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

Chapter 042 Snake and Rat

The expressions of Xia Yan and Jiang Susu changed slightly at the same time, and the ladies had already started talking quietly: "What kind of mountain village girl? I think her demeanour seems to come from the palace."

"That's right, it looks like she is on par with Second Miss Jiang. It's not as bad as she said."

"She's also good-looking. She's actually a bit prettier than the second young lady."

For the first time, everyone's focus was not on Jiang Susu alone. Jiang Ruan still walked from the front without squinting, her expression showed no fluctuation, and she had a smile on her face, as if this was not her first time in Shen's mansion. Such calmness and calmness impressed those who originally wanted to watch the excitement. 

The woman with the round face had already turned dark. On the contrary, the lady with high cheekbones nodded repeatedly.

Shen Mingzhen who followed was already furious. She glared at Jiang Ruan fiercely, then walked over and took Jiang Susu's hand. Without looking at Jiang Ruan, she walked into the women's banquet.

Xia Yan smiled slightly, as if she hadn't seen it, and walked into the banquet and sat down while chatting with Madam Shen. 

Although Jiang Li has an arrogant temperament, she has made good friends among the ladies. Perhaps in order to deliberately isolate Jiang Ruan, she even dragged away Jiang Dan, who usually didn't pay much attention to her. Whether intentionally or not, Jiang Ruan was left alone at the edge of the table, not knowing how to sit down.

Although the ladies and ladies were surprised by Jiang Ruan's appearance and demeanour, all the guests present were familiar with Madam Shen, so they naturally wanted to maintain friendship with the Jiang family. 

The current wife of the Jiang family is Xia Yan, not Zhao Mei. Anyone who knows about it will not take the initiative to rescue Jiang Ruan. What's more, Jiang Ruan's appearance is too great, and the lady is afraid of being robbed of the limelight when sitting next to her. For a time, only one person was left alone.

Lu Zhu and Lian Qiao stood behind Jiang Ruan, both feeling a little depressed. They thought that they came to Shen's house as a guest to save face, which was an unreasonable embarrassment.

But at this moment, a clear female voice was heard from the banquet: "Miss Jiang, please sit here."

A cardamom girl stood up from the women's banquet. This girl was wearing a blue and white cotton-padded jacket. Her complexion was slightly darker, but her face was very beautiful, with a hint of heroism between her eyebrows. 

Jiang Ruan also knew this girl in her previous life. Her name was Lin Zixiang, and she was the eldest daughter of Lin Taishi. She is a person with an extremely righteous character. In her previous life, Lin Zixiang married the third prince as a concubine. Although Lin Taishi had little real power in the court, he had a decisive position. 

Lin Zixiang was not favoured after marrying the third prince. Lin Taishi was favoured by the emperor. After retiring from the official position, he lived in extreme poverty. The third prince had a human face and a beast's heart, and there were many concubines in the palace. The child in Lin Zixiang's belly was killed by one of the third prince's concubines. The third prince defended his concubine, and Lin Zixiang couldn't bear the humiliation. She took the knife and died together with his beloved concubine.

In the previous life, the women in the palace treated this matter as a joke. Jiang Ruan felt sorry for Lin Zixiang in her heart. It was really unfair that such a fierce woman met a tragic end and was even discussed after her death. 

At a palace banquet in the previous life, Jiang Ruan had also seen Lin Zixiang from a distance at the concubine's table. The plainly dressed Lin Zixiang looked unhappy among the gorgeous orioles and swallows, which caught Jiang Ruan's attention at a glance. They are a kind of people who marry someone they don't want to marry and are imprisoned in a small cage for their entire lives.

Jiang Ruan smiled at Lin Zixiang, walked over and sat down next to her, Lin Zixiang nodded to her, Jiang Ruan said softly: "Thank you."

"I just can't stand them being like this." Lin Zixiang said: "Nobles from aristocratic families are always so self-righteous, but they always make things difficult for a little girl."

Such old-fashioned words, and seeing Lin Zixiang's serious look on her face, Jiang Ruan laughed, and felt a little more favourable towards her in his heart.

Jiang Ruan was talking to Lin Zixiang, and Jiang Li felt secretly resentful. When Shen Mingzhen said this to Jiang Susu, she frowned when she saw this scene and said: "What kind of ability does that Jiang Ruan have? Lin Zixiang's eyes are usually looking up to the sky, why does she have to talk to her!"

Jiang Susu smiled and said: "Big sister is always so lovable."

"She's obviously a bitch." Shen Mingzhen said angrily. In a blink of an eye, she saw Jiang Li glaring at Jiang Ruan, and thought for a moment: "Sister Susu, I see Jiang Li also hates her, how about helping Jiang Li?"

Jiang Susu was startled, then smiled and said: "Why do you say that? Don't make any crooked ideas. My eldest sister just came back from Zhuangzi. If something goes wrong, your reputation will be damaged. How will you behave in the capital in the future?"

Shen Mingzhen also laughed: "Sister Su Su has a heart of a bodhisattva, but you are not worthy of anyone. Look, she specially wore this red dress today, just to steal your limelight. She knows you love white, but she wears it so brightly, I think it’s a provocation, Sister Susu, you can’t always tolerate it.”

"This..." Jiang Susu was a little hesitant, and the hesitant look in Shen Mingzhen's eyes made her even more aggrieved, so she said: "Sister Susu, don't be afraid, I will stand up for you." 

After that, she rushed to Jiang Li who was sitting on the other side. Waved: "Sister Jiang Li!"

Jiang Li turned her head somewhat flattered, stood up and walked to Shen Mingzhen. Among the ladies in the capital, concubines and legitimate daughters are actually divided into two circles. Although Jiang Li tried her best to please Shen Mingzhen, Shen Mingzhen only had good friends with Jiang Susu, and she could only feel jealous. Now Shen Mingzhen took the initiative to say hello. Although she knew there must be some intention, she still smiled and responded.

A trace of contempt flashed in Shen Mingzhen's eyes, but her smile was sweet. She hooked her little finger and said, "Sister Jiang Li, I have something to tell you in private."

Jiang Li came over and Shen Mingzhen whispered a few words in her ear. Jiang Li's expression was a little surprised at first, then became hesitant, and hesitantly glanced at Jiang Susu sitting aside. Jiang Susu just lowered her head to drink tea, still wearing the same smile as usual, showing no emotion.

"Sister Jiang Li, have you thought about it?" Shen Mingzhen looked up at her and her tone became more delicate: "I did this all for you."

Jiang Li was silent for a long time, and finally gritted her teeth and said, "Okay, thank you sister Mingzhen for this."

Shen Mingzhen chuckled, took Jiang Li's hand and sat down next to her: "In that case, let's talk some more."

Jiang Li paused, slowly sat down next to her. The two of them came together and started talking quietly again.

While doing all this, Jiang Susu sat down and drank tea. She seemed to have no idea what Shen Mingzhen and Jiang Li were doing. She only raised her eyes and glanced at Jiang Ruan from a distance when Jiang Li sat down. There is a hint of cruelty in it.

But when she raised her eyes, Jiang Ruan seemed to feel her gaze. She turned her head slightly, their eyes met, and Jiang Ruan smiled slightly at her. There was a hint of smile clearly showing in the raised corners of her eyes, but it sent a chill down Jiang Susu's spine for no reason. When she looked again, Jiang Ruan had turned her head, as if everything had never happened.

Because it was the first time she came to Shen Mansion, Jiang Ruan only spoke to Lin Zixiang, and the ladies around her just looked at her from afar. Jiang Susu is quite popular with everyone, and there are many people who are close to her.
 
(End of chapter)

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