Full Courtyard of Fragrance - Chapter 3

Chapter 3

After winter set in, heavy snow sealed the mountains, and White Deer Academy gave its students a holiday.

Lin Ye came to our house before Little New Year.

To avoid any appearance of impropriety, and to make absolutely certain nothing went wrong for me, Grandmother had Mother take my elder sister out early that morning to attend Lady Pingyanghou’s Plum Appreciation Banquet.

But halfway there, my sister said she had a headache, and Mother had no choice but to turn the carriage around and return home.

Grandmother was displeased and warned my sister, “Today is an important day for your younger sister. Stay in your courtyard and don’t come out.

“You and your sister are on different paths. She won’t get in the way of your brilliant future.”

My sister lowered her eyes and agreed.

Grandmother had truly gone to great lengths for today.

She took out the jewelry she had kept locked away for years and piled it on me, then found the best makeup artist to do my face.

I had grown up. Though I was not ugly, I was undeniably ordinary.

Now, dressed up like this, I could at least earn a compliment for looking delicate and pretty.

As long as I did not stand beside my sister, I was not too terrible.

Over the years, my sister had only become more dazzlingly beautiful.

Every frown and smile of hers made all other flowers pale in comparison.

The truth was, I really did envy her.

Not long before lunch was to begin, I did as Grandmother told me and went to the kitchen myself to prepare Six Gentlemen Decoction.

Lin Ye’s father had a weak spleen and stomach, and this soup was just right for him.

After I finished my hard work and came out, I passed beneath the flower-hung archway and saw my sister covering her lips as she spoke with Lin Ye.

Lin Ye’s ears were red. His eyes rested on my sister with a shy, bashful look.

Yet he feared being rude, so he did not dare look for long.

A young man’s first stirrings of affection were always clumsy.

My fingernails pierced the tips of my fingers through the handkerchief I was clutching, but I still had to endure it.

My sister’s smile was pure, bright, and captivating.

“Young Master Lin, this is my younger sister. Perhaps before long, we will all be one family.”

She winked at Lin Ye, playful and adorable.

Lin Ye seemed unable to control his reaction. Disappointment flashed through his eyes.

“I thought-”

It was as if I had fallen into an ice cave. A chill swept over my entire body.

“Eldest Miss Jiang, I have overstepped.”

He stopped himself in time, gathered his emotions, and instantly regained his composure. Toward my sister, he began to distance himself.

He gave me a faint, apologetic smile, nodded, then cupped his hands and left first.

What had he thought?

Nothing more than this: his family had told him the person discussing marriage with him was the legitimate daughter of the Jiang Family.

And my sister had not revealed her identity. Instead, she had chatted with him, leading him to believe that the one betrothed to him was her.

I looked at Jiang Mingyue. She smiled at me, took my hand, and wore an expression that was both innocent and troubled.

“Little sister, tell me, when we eat later, what should we do if Young Master Lin says he wants to marry me?”

I smiled.

“Then marry him.”

She failed to see me looking devastated and humiliated, so she lost interest and tossed my hand aside.

“A family like his is just right for someone with plain looks like yours.”

A faint blush rose on her cheeks.

“As for me, I am meant to marry a prince or a noble son. Otherwise, wouldn’t that be a waste of the beautiful face Mother gave me?”

I looked steadily at that face of hers, beautiful enough to topple kingdoms.

No matter how much I loathed her, I could not help but nod.

“You are indeed beautiful.”

My flattery pleased her.

But for a fool to be too beautiful-was that truly a good thing?