Reborn: The First Rank "Madam"

C140 – Beauty

The merriment and happiness of the men in front did not reach the rear of the hall. When the women gathered together, it was inevitable that they would engage in simultaneous gossip. Right from the start, there were individuals who, not knowing the identities of the two young ladies, immediately delved into the most well-known rumors upon opening their mouths.

“In the past, the Zuo Family was a respected noble lineage. How did Tutor Zuo fall into such a state after all these years?” The woman with a penchant for talking too much sighed as she spoke.

Both Mrs. Xue and Zuo Shuhui hung their heads, wishing they could tear her mouth apart right then and there. Regrettably, their presence was rather inconspicuous, and someone else chimed in, “They’ve been exiled to the countryside for twenty years now. No matter how illustrious their reputation once was, it’s been overshadowed by the passage of time.”

Some people made earnest attempts to signal the two ladies with meaningful looks, but regrettably, their spirited discussion prevented them from noticing such subtle hints at the moment.

As Madam Jiang heard the conversation veering towards outrageous territory and witnesses it adding fuel to the fire, she finally had to cough twice and intervene, “Ladies, let’s pause for a moment and have some tea.”

She turned her head and smiled at Mrs. Xue and her daughter, remarking, “Madam Zuo, Miss Zuo, there’s no malice intended here. We’ve merely heard some idle gossip from the outside and indulged in some nonsensical chatter.”

Despite her exceedingly friendly demeanor and gentle tone, her smiling eyes couldn’t quite hide the disdain she felt toward Mrs. Xue and her daughter.

Initially, when she had initiated contact, she hadn’t targeted the Zuo Family at all. It was her own son who had personally drafted a letter for her to send to the Zuo Family.

She had initially regarded her son as the apple of the Zuo Mansion’s eye, so she hadn’t given it much thought. At that time, the entire capital believed that Miss Zuo had captured the heart of Master Lu, and her son had an official wife.

Little did she expect that in just a few days, the tide would turn completely, with rumors maligning her Zuo Family spreading like wildfire. Looking at Miss Zuo now, she wouldn’t even be deemed suitable as a concubine for her son.

Given her son’s standing within the Jiang’s Mansion, even if he considered taking a concubine, he had to be mindful of their family background. Not to mention a daughter from a modest family who had already lost her innocence.

Throughout the entire ordeal, Zuo Shuhui had kept her head down, remaining silent. Under the bright lights, all that could be seen was her profile and the portion of her fair neck that was exposed.

Mrs. Xue clenched her fist tightly beneath the table, forced a smile, and uttered, “It’s alright, it’s perfectly fine if outsiders wish to harm my Zuo Family, even if it’s a humble family like ours that suffers.”

Only now did everyone become aware. Their gazes toward Mrs. Xue and her daughter took on a hint of curiosity, especially when they fixed their eyes on Zuo Shuhui. It was as if they wished to strip her bare and personally examine her.

Faced with these repugnant looks, Zuo Shuhui endured it for a while but ultimately couldn’t bear it any longer. She intentionally knocked over a wine cup, spilling a few drops on her skirt, and used the excuse of cleaning up to leave.

“Someone, swiftly escort Miss Zuo to change her attire. You all are so clumsy, how can you serve me?” After Madame Jiang finished her pretense of reprimanding the servants, she offered an apology to Mrs. Xue and put on a façade of superficiality.

Madam Jiang had managed the household for over a decade, so her methods naturally excelled. Even Jiang Che’s legal wife received her utmost attention.

Walking through the corridors of Jiang’s Mansion, Zuo Shuhui trailed behind a young girl, taking in the enchanting glow of red paper lanterns that made her feel as if she had entered a heavenly realm.

As she continued, her pace slowed, and her demeanor became increasingly earnest. The more she observed, the more she appreciated the opulence and refinement of Jiang’s Mansion.

After passing through the corridor, she followed the young girl into Jiang’s Mansion’s backyard.

In the distance, she could see stunning peony flowers in full bloom on the other side of a pond. Despite the subdued lighting, their beauty remained captivating.

“What is this place?” Zuo Shuhui turned to inquire of the maidservant guiding her, but to her surprise, the maidservant had somehow disappeared. She found herself alone in the vast garden.

Unperturbed, she took a few more steps forward. As she drew nearer, her view became clearer. Aside from the sea of peony flowers, there was nothing else in sight.

Most women cherished flowers, especially peonies, known for their opulence. Zuo Shuhui would have merely glanced at them if they were in a single pot, but the fact that they were meticulously arranged in the garden was truly astonishing.

Throughout her journey, the opulence and affluence she had witnessed gave her a keen understanding of the financial resources of Jiang’s Mansion. Such a family had previously only existed in her dreams.

She bit her lip, her determination to marry into Duke Zhen Manor growing stronger. With power and wealth, days like these would soon be hers.

Just as she indulged in her reverie, voices drifted in from outside the garden. She snapped back to reality, momentarily disoriented about how to return.

Zuo Shuhui recalled her elder brother’s instructions before her departure. She lifted her gown and hurried towards the peonies.

Old Master Jiang, too frail to endure the commotion, had left Jiang Che to escort the guests to the backyard to admire the flowers. He retreated to his room to examine the gifts.

Old Master Jiang lacked notable skills and didn’t engage in much work throughout his life, but his spending habits were top-notch. That’s how Jiang’s Mansion attained its current grandeur.

Zuo Shaoqing brought up the rear and noticed that those ahead had halted after a few steps, creating a pathway as the crowd dispersed.

As the crowd parted, he spotted Lu Zheng standing before him, waving with clear intent.

Zuo Shaoqing scratched his nose. Being the center of attention wasn’t his comfort zone, but he nonetheless jogged over to Lu Zheng.

There were no signs of intimacy between them as they walked side by side at the front. Zuo Shaoqing cast a sidelong glance at Jiang Che’s contemplative expression and inwardly scoffed.

This time, Zuo Yunwen paid no mind to how awkward it might be for his son to join a man. Leveraging his status as Zuo Shaoqing’s father, he followed suit and walked beside Lu Zheng with propriety.

Upon entering the garden, they spotted an elegant figure gracefully dancing amidst the flowers. The moonlight bathed the garden in a bright glow, and starlight adorned the various peony flowers, creating a truly enchanting scene.

The graceful figure resembled a flower’s spirit, elegantly leaping among the blossoms. Her billowing attire resembled a splendid flower itself, equally breathtaking.

A wry smile tugged at Zuo Shaoqing’s lips. He had already identified the woman dancing in this “less-than-stellar garden” at night.

Zuo Yunwen was momentarily shocked and recognized his daughter’s beautiful face as well. He opened his mouth as if to say something but quickly held back.

To other men, the sight before them might be an exquisite beauty, but for Zuo Yunwen, the father, it meant little.

While the Great Yang’s expectations for a girl’s conduct didn’t require seclusion, having a girl like Zuo Shuhui subjected to the lustful gazes of numerous men was certainly not in line with noble standards.

Jiang Che had never laid eyes on Zuo Shuhui before, but he deduced her identity from Zuo Yunwen’s reaction. He couldn’t help but sneer. This woman was quite audacious to employ such a tactic to catch Lu Zheng’s attention.

However, he discreetly observed Lu Zheng. Instead of fixating on the scene in front of him, Lu Zheng’s gaze rested on an empty pool beside him. No one could discern his thoughts.

It was a pity; it seemed Lu Zheng genuinely had no interest in women. The present Zuo Shuhui even tempted him slightly.

Zuo Shaoqing’s eyes gleamed with opportunity, so he exclaimed in surprise, “Hey, Big Sis? What brings you here?”

The distinctive and clear voice of the youth resonated through the garden, rousing the countless men who had been entranced. It also startled a particular girl who had been “chasing after the flowers and the moon” among the flower bushes.

“Ah…” Zuo Shuhui turned around and, upon spotting a group of men, exclaimed in astonishment. She then crouched down and concealed herself amidst the flowers.

However, the peony blossoms proved insufficient to hide someone as sizeable as her. Therefore, in front of everyone’s eyes, there was a spectacle of a beautiful woman amidst delicate flowers, shining brightly.

Many of the men couldn’t help but swallow nervously. Zuo Shaoqing found himself touching his arm, unable to look directly at what was unfolding. He never expected Zuo Shuhui to take such daring actions; it was like gambling with her own life.

The people present were all government officials and nobles. It was hard to say if they were single, but they were undoubtedly the most influential nobles in the capital. As long as her luck wasn’t terrible, it would be relatively easy for her to capture a man’s heart.

Zuo Shuhui quickly assessed the situation, pinpointing Lu Zheng’s location. More importantly, she spotted Zuo Shaoqing standing beside Lu Zheng.

Everyone grasped the implications immediately. She was momentarily shocked but decisively rushed in Zuo Shaoqing’s direction.

“Third brother…” Zuo Shuhui’s face displayed a trace of panic as she gathered her skirt and dashed forward. Under the moonlight and the colorful surroundings, she didn’t end up in a disheveled state; instead, she exuded an extraordinary and refined aura.

Zuo Shaoqing discreetly slid a prepared meat bone from his sleeve and flicked it toward Zuo Shuhui’s knee.

His movements were stealthy. All eyes were fixated on Zuo Shuhui’s face, so they wouldn’t catch his subtle actions. Lu Zheng, who had been observing him, naturally refrained from exposing him.

Everyone watched as the ethereal girl hurried over. The closer she got, the more enchanting she appeared. Her figure was voluptuous, her skin resembled porcelain, and her facial features were immaculate. Even the hint of anxiety on her face gripped their hearts.

Regrettably, just as she was about to reach them, the enchanting maiden let out a startled cry and stumbled, falling into the pond with a resounding “plop.”

“Quick… Quick, someone save her…” Everyone surrounded Zuo Shaoqing and quickly pushed him aside.

Although April’s weather wasn’t bitterly cold, it was still cooler compared to the winter months. People were draped in their thick cloaks during the nighttime, so the pond water was bound to be uncomfortably chilly.

Consequently, several ministers who had contemplated jumping into the water to rescue her hesitated. As appealing as the beauty was, it wasn’t worth jeopardizing their health.

The moment Zuo Shuhui plunged into the water, Zuo Shaoqing noticed the anxious look on Jiang Che’s face. He nudged Lu Zheng’s shoulder, causing Lu Zheng to stagger and almost tumble into the water himself.

Zuo Shaoqing didn’t comprehend the situation fully but acted swiftly, grabbing Lu Zheng’s arm and pulling him to his side. Subsequently, he discreetly kicked Jiang Che’s leg when no one was watching.

This kick was delivered with maximum force. If it had been an ordinary person, they would likely have been severely injured. However, Jiang Che possessed some martial arts training, so his muscles and bones were more resilient.

Consequently, Jiang Che ended up falling into the pond while being scrutinized by numerous onlookers.

From an outsider’s perspective, Jiang Che’s actions appeared to be driven by concern for rescuing the girl who had fallen into the water. As for why he ended up falling instead of diving, well, everyone was too preoccupied with their own regrets about not having the beauty to themselves to contemplate it.