Ji Xianyu was resting her chin on her hand, eagerly looking out the window.
Seeing the maid return empty-handed, she quickly straightened her elbow and hurried to meet her, eyes gleaming with anticipation. “Did my sister accept it?” she asked.
The maid nodded, “Yes, the eldest young lady said the pastries were to her liking and asked me to convey her thanks.”
Ji Xianyu eagerly inquired, “Did she open it? What about the bracelet? Did she like it? Did she refuse it?”
The maid thought for a moment and then said, “Biwu mentioned that the eldest young lady played with the red jade bracelet for quite a while, so I think she likes it.”
Ji Xianyu breathed a sigh of relief with a smile.
Over the past three years, the sisters had rarely seen each other. Whenever Ji Yuyao returned to the mansion, Ji Xianyu would give her this and that, bringing out her treasured possessions. If there was even one or two items that Ji Yuyao liked, it made her happier than keeping them herself.
However, her elder sister liked very few things. Only occasionally, when she couldn’t refuse Ji Xianyu’s goodwill, would she pick one or two of the least valuable items.
Actually, Ji Xianyu understood. It wasn’t that she didn’t like them; she was just subtly distancing herself.
But it hadn’t always been like this between the sisters. Their childhood friendship was the most sincere and pure, only strained by their mother’s constant reproaches over the years, leading to the current awkward situation.
Ji Xianyu disliked this change and felt sad about it. Despite her earnest attempts, she couldn’t persuade Lin Chan. So, she had to try hard on her own to win Ji Yuyao’s favor, striving to bridge the growing gap between them.
Because of this, Ji Xianyu was exceedingly attentive to Ji Yuyao.
Feeling invigorated, she rummaged through her jewelry box, saying, “So, sister likes red jade. I remember last year the palace gifted a similar blood jade. Did I make it into a ring or earrings? Quick, help me find it.”
The maid often felt embarrassed by her mistress’s selfless approach. Seeing that she was about to turn the whole box upside down, the maid quickly started helping her search.
After a thorough search, Ji Xianyu finally held the pair of blood jade earrings with satisfaction. However, it was already dark, making it inappropriate to send someone to the other courtyard. She had to suppress her excitement and eagerly anticipated the arrival of the next day.
Early tomorrow, her sister would surely come to pay respects to their mother.
Great, she would get to see her sister again!
In a family as meticulous as the Ji’s, morning and evening greetings were unavoidable. The next morning, Ji Yuluo came to the main courtyard, expecting Lin Chan to make things difficult as usual. Unexpectedly, Lin Chan was uncharacteristically quiet, even a bit subdued.
Their eyes met, and neither spoke. Lin Chan slowly sipped her tea, letting Ji Yuluo stand there for a while before she leisurely said, “With your wedding approaching, there’s still much to learn. The teaching matron I arranged for you will arrive soon. Learn well from her so you don’t lose your decorum in front of others in the future.”
Ji Yuluo agreed. It was customary for daughters about to marry to have a teaching matron for formality, and it didn’t mean Lin Chan was being kind to her.
Lin Chan seemed conflicted, moving her lips before finally uttering, “If there’s anything lacking, tell Nanny Wan.”
Her tone was stiff, clearly not heartfelt. She seemed constrained, as if she had been warned by someone.
In the household, the only ones who could pressure Lin Chan were Ji Chongwang or the old lady Jiang. Ji Chongwang didn’t bother with trivial matters, so it must have been at Jiang’s behest.
Sure enough, Lin Chan added a few more irrelevant instructions before saying, “This box of jewelry is an extra part of your dowry from your grandmother. She’s still thinking of you in her illness. Find time to visit her.”
Nanny Wan then brought over a square box. Inside was a set of twelve hairpins, glittering with gold and incredibly beautiful. Even Lin Chan couldn’t help but glance at them a few extra times, feeling a twinge of regret. This was one of the most valuable items in the old lady’s dowry, and she had thought it would be kept for Xian’er.
Ji Yuluo looked shocked and overwhelmed, exclaiming, “Is this really from Grandmother?”
Lin Chan reluctantly nodded, her expression showing her unwillingness.
Ji Yuluo thanked her grandmother profusely, her eyebrows raising slightly. She had only met this grandmother once in her childhood, a sharp-minded woman who always planned for the future of the Ji family, never doing anything without benefit.
As she pondered this, the morning greeting concluded. Before she left, Lin Chan reminded her, “Don’t forget the fifteenth.”
October fifteenth was the anniversary of Grandfather Ji’s death. His memorial tablet was kept in the temple, and the whole family would go to offer incense and pay respects. Even Ji Yuyao, who was usually marginalized, couldn’t be absent.
Ji Yuluo naturally didn’t know about this, but now she did. She paused for a moment, then acknowledged it. After leaving the main courtyard, she asked Biwu on the way, “Were there any important events in the mansion yesterday?”
Biwu looked at her blankly, then nervously said, “I didn’t hear of anything, Miss. Did the Madam say something?”
Of course, Biwu had been confined to the other courtyard all night. How could she know anything? Ji Yuluo shook her head and said, “Nothing—”
Before she could finish, she bumped into someone at the corner of the corridor. Stepping back to steady herself, she saw it was Ji Yunkou.
Among the three Ji sisters, none were plain-looking. They mostly inherited Ji Chongwang’s good looks. Even though Concubine Gu was average, her daughter Ji Yunkou turned out to be quite a delicate beauty.
But at this moment, Ji Yunkou’s eyes were red, and there was a slap mark on her left cheek, marring her beauty.
Ji Yunkou hastily covered her cheek with her hand, awkwardly saying, “What are you looking at!”
Ji Yuluo was not curious about the origin of the slap mark. She gave it a passing glance and was about to walk past her when Ji Yunkou, stung by her indifferent attitude, blocked her way and said sarcastically, “Elder sister is indeed marrying a great person, even your confidence has grown.”
Ji Yuluo glanced at her and slowly nodded, “It’s alright, not as loud as second sister’s voice.”
Ji Yunkou was taken aback, a look of unfamiliarity and surprise flashing in her eyes.
The divide between legitimate and illegitimate children was a deep chasm. When illegitimate children were constantly reminded of their inferiority, they inevitably harbored resentment. Yet, on the surface, they had to maintain a facade of harmony.
But Ji Yuyao was different. With no one to back her up, Ji Yunkou never feared her. Over the years, open mockery was common, and her timid elder sister never retorted.
Ji Yunkou tightened her lips, thinking the person before her must have learned something, hence daring to mock her.
Thinking this, her eyes reddened again. She suddenly grabbed “Ji Yuyao’s” wrist and demanded, “What do you mean? Did you know that Father wants to marry me off to that poor scholar? Did third sister tell you? Is this Madam’s idea?”
So, it was about this matter.
Ji Yunkou might have wronged someone. That “poor scholar” was Ji Chongwang’s most prized disciple. If Lin Chan had a say, she would have chosen the worst option.
But neither Gu Rou nor Ji Yunkou understood this.
Ji Yuluo smiled mockingly, “If second sister really wants to know, why not ask mother yourself? Why bother me?”
For some reason, Ji Yunkou sensed a unique mockery in her plain words, as if calling her stupid. But looking at her expression, there was no change, making Ji Yunkou feel it was her imagination.
Just as Ji Yunkou was momentarily distracted, a voice called from nearby, “Elder sister!”
Ji Xianyu ran over from the shade of the trees. Seeing the two of them tugging at each other’s wrists, she frowned and said, “Second sister, what are you doing? You’re hurting elder sister.”
Ji Yunkou released her grip and said irritably, “Just talking. I’m going to pay my respects to Mother.”
With a sullen expression, she walked away.
After Ji Yunkou had gone some distance, Ji Xianyu whispered, “Early this morning, Concubine Gu let it slip that Father intends to marry Second Sister to a student. Second Sister was unhappy when she heard this and went to the study to make a fuss. Given Father’s temper, he wouldn’t tolerate anyone challenging his decision. She got scolded and beaten. She must be upset right now. She didn’t say anything too upsetting, did she?”
Meanwhile, as Ji Yunkou walked away, her maid Juan’er advised, “Miss, why trouble yourself with the eldest young lady? Now that we’re in Madam’s courtyard, Third Miss is very protective. If things get out of hand, it won’t be good. If Madam hears about it and accuses you of disrespecting the legitimate eldest daughter, and it reaches the Master, we’ll have no grounds to defend ourselves.”
Ji Yunkou snorted lightly, looking back at the corridor where the two sisters were whispering intimately. Ji Xianyu handed “Ji Yuyao” a small box, smiling warmly, displaying a sisterly bond.
Staring at “Ji Yuyao,” Ji Yunkou muttered sarcastically, “What kind of legitimate daughter is she?”
The maid remained silent, assuming Ji Yunkou was mocking the eldest young lady’s position in the family.
But only Ji Yunkou knew that Ji Yuyao wasn’t a true legitimate daughter. She should be the same as herself—no, Ji Yuyao was even less. Her own mother, at least, was a concubine properly brought into the Ji family, but Ji Yuyao…
Ji Yunkou’s eyes filled with contempt.
For years, those around her believed that she tormented Ji Yuyao out of resentment for the disparity between legitimate and illegitimate children. After all, Ji Yuyao’s status as a legitimate daughter was real, and her lack of support was also real.
But that wasn’t the whole truth.
Initially, Ji Yunkou indeed looked down on her weak and easily bullied elder sister. Seeing her live a harder life than herself gave her a sense of satisfaction—what good was being a legitimate daughter? But she kept her distance, fearing the rumored bad luck surrounding Ji Yuyao.
They weren’t close but never went out of her way to trouble her.
Until one day, when Gu Rou, drunk, confided in her Nanny about the hardships of being a concubine, saying:
“Everyone says the Madam is arrogant and difficult, and that Master’s feelings for her have faded. But a legitimate wife is still a legitimate wife. When something happens, his heart always leans towards her. What am I, then? My constant care and warmth mean nothing. They are a real family.”
“You think he truly has feelings for me? Ha! He just can’t get the tenderness and sweet words from Madam Lin. Master is vain, likes being revered as a saint, but Madam Lin knows all his dirty deeds. He has no face in front of her but thinks I don’t know. That’s why he’s willing to talk to me.”
Gu Rou laughed bitterly, “If he were truly a saint, he wouldn’t have done such a thing as leaving the mother and keeping the child. But to be fair, our Madam is indeed generous, taking in a courtesan’s daughter as her own and listening to her call her mother every day. It must be infuriating. Not everyone can be a legitimate wife… Back then, that courtesan was pregnant with twins—”
With a crash, there was a loud noise from outside. Gu Rou sobered up instantly, stopping her words and rushing out to see.
Though Gu Rou didn’t finish, the information was enough to shock Ji Yunkou to her core. Covering her mouth, she stepped over the broken pottery, abandoning her cat and fleeing in panic.
That was when she learned that her elder sister was not a legitimate daughter, but like herself, an illegitimate one. Her birth mother was merely a lowly courtesan, not even worthy of being brought into the family.
Since then, whenever she saw Ji Yuyao, she couldn’t help but compare herself, relishing the superior status she had never experienced before as an illegitimate child. Ji Yunkou greatly enjoyed this feeling, often seeking a sense of presence through Ji Yuyao.
But gradually, jealousy began to grow within her.
Every time Ji Yunkou saw Ji Xianyu being close to Ji Yuyao, speaking affectionately about “my elder sister,” or when the maid distinguished between Ji Yuyao and herself based on their birth statuses, Ji Yunkou couldn’t help but think, they were both concubine-born daughters, so why did Ji Yuyao get to hold the status of a legitimate daughter?
If it weren’t for this status, Ji Xianyu might not be so kind to her.
Even her own mother often worried, saying, “Don’t be fooled by your elder sister’s current situation. She is a legitimate daughter after all. Her future marriage may not be the best, but it won’t be too bad either. As for you…”
It was this jealousy and sense of injustice that fueled her strong animosity towards Ji Yuyao.
Especially now, with the stark contrast in their marriage prospects, the more Ji Yunkou thought about it, the more resentful she became. Her eyes quickly reddened, and tears that streamed down her cheeks burned like fire.
Her maid cautiously urged her, and Ji Yunkou snapped out of her thoughts. She looked down the corridor, but the two figures were no longer there.
Ji Yuluo had already returned to the other courtyard.
Claiming she needed a short rest, she dismissed Biwu and leaned by the window, fiddling with the set of hairpins her grandmother had given her. The golden and pearl-decorated hairpin shimmered in the sunlight, looking quite beautiful.
But there are no free gifts in the world. Even though she wasn’t too concerned with these convoluted thoughts, her intuition told her that what happened yesterday wasn’t a trivial matter.
Ji Yuluo looked up and called softly out the window, “Chaolu.”
At her words, the treetop under the eaves shook, and leaves rustled down. Along with the leaves, a young girl carrying a sword case landed on the ground.
The girl looked about fourteen or fifteen, with her hair tied up high in a ponytail. She had a candy stick in her mouth and bounced over cheerfully, “Miss!”
“What happened yesterday?”
Hearing this, the girl pulled out a notebook from her bosom. The writing on it was crooked, understood only by herself. She flipped through a few pages and said, “Yesterday, Concubine Gu sent someone to the Shenglai Gambling House—”
“Not that,” Ji Yuluo interrupted, “At Shouchun Hall, did anything happen with the old lady, Jiang?”
Chaolu furrowed her brows and flipped through several more pages, seemingly full of trivial matters. She suddenly stopped at one page and said, “There was something, but it happened in the middle of the night. Ji Chongwang received some news and rushed to the palace. This matter alarmed Shouchun Hall, and Jiang even called Lin Chan for a talk. It’s said that Tutor Xu, who teaches the Crown Prince, was imprisoned for treason—apparently, the young prince said something inappropriate, hinting at disrespect for the emperor and a desire for the throne. Upon investigation, it was found to be taught by the tutor.”
“Was the arrest carried out by the Jinyiwei?”
“By Huo Xian?”
Chaolu nodded in affirmation.
Ji Yuluo didn’t need to ask further to understand the situation.
The current emperor trusted the eunuch faction and the Jinyiwei, allowing them to act recklessly and disrupt the court. But the Ji family followed the “upright” path, refusing to associate with such corrupt elements to preserve their reputation. As a result, they had frequently offended these factions, especially Huo Xian.
In recent years, Huo Xian had become increasingly arrogant, relying on imperial favor. Many officials who opposed him were either demoted or killed. Now, even a senior official like Tutor Xu dared to be arrested by him, leaving the remaining officials feeling threatened.
The old lady was indeed astute. On one hand, she wanted to avoid any association with Huo Xian to maintain the Ji family’s integrity. On the other hand, she sought to prepare for an irreversible situation in the future.
Ji Yuluo, who was about to marry into the Huo family, was precisely that escape route.
Her supposedly kind grandmother expected her gratitude for a few trinkets and some sweet words, clearly underestimating her.
Ji Yuluo let out a light chuckle. She was about to dismiss Chaolu when she paused and suddenly asked, “Why did Gu Rou send someone to the gambling house?”
