Chapter 4 — Leaving the Jiang Estate

What kind of mother would act without a shred of mercy, openly stripping her own daughter of all dignity in front of guests? Of course, they could never understand. If Mother did not trample me into the mud, how could she elevate the brilliance of Jiang Ying? To conceal one lie, one must weave a thousand more. To cover up the fact that Jiang Ying had usurped my very identity, she simply chose to sacrifice me. At this moment, especially when I saw even Xia Si Gui wearing a look of deep contemplation, my mother's expression darkened further.

"I am not afraid of being laughed at by all of you. Although A-Hui and her elder sister were born from the same womb, she is vastly inferior to A-Ying in both temperament and talent."

"Not only that, but she possesses a perverse nature and refuses to heed any counsel. To marry her off would not be to forge an alliance, but to invite a feud."

She did not lower her voice in the slightest. It was not just our table that turned to look; even the male guests on the other side tilted their heads toward us. For a brief moment, the entire banquet fell into a silence broken only by the clinking of porcelain. Then, the sound of labored, suppressed breathing filled the air. At that exact moment, the steward hurried in from the courtyard, his face flushed with excitement.

"Master! An imperial decree... His Majesty has sent an imperial decree to the manor, stating he wishes to bestow honors upon the young lady..."

Mother's eyes ignited with immediate fervor.

"Could it be that A-Ying's reputation has spread so far that even His Majesty seeks to bestow honors upon her?"

The guests grew restless with anticipation. For a daughter of the Jiang clan to be favored by the Emperor was not merely a glory for Jiang Ying, but an honor for the entire Jiang lineage. Jiang Ying was quickly surrounded by admirers at the front, her face blooming with a triumphant, excited flush. It was not until the eunuch Shun Xi entered to deliver the scroll that the atmosphere shifted. He scanned the room, his eyes instantly locking onto Jiang Ying, before he offered a gentle, polite smile.

"Second Young Lady Jiang, please come forward to receive the decree."

07

The entire Jiang household stood frozen in their tracks, paralyzed by the shock. I was the only one who squeezed out from the crowd, kneeling calmly to receive the imperial order. It was only when Eunuch Shun Xi announced that the Empress, having taken a liking to my wit and quick-thinking, wished to summon me to the palace to serve as a lady-in-waiting, that Jiang Ying turned deathly pale, nearly collapsing on the spot. Seeing the sharp, knowing glint in the eunuch's eyes, Mother rushed forward, desperate to offer an excuse.

"Eunuch, please do not take offense. My daughter is of delicate health; she did not intend to be disrespectful."

"But... but is there perhaps a mistake in this decree? Jiang Hui is headstrong and difficult to mold; I fear that if she enters the palace, she will only provoke the ire of His Majesty and the Empress..."

"Lady Jiang!"

Eunuch Shun Xi was a man of extreme sagacity and had clearly sensed the rot beneath the surface of this family. He let out a cold, sharp laugh.

"Are you suggesting that you question the judgment of His Majesty and the Empress?"

"This humble woman would not dare..."

Mother's face drained of all color, and she dared not utter another syllable. Father scrambled to offer apologies and even promised precious gifts to appease the situation. The eunuch did not truly harbor anger; instead, he turned to me with a beaming smile.

"Second Young Lady Jiang, pray, go and attend to your preparations. His Majesty and the Empress are waiting for you in the palace."

I nodded and bowed respectfully. In truth, there was nothing to pack. The few meager possessions I used had been sorted long ago. As I led Chun Dao toward the carriage, Mother called out from behind me.

"A-Hui..."

I did not know what she intended to say, and I had no interest in hearing it. Without looking back, I boarded the carriage and headed straight for the imperial palace. The towering, majestic palace walls stood like a screen, severing the inside from the outside world. Many within the palace walls yearned to escape their gilded cage, yet for the first time, I felt truly liberated. To me, the Jiang manor had been the cage from which I could never escape. This path, I realized, was a blessing.

08

Inside the Kunning Palace, the Empress sat upon her throne, draped in regal robes. Compared to our first meeting at Temple of Eternal Buddha, she appeared even more noble and untouchable now. I knelt down, my heart fluttering with trepidation.

"This humble subject pays her respects to the Empress."

The Empress smiled softly.

"Why so formal? When we were at Temple of Eternal Buddha, your courage was much greater than this, was it not?"

I felt a pang of embarrassment. I had never imagined that my visit to the temple would alter the trajectory of my life so drastically. At that time, I had waited a long time at the temple, yet no one from the Jiang household came for me. I could only send Chun Dao to inquire. In the end, it was Mother's servant, Matriarch Li, who arrived. She told me:

"The Lady of the house is unwell. The priestess says the Second Young Lady must remain at the temple to pray for blessings for a few more days."

No matter how naive I was, I knew something was amiss. I did not ask exactly how many days "a few more" would be, nor did I ask why Mother would do such a thing. On Matriarch Li's face, a flicker of pity emerged. She hesitated for a long time before whispering:

"Second Young Lady, in truth, the Lady still cares for you, it is only..."

I let out a mocking laugh.

"Matriarch Li, such a lie--even you do not believe it yourself, do you?"

I paid no further mind to the woman who stood there, trapped between words. From that day forward, I simply continued to pray at Temple of Eternal Buddha, day after day, clear-headed yet numb, never missing a single morning or evening chant.