Chapter 1: Jiang Family Xiaoqi

The woman in the bronze mirror had fair skin, delicate features that could express both joy and anger without speaking, and a standard oval face with exquisite features. She had willow-leaf eyebrows and a cherry-like mouth. When she smiled, two shallow dimples appeared at the corners of her lips. Her ink-black hair was styled in a high bun adorned with a golden hairpin set with precious gems. Despite her young age and a hint of innocence, she already possessed the typical appearance of a beauty. Coupled with her gentle and serene demeanor, just looking at her would bring a sense of tranquility to one's heart.

"Miss, how could the eldest madam, who is so well-connected, raise a girl who is so sharp and unlikeable? Even the white cat she often holds in her arms looks fierce and arrogant. It's just like the eleventh miss."

Lü Fu murmured as she helped her own young lady put on her earrings, speaking freely in the absence of outsiders. It was clear that she harbored grievances against the eleventh miss from the household of the magistrate, who had been visiting for almost half a month.

The woman in the mirror smiled lightly, her eyes filled with reminiscence. "It's quite similar."

It was as the saying goes, "Like master, like servant." Of course, the cat was also included. However, Lü Fu's words were not entirely accurate. The eldest madam was not just well-connected.

Recently, guests from the Jiang family in Nanyang County had come to visit. The eldest master's wife, the Jiang family's fourth master Jiang Li, seventh master Jiang Wei, and the eleventh miss Jiang Shan had all arrived. Lü Fu's complaint was about the six-year-old, yet exceptionally stubborn and willful, daughter of the eldest madam. On the first day of her visit, the eleventh miss had cried and made a scene for not getting her favorite lotus seed cake, causing embarrassment for the magistrate's family and bringing shame to the eldest master.

In subsequent encounters, the eleventh miss, who was barely as tall as a person's waist and always accompanied by a nursemaid, had always been impatient and dismissive when she saw the legitimate daughter of the second madam. She would simply greet her with a perfunctory "Hello, Seventh Sister," and then rudely pass by without waiting for a response.

Jiang Yuan, thinking about the affairs of the main household that she had heard in private, adjusted her pearl earrings and put on a green silk cloak before heading to the main courtyard with her attendants.

"Just treat her as mischievous and avoid her in daily life. As long as she doesn't cause trouble in my Peach Blossom Cottage, if she needs to be disciplined, it should be the responsibility of the eldest madam."

As they walked through the corridor, the sound of footsteps behind them caught their attention. Jiang Yuan turned around and saw a well-dressed woman approaching. It was the fifth miss of the household, Jiang Rou.

Taller than her, but not as beautiful, Jiang Rou still had a certain charm compared to ordinary noblewomen.

"I didn't expect to meet you on the way, Fifth Sister." Jiang Yuan smiled and stopped to greet her with proper etiquette.

Unbeknownst to Jiang Yuan, Jiang Rou was momentarily stunned when she saw her turn around.

In this setting, with cherry blossoms falling around her, Jiang Yuan's dark eyes, reflecting the sunlight, seemed to capture all the beauty of the garden, exuding a radiant and warm glow.

Suppressing a hint of envy, Jiang Rou also greeted her with a smile and casually started a conversation.

"Today, I accompanied the madam to Cian Temple to offer incense. I heard that the eldest madam also went. And the eleventh sister, who was eagerly anticipating it last night, should have arrived at the madam's residence earlier than you and me. I wonder if she's throwing another tantrum."

Covering her mouth as she laughed, the bright and perceptive eyes of the fifth miss, Jiang Rou, revealed a hint of cunning.

Being able to address the stepmother, Madam Xu, without any hint of discomfort, and even making others believe that she was genuinely sincere, Jiang Yuan secretly admired Jiang Rou's cleverness.

Although both were legitimate daughters of the magistrate's household, Jiang Rou was born to the late primary wife, while her birth mother was the current madam of the magistrate's household, Madam Xu. In terms of status, Jiang Yuan was inferior to Jiang Rou.

Both women maintained a harmonious and polite demeanor in public, but behind closed doors, who knew what they were truly like.

In the world of noblewomen, there were competitions over parental love, dowries, family background, and husbands. Having just turned ten this year, Jiang Yuan was only a year younger than Jiang Rou. If they were to compare their status, Madam Xu would definitely stand on Jiang Yuan's side. As for the magistrate... it was hard to say for sure.

It wasn't that Jiang Yuan didn't receive the magistrate's affection, but Jiang Rou's birth mother had been personally chosen by the old lady of the Jiang family. She still cherished the memory of the late Lady Ji and had not forgotten her to this day. Even if the magistrate favored the young and beautiful Madam Xu, he couldn't disregard the old lady's feelings. Therefore, he also valued Jiang Rou.

"The eleventh sister is still young. In a couple of years, when she enters the school, she should have some changes in her manners. For now, let's treat her the same as the ninth sister and be more accommodating to her."

Provoking subtly, Jiang Rou had already played her cards behind Madam Xu's back, aiming to please the old lady. As a result, she had always praised the late Lady Ji, making Madam Xu and her children, including Jiang Yuan, appear ordinary. This was also why the eleventh miss had been raised in such a manner and had such different attitudes towards Jiang Yuan and Jiang Rou.

Now that the eleventh miss was not present, Jiang Rou, who had been "friendly" with the eleventh miss, was speaking ill of her behind her back. Jiang Yuan chose to ignore it.

The easily manipulated one is the bird that sticks its neck out. Jiang Yuan, on the other hand, was a highly esteemed lady of the household, known for her amiable demeanor. With her doting mother and gentle father supporting her, she was in a strong position.

Seeing the person next to her acting indifferent and unmoved, Jiang Rou felt annoyed. Everyone in the household praised the seventh miss for her kindness and noble character, but who knew that Jiang Yuan was not as gentle and harmless as she appeared.

Feeling uneasy, Jiang Rou suddenly heard her maid Xinzhi whisper, "Miss, you promised to give the hairpin to the eleventh miss last time..."

Jiang Rou stopped in her tracks, realizing that she had indeed forgotten about it.

"Sister, if you have urgent matters, I'll go ahead first." Leading the way with a knowing look, she left Jiang Rou alone. Without Jiang Rou's sarcastic remarks, Jiang Yuan felt the whole courtyard come alive with vibrant colors and lively plants.

"Miss, I'll go back and take care of it. The others are not as efficient as I am, and I don't want to keep you waiting." Xinzhi was the most trusted maid by Jiang Rou.

"Hurry up, I still need to go and pay my respects to my mother." Secretly, she complained about the eleventh miss being so greedy and shameless, constantly asking for jewelry.

"You are too kind and generous, why don't you give something to the seventh miss?" Finding a place to sit, Jian Yun helped her mistress rest while waiting for Xinzhi to return.

"How do you know that the seventh miss is not generous? Didn't you see her giving advice to our mother in front of our father? She even sent Tang Mama, who is close to our mother, to serve our father." This father was Jiang Rou's biological brother, the only son left by their deceased mother, the eldest son of the county magistrate, Jiang Nan.

Thinking of the stubborn and unyielding Tang Mama, Jiang Rou remembered how she had suffered a stroke and was sent to a farm outside the city. Originally, she was left by Jiang Nan's mother, Ji Shi, to take care of Jiang Nan. Compared to Tang Mama, Zhang Mama was much better.

Unfortunately, Zhang Mama had bad luck. Just as Jiang Nan was about to receive his official title and their father was preparing to seek an official position for him, he suffered a stroke. This stroke benefited the old woman by Jiang Nan's side, which was truly unfortunate!

Seeing her sister's displeasure when mentioning Tang Mama, Jian Yun knew that her sister was resentful towards their mother, and she wisely chose to remain silent.