Chapter 1

Dayue Dynasty Second year of Ganyuan Calendar

It was the beautiful time of spring flower blooming and the air, after suddenly getting warmer, turned cold again. The gentle breeze stirred lightly and the flower petals moved a little. The air was filled with the light scent of the flowers.

The first rays of the morning sun shyly peeked, gray dawn floated on the east side.

The servants in Changning Count Residence had started to get busy. They shuttle back and forth in their own courtyards and the residence slowly became merrier.

A silent and elegant courtyard on the west side was quiet instead. There was not a single servant hurrying in there.

On the carved bed inside of the courtyard, Jiang Ningbao who was asleep opened her eyes. Her eyes were beautiful and her looks were flawless. Her disposition was soft and clear, looking delicate and charming, making others feel pity.

"I actually transmigrated into a book?"

Jiang Ningbao lifted the thin blanket on her body and sat on the side of the bed. Her eyebrows knitted slightly and she felt shocked and disbelief. Jiang Ningbao sat quietly for a while and then opened the veil, wearing a single layer of clothing to get out of the bed. She wore a pair of embroidered shoes and arbitrarily used her hair ribbon to tie her waist.

Then, the door opened with a creak. A girl wearing crow blue clothes quietly and smoothly entered the room. Seeing that the person inside the room had woken up, she let out a surprised sound.

"Lady, you're awake?"

Jiang Ningbao glances at the incoming person and let out a faint smile, nodding lightly. She took the toothbrush made from poplar willow branch and moistened the toothpowder made from medicinal materials and rinsed her mouth.

After rinsing her mouth, Jiang Ningbao started to wash her face.

Looking at the exquisite face reflected on the water inside the copper basin, Jiang Ningbao stared at it blankly. Even though she had been seeing it for more than then years, she still was not used to this delicate and beautiful face.

In her previous life, Jiang Ningbao's appearance was bright and colorful with a strong disposition. Who knew that once she transmigrated, her look was the opposite of the beauty spectrum, a tender and delicate beauty.

Even if she was angry, she would look like a beauty grumbling in a flirty manner.

This look was the easiest to earn pity from men and grew envy from women.

Jiang Ningbao sighed and did not stare at the reflection any longer. She washed her face with practiced movements and wiped her face clean with the towel brought by the servant. The female servant beside her let out a forced smile and said in a low voice, "Miss, your breakfast is the chicken congee you love."

Saying this, the servant girl lowered her head and quickly took out the chicken congee out of the food box.

The chicken congee smelt good. It was apparent that the skill of the head chef in the residence was good.

Being Changning Count Residence's oldest legal daughter from the second branch, Jiang Ningbao wore the silks and satin, ate delicacies from land and sea.... but that was before. From three years ago, her parents encountered bandits on the was home to the clan. They fell from the cliff and it was still unknown whether they were still alive or not. From the on, her meals decreased day by day.

Especially these past few days. Her breakfast was only a bowl of soup.

Fortunately, the soup was still made by the head chef who was skilled at making porridge.

Recalling the memories she received yesterday night, Jiang Ningbao's lips curved to a cold smile. She sat at the side of the table and slowly drank the chicken congee. After drinking the chicken congee, the sky outside had turned bright.

"Miss, today is fifteenth of the month. You must go to Golden Longevity Hall to pay respects to the old madam." The servant girl saw that the sky had brightened and cleaned up the table while reminding in a small voice.

Jiang Ningbao heard the servant girl's reminder and nodded lightly. Every first day and fifteenth day of the month, they all needed to pay respect to the old madam in the Golden Longevity Hall.

"Chun Xi, go and take that set of light blue dress over here."

Jiang Ningbao's hair was combed to a flying Apsaras bun and wore a light blue dress. Her waist was tied with a delicate a pouch. The servant girl took out a few exquisite jewelry from the casket and put it on Jiang Ningbao.

He whole person appeared beautiful and fragile.

"Let's go to the Golden Longevity Hall."

Chapter 2

The pair of master and servant walked out of the courtyard, walked across the winding corridor and the flower garden as the servants wearing crow blue clothes all saluted to Jiang Ningbao respectfully.

After Jiang Ningbao walked away, they started to discuss among themselves.

"I heard that the engagement between fourth miss and Duke Ding's heir is in danger!"

"If the second master and the second mistress were here, then the fourth miss would not fall to this state."

"Actually, fourth miss' treatment is not bad, only the meals decreased. The old madam is kind-hearted, giving second mistress' dowry to be managed by the fourth miss."

"No matter what, the fourth miss is still Duke Ding's heir's fiancee. The masters won't do it too excessive, it's just that the rumors outside are too absurd. Duke Ding's heir shouldn't cancel the engagement for Anyuan Marquis' legal daughter."

"That's hard to say. The fourth miss' status cannot compare to Anyuan Marquis Residence's legal oldest daughter. That oldest young miss won't want to be under the fourth miss."

"That is true. Now, the whole capital is fixing their gaze on our Count Residence."

"......"

Jiang Ningbao did not care about the servant girls' discussion and walked to the Golden Longevity Hall. When she arrived in front of the door of Golden Longevity Hall, she met the first branch's only legal daughter who was fifth in the line, called the fifth young miss Jiang Mingyao.

Jiang Mingyao's voice was cool and faint as she nodded her head slightly toward Jiang Ningbao.

"Fourth sister."

Fifth lady Jiang Mingyao had a pair of delicate eyebrows and her demeanor was that of a chilly beauty. She was only a month smaller than Jiang Ningbao. Although she was spoiled by glamorous underlings, but her brows did not carry smugness nor pride.

"Fifth sister." Jiang Ningbao gave her a soft smile in return, appearing fragile and cowardly, earning other's pity.

The two legal young miss met. One was crowded by her servants from back to front, while the other only had a lonesome servant.

This obvious difference in treatment made people sighed endlessly.

Jiang Ningbao did not care about this. She did not like to be served by too many people. From three years ago when her parents met with an accident, the servants in the residence mostly searched other big thighs to hug.

The servant who remained by her side was only Chun Xi.

The servants by the door raised the curtains and greeted respectfully, "The two misses, please come in."

Jiang Mingyao glanced at the cowardly and delicate fourth sister and her eyebrows knitted slightly before moving her gaze. She waited the other to enter the room first with a faint expression and followed her behind.

The Jiang old madam of the Changning Count did not like concubine born children so the ones who could pay respect to the Golden Longevity Hall were only the two legal children and the legal born grandchildren. Aside from the legitimate children who were too young, the rest of the sons were at the academy or taking care of official missions at the government state.

A year earlier, after the eldest legitimate daughter of the first branch got married, the only people going to the Golden Longevity Hall were Jiang Ningbao, Jiang Mingyao and the first branch's madam.

Old Madam Jiang sat upright in the main hall with a gratified scattering flower dress. Her hair was meticulously combed back to a certain hairstyle and her face seemed amiable. If it were not for the calculative light in her eyes, anyone would think this was a benign old madam.

Beside her stood a pretty middle aged woman with a signified air and delicate brows. She was Changning Count Residence's first madame, Jiang Mingyao's mother.

Jiang Ningbao lifted her skirt, gently walked to where the old madame was sitting and bend her knees to pay respect.

"Ningbao greets grandmother, oldest aunt."

Chapter 3 

"Ningbao greets grandmother, oldest aunt."

Jiang Mingyao also greeted with a chilly face.

"Mingyao greets grandmother and mother."

Old Madame Jiang looked at her granddaughters with different temperaments and showed an amiable smile, especially to the first branch's fifth miss Jiang Mingyao.

Old Madame Jiang's face was full of smiled when she asked about Jiang Mingyao's current situation and nodded in satisfaction. She turned to Jiang Ningbao. Toward this granddaughter who possessed tender and beautiful appearance that easily evoke pity, Old Madame Jiang could not help but frown her brows.

She actually did not like this granddaughter. Every time she looked at Jiang Ningbao, she would think of the favored concubine who had tender features during the time the Old Count was young.

But this granddaughter was lucky, having a good engagement since she was little.

She brought Changning Count Residence a lot of benefits, but now that her engagement met with an unforeseen event, it was hard to say whether or not this engagement could be saved. Even if it could be saved, the position of legal wife would probably be given to another. Old Madame Jiang's gaze was complicated as she looked at Jiang Ningbao, having a rare moment of soft-heartedness.

"Fourth girl, you don't need to care about the awful rumors circulating outside. Grandmother will definitely support you. No one could humiliate the young misses of our Count Residence."

"Mother is right. Fourth girl, you can be at ease, your engagement will be fine." The first madame surname Zhang also gave her word of consolation.

If talking about who in the residence that did not wish Jiang Ningbao's engagement to met with mishap the most, it would be the first madame.

Changning Count Residence was a declining noble family. Only having the title but no real power.

The men in the residence did not have any high position.

In the early years, the first madame was treated coldly and ignored in the circle of noble madams. After Jiang Ningbao's fiance was adopted by Lord Protector Ding, the madams who usually treat her coldly all became friendly with her.

Her eldest daughter even married into the marquis residence.

The first madame who tasted the sweetness of course did not want her niece's engagement to change, especially when her uncle was planning on giving her second son an official job.

In reality, the first madame and the old madame was the same. They both did not like Jiang Ningbao who was beautiful and delicate. This was why the first madame silently allowed Jiang Ningbao to be treated less, but she won't do it too much.

The old madame also knew about this but pretended not to.

The cool and cold Jiang Mingyao who was standing beside Jiang Ningbao showed pity. Fourth sister's engagement what was the envy of others being stared at by so many people was not a good thing.

Anyuan Marquis Residence had immense influence while Changning Count Residence had nothing.

It was all up to Duke Ding Residence's decision.

In her opinion, the engagement of fourth sister and Duke Ding's heir would change.

Jiang Ningbao smiled lightly and nodded warmly, "Thanking grandmother and first aunt." Her lowered eyes flashed with coldness. She did not believe that Old Madame Jiang and first aunt would help her keep the engagement.

Once she woke up and found herself as the venomous female antagonist, Jiang Ningbao had adjusted to it. She of course knew the continuation of the story from Peach Blossom Banquet. Duke Ding Residence would send someone to cancel the engagement. After Old Madame Jiang and first aunt knew about the tempting compensation, they were ecstatic to cancel this engagement.

At this time, there was a servant girl giving report.

"Old Madame, First Madame, Butler Zhao from Duke Ding Residence request an audience."

Once these words were spoken out, the hall fell into a strange silence.

Jiang Mingyao glanced at her fourth sister and on her cold face, a trace of worry appeared.

It was obvious that Duke Ding Residence did not come with good intention.

Jiang Ningbao's heart suddenly skipped as she thought of the plot development. She felt what a coincidence it was. It seemed that today was the day Duke Ding Residence came to cancel the engagement. She lowered her eyes and a dark glint passed her eyes.