Chapter 5

The wind rose, rustling the phoenix tree leaves with a soft whisper.

Not far away, a figure dressed in plain colors stood there.

Without even looking closely, Jiang Si knew exactly who it was.

The sunlight was bright, yet the touch felt cold—just like her heart. She was nothing but a mere pawn; was it not even allowed for her to withdraw from the love game between the male and female leads?

Murong Sheng disdainfully wiped the spit from his face. “Jiang Wu, you…”

“Young Lord,” she glanced toward Jiang Hui, “My fourth sister is watching us.”

Hearing this, Murong Sheng’s expression grew somewhat uneasy. But once his temper flared, his ego was as vast as the heavens and earth, and he stiffened his neck, refusing to turn around.

“Jiang Wu, don’t lie to me. So what if she’s watching?”

What a scoundrel.

Jiang Si took a deep breath, lowering her voice, “Young Lord, I know why you targeted me before. You have feelings for my fourth sister but are upset because she won’t accept your affections. So you treated me that way deliberately, hoping to make her notice you. Now you’ve succeeded—my fourth sister has told me herself that she likes you too.”

“Did she really say that?” Murong Sheng murmured, disbelief mingling with reluctance to accept the truth.

Seizing his momentary distraction, Jiang Si pushed him away and quickly ran over to Jiang Hui, who looked both wronged and heartbroken, her eyes shadowed with a hint of reproach.

Jiang Si wished she could tell her that the one to blame was Murong Sheng.

Those two leads really were enough to exhaust anyone!

“Fourth sister, it was deliberate on Young Lord’s part—he only did that because he saw you coming. He cares about you, and I’ve told him you like him too. You should go and clear things up with him.”

Jiang Si’s voice was loud enough for the approaching Murong Sheng to hear clearly.

He was both guilty and angry—guilty because of Jiang Hui, angry because of Jiang Si.

Jiang Si took a couple of steps back, then broke into a run.

“Jiang Wu, come back here!”

Jiang Si ignored him and ran even faster.

His expression flickered unpredictably; his chest heaved as if filled with molten anger, though he couldn’t quite discern its cause.

Jiang Hui handed him a handkerchief. “Young Lord, wipe your face.”

He grabbed it carelessly, wiping his face in a haphazard manner, then balled it up, ready to throw it to the ground in frustration—until he suddenly remembered it belonged to Jiang Hui, so he returned it.

“It’s just a handkerchief; Young Lord needn’t bother returning it,” Jiang Hui said shyly, lowering her head, her heart pounding fiercely.

The handkerchief bore embroidery she had sewn herself—it was a personal item. For a young lady to give such a thing to a man conveyed unspoken meaning.

It was the first time in her life she had done something so bold.

Murong Sheng held the handkerchief, his feelings suddenly complex.

Since entering the Jiang family academy, he had been captivated by Jiang Hui from the very first glance. The noble daughters he knew were mostly legitimate, either dignified and graceful or proud and flamboyant, but few were as elegantly beautiful and shy as Jiang Hui. She stirred a tender affection within him at once.

He liked Jiang Hui—not only for her beauty but also for her bashfulness. Yet he was frustrated with her for not accepting his courtship, for hesitating and overthinking.

Now that she had finally taken the first step—daring to speak with him and even giving him her handkerchief—he should have been overjoyed. Yet his heart quivered with unease.

“Jiang Si… what are you doing here?”

Jiang Hui’s tender eyes clouded with uncertainty. Usually, the Young Lord would eagerly explain and soothe her with sweet words.

This time, however, he neither coaxed nor seemed to want to see her.

Could it be that Young Lord had truly set his heart on the fifth sister?

“Young Lord, could you please not call me ‘Jiang Si’? It sounds like you’re calling me the fifth sister.”

Murong Sheng absentmindedly replied while looking toward the direction Jiang Si had run off.

If the fifth sister’s temperament were as gentle and easy to coax as Jiang Hui’s, he wouldn’t have to suffer such vexation. It was surprising how different the sisters’ natures were, coming from the same family.

Indeed, the customs beyond the capital were more rugged.

Seeing him so distracted, Jiang Hui suppressed her sadness. “Fifth sister is still childish, spoiled by the third uncle and aunt since childhood, so she acts rather willfully. Please don’t blame her, Young Lord.”

“All right,” Murong Sheng replied perfunctorily, avoiding Jiang Hui’s gaze. “Jiang… Jiang Hui, I… about Jiang Si and me…”

“You needn’t say more, Young Lord. I understand.”

“That’s good,” Murong Sheng seemed to breathe a sigh of relief.

Jiang Hui’s heart sank deeper.

…

The two entered the academy, one following the other. Jiang Si felt Murong Sheng’s dagger-like gaze but pretended ignorance, never once looking their way.

Murong Sheng, sulking, deliberately spoke loudly to Jiang Hui. Though shy, Jiang Hui was noticeably bolder than usual, responding openly in public.

Their reactions pleased Jiang Si greatly.

She only wished the male and female leads would manage their feelings independently, without dragging others into their affairs.

The recent incident at the academy had caused quite a stir and plenty of gossip. Jiang Si overheard fragments but didn’t care.

Now, with such a good family, she could focus on her studies without distraction or desire.

The original owner’s grasp of knowledge was too weak, and the classical literary environment was challenging. Besides constantly pestering the tutors, she had other options.

Two cousins: Jiang Yu, the fourth legitimate son of the main branch, and Jiang Yi, the fifth illegitimate son of the second branch. There was also an outsider—her maternal uncle’s son, cousin Gu Duan.

Jiang Yu was a bookworm, wholly devoted to his studies, rarely socializing, preferring solitude and silence. Jiang Yi was cheerful but a staunch ally of Young Lord Murong Sheng. After much thought, she deemed the gentle and modest cousin Gu Duan most suitable.

So whenever she had questions, she sought out Gu Duan.

Murong Sheng’s gaze followed them closely. Whenever he saw the cousins huddled together, discussing and answering questions, his eyes nearly sparked with jealousy.

Finally, unable to bear it, he brusquely pushed Gu Duan aside, crossing his arms and looking hard at Jiang Si.

“Jiang Wu, we’re all classmates. Why do you only ask Gu Duan? If I’m in a good mood, you can ask me if you don’t understand something.”

Everyone turned to watch, whispering softly.

Jiang Si was unbothered. By now, she clearly saw that this male lead was just a spoiled child, arrogant and untested.

“The books say, ‘Among three people walking, there must be a teacher for me,’ and ‘Learn from others to make up one’s own shortcomings.’ Pray tell, Young Lord, what can you teach me? How have you done these past couple of days in your studies? If you’ve surpassed me greatly, I’d be glad to seek your guidance.”

Murong Sheng was speechless.

He had been sulking these days, hardly paying attention to his studies.

Jiang Si didn’t wait for excuses and continued, “If you truly want to be a teacher, why not recite and explain the past two days’ lessons? If your work is solid and your insights unique, I’m sure not only I but others would be willing to learn from you.”

He was utterly stumped, unable to reply. His recitations were stumbling at best, let alone explanations. He was both angry and frustrated, sparks practically flying from his eyes.

“You little Jiang Wu, just you wait!”

Jiang Si appeared to misunderstand, answering obediently, “Okay.”

A hush fell; everyone was stunned.

At that moment, a sharp crack sounded—looking over, Jiang Hui’s brush had snapped into two.

Her face flushed scarlet as she hurriedly hid the broken brush in her bag.

Some exchanged meaningful glances, flickering back and forth between Jiang Hui and Jiang Si.

Jiang Si slowly lowered her eyes, her expression complex.

After class, she deliberately walked behind, unsurprisingly being stopped by Jiang Hui.

Jiang Hui’s face bore a trace of grievance, forcing a bitter smile. “Fifth sister, the Young Lord treats you differently now, you know that, right?”

“What do you mean, fourth sister?”

“Fifth sister, I thought you were the one who understood me best. Though we’re all Jiang family girls, I can’t compare to the eldest sister. She is legitimate and the eldest; I am illegitimate. You are legitimate, but your third uncle is illegitimate.”

“Fourth sister, please speak plainly.”

Jiang Hui looked at her. Before the fifth sister returned to the capital, she was the most outstanding beauty among the Jiang girls. Both of them born of uncertain status, the fifth sister was doted on by the third uncle and aunt, while her own mother had long since fallen out of favor.

She had reached marrying age, and her mother had begun seeking suitors: either illegitimate sons of comparable status or legitimate sons from less distinguished families. But none could compare to the prince of the royal residence.

“Fifth sister, your health isn’t good. Could you rest for a while? Don’t go to the academy these days, please?”

Jiang Si was momentarily dazed upon hearing this.

In that instant, she seemed to be somewhere else—her past life.

Her father had scolded her harshly for being unreasonable, a girl dreaming of university while draining family funds. Her mother urged her to work early to help support the household for her brother’s sake.

She remembered kneeling and pleading for a long time, finally promising not to waste family money and to earn her own income to send home. Only then did she win the chance to attend university.

Reborn, she now had loving parents and siblings and could study without worries.

This was the happiness she had longed for. Why should she sacrifice herself for the sake of the original owners’ male and female leads who had caused her ruin?

“No.”

Jiang Hui’s face paled. “Fifth sister, what did you say?”

“I said no!” Jiang Si shrugged off her hand as she tried to pull her back. “If the Young Lord has made up his mind about you, neither I nor anyone else can sway him.”

“Fifth sister, are you really unwilling to help me?”

“If you want a splendid marriage, you should fight for it yourself.”

With that, Jiang Si turned and walked away.

To hell with those male and female leads; this pawn refuses to play along!