No ordinary person could endure Princess Leyang's boastful monologue, which blatantly ignored the facts, especially for someone like Jiang Xuening, haunted by a psychological shadow from her previous life.
Fortunately, this unbearable situation was short-lived.
After a brief period of sitting, a messenger from the palace sought out Shen Zhiyi, stating that the Empress Dowager wished to engage in conversation to alleviate boredom. Shen Zhiyi had no choice but to depart reluctantly.
Before leaving, she grasped Jiang Xuening's hand and conveyed, "In any case, this princess is fond of you. If there's anything you need in the palace in the coming days, just inform the maids at Yang Zhizhai, and they will report to me. If the queen mother looks for you, I'll inform you immediately, and I'll come to visit you tomorrow."
Jiang Xuening breathed a sigh of relief and watched Shen Zhiyi depart.
The day concluded when she "barely" completed her lesson in court etiquette with Su Shangyi, who exerted great effort and displayed remarkable patience—
There was no way.
Pretending was too exhausting, and recalling Shen Zhiyi's nonchalant attitude towards her progress, even stating "it doesn't matter if you don't succeed in learning," she questioned the purpose of her charade.
If one plan failed, another had to be devised.
However, she couldn't allow others to detect any clues. Thus, she persisted until late into the night, gradually appearing as though she had been steadily instructed by Su Shangyi. Her movements began to flow seamlessly, eventually meeting Su Shangyi's stringent standards.
In a rare expression of relief, Su Shangyi glanced at her and addressed the crowd, "It can be observed that talent deficiency doesn't matter. There's an ancient saying, 'Stupid birds fly first,' and 'Diligence can make up for clumsiness.' As long as you are willing to put in the effort, many challenges in the world can be overcome. Miss Jiang Er did remarkably well today. Take her as a role model."
Jiang Xuening: "…"
Others secretly scoffed that if this could serve as a "role model," no one should enter the palace. Yet, they collectively chimed, "Yes, thanks to Su Shangyi for pointing it out."
Only then did Su Shangyi dismiss the gathering, departing with the three female officers from the Shangyi Bureau.
Amidst the late autumn weather, Jiang Xuening was drenched in sweat. Seeing others leaving, she didn't bother with farewells and promptly returned to her room, instructing the maids of Yang Zhizhai to prepare a fragrant bath for her.
Others lagged behind.
Chen Shuyi and Yao Xi, the daughter of Chen Yunjin, a cabinet scholar, strolled beside Xiao Shu.
After observing Yao Xi deep in thought, Xiao Shu's gaze flickered slightly as she nonchalantly remarked to Chen Shuyi, "Though I haven't interacted much with Her Highness, the Eldest Princess, it's rare to see her show such kindness to anyone. The second daughter of the Jiang family merely applied makeup for her, so why would the princess treat her with such favor?"
Chen Shuyi, unaware of the events at Qingyuan uncle's house, naturally had no knowledge of the situation. However, Xiao Shu had been present throughout.
She held an exquisite incense fan in her hand, gracefully lowering her eyebrows and eyes while wearing a casual smile—not the slightest hint of shyness like Chen Shuyi. "Certainly, it's not just about applying makeup; what truly matters are the words spoken then. Such words, Shuyi, you and I will never utter in this lifetime."
Chen Shuyi pondered these words.
As everyone gathered for the first time on such an occasion, marking their initial day in the palace, the group had already washed up and shared a meal. They convened in the flowing water pavilion to read and enjoy tea.
Jiang Xuening, however, displayed no interest whatsoever.
In their past lives, the conversations revolved around mundane topics and were rather uninspiring—centered around fragrances and vanity. But now, everyone found her fascinating.
Why? Because of her closer association with Princess Leyang.
People observed her during today's etiquette lesson. Despite thinking she had used her connections excessively, they couldn't deny the friendliness directed her way, even from You Yue, who had previously harbored hostile eyes but now managed a forced smile.
Thus, Fang Miao and others drew her into their circle.
Seated at a round table were six or seven people, while the remaining individuals occupied scattered spots by the window, engaging in conversations and occasionally indulging in candied and dried fruits from a prepared plate.
Zhou Baoying was engrossed in her food, oblivious to her surroundings.
Contrastingly, Xiao Shu seemed to regard Jiang Xuening with distinct interest. Upon seeing her enter, she nodded in greeting and remarked, "Sister Jiang's family has truly made quite a splash today."
Jiang Xuening, exhausted, managed a faint smile, appearing awkward as if unsure how to respond. "Sister Xiao, you jest," she replied.
Observing Jiang's reluctance to engage in deeper conversation, Xiao Shu turned her attention elsewhere.
The general sentiment among everyone was frustration with the today's female officer.
Yao Rongrong, sitting timidly in a corner, flushed red and admitted, "I never learned these things as a child, and I'm too slow to catch on. Fortunately, the Jiang family has a sister similar to me. Otherwise, I wouldn't know what to do today…"
A moment of silence gripped the room at her unexpected confession.
Whether one deemed her naive or exceedingly so, everyone wondered why she'd vocalize such thoughts.
You Yue, discreetly munching on melon seeds, expressed subtle interest, her eyes revealing a fascination with the unfolding drama.
Yao Rongrong, realizing her mistake after a brief pause, recalled Jiang Xuening's encounter with the princess earlier and apologized, "I, I didn't mean to say that…"
Jiang Xuening, far from angered, merely felt sympathy. She hadn't interacted much with Yao Rongrong in her past life and had no intention of embarrassing her. With a casual smile, she reassured, "It's alright. I struggled with it too at first, and learning it well is genuinely challenging. Su Shangyi is just too diligent in his teachings. Do you want to learn? It's quite the ordeal."
Fan Yilan, with a kind demeanor, had initially been engrossed in a book of poems. Witnessing Yao Rongrong's distress, she intervened, "It seems you'll need a couple of days to grasp palace etiquette. In the beginning, they mentioned a three-day stay for newcomers. On the last day, gentlemen will pose questions to test our knowledge, determining the depth of our understanding. I wonder which gentleman will conduct the examination…"
"Thank you, Ju'an."
Jiang Xuening scoffed inwardly.
As expected, even the usually reserved Chen Shuyi responded, "It must be Mr. Xie, the young master. He's currently leading the sutra banquet lectures in the palace and is quite knowledgeable. This time, he'll be instructing us in qin again. Upon entering the palace, my father emphasized the difference from studying with the princess. Besides learning etiquette, one must also align with the studies. It's fine to excel, but if one falls short, arranging lectures alongside the princess becomes challenging. Speaking too deeply may be incomprehensible, and speaking too slowly may inconvenience Her Royal Highness. Hence, the third-day exam is crucial for selecting suitable individuals. If it doesn't go well, we may be advised to leave."
— This marked Jiang Xuening's second plan.
Given the changes with Su Shangyi and Princess Leyang, mastering etiquette appeared manageable even if she feigned incompetence. Consequently, the prospect of being persuaded to leave the palace due to an inability to grasp etiquette was entirely eliminated.
However, dealing with Xie Wei was a different challenge!
If she could breach her own boundaries during the third-day exam—submitting blank papers or writing arbitrary sentences, inevitably offending Xie Wei or other gentlemen with unwavering standards—she would likely be persuaded to return to the palace due to inadequate knowledge. That would be a sealed deal.
The mention of Xie Wei sparked excitement among the aristocratic ladies.
One of them exclaimed, "Could it be that Mr. Xie is coming in person?"
You Yue teased, "Why the blush?"
Chen Shuyi playfully spat at her, covered her face, and remarked, "If you ever meet him, you'll blush too!"
Timidly, Yao Rongrong added, "My father often mentions Mr. Xie at home. He said Mr. Xie has been here in four years, but he's been single all this time and avoids discussing marriage. It's quite peculiar."
Fang Miao immediately raised her head, questioning, "What's so strange about that?"
Yao Rongrong let out a soft "ah."
Fang Miao, appearing absorbed in arranging copper plates on the table, as if counting, explained, "Everyone in Beijing knows that despite Mr. Xie's Confucian upbringing, he has dedicated recent years to the study of Buddhism and Taoism. In the past month, he's been fasting and temporarily residing in Xuankong Temple and Sanqing Temple, engaging in discussions on scriptures and Taoism. He is pure-hearted and ascetic, and it's not uncommon for someone in such a state to remain unmarried."
Not close to women?
This mention prompted Jiang Xuening to recall the awkwardness from her previous life.
Various spiteful thoughts surfaced in her mind: the claim of purity and asceticism, yet no woman of high standing by his side—keeping everything in check was likely impossible!
Amidst the banter and jokes, a palace maid appeared outside the door, bowing and softly calling for Jiang Xuening, "Miss Jiang, someone is looking for you."
Jiang Xuening raised her eyebrows, instinctively asking, "Who is it?"
The little maid blinked, remaining silent.
Recalling events from her past life, Jiang Xuening understood and refrained from further inquiry. Addressing the others, she said, "Excuse me, I'll go out and have a look."
Following the little maid, she walked out from Yang Zhizhai.
The route led towards Wenhua Palace.
Approaching the area where the previous court was, she stopped at a fork not far from the road, glancing up. Yan Lin, clad in a black robe, stood beneath the begonias, awaiting her.
The little maid discreetly retreated.
Jiang Xuening took a step forward and inquired, "It's quite late; haven't you returned from the palace yet?"
Yan Lin, informed by Shen Jie about the eldest princess learning etiquette with her companions, was concerned she might face challenges. Checking on her, he explained, "The palace gates were open for a while, delaying the key release. I genuinely worry about your first return to the palace. I heard that Su Shangyi, who instructed you today, was quite strict. You even had a mishap in front of the eldest princess. I stopped by the imperial hospital earlier to get some medicine for you. Remember to apply it tonight; I don't want you to return to the palace with a limp. I wouldn't wish such a fate upon my bride."
Unintentionally, he ventured into discussing their potential children.
Jiang Xuening maintained a composed demeanor.
Yan Lin blushed, suddenly realizing his lapse into sentimentality. He coughed, covering it up, and shifted the topic, "Did you adapt well today?"
The medicine he had obtained was in a small white porcelain bottle, and Jiang Xuening held it coolly in her hand. She looked up at the boy in the night and replied, "I'm adjusting well, and the Eldest Princess is taking good care of me. Don't worry."
Yan Lin had shared specific instructions with Shen Zhiyi, and hearing Jiang Xuening's reassurance put him at ease.
With a faint smile, he regarded her with a different light.
It was like catching the elusive tail of a secretive cat.
He quickly added, "After today's lecture in Wenhua Palace, I encountered Mr. Shilang."
This referred to Jiang Boyou.
Jiang Xuening, puzzled, blinked at him.
Yan Lin raised an eyebrow and explained, "He asked me if I had taught you a method of managing people recently. You apparently used a copy of 'Children Learning Qionglin' to pretend it was an account book, punishing disobedient servants in the house. I considered the matter inexplicable, but it seems it's not a bad thing, so I confessed. However, you know, and I know, I haven't taught you that."
Jiang Xuening lowered her eyes and confessed, "I knew you would cover for me, so I put the blame on you."
Yan Lin playfully scratched the bridge of his nose, smiling, and asked, "Who actually taught you that?"
Jiang Xuening replied, "I figured it out myself."
Yan Lin stared at her in silence for a moment. Under his dark eyes, a flicker of emotions surfaced, but eventually, he reached out, touched her head, and said, "My Ning Ning has her secrets."
Yes.
Your Ning Ning does have a secret.
However, she would never dare to share this secret with him.
Jiang Xuening looked up at him again. Her eyes, black and white like transparent glass beads, were beautiful but remained silent.
Yan Lin swiftly added, "Someday, if you want to share your secret with someone, tell me, okay? I want to be the first person in the whole world to know Ning Ning's secret."
The boy gazed at her with boundless understanding.
For a moment, Jiang Xuening's heart softened.
Yet, what echoed in her memory was the last life when he staggered backward into his bedroom, reeking of alcohol. Her fingers tightened around the white porcelain medicine bottle, but eventually, she nodded and said, "Okay."
Satisfied, Yan Lin's earlier minor displeasure completely dissipated. However, mindful of the time and the risk of missing the palace gate key, he reluctantly stated, "In the coming days, as you all focus on learning etiquette, I may also face tests on academic knowledge from my master. It's not easy for me to visit you overtly. Let's meet here at the same time tomorrow. I'll find out what you'll be tested on the third day, so you can prepare. I'll give you some time."
Jiang Xuening was left speechless.
She retains a considerable recollection of the subjects tested in her previous life. However, whether she possesses that knowledge in this life holds no significance, as she had no intention of ensuring her success.
Yet, in the present moment, she did not decline the boy's kindness.
She simply replied, "Okay."
The following day, representatives from the Shangyi Bureau arrived.
However, the instruction this time wasn't confined to simple etiquette; instead, it encompassed the names of various palace individuals. Additionally, they delved into the techniques and processes of blending and crafting incense.
Anticipating Jiang Xuening's potential awkwardness, everyone presumed she would be just as inept as before.
To their surprise, on this day, Jiang Xuening appeared to have undergone a sudden transformation. She swiftly absorbed and comprehended everything!
For the palace residents' names, she could memorize them in reverse after repeating them only three times. The rules of movement became ingrained after observing the female officer's demonstration. As for incense making, from sensing the fragrance and identifying it to adjusting and burning the incense, every step was executed in a clear and logical manner, with each movement flowing smoothly and gracefully.
Su Shangyi, previously tormented by Jiang Xuening's struggles with etiquette, arrived with little hope. She assumed that, if necessary, she would yield to the eldest princess's leniency.
However, Miss Jiang Er seemed like a completely different person!
While others might not have noticed, Su Shangyi observed it keenly as she stood before Jiang Xuening. When Jiang Xuening lifted the ebony incense seal, she subtly raised her little finger, skillfully used the incense spoon to transfer ash onto the seal, and then placed it onto the prepared ashes with precision. The fragrant seal she created had its flower heart perfectly aligned.
Contrastingly, despite others executing the movements correctly, many failed to pay attention to the direction of the fallen incense seals—some were upside down, some crooked. While most incense makers might not emphasize the orderly placement of seals, Su Shangyi, well aware of the beauty and celestial significance of peonies, a favorite of queens throughout history, paid meticulous attention to it.
Unexpectedly, Jiang Xuening displayed a compassionate heart, noticing these minute details.
Su Shangyi couldn't help but regard her with newfound admiration. After Jiang Xuening finished crafting the incense seal, Su Shangyi spoke slowly, "His Royal Highness holds you in favor for a reason. I believe some people in this world are inherently uncoordinated, stumbling even on level ground. The Second Miss might be one of them. However, today, you did exceptionally well, particularly in incense making—it should be ranked first."
Jiang Xuening remained composed.
Having learned etiquette from Su Shangyi in her past life and spending a significant time in the palace, she naturally excelled compared to others when she decided to apply herself.
Incense making, one of her few hobbies from her previous life aside from being a queen, came effortlessly to her.
As for peony shape, she was the queen herself—how could she not care?
However, in the current circumstances, she couldn't express that sentiment in front of Su Shangyi. She simply remarked, "The student prefers this method, so she has studied it and is showcasing her skills before Su Shangyi today."
Yet, Su Shangyi regarded her with admiration.
Upon hearing her modest words, one could only perceive her as humble. Her tone, natural and gentle compared to yesterday's reluctance, conveyed, "Today, the young lady has mastered everything she needed to learn, and she is the first to complete it. You can observe from the sidelines as others proceed."
Others: "…" . It is said that feng shui turns around, so why can't it turn in their favor!
Yesterday, Jiang Xuening struggled as a slow learner, and Su Shangyi showed tolerance in every possible way. Today, she learned with remarkable speed, as if by magic, and Su Shangyi showered her with praise!
Now, I can actually sit aside and take a break!
They are utterly baffled: how can she learn so rapidly, remember so firmly, and perform so exceptionally well?!
Jiang Xuening is genuinely impatient to deal with the situation today. Since she knows she has no way to leave the palace based on etiquette, pretending any further would only cause trouble for herself. Therefore, she opts to finish it as quickly as possible and then sit aside to rest, avoiding unnecessary exertion.
As for what others think, she couldn't care less.
Who could have fathomed that she had been reborn? It's just like Su Shangyi to find an excuse for her, attributing her initial struggles to poorly coordinated limbs or nervousness from the previous day.
Yao Rongrong, alongside Jiang Xuening, had the worst and slowest learning experience yesterday. She anticipated joint scolding today and thought they would share a sympathetic bond.
However, in the blink of an eye, Jiang Xuening had already taken a seat.
Yet, Yao Rongrong still stood among the crowd, now seemingly the slowest and least competent of them all. Momentarily at a loss, she could only gaze at Jiang Xuening with a mix of envy and surprise, secretly feeling a bit bitter.
Shen Zhiyi assumed today's lessons would be more intricate, so she headed to the Empress Dowager's Shou'an Palace early to go to Yang Zhizhai's side. However, upon entering, she saw Jiang Xuening already seated.
Upon inquiry, she learned that Jiang Xuening had completed her studies.
Observing her for a moment, Shen Zhiyi felt a touch of emotion and approached Jiang Xuening, taking her hand with a smile. "I knew Ning Ning wouldn't be a simpleton. Finishing so quickly and working so diligently yesterday must be to not let me down. Ning Ning, you are so thoughtful!"
Jiang Xuening: "…"
Now, if she were to tell Shen Zhiyi that everything she did had nothing to do with her, would she be immediately reprimanded? Despite the risks, Jiang Xuening didn't dare take chances and chose to acquiesce.
In this moment, she sighed internally, grateful that the academic knowledge test awaited her the next day. If she failed, she could leave the palace. Otherwise, she might find herself fervently praying for divine intervention and a swift end to her predicament!