Even though Jiang Jiang had already prepared herself mentally, when she heard Ji Xu'an say this sentence, she still could not help but be startled.
The fleeting flash of astonishment in her eyes did not escape Ji Xu'an's gaze, yet Ji Xu'an said nothing. She merely waited silently for Jiang Jiang's answer.
Jiang Jiang weighed it for a moment, and in the end gently nodded.
There were some things Ji Xu'an had already guessed. If Jiang Jiang continued to deny everything blindly, perhaps the degree of trust she held in Ji Xu'an's heart would only grow lower and lower.
At the moment Ji Xu'an saw Jiang Jiang nod, she could not quite describe what she felt inside. After all, she had long expected it, so it did not count as much of a surprise. It was only when she thought of the complicated relationships involved that Ji Xu'an still could not help but take a deep breath.
"He…" She wanted to ask how that person had treated Jiang Jiang, yet she did not know where to begin.
Jiang Jiang seemed to understand the unspoken part of Ji Xu'an's words. She did not answer immediately, but instead rubbed her hands together and breathed warm air onto her fingers, using that to ease the tension in her heart.
When Ji Xu'an saw this, she subconsciously turned to glance at the air conditioner. The temperature in the room was just right. Ji Xu'an did not feel cold, yet she still stepped toward the bed, took the coat draped over the foot of it, and handed it to Jiang Jiang.
"Put on a coat."
Jiang Jiang draped the coat over herself. In that brief back-and-forth, she had already roughly organized her thoughts.
"Actually, in my memory, before the age of ten, I lived in a Taoist temple with my master."
Ji Xu'an froze for a moment. "A Taoist temple?"
For some reason, she suddenly recalled that Jiang Jiang had once told Ji Heyuan that when she was little she often could not eat her fill, and it took a long time before she could eat meat even once.
Ji Xu'an had always thought that Jiang Jiang had been talking about Xie Xiao's experiences, but at this moment, hearing these words, she suddenly realized that perhaps Jiang Jiang had not lied to them. Everything she said was true.
"Yes." Jiang Jiang nodded lightly. "When I was born, I was frail and sickly. At that time, a master said that I needed to cultivate quietly in a Taoist temple in order to preserve my life."
Ji Xu'an did not know what to say. As soon as she imagined Jiang Jiang living alone in a Taoist temple back then, perhaps very thin and weak because of illness, her heart felt as if it were being pierced by needles, spreading into a dense ache.
She could not help but take a step forward, her hand lifting slightly as well, yet in the next second she restrained herself and lowered it again.
Jiang Jiang did not look at Ji Xu'an. Her gaze was unfocused, and her tone while speaking was calm, more like she was narrating something unrelated to herself.
"My father and my mother did not have a deep relationship. He favored a concubine in the residence and, by extension, also valued the daughter born to that concubine."
"My mother was aloof by nature. Her attitude toward everyone was never particularly warm."
So even though Jiang Jiang was her biological daughter, she was still not close to her.
These few short sentences were already enough for Ji Xu'an to imagine what kind of days Jiang Jiang had lived through as a child.
At the age when she longed most for familial affection, she had been forced to leave home, tasting fully the bitterness and sorrow of having a father who did not dote on her and a mother who did not love her.
Ji Xu'an finally could not restrain herself from lifting her arm and placing her palm over Jiang Jiang's shoulder. A faint warmth passed clearly through the fabric of their clothes to Jiang Jiang.
Jiang Jiang raised her eyes to look at Ji Xu'an. The heartache and sorrow in the other woman's eyes were undisguised; she felt indignant for the Jiang Jiang of the past.
Jiang Jiang lowered her eyelashes again. "It's nothing. It's all in the past anyway, and my master treated me quite well."
The more she said this, the angrier Ji Xu'an felt. This anger was not directed at Jiang Jiang, but at those irresponsible parents.
Ji Xu'an did not hesitate to curse them with the greatest malice. She did not care whether those two people had any difficulties.
No matter what had happened before, none of it was a reason for them to ignore their own biological child.
Jiang Jiang lowered her head, her long lashes casting a small shadow beneath her eyes. Watching this, an uncontrollable thought surged in Ji Xu'an's heart—if only she could have met Jiang Jiang when she was little!
Those two people did not want to care for Jiang Jiang, but she did.
If it had been her, she definitely would not have let Jiang Jiang suffer so much!
Jiang Jiang did not know what Ji Xu'an was thinking. She looked somewhat disappointed, but in truth Jiang Jiang did not feel that sad inside. After all, these matters were already distant to her.
So distant that separated by different times and spaces, perhaps she would never in this lifetime have the chance to see those people again.
"After I turned ten, I returned to the Duke Zhenguo's residence." Jiang Jiang continued recounting her past. "The feudal princes commanded their own troops. His Majesty wanted to obtain the support of the Duke Zhenguo's residence, and a political marriage was the best method."
Everything she said matched Ji Xu'an's earlier guesses one by one, yet Ji Xu'an felt not the slightest relief in her heart. Instead, it grew heavier.
She would rather Jiang Jiang had lived in a happy and complete family, had a fiancé with mutual affection, than be treated like a chess piece, manipulated by others and living a life not of her own choosing.
Perhaps because the pain in Ji Xu'an's eyes was too obvious, Jiang Jiang seemed as if burned by flames. Her long lashes trembled several times involuntarily, and her lips pressed together slightly.
After a few seconds, Jiang Jiang spoke again.
"The Duke Zhenguo had only me as his legitimate daughter." As she spoke, she unconsciously twisted her fingers together. "My half-sister did wish to marry the Crown Prince, but unfortunately her status was ultimately too low."
Not only His Majesty, but the other court officials as well could not accept a Crown Princess born of a concubine.
Ji Xu'an could imagine that under such circumstances, Jiang Jiang's situation must have been extremely difficult.
Her half-sister was deeply favored by her father and wholeheartedly wished to marry the Crown Prince. From then on, she would certainly regard Jiang Jiang as a thorn in her side and a nail in her flesh, targeting and troubling her at every turn.
The only two people who could have been Jiang Jiang's support also turned a blind eye to her circumstances, so she could only rely on herself.
Thinking of this, Ji Xu'an could completely understand why Jiang Jiang's guard was so heavy. Because she had not received much trust or love, she would instinctively doubt every person who appeared by her side.
The reason Jiang Jiang had concealed things from her before was also because she herself had not done enough, had not allowed Jiang Jiang to trust her completely.
Ji Xu'an reflected on herself inwardly. It seemed that she truly had not done many things to make Jiang Jiang happy, so it was no wonder Jiang Jiang did not like her. After all, she herself knew very clearly what kind of terrible temper she had.
Ji Xu'an swallowed, her voice growing even more hoarse. "I'm sorry, Jiang Jiang."
Her head lowered, and the hand resting on Jiang Jiang's shoulder showed signs of retracting.
Jiang Jiang was stunned for a moment. Why was Ji Xu'an suddenly apologizing to her?
She could not help but take another look at Ji Xu'an. This person stood in front of her looking dejected, making Jiang Jiang think of a small dog whose fur had been drenched by rain. Was she not exactly like Ji Xu'an now?
"Why are you apologizing to me?" Jiang Jiang gathered the coat more tightly around herself.
Ji Xu'an answered honestly, "You were right. I went too far before. I said many rude things to you."
Jiang Jiang suddenly fell silent. She had barely begun to defend herself, yet Ji Xu'an was already reflecting on herself and attributing all the fault to herself?
Jiang Jiang suddenly did not know what to say. She had the complicated feeling that she had only displayed one-tenth of her full power, and her opponent had already laid down her weapons and surrendered.
But the stage had already been set. She could not simply end it like this, could she?
Jiang Jiang steadied herself and said softly, "You don't need to apologize to me."
Ji Xu'an shook her head. She knew that no amount of explanation would carry much meaning. Words were pale and powerless; the harm that had already been done could only be remedied through real actions.
Ji Xu'an did not continue this topic but instead asked about something else. "So your fiancé who looks very much like little Yuan—is he the Crown Prince?"
If that were the case, then she herself should be the Princess?
Ji Xu'an once again recalled in her mind the details from when she first met Jiang Jiang. The shape of Jiang Jiang's mouth at the time had indeed seemed to form the words "Princess."
Jiang Jiang nodded. "Yes."
Seeing Ji Xu'an frowning as if deep in thought, Jiang Jiang considered for a moment and then explained, "However, although there was a marriage contract between the Crown Prince and me, I did not meet him many times. I did not like him, and he did not like me."
It had to be said that this sentence made Ji Xu'an let out a heavy sigh of relief.
She even felt as if her bad mood had been completely swept away. Although Jiang Jiang did not like her very much, Jiang Jiang did not like anyone else either. She still had a chance!
Moreover, the person by Jiang Jiang's side now was her. That Crown Prince who did not even know where he was could only belong to the past.
Jiang Jiang thought she saw Ji Xu'an's lips curve up very slightly. She did not know if it was her illusion, because when she focused again, Ji Xu'an had already returned to her calm expression.
Ji Xu'an coughed softly and looked at Jiang Jiang cautiously. "Then… is there also someone who looks very much like me?"
"Yes." Jiang Jiang looked at the space between Ji Xu'an's brows. "You look extremely similar to Princess Huaining, except for the small black mole between the brows."
Ji Xu'an raised her hand to touch the space between her brows. When she lowered her arm, her fingertips curled slightly. Before Jiang Jiang could notice, Ji Xu'an had already placed her hands behind her back.
She stared fixedly into Jiang Jiang's eyes, her voice even softer. "That person… did she treat you well?"
Jiang Jiang smiled. She seemed to know what Ji Xu'an was thinking, her tone serious and certain. "Ji Xu'an, I can clearly distinguish between the two of you. You and Princess Huaining are not the same."
"I have never regarded you as anyone's shadow."
Jiang Jiang said, "Moreover, I never had any private contact with Princess Huaining. Her personality was very peculiar. Even toward the Crown Prince, her own younger brother, she was not particularly close."
Ji Xu'an's tense body relaxed imperceptibly, and then a thin layer of redness spread uncontrollably over the tips of her ears. Her little thoughts had been seen through by Jiang Jiang at a glance, and Ji Xu'an felt utterly ashamed.
Would Jiang Jiang think she was a brainless fool, thinking about nothing but jealousy every day?
The expression on Jiang Jiang's face did not change much, and Ji Xu'an could not tell what she was thinking. She licked her lips and said in a very small voice, "I definitely wouldn't be like her."
Jiang Jiang blinked. "Mm, I believe you."
She then grew serious again. "This is the other matter I wanted to tell you."
"Before I left, news spread in the air that the Empress Dowager's health was not very good. Princess Huaining specifically invited a Taoist priest into the palace. I heard the situation was very unfavorable."
Jiang Jiang bit the inside of her lip. "Sister, I don't know whether I should say this. Perhaps I am overthinking."
Without waiting for Ji Xu'an to respond, she continued, "Can you pay more attention to Grandma's health? I am very worried…"
Ji Xu'an did not hesitate in the slightest. "Alright."
Jiang Jiang suddenly let out a breath of relief, her voice very soft. "I admit that at the beginning, it was indeed because of the Empress Dowager that I became especially close to Grandma. But afterward it had nothing to do with anyone else. It was simply because Grandma treated me very well, so I also wanted to repay her."
When Ji Xu'an heard this, she finally could not restrain herself from stepping forward two steps. Following her own heart, she tentatively reached out and wrapped an arm around Jiang Jiang's shoulder.
Jiang Jiang did not refuse and rested her head on Ji Xu'an's shoulder.
Ji Xu'an slowly tightened her arms and pulled her into her embrace. "You don't need to explain. I understand everything."
Jiang Jiang was silent for a moment. "Did Grandma ever tell you something?"
Ji Xu'an froze slightly. "What?"
Listening to Ji Xu'an's heartbeat, Jiang Jiang said slowly, "Actually, Grandma and I have been cooperating with each other all along."
"To scheme against you."
—
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