The Rebirth of an Ill-Fated Consort

pherable emotion, that seemed like both sorrow and joy, emerged.
Now, Jiang Quan was still in the prime of his life and had an appearance of a renowned and morally upright scholar.
Yet, before her very eyes, Jiang Ruan seemed to see the image of Jiang Quan’s that she last saw in her past life.
At that time, just like this, her own biological father ruthlessly had her dragged into the main Buddhist hall of the imperial mausoleum.
In the full presence of all the civil and military officials of the imperial court, she had been labeled and prosecuted with the criminal charge of being a seductress that ruined the country.
Lying face down on the floor, she could barely believe what she had heard as her eyes widened.
In contrast, his gaze towards her was one of an extreme indifference and heartlessness.
With that kind of debasing gaze, it seemed like he was looking at the one and only taint that had existed in his life.
With such a penetrating gaze, in the depths of her heart, she felt a freezingly icy chill.

After she had been imprisoned and tormented by Jiang Su Su, in addition to hearing news of her implicating the entire Zhao family, she had heard of her own father’s steady rise in officialdom.
In his advancement, he had been promoted to the highest rank among the officials and ultimately, becoming recognised as the extended relative (an esteemed figure) of the Empress’s family: the maternal uncle of the Nation.
As he put on his official robes, had he ever thought of the blood of hers that he had spilled in sacrifice for his official seal[4]?

[4] Guān yìn ( 官印 ) – The official seal of a government official, this is the most important possession a person could have, official or otherwise.
It represents the power and identity of the person, a form of recognition of a person’s status.
Here, Jiang Ruan is referring to how her father has used her crudely and harshly as a dead stepping stone in his path and greed for power.

Moreover, Jiang Quan was precisely such a person.
For Jiang Su Su, for Jiang Chao, for Xia Yan and most of all, for himself, he would have her and Zhao Mei, even the entire Zhao family become the paving stones to lay a road for his success. In her past life, or even now, had he ever truly regarded them as his family?

If it could be said that in her past life, when she had been confined in that prison, what she had felt was despair and loss, then now, once again chancing upon these past faces of her family, nothing but hatred existed.

Hate, how could she not be filled with hatred.
When she had become a human swine that was completely non-ambulant because of Jiang Su Su, when she had personally seen her young child being abused by a powerful official, who could possibly be able to understand the extreme sorrow, suffering and anguish that one would feel to the very core of their bones? Hearing the news of her close relatives and their entire household being executed in collective punishment, yet, there being no way for her to seek for help[5].
Once again, how could she recount the grief and indignation she had felt for them? Since the underworld would not receive people like her and had made her return to the human world, then, how could she not resign herself to let these people have a taste of what it felt like to experience hell on earth.
From the moment of her rebirth, she had already renounced all kinship with Jiang Quan and was bent on revenge.

[5] Qiú zhù wú mén ( 求助无门 ) – It means that Jiang Ruan wished to seek for others’ help in a matter, however, no such apt social connection or way of getting help existed to get intervention.

As she lightly widened her large eyes, that pair of foggy eyes suddenly became a little clearer and brighter.
Looking deeper, it was merely a layer of clarity and calm like the surface of a clear spring flowing through the mountains that did not have the least bit of impurity.
Before them, the person’s voice was as soft as the breeze and called out once more, “Father?”

In a split second, Jiang Quan recovered.
Yet, towards his own eldest daughter’s bright and beautiful smile, for no reason at all, it made one felt ill at ease.
As he glanced at Jiang Ruan, he uttered, “It’s good that you have returned.” After that, he did not express himself any further.

With such indifference, it even caused Lian Qiao and Bai Zhi behind her to feel somewhat indignant.
As though she was not aware of it, Jiang Ruan then turned to face him as she smiled at Jiang Chao, “Second brother[6].”

[6] Èrgē ( 二哥 ) – second brother.

Jiang Chao still remained the same as he did in her recollection.
He was gifted with a bright and cheerful appearance, and somewhat restlessly, he scratched his head as he replied with a grin, “Ruan meimei.” Yet, in his gaze, there was a hint of unclear overtones.

Xia Yan’s two children were both people that were extremely adept in putting on masks to conduct themselves.
At that time, shortly after Jiang Xin Zhi’s death, contrary to expectations, this Second Brother had been extremely good to her.
Although Jiang Chao seemed to have an amiable and generous disposition, wherein it seemed he would still make some foolish mistakes and suffer some losses, anyone would be willing to become friends with this sort of person.
Especially, Jiang Ruan who had just lost Jiang Xin Zhi, found that she too could find some of the lost warmth and affection from this second brother of hers.

Yet, the heart of the matter was that this foolish and honest young man had eventually married the beloved daughter of the Right Chancellor at that period of time.
And from that time on, the Right Chancellor became a part of the Eighth Prince’s faction.

Now that she recalled, all of those fantasies that she had in her past life and her impression of Jiang Chao, they had all halted at the very scene when he had attempted to use his own charms as his means into the officialdom.
When she had finally entered the palace, that could also be credited to this wonderful brother of hers.
She still remembered the pledge that he had solemnly vowed, “With meimei’sextremely beautiful appearance, after entering the palace, meimei would definitely receive the pampering, favour and love of the Emperor.
To have this utmost honor, respect and glory, that would be meimei’s blessing.”