brushed away the stray hair on her forehead and said softly, "My younger sister and I, blood is thicker than water. Naturally, we have similar interests." If not for similar interests, how could she have taken a fancy to a man? If not for similar interests, with the position of di daughter in the Jiang fu, how could they not rest until one of them died?
Lian Qiao and Bai Zhi quickly tidied up the scattered books and took the lead to help carry them back to the Jiang fu. Xia Yan returned to the fu, and as soon as the main door of the fu closed, the onlookers gradually dispersed.
The moment she stepped through the vermilion door of the fu, Lu Zhu supported Jiang Ruan's hand, "Miss, slow down, don't fall."
Jiang Ruan's steps were steady, and the smile on her face was stern. Mother, Eldest Brother, Pei 'er, look, I'm back!
The vacated courtyard was still being tidied up, so Xia Yan first led Jiang Ruan into the main hall, where several yiniang were waiting for her. Jiang Su Su, on the other hand, was very happy along the way. She told Jiang Ruan some interesting things about her family. From afar, it looked like they were in harmony with each other.
When they entered the main hall, just as Xia said, the yiniang's, yiniang said, and said. The leader of the group was a slightly older woman dressed in a brown, straight-fitting jacket and skirt. She smiled amiably at Jiang Ruan, "Eldest Young Miss." Jiang Ruan's gaze swept over her. This was the Jiang family's Da Yiniang. At that time, after Zhao Mei had gotten pregnant, she had become Jiang Quan's servant girl. Unfortunately, she had not been favored, nor had she gotten pregnant. In the fu, she had been a mere decoration.
Jiang Ruan smiled and returned the greeting. Jiang Li walked to a woman wearing a peach-colored jacket and a long skirt embroidered with peonies. She said coquettishly, "Yiniang." The woman could be considered beautiful. Her long, shapely eyebrows were slightly raised, and her voice was also high. She laughed, "Oh, isn't this Eldest Miss? I was wondering why Furen asked us to come today. It turns out that Eldest Miss has returned from the zhuangzi."
Jiang Ruan ignored her harsh words. Second Yiniang was the shu daughter of the Minister of Appointments, so she had the authority to win her over in the officialdom. Because of the Minister of Appointments' reputation, Second Yiniang was also favored in the fu. Jiang Li and Xia Yan were very close, and Jiang Ruan had not been on good terms since childhood. When Zhao Mei was still alive, she had suffered a lot at Second Yiniang's hands.
Jiang Ruan's gaze fell on the girl standing alone at the side. This was Jiang Dan, the daughter of Third Yiniang. After Third Yiniang gave birth to Jiang Dan, she passed away. When Zhao Mei was alive, Jiang Dan was raised by Zhao Mei's side. Jiang Ruan still remembered that in her past life, when she entered the palace, Jiang Dan was still unmarried. Later on, there was no news of Jiang Dan. She only remembered that in the fu, Jiang Dan did not seem to like to talk and had a taciturn appearance.
The last woman was much younger than the other yiniang. Jiang Ruan also remembered her. This young woman was also very capable. In her past life, she had almost reached the point where she could compete with Xia Yan as an equal. Her name was Hong Ying, and she was a courtesan of the brothel. Originally, she had been bought by Jiang Quan to be given to his superior as a gift, but later on, for some unknown reason, he had kept a yiniang for himself. In her past life, she had wholeheartedly relied on Xia Yan, and her attitude towards Hong Ying was also very disgusted. Now, seeing this situation again, she was more than happy.
Hong Ying was just as Jiang Ruan remembered. She was delicate and charming, but there was not the slightest trace of the courtesan aura of the brothel. Instead, she looked exquisite and pure, like a crystal. It was no wonder that Jiang Quan, who did not have a preference for female charms, had a whole new level of respect for her. Who would not like such a pure and clean flower?
Admittedly, although the house was filled with women, some were playing along, some were momentarily fresh, but the one Jiang Quan truly doted on was Xia Yan alone. Her methods were superb, and coupled with her husband's doting, it was very difficult for her not to have a firm foothold in the Jiang family. Xia Yan had a boy and a girl, Jiang Su Su and Jiang Chao. Xia Yan explained, "Master brought Chao 'er to Lord Wang's fu today. I'm afraid that Ruan' er will only be able to see them in the evening." It was no wonder that she had not seen Jiang Chao's figure in the main hall. Jiang Quan wholeheartedly wanted to bring Jiang Chao into his official career, so he often brought her to the homes of his colleagues. From a young age, she had personally taught him, which was poles apart from his cold attitude towards Jiang Xin Zhi.
As soon as she thought of her eldest brother, Jiang Ruan's gaze became slightly pained, and she unconsciously clenched her fists in her sleeves. She took a deep breath in her heart before she smiled lightly and said, "There is no need to do all this for me. I am originally a member of the Jiang fu, so going home is just like going home normally."
When the surrounding people heard her words, they all fell silent. Jiang Su Su smiled and said, "Da Jiejie is right. It's just that Da Jiejie has just returned to the fu, and there have been many changes in the fu these past few years. Why don't we let the moms explain in detail to Da Jiejie, so that Da Jiejie won't be able to recognize the way."
Jiang Li also giggled and said, "I'm just afraid that Da Jiejie will get used to those interesting mountain paths, and will not be used to walking on our Jiang fu's roads."
Jiang Ruan smiled faintly and said, "How could that be?"
How could that be? Every blade of grass and every tree in the Jiang fu, along with the blood and tears of her previous life, had long been deeply embedded in her heart. Every person and every place here would always exist in her nightmares. Every time she woke up from the nightmares of her previous life, every scene in her dreams would remind her of what kind of hell the Jiang fu was.
She had planted a seed of vengeance here, and now that the seed had been planted, it was just waiting for it to slowly sprout.
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