Chapter Two: She Only Wanted a Clean Break

The resentment in her heart suddenly seemed to dissipate, and with a trembling voice full of bewilderment, she asked Jiang Xiuyuan, “Brother, isn’t this the coming-of-age hairpin grandmother entrusted you to give me personally?”

Upon hearing this, a trace of discomfort flickered across Jiang Xiuyuan’s face. But when Song Lian’er tugged at his sleeve, her eyes filled with grievance, he immediately changed his tone, speaking coldly and harshly.

“What are you making such a fuss about? Lian’er doesn’t have a suitable hairpin, and you owe her so much already. What’s the harm in giving her one hairpin?”

Song Lian’er’s eyes darkened as she took off the hairpin and handed it over, her voice pitiful, “Since my sister likes it, I’ll return it to you.”

Tears welled up in her eyes. Jiang Xiuyuan’s anger flared, and he stepped forward to snatch the hairpin back, his voice sharp and cold.

“Jiang Lingyao! You’re still so immature. Lian’er’s father died saving you. How dare you show her such contempt?”

No sooner had he spoken than there was a sharp “ding” as the hairpin fell to the ground, shattering into several pieces.

In panic, Jiang Lingyao lunged forward, trying to catch the hairpin.

But Jiang Xiuyuan, having instinctively stepped in front of Song Lian’er to protect her, mistakenly took Jiang Lingyao’s forward movement as an attack and without hesitation, kicked her away.

Jiang Lingyao let out a muffled groan of pain and, ignoring everything, crawled toward the broken hairpin. Her trembling hands reached out to pick it up.

Collapsed on the ground, shaking like a leaf in the wind, she realized she had hurt Jiang Xiuyuan, and he was stunned for a moment before anxiously rushing forward to help her up.

Watching Jiang Lingyao trembling as she clutched the broken hairpin, Song Lian’er’s eyes glinted with a faint, subtle smile.

The people in the noble Jiang household were truly foolish. With just a few simple tricks, she had reduced Jiang Lingyao to this state.

Of course—she had come from another time. How could these ancient people possibly compete with her?

Suppressing her smile, she clutched her chest and looked at Jiang Xiuyuan, who was moving to help Jiang Lingyao. “Brother, I’m scared!”

Jiang Xiuyuan immediately withdrew his hand. Jiang Lingyao fell heavily to the floor again, but he only gently soothed Song Lian’er in a soft voice, “Lian’er, don’t be afraid. It was just an accident, not your fault.”

Jiang Lingyao trembled painfully, and a bitter truth took root in her heart.

Soon, Jiang Xiuyuan would surely tell her, Jiang Lingyao, all of this is what you owe Lian’er. Don’t blame her over small matters.

But how much did she really owe?

When she was eleven, both she and Song Lian’er caught smallpox. She gave up the only bowl of medicine and nearly died.

At twelve, Song Lian’er provoked a playboy on the street, which led to Jiang Lingyao being abducted and almost losing her chastity.

At thirteen...

One incident after another, the scars on her knees and arms were all summed up with the phrase, “You owe Lian’er.”

When would she ever be able to repay what she owed Song Lian’er?

Jiang Lingyao even thought bitterly that perhaps it would have been better if she had died that year.

If she had died then, she would still have been the cherished pearl of the Duke’s household. She wouldn’t owe anyone anything.

Recalling the past brought that piercing pain flooding back. Jiang Lingyao clenched her palm tightly, the sting helping her regain composure.

Sure enough, Jiang Xiuyuan, having regained his composure, looked down on her coldly and said, “Jiang Lingyao, this is what you owe Lian’er.”

Jiang Lingyao lost all strength. After struggling for a long while, she still couldn’t stand and could only look up with all her might to ask, “Yes, I owe Song Lian’er. But I have been trying to repay her—taking the blame for her, giving her the life-saving medicine. Isn’t that enough?”

“What more do you want?”

Her throat felt dry and sore as she spoke, suddenly coughing violently.

Song Lian’er’s eyes brightened.

Jiang Xiuyuan, seeing the deathly calm on Jiang Lingyao’s face, felt an inexplicable panic.

She looked calm now, but he sensed something was wrong. This was the sister he had watched grow up, yet now it felt as if they were strangers.

He frowned, but Song Lian’er seized the opportunity to tug at his sleeve and silently mouth, “Marriage.”

Jiang Xiuyuan fell silent, but when he saw Song Lian’er clutching her chest, he was startled. Then his expression darkened, tinged with annoyance.

“Go to the dining hall first. After the banquet is the family gathering. If you miss the banquet, and then the family gathering, you’ll kneel in the ancestral hall as punishment!”

With that, Jiang Xiuyuan hurried off with Song Lian’er as if rushing to attend to something urgent.

Jiang Lingyao limped forward, and upon entering the dining hall, a gentle call reached her ears.

“Pearl!”

She looked up to see her frail, perpetually ill mother sitting at the head of the table, her face full of concern as she beckoned to her.

Jiang Lingyao gazed at her, suddenly feeling a strange unfamiliarity.

Her mother’s expression of pain was genuine, but the scars on her body constantly reminded Jiang Lingyao that over the past year, her mother had shown her no care at all.

Was this really her mother?

Frozen like in an ice cellar, she could not respond.

“Pearl of your mother, you have suffered.”

Madam Jiang’s nose tingled, her eyes reddening as she spoke with a trembling voice, “Come here quickly, let your mother look at you.”

After all, this was the daughter she had raised with her own hands—how could she not feel heartache?

Yet Jiang Lingyao did not move forward, lifting her eyes calmly.

“Mother, you are unwell. Do not distress yourself on my account.”

Madam Jiang was stunned, staring at her blankly as if her heart had been suddenly struck, the ache overwhelming.

Beside her, Jiang Xiuyuan caught Song Lian’er’s signal and spoke in a solemn voice.

“Father is not here today. As the legitimate eldest son of the Jiang household, I shall make the decisions. Since everyone is gathered, I hereby announce something.”

For some reason, Jiang Lingyao felt uneasy meeting the triumphant look in Song Lian’er’s eyes.

“Jiang Lingyao, your words and actions are improper. You are unworthy of marrying Prince Pei. Let Lian’er be his secondary wife, so that after you marry, you will not disgrace the Jiang family’s reputation.”

Marriage?

Her brother knew how deeply she had loved Pei Xingzhi.

And now, he was telling her she must give up the marriage?

An indescribable bitterness welled up in Jiang Lingyao’s heart, almost making her laugh aloud.

So this was her family. This was her full brother!

She instinctively looked to her mother, but Madam Jiang, who had just spoken of concern, avoided her gaze and gently patted Song Lian’er’s shoulder with affection.

“Pearl, your brother is doing this for your own good. With Lian’er’s help—she’s so sensible and proper—she can assist you.”

She wanted to see some difference in her mother’s face. Was this really the mother who had thought of her day and night?

All her hopes and longings were suddenly burned away. Jiang Lingyao felt an empty resignation, her eyes hollow.

“What is going on?”

Suddenly, a voice as cold and sharp as a blade sounded behind her. Jiang Lingyao froze and looked up to see Pei Xingzhi walking toward her, his gaze as cold and cutting as ever.

Pei Xingzhi’s mother was the Princess, and his father hailed from the noble Pei family, renowned throughout the capital. Gifted since childhood and highly praised, he had achieved the highest imperial examinations and was now a favored minister of the emperor.

Their families were close, and seeing that their children were compatible, Jiang Lingyao had been blessed with this enviable marriage early on.

When he saw Jiang Lingyao, he suddenly stopped, noticing how fragile and thin she looked, as if a gust of wind might carry her away. His usual coldness softened momentarily.

“Pearl?”

Jiang Lingyao’s heart trembled at the sound of the voice that had once held her heart captive. Her nose tingled with unshed tears.

Pei Xingzhi saw that she did not rush forward like before, and his coldness deepened into something harsher. The usually impassive expression on his face roiled with stormy emotions.

Song Lian’er, who had been watching him closely, clenched her teeth, her gaze darkening with ill intent.