The next morning, Lian Qiao woke Jiang Ruan up early. Jiang Ruan instructed Bai Zhi to take care of Zhou momo, so today, Lu Zhu and Lian Qiao accompanied her. After Lu Zhu served Jiang Ruan breakfast, Lian Qiao could not wait to help Jiang Ruan change her clothes. Lu Zhu laughed, "Lian Qiao jiejie is so anxious, those who don't know would think that today's guest is Lian Qiao jiejie."
"Stupid hussy, stop spouting nonsense. See if I don't tear your mouth apart." Lian Qiao said, "How many days has it been since our Miss dressed up properly? I have long said that our Miss is a beauty. Just thinking of the eyeballs that will fall off when our Miss goes out, I can't help but be very happy."
Jiang Ruan laughed, "The beauty in the Jiang fu is not me."
"Miss, are you talking about Second Miss?" Lian Qiao was a straightforward person and said without a care, "Second Miss' appearance is good, but it is too light. It is fine now that you are younger, but if you get older, it will be somewhat boring if you continue to be so plain. How can she be as attractive as our Miss? "
Jiang Ruan laughed in spite of herself, "Do you know that the current trend in the capital is this kind of elegant and refined beauty? Someone like me is too gaudy."
Lu Zhu, who was tidying up the things on the table, could not help but say, "Miss, you are wrong. Scholars and poets all say that they love lotuses that grow out of the mud without being tainted, but the people of the world often spend a lot of money for a pot of Luoyang peony. Who would spend a lot of money for a pot of lotus in a pond?"
Lian Qiao nodded, "Exactly."
Jiang Ruan shook her head and said no more. After Lu Zhu finished washing her hands, she had Jiang Ruan sit in front of the dressing table, "Miss, what kind of hair do you want to comb?"
"Up to you." Jiang Ruan said, "As long as it is not rude."
After going around in circles, the time it takes to burn a stick of incense passed. The carriages outside the Jiang fu had already been prepared. There were two carriages, one for Jiang Su Su, Jiang Ruan and Xia Yan, and the other for Jiang Dan and Jiang Li. The two carriages had to set off together for the Shen fu. Assistant Minister Shen and Jiang Quan had always had a good relationship in the officialdom.
When Lian Qiao and Lu Zhu followed Jiang Ruan out the door, they could see from afar that Jiang Li and Jiang Dan had already arrived. The two of them were standing beside Xia Yan and talking to Jiang Su Su. Jiang Li was the first to see Jiang Ruan and said with a smile, "Da Jiejie has such a great reputation, to actually make Mother and sisters wait for so long."
"It's Jiang Ruan's fault," Jiang Ruan said with a smile, "After all, it's the first time I've entered the Shen fu since my return. I looked for the momo in the courtyard to ask about some things, so that when the time comes, I wouldn't be lacking in etiquette and others would only say that our Jiang fu's people don't understand the rules."
Xia Yan smiled amiably, "What's the point of saying all this? Ruan niang's attire today really makes it hard for people to recognize her. She's so beautiful."
At the same time, Jiang Li and Jiang Su Su's eyes shone with a strange light. Embroidered with a hundred butterflies and adorned with flowers, a bright red satin jacket, a jadeite floral satin skirt, and a pair of fragrant red sheepskin boots with gold pinched into the clouds. Originally, they had thought that Jiang Ruan would not be able to suppress this kind of attire and would only make her look inferior. Who would have thought that Jiang Ruan would be so compatible with this attire, as if this attire had been made for her. There was not the slightest trace of restraint, instead, that incomparably warm red color exuded a kind of nobility and calmness, and then flowed with a faint charm, causing people to be unable to help but stare blankly. Everyone present only felt that this beauty was overbearing, and in front of them, this eldest young miss who was bullied and humiliated by others, was already a complete stranger.
Jiang Ruan said with a smile, "These younger sisters are also very beautiful. Mother's words really do not flatter me."
After this warm and affectionate conversation, the few of them each boarded their own carriages. After Jiang Su Su boarded the carriage, she nestled in Xia Yan's embrace, watching Jiang Ruan out of the corner of her eye. She had originally thought that with the three of them squeezed in the same carriage, Jiang Ruan would definitely feel uncomfortable. Who would have thought that when Jiang Ruan boarded the carriage, she would hold a travel book in her hands and read it, her gaze peaceful? This caused Jiang Su Su, who had wanted to speak, to be unable to say anything.
The journey was peaceful, and after an unknown amount of time, the carriage stopped in front of the Shen fu. The few of them alighted from the carriage, and the manservant leading the way at the Shen fu's entrance came out to welcome them. Xia Yan handed over an invitation, and very quickly, a stout old mama walked out from the door and said with a smile, "Jiang furen has arrived, our furen has been waiting for you for a long time."
Xia Yan smiled in response, and after walking for a while, she was led into the hall. As expected, Shen furen was already waiting with tea. When she saw Xia Yan, her expression was extremely affectionate, and she said, "Jiejie has not come often these days. If it were not for my birthday, I am afraid that I would have been anxiously waiting for you to come."
Xia Yan also smiled, "These days, Ruan niang has just returned, and has been busy taking care of everything. Don't blame me."
Shen furen then turned her head, and a pair of astute eyes fixed on Jiang Ruan. A trace of amazement flashed through them, "This must be Eldest Jiang Miss, right? You are truly a beauty."
Jiang Ruan stepped forward to pay her respects. Even after hearing Shen furen's somewhat presumptuous words, she was still unperturbed, and said in a natural and unrestrained manner, "Shen furen praises me too much."
Shen furen's gaze seemed to be sizing up an object, and Lian Qiao and Lu Zhu, who were following beside her, were dissatisfied. Without batting an eyelid, they moved sideways to block Shen furen's probing gaze.
A trace of resentment flashed through Jiang Li's eyes, and she unwillingly stepped forward and smiled sweetly at Shen furen, "Greetings, furen."
However, Shen furen's attitude towards Jiang Li was very cold, and she only responded with a sound of acknowledgment before looking at Jiang Su Su and saying with a smile, "Su niang has become more and more adorable these days. You look like a little fairy, and it makes my eyes turn red with jealousy."
"Mother, what jealousy are you talking about?" Just as she finished speaking, a delicate voice was heard from outside, and a young girl dressed in pink walked out. Upon seeing Jiang Su Su, she rushed over excitedly, "Su 'er jiejie!"
Jiang Su Su smiled and held her hand, "Ming Zhen meimei."
Shen Ming Zhen was the apple of Assistant Minister Shen's eye. Assistant Minister Shen had three sons, but only one daughter. In her previous life, Jiang Ruan's impression of Shen Ming Zhen was that she was Jiang Su Su's best friend, but she did not know why she was always full of hostility towards her. Every time she had a conflict with Shen Ming Zhen, it was always Jiang Su Su who helped her out. At that time, Jiang Ruan had said that she was a good-for-nothing beauty who only knew how to dance and play the zither like a vulgar dancer.
In her previous life, Jiang Ruan did not understand why Shen Ming Zhen insisted on opposing her, even though she had not provoked Shen Ming Zhen. Now that she thought about it, it was completely clear. In her previous life, on the road filled with enemies, separated by the distance between life and death, when she saw this old friend again, time seemed to flow, returning to a time when everything had not happened. She did not know what Shen Ming Zhen's ending would be in this life.
As if feeling her gaze, Shen Ming Zhen turned her head, and when she saw Jiang Ruan's appearance, she was startled at first, but then, without rhyme or reason, she asked angrily, "Who is she?"
Before the people around them could speak, they saw Jiang Ruan smile, and an indistinct trace of emotion flowed out from the corners of her eyes. She said indifferently, "Jiang family, Ruan niang."
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