Chapter 8: Untainted by Mud

Thinking back to her previous life, Meng Qinghe seemed to have dressed like this as well.

"I don't care, quickly clean these things off for me." Chi Nan Yi immediately got to work, stripping all the beaded ornaments from her head until she was completely bare, leaving only two jade hairpins, and tied her hair up neatly.

She revealed a delicate jawline.

Chi Nan Yi looked at this face that was identical to her own and couldn't help feeling puzzled.

What exactly is the relationship between herself and the Chi Nan Yi of this world?

Could it be that parallel worlds truly exist?

There must be one!

After all, even something as far‑fetched as time‑travel can appear; what else wouldn't exist?

"Miss, isn't your attire too plain and austere?"

Chi Nan Yi glanced at Cai Pin and said, "What do you know? This is called emerging from the mud unstained."

"Oh."

Mud?

Do you mean the Minister's Residence is mud?

At that moment, footsteps sounded outside the door as the Jiang Clan entered with a group of servants.

"Oh dear, my little ancestor, what time is it, why aren't you dressed yet?"

"Mother, I've already dressed."

The Jiang Clan looked at the gold and silver ornaments tossed aside and exclaimed loudly, "These… Mother prepared for you, why aren't you wearing any of them?"

"Mother, I don't need to go out, no need for such elaborate attire."

"Who said that?" Jiang Clan took her back to the dressing table. "Today's outfit should be even more splendid than when you go out; do you know what day it is today?"

Chi Nan Yi shook her head.

"Your father is hosting a banquet for the outstanding scholars of this year's imperial examinations; the Crown Prince and several high‑born princes will also attend. Do you understand what Mother means?"

Chi Nan Yi smiled inwardly; how could she not understand?

She still wore a clueless expression on her face.

"Crown Prince, Crown Prince! If you can win the Crown Prince's favor, your future—and the future of our Minister's Residence—will be boundless." Jiang Clan placed a hand on her shoulder. "Yi'er, you are the result of my and your father's cultivation; your looks and talent surpass all of Jingcheng. As long as you employ a few tactics, how could the Crown Prince refuse you? Do you know why Mother had you play the zither? The Crown Prince loves the sound of the zither; if you play well, he will surely be enchanted. If you become his Crown Princess and bear an imperial heir early, when the Crown Prince ascends the throne, you will become Empress."

Seeing Jiang Clan's excited expression, Chi Nan Yi could not bring herself to tell her that in her previous life, the Crown Prince indeed married the Minister's Residence's daughters—two of them—and he truly became emperor as they wished, but both daughters of the Minister's Residence turned to a handful of yellow earth and died.

The schemes were fully calculated, yet in the end two lives were sacrificed.

"Mother's intention is to have me play the zither in front of so many men?" Chi Nan Yi's voice was somewhat cold, while Jiang Clan remained lost in her own fantasy, not noticing Chi Nan Yi's growing displeasure.

"Yes, for your zither, Mother even hired the best master in Jingcheng to teach you; even that master says you are a once‑in‑a‑century talent, so the Crown Prince will certainly like you."

"Mother, what kind of person do you think your daughter is? Playing the zither before so many strangers is no different from a courtesan's singing and dancing in a brothel." Chi Nan Yi suddenly rose, shouting angrily, "What Crown Princess? Whoever loves whom, do it; you want me to humbly degrade myself like that—I cannot do it." She removed her cloak and threw it on the ground. "Mother, my body feels unwell; I want to rest."

Hearing this, Jiang Clan couldn't help feeling anxious.

How can this be allowed?

Such a good opportunity—others can't even beg for it!

"Yi'er, you can't speak like that; he is the Crown Prince."

"What about the Crown Prince? Isn't the Crown Prince an outsider?" Chi Nan Yi turned her body away. "I am a well‑raised daughter of a respectable family; I cannot do such shameless things."

"Yi'er… this…"

Seeing the moment ripe, Chi Nan Yi whispered, "I know Mother is considering me; how about this: place the zither in the Rear Garden, have Father bring the Crown Prince over at the right time, and I will use the music as a lure in the garden, drawing only the Crown Prince. It will seem like a chance encounter, not overly deliberate."

Hearing this, Jiang Clan nodded. "Excellent, why didn't I think of that?" Jiang Clan smiled, "Alright, alright, I'll have people prepare right now."

Chi Nan Yi saw Jiang Clan leave and gave a slight smile at the corner of her mouth.

Indeed, she should prepare properly.

Chi Nan Yi rubbed her stomach and said, "Go, prepare some wonton noodles or something for me."

"Miss, the lady has instructed that the morning meal must not be eaten, lest your waist appear too thick."

Thick, her big master.

The original owner is now so thin she's almost skin and bone, and yet they're calling her thick?

"If I get hungry later I won't have the strength to play the zither; Mother sent you to attend to me, not to serve as my masters."

Hearing Chi Nan Yi's words, Cai Pin no longer dared to retort.

She hurriedly rushed away to fetch the morning meal from the kitchen.

"Isn't it said that the young lady has the gentlest temperament?" Cai Pin clenched both fists tightly, eyes filled with astonishment.

Chi Nan Yi ate a full bowl of noodles and a few wontons, finally feeling her body a bit more comfortable. She set down her chopsticks and said contentedly, "This is how a person should live: to eat only such a little each day, ending up as skinny as a bamboo pole—how can that be attractive? The whole body becomes malnourished; health is what matters most!"

At that moment, Jiang Mama entered, originally to inform her to prepare in the garden, never expecting that upon entering she would see a table full of delicacies.

"Oh dear, little ancestor! How much have you eaten?" Jiang Mama looked at her waist and said, "Little ancestor, don't keep eating; if you keep eating, your clothes won't fit any more."

"Jiang Mama, please don't alarm everyone here; I've finally regained my appetite and just want to eat more, why does that make my waist thick?"

Jiang Mama glanced at the time, wondering where there was time to discuss weight here.

"It is my fault, Miss; the lady sent me to tell you that you should go to the garden to prepare."

Chi Nan Yi realized she had delayed the meeting time enough, and thought that now Meng Qingrong had already made thorough preparations.

"Please, Mama, lead the way!"

"Ah!"

Chi Nan Yi arrived at the Rear Garden, where in a pavilion a zither was placed; her jade‑like fingers plucked the strings, and the pleasant music floated, adding a touch of spirit to the whole garden.

However, the pavilion she was in was rather secluded, not the spot Jiang Clan had ordered to be prepared.

People walking in from outside the garden cannot see this pavilion, but from within the pavilion one can look out clearly.

At that moment, a white figure appeared within the pavilion ahead.

In that pavilion, there was also placed a zither.

Chi Nan Yi saw the situation, her fingers sped up their plucking on the zither, and the notes reverberated throughout the entire rear garden.

Meng Qingrong's fingers several times tried to pluck the strings, but were each stopped by the sound.