Chapter 69.1 - A Marriage Alliance (Part I) (2/2)

“Miss is cracking a joke,” Bai Zhi spoke in astonishment, “it is merely a shower at the beginning of spring. It might even stop tomorrow morning.”

“Yet I feel, it won’t stop.” Jiang Ruan shook her head.

In her past life, it had also happened in this very year. This shower of rain had pitter-pattered down and as it poured, it had gone on continuously for three months. The grains at the beginning of spring were unable to be sewn into the soil and the flood wreaked havoc and devastation everywhere. Many people’s houses and fields had been broken through and drowned by the large flood of rainwater and at once, the capital was filled with refugees.

She had remembered this matter very clearly because, at the time, the rural residence had also been met with devastation by the flood. Due to the scarcity of food grains, Zhang Lan’s family had then had her expenses severely reduced until it was almost to a cruel state. Although her house had not been as bad as to have been flooded and destroyed, still it was always damp and moist. Yet every day, she had dragged her body that rumbled with hunger to do some heavy manual work and weary labour until one day, she had nearly been washed away by the flood. Fortunately, a rough labour servant had seen this and had saved her. She would never forget how Zhang Lan’s family had looked at her. At the time, their gazes had been filled with disappointment; as if it would have been a wonderful wish for her to have just drowned in the water. At that time, Jiang Ruan had thought that Zhang Lan’s family had disliked her for taking up a part of the food grains for herself in the residence and therefore, could not help but wish for her to drop dead. However, now that she thought about it, if she had died in that flood back then, Zhang Lan’s family would probably have received a large sum as reward from Xia Yan.

At the time, large numbers of refugees descended on the capital and every family, naturally, was unable to be taken care of. The refugees had scattered all over the city and when they were unable to obtain food, they then resorted to stealing everywhere. Naturally, the poor families did not have much food surplus and so, these refugees aimed their sights at the noble and rich families in the capital. At the time, as part of the city garrison, her cousin Zhao Yi had led troops in suppression of these crimes. However, he was hacked to death by the refugees. Yet, as for that venerated Emperor, at this time, he gave an order to the Zhao family to fund the disaster relief. The Zhao family had put forth a sum of ten thousand and two hundred in silver, and in the process, emptied out all of their savings. From that moment, the Zhao family seemed to have begun its decline.

When Jiang Ruan finally learned of this matter, it was only after she had entered the palace. During idle conversation, Zhao Yi had inadvertently remarked that the one who had made the suggestion to the Emperor had been Xuan Li, saying that General Zhao’s family was prosperous and plentiful, and perhaps they would have the money to aid in disaster relief. Jiang Ruan had already asked Xuan Li about this matter and yet, Xuan Li’s reply was: the people were of importance and money was merely a worldly possession. To be able to protect the lives of those refugees, this was a good deed.

Now that she thought some more , after that matter had ended, Xuan Li’s reputation and credit with the people had increased greatly while the Zhao family had weakened immensely. Or perhaps, this too was in his plans. As for Zhao Yi’s death, it was likely not as simple as it seemed. A grand and stately garrison guard from the capital, how could he have possibly been hacked down by an unarmed and defenceless rebel.

Abruptly, her gaze became deeper. In this life, she had no thoughts of becoming estranged from the Zhao family – they were her backing and support that she needed to keep a close watch over- thus, there was no way she would allow them to suffer such humiliation.

“Even if this rain does not stop, why does Miss have to take out some silver?” Bai Zhi questioned, “Miss, while it is good to have some on hand at your side, presently, is there something that you would like to do?”

“I have had Lu Zhu buy all of the grain in the capital,” Jiang Ruan answered evenly.

“Miss,” Lian Qiao looked at her wide-eyed, “what is Miss going to do with so much grain?”

Right now, it was just at the beginning of spring and the new crop had yet to be delivered to the capital. All that was available was the old crop from the past year and if it were measured by value, it should not be too expensive. It would be sufficient to buy more than half of these crops with just two or three thousand pieces of silver. Just as the grain farmers were worried about being unable to sell all of their grain, seeing such a happenstance, they would definitely sell all of it to her.

“I am thinking that if this rain continues on continuously, then it will begin to flood. All of this grain would then become precious and valuable.” Jiang Ruan smiled faintly.

“Miss.” Bai Zhi’s lips twitched but in the end, did not say anything. In Jiang Ruan’s words, there was never any room for rebuttal and she had a staunch will; once she had decided upon a matter, she would not be swayed. Thus, even if Bai Zhi had thought that this move of Jiang Ruan’s was truly too inconceivable, she could only follow suit with her wishes.

Just at this moment, Lu Zhu pushed open the door and came in. Upon seeing Jiang Ruan, she smiled, “Miss, the people that I have used have already bought all of the grain and delivered it all into a storehouse in the west of the city. The key is in this servant’s hands.”

She handed over the key to Jiang Ruan and continued, “Since there was no one else buying all of the old grain over the past few days, most of the rice and noodles have also been bought by this servant.”

“You have done well.” Jiang Ruan fiddled with the delicate and exquisite silver key in her hands.

“However, Miss,” as she suddenly recalled, Lu Zhu remarked, “when this servant was close to the courtyard’s entrance, this servant saw Fifth Yiniang. She seemed like she wanted to enter but when this servant asked her, she left.”

“Understood.” Jiang Ruan muttered to herself irresolutely, “Since this is the case, then we should go to Fifth Yiniang’s courtyard for a visit.”

* * *

Hong Ying had been embroidering in her courtyard while the weather was not exactly good so the visibility from the sunlight was not very clear. After embroidering for a short time, she felt that she was not very satisfied with what she had been embroidering. She was truly annoyed about it as she saw a servant girl step forward and speak, “Yiniang, Eldest Young Miss has arrived.”

“Eldest Young Miss?” She frowned lightly as she had not thought that Jiang Ruan would come to her courtyard. Apart from Jiang Quan, no one had ever tread into this courtyard. As she stood up, Jiang Ruan happened to step into her room and smiled upon seeing her, “So Yiniang had been embroidering, it truly has been done well.”

Following her gaze, Hong Ying glanced at the embroidery on the table. It was a pouch that she had been embroidering for Jiang Quan; what she had been stitching was a noble Siberian crane in the clear skies, the crane looking vivid and lifelike. In contrast against that lofty and artistic conceptualisation, the colours used had also been extremely appealing.

“It is merely embroidered for fun,” Hong Ying smiled, “if Eldest Young Miss likes, on another occasion, qieshen will embroider one for Eldest Young Miss.”

“Many thanks to Fifth Yiniang then.” Jiang Ruan smiled in agreement as her eyes made a sweep around the entire yard, “Truthfully, everyone has said that Father dotes on Fifth Yiniang the most and I did not believe this to be true. Now that I have seen it, however, it truly is as others have said.”

The room had been arranged and decorated elaborately. When one saw the shelf of things placed before the table, not one object was not exquisite and precious. Presumably, Jiang Quan had put quite a bit of thought and effort into Hong Ying.

Hong Ying was startled and smiled, “Laoye naturally dotes on Furen the most, Eldest Young Miss truly is jesting.”

“I never joke.” Jiang Ruan chuckled, “Today, I’ve come to pay a visit to Fifth Yiniang, though truly, it is not for anything of importance.” With gentle countenance she continued, “Over these days in the fu, it certainly has not been very peaceful or secure. Moreover, Second Sister and Second Brother have similarly met with misfortune in succession. Thinking about this, I have been pondering if the next would not be Ruan niang.”

Upon hearing this, Hong Ying’s heart made a leap as she looked at Jiang Ruan and replied, “Eldest Young Miss, where do these words stem from?”

“Intuition.” Jiang Ruan laughed, “I have no person that I am close to in the fu and my mother[4] passed away in my early years. Although Mother[5] treats me pretty well, she already has both Second Sister and Second Brother …” Her voice lowered slightly, “These words, I can only speak them with Fifth Yiniang. If Fifth Yiniang were the mistress of the fu, how good would it be. With a kind-hearted person like Fifth Yiniang around, one would surely protect Ruan niang in all aspects. Ruan niang would definitely repay Fifth Yiniang’s kindness and the Jiang fu would surely be harmonious, becoming more prosperous with each passing day.”

[4] Niáng ( 娘 ) – an informal term for mother. JR uses it for Zhao Mei.

[5] Mǔqīn ( 母亲 ) – a formal term for mother. JR uses it for her official mother, Xia Yan.

Pursing her lips, Fifth Yiniang was not sure why but her heart was racing furiously. As she closely looked at Jiang Ruan, that pair of charming and clear eyes that seemed to contain a smile looked back at her. Clearly, they seemed gentle like lukewarm running water, yet it was as if one was seeking flowers in the mist, that is, one could not clearly see the emotions within. With her lowly origins from a brothel, she had seen innumerable number of people of every description. As such, she was even more capable of understanding others’ motives and intentions. Yet, she could not fathom this young girl before her that was merely little more than a teenager.