Chapter 7 The Will of a Young Girl The meaning of "young girl" is unyielding pride...

Jiang Yingyun squatted on the ground, drawing circles with a twig she had picked up, making a rustling sound as it scraped across the sand and gravel.

Le Jin squatted down shoulder to shoulder with her, holding a food box, and took out a pastry from it, handing it to her. "Here, this is a new pastry made in the manor today. They've been skimping on your rations; you haven't had anything to eat, you must be starving."

Jiang Yingyun's lips twitched, but she sighed softly and shook her head in refusal.

She's in a terrible mood right now and has no appetite at all.

However, what she didn't know was that Le Jin beside her was silently admiring her and giving her two thumbs up.

A few days ago, when she saw what happened, Le Jin was so disgusted that she didn't eat dinner; Jiang Yingyun, however, was able to calm down quickly after witnessing it and thought of reporting it to the authorities.

As expected of the female lead in the book, her initiative is exceptional.

Jiang Yingyun's bedding consisted of just a few pieces of cloth pieced together. She had only been here for a few days, and her nose was already sniffling.

Yuan Jingming said that she could tell him if she needed anything, but Jiang Yingyun was at an age where she was very proud and stubbornly endured it.

"The girls who were driven to this Yuyang Nunnery were all girls whose families could not accept them."

"Take me for example. Although my father was a high-ranking official in Beijing, my mother was just a concubine who was bought. I was only five years old when she died."

"On the surface, I'm a young lady, but in reality, I'm no different from a maid. Anyone in the family can step on me."

She turned her head to look at Le Jin, "But should we just live a muddled, lowly life?"

The branch snapped as she touched the ground, and the girl's voice held a resolute tone.

This morning, she discovered the shady dealings of Yuyang Nunnery in front of Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva—ostensibly a place for daughters to cultivate themselves, but in reality, it was a haven for bandits in the mountains behind the temple.

"I don't believe it!"

"I refuse to be a prostitute! I refuse to be complicit in such depravity! I refuse to stand by and watch them unknowingly ruin themselves!"

pretty!

This is why Le Jin fell in love with Jiang Yingyun while reading the book.

The meaning of "young girl" is to have a proud and unyielding spirit, and never bow down.

The soft sunlight was divided into small golden nuggets by the swaying branches and leaves, sprinkling all over Le Jin and Jiang Yingyun.

Le Jin wished that Jiang Yingyun would turn the world upside down, cause a ruckus in the Heavenly Palace, and win a round of applause.

But reality is not that easy.

Even if she works hard to prove her abilities, the boss might choose someone else because he doesn't want to take the risk of her being a minor.

There are too many things they can't control.

“Miss Jiang, I know you have ambition, but…” Le Jin handed her the snacks again.

He took her hand and placed it in her palm.

"Once you leave this Jade Willow Nunnery, will you and those girls who have become prostitutes have a place to stand?"

The two looked at each other, their understanding unspoken.

"When you found out, you tried your best to persuade them, but you only gained a lot of resentment, didn't you?"

Jiang Yingyun nodded, looking aggrieved.

"It's not their fault."

"When people are living a very difficult life, they can't be human anymore and don't want to be human. Grand principles like self-respect and self-love are so hypocritical to them that they can't touch or see them."

Jiang Yingyun rubbed her sore eyes and looked intently at the little eunuch beside her who was speaking softly.

She has broad eyebrows, big eyes, a thin nose, thick lips, and a few small pimples on her skin.

It looks so ordinary, yet at this moment it feels as warm and gentle as spring.

For a moment, Jiang Yingyun felt as if this person was her mirror, reflecting her heart.

"What should I do?" she asked her mirror.

This is the perfect opportunity. Tell Jiang Yingyun to go and seek refuge with Yuan Jingming. He loves you, and if you marry him, he will protect you for life.

The mission was completed perfectly, and San Niu got the money she needed.

Le Jin's heart was bubbling with anticipation.

However, the moment the bubble flew out of my heart, before it was even free, it had already shattered into a thin mist and drifted away.

Did Yuan Jingming fall in love with Jiang Si at this time? Did Jiang Yingyun fall in love with the Crown Prince at this time?

No.

Why force immature people into the trap called "love" and prevent them from experiencing and understanding it?

Trying to force seedlings to grow too fast will only damage them. Le Jin, a girl raised in a rural family, would never do such a thing.

In a very short time, she made a solemn decision:

The matchmaking between Yuan and Jiang was postponed.

Anyway, the system said the money could be cashed out at any specified real-world time, so she didn't need to rush. She could spend a few more years with them, accompanying them until they were old enough to truly express their love.

Le Jin smiled, revealing a row of bright white teeth, and told Jiang Yingyun the answer: "Make yourself stronger."

She showed her hands, spreading her fingers and then clenching them.

"Support yourself with your own hands. Although it's hard work to be self-reliant, believe me—"

You'll like it.

Jiang Yingyun clenched her fists like Le Jin, her gaze darting back and forth between her fists, muttering to herself, "Earn your own living... Get out of here..."

——

This year, May 9th is Meng Shutai's seventeenth birthday.

Everyone in Luoyang envies them, saying, "The Meng family's officials are like pearls made of pebbles and gold bricks; even the Tai Sui spirit pearl is worthless."

As the announcer's high-pitched voice soared into the sky like smoke from cooking fires, loads of rare and precious treasures swam in like dragons. The people in the Meng household, however, remained haughty and unconcerned, paying no attention or concern.

But Le Jin was so envious that she was practically out of her mind, and she cried out in her heart: You may not like it, but I do!

Driven by wickedness, she anxiously considered the possibility of grabbing a handful of gems and stuffing them into her pocket without being beaten to death.

But the next second, this absurd idea was completely shattered.

She followed Yuan Jingming up the winding corridor leading to Zhenyuan, where Meng Shutai lived. Hundreds of lotus-shaped jade lanterns lit up in the twilight, reflecting on the pond like scattered crystals, shining brightly from top to bottom, as if people were walking in the Milky Way.

Le Jin was overwhelmed with excitement—

She's stopped stealing; she's changing jobs...

After passing through the twelve silk screens, one enters the Zhenyuan Garden of Mengshu Terrace. Today, a colorful embroidered stage has been erected in the center of the garden, with flowers in full bloom and silk decorations fluttering in the wind.

After entertaining guests in the front courtyard of Mengshu Terrace, he would always return to his own garden to host another banquet for close relatives and friends. In the face of social interactions and formalities, private joy could never be fully enjoyed.

He didn't usually like the clanging of gongs, but recently his younger brother Cizhang had become fascinated with lively operas with all the banging and clanging. So, on his birthday, he invited a famous opera troupe from Luoyang to give the children a treat.

After hearing Yuan Jingming's explanation, when Le Jin looked at the stage again, her previous envy suddenly turned into tears.

Is this what a happy and fulfilling family looks like?

A pang of sadness gripped her heart, and her fingertips tingled. The timidity of the poor before the rich haunted her like a ghost, making her feel even more insignificant, almost transparent.

"Where's Shutai? I can't find him... Hey kid, where's your brother?"

Yuan Jingming had been punished with thirty strokes of the cane by Prince Pingning himself for fighting in the temple that day. He couldn't even sit down, so he had to kneel on one knee on the chair, cross his arms on the back of the chair, and crane his neck to ask the little boy in front of him a question.

The boy appeared to be around twelve years old, with a slightly chubby face. His hair was styled in a small braid, adorned with an elegant pearl crown, and he wore a pale yellow brocade robe with narrow sleeves and butterflies embroidered on it. He was both handsome and wealthy.

On the table was a small wicker birdcage, inside which a little sparrow fluttered about. The boy was busy feeding and watering it, bending over and standing sideways by the table, not even giving Yuan Jingming a proper look.

“My brother is at the Banana Tree and Cool Stone. He said he was afraid the opera would give him a headache and he wanted to be alone for a while.”

Yuan Jingming chuckled and tapped Meng Cizhang on the head. The little boy let out a blank "Ah."

"Alright, thanks." He got up and was about to go find Meng Shutai when the guards from the Prince's Palace who were holding swords immediately moved aside to block his way.

Prince Pingning completely forbade Yuan Jingming from associating with Jiang Yingyun. Since "Jiu'an" was useless, the old man specially assigned a guard to monitor and restrain his son.

Yuan Jingming looked displeased, his handsome brows furrowed in a cold expression. "What do you mean? You want to control this too?"

The guard bowed and replied, "Please forgive me, Your Highness. His Highness's intention is not to allow you to meet with anyone alone, to prevent anyone with ulterior motives from instigating you, and it is not directed at Young Master Meng."

That's just targeting him!

Yuan Jingming gritted his teeth and rolled his eyes in anger. He exchanged glances with Le Jin and gestured with his chin to show her the way.

"Fine, I won't go. How about Jiu'an goes to invite Shutai instead?"

Seeing that the young master was already angry, the guard realized that he could not push him any further, so he relented and took a step back.

Le Jin ran towards Meng Shutai's location, the hard object in her arms digging into her ribs, causing her some pain.

According to the timeline, banditry is imminent. Jiang Yingyun has once again exposed the sordid affairs of the nunnery, incurring the wrath of several troublemakers, and the situation is far from dire.

To leave Yuyang Nunnery, one still needs to rely on Mengshutai.

Le Jin silently bowed to Meng Shutai in her heart.

The kindest man in the world, Mr. Meng, please help me out again! I promise I'll do anything to repay you!

A note from the author:

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Two bitter gourds will become sweet if they stay together!