Marriage of the Di Daughter Chapter 2.2: Jiang Li

The quilt was originally thin. However, due to the damp weather, it became cold and heavy, making those covered under it to feel extremely suffocated. She lifted the quilt and, feeling her stomach became more comfortable, she slowly sat up.

The sobbing noise by her side came to a halt immediately. Through the soft candlelight coming from the top of the table, a pleasantly surprised face came into view as it said: Young miss is awake!

Young miss?

Xue Fang Fei stared blankly and looked up and down at the person in front of her. The appearance of the girl seemed to be about 15-16 years old. Her eyes were swollen like the stone of a peach, looking adorable. Her dark-blue, plain cotton clothing was not suited for her body. From head to toe, there wasnt a single piece of jewelry. Looking at her foolish appearance, Xue Fang Fei burst out laughing.

Calling her young miss, could she be a servant girl? Even during the time she was at Tongxiang before she married, the servant girl at her side would not wear such an ugly-looking attire.

Xue Fang Fei thought back, that wasnt right, the important point was, she didnt remember having this servant girl before. From her maiden home until she got married, she had four personal servant girls. Afterward, two of them got married. The morning after that shameful event at the feast, Shen Yurongs mother wanted to beat the remaining two servant girls to death. Xue Fang Fei prevented that by pretending to be angry, and chased them out of the house before she could get hold of them. Later on, those who waited on her could be assumed to be Princess Yong Nings informers.

Princess Yong Ning! Images suddenly flashed quickly before her eyes. Xue Fang Fei remembered that Princess Yong Ning clearly came to provoke her. Then Princess Yong Nings people strangled her. Could it be She had not died yet? How was that possible? Princess Yong Ning was the type of person who would completely eliminate everything down to the root1. It was impossible to spare her life.

Could it be That she was rescued? Was it Shen Yurong? Or someone else?

Xue Fang Fei could see that the young servant girl wasnt lying. The servant girl stopped her giggling, somewhat afraid, and she called in a small voice: Young miss? Young miss?

Who are you? asked Xue Fang Fei. Once she had spoken, she stopped, feeling that something wasnt right. However, she couldnt put her finger on what was wrong.

The young servant girl was even more anxious, she replied: Young miss, this servant is Tonger2 ah!

Tonger? Xue Fang Fei couldnt remember if there had ever been a person called like this around her.

Young miss, Tonger looked like she was about to cry, then said: Young miss, this servant is aware that your heart is not happy. How could they just snatch your marriage? Madam had set down young misss marriage when she was still around. Marquis3 Ningyuans family, how could they break their promises in such a way4? Furthermore master. young miss, this servant knows you5 are blaming master. However, you cannot think about giving everything up ah! Even if its not for yourself, please think of madam, after all madams spirit6 is watching over you from heaven, she would feel extremely sad ah!

Xue Fang Fei stared blankly at the small servant girl7 bawling her eyes out, while she was thinking in her heart, what shes got to do with Marquis Ningyuan? Xue Fang Fei knew the heir of Marquis Ningyuan. Her sister-in-law, Shen Yurongs younger sister Shen Ruyun, admired the young heir of Marquis Ningyuan very much. In the capital city of Yanjing, he was famous for being a beautiful man. What has that got to do with her?

The servant girl was still lost in her weeping when a sudden clap of thunder sounded abruptly outside, illuminating the room: a cold and shabby room, an ice-cold quilt; and at the same time, also illuminating Xue Fang Fei.

Suddenly, Xue Fang Fei realized what was wrong.

This voice.. tender and crisp, although exhausted, yet it was suffused with the characteristics of a young girls softness and stickiness.

This was not her voice.

Who am I? asked Xue Fang Fei.

Tonger stared blankly.

Who am I? Xue Fang Fei repeated her question.

What do you mean? Tonger replied indignantly, then promptly continued: You are the current government cabinet Chief Assistant Lord8 Jiangs first wifes official daughter, Jiang familys second miss, Jiang Li. Then, she added another sentence for emphasis, An honorable golden branch9, the Chief Assistants daughter!

Jiang family, chief assistants daughter, the second Jiang young miss, Jiang Li.

Xue Fang Fei closed her eyes.

She would be Jiang Li.

A small comment as the editor. Remember that Fang Feis baby name was Ah L ()? Calling Jiang Li in an endearing way would also be Ah Li (), but the pronunciation of these kanjis is slightly different, so thats why I decided to use this Li/L to mark the difference between the two instead of just using Ah Li for both. This will later (much later) have importance, just letting you know ^^

So, I made a small mistake with the meaning of Xue Huaiyuan in chap 1.1, although the meaning I provided wasnt wrong, there is another meaning which I find more fitting: Huaiyuan () meaning profound heart. There was actually a senior official in Tang dynasty called Li Huaiyuan (), which despite his humble birth and bearing was very respected by the Emperor and the Crown Prince-later-turned-Emperor, and well he got many important official posts and titles throughout his life. I think he might be considered someone exemplary due to the brilliance of his work and his humility and uprightness; and he was used as inspiration for this kind of characters in c-novels (but then again, I might be wrong, I just looked it up in wikipedia and guessed this cuz Ive seen it often in c-novels lol).

In any case, if you ever transmigrate to ancient China, be sure to do so in a family where your father is called Huaiyuan, they are the best daddies! Xue Huaiyuan is best daddy, and Qin Huaiyuan from Return of the Swallow is bestest best daddy ever! Go read ROS if you havent yet, it is one of the best female MC c-novels out there!! You will definitely not regret reading it, and you will have something to enjoy as you wait for MDD chapters to come out^^

On another note, it makes me mad that the kanjis for Yun Rong (), our lovely MC from our other novel (Who moved my mountain, check it out if you havent ^^), are found in the names of these two scumbag Shen siblings. Heaven shall punish them for such profanity, and if it doesnt, well, Fang Fei will.

Footnotes:

1: , lit. to cut weeds and eliminate the roots. Idiom meaning to eliminate completely.

2: (er), its another diminutive like Xiao () or Ah () that is added at the end of ones given name; used as an endearing term, again with family, children and loved ones. In this case, close servants may also be called using Xiao or er by their masters.

3: (hou) marquis, second of the five orders of ancient Chinese nobility, title used to address a nobleman or high official.

4: , lit. breaking faith and abandoning right; idiom meaning to betray, treachery, perfidy.

5: Throughout the chapter (and I assume in the rest of the novel and also for other characters in the same position) Tonger uses a courteous form of you (nin), befitting of her position of servant addressing the master, opposite to how XFF calls her, using the informal you (ni).

6:, lit. spirit/soul resting in heaven, refers to the soul and spirit of the deceased.

7: (yatou) servant girl.

8: (daren), respectful title used towards superiors, also used to allude to court officials.

9: A golden branch (), also appeared in chapter 1.2 referring to Princes Yong Ning. Lit. golden branch, (with) jade leaves. Its an idiom used to allude to high nobility, and especially the imperial household. Its often used to express this idea of grabbing this golden branch (invaluable treasure), aka successfully making a connection with someone that is extremely powerful which would bring you endless benefits. Or if you are the golden branch, others will want to curry favor with you to obtain some privileges through you.

You can also find a compilation of idioms in the Glossary, and the pinyin terms and cultural notes in the Ancient China & Pinyin Glossary.

Names and places:

Tonger (), Tong is a tree name, it may refer to Paulownia, Firmiana or Aleurites; er is endearing diminutive. Marquis Ningyuan (), Ning meaning peaceful, Yuan meaning profound.

Shen Ruyun (), Ruyun means like a cloud.