The dawn was just breaking, and the morning dew was glistening in the rising sun.
It was a new day, with gentle winds and warm sunshine. It was a lovely day.
Jiang Sihe sat in front of the bronze mirror and unwrapped the white cloth on her forehead. The wound was right in the middle of her forehead. She scrutinized it carefully in the mirror for a moment, then picked up a black eyebrow pencil and drew a plum blossom hairpin on the wound.
The First Lady loved plum blossoms.
She got up and took out a pink narrow - sleeved ruqun and a sky - blue straight - collar wide - sleeved shirt from the wardrobe. This was her finest outfit, but her stepmother always said it was too gaudy and wouldn't let her wear it.
She took after her father in appearance. Her father was the third - place finisher in the spring imperial examination that year. The Minister's Mansion took a fancy to his talent and good looks, so they married their second legitimate daughter, the First Lady, to him and helped him rise rapidly in his official career.
With her rather bright looks, the pink color suited her even better, but her stepmother always made her wear plain clothes.
In the bronze mirror, she had double - looped buns with sky - blue ribbons that hung down to her collarbone. Her bright eyes were full of a young girl's charm and liveliness.
"Sister, are you done? The mansion's carriage is here to pick us up."
Jiang Jingshu softly called from outside.
The bronze mirror was placed on the table by her slender fingers. Jiang Sihe got up and walked out.
As soon as the door opened, Jiang Jingshu looked a bit surprised.
"Why are you wearing peach - pink, sister? Stepmother dislikes you wearing bright colors the most. It seems like you're trying to show off. Sister, go and change it!"
"Do you mean for me to wear the coarse cloth clothes I usually wear for doing chores?"
Jiang Jingshu was momentarily at a loss for words. There were no servants in their courtyard, and all the dirty and tiring work was done by her sister. So when the mansion rewarded them with better fabrics, their stepmother would make clothes for her first and then for herself.
As for her sister, since she had to do rough work anyway, their stepmother would use some coarse cloth to make clothes for her. In fact, it was also convenient for her to do work.
"Then how about you wear my clothes, sister?"
Jiang Jingshu thought her sister was too eye - catching today, and their stepmother would surely dislike it.
"I'm taller than you, sister. Your clothes won't fit me!"
Not bothering to waste any more words with Jiang Jingshu, she quickly got into the carriage. Sure enough, when her stepmother saw her, a hint of disdain flashed in her eyes.
But due to the servants from the mansion in the carriage, she secretly suppressed her dissatisfaction.
When they arrived at the mansion gate and got off the carriage, her stepmother couldn't help but speak again.
"Today is your father's birthday. Don't lose the dignity and grace of a young lady from the Jiang Mansion..."
Jiang Jingshu nodded obediently. "Stepmother, daughter understands!"
Not hearing Jiang Sihe's reply, her stepmother looked at her, her eyebrows sinking. "Did you hear me? Behave yourself. Don't always be so petty and disgrace us..."
"Yes, stepmother!"
Behave? Whoever wants to behave can do so. She must win the favor of the First Lady today.
Following her stepmother into the mansion through the side gate, Jiang Sihe couldn't help but sneer in her heart.
Her stepmother always said that her father favored her the most. He didn't take them into the mansion because he was afraid that the First Lady was narrow - minded and might do something to harm them. But now, letting her enter through the most remote side gate. Was this the so - called favor her stepmother talked about?
Moreover, their father didn't even remember them for this birthday banquet. It was the First Lady who took pity on them and sent someone to pick them up.
Her stepmother still thought it was her father's intention. How ridiculous!
Hiding the coldness in her eyes, she recalled the flower hall where Jiang Jingshu had saved the First Lady after she went back that year.
The flower hall in the mansion was covered with a layer of glazed tiles, but she didn't know exactly where the tile had fallen off.
She remembered Jiang Jingshu saying that after the birthday banquet, the First Lady called her and their stepmother to the flower hall for a conversation. Just then, the glazed tile happened to fall down.
Jiang Jingshu pushed the First Lady away, and the glazed tile hit her arm. She got injured, while the First Lady was safe and sound. Therefore, the First Lady regarded her as a lucky star and wanted to adopt her.
She thought about it carefully and reckoned that the position should be at the entrance of the flower hall. But to ensure everything went smoothly, she must go near the flower hall during the banquet to check.
The maids in the mansion led them to the banquet area, and they were arranged in the outermost corner.
Being treated so coldly, but her stepmother still looked calm and composed.
"Your father must be afraid that if we come back, we'll outshine the First Lady and make her resent us. That's why he made such an arrangement. He still misses me in his heart. Look, there are all my favorite pastries on this table!"
Jiang Sihe glanced at the other tables. There were the same pastries. Her stepmother was really good at deceiving herself.
Not wanting to listen to her stepmother's self - comforting words anymore, she turned her head to look at the guests at the banquet.
There was a young gentleman sitting in the upper seat. He had a tall and straight figure and was extremely good - looking.
"For the Grand Tutor Pei to come today really adds luster to the Jiang Mansion!"
Jiang Sihe saw her father holding a wine cup and walking up to the young gentleman personally, toasting him obsequiously.
But that young gentleman, as bright as the moon, didn't even get up. He just slightly waved his hand and said five words: "Pei doesn't drink."
Her father smiled awkwardly. "Then Grand Tutor Pei, have some tea, have some tea..."
"Is he Pei Yanchao, who passed all three levels of the imperial examination in a row and was personally appointed as the Crown Prince's Grand Tutor by the Emperor?"
"Yes. He was selected as the Crown Prince's study companion when he was twelve. Later, he passed all three levels of the imperial examination in a row. The former Crown Prince, who is now the Emperor, values him highly. He has achieved so much at such a young age. In a few years, he may even enter the cabinet..."
Jiang Sihe heard a few guests in front whispering. Only then did she know that this young gentleman, as elegant as an orchid tree, was actually Pei Yanchao, who would soon hold great power in the court!
At first, people praised him for his gentle and elegant demeanor, his clear and handsome appearance, like a gentle breeze and a bright moon, as elegant as an orchid tree in the courtyard.
Later, people avoided him like the plague and were all afraid of him!
Because he was extremely cold - hearted and ruthless. She remembered that at that time, he should have been the deputy minister of the Ministry of Justice. It was the age for him to get engaged. He had an arranged marriage. When the bride - to - be sent the dowry list to his mansion, he just took one look at it, discovered embezzled and stolen goods from it, and directly ordered the raid of the entire mansion.
There was also the second time he was going to get engaged... When he went to the bride - to - be's house for a visit, he actually found a corpse in their back garden, which led to a murder case in the inner courtyard. The whole family of this house was exiled.
After that, even though the noble ladies in the capital were very fond of this handsome young gentleman, they didn't dare to discuss marriage with him anymore.
Jiang Sihe withdrew her gaze and silently thought in her heart that it would be better to have no contact with such a cold - hearted person in the future.
Seizing the opportunity, Jiang Sihe covered her stomach, frowned, and whispered.
"Stepmother, I have a stomachache. I want to go to the toilet..."
Her stepmother looked at her disdainfully. "I just warned you not to be so petty and greedy for those fruits. You just wouldn't listen. The dance performance is about to start. If you miss the time... Forget it. Go quickly and come back quickly!" Jiang Sihe nodded and then trotted out from the back, holding up her skirt.
The banquet was on the north side of the flower hall. She walked around the small path and hid in the high - lying bushes. She took a distant look at the glazed tile and secretly memorized it.
The time was limited, so she didn't dare to stay any longer. When she trotted back and was about to enter through the moon gate, she bumped into someone head - on.
She quickly apologized. "I'm sorry..."
Looking up, she found that it was actually Pei Yanchao, the person she had silently decided to keep a distance from just now.
She wondered if her father had embezzled anything, or if there was a corpse in the inner courtyard of the Jiang Mansion?
Would he hold a grudge? Would the Jiang Mansion be raided and exiled by him?