Chapter 64- The Truth from the Heart – Transcendental Translations

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Chapter 64

“Then… why did you later strike the Yong King and break off the engagement?”

Having laid her thoughts bare, Jiang Ruohua observed Liu Xiyun closely. Liu wasn’t naive. She understood that while romantic attachments could bring happiness, marriages among noble families rarely involved true love. For Jiang Ruohua, who always kept her emotions in check and was indifferent to public opinion, choosing the Yong King had never been about his character—it was about imperial power.

Although it was unspoken, everyone knew the Yong King’s achievements were outstanding, making him a strong contender for the title of Crown Prince. Marrying him meant the possibility of becoming the Crown Princess and eventually the Empress.

If the goal was political alliance rather than romance, someone like Zhao Yuexi was of little threat. A favored woman without noble lineage, no matter how much attention she received, could never pose a meaningful challenge or offer support in the political arena. Even if she flaunted her favor now, Zhao Yuexi couldn’t truly shake Jiang Ruohua’s standing.

In this light, there was no reason for the Yong King to discard Jiang Ruohua—unless she chose to leave.

Jiang Ruohua sighed lightly. “After noticing the Yong King’s affections for Miss Zhao, I once advised him to petition the palace for an official title for her—be it a concubine or secondary consort. At least it would make the relationship clear and preserve everyone’s dignity.”

She smiled wryly, her hands relaxing on her lap. “But he was so infatuated that he’d lost his sense of priorities. I realized that even if I could remove Miss Zhao from his side, I couldn’t prevent other women like her from appearing again and again. He kept indulging her and couldn’t distinguish between personal affairs and matters of state.”

Liu Xiyun nodded in agreement. Women relied on their husbands’ abilities to maintain their status and glory. However, noblewomen like them, born into powerful families, shone brightly even without their spouses. If a husband proved incompetent, excessive devotion to him would disgrace their maternal families. Maintaining balance was essential for women of high status—it was their duty to preserve both their families and their marriages.

Losing this balance meant abandoning one side. In a loveless political marriage, forsaking one’s family was seen as unfilial, while neglecting one’s husband invited accusations of heartlessness. Only by maintaining both could a woman remain dignified and respectable.

“Elder Sister Jiang will surely find someone more suitable in the future,” Liu Xiyun said with a smile. “My mother always says that marrying into the imperial family may seem glorious, but only those inside know the bitterness behind closed doors. How can life in the palace compare to freedom outside?”

“Exactly,” Jiang Ruohua agreed, nodding. “I’ve come to terms with it. Whatever happens to the Yong King now is none of my concern. I won’t sacrifice the Jiang family for his fleeting affections.”

Jiang Ruohua spoke openly, unafraid of being overheard by ill-intentioned individuals. Moreover, she trusted Liu Xiyun’s character, and everything was bound to unfold as planned.

“Right! With your family’s standing, I’m genuinely happy for you!” Liu Xiyun said enthusiastically. “This should’ve happened long ago. You have no idea how others used to talk about you. They’d say things that could never be washed clean. I always thought, given your background, how could you possibly stoop to competing with Zhao Yuexi?”

Jiang Ruohua smiled faintly, her eyes reddening slightly as she feigned a touched expression. “Thank you, Sister Liu.”

Flustered, Liu Xiyun’s cheeks flushed. Although she had never spoken ill of Jiang Ruohua herself, she had once kept her distance. Feeling guilty, she said, “Honestly… we owe it to your younger sister for constantly speaking up for you. She always said you weren’t like that, which made us reconsider. After meeting you last time, I realized she was right.”

“It’s alright,” Jiang Ruohua replied gently, pretending to regain her composure quickly. “I know my second sister always spoke up for me. It’s just that, back then, I seldom spoke out due to the engagement, which made her defense seem baseless. I’ve always felt guilty for that. Yet, instead of resenting me, she’s been working tirelessly to introduce me to you all. For her efforts alone, I can’t afford to stay as I was.”

Brightening, Jiang Ruohua took Liu Xiyun’s hand warmly. “I’m truly delighted to grow closer to all of you now!”

Her heartfelt words completely disarmed Liu Xiyun, who eagerly said, “Your second sister and you may not be blood siblings, but I feel the two of you are closer than most true sisters. When I visited my aunt in the palace yesterday, she even praised you! I admire you so much—especially after what happened on the boat. Everyone else hesitated, but you didn’t even think twice before jumping into the water. Elder Sister Jiang, you’re so brave, just like the child of a general!”

As Liu Xiyun grew more comfortable, her words flowed more freely, a stark contrast to her reticence on the boat. The carriage rolled onward, and Jiang Ruohua deftly kept the conversation engaging. Her refined conversational skills, honed from her past experiences, allowed her to maintain a perfect balance of wit and demureness.

By the time their throats grew parched from chatting, Liu Xiyun finally paused to sip her tea.

“We really get along, Elder Sister Jiang. Oh, calling you that still feels a bit formal. Since you and your younger sister are from the same family, why don’t I just call you Sister Hua from now on?”

“Of course!” Jiang Ruohua responded cheerfully. Deepening her bond with Liu Xiyun meant widening the gap between Liu Xiyun and Jiang Ruoting—a golden opportunity she wouldn’t miss.

After all, what goes around comes around. Jiang Ruohua wasn’t going to be the only one tasting isolation anymore.

The carriage turned a corner, and the lively sounds of the market filled the air. Hearing a vendor selling sugar paintings, Liu Xiyun peeked outside and exclaimed excitedly, “Stop the carriage! There’s a sugar painting stall!”

As Liu Xiyun’s maid prepared to step down, Liu Xiyun looked eager to leave as well. The maid hastily said, “Miss, let me buy it for you. What do you want?”

“No! I want to pick one myself—there are so many choices!” Liu Xiyun insisted, then turned to Jiang Ruohua. “Sister Hua, will you come with me?”

Jiang Ruohua glanced outside and smiled. “The shop we need to visit is just ahead. You go buy your sugar painting. I’ll be in the shop waiting.”

“Alright!”

The two parted ways after leaving the carriage. While Liu Xiyun headed for the stall, Jiang Ruohua walked toward the store with Huachan.

Once out of earshot, Huachan’s expression turned uneasy. “Miss, was it really wise to tell Miss Liu the truth about your engagement?”