Chapter Fourteen: The Eldest Legitimate Daughter

It is a journey of more than ten days from Luzhou to the capital. After performing the ancestral rites, the Jiang family finally set out.

The late spring rain was chilly, and the damp, piercing air was unsettling. Seeing that they were only half a day away from the capital, Jiang Ping intended to stop at a courier station to rest, but the old Madam was eager to reach the city, so the group pressed on through the rain. As a result, a wheel on the old Madam’s carriage snapped, forcing them to pull over in the downpour to wait for repairs.

Amidst the driving rain, the sound of horse hooves and creaking wheels approached from behind. Jiang Nian pulled back the carriage curtain to look out and saw a group of men rounding the bend. Despite the rain, they were disciplined, alert, and exuded a formidable, murderous aura. In the center of the procession, four tall, sturdy black horses pulled an expansive carriage; the golden bells beneath the eaves chimed crisply, ringing out clearly through the heavy rain.

Perhaps sensing that the pace of the procession had slowed, the person inside the carriage asked, "What is the matter?"

Hearing the inquiry, the attendant driving the carriage replied, "Master State Preceptor, there are several carriages stalled on the road. It seems a wheel has broken, and the path is blocked."

The person inside the carriage reached out and pushed aside the dark-patterned Shu silk curtain to look outside, only to lock eyes with a pair of eyes as bright and scorching as spring dew. The man’s long, narrow eyes narrowed slightly, his thin lips revealing a sense of detachment and indifference toward worldly affairs.

Jiang Nian’s heart tightened. She had not expected to encounter the State Preceptor, Lu Moran, here.

Lu Moran, the State Preceptor, was originally the closed-door disciple of the recluse Master Kongwu. In the sixteenth year of the Qingchang era, when natural and man-made disasters occurred frequently, he acted on his master’s orders to enter the imperial court and present the Dragon Pearl, ensuring the continued fortune of the Great Yue. Since his arrival, the nation’s power had indeed flourished day by day. The common people revered him as a god, and the Emperor trusted him implicitly, even entrusting him with military and state affairs.

The influence of Lu Moran and the Directorate of Astronomy gradually permeated every level of Great Yue. The aristocratic families were both fearful and wary of him, yet unwilling to be suppressed; in secret, they slandered him as a sorcerer bringing ruin to the nation, and plots and assassinations never ceased. On the surface, however, they feigned compliance, trying every possible way to get their own kin into the Directorate of Astronomy in hopes of spying on the State Preceptor’s secrets.

Yet, the Directorate of Astronomy did not select people based on family background, scholarship, or gender; they looked only at destiny. Over the years, only a handful of people had become the "Scripture Attendants" by Lu Moran’s side. Jiang Yu was one of them.

Recalling how Jiang Yu had used the State Preceptor’s power to suppress her in her past life, Jiang Nian’s expression darkened. She suddenly dropped the curtain, blocking the man’s gaze. She had to find a way to discover what the State Preceptor saw in Jiang Yu so she could put a stop to it. However, she could not act too hastily, lest she alert him.

Across the way, Lu Moran noticed the fleeting wariness and caution on the young girl’s face, and his brows twitched slightly. The young acolyte sitting beside him chuckled, "That young lady is quite unique; she didn't show any reverence or infatuation toward you, Shixiong."

Seeing that the coachman was taking too long to fix the carriage, Jiang Ping wanted to send a servant to ask the others for help, but upon glancing at the insignia on their carriage—the mark of the Directorate of Astronomy—he was so terrified that he repeatedly urged his own coachman to clear the path. It was clear how much Jiang Ping feared this State Preceptor.

With the road clear, Lu Moran’s carriage departed without hesitation, not even sparing Jiang Ping a glance. Jiang Ping remained bowed, respectfully seeing the State Preceptor off before returning to his carriage.

The maids in the rear carriages peered out curiously. "Is that the famous State Preceptor? He is surprisingly handsome, isn't he?"

"What good is being handsome? He is a Daoist priest!"

"Can't a Daoist priest return to secular life?"

"How could the Emperor ever allow the State Preceptor to return to secular life?"

"That’s true. The Emperor is desperate for immortality and is relying entirely on the State Preceptor!"

The maids sighed with regret.

...

After midday, the group entered the city, where people from the Jiang estate had long been waiting to receive them. The carriages traveled until they reached the second gate of the Jiang mansion before stopping.

The rain had lessened. Jiang Nian, supported by Qing'er, stepped out of the carriage. Beneath an oil-paper umbrella, she wore a simple yet elegant dress of rain-mist blue silk, the silver-threaded patterns flowing like ripples. Even in her indifference, she exuded a sense of composure and nobility.

The members of the Jiang family who had come to watch were momentarily stunned. They had only heard that Jiang Nian’s beauty resembled that of her mother, Madam Chen, but many had never seen what Madam Chen looked like. However, they knew that a woman who could make the former master of the house decide to marry her on first sight must have been a peerless beauty. Seeing Jiang Nian now, they finally understood.

It was no wonder Jiang Ping insisted on bringing them back, even knowing that Madam Chen and her daughter were a sore spot for his current wife, Madam Qiao. He must have missed Madam Chen dearly. Yet, Madam Chen had initiated a divorce, and the second mistress had died; no one knew exactly what had happened in Luzhou.

The onlookers wore varying expressions, stealing glances at Madam Qiao. Madam Qiao remained composed on the surface, but a storm of jealousy raged within her. Years ago, Jiang Ping had been so bewitched by Madam Chen’s face that he had ignored all her own advances to marry her instead. Now, seeing Jiang Nian wearing that same face, Madam Qiao wished she could tear the skin right off her!

Jiang Yu stood beside her mother, her eyes fixed intently on Jiang Nian. She had assumed that since Jiang Nian grew up in Luzhou, even with the upbringing of a noble-born mother, she could not compare to a refined lady raised in the capital. Yet, the girl’s poise and beauty far exceeded her imagination. She, who had originally held no regard for the newcomer, now felt a deep sense of crisis.

Although she knew her father’s intentions, if Jiang Nian truly entered the palace and became a favored concubine, the Jiang family would have to rely on her to climb higher. Then, everyone would have to fawn over her, and even follow her commands! This was something Jiang Yu could not bear to see. She would absolutely not allow this mysterious older sister to step on her head!

The Jiang family’s future—didn't it depend on her father?! Did it really have to rely on Jiang Nian?! Even if her father was only pretending to favor her, she wouldn't allow it! She refused!

Jiang Yu snatched the umbrella from a maid’s hand and stepped forward, calling out a sweet, "Father."

Jiang Ping turned a doting gaze toward her. "Yu'er, I have been away from home—have you been obedient and listened to your mother?"

"Of course, Father. Yu'er has missed you!"

Hearing the display of father-daughter affection, Jiang Nian cast a light glance down, catching the unconcealable hostility in Jiang Yu’s eyes. Seeing her look over, Jiang Yu instantly smoothed her expression and said softly, "Father, who is this..."

Jiang Nian looked at her and smiled slightly. "Fourth sister, greetings."

Hearing the title "fourth sister," the smile on Jiang Yu’s face nearly crumbled, and she cast a sharp look at her father. Not long after Madam Chen left for Luzhou while pregnant with Jiang Nian, Madam Qiao had married into the Jiang family and become pregnant with Jiang Yu. The two were born only months apart. In the capital, Jiang Yu had never regarded Jiang Nian as anything, always considering herself the eldest legitimate daughter of the Jiang family.

Jiang Ping’s brow furrowed slightly. When he had left, Yu'er had cried for a long time. It was clear she did not want to relinquish the position of the eldest legitimate daughter. In truth, it would not have been impossible to give Jiang Nian the status of the second legitimate daughter. If the Jiang family claimed she was the second daughter, who would know otherwise?

Jiang Nian smiled from the side. "Father, Fourth Sister is so outstanding; I certainly won't bring shame upon you. Since I have returned to your side, I will follow your every arrangement. I only hope to bring glory to the family."

Hearing this, Jiang Ping pondered. If his daughter were to enter the palace, the status of the eldest legitimate daughter of the clan would naturally be more prestigious. As for whether she would be favored, Jiang Ping did not even consider it. After all, with Jiang Nian’s beauty, how could the lecherous old Emperor not be fond of her? With the Jiang family as her backing, even if she couldn't compare to Noble Consort Qiao, having the skills of Consort Hua would be enough.

Thinking of this, Jiang Ping made up his mind. "Yu'er, this is your elder sister."

Jiang Yu trembled for a moment.

The members of the Jiang family, who were standing under the eaves to hide from the rain and get a look at the excitement, all wore strange expressions upon hearing the words "elder sister." The Third Mistress, Madam Cheng, glanced at the expressionless Madam Qiao, dabbed her cheek with a handkerchief, and laughed, "With such looks, our Yu'er has been left far behind..."