Chapter 61 - Setting Off Lanterns

Jiang Ruan stood completely still at the ship’s bow as if she was not a part of this world. For a moment, everyone was silent and feeling absolutely captivated by what they had just witnessed. The whole time, the young masters, who watched with silly expressions on their faces, were mumbling, “There’s such an unrivalled beauty among mortals. Having a glimpse at her today, I have no regrets even if I were to perish.”

Sitting upright inside the boat, Jiang Su Su’s complexion was ashen. Her usual smiling face now contorted into a fierce look. Jiang Li too had not only gripped her hands fiercely but also clenched her pearly white teeth until they were almost broken into pieces.

The Fifth Prince opened his mouth to speak as his eyes flashed with greed. “She is an equal match to the the Second Young Miss of the Jiang family…”

Xuan Li had a complicated look on his face. Somehow, he felt that there was something about this young girl that attracted him profoundly. He really wanted to examine the girl’s appearance more carefully.

The crowd was silent for a full quarter of an hour. The young master from the General’s fu took the lead in shouting, “Both beauty and skills are exceptional! It’s not an exaggeration to say that you’re the capital’s number one beauty!”

Jiang Ruan turned her head. She smiled faintly, seemingly grateful to him. The young master’s face blushed when he glimpsed her dazzling beauty. His gaze was suddenly obsessed.

Jiang Su Su’s expression was even more unsightly after she heard that remark. She couldn’t understand why Jiang Ruan, living in the countryside and having never had any teachers, was able to dance and play the whistle so well. She had always been conceited about her own talents, but she knew that she wouldn’t be able to match Jiang Ruan’s level in performing that dance. Besides, how could she dance so steadily and not fall when the ship was tossing about?

Jiang Su Su would never know that since Jiang Ruan was not favoured by the emperor while living inside the palace, she was often bullied by the favoured concubines and was taught to dance at the imperial concubine’s birthday. She trained so much that her feet hardly seemed to touch the ground. Even after a lifetime had passed, she would never forget it. She could even dance in the palm of one’s hand. What could this swaying boat count as?

The crowd echoed that remark. They gave much more praise to her in comparison to Jiang Su Su, since people always prefer shiny new toys. Admittedly, Jiang Su Su was excellent. However, she had occupied the title of the capital’s most talented woman for many, many years. On top of that, she had the appearance of an innocent fairy who was not well-versed in the ways of the world.

Now, Jiang Ruan, the Eldest Young Lady of the Jiang family, had a completely different demeanour. As long as Jiang Ruan was more outstanding, even by a tiny bit, people’s attention would gravitate toward her.

The men praised her highly, but the women’s faces were not so good. Originally, the Jiang clan only had Jiang Su Su. Now, Jiang Ruan had appeared. Weren’t all the excellent men in the capital about to become fascinated by those two?

When Jiang Ruan returned to her seat, Lin Zi Xiang remarked. “So, actually, you can dance. People can’t help but have a newfound respect for you now.”

Zhao Jin Jun and Wen Fei Fei had an unrefined temper. They also nodded. “You’ve dazzled our eyes. But, your whistle was truly excellent. Can you teach us?”

“When I was living in the countryside, I didn’t have any musical instruments. So, I simply played it when I was bored.” Jiang Ruan explained in such a way that sounded reasonable and made people feel a little more pity for her.

Dong Yinger took a look at her. “But, why did you choose the ‘Guangling Verse’? Most noble ladies would not choose such a tune for today’s occasion.” Jiang Ruan smiled. “I can play only this.”

Xu Ruoxi’s complexion was somewhat wan. She hung her head without speaking a word. Everyone knew that she was upset and pretended not to see her in order to avoid embarrassing her.

Soon after, several noble ladies went on to perform, but it was nothing but a mere formality. After Jiang Ruan’s Guangling dance that shook the audience to their core, they weren’t interested in watching the flat and insipid performances that followed.

At this year’s Lantern Festival, a dark horse appeared from the Jiang family. They all said that this year’s rabbit lantern must fall into Jiang Ruan’s hand. Aboard the Qingsong Boat, people were discussing and comparing Jiang Su Su in her former days to today’s Jiang Ruan.

After the performance, it was time for everyone to go toward the bow of the boat to float the lanterns into the river. These floating lanterns were all exquisitely made. After all the young masters and the young ladies had written on slips of paper and put them inside the lantern, they pushed their floating lanterns personally into the river.

Jiang Ruan also followed the crowd to the bow of the boat. Her smile was very moving.

In her previous life, the scandal broke out before she could float her lantern. When she was hiding inside the boat, shivering with cold, it was the Eighth Prince, Xuan Li, who came over with a lantern and spoke to her. “What do you wish for?”

His tall body blocked her from people’s contemptuous glances. At that very moment, she just wanted to latch on to the man in front of her who gave her so much warmth. She put her cherished hope in that lantern- to be by his side.

Alas, her wish eventually turned into a conspiracy through and through. As Jiang Ruan recalled, the person she hated the most was not actually Xuan Li. Compared to him, Jiang Su Su was the one who had deprived her of more things. However, Xuan Li was also wrong. He shouldn’t have given her hope. He had made her, who fell into a desperate strait, think that she had grasped a life-saving straw. It resulted in the mallet of death. After having received care and warmth, she was told that everything was a sham.

Bai Zhi handed her the lantern while Lian Qiao passed the paper and writing brush to her. Jiang Ruan thought for a moment. She took the paper from Lian Qiao but did not write anything on it. She rolled the paper up and put it inside the lantern.

Jiang Su Su, who had been watching all her movements, saw this action and came approaching. She asked, “Da Jiejie, why didn’t you write anything on the lantern?”

Jiang Su Su’s voice was deliberately loud. Jiang Ruan was now put on the spot. Immediately, people from both boats turned their gazes toward her.

“I have nothing to ask for, so I have nothing to write.” Jiang Ruan replied indifferently.

Jiang Su Su smiled. “How can Da Jiejie have nothing to ask for? For instance, requesting Father’s health, winning titles for Eldest Brother, making our Jiang fu prosper, or having our mother give us a younger brother? In short, how can you have no requests?”

Her words were equivalent to accusing Jiang Ruan of disloyalty, being unfilial, cruel and unjust, and without any thoughts for the Jiang fu’s welfare. This kind of accusation made Bai Zhi and Lian Jiao frown. Jiang Ruan listened with a sneer. Father? How was Jiang Quan a father? He would sell his son and daughter to pave the way for Jiang Su Su. Mother? Her mother’s bones had already turned to ashes, and there was no one else in this world. Elder brother? Recently, there had been no news of him. It was unknown whether he’s still alive or already dead. Jiang Su Su’s remarks were like adding salt to the wound.

“Ermei had no idea.” Jiang Ruan’s voice was gentle as if she had no anger at all. “Father is in good health. Otherwise, how can he serve in court? About the matter of Second Elder Brother getting the top-scorer title in the examination, we also can’t help him with that. Who can help Mother to have a little brother, if not Guanyin[1], the Goddess of Mercy? How is it related to us?”

Kuan-yan bodhisattva, Northern Sung dynasty, China, c. 1025, wood, Honolulu Academy of Arts.jpg[1] Guanyin – Guanyin is short for Guanshiyin, which means “The One Who Perceives the Sounds of the World”. Guanyin is a bodhisattva – a person who is motivated by supreme compassion and is ‘a potential Buddha in training’. She is associated with Mahayana Buddhists. She is commonly known as the “Goddess of Mercy,” and her main aspect is compassion. Guanyin’s mixture of male and female characteristics led her to become one of the most widely beloved Buddhist figures. According to the ancient followers, she had powers to make miracles happen.

Her lips were raised up slightly. “In the world, what really matters is your own efforts. The heart is sincere, but the future, after all, is still up to us, isn’t it? ” Her voice had a trace of melancholy. “I used to worship Buddha, but in the end, my mother passed away and my elder brother’s whereabouts are unknown. Tell me, what a request from the heart can really achieve? It all depends on the person. “

This remark was heard by the crowd. Mo Cong burst out laughing. Seeing Xiao Shao looking at him, he quickly said, “I only thought Jiang family’s Eldest Miss’s speech was indeed wonderful . Cough. The birth of a child is really not something that they can control.”

Jiang Ruan’s speech was humorous, without preaching. Hearing about her pitiful life, people were filled with sympathy. Jiang Su Su’s expression turned menacing but she had to pretend to be happy.

After everyone had put down their lanterns, Jiang Ruan also bent down to put her lantern into the river. When she was about to stand up, Jiang Su Su, without any changes in her expression, quietly stretched her foot out and tried to trip her.