The Rebirth of an Ill-Fated Consort (Chapters 1- 203)

Chapter 143 : A Beauty Emerges from a Bath

Translated by : Shl

Edited by : Anks & Ely

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Jiang Dan lifted the canopy curtain, but the interior was empty . . . Lu Zhu's and Lian Qiao's unusual behaviour had confirmed Jiang Dan's guess that that man was still in the room. As such, she was unwilling to accept what she saw right now. She urgently scanned every inch of the room, but no matter where she looked, it was abundantly clear that there was no one else there. It all seemed to be a joke.

Jiang Dan forced herself to smile. Focusing on the copper deer figurine, from which incense rose in swirling spirals, she said, "Hasn't Da Jiejie always disliked this incense? How is it that you are using it today?"

"True, I don't really like it," Jiang Ruan replied unhurriedly, "but I'm using it to cover up the smell in the room."

Jiang Dan looked up abruptly, not quite understanding why Jiang Ruan would answer in this way. Wasn't this an admission?

Jiang Ruan smiled faintly and said, "My period has started and my body feels out of sorts. Why is Fourth Sister looking at me like that?"

Believing that Jiang Ruan was simply toying with her, Jiang Dan was so furious that she almost vomited blood. Her words were intolerable, but she could not figure out how to retort. Upon looking around the room again, one could see that Jiang Ruan had very few decorative elements, and apart from the bed, there was nowhere else a big, living person could be hidden. Today had been a fruitless endeavour. Although Jiang Dan's hopes had not been achieved, she still had doubts, and so she stood where she was at a loss as to what to do next.

Jiang Ruan sat up on the bed. While she gathered up her long hair, she stated, "Fourth Sister will be entering the palace selection in a few days."

"That's right," Jiang Dan said with her head lowered, slightly startled.

"I think Fourth Sister must be very happy these days," Jiang Ruan said as she nonchalantly examined her nails. "Since this is the case, it would be a good idea to stay in your room everyday. If anything should happen at this critical juncture, it would be ... such a pity."

Her words held a tinge of ice, and Jiang Dan heard the warning behind them loud and clear – this was a cold war. She was familiar with Jiang Ruan's methods, and if something really did happen, wouldn't that mean that all her efforts would go to waste?

Even though she was deeply unwilling to yield, Jiang Dan schooled her expression so none of her true thoughts were revealed. Instead, she reverted to her usual delicate and timid expression, with some degree of cowardice. She nodded and said, "Da Jiejie has taught me an important lesson. Now Dan niang will return to her courtyard and read Lessons for Women[1] well."

[1] 女戒 (nu jie) – often translated as 'Lessons for Women' (other translations include 'Admonishments for Women'). This book was written by the Han dynasty female intellectual Ban Zhao (班昭), the first known Chinese female historian, for her daughters. The book outlines the four virtues a woman must abide by, and describes the status and position of women in society. More .

After Jiang Dan left, Lu Zhu angrily said, "Fourth Miss clearly had bad intentions. Seeing her like this, I'm really hoping that something happens to her."

Lu Zhu knew all about the relationship between Jiang Dan and Jiang Ruan from the time she entered the fu with Jiang Ruan. It stood to reason that Jiang Dan should be close to Jiang Ruan since she had been raised by Zhao Mei, but in the end, she enjoyed laughing at others' misfortune and adding fuel to the fire. She was truly sinister. Although Lu Zhu had lived in the marketplace earlier in her life, even she understood the principle of repaying a debt of gratitude. This was the first time she had encountered someone who bit the hand which had fed her.