Despite Jiang Xuening's rebirth, her only advantage lies in her more mature mind compared to her body and the ability to foresee certain future events. Surprisingly, her current situation is worse than it was in her previous life.
She contemplated the matter earnestly.
If, in this life, she could form a connection with Princess Leyang, it would undoubtedly provide an additional layer of protection besides Yan Lin.
However, being a woman, she faced the dilemma of disguising herself as a man. If she made Shen Zhiyi fall in love with her under false pretenses, revealing the truth later might lead to a fate similar to her past life.
Recalling the efforts she expended in her previous life to secure the opportunity for Jiang Xuehui to study with her in the palace, she realized the irony of fate.
On the first day in the palace, she encountered Shen Zhiyi, discovering that the girl she met at the Chongyang Lantern Festival was the younger sister of the current Holy Lord Shen Lang—Shen Zhiyi, the Eldest Princess of Leyang.
The companions chosen for her entry into the palace were all associated with Shen Zhiyi, leading to Jiang Xuening's ill fortune.
Once Shen Zhiyi learned of her true identity, she couldn't accept the mistake she believed she made in infatuation. Consequently, Shen Zhiyi made life difficult for Jiang Xuening, causing conflicts with Yan Lin, who had a history of playing with Shen Zhiyi since childhood.
Shen Zhiyi, blaming Jiang Xuening for the quarrels, intensified her antagonism. Despite the eldest princess lacking real skills in teasing people, the situation felt exceptionally challenging at the time, making Jiang Xuening now view those days with a sense of dullness.
As memories of Shen Zhiyi from her previous life flashed in her mind, Jiang Xuening, holding the pink hibiscus, looked up at Yan Lin. Suddenly, she perceived his youthful nature fully expressed in his unreserved and domineering words.
Upon his arrival, he told her, "I want to take you to see it," instead of the more common "Would you like to see it together?"
Jiang Xuening smiled faintly, feeling a playful urge. She asked him, "The Double Ninth Lantern Festival is on the ninth day of September, but today is only the seventh day. Did you come to see me?"
Yan Linyuan maintained his cool posture, perched on the wall.
As soon as she uttered this, his eyes subtly shifted, and the fingers gripping the sword tightened momentarily. However, after a moment's reflection, he realized there was no need for guilt. He promptly regained his composure, declaring, "I want you, no matter what! I just want to see you, what's wrong with that?"
Lian'er, standing beside Jiang Xuening, was astonished and hastily lowered her head, avoiding a second glance.
Jiang Xuening didn't anticipate his bold and straightforward response. Reflecting on events from her previous life, she fell into a contemplative silence.
Yan Lin expressed dissatisfaction, "Are you coming?"
Jiang Xuening offered a slightly apologetic smile, "Not this time. But if you want to see a lantern festival in the future, come find me, and I'll go with you again."
In truth, she could go out in women's clothing to avoid detection by Princess Leyang. However, dressing as a woman would undoubtedly attract attention and prove inconvenient. She wasn't interested in any lantern festival at all.
Yan Lin frowned, "Why say 'this time'? What's the difference between this time and the next? The lights are different each time. Or is there something special on your Chongyang Day? Can't you go?"
Jiang Xuening considered and found a convenient excuse, "I felt a bit dizzy when I returned this morning, and I want to rest at home for a couple of days."
Yan Lin scrutinized her face.
"Indeed not good."
His Ning Ning possessed a fair complexion distinct from others. Standing beneath the light, her skin resembled translucent jade, inviting a desire to reach out and caress it. Upon returning to the mansion, he changed into a different attire, abandoning the men's clothes he typically wore. The eighteen-year-old girl displayed an already exquisite figure beneath the flower tree. Holding the hibiscus he had picked, she clasped it with her onion-like fingers, resting them on the bright pink petals adorned with red clouds. Lifting her palm-sized face, she gazed up at him, her eyes gentle and clear, radiating a captivating brilliance and tenderness.
Initially, he hadn't paid much attention, but a closer inspection captivated the boy's mind.
He fervently wished for the coronation day to arrive sooner so that he could marry this remarkably attractive girl and shower her with affection.
Yan Lin met her eyes, cleared his throat, shifted away slightly, and remarked, "It's entirely my fault for not grasping the seriousness of it last night and failing to take proper care of you. I advised you to secretly drink several cups, turning into a lazy cat after getting drunk. That's all. Rest at home for a few days, and I'll find out when the next lantern festival is scheduled. I'll make it up to you."
Jiang Xuening was about to respond when an unexpected voice interrupted from a distance, "Alright, I caught you climbing the wall again! Believe it or not, I'll report this to Lord Hou and have him pass judgment! Have you no shame?"
It was Jiang Boyou, who happened to witness the scene as he passed by.
Yan Lin suddenly felt a headache.
Without hesitation, Jiang Boyou approached, his sleeves swaying, seemingly ready to find a long bamboo pole to poke Yan Lin down. "Little Marquis, isn't this going too far? Ning isn't the only girl in my house!"
Yan Lin was perplexed, "But I only see her alone."
Jiang Boyou was so enraged that his beard seemed to bristle. "Regardless, you are forbidden from climbing this wall again. You are a distinguished son of the Marquis Mansion. If you have matters to attend to, use the front door or send your subordinates with a message. The old man won't tolerate you behaving like this. Have some decency!"
Yan Lin and Jiang Boyou had a long history together. With a casual flick of his wrist, Yan Lin twirled his long sword, making a jest without any trepidation. "Master Jiang, don't be angry. Isn't this wall built for people to climb? If it displeases you, you can have the walls of this courtyard raised when you get the chance—perfect for the juniors to practice their skills."
Jiang Boyou was so furious that he couldn't find words.
Nevertheless, Yan Lin observed the advancing time. Although he wished to spend more time with Jiang Xuening, he also felt the need to return home to greet his parents. He turned to her and stated, "I'll be leaving for today. I'll visit you another day."
Jiang Xuening nodded.
Yan Lin placed his hand on the wall, leaped from the hibiscus-covered perch, and disappeared to the other side in the blink of an eye, leaving no trace.
Only a fuming Jiang Boyou remained behind.
Observing this, Jiang Xuening smiled, inexplicably feeling much lighter. She gave a nod of acknowledgment to Jiang Boyou, then turned and headed back to her room.
Muttering to himself, Jiang Boyou grumbled, "What's the matter!"
Upon returning to the house, Tang'er had been waiting for a while. Seeing Jiang Xuening, she reported, "I followed the young lady's orders to find Mr. Zhou just now. When Mr. Zhou heard you were looking for him, he waited outside. However, as you were summoned by your lady and didn't return promptly, Mr. Zhou assumed you were busy. He left a message, mentioning that if it's inconvenient at home, you can find him in Xiejie alley. He didn't dare to neglect the young lady."
It was already dusk, and Jiang Xuening hadn't anticipated meeting Zhou Yinzhi upon her return.
Nevertheless, the other party had left a message.
Considering events from her past life, during this period, Zhou Yinzhi had been striving to catch up with Yan Lin. Most likely, he was eager to see her.
She simply replied, "Understood," planning to find a suitable time to discreetly meet Zhou Yinzhi without attracting attention. Then, she sat down on the table by the window.
As she reached out to serve tea, her eyes fell upon a note placed on the table.
Jiang Xuening arched her eyebrows slightly as she picked up the note. "What's this?"
Earlier, when Tang'er was taken aback and ushered into the room by Lian'er, she had this note in her hand. However, amidst the distractions of Jiang Xuening's bath and tea, she nearly forgot about it. When she noticed it, she quickly explained, "It's a letter from some young ladies at the uncle's residence in Qingyuan. They invite you to visit their house and appreciate chrysanthemums on the day of Chongyang. The letter arrived at our house this morning. I wanted to inform you earlier, but it slipped my mind due to the delay."
"The uncle's mansion in Qingyuan?"
Jiang Xuening's eyelids twitched suddenly.
"The Boyou Mansion in Qingyuan?"
Observing her reaction, Tang'er felt a bit surprised. However, unaware of the reason behind her response, she added, "Yes, it's the You Mansion. Qingyuan Bo's Mansion isn't considered a prominent family in Beijing, and Xijue isn't as illustrious as the Cheng family. While the young lady of the mansion is skilled in cultivating flowers and plants, this invitation coincides with the time when Cheng Guogong's mansion invites guests to appreciate chrysanthemums. Those who receive an invitation from Cheng Guo's mansion in Beijing probably wouldn't consider going to Qingyuan uncle's mansion. Someone mentioned that the invitation from Duke Cheng's mansion has also been sent to our mistress, presumably hoping to bring you along. The lady needn't worry about the invitation from the Duke's mansion."
Not worry?
How could she not worry!
Boyou Mansion in Qingyuan.
The You Fangyin she encountered in her previous life was the concubine's daughter of the uncle's mansion, known for her drastic transformation after falling into the water. She eventually ventured into business and became the wealthiest individual in Jiangning City, a prosperous location in Daqian.
However, the incident of falling into the water this morning coincided precisely with the day when Qingyuan uncle's mansion was celebrating Chongyang Festival by enjoying chrysanthemums!
In other words, the present You Fangyin from Qingyuan Bofu is not the same person as the You Fangyin she encountered in her previous life or the one she hoped to reconnect with in this life.
You Fangyin once mentioned being from a "time travel" origin.
At the time, Jiang Xuening didn't comprehend this fully, understanding only that she came from a distant place where she couldn't return and wasn't from their current realm. However, upon her rebirth, she started to grasp the vague meaning behind You Fangyin's words.
You Fangyin, after all, felt isolated. While others only perceived her deviant and audacious behavior, she alone knew that her essence diverged from those around her.
Perhaps it wasn't an entirely different "world."
In Jiang Xuening's interpretation, the term "world" is something Buddhism often uses, but You Fangyin always seemed to prefer using it as a substitute for the word "realm."
In this moment, as Jiang Xuening gazed at the exquisitely elegant invitation card in her hand, the previous smile on her face gradually faded away.
Yet another choice lay before her.
If You Fangyin arrived in this life as she did in the last one, she might be one of the few who could truly understand her. After all, in her past life, during the period of her house arrest, You Fangyin became a trusted confidant with whom she shared everything. This proved their compatibility. By leveraging You Fangyin's abilities and the foresight gained from her rebirth, the two could collaborate. If they were cautious in the early stages and managed things well, they might stand a chance against Xie Wei.
According to You Fangyin's words—
She would become Jiang Xuening's "golden thigh (finding a powerful protector()."
However, Jiang Xuening was also aware: You Fangyin harbored a deep-seated hatred for this world.
That night, lying beneath the bed curtain with the delicate veil hanging down, she tossed and turned, unable to find sleep for a long time.
Memories from past lives inundated her mind.
Every time she closed her eyes, she seemed to be transported back to the days of being confined in Kunning Palace—playing chess, drinking, engaging in leaf card games, and sharing heartfelt conversations with You Fangyin.
In one moment, she wore a commoner's dress, tossing all collections of classics and histories into the brazier;
In another, she walked barefoot on the ground, humming unfamiliar songs in the cool night;
At times, she became inebriated again, holding a jug, sitting on the window sill, gazing at the full moon beyond the palace wall, immersed in loneliness…
You Fangyin leaned on the couch and said, "Mistress, I come from a distant place. It was a much better era than this. I was outside the game, and you were in the game. I never believed it was wrong for a woman to harbor ambitions. If you wanted to be a queen, you could be a queen, and you haven't done anything harmful. The fault lies not with you, but with this world!"
Raising the wine cup, You Fangyin sneered, "Pathetic, absurd!"
You Fangyin also gestured towards the full moon in the sky, stating, "Others perceive me as a wealthy individual. There's nothing in the world that I can't acquire with money. But I see myself as a destitute soul. A liberated heart is ensnared in a prison, and misfortune cannot be overturned during this time. Ning Ning, you know that in that world, there are friends who miss me, and parents who treat me filially…"
Those words gradually became choked up in Jiang Xuening's dream, and they were imbued with tears.
The night passed without sleep.
When Jiang Xuening rose early the next morning, her eyes were slightly bloodshot, and she grappled with a kind of hesitation even she couldn't fully comprehend.
She truly needed You Fangyin.
Yet, simultaneously, rebirth granted her the chance to alter the fate of her confidant.
Tang'er appeared very concerned upon seeing her appearance.
However, Jiang Xuening only inquired, "Is the invitation from the Qingyuan uncle's residence still here?"
Tang'er cautiously replied, "It's still here. Are you planning to attend?"
Jiang Xuening blinked, and after a prolonged silence, she uttered, "Yes."
Always attending.
But after attending, what should she do?
She didn't know.