A Lady’s Tranquility Chapter 18.1

Chapter 18(1): Study Companion

When they went back, most of the crowd at the lantern festival had dispersed already.

Yan Lin held the horse and helped her on.

They left the same way that they came.

The only difference was that Yan Lin no longer made the horse gallop but rather, allowed the horse to move freely as he sat on the horse with her. He hated that the road back to the Jiang Mansion couldn’t be longer and longer, right until the end of the world, until the seas dried and rocks decayed, that there would be no end.

The teenager was filled with sincerity. His beloved sweetheart was sitting on his horse, nestled in his arms. In that moment, he could not think of anything else.

His violent heartbeat had taken over his entire mind.

He longed for the future days to come so much that he didn’t notice that the person in front of him was quieter than before.

The wind was slightly cold.

Jiang Xue Ning could feel the burning warmth radiating from the chest behind her. But as she looked in front at the increasingly familiar road back to the Jiang Mansion, she felt more and more confused – if she was the age of the teenage girl that she should be and had shed the stubbornness and thoughtlessness that she had in the previous life, then when she met such a young man who would go through fire and water for her, she would probably temper her personality and for his eyes, for his hands that tightly gripped hers and for that hibiscus flower that he had cast down from the high wall, be happy, be shy, be excited and be moved.

But she was no longer like that.

It was already late in the night when they arrived at the entrance of the Jiang Mansion.

Yan Lin helped her dismount from the horse then instructed her with a smile, “You have to sleep well tonight when you get back.”

After speaking, he returned back onto the horse.

But when he turned and saw that she was still standing at the gate watching him, he said, “Go back into the mansion. I’ll watch you.”

Jiang Xue Ning quietly looked back at him and asked, “Yan Lin, you’re always pampering me like this and protecting me but have you ever thought about what I would do if one day I didn’t have you anymore?”

Yan Lin was startled.

He felt that she was somewhat down today and simply replied, “How unfounded, how can you not have me? I’ll always be by your side.”

Jiang Xue Ning felt her heart ache. Even looking at him made her feel uncomfortable so she laughed softly, “That’s true. I’ll go back then.”

Yan Lin nodded.

She turned and walked into the side entrance that was left open for her.

Yan Lin sat upright on the horse and held the reins as he watched her figure gradually disappear from his sight but inside, he suddenly felt a sense of confusion.

—

A lot of people in the Jiang Mansion were still awake, waiting for her to return.

During the day, word had long spread that an assassin had appeared in the capital. When Jiang Bo You heard that Jiang Xue Ning had been present at the time and was being kept hostage by the assassin, his heart almost jumped out of his chest in fright.

Fortunately word came that she was fine.

But later, this girl was pulled over by Yan Lin to go to the Lantern Festival which indeed made one angry.

Jiang Bo You decided inside that after Jiang Xue Ning came back, he definitely had to give her a good lesson.

But when she came back, her expression was truly not good.

At that moment, he couldn’t help but feel heartache for the girl – the assassination was either done by King Pingan’s rebellion party or the rebelling followers of Tianjiao. She was already so unfortunate that if she was harshly lectured as well then it would be too much.

So before he even spoke, his heart softened and he said to her in a warm tone, “There has been a lot of unrest in the Capital recently. I heard that the Imperial Guards have arrented many of the rebelling party. Xie Ju An wasn’t the only one who was attacked today. Although yhou are good friends with Yan Lin and I trust him, but no one knows what incidents might happen. During this period of time, go out less. Wait until it’s peaceful again before you go out.”

He thought that Jiang Xue Ning would argue back.

But he didn’t expect that this time, she would actually lower her eyes and respond, “Okay.”

For more than ten days afterwards, she really didn’t go out again.

Only, in the day after the attack, she sent someone to Xie Street Alley to ask Zhou Yin Zhi to take his name card to Yan Lin.

She didn’t ask about what happened after that.

Not two days after, Yan Lin followed his father, Marquis Hou to visit the Fentai Camp and Tongzhou Camp and didn’t return until the 21^st of September.

It was the morning of that day that news came from the palace that Princess Leyang was envious that the Wenhua Hall was always holding lectures and had asked the Emperor to find her a few reliable study companion as well as she wanted to start studying seriously.

 Thus, the Emperor sent word to select a study companion for the Eldest Princess.

During court, each minister was informed that if they had daughters that were of similar age to the Eldest Princess, then they should choose one with good character to report up for the palace to select.

The minds of all the civil and military ministers started buzzing.

Who didn’t know that the Eldest Princess of Leyang was favored?

Plus as of date, which one of the companions who were accompanying the Emperor to listen to lectures at Wenhua Hall weren’t from a noble or aristocratic family?

Not to mention how useful the label of having ‘entered the palace’ and being ‘the study companion of the Eldest Princess’ would be when the girl got married in the future, just the opportunity to connect with potential in-laws and the honour to the family after getting selected to enter the palace was worth everyone to put in the effort to compete.

Jiang Xue Ning didn’t know how other families were arranging it.

She only knew about her own household.

After Jiang Bo You came back from the palace, the told the matter to Meng shi and said, “I heard that during the Double Ninth Festival, Ning girl seemed to have been looked upon in a different light by the Eldest Princess of Leyang at the Qing Yuan Earl Mansion who seemed to quite like her. Every family is offer a candidate for the palace to pick through. Whether it’s character or talent and intelligence, Xue Hui is naturally more suitable. She’s calm, dignified, understands the bigger picture and doesn’t easily cause trouble but she may not win against the girls from the other families. If Ning girl is offered up as candidate, she has a high chance of being selected but she has a naughty temperament, is probably even more cunning that the Eldest Princess and she can’t tolerate suffering any wrongs. What should we do?”

Meng shi frowned when she heard this.

She knew that Jiang Bo You was particularly fond towards Ning girl because he felt guilty and also because of the Yong Yi Marquis but the mater of entering the palace to be a study companion to the Eldest Princess was of great importance. How could one be rest assured if Jiang Xue Ning was to go?

She replied, “Ning’er is flighty and rash but it is restrictive in the palace so she may not be willing to go.”

Jiang Bo You glanced at her, “I actually also think that Hui’er would be more suitable.”

They weren’t being biased, Ning’er did have a worrisome personality.

It didn’t matter if they weren’t able to gain the honour, they only feared she might cause trouble.

However, this matter still had to be discussed with the two sisters so Jiang Bo You instructed, “Go and invite the two girls over.”

Meng shi suddenly felt angry and sighed, “I only fear that Ning’er will make a ruckus for the spot and won’t give up.”

—

Jiang Xue Ning was originally taking a midday nap and was irritated to be suddenly woken up but she wasn’t able to make a scene.

After cleaning up and going, she discovered that Jiang Xue Hui had arrived earlier.

She gave her greetings then sat down.

Jiang Bo You told the matter to them then said, “I only know about the matter of selecting the study companions. What exactly will be learnt or done once you enter the palace is still unknown but the study companions of the princes in this dynasty all have to live in the palace. You all know what kind of place the palace is, you have to be extremely careful and cautious so we have to close a steady natured companion but Ning’er seems to be favored by the Eldest Princess. What do you two think?”

There was silence for a moment.

Jiang Xue Nin sat motionlessly without a word.

Jiang Xue Hui though, lowered her head and looked at the embroidered handkerchief in her hand then remembered the person she had bumped into on her way back from the Chengguo Duke Mansion’s Double Ninth banquet a few days ago. However, she wasn’t the legitimate di* daughter of the mansion. Although she had the title of a di daughter, but in front of Jiang Xue Ning, she had no position to vie for herself.
*[Di daughters refer to the legitimate daughters from the official wife.]

She simply said softly, “It’s up to the parents to make the decision.”

Meng shi though, glanced deliberately at Jiang Xue Ning, “You two are the only di daughters in the mansion. Originally, either of you would be suitable to go. One has a calm temperament and one is favoured by the princess. But entering the palace isn’t an easy matter after all, plus It is as a study companion. We don’t need you to gain any glory for the mansion, being able to come out peacefully is all that matters. Ning’er has a personality that is too lively. Even though Young Marquis Yan may perhaps be there to watch out for you in the palace but the rules in the palace are strict and the Young Marquis can’t live there so he may not be able to fully take care of you. Thus, it stands to reason that it would be more suitable for Hui’er to go.”

Jiang Xue Ning listened expressionlessly.

Jiang Bo You though, paid attention to her expression. After hearing Meng shi’s words, he started feeling inexplicably guilty and felt that it was rather unfair towards his second daughter so he hurriedly added, “Of course, the Princess likes Ning girl so since it’s to be the Princess’ study companion, if you want to go, we’ll submit your name up.”

Meng shi pursed her lips and didn’t say anymore.

Jiang Xue Hui didn’t really carry any high hopes.

She was familiar with the temperament of Ning’er. As long as she had something, Ning’er would definitely want something even better. The other young ladies from the aristocratic families were competing for the opportunity of entering the palace to become a study companion so how could Ning’er let her get her wish?

However, this time, she actually had just that little bit of hope.

But it was just a little bit…

Jiang Xue Ning sat there for a while as everyone looked at her.

Jiang Bo You and Meng shi waited for a long while but didn’t hear her say anything so they thought she had silently passed this opportunity to Jiang Xue Hui. For a moment, they had a feeling of a large stone dropping internally.

Meng shi breathed a sigh of relief. Just as she was about to say, “Then the matter is settled,” Jiang Xue Ning stood up from her seat.

The words that she had yet to say were stuck in her throat.

Meng shi’s eyelids twitched.

Jiang Xue Hui turned her eyes to look and sighed bitterly inside, sure enough.

Even Jiang Boi You shouted inside, “It’s going to be bad,” and started mulling how to settle the matter if Ning girl made a fuss later.

However unexpectedly, Jiang Xue Ning didn’t look at anyone. She closed her eyes and bowed, “Father and mother are being polite. Although this opportunity to enter the palace is rare, this daughter knows her own temperament is stubborn and wilful. But sister is dignified and virtuous and is willing to go. Plus, she has had contact with the noble ladies from the other aristocratic families in the Capital so it’ll be more appropriate for her to enter the palace. This daughter has no objection to letting sister go this time.”

Jiang Bo You was suddenly stupefied, “What did you say?”

Meng shi couldn’t help but sit up straight, “You…”

Jiang Xue Hui was also stunned. Her eyes flashed and she became inexplicably moved, “Little sister Ning…”

Jiang Xue Ning thought of Wan niang and without giving her any face, simply said, “Don’t think that I’m trying to fulfil anyone this time, I don’t want to enter the palace because I can’t stand the rules in the palace. If in the future you want something that I set my eyes on, I’ll snatch it without fail!”

Jiang Xue Hui looked at her without a word.

Jiang Xue Ning though turned her eyes away and said to Jiang Bo You and Meng shi, “If father and mother have no other matters then this daughter will take her leave.”

How could Jiang Bo You and Meng shi have thought that things would be so simple?

They didn’t yet have the time to react.

When they heard her words, some complicated emotions appeared inside their heart – they had thought that Ning’er would definitely cause trouble but she had let go of such a great opportunity so lightly, making them feel somewhat ashamed of their original thoughts.

Jiang Bo You hurriedly said, “There’s no other matters.”

Jiang Xue Ning didn’t delay, she gave her greetings again then left the room.

The three other people were left in the hall, each with a different expression.