Chapter 204 - 179: Failed Wholesale Imitation

Jiang Xian was puzzled. "The imperial selection is about to begin. Why are they visiting our home?"

"They want to see your portrait," Ms. Zhang said, taking a sip of tea. "You are the Emperor’s most treasured, favored concubine. They believe your appearance is the exact type the Emperor prefers. They also assume that after giving birth to the Eldest Prince, your looks must have faded. So, they want to choose a girl from their own clans who resembles you—but is younger and more beautiful—to enter the palace and compete with you for his affection."

When Ms. Zhang finished speaking, the palace maids of Bihua Palace who were attending to them exchanged incredulous looks.

People are creatures of habit; after spending every day with Gu Zhaoyi, one should have grown accustomed to her, even if she was a nation-toppling Heavenly Fairy. But it was an undeniable, objective fact that Gu Zhaoyi was stunning. Even after childbirth, she had only grown a little fuller, and all in the right places. Her eyes were like wisps of smoke and morning mist, her face like the bright moon and pear blossoms—pure, radiant, and captivating.

Jiang Xian asked, "Do we even have a portrait of me at home?"

"No, and even if we did, we couldn’t show it to outsiders. You’re a palace concubine now." Ms. Zhang assured her that no matter how much gold, silver, and jewels people offered, she hadn’t revealed a single detail about her stepdaughter’s looks. She then listed everyone who had come to visit so that Jiang Xian could be on her guard.

"Was there anything else?"

"Yes. There were also people who tried to curry favor with your family to get a connection to you ahead of time. They promised your brother all sorts of benefits."

Ms. Zhang found it amusing as she spoke. "They really take me for some country bumpkin they can easily manipulate. My daughter is the most favored concubine in the palace. If she wanted to pave the way for her brother, wouldn’t her help be far more effective than any favors they could promise? I’d have to be an idiot to sell out my daughter for the sake of strangers I’ve just met. Besides, if Yanchuan doesn’t have any ambition of his own, no amount of help will do him any good. I told them I’m just the stepmother, so my words carry no weight. I also told them that Jiang Ke’s relationship with you has soured ever since he married me, his second wife. Once they realize this path is a dead end, fewer people should be keeping an eye on our family, and we can finally get some peace and quiet."

Even though they were all officials’ wives, the social standing of an official’s wife from the remote countryside was worlds apart from one in the Capital City.

Here, at the foot of the Emperor’s throne, social networks were a tangled mess. One might bump into a titled Madam just by taking a walk. Jiang Ke held a prestigious but leisurely post in the Hanlin Academy, allowing him to focus on his scholarship without any real power. His daughter, however, was exceptionally successful, making many people curious about Gu Zhaoyi’s family. When people of high status sent invitations, Ms. Zhang had no choice but to attend. For her, these events were like walking to the execution grounds. Even the most exquisite delicacies tasted like wax. It was absolute torture.

Thanks to Gu Zhaoyi and the Rong Family, Ms. Zhang wasn’t deliberately given a hard time. But at such gatherings, only the young ladies of aristocratic families, born and raised in the Capital City, could navigate the social currents like fish in water. An outsider, even as an invited guest, could find no enjoyment in it.

Jiang Xian said, "I’ll take care of Yanchuan’s affairs. You’re right, there’s no need to listen to the benefits they offer."

She always distinguished clearly between insiders and outsiders; of course she would help her own family. "Don’t worry, Mother. And you don’t need to feel awkward about Yanchuan benefiting from my protection. You were so good to me when I had nothing, and I will be just as good to him. There’s only one thing you’ve gotten wrong—the number of people visiting our home is only going to increase."

Hearing this, Ms. Zhang grew anxious.

Jiang Xian explained, "Using the ’stepmother’ excuse as a shield should have worked. But then they saw that mountains of gold and silver couldn’t sway you. You sent in your name-tablet to request an audience, and I saw you immediately... News like that is impossible to suppress. Anyone who gives it a moment’s thought will realize the truth: our family is genuinely close."

Ms. Zhang: ...

"It seems I’ve aged in vain. My understanding of worldly affairs is no match for yours, Your Highness."

"Life in the palace forges a person; there’s no need to be envious, Mother. Once they realize how close we truly are, those who want to curry favor will start bringing you real, substantial gifts. The treatment you receive at gatherings will only improve. With them to keep you company, you’ll become a master of social graces in no time." It was a rare display of dark humor from Jiang Xian.

As the saying goes, "like attracts like." Jiang Ke was a refined scholar, so it was only natural that the second wife he married would also have a quiet and reserved nature.

Hearing this vision of her future, Ms. Zhang’s face went pale. She felt a sudden urge to flee back to the countryside that very night.

But if she stayed in the countryside, she might never see her daughter again. And if she stayed in the Capital City, her son’s prospects would be much more secure... ’Fine,’ she thought, ’I’ll just have to accept my fate.’ Seeing her trepidation, Jiang Xian smiled comfortingly. "Look on the bright side. These are all social connections. You can pick one or two people you click with and form deeper friendships."

"I feel like some of them secretly look down on me."

"They might look down on you in their hearts, but they still have to flatter you to your face. Isn’t there a certain satisfaction in that?"

An honest soul was not built for a life of power plays and easy victories. Ms. Zhang was simply afraid that a slip of the tongue on her part would bring disaster upon her daughter.