Chapter 003: Returning To The Mansion

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Translator’s Note: ✨ The previous chapters are getting a glow-up! ✨ They’re being fully edited and translated to match the original novel. Here’s the polished chapter! ??

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“What bold words.”

Shen Jie did some quick calculations. Considering the young man’s age, in just a couple of months he would be ready for his coming-of-age ceremony. It was indeed the right time to start talking about marriage.

He smiled and asked, “Does the Marquis know what you’re thinking?”

“He knows.”

Yan Lin, with a sword at his waist, twirled his wrist casually, flicking a riding whip with nonchalance. His posture was effortlessly dashing.

Ahead of them loomed the Ninefold Palace Gates.

He first unbuckled the sword at his side and then said, “My father believes the Jiang family, renowned for their scholarly heritage, is an excellent match. Jiang Daren is currently the Vice Minister of Revenue, a real position of authority. Back when His Majesty ascended the throne, it was Jiang Daren who secretly arranged for Master Xie to enter the capital, rendering great merit in the process. Moreover, Jiang Boyou and Master Xie are friends. Jiang Xuening, as the legitimate daughter of the Jiang family, is a suitable match for me in both status and background. Once I’ve had my coming-of-age ceremony in November, I’ll send someone to formally propose.”

“You brat! Normally, you don’t associate with the profligate youths of the capital, nor do you pay any attention to the young ladies trying to curry favor with you. I thought you were too young to understand matters of love and were simply indifferent. Who would’ve guessed that you’ve had your plans laid out all along? You’re really something, aren’t you?”

Shen Jie pondered carefully and gradually pieced things together.

“Last night, although I was drunk, I didn’t act rashly. All I did was, upon waking this morning, accidentally rest my hand on her shoulder. Yet you’re already rushing over to tell me about her family background and boldly declaring that you’ll marry her. Yan Lin, isn’t this a bit excessive?”

As the saying goes, “Never covet a friend’s wife.” Yan Lin’s earlier remarks weren’t just a reminder for Shen Jie to respect Jiang Xuening’s status as a young lady. They were a clear declaration of ownership, marking Jiang Xuening as his. It was a way of staking his claim and preemptively quashing any potential interest from others.

The young man’s thoughts, though subtle, had been exposed. Rarely did he blush, but this time, his handsome face turned slightly red. His voice, however, grew louder, as if the volume alone could mask his embarrassment.

“So what if I’m protective? I’m willing to be!”

So domineering.

Shen Jie couldn’t help but laugh.

The two stopped in front of the Huiji Gate.

Yan Lin handed over his sword and walked with Shen Jie through Huiji Gate toward the Wenhua Hall.

The reigning emperor, who also happened to be Shen Jie’s elder brother, Shen Lang, had ascended the throne four years ago. The year an emperor ascends the throne is fraught with peril, and Shen Lang’s case was no exception.

The previous emperor, in his ailing and muddled state, confined Shen Lang to the palace. For some reason, he went so far as to issue an edict sending Shen Lang to a distant fiefdom. This threw the court into chaos.

Thankfully, Xie Wei arrived in the capital like a bolt of lightning. He stabilized Shen Lang’s supporters, invited skilled physicians to treat the emperor’s illness, and ultimately secured an imperial edict naming Shen Lang, the third prince, as the rightful heir to the throne.

Xie Wei, courtesy name Ju’an, hailed from the illustrious Xie clan of Jinling, the same family immortalized in poetry: “The swallows of old Wang and Xie mansions.”

By the time of this dynasty, however, the Xie family had fallen into decline.

Xie Wei passed the imperial examinations at the age of 20 and entered the Hanlin Academy. Shortly after, news came from Jinling that his mother had passed away. Observing filial piety, Xie Wei returned home for three years.

At the age of 23, he secretly returned to the capital just as events unfolded.

In a single stroke, he turned the tide, aiding Shen Lang in ascending the throne. Alongside the monk Yuanji, Xie Wei became one of the emperor’s most trusted advisors.

Although he held no official position, he was granted the honorary title of “Tutor to the Crown Prince.”

Since there were no crown princes or royal children to teach, Xie Wei often lectured the emperor instead. He had no formal title as imperial tutor, yet in practice, he fulfilled that role.

Recently, with the autumn chill setting in, Shen Lang had been feeling unwell. He had summoned the three key members of his inner council several times in private.

What they discussed remained a mystery.

But starting last month, Shen Lang issued an edict summoning some younger members of the royal family to attend court lectures with him. This included a few of his brothers, among them Shen Jie.

Yan Lin and Shen Jie were late to the Wenhua Hall.

By the time Yan Lin and Shen Jie arrived at the Wenhua Hall, the lecture had already been underway for quite some time.

At the entrance stood Huang De, the head eunuch, who hurried over upon seeing them. He bowed low and urgently whispered, “Your Highness, Junior Marquis, why are you so late today? The lecture has already been going on for two quarters of an hour. If you enter now, Lord Xie will surely notice!”

The revelry from last night’s drinking had wiped their memory of today’s lecture entirely.

The two exchanged a glance and sighed in frustration.

Xie Wei, the lecturer, was known for his balanced mix of leniency and strictness, often praised as embodying the virtues of the sages of old. However, he had little tolerance for misbehavior.

The last time, the Prince of Yanping, favored by the emperor, had arrived only half a quarter late. He tried to sneak in quietly through a side entrance, only to be immediately called out by Xie Wei. He was then asked to recite the text of On Factions that had been taught the previous day.

The young Prince of Yanping, who had been busy with childish games, could not manage even a sentence. He stammered for so long that his face turned beet red.

Xie Wei, however, was not angry. Instead, he gently invited the prince to sit back down, apologizing that the lecture might have been too complicated for him to remember, taking the blame upon himself.

Ashamed, the Prince of Yanping returned home that very night and studied under the lamp. The next day, he not only arrived on time but also flawlessly recited On Factions and added the Ten Reflections of Emperor Taizong. His sudden diligence amazed everyone.

From that day forward, the Prince of Yanping became a dedicated student.

However, the prince had been only fourteen at the time and could excuse his slip-ups as childish ignorance.

Yan Lin and Shen Jie, on the other hand, were no longer young and had reputations to uphold.

Standing at the hall entrance, they could hear faint sounds of the lecture inside. Both of them felt a creeping dread and hesitated to step forward.

Fortunately, Huang De had an idea. “Lord Xie always addresses matters on the spot and never revisits past offenses. Today, the Bureau of Rites delivered an ancient guqin as a gift from His Majesty to Lord Xie. After two lectures, there will be a tea break, during which Lord Xie is certain to try the guqin. Since he loves music, why don’t Your Highness and Junior Marquis wait until he begins playing? Then, you can quietly slip in. He likely won’t press the matter.”

The two young men looked relieved, quickly bowing to Huang De. “Thank you, Eunuch!”

After expressing their gratitude, they discreetly retreated to a side hall to wait.

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Meanwhile, Jiang Xuening’s journey back to the Jiang Mansion.

Jiang Xuening had no idea what sort of situation Yan Lin and Shen Jie were facing in their palace lecture.

After they departed, she too began her journey back to her family’s mansion.

Having spent her childhood wandering the streets and alleys of the capital, Jiang Xuening was no stranger to the city. At first, stepping out from the inn felt a bit disorienting, and she struggled to find her way. But after a few steps, old memories surfaced, and she quickly regained her bearings, finding the path to the Jiang Mansion.

The streets were bustling with life.

Vendors shouted loudly, wearing bright smiles.

Young children ran about, playing with handmade figurines, their laughter echoing.

The vibrant sights and sounds of ordinary life filled the air, slowly lifting the weight off Jiang Xuening’s shoulders. Her previously tense body relaxed, and for the first time, she began to feel the reality of her rebirth. It no longer felt like the dreamlike haze she experienced when dealing with Shen Jie and Yan Lin.

Now, she was no longer the empress.

No longer confined to the high walls of Kunning Palace.

Walking the streets felt like returning to her natural element, like a fish back in water. Her steps became lighter, her mood brighter.

The Jiang Mansion was located in Huaishu Alley, not too far away. Soon, she spotted the large, crimson gates of her family home. To be honest, Jiang Xuening didn’t feel particularly attached to the Jiang Mansion.

Jiang Xuening had returned to the capital at fourteen, but prior to that, she had grown up on her family’s estate in Tongzhou, raised by her father Jiang Boyou’s concubine, Madam Wan.

According to her biological mother, she had been “ruined” during her upbringing there.

Jiang Xuening’s background was far from ordinary.

She was, in fact, the legitimate daughter of Jiang Boyou’s wife, Madam Meng. However, when Madam Meng was pregnant with her, she had a fierce falling out with Madam Wan.

Madam Wan, once a prized courtesan from Yangzhou, had been gifted to Jiang Boyou and later promoted to concubine. She had gained his favor and was also pregnant at the time. According to Madam Wan, Madam Meng had fabricated a fault against her and intended to send her to the Tongzhou estate.

Madam Wan was not someone to trifle with.

Seeing that her banishment was inevitable, she decided to go all in. Amid the chaos of giving birth on the same night as Madam Meng, she swapped the two newborn girls.

From that moment on, Madam Wan’s daughter became the Jiang family’s legitimate young mistress, Jiang Xuehui. She lived a life of luxury, learning etiquette and morality.

Meanwhile, Madam Meng’s daughter was taken to Tongzhou with Madam Wan, growing up wild and free, unbound by the rules of a proper noblewoman.

That unlucky daughter of Madam Meng was, of course, Jiang Xuening.

Fortunately, Madam Wan treated her well. She taught her to read, write, and appreciate fine arts, never once mistreating her.

Looking back, Jiang Xuening now realized the depth of Madam Wan’s scheming.

Four years ago, when Madam Wan fell gravely ill, she sent a letter to the Jiang family in the capital, confessing to the baby swap.

The revelation caused an uproar in the Jiang household.

After confirming the truth, officials from the capital came for Jiang Xuening.

By then, Madam Wan had no interest in further conflict. She left behind a cryptic “It’s too late for regrets” before passing away, leaving behind a mess for others to clean up.

Madam Meng was enraged, but since Madam Wan had treated her daughter well and expressed remorse in her final words, Meng found it difficult to hold a grudge against someone who had already passed.

Nor could she vent her anger on Jiang Xuehui.

The Jiang family, being a prominent household, could not afford to make such a scandal public. While the elder daughter, Jiang Xuehui, was indeed Madam Wan’s child, she had been raised by Madam Meng and had developed a bond with her. She was virtuous and proper, completely uninvolved in the old affair. Demoting her to a concubine’s daughter would invite ridicule and ruin her marital prospects.

After much deliberation, the family arrived at a compromise.

They claimed that Jiang Xuening had been taken away at a young age because a fortune-teller had warned of calamities before her fourteenth year. To protect her, they sent her to the countryside to be raised as an ordinary child.

Now that she was past fourteen, it was only natural to bring her back.

Thus, the Jiang family now had two legitimate daughters.

When Jiang Xuening first returned, she behaved cautiously, diligently studying whatever Madam Meng instructed and striving to act like a proper young lady. However, Jiang Boyou, with his soft heart, felt guilty about his daughter’s misfortune and doted on her excessively, spoiling her in the process.

Over time, Jiang Xuening’s temperament grew more willful and domineering.

She even began to bully Jiang Xuehui.

After meeting Yan Lin, she became even harder to control.

The first time her escapades in male disguise were exposed, Madam Meng was so furious she scolded her, calling her “exactly like that shameless Madam Wan.”

Even Jiang Boyou, usually indulgent, started to feel she had gone too far.

Yet, once Yan Lin brought her along for his adventures, no one in the household dared to interfere.

The young Yan Lin even visited the Jiang family to speak with Jiang Boyou. Whatever was said in that conversation led to tacit approval of Jiang Xuening’s behavior.

Whenever Jiang Xuening disguised herself as a man, everyone in the Jiang household would address her as “Young Master Biao” and help cover for her, as if the Jiang family truly had a young master.

When Jiang Xuening returned, even the doorman, upon seeing her, could only lift his eyelids in shock before quickly lowering his head in deference, timidly murmuring, “Young Master Biao has returned.”

In the capital, where land was worth its weight in gold, Jiang Boyou—though holding the tangible position of Assistant Minister of Revenue—was still only a third-rank official. While his household was well-off, it could not afford extravagance. Their four-courtyard residence was compact but elegant.

Jiang Xuening still remembered that in her previous life, her quarters had been in the west wing, right next to Jiang Xuehui’s.

When she first returned in that life, seeing Jiang Xuehui filled her with both inferiority and envy. Later, as she grew more arrogant, she used Jiang Xuehui’s concubine-born status to suppress her, even turning a blind eye to the servants humiliating her.

She had stolen Jiang Xuehui’s opportunity to serve as a companion reader in the palace.

She had even stolen Jiang Xuehui’s marriage—

The woman Shen Jie originally fancied had been Jiang Xuehui. But with only a single handkerchief as a token and no idea which Jiang family young lady it belonged to, Jiang Xuening seized the opportunity for herself.

Jiang Xuehui eventually married a scholar who passed the imperial exam and left the capital with him.

Jiang Xuening had only seen her during occasional holiday ceremonies when noblewomen visited the palace. But even then, it was from a distance.

All she knew was that Jiang Xuehui seemed to live well.

Now, as she faced the “elder sister” who had seemingly taken the life she was meant to have, Jiang Xuening felt a complicated mix of emotions. She planned to retreat to her room to think about how she should approach Jiang Xuehui in the future.

But just as she reached the covered corridor, she overheard a sharp voice.

It was clearly an older servant woman.

“How ridiculous! Our household has more people, and yours has fewer. What’s wrong with us taking a bit more of the allowance?

“Do you even know your own status?

“Don’t think I’d back down for you—or even the Second Miss, for that matter! I was the one who went to fetch the Second Miss back to the capital, and she obeyed my every word! If I told her to go east, she wouldn’t dare go west!”

“You!”

Standing under the corridor was a young woman dressed in a sky-blue robe embroidered with lotus patterns. She had an oval face, willow-leaf eyebrows, and features that, while not as stunningly alluring as Jiang Xuening’s, carried a natural air of poise.

But now, her expression showed a trace of anger.

This was Jiang Xuehui.

Behind her stood a maid in a short jacket, while three paces ahead of her was a richly adorned woman with a mole under her lip, which lent her a somewhat mean look. Her lips curled mockingly as she regarded Jiang Xuehui with undisguised disdain.

Jiang Xuening had walked up right behind them, unnoticed by anyone.

Hearing the words “she obeyed my every word,” Jiang Xuening’s eyebrows arched sharply—

Who was she supposed to have obeyed so dutifully?

The woman speaking was Wang Xing’s wife, one of Jiang Xuening’s personal attendants. Originally a servant under Madam Meng, she had indeed been sent to escort Jiang Xuening back from the countryside and had been relatively attentive on the journey.

Later, Jiang Xuening requested to keep her as her servant.

Since then, Wang Xing’s wife had treated Jiang Xuening like a revered benefactor, almost laying herself flat on the ground in gratitude.

But this attitude behind her back?

Wang Xing’s wife did not notice Jiang Xuening’s arrival. However, Jiang Xuehui, standing opposite her, saw Jiang Xuening clearly.

In that moment, Jiang Xuehui felt her heart sink halfway to the ground.

This younger sister was infamous as a hell-raising troublemaker. For her to arrive just as this argument reached its climax could only mean one thing—she would, without distinguishing right from wrong, stir up a scene that would end in humiliation for all.

Behind her stood a trembling maid, legs weak and voice shaking as she stammered, “Se-second Miss, greetings…”

Wang Xing’s wife froze instantly, her earlier arrogance and mockery vanishing without a trace. Turning around, she put on a full, ingratiating smile, her tone warm and obsequious, overflowing with delight. “Oh, my dear Second Miss, you’re finally back! This old servant has been stewing black chicken soup for you at home and even prepared your favorite pineapple pastries!”

As she spoke, she eagerly reached out toward Jiang Xuening, as if intending to assist her.

On her wrist was a jade bracelet.

The jade was crystal clear, its luster radiant.

At a glance, it was obviously top-quality Hetian green jade.

Jiang Xuening lowered her gaze, and her pupils suddenly constricted slightly…

This bracelet…

In her previous life, Wanniang had clutched her hand before passing. Though Jiang Xuening knew Wanniang wasn’t her birth mother but rather the villain who had taken her away, their years together had not bred hatred in her. Unaware of the deeper intricacies, she had not harbored resentment toward Wanniang.

Thus, she assumed Wanniang had something to say to her.

Who would have thought Wanniang would press the bracelet into her hand and plead mournfully, “Ning Ning, I beg you, should you return to the manor and see the Eldest Miss, please pass this on to her for me…”

Jiang Xuening had felt as if a bucket of icy water was poured over her head.

Perhaps her jealousy of Jiang Xuehui began at that very moment.

When Wanniang passed, Jiang Xuening returned to the Jiang manor, but she had cast the bracelet into a box, preferring to let it rot rather than give it to Jiang Xuehui.

Later, as she went through many trials and began reminiscing about Wanniang and the past, she wanted to retrieve the bracelet, but it had long vanished without a trace.

She never expected it to resurface here—in Wang Xing’s wife’s possession.

Jiang Xuening gazed silently at Wang Xing’s wife, her expression flickering unpredictably.

Wang Xing’s wife continued to beam. “You must be tired after all your fun. Let this old servant escort you back to your room…”

But as she lifted her eyes and met Jiang Xuening’s gaze, for some reason, a chill suddenly ran up her spine.

Jiang Xuening didn’t spare a glance at Jiang Xuehui nearby but instead curved her lips slightly and directed her words at Wang Xing’s wife: “I never knew before that your skills were this impressive—you even know the art of face-changing, huh?”