Chapter 4 First Meeting, Thank You, Young Master
Jiang Zhiyao lay in bed, recalling the day she first met Yan Zhenxi.
It was a banquet held at the Yan residence, and Ji Wanqing brought Jiang Zhiyao to attend.
That was also Jiang Zhiyao's first time attending a banquet. Although she didn't show it on the surface, she was still looking forward to it.
Because Sister Ji said that not only would there be many delicious and beautiful dishes at the banquet, but you might also be able to make new friends.
Jiang Zhiyao changed into her favorite clothes, and Nanzhi helped her put her hair up in an elegant updo.
Ji Wanqing took Jiang Zhiyao to the banquet alone.
Jiang Zhiyao thought that all the noble ladies in the capital must be as gentle as Sister Ji.
At the banquet, Jiang Zhiyao saw many beautiful girls, and Ji Wanqing was surrounded by them as soon as she entered.
Jiang Zhiyao was pushed aside.
She stared longingly at Ji Wanqing; at this unfamiliar banquet, she only knew Sister Ji.
Ji Wanqing frowned slightly, took Jiang Zhiyao over, and introduced her to everyone: "This is my younger sister, Jiang Zhiyao."
People who had previously ignored her started smiling and greeting Jiang Zhiyao.
"Oh, Wanqing, your little sister is so cute."
Jiang Zhiyao looked at the bright and beautiful older sister in front of her who praised her for being cute, her cheeks flushed slightly, and she lowered her head slightly.
Throughout the banquet, everyone chatted warmly with Ji Wanqing.
Watching Ji Wanqing handle things so calmly, Jiang Zhiyao thought that Sister Ji was really amazing.
Especially after Ji Wanqing composed a poem, which was met with applause from everyone.
Unlike the gentle Sister Ji in the mansion, Sister Ji in the crowd seemed to be shining.
Ji Wanqing would occasionally pull Jiang Zhiyao into the conversation and take care of her, but Jiang Zhiyao wasn't good at chatting, so in the latter half of the banquet, Ji Wanqing noticed her discomfort.
Ji Wanqing told Jiang Zhiyao that if she didn't like crowds, she could go somewhere else.
Jiang Zhiyao certainly didn't want to stay in crowded places any longer. After Ji Wanqing told her which places she couldn't go, Jiang Zhiyao left alone.
The Yan residence was really big, and the flowers in the garden were all very beautiful. Although Jiang Zhiyao didn't recognize the varieties of those flowers, she liked them very much.
After wandering around for a short while, we came to a pool.
The lotus flowers in the pond are all in bloom, a large expanse of them, which is quite beautiful. There are artificial hills and some tall trees by the pond, and a gentle breeze makes it very refreshing.
Jiang Zhiyao planned to stay here for a while and go back to find Sister Ji when the banquet was almost over.
About fifteen minutes later, Jiang Zhiyao heard some noises not far away.
She looked up and saw a group of noble ladies from the banquet earlier.
They seemed to be strolling together. Jiang Zhiyao looked around for a while but didn't see Sister Ji, and felt a little disappointed.
The one leading the group was the older sister who had just praised her for being cute; Jiang Zhiyao remembered that her name was Chen Lianxin.
Jiang Zhiyao greeted them first: "Hello, sisters."
"Oh, you are..." Chen Lianxin couldn't quite remember.
The person behind her reminded her, "This is Ji Wanqing's younger sister who came today."
"It's you." Chen Lianxin frowned, her attitude suddenly turning hostile. "Is she one of her poor relatives who came to stay with her?"
Jiang Zhiyao stood there, somewhat bewildered.
Chen Lianxin scoffed, "What a simpleton."
"How come your sister is so smart, clever, and quick-witted?" The tone was full of displeasure.
"Don't be angry, Sister Chen. Ji Wanqing is just pretending to be aloof. Although she has the title of a talented woman, she is just a young lady from a minister's family. How can she compare to Sister Chen?" the person behind her flattered.
He secretly scoffed, thinking that it was just a matter of being born into a good family like the Duke's mansion.
Despite his noble status, he was empty-headed and easily tricked by others, readily believing a few words of flattery.
Chen Lian raised her eyebrows smugly: "That's right, what is Ji Wanqing doing? I don't know who she's trying to impress with that act every day."
Even if Jiang Zhiyao was slow to notice, she could still sense their malice towards Ji Wanqing.
Jiang Zhiyao, who never argues with others, spoke up, her tone somewhat harsh: "Why do you talk about Sister Ji like that?"
"Hmm?" As if she hadn't expected Jiang Zhiyao to talk back, Chen Lianxin sneered, "What, you're defending Ji Wanqing now?"
"Someone with no status dares to talk back to me?"
"Anyway, Sister Ji is much better than you. You can't say that about Sister Ji." Jiang Zhiyao, who was usually timid, didn't know where she got the courage, but she dared to refute Chen Lianxin's words again and again.
In her eyes, Ji Wanqing, who was kind to her, was far better than this two-faced person in front of her.
Chen Lianxin was furious. One after another, they said she was not as good as Ji Wanqing. She could not deal with others, but could she not punish a cousin from the Minister's mansion?
She gave a look to the maid beside her, who immediately understood what Chen Lianxin meant.
He stepped forward and was about to push Jiang Zhiyao into the lotus pond.
The pool was surrounded by irregular stones, and Jiang Zhiyao couldn't dodge in time, and she was about to be pushed into the pool.
Suddenly, a small pebble flew from the air and struck the wrist of the hand that the maid was extending towards Jiang Zhiyao.
The maidservant winced in pain, and her hand fell limp.
“Bullying others is not the behavior of a noble lady.” A gentle voice came from beside her.
Jiang Zhiyao looked over subconsciously.
The newcomer was tall and slender, dressed in a sky-blue brocade robe. He was handsome, with a pair of almond-shaped eyes that were as gentle as jade and light red lips. He was very good-looking.
She possesses a refined and elegant temperament, and is gentle and graceful.
The usually arrogant Chen Lianxin suddenly panicked: "Young Master Yan..."
Yan Zhenxi was the dream lover of all the women in the capital, and Chen Lianxin was no exception. Now that he had seen her arrogant behavior, Chen Lianxin felt dizzy and wished she could run away right now.
"The Yan residence is not a place where you can bully others at will. If you continue like this, I'm afraid the Yan residence will no longer invite you."
"I'm sorry, Young Master Yan..." Chen Lianxin looked extremely ashamed.
Yan Zhenxi spoke, his voice gentle yet carrying an undeniable air: "You should apologize to this young lady."
Chen Lianxin looked at Jiang Zhiyao reluctantly, said "I'm sorry" awkwardly, and then, as if she had lost face, immediately left with her girlfriends.
Jiang Zhiyao looked at Yan Zhenxi with some gratitude: "Thank you, young master."
"It's alright." After saying that, Yan Zhenxi left with the servant behind him.
Jiang Zhiyao watched Yan Zhenxi leave, and only came back to her senses after his figure disappeared.
So there are people who look like immortals.
She also has a pleasant, fresh scent.
She had always thought that Sister Ji was the most beautiful woman she had ever seen, but she never expected that someone would be even more beautiful than Sister Ji.
Jiang Zhiyao returned to Ji Wanqing's side, somewhat absent-minded.
After returning to the Ji residence, Ji Wanqing asked Jiang Zhiyao if she had had fun.
Jiang Zhiyao thought about it carefully: "The food at the banquet was delicious."
Each dish is exquisite, and while exquisite, it is also full of flavor.
Ji Wanqing smiled faintly: "Have you made any friends?"
Jiang Zhiyao lowered her eyes and pursed her lips slightly: "Sister Ji, I don't like that sister surnamed Chen."
“Chen Lianxin,” Ji Wanqing said with a smile, “which is perfect, I don’t like her either.”
Ji Wanqing gently patted Jiang Zhiyao's head: "Then next time we go, we won't talk to her."
“Okay.” Jiang Zhiyao’s eyes lit up.
There were often banquets afterwards, and Ji Wanqing would always take Jiang Zhiyao to attend them.
Jiang Zhiyao always clung to Ji Wanqing at every banquet, making others laugh at her for having a little tail following her around.
Every time Ji Wanqing heard this, she would laugh and say, "You're just envious that I have such a cute little sister."
She never thought Jiang Zhiyao was a burden, and always felt that her younger sister was too sensible.
When Jiang Zhiyao first arrived at the mansion, no one paid much attention to her; they simply gave her a courtyard.
It wasn't until that day, when Ji Wanqing accidentally saw servants bullying Jiang Zhiyao, that she followed them to Jiang Zhiyao's courtyard and discovered how mistreated the servants were.
The yard was overgrown with weeds, and the house was extremely shabby. Many pieces of furniture and other items had been embezzled by those people.
Seeing Jiang Zhiyao as thin and timid as when she entered the manor, Ji Wanqing felt guilty, feeling that she had let things turn out this way.
Therefore, Ji Wanqing always tried her best to treat Jiang Zhiyao well. Moreover, Jiang Zhiyao was really lovable, so Ji Wanqing grew to like this younger sister more and more.
But Jiang Zhiyao didn't feel anything about that period. She was already very grateful that the Ji family had taken her in and given her a place to stay. Besides, the bullying she suffered from the servants in the Ji family was nothing compared to what she had suffered before. It was just some verbal abuse and deduction of her allowance.
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Jiang Zhiyao met Cheng Mingzhu at a banquet. At first, Jiang Zhiyao didn't like her because Cheng Mingzhu always argued with Ji Wanqing at the banquet.
But later Jiang Zhiyao discovered that Cheng Mingzhu, who was clear about her likes and dislikes, was much better than Chen Lianxin, who was two-faced.
Once, Cheng Mingzhu sat next to Jiang Zhiyao and handed her a plate of grapes, saying, "I saw you like them, so here you go."
Jiang Zhiyao was somewhat surprised. She looked up slightly at Cheng Mingzhu and noticed the faint redness at the base of her ears.
"Thank you." Jiang Zhiyao's almond-shaped eyes curved slightly.
It seems like she's about to make a friend.
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Although men and women sat at separate tables at the banquet, Jiang Zhiyao could still catch glimpses of Yan Zhenxi from time to time.
Even if Jiang Zhiyao didn't pay special attention, she could often hear about the exceptionally talented young noblemen in the capital from other people.
His poems and essays once again amazed the capital; at a young age, he won the top score in the imperial examination on his first attempt; his proposals were appreciated by the emperor; and he became the youngest fourth-rank official in the court.
Aside from that one time he helped her, Jiang Zhiyao could only watch him from afar.
Although she liked Yan Zhenxi, Jiang Zhiyao would not reveal it at all, nor would she let others know, because she knew that she probably would never have any interaction with him in the future.
As for Nan Zhi, Jiang Zhiyao never intended to hide it from her, so Nan Zhi always knew.
But perhaps it wasn't hidden well at first, and Sister Ji noticed it.
Ji Wanqing told Jiang Zhiyao that she should try to win over the person she liked, but Jiang Zhiyao didn't dare to do that.
What about her family background, appearance, or talent could possibly make him look at her?
Jiang Zhiyao was already very content to be able to catch a glimpse of him from afar.
She never imagined that even the most beautiful flower on a high mountain would fall from grace, and that Yan Zhenxi would go blind.
Jiang Zhiyao was heartbroken for a long time because of this, feeling that fate was truly cruel.
Upon hearing the imperial decree bestowing marriage upon her, Jiang Zhiyao made the boldest decision of her life.
Although Jiang Zhiyao wanted to spend more time with Yan Zhenxi after marrying into the family, she was afraid that Yan Zhenxi would dislike it, so she basically never took the initiative to go to him.
In the past, Yan Zhenxi could marry any woman he wanted, but now he has married her. Although he doesn't show it on the surface, he must be dissatisfied.
But judging from Yan Zhenxi's attitude in the study today, he probably doesn't dislike her that much.
As Jiang Zhiyao thought this, sleepiness gradually crept in, and she drifted off to sleep under the moonlight.
A note from the author:
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