Jiang Yunshu was startled to hear that her elder sister would be getting married on the same day she was to enter the palace.
Her elder sister had always looked down on her—how could she possibly be willing to share the same wedding day?
Taoye and Zhezhi, however, didn’t find it strange at all. "It’s an auspicious date chosen by the Imperial Astronomers. Who wouldn’t want to marry on such a day?"
Jiang Yunshu didn’t dwell on the matter. After all, the Marquis's Mansion was spacious enough—it could accommodate not just two daughters marrying on the same day, but even ten!
Before long, the day arrived—Jiang Yunshu’s entry into the palace and Jiang Zhaohua’s wedding.
Knowing she had to rise early, Jiang Yunshu made sure to sleep well the night before. Yet when she was awakened at three in the morning, she was still dazed.
Was this "early"? This was the middle of the night!
Back in her modern life, she’d often still be awake at this hour!
With her eyes closed, she let Taoye and Zhezhi feed her breakfast.
After all, nothing she disliked would ever appear in Yunshu Courtyard—everything they brought to her lips was her favorite.
Eating blindly like this felt like opening a mystery box, full of delightful surprises!
One bite—red bean rolls. Another—wild herb dumplings…
After finishing the earliest breakfast of her life and freshening up, Taoye and Zhezhi stepped aside.
The palace maids from the Bureau of Palace Ceremonies stepped forward to comb her hair, apply makeup, and dress her…
The Bureau handled all royal weddings and ceremonies.
Noble weddings were their usual fare, but today—the emperor was taking a new concubine! A big job indeed!
With years of experience, the Bureau’s staff worked with practiced ease.
Jiang Yunshu had nothing to do but sit obediently.
She seized the chance to doze off again—her secret skill was sleeping upright without tilting or nodding. Back in school, she’d occasionally nap in class without ever getting caught.
"Would the Noble Lady please open her eyes? This servant must apply your makeup."
Jiang Yunshu complied, but the maid beside her suddenly froze, unmoving.
"Hmm?" Jiang Yunshu glanced at her in confusion.
The maid snapped out of it and apologized, "The Noble Lady’s eyes are so beautiful, this servant was spellbound."
Jiang Yunshu smiled, dismissing it as flattery. Palace attendants sure knew how to sweet-talk.
Her eyes resembled those of the Marquis of Anping. Both she and her elder sister had inherited his peach-blossom eyes, while their three younger sisters had not.
Jiang Yunshu knew her eyes were lovely, but enough to leave someone speechless? That was stretching it.
What she didn’t realize was that the maid had spoken the truth.
The shape of her eyes was exquisite, but even more captivating was the light within them—
Like a bird never caged, like rain and dew dancing freely under the sky.
Once her makeup was done, the Bureau’s maids withdrew, and her Third Younger Sister, Fourth Younger Sister, and Fifth Younger Sister entered to present their wedding gifts.
Fifth Younger Sister offered a pair of golden hairpins, Fourth Younger Sister a set of jade pendants, and Third Younger Sister—a small gilded screen inlaid with precious gems.
The gifts from the fourth and fifth sisters were delicate and thoughtful, slightly more lavish than Jiang Yunshu had expected.
But Third Younger Sister’s gift was far beyond what she’d imagined!
The screen glittered with gemstones, easily worth ten times the others’ presents combined.
Fifth Younger Sister, still young, had her gift prepared by her mother and didn’t react to the extravagant screen.
Fourth Younger Sister, however, gaped the moment she saw it.
She never imagined Third Sister would give something so lavish!
Sisters’ gifts were meant as tokens of affection—something to remember them by after marriage.
And as younger sisters, their offerings needed only to be heartfelt, not extravagant.
Especially since… Third Sister had never gotten along with Second Sister!
Jiang Yunshu herself was stunned by the grand gesture.
What was this? The elder sister’s loyal follower suddenly currying favor with her?
Did Elder Sister even know about this screen?
Jiang Yunshu thanked her sisters, then took Fourth Younger Sister’s hand—noticing her unease—and smiled reassuringly.
Then she shot Third Younger Sister a meaningful glance.
Meanwhile, in Zhaoyang Courtyard, Jiang Zhaohua had long finished dressing.
She sat rigidly upright, careful not to crease her bridal gown.
The posture was exhausting, yet after sitting for so long, her sisters still hadn’t arrived.
Her displeasure showed. "Where are my sisters? Why haven’t they come with their gifts?"
Her maids exchanged nervous glances, none daring to speak.
The hired makeup artist smiled awkwardly. "The young mistress should wait a little longer. Today, the Marquis's Mansion celebrates two joyous occasions. Once the sisters finish presenting gifts to the Noble Lady, they’ll surely come here."
Jiang Zhaohua stiffened. "They went to Second Sister first?"
As the elder sister, shouldn’t they have come to her before the younger, lesser-born Jiang Yunshu?
The makeup artist was taken aback.
Second Sister was entering the palace as a royal consort, while the elder sister was marrying a commoner. Naturally, the younger sisters would prioritize the Noble Lady!
Rumors praised Jiang Zhaohua’s grace and virtue, but now the artist wondered—how could she lack such basic understanding of propriety?
Not knowing how to respond, the artist forced a smile.
Seeing her expression, Jiang Zhaohua realized her blunder.
She just… hadn’t adjusted to the reality yet.
Jiang Yunshu would bask in glory for just this one day, while she herself would shine for decades to come.
Fine—today, she’d let Jiang Yunshu have her moment.
After a long wait, her three sisters finally arrived.
Following their congratulations, Fifth Younger Sister presented her gift—another pair of golden hairpins, slightly more delicate than those given to Jiang Yunshu.
Fourth Younger Sister offered jade bracelets.
Then, eyes flickering toward Third Sister, she waited to see what would come next.
What appeared was a pair of agate bracelets—dull and lackluster.
Jiang Zhaohua’s lips tightened at the sight of the mediocre gift, but she reminded herself that Third Sister wasn’t as well-off and often struggled financially.
The sentiment mattered more than the value…
Just then, Fifth Younger Sister’s bright voice piped up:
"Third Sister, the agate bracelets you gave Elder Sister are much plainer than the gem-inlaid screen you gave Second Sister!"
