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

Chapter 031 In Front of The Door

Xia Yan hurried over to greet her, walked quickly to Jiang Ruan, looked at her carefully, held her hand and said softly: "Good child, you have suffered."

Jiang Ruan looked at her with a smile, Xia Yan's eyes were filled with tears, and her eyes were full of sincerity. If it weren't for the lessons of the previous life, Jiang Ruan herself would almost believe that the other party treated her sincerely. But she still said softly: "Jiang Ruan is unfilial, and mother is worried about her."

Jiang Susu also came forward at this time. She tilted her head to look at Jiang Ruan, and smiled: "Big sister is finally back. Mother has been talking about sister's return a few days ago. Now I finally see the real person, and mother can also breathe a sigh of relief."

Jiang Ruan smiled and cast her eyes on her. Jiang Susu was the same as in her memory, pure and beautiful, innocent, as if she was a fairy in the clouds who was ignorant of the world and was born to be carefree. The teardrop mole under her eyes was still bright, but she wondered if it was because it had absorbed the blood of the Zhao family that it was so red.

Even though she had reminded herself many times in her heart, the moment she saw Jiang Susu, Jiang Ruan couldn't help but stagnate for a moment, and hatred came overwhelmingly. It was this pure and harmless face that ruined her life.

Jiang Susu sensitively noticed the change in Jiang Ruan's eyes. Somehow, although the other party was smiling, her eyes were extremely cold, as if carrying some kind of terrifying emotion. Jiang Susu was startled and took two steps back unconsciously, and the smile on her face was a little stiff.

Jiang Ruan took a deep breath in her heart and smiled: "Nothing, I'm back." She said it softly, and her smile was beautiful and gentle, but it made Xia Yan and her daughter feel a sense of ghostliness, as if those words were spit out viciously.

In the undercurrent, the crowd was unaware. They thought that the eldest daughter and the second daughter of the Jiang family standing together were really pleasing to the eye. One had bright eyes and teeth, looked around lingeringly, while the other was as delicate as a willow in the wind, and was unparalleled in beauty. The two beauties appeared together, which made Jiang Ruan's impression a little deeper. The identity of the Jiang family's legitimate daughter was indisputable.

However, a slightly sharp voice appeared among the people in the Jiang Mansion: "It's been a long time since we last met. Big sister has become more beautiful."

Jiang Ruan looked up and saw that it was Jiang Li, the concubine born to the second concubine of the Jiang family, who was speaking. Jiang Li's facial features were more like Jiang Quan, and she was born a little mean, lacking some of the feminine beauty. She looked at Jiang Ruan and suddenly smiled with her lips covered: "Big sister is so beautiful, why does she wear such clothes to match it? Are you afraid that the sisters will be jealous of your clothes, so you hide them?"

This made people think a lot, as if Jiang Ruan deliberately wore old clothes to give people a reason to talk. There was always a crowd of people who watched the excitement. Knowing the twists and turns in the gate, they watched the development of the next thing with interest.

Jiang Ruan's hand in her sleeve moved slightly, and her smile deepened, but the smile did not reach her eyes. Xia Yan was indeed too impatient. This was her first battle after returning to the Jiang Mansion. If she could not solve this matter perfectly today, she would have to make new plans to gain a firm position in the Jiang Mansion in the future, or to maintain her reputation as the daughter of the Jiang family in Capital City.

"It's windy outside, be careful that mother and sisters will catch a cold, let's go back to the house and talk." Jiang Ruan said softly. Seeing that she had found an excuse to avoid Jiang Li's sharp words, there was disappointment in the crowd, thinking that the daughter of the Jiang family was also someone who hoped to live a peaceful life, but she did not have the sharpness she had in the court. 

Jiang Ruan said, "Lian Qiao and Zi Su, carry the boxes into the mansion." Lian Qiao and Zi Su nodded and lifted the carriage curtain. Everyone could see clearly that there was only one box in the carriage. Lian Qiao and Zi Su carefully lifted it down from the carriage. 

They seemed unable to bear the weight and were a little out of breath after a few steps. People speculated what treasures were in it. After all, the Jiang family was a wealthy aristocratic family. Judging from the situation, there were many treasures in the box. Could it be that the daughter of the Jiang family was really hiding her identity and pretending to be pitiful to gain sympathy while guarding her wealth? 

Jiang Li smiled slightly and whispered a few words to the maid beside her. The maid walked a few steps to Lian Qiao. Jiang Li smiled and said, "Look at how hard the two maids of the elder sister are working. It must be very heavy. Let Cui'er help you." 

Cui'er took the initiative to help Lian Qiao to put on the box without waiting for Lian Qiao to let go. Before Lian Qiao let go, Cui'er had already taken two steps forward, deliberately walking a little faster. With a ‘pop’, the box broke in the middle. The buckle on the top was loose, and it was shaken open when it fell. 

The lid of the box tilted over, and half of the things in the box fell out with a "crash". The sound touched everyone's heart. The smile on Jiang Li's face became more and more joyful. Everyone stretched their necks to look inside. Xia Yan opened her mouth slightly, Jiang Susu looked curious, and only Jiang Ruan sighed softly. 

The wooden box fell to the ground, and the yellow wood still exuded a faint fragrance. All the books that leaned out from it were rolls out of the box. The books were well preserved, and it was obvious that the owner took good care of them.

It was not surprising that the young lady brought books with her when she went out. What was surprising was that apart from the books, there was no other luggage. Everyone in the Jiang Mansion had different expressions, only Jiang Ruan said as usual: "Lian Qiao, what are you standing there for."

As if she finally understood, Jiang Susu smiled and said: "Big sister really loves reading books. The box is full of books. It's really enviable. I asked my father to bring me a collection of poems by Zhuang Qin the other day, but my father didn't find it, but big sister has it here." She said it innocently, as if she was really a little girl who was worried about a book.

Jiang Ruan smiled slightly: "It's just a book. Since we are sisters, I will let Lu Zhu pack the books and send them to you later. This box of books is all left by my mother. I will protect it even if I risk my life."

The crowd could easily guess from her words that since she used the word "risk her life" and the Jiang family's daughter had no other luggage except a set of old clothes, she must have lived a hard life in the past few years. 

Everyone knows about the robbery. It's rare that she is so filial at such a young age. She protects the relics left by her deceased mother, but the money is probably looted.

Xia Yan looked at her with a smile, and the fingers hidden in her sleeves shrank slightly, but her face became more distressed: "I know you are a child who loves reading. It's just right to be with Susu later. You sisters have similar interests."

Jiang Ruan brushed the broken hair on her forehead and said softly: "My sister and I are blood thicker than water, so naturally we have similar interests." If we didn't have similar interests, how could we fall in love with a man? If they were not like-minded, how could they fight to the death as the daughter of the Jiang family?

Lian Qiao and Zi Su quickly packed up the books scattered on the ground and took the lead in helping to carry them back to the Jiang family. Xia Yan was busy going back to the family. Once the gate of the Jiang family was closed, the onlookers gradually dispersed.

The moment they stepped into the vermilion gate of the Jiang family, Lu Zhu held Jiang Ruan's hand: "Miss, go slowly, don't fall."

Jiang Ruan walked very steadily step by step, with a solemn smile on her face, and her heart was like a whistling wind.

Mother, big brother, Pei'er, look, I'm back!

(End of this chapter)

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