On the day of the palace banquet, before dawn, a mix of snow and sleet began falling, melting into icy water upon touching the ground.
Layers of greenish clouds blanketed the sky.
Old Madam Feng rose early and sent A-Fu to check on Jiang Si’s preparations at Begonia Court.
After about half an hour, Jiang Si arrived with A-Fu.
Old Madam Feng scrutinized her from head to toe, examining her hairstyle, attire, and even the patterns on her shoes before smiling and asking, “Did you sleep well last night?”
Jiang Si nodded slightly. “Yes.”
“You must observe palace etiquette. Don’t look at what shouldn’t be seen, don’t speak of what shouldn’t be spoken. Follow others’ lead. Most importantly, remember never to cause trouble…” Old Madam Feng instructed.
After the initial excitement of receiving the invitation, worry had set in.
Old Madam Feng belatedly recalled that her granddaughter wasn’t exactly docile—if she lost her temper and offended someone important in the palace, the consequences would be dire.
“Do you understand?”
Jiang Si lowered her eyes and nodded. “Yes.”
Old Madam Feng’s words caught in her throat.
She had talked herself hoarse, yet this girl barely spoke a word!
“Very well, go early then, and don’t forget your hand warmer.”
“Granddaughter takes her leave.”
Jiang Si curtseyed to Old Madam Feng and turned to leave. At the courtyard gate of Cixin Hall, she encountered Aunt Dou.
Seeing Aunt Dou, Jiang Si smiled and greeted her first.
Aunt Dou returned the greeting before entering Cixin Hall to pay respects to Old Madam Feng.
With Aunt Dou, Old Madam Feng was more relaxed, leaning against her cushion as she asked, “Did you meet Fourth Miss?”
“We happened to meet at the gate.”
“A-Wan, what do you think of Fourth Miss?” Old Madam Feng suddenly asked.
Dou Shuwan was Aunt Dou’s given name.
“Fourth Miss excels in every way. She’s quite exceptional.” Dou Shuwan chose her words carefully, remembering her brother’s warning.
Old Madam Feng smiled meaningfully. “You’re steady and reliable. Fourth Miss still has a child’s temperament. I hope you’ll get along well in the future.”
Dou Shuwan’s heart skipped a beat.
What did Aunt mean by that?
Though quiet, Dou Shuwan was perceptive. Recalling how the old madam had summoned Jiang Ancheng several times while she was present, she suddenly understood the old madam’s intention.
Could aunt be thinking of matching her with the eldest cousin—
The thought stirred up tremendous waves in Dou Shuwan’s heart.
Eldest cousin was a good man, but she didn’t want to be someone’s second wife. More importantly, she had never seen any special regard in his eyes.
The way he looked at her, or any woman, was no different from how he looked at men.
Though she had lost her mother and her family had declined, she didn’t want to spend her life with a husband who looked at her that way.
What joy could there be in such a life, even with boundless wealth and status?
With these thoughts, Dou Shuwan smiled and said, “As Fourth Miss’s elder, I will naturally get along well with her. That’s what elders should do.”
She dared not show her rejection too clearly—if aunt made her intentions explicit, there would be no escape.
Dou Shuwan understood clearly that regardless of her unwillingness, her fate currently lay in her aunt’s hands. Many things were beyond her control.
At this moment, she suddenly envied Jiang Si.
Since arriving at the Earl’s manor, she had heard much about Fourth Miss. Above all else, she envied Fourth Miss for having such a loving father and brothers.
Unlike her—not only was her brother unreliable, but when aunt sent for her from Jinsha, her father, who had remarried, had seemed almost eager to send her to the capital.
Dou Shuwan knew well that she could never return to that home in Jinsha.
Meanwhile, the deeply envied Jiang Si was riding in a carriage toward the palace.
Though spring had arrived, the weather remained bitterly cold. The carriage wheels made dry creaking sounds as they rolled across the ground.
A-Man lifted a corner of the curtain to peek outside.
“Miss, there are so many carriages outside.”
“Many people are attending the plum blossom viewing banquet, naturally there are many carriages.”
Seeing Jiang Si resting against the carriage wall with closed eyes, A-Man couldn’t help saying, “Miss, aren’t you curious about what the palace looks like? They say the floor tiles are made of gold. It’s a pity this servant can’t follow you into the Imperial Garden and must wait in the side hall of the inner city…”
Jiang Si listened to her little maid’s chatter with good humor.
“Fourth Sister—” A youth’s excited voice called out.
A-Man quickly pushed Jiang Si. “Miss, it’s Second Young Master.”
Jiang Si opened her eyes and looked outside.