Part 1: A Dream Within A Dream / Rebirth of Ill Fated Concubine

Chapter 011 Settlement of Accounts

The air in the farm was very good in the morning. The grey-winged sparrows stood on the branches and pecked at food. It had just snowed last night, and the sunlight seemed even clearer. The grass and trees were covered with thick snow, and the atmosphere of the New Year was very strong.

Jiang Ruan got up early, and after a simple breakfast, she and Lian Qiao went to the Pear Garden for a stroll. 

The pear garden is not in bloom yet, but the branches are lush and leafy. Lian Qiao is a little regretful: "It's not the right time yet. If the weather is warmer, the pear blossoms will all bloom, and that will be beautiful."

Jiang Ruan smiled faintly. Flowers and grasses are just competing for beauty. In her previous life, she had seen trees full of pear blossoms in the palace, like a spring breeze blowing all the flowers open overnight. Not only pear blossoms, but also peonies, water lilies, hibiscus, and roses. The palace is full of flowers, but it's a pity that only one person can appreciate all the scenery. 

Later, she thought there was someone who could watch the flowers bloom and fall with her, until she died and found out that it was just a scam.

The flowers are like her life. They look bright and beautiful, but when they decay, they have no place to stay. They fall into the mud and turn into dust. The only faint fragrance is bitter.

Lian Qiao noticed that Jiang Ruan's eyes were a little deep. She didn't know what she was thinking about, but her expression was sad and cold. She was shocked and asked with concern: "Girl?"

Jiang Ruan came back to her senses and shook her head: "It's okay, let's go."

As the two walked and stopped, they didn't notice that a person had been standing in the dense jungle behind them for a long time.

The man was wearing gold and silver, full of wealth, as if he wanted to use all the beautiful and precious things on himself. He stared at Jiang Ruan's figure with his eyes full of obsession.

This person was Zhang Lan's youngest son, Chen Zhao.

Chen Zhao usually liked to sleep under the pear garden. Today was the same as usual. He heard a woman's voice suddenly. For him, it was like a cat smelling the fishy smell of fish. He immediately looked over, but he was stunned when he saw it.

Jiang Ruan was dressed the same as yesterday, except that Zi Su did not comb her hair into a bun. She tied a small part of her hair into a hibiscus bun at the back, and the rest was casually draped over her shoulders, making her look older and more beautiful.

The pear blossoms in the pear garden had not yet bloomed, and a layer of snow had accumulated on the branches, as if the pear blossoms were in bloom. However, her skin was whiter than the snow, her face was brighter than the pear blossoms, and her expression was cold, but her eyes seemed to be casually sweeping across the branches, like a pool of clear spring water gently rippling through people's hearts, making people feel itchy. 

Her voice was too far away to be heard clearly, but the crisp and moving tone could be imagined. She slightly raised her head to look at the ice crystals hanging on the branches, revealing a neck as graceful as a swan.

Chen Zhao swallowed his saliva and looked at Jiang Ruan's thin body in the distance. Her cotton jacket was too big, hiding her slender waist. Although she was young and looked like a little girl, she was lively and lively, as if she had the charm of an adult woman and the tenderness of a little girl. He had never discovered that Jiang Ruan had such a beautiful figure after a serious illness. She was really a natural beauty.

If he could have such a beauty, it would be a great thing in the world. Chen Zhao looked uncertain, and he didn't know what he was thinking about. He stood there thinking.

Lian Qiao, who was not far away, also spotted Chen Zhao's figure and her face darkened: "Girl, let's go back early. There are unclean people in this garden. Be careful not to get into trouble."

Jiang Ruan followed her gaze and smiled softly with a curved lip: "Okay."

Chen Zhao was staring at Jiang Ruan in a daze, and suddenly saw the little beauty smiling at him. This smile contained an indescribable meaning, which was not like the innocence or shyness that a little girl should have. There was only a faint temptation, like a night-blooming cereus with a faint cold fragrance, short-lived and noble, and with the charm of the night.

Chen Zhao couldn't help but be infatuated, and he didn't come back from the surprise of that smile until Jiang Ruan and the others left the Pear Garden.

Jiang Ruan and Lian Qiao quickly put this matter behind their minds. Three days passed peacefully. During these three days, Jiang Ruan walked around the farm every day and occasionally met Chen Zhao. Unexpectedly, Chen Zhao was more disciplined than before and did not stick to her like a fly before. Lian Qiao felt relieved. 

However, there was also something worrying. The day of handing in the embroidered handkerchief was approaching, but Jiang Ruan's embroidered handkerchief had not been embroidered yet.

After Jiang Ruan fell into the water, Zhang Lan did not mention the embroidered handkerchief for the time being. She just wanted to delay before embroidering. Chen Fang deliberately mentioned it a few days ago, which made Lian Qiao and Zi Su feel troubled again.

Now that Jiang Ruan's body is not well yet, the two of them naturally cannot let Jiang Ruan do this. It's fine if Jiang Ruan doesn't embroider herself, but they are not allowed to embroider with her.

"Miss," Lian Qiao looked at Jiang Ruan who was reading by the window with disapproval: "It's almost time to hand in the embroidered handkerchief, why are you so relaxed?"

"Don't worry." Jiang Ruan turned a page of the book.

"How can I not worry?" Lian Qiao said with a bitter face, "If we can't hand in the handkerchief, those people will find reasons to demand more from the girl."

Jiang Ruan sighed and closed the page in her hand. When she first came to the manor, she brought three boxes, one for clothes and utensils, one for silver jewellery, and one for books. These were all things left by her mother. She thought she would have something to think about with her, but she entered a den of tigers and wolves. 

Zhang Lan's family was greedy and mean, stealing openly and secretly. In the end, the only thing left that was not taken away was this box of books.

"We should go back home before the day of the payment." Jiang Ruan stroked the big words on the cover of the book: "Don't worry."

Lian Qiao frowned and wanted to say something, but Zi Su pushed the door open and walked in: "Miss, Miss Fang is here."

Lian Qiao was stunned, and a pink figure appeared behind Zi Su. Chen Fang smiled and said: "Miss."

Today she was wearing a pink cotton jacket with butterfly embroidery, a small pink skirt of the same colour, and red leather boots. Her hair was combed into an exquisite flowing cloud bun, her ears were heavy gold-winged carved earrings, and her head was inserted with an enamel gold hairpin. These things looked particularly familiar.

Lian Qiao sneered and looked at Chen Fang with contempt. From head to toe, this outfit was all Jiang Ruan's things. Fortunately, she had the nerve to wear these things on her body and appeared in front of her master. She really deserved the word robber.

Jiang Ruan propped up her chin with her hand and smiled faintly. The robbers were fearless and had become more rampant in recent days, but it didn't matter. 

Since they were debt collectors, they would always spit out everything she ate without leaving a drop.

(End of this chapter)

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