Chapter 34: First Meeting of Old Acquaintances

Yang Luo walked into the hall where today's examination was to be held; the spacious room was already occupied by more than ten women.

Those who had come to participate were all roughly the same age as the princesses. At a glance, the teenage girls were like a hundred flowers in bloom, a sight of vibrant beauty.

However, she didn't recognize a single one of them.

Although she had lived in the capital for five years in her previous life, she had been confined to her home. Furthermore, from the day she arrived, the Duke of Ding'an's manor had ceased hosting banquets.

At the time, she hadn't thought much of it, but she realized later that it was clearly intended to prevent the people of the capital from seeing her.

Speaking of which, her uncle and aunt were truly incredibly patient.

Those five years were exactly when the children of the Duke of Ding'an's household would have needed banquets to socialize and arrange marriages, yet the manor doors were forcibly kept closed to others.

Since they didn't host others, their attendance at other people's banquets naturally had to be minimized as well.

Because she couldn't return the favor by hosting, Yang Hui had thrown many tantrums about being unable to attend others' banquets.

Her memory lasted until the day she married and died; even then, the siblings of the Yang family had not yet married, nor had they even settled on suitable candidates.

The delay was quite significant.

Yang Luo couldn't help but smile.

"This younger sister isn't nervous at all."

A voice came from beside her.

Yang Luo snapped back to reality and saw a woman who had walked over at some unknown point.

It was a girl with a round face and round eyes. Seeing Yang Luo look at her, she reached out and rubbed her own face.

"My face is so stiff, I can't even manage a smile."

Yang Luo said, "No, it's that I'm too nervous and was just smiling foolishly."

The round-faced girl was amused. "To be able to joke like that, you truly aren't nervous." Having said that, she performed a curtsey. "My name is Qin Ying."

Since everyone was here for the examination today, they did not mention their family names to avoid being accused of using their status to bully others, and to prevent others from feeling intimidated.

Yang Luo hurriedly returned the gesture. "Liu Chan." Although she didn't state her family name, she added, "I come from Fuzhou."

Qin Ying was very surprised. "Then Miss Liu's official speech is truly excellent."

This was also an issue with using a false identity; Yang Luo could not speak the Fuzhou dialect at all. But since it was a fake identity, she could make many excuses; as long as she held the invitation, no one would question her.

"There are scholars from the capital at my family's academy, and I learned from them," she said with a smile.

Qin Ying harbored no suspicion, her round eyes brightening. "Your family runs an academy? You must be very learned." She smiled and added, "I only study at a clan school."

Yang Luo thought to herself that she wasn't learned at all; she only possessed foreknowledge.

She knew in advance what would be on the exam and had prepared accordingly.

"My family sent me to see the world," she said. "To learn that there are always people greater than oneself and mountains higher than others."

Qin Ying's round eyes curved into crescents. "Don't be modest. There aren't many who truly know there are higher mountains; most people just know a few characters and dare to pretend to be talented women..."

Before she could finish her sentence, a cold snort came from behind her.

"Qin Ying, who are you badmouthing behind people's backs again?"

Qin Ying tilted her nose up and turned to look. Yang Luo also looked over and saw several more women walking in.

This time, she recognized them.

They were the only ones in the capital she knew.

Yang Luo's gaze fell directly upon one of the girls.

Her cousin, Yang Hui.

The one speaking was indeed Yang Hui.

"What are you, someone who dislikes studying, even doing here?" Yang Hui was clearly very familiar with Qin Ying. As she approached, she continued, "Didn't you say you looked down on associating with us?"

Qin Ying curled her lip and ignored Yang Hui, her gaze falling on the girl behind Yang Hui. Her round eyes curved again as she took a step forward.

"Sister Jiang, I read the poem you wrote last time," she said. "It was beautiful and bright, unlike some people who only know how to pile up flowery words, leaving readers in a fog."

As she spoke, she didn't forget to huff at Yang Hui.

It was obvious that "some people" referred to Yang Hui.

As Yang Hui raised her brows to say something, someone else spoke first.

"Miss... Jiang, is General Liwei your father?"

Yang Hui's gaze fell toward Qin Ying's side. In truth, she had seen them upon entering, but she had glanced over the girl, noted her plain appearance and unfamiliar face, and decided she wasn't any of the most famous noble ladies in the capital she knew, so she wasn't worth noting.

"Sister Rui, your reputation is truly known to everyone," she said with a smile, looking toward the girl beside her.

The girl beside her was sixteen or seventeen, with delicate features. She wore plain clothes without any jewelry, and her expression was distant, appearing somewhat cold.

"Yes, I am Jiang Rui," she said. Looking at the girl beside Qin Ying, she felt the girl's expression was somewhat strange. "You know my father?"

Qin Ying seized the opportunity and said quickly, "Sister Rui, although your father is no longer with us, his prestige remains far-reaching. Miss Liu comes from Fuzhou and knows no one, yet she knows of your father."

A trace of surprise appeared in Jiang Rui's eyes, and her indifferent expression softened.

*Actually, that's not...* Yang Luo felt a bit awkward, but naturally, she would not deny it at a time like this.

"Yes, I have long heard of General Liwei's prestige. Seeing his daughter today, it is indeed true that a tiger does not sire a dog," she said.

Yang Hui curled her lip beside them. *This country bumpkin, how does she praise people like that? Jiang Rui isn't a boy. Besides, although General Liwei was a military officer, his daughter did not follow in his footsteps but became a famous talented woman; Jiang Rui has always taken pride in her scholarship.*

Jiang Rui was not unhappy about being called a "dog" (a common idiom for a child following a parent's greatness); her expression became even softer. "Thank you for the praise. I only hope I do not tarnish my father's reputation."

Looking at her, Yang Luo suddenly asked, "Do you have a younger sister?"

It seemed this girl from Fuzhou really knew a lot about her family. Jiang Rui nodded, and perhaps because her sister was mentioned, a trace of a smile appeared in her eyes. "Yes, her name is Jiang Meng, but she is still small and could not come this time."

Yang Luo let out an "oh" as if talking to herself. "Yes, she is still small at this time."

Yang Hui had already lost her patience. She had no interest in wasting time chatting with a country bumpkin and interrupted them. "Sister Jiang, Miss Shang and the others are over there. Let's go over and greet them."

As they spoke, the others in the hall also looked over, waving toward Jiang Rui and Yang Hui.

Jiang Rui did not linger. She gave Yang Luo a slight nod and walked away with Yang Hui.

Qin Ying whispered beside her, "You're amazing. You made the Iceberg Jiang smile on your very first conversation."

Yang Luo looked at her. "Iceberg Jiang?"

Qin Ying giggled and gestured toward Jiang Rui's retreating figure. "She is always cold and humorless. Everyone gave her the nickname 'Iceberg,' but the Iceberg melted very quickly today. Usually, she only shows a smile in front of the Heir of the Earl of Yongwu."

As she spoke, she winked.

"Do you know the Heir of the Earl of Yongwu?"

Yang Luo looked at her. "I do. The Heir of the Earl of Yongwu is named Zhu Yunxiao."

Qin Ying's eyes widened. "Ha! You from Fuzhou really did come fully prepared; you even know that."

Yang Luo smiled. Yes, she had indeed come fully prepared.

She just hadn't expected that before meeting her husband, Zhu Yunxiao, she would first meet his former wife—or more accurately, his deceased wife.

And it was because of her that she had died: Jiang Rui, the daughter of General Liwei.