As the New Year approached, the Jiang family became increasingly lively. Accompanying the royal children on outings, Miss Jiang Wan-yi, the eldest daughter of the Jiang family, also brought a large pile of imperial gifts and rushed back to the Jiang family three days before the New Year. At the same time, she brought words of praise from the Grand Princess: "This girl is of excellent virtue and appearance, a wise and capable person." The Jiang family heard this praise and was overjoyed.

  On the eve of the New Year, Jiang Wanru opened the door and stood in the courtyard, listening to the distant laughter. Ji Yan rushed in with a smile and said: "Miss, great news! The marriage between the young master and the daughter of a fourth-rank official has been arranged. I heard she is beautiful and virtuous."

  Jiang Wanru smiled in her heart, a legitimate daughter of a fourth-grade official family, must have received strict ladylike education at home. Women educated in this way are unlikely to be of low virtue. However, after they get married and go through different experiences, their true nature will be revealed. Ji Yan looked at the expressionless face of his own young mistress and sighed inwardly, wondering how she could appear even more mature than her elder sister at such a young age.

  Ji Yans voice dropped, and she lowered her head to say: "I saw Big Sister from afar today, and I thought she looked really beautiful when she smiled." Ji Yan was a die-hard fan of Jiang Wan Yu, paying close attention to her every move. After speaking, Ji Yan felt like she had misspoken, so she lifted her head to look at Jiang Wan Yu and said: "Miss, if youre willing to smile, youll be beautiful too."

  Jiang Wanru couldnt help but smile when she heard Jixias unnecessary words, and said to her: "No matter how well I laugh, it cant compare to the beauty of the lady in your heart." When Jixia heard Jiang Wanrus words, her face turned slightly red. Perhaps by nature, people all have an instinct to avoid evil and seek good fortune. When someone outside asked about Jiang Wanrus situation, Jixia had already learned to remain silent. But when she returned to the courtyard and faced Jiang Wanru, she became more and more relaxed day by day, her courage growing bigger with each passing day.

  Miss, the old lady has ordered that all the masters will come out to play in the courtyard. Miss, why dont you go and take a look at the excitement? Jiang Wanru glanced at Jiyuan and shook her head lightly: "The path in the yard has been cleared. Theres nothing going on now, you can go out and have fun with them." Jiyuan happily ran out.

  Jiang Wan stood quietly in the courtyard, thinking back to her only time watching the excitement. It was the first year she woke up, and in her heart, she still had a shallow fantasy about the Jiang family. On New Years Eve, hearing the commotion outside, she sneaked out of the courtyard alone. She followed the sound and ran over, standing on the periphery of the crowd, curiously sizing up the people of the Jiang family.

  Old Lady Jiangs smile vanished instantly when she saw her. Mugen Niang, who had secretly pointed out her stepmother to herself, followed Old Lady Jiangs gaze and looked at her, slightly stunned after seeing her, then recovered the smile on her face and turned to instruct the people behind her. Jiang Wanru was only a child in body, but her mental age was already that of an adult, so she was naturally hurt by the cold gazes of the Jiang family members. Her eyes scanned the crowd and landed on Yu Niang, seeing the tears in her eyes, her heart suddenly felt moist.

  The two women, Shi Tou Niang and Mu Gen Niang, hastily dragged Jiang Wanru away. Her dazed expression, like a fools, was noticed by the housekeeper beside her mother-in-law, who looked at her with disdain. The housekeeper said to Shi Tou Niang and Mu Gen Niang, "Hmph, Madam is kind-hearted and says that since its New Years Day, a day of good fortune, she wont punish you this time. But in the future, be more careful and dont let her randomly go out of the courtyard gate and disturb Old Lady."

  The two aunts, Shi Tou and Mu Gen, gazed at Jiang Wanru who was following them in a daze. They exchanged a glance, and Shi Tou sighed, saying: "Miss is a lucky child, so silly and good." Mu Gens eyes were filled with tears as she looked at Jiang Wanrus wooden expression, whispering: "Shes just a child, the children of servants can stand aside and watch. Why must she, as the young mistress, be locked in her room? Miss is still young, what great mistake has she ever made to make her family dislike her so?"

  "Shitous mother glared at Mugens mother and said, Mugens family, Im reminding you again. If she were a boy, oh, Yu Niangs life wouldnt be so difficult today. Of course, the mistresss life would not be easy either. Her birth mother did what she did, perhaps no one will mind that much. After all, the Yu family will slowly ease their relationship because she is a man. But after her birth, the doctor clearly said Yu Niang will never give birth again. The relationship between the Jiang and Yu families has become a dead knot."

  Mugongniang listened to Shitous words and also glared at her, saying: "You still say I speak straightforwardly, listen to your words, if others hear them later, the two of us will definitely be driven out of the Jiang family." The two continued to tease each other, while Jiang Wanyus last illusion about the Jiang family was shattered in their conversation. She remembered her past life and had to change her approach in this reality.

  Jiang Wanru became an invisible person in the Jiang family after that. According to the arrangements of the Jiang family, she was illiterate and ignorant, just a dull and uninteresting person. And Yu Niang also never saw Jiang Wanru again from that day on, similarly rejecting her when she came quietly to the door. In this vast world, there was only an empty and lonely her.

  Jiang Wanru stretched out her hand to catch the snowflakes, thinking that if she didnt have the warm memories of her past life, she would become a pitiful person in this life. Even with the warm memories of her past life, she was becoming more and more unable to smile. She was quietly waiting for an opportunity to leave the Jiang family peacefully and live her own life.

  The courtyard door was pushed open, and Jiyuans excited little face stretched in, saying to Jiang Wanyu: "Miss, Fourth Master sent a gift for you. Eldest Miss helped you receive it." After entering, Jiyuan opened the courtyard door and smiled as she pulled Jiang Wanyu along, saying: "Miss, Ill accompany you to change into that pale pink dress, Miss looks good in it."

  Jiang Wanmu didnt move her feet, but lowered her head and said to Jiyuan, "No need to change. Even Fourth Master wont come to see me today." Jiyuan looked at Jiang Wanmu with an expression of disbelief. The master and servant stood silently, pacing around the courtyard in circles until Jiyuans mother arrived with lunch.

  "Mother, is Fourth Young Master Lian with the old master and the young masters?" Ji Yans mother glared at her daughter, looking at Jiang Wanru who had a calm expression, and said in a low voice, "Fourth Young Master Lian was busy last year and has already left." Ji Yan spoke softly, "But he didnt come to see Miss?" Ji Yans mother heard this and glared at her daughter with hatred, then turned to look at Jiang Wanru who had a wooden expression, and she put her heart at ease, scolding her daughter in a low voice, "Ji Yan, dont speak nonsense if its not necessary."