Chapter 56 - Coming Across Old Friends (2/2)
Jiang Ruan was speechless. Lin Zi Xiang pulled her hand again and told the people sitting around the table, “This is Miss Jiang from the Prime Minister Jiang’s fu, Jiang Ruan. She is Jiang Su Su’s sister.”
There were many small groups on the boat. The young ladies of the noble families, who were already familiar with each other, were sitting at the same table. Even though Lin Zi Xiang had also been isolated earlier at the Shen fu, she had her own friends in the capital’s young ladies’ circle. Lin Zi Xiang also introduced to her, “This is Miss Dong of the capital’s Inspector General’s fu, Miss Xu, the young lady of the Chancellor of the Hanlin Academy, Miss Wen from the Regimental Commander’s fu, and Miss Zhao, the daughter of the Assistant Marshal.”
Dong Ying’er, the young lady of the Inspector General’s family, had a pretty and adorable round face. She told her generously, “So you are Jiang Ruan. Just now I was looking at you in a bit of silly manner. Little did I know that there is such a beautiful girl in the world.”
Her words were innocent and frank, without deliberate flattery. It gave people a good impression of her. Wen Fei Fei and Zhao Jin Jun were both from military families, and their actions also carried heroic spirits. Zhao Jin Jun laughed and said, “If I were a man, I would go to your manor tomorrow to propose marriage.”
“Exactly,” Wen Fei Fei quipped. “You already have such a beautiful appearance. In a few years, all the ladies in the capital will have no face to go out.”
Jiang Ruan also smiled, “These elder sisters deliberately embarrass me. Today my eyes have been opened. There are girls in the capital who have a similar temperament and appearance. If I were a man, I would be fickle and marry all the sisters and hide you all away.”
The whole table of people broke into laughter again, looking joyous and harmonious. Lin Zi Xiang looked at Xu Ruoxi, “Why are you so absent-minded?”
Xu Ruoxi was the di daughter of the scholar in charge of the Hanlin Academy. She was normally a noble and proud person. Just as she was about to speak, a long and dragged out sound was heard from outside, “Jin Ying Wang has arrived — Eighth Prince has arrived –“
Xu Ruoxi’s vigour was instantly replenished and her face turned scarlet. On the other hand, Jiang Ruan became stiff and tried to keep her mind steady so as to not spill her tea.
She followed the crowd’s gaze to look toward the shore, only to see a person in white quickly approaching. That man looked cultured and refined, and just like in her past life, he was slim and graceful with an elegant bearing, his face wreathed in smiles while walking toward the boats. The river was crystal clear, reflecting the hustle and bustle of the throng of people. Coming across old friends again on this extraordinarily lively night, it seemed as if the blue sea had turned into mulberry fields (i.e., time brings great changes).
The conversation and laughter on the Ling Long Boat came to an abrupt stop, but Xu Ruoxi’s glance did not waver from the Eighth Prince. The person behind the Eighth Prince was clad in black from head to toe. His brocade robe was embroidered at the hem with golden qilins. He wore a jade belt and a pair of greenish black boots. The youth was elegant and outstanding, his heroic spirit domineering. His eyes were as indifferently cold as snow, and he moved with a natural grace like moving clouds and flowing water. His charm was unexpectedly superior to that of the Eighth Prince.
Xu Ruoxi’s voice trembled with excitement, “It’s Jin Ying Wang...”
Jiang Ruan wrinkled her eyebrows slightly. She had seen this young man in black twice. Unexpectedly, he was the outstanding and famous Jin Ying Wang of the Great Jin Dynasty.