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

Chapter 054 Two Boats

"Second sister, you are wrong," Jiang Ruan said with a smile, "Did mother teach you all your knowledge? Of course not. Father wants to hire a teacher to teach you, but I don't have the blessing of hiring a teacher on the farm."

Jiang Susu choked and paused for a moment before saying, "But I see that elder sister is so smart, she is not a person without any strengths. Besides, this matter is also related to the face of our Jiang family. Why don't you think about what talents you can show off, at least to deal with it."

"According to second sister, what can I do?" Jiang Ruan asked.

Jiang Susu looked at her with some suspicion, but saw that Jiang Ruan's eyes were open, as if she really wanted her to help make a decision, so she said: "Books, chess and painting are not learned overnight, and big sister has never learned the piano, how about dancing? There should be singing and dancing performances on the farm, such as singing and dancing, just learn a few movements."

Jiang Ruan nodded: "This is a good idea, second sister is thoughtful."

Jiang Li on the side sneered: "Don't laugh too much." Although she said so, a trace of gloating flashed in her eyes. Jiang Dan on the side smiled timidly at Jiang Ruan.

Jiang Ruan leaned back: "In this case, I should think about what kind of dance to dance later."

"I believe that big sister will be stunning." Jiang Susu smiled.

Jiang Ruan closed her eyes, as if she was really thinking, but her mind was very clear.

The boat was full of young ladies from wealthy families, and they had seen all kinds of talents. Jiang Susu's suggestion was to teach her to dance the songs and dances that could be performed on the stage in the countryside. If she really danced, she would become the laughing stock of the entire capital tomorrow.

Jiang Susu really used the same method as in her previous life, but the play could not start as she wished.

After an unknown period of time, the carriage stopped slowly when the driver outside shouted. Several maids opened the curtain outside, and the people in the carriage slowly got off one by one.

Jiang Ruan was the last one to get off the carriage. When she walked down the grass on the shore and saw the scene in front of her clearly, she couldn't help but feel a little dazed.

When the carriage was driving, the sky had already darkened. In the deep night sky like a curtain, countless bright Kongming lanterns were reflected. The night in the capital was even more prosperous and lively than the daytime. The moat with gurgling water under her feet was brightly lit. 

All kinds of lanterns covered the entire river surface. At a glance, it was like a flowing river of lights. The two boats in the front were carved with dragons and phoenixes, and decorated with many exquisite lanterns. Incense was curling, and laughter came from them.

These were the Qingsong Boat and the Linglong Boat. Jiang Ruan took a deep breath, and then heard the servant singing outside shouting in a long voice: "Miss Jiang is here——"

The laughter stopped abruptly, and all kinds of eyes gathered from the large windows of the two boats, falling on the ladies who were late.

As a beauty in Capital, Jiang Susu naturally enjoyed such eyes. Today, she wore a frost-coloured coat with a white plum narrow silver long skirt, tied a flowing cloud bun, and only pinned a plum blossom white jade hairpin on her temples. When she walked, the snow-white cloak on her body swayed in the wind, and she was as beautiful as a fairy descending to the earth.

However, people's eyes only stayed on her for a moment, and then fell on the girl behind her.

The girl's whole body was wrapped in a bright red crane cloak, which made her skin look as white as jade, making people full of reverie about the graceful figure under the crane cloak. Her eyes were like autumn water and her eyebrows were like ink paintings. 

Under the lights, she looked delicate, with a hint of coldness in her upturned eyes. Her red lips were curved, and her long black hair was only tied up in a small bunch behind her head, leaving the rest to meander down. Unlike the pure and elegant fairy, she was charming and bright. 

She was obviously very well-behaved and had no misconduct, but she seemed to be seducing inadvertently. She walked towards the crowd step by step, and people couldn't help but hold their breath, unable to tell whether this charming girl in the mortal world was a dream or reality.

She was so beautiful that it was shocking.

Last time at Minister Shen's house, most of the ladies who came and went were from official families in Capital, but not as powerful as today. Many people saw the daughter of the Jiang family for the first time. It has always been said that Jiang Susu from the Jiang Mansion is famous for her talent and looks like a fairy. People are full of curiosity about this country girl who grew up in the manor. Who would have thought that today, she is so outstanding in appearance that they never expected.

Qingsong Boat and Linglong Boat are very close to each other. The two boats are parked side by side at the ferry. Everyone in Qingsong Boat can see everything that Miss Jiang Mansion does when she gets on the boat from the shore. Jiang Dan and Jiang Li are naturally ignored in front of the two daughters of the Jiang Mansion. But all the eyes that fell on Jiang Susu in the past, are directed at Jiang Ruan tonight.

There is a young master of the official family in brocade clothes on Qingsong Boat who is so fascinated that he murmurs: "One look can make the city fall, and another look can make the country fall."

Jiang Ruan walked step by step properly, but there was some irony in her heart. In her previous life, she also walked step by step on this Linglong Boat, but unfortunately she did not receive such amazing eyes from everyone. At that time, their eyes were full of condescending sarcasm and ridicule, as if they were watching an inferior person tremblingly entering an occasion of superiors for the first time. 

Why did this happen in this life? What she didn't know was that in her previous life, because of the invisible indoctrination of Jiang Susu and Xia Yan, and the days of being looked down upon in Zhuangzi for several years, she had already developed a timid and inferior character. 

After returning to Jiang's house, Xia Yan pretended to be kind to her, almost doting on her, using the trick of flattery. She never asked a teacher to teach her to read and practice the piano, nor did she learn needlework, and her etiquette was even more casual. For these noble families in Capital who pay attention to rules, it was a big joke. Besides, a person's appearance and temperament are important. 

In her previous life, she was timid and submissive, and no matter how beautiful her appearance was, it was not so good when she was set off by such behaviour. Later in the palace, the eighth prince worked hard to make her a perfect chess piece, and the demeanour and temperament she developed in the palace were also something that people could not learn. 

Everyone present had sharp eyes and could see at a glance that her etiquette was impeccable. The blood and tears lessons of her previous life gave her a cold and calm temperament. Now she moved gracefully, and with her gorgeous appearance, she naturally attracted everyone's attention.

The smile on Jiang Susu's face was still warm, but if you looked carefully, you could easily find the stiffness in it. 

When she got on the boat, Miss Xue, who was familiar with the Left Vice-Chief Imperial Envoy, immediately called her. Jiang Susu then took Jiang Dan in one hand and Jiang Li in the other and walked towards her. 

Whether intentionally or unintentionally, she left Jiang Ruan where she was.

Lian Qiao and Zi Su, who were following behind Jiang Ruan, frowned, and Jiang Ruan gently curled her lips. 

After all, Jiang Susu was still young and did not know how to endure. Even if she was considered to be scheming compared to other girls, a little girl of eleven or twelve years old wanted to compete in everything. 

Once her status was threatened, she would not care about maintaining the mask.

(End of this chapter)

*If you like the translation, please vote and share it with your friends. Thanks for your support!*