Chapter 27 Uncut Jade
Shen Ruyun was very impatient.

Her status is now different from what it used to be. If Shen Yurong had not passed the imperial examination and had not become a secretary, she should have married last year and married the son of the owner of a small tavern in Yanjing City. Even such a marriage would be considered marrying up.

However, since Shen Yurong won the first place in the imperial examination and was appointed by Emperor Hong Xiao as the secretary of the imperial court, Shen Ruyun's status has also risen steadily. Shen Yurong has a promising future and is a young talent. In addition, Shen Ruyun also knows that now that Shen Yurong has won the favor of Princess Yongning, their Shen family will be even more valuable in the future. Not to mention the son of the shopkeeper, even the son of an ordinary official, Shen Ruyun does not look down on him.

Shen Ruyun has someone in her heart, that is the famous handsome man in Yanjing City, Zhou Yanbang, the son of Ningyuan Marquis. In the past, Shen Ruyun could only look at him silently in her heart. Zhou Yanbang was the cloud in the sky, and she, Shen Ruyun, was the mud on the ground. But now it is different. The change in status makes Shen Ruyun know that she is also qualified to stand beside Zhou Yanbang and become Zhou Yanbang's wife.

However, Ningyuan Hou Zhou Yanbang had been engaged since childhood, that is, the second Miss Jiang, the daughter of the current Prime Minister. However, the second Miss Jiang was vicious and killed her mother and brother at a young age. The Ningyuan Hou family naturally could not let such a vicious young lady enter the family, but they could not regret the engagement, so the marriage was still considered, and the candidate for marriage changed from the second Miss Jiang to the third Miss Jiang.

People in Yanjing City talked about this matter with great relish, but no one thought there was anything wrong with Miss Jiang's second marriage being replaced, and no one spoke up for Miss Jiang's second marriage, because if it were them, they would also choose the beautiful and charming Miss Jiang's third marriage instead of the fierce and vicious Miss Jiang's second marriage.

Today is the coming-of-age ceremony for Jiang Youyao, the third young lady of Jiang, and everyone knows it. Once Jiang Youyao reaches the coming-of-age ceremony, her marriage to the Ningyuan Marquis's son will be imminent.

Shen Ruyun was unwilling to accept this, so she came with her mother to see what Zhou Yanbang's future wife looked like. She even changed into bright clothes to outshine Jiang Youyao.

Those who came here to watch the ceremony either wanted to curry favor with Jiang Yuanbo or were on good terms with Jiang Yuanbo, so they would not lose face for Jiang Youyao. The noble ladies all wore plain clothes, so as not to steal the show, but Shen Ruyun looked very eye-catching here in this outfit.

Ji Shuran also saw Shen Ruyun's behavior and was unhappy, but she had heard Jiang Yuanbo mention that the current Zhongshu Sheren Shen Yurong's future achievements should not be underestimated, and it would be best if she could be won over. So Ji Shuran still acted cheerful and generous, responding to the compliments of the noble ladies.

A woman who was on good terms with Ji Shuran said, "I heard that the second young lady of the mansion also returned to Beijing a few days ago. I wonder if she will attend the ceremony today."

"Of course I will." Ji Shuran smiled and said, "She's probably still getting dressed right now, so I came a little late." However, her words implied that Jiang Li was disobedient.

Sure enough, after these words came out, the ladies around cast sympathetic eyes on Ji Shuran. Some of the more direct ones said, "This second young lady hasn't been back to Yanjing for a long time, and I don't know how much she remembers about Yanjing's rules. She was too young to discipline at the beginning, but now..." She didn't finish her words, but the rest of the meaning was self-evident.

Ji Shuran sighed at the right time. Jiang Yu'e, who was sitting next to Yang, rolled her eyes and said, "Originally, the second sister would not be able to attend the third sister's coming-of-age ceremony, but something happened in the nunnery where she stayed last month. I don't know why, but my uncle had someone bring the second sister back."

Jiang Yu'e's words were a bit unclear, but the noble lady beside her had another meaning. The lady who had spoken to Ji Shuran at first said softly, "I think the second young lady in the mansion is a capable person."

It took a lot of effort for him to hint that Jiang Li could return to Yanjing. He is a scheming person and difficult to deal with.

Madam Liu was listening to these ladies talking, and wanted to defend Jiang Li. However, there were too many people who agreed with her. All the people who came to Jiang's house to watch the ceremony were on good terms with Ji Shuran. She was afraid that even if she was talking, no one would listen, and it might even cause trouble for Jiang Li.

Seeing Ji Shuran's lips curled up slightly, Jiang Yu'e also felt proud. Their third branch has never been valued in the Jiang Mansion. She is the daughter of a bastard. With only Yang and Jiang Yuanxing, she will never be able to make a name for herself in this life. It would be better to please this aunt. You know, the Ji family still has a favored Lipin in the palace. If Ji Shuran is pleased, even if she eats some leftovers, it will be good.

Jiang Yuyan was not as smart as Jiang Yu'e, and sat next to Yang in a dull manner. Yang was angry at her daughter's ugly flattery of Ji Shuran, but she had no choice but to let Jiang Yu'e do this.

Lu sat a little further away from them, alone on the side, with a sneer on her face, as if she looked down on Jiang Yu'e's behavior.

As they were talking, the coming-of-age ceremony was about to begin. Jiang Yuanbo and Ji Shuran stood up and stood in the courtyard, on the east steps. The guests stood outside the courtyard, and the official holding the copper tray stood on the west steps.

Jiang Youyao came slowly, surrounded by her maids.

For the ceremony today, Jiang Youyao wore a scarlet long dress with wide sleeves and two buns to make it easier to tie her hair up later. She was born charming and romantic, and the unique fragrance of a young girl made everyone present feel beautiful. Jiang Yuanbai raised her since she was a child, making her as delicate as pearls and jade. And this bright color immediately made her very distinctive among the guests.

Beauty is determined by comparison. Shen Ruyun also wears brightly colored clothes. However, whether in her pampered temperament or her beauty, she is far inferior to Jiang Youyao.

Young Jiang Bingji also came to watch the ceremony, sat next to old lady Jiang, and shouted, "Third sister is so beautiful!"

Jiang Youyao was delighted when she heard this, and she smiled instantly. In the early morning light, she smiled brightly and charmingly, and was so charming that people could not help staring at her.

Everyone was stunned.

Jiang Youyao was very pleased with this scene and was about to speak when she suddenly realized something was wrong. The guests' eyes were passing over her.

Are they looking behind her?
What's behind you?
Jiang Youyao turned around in confusion, and when she looked up, she saw a slim girl walking slowly towards her.

The girl came from the other side of the courtyard. There were many flowers and trees in the Jiang family's courtyard. She brushed the flowers and willows along the way, making people feel soft and fragrant for no reason.

Unlike Jiang Youyao, who was bright and beautiful, this girl only wore a light blue skirt, without even a single embroidery on it, which was extremely plain. Her long hair was as black as ink, and was tied up in a small bunch with a jade hairpin of the same color.

Her face was fair, her eyes were clear, and the gentle smile at the corners of her lips was as bright as the color of her long skirt.

Not bright enough, but smart and transparent. If Jiang Youyao is a jewel, she is an unpolished jade.

It has not been polished, and there is no need to polish it anymore.

Jiang Youyao's breath was choked and her nails almost dug into her palm.

They were looking behind her.

——What’s behind you?
——Behind her is Jiang Li.

They were looking at Jiang Li.

(End of this chapter)