Chapter 178: A Trap

Chapter 118 : A Trap

Trigger Warning: the use of a date rape drug.

Within the palace, the days passed in a leisurely manner. With Empress Dowager Yi De backing her, the palace eunuchs and palace maids were extremely respectful whenever they met Jiang Ruan. There were even some imperial concubines who sought every opportunity to get close to Jiang Ruan and win her favour, as they figured this would be the same as currying the favour of Empress Dowager Yi De. However, Jiang Ruan treated each one of them with equal indifference. Although she was gentle, she did not display any warmth. Little by little, these imperial concubines grew cold and plainly stopped interacting with Jiang Ruan.

Lu Zhu wondered aloud, “Miss, that Wang Meiren[1] seemed so good-natured and amiable, why was Miss so cold to her yesterday?”

[1] 美人 (meiren): lit. “beauty, beautiful person”; a lower-ranked imperial concubine.

“It’s simply that she had some request. Now that she has been provoked, I’m afraid there may be trouble in future,” replied Jiang Ruan.

Lu Zhu stuck out her tongue but did not speak further. In truth, Jiang Ruan remembered very clearly, in her previous life, this Wang Meiren was one who would happily flatter those of higher status and step on those of the lower class. On the surface, she was an affectionate sister, but behind Jiang Ruan’s back, she was as thick as thieves with Xia Jiao Jiao. It was not only Wang Meiren. In the palace, among all the ladies of the Emperor’s harem, who was pure? If any person was pure, they would have long departed for the grave.

While Jiang Ruan was drinking tea, Empress Dowager Yi De walked in, looked at her, and said, “Your father has sent an invitation. Aijia has made inquiries, and it is because your Third Sister is about to be married.”

Jiang Li getting married? Jiang Ruan looked down and muttered to herself, realising that life in the palace had become too comfortable, such that she had forgotten all about Jiang Li’s marriage.

Empress Dowager Yi De noticed Jiang Ruan was deep in thought, and said, “Third Jiang Miss is getting married, so naturally you must go home. Aijia has retained you for a long time, and Jiang Quan has perhaps realised this. Today, aijia will assign people to take you home, so that Jiang Quan will know his place and be content for a few days.”

With her considerable power and influence, Empress Dowager Yi De had asked around and determined the exact nature of the relationship between Jiang Quan and Jiang Ruan long ago. Even if Jiang Ruan did not want to speak of it, Empress Dowager Yi De had intentions to support her. Now that Jiang Li was getting married, Jiang Ruan, as the elder sister, would have to return to the fu, and Jiang Quan would not dare to say anything about it.

Jiang Ruan thought for a while before smiling and saying, “Many thanks, Imperial Grandmother.”

Empress Dowager Yi De observed Jiang Ruan silently. In the three years that they had been in close association, she had divined very clearly that Jiang Ruan was a transparent person with a gentle and moderate temperament. She handled matters in an appropriate manner, and her wisdom was far more mature than that of her peers. However, for some unknown reason, she had always felt that there was a place, deep within Jiang Ruan, that no one could access. Empress Dowager Yi De knew that Jiang Ruan’s birth mother had suffered an untimely death, and this perfectly complemented her own feelings when she had lost her daughter early on. She thought, if Princess Yuan Rong had not died but instead had lived and had children, those children would now be around Jiang Ruan’s age. Thus, often when she looked at Jiang Ruan, Empress Dowager Yi De felt a rare sense of tender-heartedness.

* * *

When she left the palace to return to the fu, Jiang Ruan was accompanied by the Empress Dowager’s personal companion, Yang gugu. Yang gugu was a female palace official and, as such, Jiang Quan had to give her some degree of respect. Since Jiang Ruan was returning to the fu in such a high profile manner, no one dared to say anything. The Jiang fu’s servants merely commented privately to one another that the future prospects of Eldest Miss were looking better and better.

Hong Ying went to visit Jiang Ruan twice, as it turned out that she was not faring as well as rumours would have it. Although Jiang Quan doted on Hong Ying, she was of low birth, and now that she was pregnant, the authority to manage the fu fell into Second Yiniang’s hands. Second Yiniang had never been someone who was easy to deal with, and she used every opportunity to make things difficult[2] for Hong Ying. Thus, as time went on, Jiang fu’s backyard became the battleground between the two women, and Hong Ying had not gained any benefit.

[2] 给小鞋穿 (gei xiao xie chuan) – lit. give (someone) small shoes to wear.

Hong Ying and Jiang Ruan had spoken for a long time, but Jiang Ruan showed no special reaction. Hong Ying was secretly displeased, but in the end, she said nothing about it, and left with a smile. After she had gone, Lian Qiao said, “Could it be that Fifth Yiniang is hoping that our Miss will be her patron?”

“What patron?” Bai Zhi frowned and said, “It would be best if Miss does not become embroiled in this situation.”

* * *

In the blink of an eye, the day of Jiang Li’s marriage arrived.

Second Yiniang was the shu daughter of the Minister of Appointments, and was Jiang Quan’s concubine, so both families could be said to be connected. The Minister of Appointments was one of the government officials within the capital, and Jiang Li’s marriage had been personally arranged by Second Yiniang with much flourish. Her dowry amounted to no less than fifty-five chests, which was extremely generous for a shu daughter, and comparable to the di daughter of an ordinary family.

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These kind of wooden containers were used to hold the dowry items.

In addition, Second Yiniang truly loved Jiang Li, and most of Zuo Langzhong’s betrothal gifts had been given to Jiang Li to wear. At this, Jiang Li was thoroughly elated; if she had a tail, it would have been raised as high as the heavens.

As Jiang Li was the bride and had to don bridal attire, Jiang Ruan could not wear crimson. In the end, she selected clothes in light pink and had Bai Zhi comb up her hair before she set off to visit Jiang Li.

Jiang Li was having her face prepared[3] by the xiniang[4], and was grimacing in pain. When she saw Jiang Ruan come in, she could not stop a satisfied smirk from crossing her face as she sat up straighter.

[3] T/N: Jiaolian or Kailian, is an ancient Chinese facial treatment method, which is to depilate fine hair from face by threads. Ancient women regard Jiaolian as a symbol of marriage. Generally, female elders do Jiaolian as an adult ceremonial rite for brides-to-be, and during the procedure, they seize the opportunity to pray good fortune for the bride as well as to teach her the rules of living with grooms’ family members. The procedure is done before the bride gets on the sedan chair or after her arrival at the groom’s home. More here.

[4] 喜娘 (xi niang) – in ancient China, this refers to the woman well versed in wedding customs and etiquette employed (by the groom’s family, usually) to wait on the bride on her wedding day.

Jiang Ruan motioned to Tian Zhu to hand the bridal gift over to Jiang Li’s maidservant, who received it and brought it to Jiang Li. Jiang Li opened the gift, which was a gold chain bracelet inlaid with pearls. The big, round pearls shone with a faint lustre; clearly, this was a rare and valuable item. Jiang Li’s face lit up in joy, but she swiftly controlled herself. Affecting indifference, she said, “Da Jiejie’s bracelet is really pretty nice, and it actually looks better than Second Sister’s.”

Jiang Su Su stood at one side, indignance flashing through her eyes at these words. The bridal gift she had given Jiang Li today was a jade bracelet with a coloured glaze. It was also a rare item but when compared to Jiang Ruan’s bracelet it paled just the tiniest bit- but this was already the item of highest quality she was able to offer. From the time that Xia Yan lost power, every single time Jiang Su Su went out, people would point their fingers at her. Therefore, Jiang Su Su angrily declared that she would never go out again. However, Jiang Quan was no longer constantly sending them imported precious jewellery as he had done so in the past, and the jewellery in her jewellery box had not been changed in a long time. Now, looking at Jiang Ruan, even though she was clad from top to toe in a simple outfit, it was obvious at a glance that her clothes were not ordinary. Immediately, Jiang Su Su cursed inwardly. First, she cursed Jiang Li for failing to appreciate the kindness of others, and that this shu daughter would employ such shameful methods to snatch the marriage arrangement of someone else. Second, she cursed Jiang Ruan, this wild orphan girl, a mere swallow who had climbed onto the high branch that was the Empress Dowager and now fancied herself a phoenix.

Although they were sisters in name, the three of them did not act accordingly with each other in reality. Jiang Ruan smiled and said, “Congratulations to Third Sister.”

Jiang Li was feeling unusually pleased with herself. From a young age, within the fu, the people she had most been jealous of were Jiang Ruan and Jiang Su Su. She had written off Jiang Su Su since she was under the protection of Jiang Quan and Jiang Chao. Now that Xia Yan had lost power, Jiang Li could not mock Jiang Su Su enough, but the only remaining unpleasant thorn in her side was Jiang Ruan. Plainly speaking, Jiang Ruan herself had a talentless mother, but she still held the status of a di daughter, and now, by some stroke of fortune that had come from goodness knows where, she had been made a junzhu. Jiang Li swelled with envious hatred every time she thought of this. To assume the position of the Langzhong Furen, a government official’s wife, was an excellent situation, however, because of Jiang Ruan, Jiang Li felt that she still did not measure up.

“Da Jiejie is too courteous,” Jiang Li smilingly said.

Tian Zhu was somewhat disdainful. This Third Jiang Miss had no brain, and her every thought and emotion was clearly written on her face, which caused people to have no good impression of her. At this moment, Jiang Dan also walked in. When Second Yiniang, who had just returned from getting something from outside, saw Jiang Dan, she was immediately on high alert, and stood in front of Jiang Li.

“Dan niang has not yet wished Third Sister a happy marriage.” Jiang Dan’s maidservant handed over the bridal gift, while Jiang Dan smiled and said, “Congratulations, Third Sister.”

Jiang Li frowned when she saw Jiang Dan. Naturally, she knew how her marriage arrangement had been obtained, and seeing Jiang Dan now was like a reminder of it. With a sneer, she ordered the maidservant to open the box. She tsked twice as she picked out a nine-bend plainly patterned flat silver bracelet from the box, shook her head, and said, “Fourth Sister. I’m not criticising you, but this bridal gift is really quite unpresentable. Although we are shu daughters, we are shu daughters of a government official’s family. Even the poorest people would not deign to use this little trinket.”

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The bracelet probably looked something like this.

In all fairness, the bracelet was indeed not outstanding, but it was not as bad as Jiang Li made it out to be. Moreover, where Jiang Dan was concerned, it was probably one of the better quality items from her jewellery box. Jiang Li’s words were harsh and malicious, but she affected an indifferent attitude, and Second Yiniang followed her lead to look supremely unconcerned. Jiang Dan lowered her head slightly, and curled her minutely trembling shoulders inwards, looking very pitiful.

If it had been the Jiang Su Su of the past, in order to maintain her ethereal, fairy-like image, she would have said a few words. If it had been the Jiang Ruan of her previous life, she would also have stood by Jiang Dan. However, the present situation was not the same as in the former days. No one uttered a word, and Jiang Ruan smiled faintly as she said, “Third Sister, take your time to prepare well as today you will be the most beautiful bride. I will leave first.”

Jiang Li smiled like the cat that got the cream as she replied, “Due to Da Jiejie’s auspicious words, I will naturally be so.”

Taking Tian Zhu with her, Jiang Ruan proceeded to leave without ceremony.

Once in the outer hall, it really was a lively and harmonious atmosphere, with both guests and hosts seemingly enjoying themselves. Hong Ying, supporting her big belly, was moving between the guests and welcoming them. Even Eldest Yiniang, who had not appeared in public for a very long time, was helping out due to a shortage of manpower. Although the guests all mouthed courteous pleasantries, the ridicule in their eyes was barely concealed.

At present, Jiang Quan was the biggest joke in the capital. Who knew what these guests were talking about behind his back even as they were now singing his praises. His main wife had caused him to wear a ‘green hat’ but he could not get rid of her, even his yiniangs had to welcome the guests – this was truly the first time this had ever happened in the home of an official of the Great Jin.

Jiang Ruan’s gaze swept lightly across the people present, and landed on one person.

The damask silk clothes that person wore were unable to camouflage the air of a scion from a noble family. His eyes gleamed as they roamed over the womenfolk at the banquet, as if he were hunting down some unknown prey.

With a flash of understanding, Jiang Ruan turned and called out, her voice cold, “Tian Zhu.”

“Here.” Tian Zhu tacitly perceived that something was off with Jiang Ruan, so she asked, “Miss?”

“How is your skill in killing people?” Jiang Ruan asked.

“Although I dare not brag, I can handle around ten people on my own,” Tian Zhu replied.

“Be on your guard today.” Jiang Ruan lowered her eyes and thought to herself, Xuan You was also here? Excellent. She wanted to know who had invited Xuan You. Jiang Su Su? Second Yiniang? Or Jiang Li?

* * *

The wedding ceremony was being held in Zuo Langzhong fu. As Jiang Li had no brothers, it was Jiang Chao who carried her into the bridal sedan chair. The entire journey proceeded with great jubilation and the people of the capital stopped to stare, for this marriage was suitably magnificent.

After they had paid their respects in the ancestral worship hall, Zuo Langzhong remained outside to propose toasts, while Jiang Li was sent to the bridal chamber. After entering the chamber, when it was time for toasting, Jiang Li, still veiled, and in a voice that was soft and gentle for the first time in her life, paid her respects to Second Yiniang and Jiang Quan as her birth parents. Thereafter, it was time to pay her respects to her siblings. Jiang Li picked up the wine cup from the tray and said, sweetly, “This cup is for my eldest sister. Today I have married out of the family and into my husband’s family. Da Jiejie and I are both Jiang fu’s daughters, but we spent much time apart and not enough time together, which is truly a cause for regret. Today, this cup of wine completely symbolises the feelings between us sisters.”

Having said this, Jiang Li then presented the wine cup to Jiang Ruan.

Jiang Ruan looked at her and smiled slightly but did not take the wine cup from her.

Jiang Quan’s expression changed and he suppressed with great difficulty the fury in his heart. So, Jiang Ruan would even refuse to accept the wine of her shu meimei– what would people make of this when the news got out!

Jiang Li was still veiled so she could not see what was happening outside, she could only sense that, despite waiting for quite a while, no one had taken the wine cup she was holding out. As she could not help feeling somewhat anxious, she was about to speak when she heard a rather greasy man’s voice saying, “How can Hong’an Junzhu not accept your own meimei’s wine? Could it be that you are unwilling to?”

That voice clearly belonged to someone born of wealth and nobility, and the words held an ambiguous implication. Everyone looked at Jiang Ruan. In order to draw a distinction between herself and the bride, Jiang Ruan was wearing a light pink ‘flying geese’ fine brocaded gown and was not dressed and accessorised as brightly as she usually was, so she appeared much more gentle and tender. With her faint smile, and her skin as fair as snow, one was led to think of her as beautiful and graceful.

As the eyes of the crowd were all centred on Jiang Ruan, Jiang Su Su clenched her fists tightly. Jiang Ruan gave a small smile and reached out her hand to accept Jiang Li’s wine cup. It was a wedding custom in the Great Jin that the bride’s toasts must always be accepted, otherwise it would be tantamount to disrespecting the host family. Only draining the toast to the last drop would be seen as wishing auspicious blessings upon the host family. Therefore, while attending wedding receptions, even those who had sworn off wine could not refuse a toast raised by the bride.

Especially when it was her shu sister’s toast. If she did not accept it, it was unavoidable that people would say she humiliated her shu sisters within the fu due to her gaining the position of junzhu.

An indecipherable smile hovered on Jiang Ruan’s lips as she said, “Third Sister’s words have truly moved this junzhu.”

Jiang Li’s hands trembled imperceptibly. Jiang Dan noticed, then lowered her head and feigned ignorance but there was another pair of eyes within the crowd that exuded joy at the situation.

Jiang Ruan accepted the wine cup and, with her sleeve covering her face, drained the cup of its contents and displayed the empty cup to the crowd. Then, she drew close to Jiang Li and whispered, “Third Sister, everyone testifies that I have not left a single drop.”

Jiang Li hurriedly drained her own cup and said, in a voice both tender and sweet, “Da Jiejie truly loves her meimei.”

“Excellent! Hong’an Junzhu is indeed magnanimous[5]! The greasy voice from before once again made its appearance, and Xuan You emerged from the merry crowd, his stare boring holes into Jiang Ruan as he walked forward. “Hong’an Junzhu, our noble heroine[6].” A pair of lecherous eyes slid over Jiang Ruan from top to toe in an utterly nauseating manner.

[5] 海量 (hai liang) – great capacity. Polite meaning – magnanimous, but also refers to a person’s great capacity for liquor. Methinks Xuan You is taking a dig at Jiang Ruan here.

[6] 巾帼英雄 (jin guo ying xiong) – actually it means a female hero; in ancient times, noble ladies used to wear a headgear and the more intricate the design or use of materials, the more noble and distinguished the person was considered to be.

Xuan You was consumed by happiness today. He had drooled after this beauty for the longest time, and the heavens had unexpectedly deigned to help him by presenting him with today’s opportunity. His eyes moved from the empty wine cups on the tray back to Jiang Ruan’s body. The skin bundled up in those clothes must be delectable. As Xuan You imagined that beautiful body lying beneath his own, he swallowed his saliva and ogled Jiang Ruan without the slightest restraint.

It only took one glance for Jiang Ruan to ascertain this man’s filthy intentions. She sneered inwardly and said, “I am a little dizzy, so I will go outside for some fresh air,” before turning and leaving the bridal chamber.

Jiang Dan glanced thoughtfully at the wine cups on the tray. The corners of her mouth suddenly turned up in a smile, and there was something enigmatic in her gaze.

Jiang Su Su had initially been given the cold shoulder here, but she had always been able to adapt to any situation, and was able to bring the attention of the people back to herself with a few words.

Jiang Ruan walked out of the bridal room and headed outside. Zuo Langzhong fu was even bigger than what was said. Moreover, in her previous life, she had never visited the fu, and her throat was rather tight. She had earlier ordered Tian Zhu to unobtrusively swap that cup of wine with Jiang Li’s; she never imagined that she would still feel the effects of the trap set for her. Only a little bit of wine had touched her lips, but she was already feeling somewhat weak.

After some thought, she decided there could only be one explanation: both cups of wine on the tray had been drugged. Even if she swapped them, the result would still be the same in the end. Who could have prepared for both eventualities except for Xuan You? In addition, the person who conspired with Xuan You had to be Jiang Li. Jiang Li was naturally stupid and ignorant, only thinking herself intelligent, while believing that all the people in the world were foolish. Today’s situation was really not in keeping with capability, but she had been used by Xuan You. However, Xuan You was truly an outrageous lecher, daring to be so bold even in broad daylight!

Still, something was odd about today’s situation. She dared not linger in the bridal chamber because she was starting to feel dizzy, but there was not a servant in sight in this huge Langzhong fu. How could that be? The banquet guests had also all seemed to disperse in the blink of an eye, and there was no one to be found.

The Langzhong fu was also involved in this business? Why? Jiang Ruan walked faster and faster, and acutely sensed that something was different behind her. Tian Zhu was vigilantly following her, and an assassin was always more perceptive than others. Tian Zhu said, “Miss, there’s someone in front of us.” She paused, and her face became uncommonly severe as she said, “We have been ambushed.”

Jiang Ruan laughed coldly to herself. Instead of ambushing her in the Langzhong fu, why not just charge straight at her? Was it really necessary for Zuo Langzhong to use his own official career to pander to a pervert prince? He should know that, if something really did happen, destroying her reputation was one thing, but the Empress Dowager would indubitably be incensed and the people involved would not be able to escape taking responsibility. Looking at today’s situation, it was not possible that the Langzhong fu had nothing to do with it.

Tian Zhu suddenly whipped off her belt, which had been concealing a silver soft sword. At the same time, people who looked like guards appeared from all sides simultaneously. These guards looked very peculiar, and not at all like Langzhong fu’s guards.

Their leader said, “Kill the servant, but don’t harm Junzhu.” Before he could finish speaking, Tian Zhu had already leapt high into the air. Her figure was light and graceful, and all that one could see for a split second was a streak of silver in the air, then the person closest to Tian Zhu’s front leaned to one side with a line of blood on his neck, whereupon he crashed to the ground with a thump.

The guards were all struck dumb. They had thought this maidservant might have some knowledge of how to punch and kick, but never imagined she would be so savage. Naturally, they did not know she was an assassin, and that she could so easily dispose of one of their brothers. In a trice, a desire for violence overtook them and, without further ado, they launched themselves at Tian Zhu as one.

At this moment, Tian Zhu was in front of Jiang Ruan, shielding her, but Jiang Ruan was unable to escape because the effects of the drug were too strong. She frowned slightly, something was wrong, she had definitely overlooked something. Today’s wedding reception had clearly been arranged to set her up. Why was Xuan You so bold, and what had he used to bribe such a powerful official like Zuo Langzhong?

Was it really possible for Xuan You alone to command an entire houseful of guests?

A guard, on seeing that everyone else was engaging with Tian Zhu, stealthily came closer to Jiang Ruan. Before he closed in on her, he said, softly, “Junzhu, excuse me.” He then moved to seize Jiang Ruan’s arm.

Jiang Ruan did not make any attempt to dodge him. With a calm expression, she looked at the guard and asked, “Are you one of Imperial Consort Chen’s people?”

The guard went rigid and an expression of incredulity appeared for a brief moment in his eyes. However, before he could respond, in the space of a heartbeat, his body slipped slowly to the ground.

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