The weather at the beginning of spring was getting better by the day, and the mood of the people seemed to be the same as well. Jiang Su Su and Xia Yan were extremely polite to Jiang Ruan. Ever since Jiang Li was grounded, they had not seen each other. Other than occasionally encountering Second Yiniang's sarcastic remarks, the rest of the days were spent peacefully, as if it was meant to be so peaceful.
Lu Zhu poured a cup of red date and lotus seed tea for Jiang Ruan. Inside, there was locust flower honey that had just been sent from the kitchen. The color was very beautiful. Jiang Ruan supported her chin with one hand and casually flipped through the book in her hand.
"Miss should also take a break. You've been reading for half the morning." Lu Zhu smiled, "Those who don't know would think that Miss is going to be the top scorer in the imperial examinations."
Bai Zhi laughed and scolded, "Miss is not someone you can make fun of. You're becoming more and more unruly."
Lu Zhu looked at Jiang Ruan and only smiled, "That's how it is. Miss, did this servant say anything wrong?"
Jiang Ruan looked at the two servant girls who were fooling around beside her and was about to say something when she saw Lian Qiao walk in with a cold face. Lian Qiao was usually all smiles, but this expression showed that she had encountered something. Sure enough, without waiting for Jiang Ruan to open her mouth, Lian Qiao said, "Just now, this servant was passing by Yan Hua Yuan and was stopped by Li momo, who served Madam. She said that Ruan Ju did not have enough manpower, so Madam had personally selected a few servant girls and would send them over later. Bah, and I thought that she had been well-behaved for the past few days. Sure enough, she had bad intentions and wanted to plant people in our courtyard. "
"Lower your voice." Bai Zhi quickly said, "The walls have ears."
Lu Zhu also frowned, "This is really too much."
Jiang Ruan smiled and slowly picked up the cup. She could not refuse under the pretense that it was for her own good. She could not openly doubt the Mistress of the household. Xia Yan was always like this, making rude requests while maintaining a bright appearance. Who knew what kind of dirty thoughts were hidden underneath.
Zhou momo's words seemed to ring in her ears, "Eldest Miss, this old servant has something to say even if it means death. Madam's death was not accidental, it must be related to that woman in Yan Hua Yuan. This old servant wanted to stay in the fu to find evidence, but did not want to end up in this situation. Eldest Miss may not believe these words, but this old servant has followed Madam for many years. This old servant is very clear about Madam's health. At that time, the illness was strange, but Master did not ask about it … First Young Lady, Madam was harmed by someone! "
Her fingers unconsciously tightened around the handle of the white porcelain cup. Jiang Ruan's gaze was chilly. Zhao Mei's death had something to do with Xia Yan, and she believed that this was true. If Jiang Quan also knew about this matter and tolerated it until now, then in the future, he could not blame her for being heartless.
As she was thinking this, she heard someone report from outside, "Miss, Sister Du Juan from Gui Lan Courtyard is here."
Du Juan walked in with a smile. "Old Madam asked this servant to invite Eldest Miss over. She has something to tell you."
Jiang Ruan stood up and asked in a warm voice, "We have troubled Du Juan jiejie to make this trip. We will go now. Du Juan jiejie, do you know what is the matter?"
Du Juan smiled, "Eldest Miss, please don't call me that. I'm not worthy of it. This servant doesn't know what it is, but looking at the date, the Lantern Festival should be coming soon. "
During the Lantern Festival, Jiang Ruan's pupils suddenly shrank and her expression abruptly stiffened. Her hands seemed to be unable to straighten as they stood rooted to the ground like stones.
Bai Zhi worriedly asked, "What's wrong, Miss?"
Jiang Ruan then returned to her senses and smiled, "Nothing." Her fingernails, hidden in her sleeves, secretly dug into her palms.
The Lantern Festival! The Lantern Festival! In her previous life, the day that made her infamous should have been a few years later, on the Spring Festival when she had just returned to the fu. On that day, the ridicule and ridicule in everyone's eyes, the worry of Xia Yan and her daughter, and Jiang Quan's indifference, were vivid in her mind. Now that she had been reborn, the date of her return to the Jiang fu had been brought forward by a few years. She did not know whether that despicable and despairing day would repeat itself. Regardless of whether it would or not, there was one thing that was different. That was, she would not be like a stupid pig that would be trampled upon by others. Whoever harmed her, she would return the favor a thousand times, ten thousand times over!
Du Juan was originally looking at Jiang Ruan with a smile, but at this moment, her heart could not help but skip a beat. She only felt that Jiang Ruan's gaze was as if she wanted to eat someone. Unexpectedly, it was no different from the evil spirits of the eighteen layers of hell painted on the temple walls, emitting a dense ghostly aura. In the next second, she saw Jiang Ruan looking at her with a smile, her eyes as clear as the flowing water in the mountains. She softly said, "Let's go to Zumu's courtyard."
In Gui Lan Yuan, Jiang Su Su and Xia Yan had already arrived. Seeing Jiang Ruan and Du Juan enter, Jiang Su Su was the first to jump down from the Old Jiang Madame's couch. Her voice was filled with uncontrollable excitement, "Da Jiejie, the Lantern Festival is in three days. Zumu has ordered us sisters in the fu to go to the Ling Long Boat to play. Da Jiejie has not been there yet, right? It's so fun."
Xia Yan gently said, "Ruan niang has just returned to the capital. The Lantern Festival is very lively. Why not go together to take a look? It's also good to share in the festive atmosphere."
Jiang Ruan's eyebrows raised and she sneered in her heart. Sure enough, whether it was in her previous life or this life, Xia Yan and her daughter's intention to trick her had not changed one bit.
The Lantern Festival was a very special festival in the Great Jin dynasty, especially for those who were in love. Men and women who had reached marriageable age would come out one after another to play on this day. Many good stories would be told during the Lantern Festival. On this day, the children of the nobles in the capital had their own ways of playing. There would be two large boats decorated with dragons and phoenixes. The young ladies of noble families, aristocratic daughters, princesses and the like would sit on the Ling Long Boat, while the young masters of noble families, princes and princes would sit on the Qing Song Boat. The two boats would swim side by side on the lake. Even though they were close together, it was not to the extent that there was no distinction between men and women.
The boats of the Lantern Festival were, in fact, a blind date between the upper class nobles. The young ladies could show off their talents in front of these young masters. If there was one who was exceptionally talented, many of the young masters would fall in love with her. After one night, her name would be known throughout the capital by the next day. Therefore, on this day, it was a competition to prove themselves. The young ladies of noble families secretly competed with each other, hoping to win a good future for themselves and a good husband.
Jiang Su Su's title as the number one beauty in the capital was not due to her limelight at the Lantern Festival every year. In her previous life, the pitiful Jiang Ruan was completely unaware of the knack of it. She was deceived by Jiang Su Su and made a fool of herself on the Ling Long Boat. Later on, such a thing happened. On the second day, Jiang Su Su was no longer the most talked about person after the Lantern Festival, because that person had been replaced by Jiang Ruan. On that day of the Lantern Festival, rumors spread everywhere in the capital. Jiang Ruan's reputation plummeted and she became the biggest joke in the capital.
If all these were nothing, then there was a scene in her memory that was deeply engraved in her mind. That day, everyone was full of ridicule and ridicule. Only the Eighth Prince had gently spoken up for Jiang Ruan. It was only because she had been blind at that time that she had taken the ridicule in his eyes as concern.
In this life, when she saw her old friend again, things remained the same but people had changed. She already knew that under his gentleman's skin was a wolf's ambition. Three days later, during the Lantern Festival, what kind of gift should she give him so that she would not have lived in vain?
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