Chapter 20- Refreshing – Transcendental Translations

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Chapter 20

“Second Sister, you look a bit pale. Are you feeling unwell?”

Her expression was sincere, her eyes full of concern. If Jiang Ruoting couldn’t express her discomfort now, then Jiang Ruohua’s efforts would be wasted!

“I…” Jiang Ruoting began to say she was fine, but then thought better of it. “Maybe I caught a chill last night and the breeze is making me feel a bit uncomfortable.”

Jiang Ruohua—no matter what this woman did or didn’t do—always made her feel so powerless! If she claimed to be fine now, it would seem insincere, and even a fool could see she was upset. But how could she explain that she was the one who brought Jiang Ruohua along, only to now be in a bad mood herself? It would ruin her image completely.

“Oh dear, that’s no small matter.” Xie Shuyan took a thin cloak from her maid and draped it over Jiang Ruoting’s shoulders, then quickly addressed the boatman, “Boatman, could you speed up a little, please?”

Noticing this, the boatman silently quickened his pace toward the pleasure boat.

“Hang in there, Second Sister. We’re almost to the boat. Once we’re there, you’ll feel better,” Jiang Ruohua said kindly, pulling Jiang Ruoting into her arms.

Wasn’t Jiang Ruoting the one who loved to put on a show of sisterly affection? Jiang Ruohua was more than willing to play along. After all, if a person harbors resentment or anger, it will eventually explode. She was curious to see how long Jiang Ruoting could keep it bottled up.

Jiang Ruohua could feel Jiang Ruoting subtly resisting her touch, but she pretended not to notice, assuming it was just because Jiang Ruoting wasn’t feeling well. She continued to speak soothingly, while Xie Shuyan and the other young ladies gathered around, expressing their concern.

At that moment, what Jiang Ruoting wanted most was to be alone and sort out her feelings. Instead, she had to force a smile and respond to the well-meaning attention she didn’t want at all.

On such a small boat, there was nowhere for her to escape. Despite inheriting her mother’s calculating nature, Jiang Ruoting was still young, and her frustration was growing. The more she wanted to retreat and collect herself, the more Jiang Ruohua seemed determined to shower her with concern.

“Second Sister, don’t hide it from me—are you really alright?” Jiang Ruohua asked with genuine concern, but inside, she was laughing.

Uncomfortable? Good, you should be!

The other girls kept casting concerned glances at Jiang Ruoting, and Jiang Ruohua could sense their opinion of her was beginning to shift. The experience was immensely satisfying for Jiang Ruohua.

For Jiang Ruoting, it was a grueling experience, but she finally made it onto the pleasure boat. Jiang Ruohua helped her up, and then her maid, who had arrived on another small boat, took over.

“Let’s find a quiet, sheltered spot to rest,” Xie Shuyan suggested. “Don’t worry about your sister, Jiang. We’ll take care of her. You focus on yourself.”

“Second Sister, don’t worry about me,” Jiang Ruohua added, holding Jiang Ruoting’s hand and giving it a reassuring pat. “I know you care about me, but if you keep fretting, I’ll feel ashamed as your older sister. Rest well, and if you still feel unwell, please have your maid let me know.”

Seeing Jiang Ruoting unable to find any fault with her and having no choice but to swallow her bitterness and nod in agreement, Jiang Ruohua felt only one thing.

Satisfaction.

Sheer satisfaction. All the frustration she had endured in her dream was now being avenged, and it felt amazing! Everything around her seemed to shine brighter.

Having left Jiang Ruoting to rest, everything else proceeded as planned. Jiang Ruoting was always highly purposeful in her actions, and the young ladies she associated with were no exception. Whether their families held important positions in the court, were from noble houses, or had promising marriage prospects, they were all well-connected. In her dream, after Jiang Ruohua’s death, these friendships had greatly aided Jiang Ruoting.

Noblewomen were not entirely secluded. Their behavior represented their husbands’ families, and many used their connections with influential wives to advance their husbands’ careers. In her dream, Jiang Ruohua didn’t understand this, which was why, despite being a princess, she never formed connections with any of the noblewomen. They would rather curry favor with Zhao Yuexi than acknowledge her as a princess, leaving her with no presence in the wives’ circles. She couldn’t even fulfill her duties as a princess by forging alliances with their husbands on behalf of Prince Ying.

Now, even though she was distancing herself from Prince Ying, she realized that social connections were unavoidable. She wasn’t willing to do it for a man, but she couldn’t escape the need to do it for herself and her family. Building relationships with these future influential women was nothing but beneficial for her.

“Sister Zhang, could you show me again? It seems I’m still not getting it right…”

When noble young ladies gathered, they typically engaged in activities like painting, composing poetry, playing music, dancing, and appreciating tea and incense. Some might also play games like pitching arrows or kicking a ball, though such activities were difficult to manage on a pleasure boat. Others shared their latest perfume or jewelry designs.

Miss Zhang Wanwan smiled as she took the tea from Jiang Ruohua and demonstrated again. Watching her, Jiang Ruohua sincerely praised her, “Sister Zhang, your hands are so skillful. I could never match that. It looks like I’ll need a lot more practice.”

“It’s just a matter of practice, Jiang Sister. You’ve only just started, and you’re already doing so well,” Zhang Wanwan replied with a smile. Then, turning to Liu Xiyun, she teased, “You’re already much better than Sister Liu!”

Liu Xiyun pouted playfully. “Oh, now, how did I get dragged into this? You may be better at tea, but I can outdance you any day.”

The group of young ladies laughed, none taking offense, and no one mentioned Jiang Ruohua’s broken engagement. After all, if the prince had been hit and the engagement canceled, it was clear who was unhappy with whom. Their conversation flowed smoothly, and soon they were urging Liu Xiyun to perform a dance.

Liu Xiyun didn’t hesitate, gracefully agreeing to dance for her friends. The place they had chosen on the boat had an open view, allowing the sight of the green lake outside to enhance the beauty of her dance.

“What a coincidence, I brought my zither along,” Jiang Ruohua said happily. “If you don’t mind my lack of skill, Sister Liu, I can play for you.”

“Yes, please! The dance is missing some music, and how could I ever mind?” Liu Xiyun replied.

Huachan brought the zither forward, though it wasn’t the high-quality one from the previous night, but rather a more ordinary instrument. Jiang Ruohua didn’t intend to show off too much or play too well; blending in with this group was more important than standing out.

In her dream, she had held herself aloof, proud of her future status as a princess. She had been dragged along by Jiang Ruoting and had failed to fit in with the group, resulting in her being ostracized. Her most embarrassing moment came when she encountered Prince Ying and Zhao Yuexi on the pleasure boat, while Jiang Ruoting charmed everyone with her music and effortlessly fit in with the other noblewomen.

At this moment, Jiang Ruoting happened to pass by.