Chapter 55 - Second Younger Sister (2/2)

Jiang Ruan nodded. “This is indeed a good suggestion, Second Young Sister’s insights are helpful.”

Jiang Li, who was sitting at the side, scoffed and said, “Just don’t make a fool of yourself in front of the experts.” Although these were her words, her eyes flashed with a hint of schadenfreude. In contrast, Jiang Dan, on the other side, shyly smiled at Jiang Ruan.

Jiang Ruan leaned back. “If that’s the case, then I should think carefully about what dance to perform.”

“I believe Da Jiejie will surprise everyone and be the object of their envy,” Jiang Su Su smilingly said.

Jiang Ruan closed her eyes, appearing to be deep in thought, but she suddenly had a moment of clarity.

The young ladies of all the noble families would be on the boat, and their talents would be exceptional. Jiang Su Su was suggesting that she perform a dance from the rural residence, a dance that was suitable for the common stage. If she really did perform it, then, tomorrow night, she would become the laughingstock of the entire capital.

Jiang Su Su was still using the same methods she had used in Jiang Ruan’s previous lifetime, but, this time, she would not achieve the effect that she desired.

After travelling for an indeterminate length of time, they heard the carriage driver shouting outside, and the carriage swayed to a stop. A few servants standing outside the carriage pulled aside the curtains, and the passengers exited the carriage slowly and in an orderly manner.

Jiang Ruan was the last to exit the carriage. Just as she was about to step onto the grassy bank, as soon as she beheld the scenery before her eyes, she could not help falling into something like a daze. During the journey, the sky had darkened. Countless sky lanterns[4] glimmered against the backdrop of the deep and serene night sky. The capital was indeed a splendid sight, and the flowing water of the moat, murmuring under their feet, was also brightly lit. All kinds of lanterns were spread over the surface of the entire river, and, at a glance, together they gave the impression of a moving river of light. The two ships at the forefront were carved with dragons and phoenixes, and were decorated with many exquisite lanterns. Green smoke curled upwards in spirals, and the pleasant sound of conversation and laughter could be heard.

[4] Kong ming deng ( 孔明灯 ) – miniature hot-air balloons used during festivals.

These were Qing Song Boat and Ling Long Boat. Jiang Ruan took a deep breath and heard the voice of a little boy servant calling long and loud, “The Jiang young ladies have arrived . . .”

The sound of laughter and chatter stopped abruptly. On both boats, from all directions, people turned their gazes one by one towards the big windows, until they converged on a common point – the young ladies who had arrived late.

Since Jiang Su Su was acknowledged as the most beautiful woman in the capital, she naturally relished the attention. Today, she was wearing a silver squirrel gua paired with a long, narrow skirt in silver patterned with white plum blossoms. Her hair was done up in the flowing cloud style, and a white jade hairpin in the shape of a plum blossom was by her temple. As she walked, her snow-white cloak rippled with her breeze. She was like an exquisite, incomparable fairy who had descended to the earthly world.

However, people’s eyes only glanced at her for a moment before moving to rest on the young lady behind her.

The young lady’s entire body was enveloped in a bright crimson overcoat patterned with cranes, in sharp contrast to her fair skin, as pale as jade. This caused people to entertain wild and fanciful thoughts about the gentle and graceful woman wrapped up in the crane overcoat. Her eyes were like limpid autumn water[5] and her eyebrows were like ink-black brushstrokes. Under the lights, her expression was delicate and dainty. Her upward slanting eyes harboured a faintly discernible hint of something cold and unfeeling, her red lips were curved, and some of her long, crow-black hair was simply swept up behind her head into a small bun, allowing the other strands to fall freely. In contrast to the exquisite and refined fairy, she was charming, bright and colourful, evidently well-behaved, and she had the appearance and air of one who was a born aristocrat. She seemed not to realise her attractiveness, which in itself was seductive. She walked towards the crowd step by step and those watching her could not help but hold their breath, for they could not determine whether this bewitching demon of a young woman was a dream, or real.

[5] Qiu shui ( 秋水 ) – apparently this is a traditional description for a girl’s beautiful eyes.

She was so beautiful that it was terrifying.