The Rebirth of an Ill-Fated Consort

s Jiang Ruan’s biological mother.  However, upon accessing the current unfavourable situation, for her own self preservation, she was quick to alienate them.
It was no wonder that there was a saying that prostitutes were without emotions and Opera performers were unloyal.  But then again, she was born and bred in a brothel, and so no matter how genteel she pretended to be, she was unable to conceal that instinctive nature to act pragmatically and only react to a situation that would be in her favour.

But since First Yiniang had said so, what more could they do about it? Jiang Ruan smiled softly.
“It doesn’t matter, Fifth Yiniang should take care of herself.
I would definitely feel guilty if my little brother gets hurt.”

First Yiniang’s smile turned brighter.
Jiang Ruan glanced at her, and commented, “Now that Fifth Yiniang is heavily pregnant, she must be resting much more.
That would also mean that she does not have much time and energy to manage the household.
It’s been hard for you.”

“This concubine doesn’t dare claim any merits,” First Yiniang said, as humble as ever, “I merely help out wherever I can.”

As they walked, Jiang Ruan said, “First Yiniang is too modest.”

First Yiniang waved her hands again, and led them all the way to Ruan Ju before leaving with a smile.

After First Yiniang left, Lu Zhu couldn’t help but say, “Miss, Fifth Yiniang is clearly trying to make trouble for you.”

Hong Ying had been appointed as the matriarchal head of the family and when she did not come out to greet Jiang Ruan with such a flimsy excuse, it was obvious that she was making a statement regarding the Jiang Xin Zhi matter and taking her stance for everyone to see.  Furthermore, Hong Ying’s current behaviour was blatantly hypocritical, considering how Jiang Ruan helped her deal with Xia Yan.

“She’s a smart person,” Jiang Ruan said lightly, “she just likes to be smart in the wrong places.”

Hong Ying wanted to please Jiang Quan, so she had to show her disgust for Jiang Ruan.
In the past, Jiang Ruan still had some value, so she couldn’t do it so plainly.
But now that Jiang Xin Zhi had met with a mishap, Jiang Ruan no longer had any value, and this justified why Hong Ying could simply cast her aside in such a manner..
However, Hong Ying seemed to have forgotten one thing — that is, whether or not that seed in her belly was real.

Seeing as Hong Ying had already let it all get to her head, Jiang Ruan didn’t mind making her more muddled.
She’d already given her a chance.
Since Hong Ying had chosen this path, then she had no one to blame for her ending.

Lu Zhu still felt rather indignant.
“She’s just a yiniang, but she’s acting like she is the main wife.
And then there’s First Yiniang following her everywhere, and treating herself like a slave.”

Jiang Ruan glanced at the porcelain cup in front of her.
“She is not a slave.”

“Miss?” Bai Zhi checked for people outside, then asked, “Is there a problem with First Yiniang?”

Jiang Ruan considered the question.
In truth, her impression of this First Yiniang in both this life and the past was very shallow; she only knew that she wasn’t favoured, and could even be said to be neglected, and wasn’t one to ask about the outside world.
Maybe she was a bedslave elevated to a concubine’s position and knew her place and was content with her lot.
When Zhao Mei was still alive, she could have been considered as kind to her, but later when Xia Yan entered the fu, Jiang Quan changed and began to exclusively favour Xia Yan, thus, First Yiniang ended up having even less standing within the fu.
However, Xia Yan herself didn’t make things too difficult for her, perhaps because she didn’t think an unfavoured concubine without a strong background could be much of a threat.
Even when the servants bullied Jiang Ruan, her mother and elder brother in the past, First Yiniang treated them just as respectfully as before.

She hadn’t heard any news regarding First Yiniang after she entered the palace in her previous life either.
Now that she thought about it, First Yiniang seemed to have been living as an invisible person in the Jiang fu for years.

‘Live a steady life, act modestly’ was the motto of First Yiniang. It wouldn’t be strange in any other family, but this was the Jiang fu.
Everyone had their own goals.
Hong Ying desired to become the mistress of the fu; Xia Yan wanted everything under her control; and Zhao Mei’s wish was for Jiang Quan to treat her and her children better.

But First Yiniang presented herself as someone with no interests, and no outstanding characteristics or features; it was almost as if she wanted to be left in the shadows and forgotten by everyone.  She didn’t deliberately go out of her way to please others, yet she was able to steadfastly live all the way until now.
If one were to say that she was without subterfuge and ambitions, then that would be too coincidental and strange.

“Just pay more attention to her in the future, but don’t make it too obvious,” Jiang Ruan ordered.
“I hope she isn’t the one hidden most deeply.”

If there truly was a problem with First Yiniang– as someone who had been patiently and purposefully concealing herself for more than ten years- then that would be too scary.

Just then, they heard the voice of a third-rank maid reporting from outside the door.
“Miss, Fourth Miss is here.”

Jiang Dan has come? Jiang Ruan raised an eyebrow.
She came so fast, was it in order to make a mockery of her? She smiled and said, “Come in.”

“Da Jiejie,” Jiang Dan called as she entered with a smile curled around her lips.
Today she wore a light orange coloured gauze robe decorated with plum flowers, which gave her a refreshing and exquisite appearance, yet also carried a charming hint of pitifulness.

She sat down across from Jiang Ruan and put on a distressed expression.
“Da Jiejie, I heard that Eldest Brother… is there any news from the palace, how is he now?”

At this point, Jiang Ruan didn’t bother to tangle with her, and merely smiled at her without speaking.
Jiang Dan soon caved and nervously asked, “Da Jiejie, did I say something wrong?”

“Naturally.” Jiang Ruan poured herself a cup of tea and said, almost casually, “Information about skirmishes on the border are classified.  How can just anyone find out? And if someone with an ulterior motive were to spread that information, wouldn’t it be a disaster?”

“Da Jiejie,” Jiang Dan said, looking sullen and sounding aggrieved, “I’m not someone with ulterior motives, and besides, what would I even do with the news?”

Jiang Ruan smiled slightly.
“It’s actually not hard for Fourth Sister to gather such information, moreover you are entering the palace in three days.” Her smile turned meaningful.
“Fourth Sister can find out a lot there.
If you can get His Majesty’s favour, you might even be able to hear more recent news, and maybe then, it will be I who might have to ask for news from you.”

After Jiang Dan heard this, her expression became rather complex, and she smiled a little strangely.
“Da Jiejie, you’re making fun of me.
There are so many talented ladies in the palace, whereas I’m just an ordinary shu daughter,” she said, looking towards Jiang Ruan.
“Instead, if it were Da Jiejie, then that would be the Jiang fu’s blessing.”

“Never mind,” Jiang Ruan smiled.
“Since Father wants you to enter the palace, you must have your own uniqueness.
Entering the palace represents your affluence.
It doesn’t matter if others were born more noble than you — as long as you are favoured, they will have to stand aside.
Besides, you have the Jiang fu and Father supporting you.” In her previous life, when she had learnt that she was to enter the palace her so-called relatives in the Jiang fu had comforted her in the same manner.
But now that the wheel of fortune had turned, she was able to reciprocate those sentiments and return those very same words verbatim to Jiang Dan, though she wondered how Jiang Dan felt hearing those words.

There was a bit of sincerity in her words, and Jiang Dan couldn’t be sure of what Jiang Ruan actually thought, so she could only force out a reluctant smile.
“Da Jiejie, did you know that Furen went crazy, and has been brought  to the countryside to recuperate by Second Brother.
Also, Second Sister has visited the Xia fu, saying that Xia Furen is sick.”

“Second Brother is kind,” Jiang Ruan said.
“Xia Furen has always been in poor health, so it is right for Second Sister go visit.”

Jiang Dan frowned, a little disappointed that she didn’t get the reaction she imagined.
Just a few seconds later, she said, as if unintentionally, “Why would she be sent to such a place to convalesce, especially in her current state and poor health..
The road to the countryside is so bumpy, I don’t know if she can take it…”

“Second Brother has his own opinion.” Instead of responding, Jiang Ruan directly blocked her words.
Jiang Dan also helplessly recognised that Jiang Ruan refused to keep talking about this topic, so she could only chat for a bit longer before getting up with a smile.
“I still have some things to prepare for entering the palace, so I won’t bother Da Jijie any more.
I’ll go back first and will visit you again.”

After Jiang Dan was sent off, Lu Zhu approached Jiang Ruan to pour more tea, and said, “She really is a wolf in sheep’s clothing.
As soon as she got a tiny bit of power, her eyes flew to the sky.” In the maids’ eyes, Jiang Dan only came to Ruan Ju today to show off, and to take the opportunity to trample on the downtrodden, wanting to see Jiang Ruan in her current predicament.
In all the world, there was probably no one who could embody the phrase ‘petty-minded’ like Jiang Dan could.

However, Jiang Ruan’s mind wasn’t on Jiang Dan.
Just now, Jiang Dan’s words either intentionally or unintentionally revealed something.
Her long awaited prey had  finally stepped up to the edge of hertrap; now the question was if she should  wait for them to fall into it by themselves or should she give them a little push?

Jiang Dan wanted to use her as a borrowed knife, and mistakenly regarded everyone in the world as fools.
It’s just that she hadn’t expected Jiang Chao to be the one to become impatient first.

She slowly took a sip of tea, then said, “Tian Zhu, go check which village Xia Yan was taken to.
Jiang Chao is about to make his move.”