Xie Xiao felt exasperated, as though iron had failed to become steel. "How can you be so useless?"
"You're this beautiful, your personality is gentle, and there's even an engagement arranged by the elders— you are practically Ji Xu'an's destined, well-behaved wife!"
"If Ji Xu'an marries you, that would be the fortune she accumulated over eight lifetimes!"
"If you marry her, that's a female Bodhisattva selflessly dedicating herself to save her, this ten-thousand-year single dog!"
"No matter how you look at it, Ji Xu'an is the one profiting— what does she have to be dissatisfied about?"
Xie Xiao spoke with fervent passion, yet Jiang Jiang was not persuaded by her words. She merely looked at Xie Xiao as though wanting to speak but hesitating, and only after Xie Xiao fell silent did she say softly, "But Xiao Xie, in my eyes, Ji Xu'an is no different from Princess Huaining."
Xie Xiao was instantly struck dumb.
What did Jiang Jiang regard Princess Huaining as?
As her elder sister-in-law. As her eldest sister.
Well then.
Xie Xiao wilted. "As long as you don't suffer any loss."
Warmth spread through Jiang Jiang's heart. "Don't worry. Ji Xu'an is actually quite easy to get along with. She's just somewhat cold in attitude, but she provides for my food and clothing and even lets me live in her house. I'm the one taking advantage of her."
Xie Xiao was biased toward Jiang Jiang, which was why she felt Ji Xu'an's attitude was overly arrogant. But Jiang Jiang was not wrong either—Ji Xu'an had not done anything truly excessive. She should not hate Ji Xu'an too much.
Xie Xiao bit her lip. "Then I won't speak ill of her anymore."
Jiang Jiang immediately praised her, "Xiao Xie is truly a kind and good girl."
"What are you saying?" Xie Xiao's little face flushed red from the praise. "I'm not a child anymore."
Jiang Jiang lightly tapped the surface of the mirror with her fingertip, pretending in this way that she was patting Xie Xiao's head. "Alright, don't think too much. It's still early. Go back to sleep for a while longer."
Xie Xiao: "You too, get some proper rest!"
After the two wished each other good night, they finally cut off their connection.
The smile on Jiang Jiang's face slowly faded. She still could not sleep. Having left the bed for too long, her hands and feet had become cold and numb, as though she had lost sensation.
Jiang Jiang rubbed her stiff cheeks, hid the White Jade Linglong Mirror again, then returned to bed and wrapped herself tightly in the blanket, as though doing so would grant her sufficient security.
She had to think things through as soon as possible—how to respond to the upcoming plot.
Would Ji Xu'an be the key to breaking the deadlock?
——
Early the next morning, Jiang Jiang got up.
She vaguely felt her nose was a little blocked—perhaps she had caught a slight chill last night—but it was nothing serious, so she did not take it to heart.
Today she wore the clothes Ji Xu'an had prepared for her: a beige, waist-cinched long dress with the hem falling to her calves, paired with bright little leather shoes.
Because Jiang Jiang had pierced ears, the jewelry Ji Xu'an had people prepare included not only necklaces, but also several pairs of earrings.
Jiang Jiang obediently accepted Ji Xu'an's arrangements. She was not yet very skilled at using cosmetics, so she only lightly drew her brows and applied a faint tint to her lips to make her complexion look better.
Fortunately, she was young, her skin fair and delicate. Even without any foundation, nothing looked out of place.
After tidying herself up, Jiang Jiang opened the door and went downstairs.
She thought she would be the first to arrive, yet Ji Xu'an was already waiting at the dining table. Realizing her own lapse in etiquette, Jiang Jiang secretly resolved that in the future she would have to rise even earlier.
Ji Xu'an had slept poorly the night before. Her head still felt somewhat heavy in the morning, but it did not affect her thinking.
With a cold expression, she watched Jiang Jiang walk over and sit opposite her. After Jiang Jiang sat down properly, Ji Xu'an pushed a square white paper box across the table.
Jiang Jiang: ?
"What is this?"
Ji Xu'an gestured for her to open it.
Jiang Jiang opened the box. Inside lay a black rectangular object that looked very familiar; she had seen others use it before.
She looked at Ji Xu'an in confusion.
Ji Xu'an curved her lips very slightly. There was no smile in her eyes, and her tone carried a faint, almost imperceptible mockery. "Didn't you say your phone was broken? I had Secretary Zhao buy the latest model. Don't lose this one again."
Clearly, she still believed that Jiang Jiang had deliberately claimed not to have a phone.
Jiang Jiang suddenly understood—so this was called a phone!
She had only seen others use it and had no idea what it was called.
Recalling that Chu Yueqi had said this item was very important to modern people, Jiang Jiang nodded solemnly. "Thank you. I will take good care of it."
Ji Xu'an said nothing further and lowered her head to drink the lean meat porridge in front of her.
She did not know whether Xie Xiao was pretending to be foolish or truly foolish. From their simple interactions last night and this morning, the other party did not seem like someone who would stir up trouble.
Even though she had repeatedly probed and spoken with heavy sarcasm, Xie Xiao had remained calm and composed, without the slightest trace of grievance or anger on her face.
But as the saying goes, over time one sees a person's true heart. A fox will always reveal her tail one day.
Ji Xu'an was not in a hurry.
…
Jiang Jiang still did not know how to use the phone. In front of Ji Xu'an, she had no intention of fiddling with it.
Seeing that Ji Xu'an had no intention of speaking again, Jiang Jiang lowered her head and silently ate breakfast. Her movements were light and refined, without making the slightest sound.
Before coming here, she had already decided that aside from expenses for food and lodging, she did not intend to spend Ji Xu'an's money again.
But at that time, Jiang Jiang had not anticipated that Ji Xu'an possessed a forceful personality that did not allow for refusal; she simply had no right to decline.
Moreover, Jiang Jiang had originally assumed Ji Xu'an would not pay much attention to her. She had not expected that although Ji Xu'an did not particularly like her, she was very attentive regarding her affairs.
Thinking of this, Jiang Jiang could not help but secretly glance at Ji Xu'an, a conflicted emotion appearing in her gaze.
Everything she wore and adorned herself with— which item had not been paid for by Ji Xu'an?
If she were to propose at this moment that she pay for the phone herself, Ji Xu'an would probably only think she was hypocritical.
After pondering back and forth, Jiang Jiang decided to reciprocate and also give Ji Xu'an a gift.
However, she did not have much silver on her, and furthermore, Ji Xu'an likely did not lack valuable objects. Therefore, this gift should emphasize sincerity over price.
In the past, she could have embroidered a sachet for Ji Xu'an, but people here did not seem to have the habit of wearing sachets…
As Jiang Jiang pondered silently, Ji Xu'an across from her had already set down her spoon, gently wiped the corner of her lips, and stood up. "Let's go."
Jiang Jiang stopped overthinking and stood to follow her.
——
Old Madam Ji knew that Ji Xu'an would bring Jiang Jiang over today. Early in the morning, she urged Xiao Chen to help her dress up. Her hair was combed neatly, and she looked especially spirited.
Before they had even arrived, the old lady felt both nervous and expectant. She looked into the mirror several times and could not help asking Xiao Chen again, "Do you think this outfit of mine is suitable today?"
Would it leave a good impression on the young girl?
Xiao Chen gave her a thumbs-up. "Please rest assured, there will absolutely be no problem!"
Old Madam Ji felt satisfied. After thinking for a moment, she sighed. "The last time I saw little Xie, she was only a few years old— lively and adorable, extremely clever, and sweet-tongued."
Such a well-behaved child, yet burdened with a difficult background.
Old Madam Ji had promised her old friend that she would take care of her only granddaughter. Even if in the end Xu'an and little Xie did not work out, she would still treat Xie Xiao as her own granddaughter.
Hearing this, Xiao Chen immediately smiled and chimed in, "With you and President Ji taking care of Miss Xiao Xie, if her grandmother knows in the afterlife, she will also be at ease."
At this thought, Old Madam Ji could not help but worry again. Xu'an felt only resistance and dissatisfaction toward this marriage. With resentment in her heart, could she truly treat little Xie well?
Just as she was thinking, Xiao Chen suddenly stood up. "It seems someone has arrived— it should be President Ji."
As soon as her words fell, overlapping footsteps sounded at the doorway.
Old Madam Ji craned her neck to look. The two figures walking in one after the other—were they not Ji Xu'an and Jiang Jiang?
Xiao Chen tactfully withdrew. Ji Xu'an went straight to sit down on the sofa in the living room and knowingly asked, "Grandmother seems to be in good spirits today? It looks like Xiao Chen has been taking good care of you."
Old Madam Ji shot her a sideways glance, then turned her attention to Jiang Jiang. With a kind smile on her face, she extended her hand and beckoned Jiang Jiang to sit beside her.
"Little Xie, Grandma has longed and longed for you, and finally you've come!"
With her hand held by Old Madam Ji, Jiang Jiang's eyes could not help but redden. She gazed deeply into the old lady's smiling eyes and then suddenly threw herself into her arms. "Grandma!"
Old Madam Ji was stunned at first, then hurriedly embraced her. She patted Jiang Jiang's thin back, her own eyes reddening as well.
"Don't be afraid. With Grandma here, no one will dare bully you."
Ji Xu'an, faintly implicated, let out a soft scoff. The two of them looked as though their grandmother-granddaughter affection ran deep, which instead made her seem like some heinous villain.
Ji Xu'an admitted she did not think highly of Xie Xiao, but she had not deliberately bullied her, had she?
Just as expected—Xie Xiao had no good intentions. Just moments ago she had pretended to be obedient and well-behaved, and now she was applying eye drops against her in front of Grandmother.
Ji Xu'an watched the scene coldly. When her gaze fell upon Jiang Jiang's slightly trembling body as she cried, the disgust and mockery in her eyes grew even more apparent.
If Xie Xiao thought she could drive a wedge between her and Grandmother with such clumsy tactics, she was truly underestimating her.
Just as Ji Xu'an was contemplating how to teach Jiang Jiang a lesson so she would recognize her place, Jiang Jiang finally regained her composure from her loss of control.
She quickly realized that her attitude had caused Old Madam Ji to misunderstand something and hurriedly explained, "Grandma, with you and Ji…"
Jiang Jiang paused, then changed to a more intimate form of address, "…Sister Xu'an here, no one dares to bully me. It's just that seeing you made me think of my own grandmother."
Old Madam Ji thought that made sense. Xu'an was someone who knew propriety, and once she made a promise, she would never go back on it. In reason and in sentiment, she would not bully Xie Xiao.
Her old friend had only passed away two months ago. It was normal that little Xie had not yet emerged from her grief. Looking at Jiang Jiang's slightly pale little face, Old Madam Ji felt even more heartache.
"Good child, since Xunchun entrusted you to me, you should treat me as your own grandmother. I will love you for her share as well." As she spoke, she patted the back of Jiang Jiang's hand.
Hearing these words, Jiang Jiang's heart felt even more sour. In truth, what she had said just now was not a lie. Through Old Madam Ji, she had indeed thought of another person who had treated her very well— not Fang Xunchun as the old lady assumed, but the Empress Dowager who existed in another world.
Before coming, Jiang Jiang had not failed to consider that since Ji Xu'an and Ji Heyuan corresponded to Princess Huaining and the Crown Prince, then perhaps Old Madam Ji and the Empress Dowager were also the same person.
But conjecture was one thing; seeing it with her own eyes was another. Thinking of the Empress Dowager's affection and protection toward her, Jiang Jiang felt even more distressed.
Afraid that Ji Xu'an would detect something amiss, she simply lowered her head. Through tear-blurred eyes, memories of the past surfaced in her mind once more.
Outsiders only knew that she was the legitimate daughter of the Duke's Manor with a noble status. Few people knew that because she had been frail at birth, she had been sent away and raised outside from childhood, only brought back to the Duke's Manor at the age of ten.
Her father did not dote on her, her mother did not cherish her. As the legitimate daughter, she had lived worse than a concubine-born daughter.
Fortunately, there was that marriage contract. She was the Crown Prince's unmarried fiancée. The Duke's Manor did not dare treat her too lightly. She had everything a legitimate daughter should have; as for anything beyond that, she did not dare hope for it.
The Emperor established her as the Crown Prince's principal consort in order to win over and placate the Duke's Manor. The Crown Prince had no feelings for her; they had scarcely met a few times.
When the Empress Dowager in the palace heard of her circumstances, she brought Jiang Jiang into the palace to stay for two months. During those two months, Jiang Jiang finally experienced the affection and care of an elder.
She treated the Empress Dowager as her own grandmother and served her with filial devotion. Unfortunately, she had not yet married the Crown Prince. No matter how reluctant she was, she could not stay long in the palace and ultimately had to return to the Duke's Manor.
She had thought there was still plenty of time, that she would have ample opportunity to serve the Empress Dowager in the future. She had never expected…
Jiang Jiang's heart felt heavy. The emotions she had pressed into the deepest recesses of her heart, never daring to touch lightly, now surged forth all at once.
She could not help tightening her grip on Old Madam Ji's hands. Thinking that in the novel where Ji Heyuan and Zheng Zhouzhou were the protagonists, Old Madam Ji seemed to exist only in others' words—after the two got together, Ji Heyuan had even brought Zheng Zhouzhou to sweep Old Madam Ji's grave.
In the story, Ji Heyuan and Zheng Zhouzhou officially began dating at the end of this year. Would that not mean that Old Madam Ji likely had only one or two years left…
Raising her eyes to meet Old Madam Ji's kind face, identical to the Empress Dowager's, Jiang Jiang felt even more sorrowful. Her desire to change the plot grew more urgent, to the point of being willing to pay any price to achieve her wish.
Biting her lip hard, Jiang Jiang subconsciously turned to look at Ji Xu'an. The coldness in the other woman's eyes made her tremble, yet her gaze soon became resolute again.
Perhaps what Xiao Xie said last night also had some merit.
Although Jiang Jiang had shaken her head in refusal at the time, privately she had not been without consideration…
"Grandma." Jiang Jiang secretly took a deep breath. "Sister Xu'an has already told me—she will marry me."
As she spoke, she cast Ji Xu'an a shy and timid glance, then quickly lowered her lashes again.
Tear droplets still clung to the corners of Jiang Jiang's eyes. The moist redness in her gaze stirred pity. With lowered brows and bowed head, she seemed to carry endless affection.
Old Madam Ji also looked toward Ji Xu'an. "Xu'an is a good child as well. If you two get along properly, your days will surely be harmonious and beautiful."
Jiang Jiang nodded obediently. "Grandma, please rest assured. Sister Xu'an treats me very well, and I also like her very much."
This was the first time Jiang Jiang had boldly expressed her feelings to someone else. She did not dare look at Ji Xu'an's expression, afraid that if she saw disgust in the other woman's eyes, she would shrink back in fear.
From beginning to end, Ji Xu'an had not spoken a single word. She merely examined Jiang Jiang with an inscrutable gaze. Even when she heard Jiang Jiang say that she liked her, Ji Xu'an's expression did not change in the slightest.
When Jiang Jiang lifted her eyes to look, Ji Xu'an curved her lips faintly at her. She could not discern what Ji Xu'an was thinking, but she could sense that her mood was not good.
Jiang Jiang tightened her fingers and lowered her eyes, quietly listening to Old Madam Ji's admonitions.
They stayed at the sanatorium for about an hour. Before leaving, Old Madam Ji handed the gift she had prepared to Jiang Jiang. "Little Xie, Xu'an's temper isn't the best, and she may not speak pleasantly, but she isn't bad at heart. Spend more time with her and you'll know."
Jiang Jiang nodded firmly. "I understand, Grandma."
Ji Xu'an lowered her head to glance at her watch. "Let's go."
They walked out the door under Old Madam Ji's reluctant gaze. When the wind outside blew against her, Jiang Jiang felt a dry sting in her eyes. She blinked forcefully, only for two more teardrops to be squeezed out.
Before Jiang Jiang could reach up to wipe them away, Ji Xu'an, who had been walking a step ahead, suddenly stopped.
Jiang Jiang looked over in confusion. "What is—"
Before she could finish her sentence, Ji Xu'an impatiently interrupted her.
"That's enough. Stop pretending."
—
Author's Note:
Right now, Jiang Jiang is afraid of President Ji because of the shadow left by Princess Huaining. Let President Ji be arrogant for a while first—our Jiang Jiang is keeping a little notebook to record everything!
—
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