Chapter 27 Part 1 - Raw Jade
historical
Shen Ruyun absolutely couldn’t bear it.
Nowadays, her status had changed. If Shen Yurong hadn’t become the top scorer and hadn’t become an official of the Ministry of Rites, last year she would have been married to the son of a small wine shop’s shopkeeper in Yanjing. Just by this marriage, she could be considered to have already climbed up.
But ever since Shen Yurong became the top scorer and was appointed as an official in the Ministry of Rites by Hong Xiao Emperor himself, the tide changed. Shen Ruyun’s status had also gone up step by step. Shen Yurong had boundless prospects, moreover he was a young, talented and handsome man. In addition, Shen Ruyun was aware that the present Shen Yurong had gained the favor of Princess Yongning. In the future, their Shen family would be unspeakably nobler. No need to mention a shopkeeper’s son, Shen Ruyun would not even look at normal official’s son.
There was someone in Shen Ruyun’s heart, which had the title of Yanjing’s beautiful man, Marquis Ningyuan’s heir, Zhou Yan Bang. For a long time, Shen Ruyun had only looked at him silently. Zhou Yan Bang was a heavenly cloud, while she, Shen Ruyun, was just the earth’s mud. But now it was not the same. Her status had changed which made Shen Ruyun realize that she was also qualified to stand by Zhou Yan Bang’s side and become Zhou Yan Bang’s wife.
However, Marquis Ningyuan’s Zhou Yan Bang was engaged since he was young to the current Chief Assistant Jiang’s honorable second miss. It’s just that the Jiang second miss’s nature was malicious. At a young age, she dared to harm the stepmother and murder the younger brother. Marquis Ningyuan’s family naturally wouldn’t let such a vicious miss enter the door. As the family couldn’t annul the marriage, thus the marriage remained valid. However, the candidate for marriage was changed from Jiang second miss to the younger Jiang third miss.
The people of Yanjing had discussed this matter enthusiastically, yet no one felt that there was anything wrong in substituting Jiang second miss’s marriage. No one protested either nor cried out against the injustice done to Jiang second miss. That was because if they were in their shoes, they would also choose the dainty and pleasant Jiang third miss and not the cruel and malicious Jiang second miss.
Today was Jiang third miss, Jiang Youyao’s birthday celebration. Everyone knew that once Jiang Youyao had reached marriageable age, the marriage to Marquis Ningyuan’s heir would soon be completed.
Due to Shen Ruyun not being reconciled, she had specially follow Mother Shen to go together and take a look at the appearance of Zhou Yan Bang’s future wife. So much so that in order to surpass Jiang Youyao, she had especially dressed up in bright colored clothes.
The people who came today either wanted to curry Jiang Yuan Bai’s favor or wanted to build relationships with Jiang Yuan Bai. Naturally, they would not forget to look at Jiang Youyao’s face. All the noble ladies wore plain or mild colored clothes, not wanting to upstage the main lead of today. Yet Shen Ruyun dressed this way, and had become very eye-catching there.
Ji Shuran also saw Shen Ruyun’s attitude and was displeased. However, she remembered Jiang Yuan Bai had previously mentioned that the current Minister of Rites, Shen Yurong, could not be underestimated. If possible, it was better to rope him in. As a result, Ji Shuran’s face still remained generous and joyous when dealing with the praise from the noble ladies.
A famous madam who had a good relationship with Ji Shuran said: “ I heard the second miss in your house returned to the residence a few days ago. I don’t know if she will attend the ritual today?”
“She naturally will.” Ji Shuran smiled and continued: “She’s probably still dressing herself and thus a little late in coming.” Yet her words carried the meaning that Jiang Li did not listen to her teaching.
Sure enough, when this sentence came out, the surrounding madams casted out sympathized looks at Ji Shuran. Some ladies with direct temperaments spoke from the side: “This second miss hasn’t returned to Yanjing for a long time. Also don’t know how many of the rules and regulations in Yanjing that she can still remember. At that time, her age was still small and hard to teach, but now.......” The words were left unfinished, but the meaning that remained was self-evident.
Ji Shuran timely sighed and Jiang Yu’e who was sitting beside Yang shi rolled her eyes and immediately spoke: “Originally second sister couldn’t come to third sister’s birthday ceremony. But last month there was an accident at the Buddhist nunnery where she was staying. No idea why, uncle sent people to bring second sister to return.”
The words that Jiang Yu’e had spoken were somewhat complete, yet in the ears of the nobles who heard these words, there seemed to be another layer of meaning. The madam who first asked Ji Shuran spoke softly: “I think your home’s second miss is someone with ability.”
She good-intentionally hinted that Jiang Li was able to return to Yanjing indicated that she was clever and was going to be difficult to handle.