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

Chapter 060 Lighting Lanterns

Jiang Ruan also followed the crowd to the bow, smiling very charmingly.

In her previous life, she had a scandal before she could light the lanterns. When she was hiding on the boat and shivering, it was the Eighth Prince Ye Li who came over with a lantern and said to her, "Do you have any wishes?"

His tall body blocked the contemptuous eyes of the crowd. At that moment, she just wanted to grasp the warmth given by the man in front of her. In that lantern, she made a wish to be by his side.

The girl's wish eventually became a complete conspiracy. In fact, when Jiang Ruan thought about it, the person she hated the most was not Ye Li. 

Compared with Ye Li, Jiang Susu deprived her of more. But Ye Li was wrong in that he should not have given her hope, teaching her to think that she had grasped a life-saving straw in desperation, but it turned out to be a fatal stick. After she had warmth and care, he told her that everything was fake.

Zi Su handed the lantern to her, Lian Qiao handed over paper and pen. Jiang Ruan thought about it, took the note from Lian Qiao, did not write, rolled it up and put it in the lantern.

Her behaviour was seen by Jiang Su Su who had been paying attention to her actions, so she walked to her side and asked: "Big sister, why don't you write something on the lantern?"

Jiang Su Su deliberately spoke a little loudly. Jiang Ruan was now in the spotlight again. Suddenly, everyone on the two boats looked at her.

"Nothing to ask for, what to write." Jiang Ruan said lightly.

Jiang Su Su smiled: "How can big sister have nothing to ask for, such as asking for Dad's health, brother's victory, Jiang's family's prosperity, or asking mother to give us another little brother, anyway, how can there be nothing to ask for?"

Her words were equivalent to accusing Jiang Ruan of being unfaithful, unfilial, unkind and unjust, and not wholeheartedly wanting to do good for Jiang's family. Such heart-piercing words made Lian Qiao and Zi Su frown. 

Jiang Ruan sneered after hearing this. Dad? Jiang Quan was not a dad at all. He wished he could sell her to pave the way for Jiang Susu and her brother and sister. Mother? Her mother's body had already rotted into ashes, and there was no such person in the world anymore. Brother? There was no news of him now, and it was unknown whether he was dead or alive. Jiang Susu's remarks were like rubbing salt into someone's wounds.

"Second sister, you don't know," Jiang Ruan's voice was soft and gentle, seemingly without any anger: "Dad is naturally healthy, otherwise how could he serve the court? Second brother's success in the imperial examination is not something we can help. It's only the ability of Guanyin to give birth to a little brother for mother, what does it have to do with us?"

She raised her lips slightly: "Things in the world are in the hands of man. You may be pious in your heart, but you still have to earn your own future, don't you?" 

Her voice added a trace of melancholy: "I used to burn incense and worship Buddha from time to time, but in the end, my mother passed away and my brother is unknown. You say, can what you want in your heart really come true? It all depends on the individual."

These remarks floated in everyone's ears, and Mo Cong laughed. Seeing Xiao Shao looking at him, he hurriedly said: "I just think that Miss Jiang's words are really wonderful. Well, the matter of having children is really not something they can control."

Jiang Ruan's words were humorous and right. Hearing that her life was pitiful, everyone's impression of her was even more sympathetic. Jiang Susu was so angry that her face turned blue, but she had to pretend to be happy.

Then, when everyone released the lanterns, Jiang Ruan bent down and put the lantern in her hand into the river. Just as she was about to stand up, Jiang Susu, who was standing beside her, did not change her expression and quietly stretched out her foot to trip her.

Jiang Susu stretched out her foot to trip her, but Jiang Ruan continued to stand up without noticing, but inadvertently turned sideways and barely avoided Jiang Susu's legs and feet. With this sideways movement, she just happened to ‘touch’ Jiang Li on the side. Jiang Li was unable to dodge and fell forward a few steps, just bumping into Jiang Susu. Jiang Susu was caught off guard and immediately fell under the boat.

At this time, Jiang Ruan exclaimed and grabbed Jiang Li, who was about to fall into the river with Jiang Susu. With a "bang", Jiang Susu disappeared from the boat.

Jiang Ruan said to Jiang Li, who was still in shock, "Is the third sister okay?"

Jiang Li shook her head: "Why did she fall just now?" 

"There were many people on the boat, and she was facing away from Jiang Ruan, so she naturally didn't know who touched her." 

Jiang Ruan shook her head, suddenly remembered something, and shouted: "Oh no, the second sister fell into the river!"

When she shouted like this, everyone looked into the river, and saw a person floating in the river in the gurgling water. It was Jiang Susu. At this moment, Jiang Susu was soaked in water all over her body, and water kept pouring into her mouth and nose. She shouted loudly without paying attention to her manners: "Help!"

There were many young men who could swim on the Qingsong Boat. Seeing the beauty in trouble, they were all eager to try. But if Jiang Susu was really fished out from the bottom of the water, it would be equivalent to destroying Jiang Susu's innocence, and Jiang Susu would definitely marry him in the future. 

But Minister Jiang is now in the limelight in the court, and Xia Yan's family is also thriving. If they are really not worthy, Minister Jiang is unwilling to give in to his daughter, and he might end it all.

Thinking of this, the thoughtful young man could only stand on the boat and watch.

But who is Jiang Susu? She is the most talented woman in Capital. She has been the most beautiful woman in Capital since she was seven years old. Naturally, there are sons of high-ranking families who are well-matched to her. Seeing that the beauty is exhausted, they are about to jump into the water to save her.

But at this moment, there was a "splash" sound, and a figure on the other side suddenly jumped into the water. It looked like he was very good at swimming. He quickly swam to Jiang Susu's side, lifted Jiang Susu up with one hand, and swam to the boat.

Jiang Ruan first lifted Jiang Susu with everyone. Jiang Susu struggled in the water and was already a little unconscious. Then, everyone turned their eyes to the person who saved Jiang Susu's life.

He was a young man of seventeen or eighteen years old, with dark skin and a decent appearance, but his eyes revealed some shrewdness.

Jiang Ruan stood beside Jiang Susu and said gently: "This young man, thank you for saving Miss Jiang's life. The Jiang family will send a thank-you gift when we go back today."

The man seemed very impatient: "What thank-you gift do I need? Go and see if she is okay?" After saying that, he was about to step forward.

His actions naturally aroused people's speculation. For a while, everyone looked at the man with inquiring eyes. Someone on the Qingsong Boat couldn't help but ask: "Who are you?"

Jiang Ruan frowned, stood in front of Jiang Susu again, and said seriously: "The Jiang family will remember your life-saving grace, but Miss Jiang is also an unmarried girl. It's really against the rules for you to be so close to her."

She was wholeheartedly thinking about Jiang Susu, taking the overall situation into consideration, and her words were also decent and beautiful. For a while, everyone around nodded in agreement.

The dark-skinned man was anxious: "She and I are in love, and we are close. I will marry her in the future."

Jiang Ruan smiled sweetly, and her voice was as cold as ice: "Sir, what are you talking about? I respect you for your courage and righteousness, but I am ashamed of your behaviour. Miss Jiang is clean and self-disciplined, and she is also talented. To be honest, you may not be able to match her. You know, not everyone can marry the daughter of the Jiang family!"

(End of this chapter)

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