Chapter 2: Koi Garden
On her way to the Koi Garden Gazebo, Jin Hua mentally lists everything she's knows about Jiang Yanli:
Average cultivation.
Said to have only slightly above average looks, but Jin Hua finds that debatable because as she saw Jiang Yanli, while not drop dead gorgeous, could still be considered beautiful.
Jiang Yanli is the Shijie of the Yiling Patriarch and sister of Sandu Shengshou. By these two relations alone, Jin Hua suspects that it would be foolish to simply write Jiang Yanli off as 'mediocre'.
As for her personality, Jin Hua knows nothing. But hopefully, it was reasonable.
Sparing a glance at the sun's position in the sky, Jin Hua determined it was nearing the end of the hour of the Sheep.
Sect Heir says that Young Miss Jiang usually takes a walk alone through Koi Garden at this time before stopping for tea at the Gazebo.
Over the years the Jin sect has spared no amount of silver on landscapers to make Koi Garden one of the most beautiful sights in Lanling since Koi Garden is used to host events in the Summer.
Outside of events, only clan members and inner core disciples have the privilege to enjoy the sight. That Sect Heir allows Young Miss Jiang to enter and leave as she pleases despite not yet marrying into the Jin Clan is a testimony in and of itself for his high regard towards her.
Jin Hua spots Jiang Yanli's figure near the newly planted lotus flowers and stops to observe. Young Miss Jiang is not alone.
Three young misses crowd around her. They each hold a decorative fan and are finely clothed in embroidered dresses. Not the golden Sect robes so they weren't disciples, but civilians.
Recognizing them as her distant cousins which Jin Hua can't remember the names of but only shares an ancestor with dating back ten or so generations. She sees their familiar fake crafty smiles that hide knifes and Jiang Yanli's strained polite smile and can immediately understand that those three misses had no good intentions.
Jin Hua's cultivation wasn't exceptionally high, but it was high enough to allow her to hear from where she stood.
"I heard Yiling Patriarch has kidnapped woman to start his own harem. It's to be expected of course. Such a devilishly handsome man could have any woman he wants," The first miss chirped.
"That's right," the second miss followed, "if I remember correctly he has quite the reputation as a ladies man. Flirting left and right. Now that he's building his own army with the prisoners of war, of course he needs to start ensuring he has descendants to continue his demomic methods."
"Ah, I really pity Young Miss Jiang. Having to grow up with such a vile man. You must have suffered," said the third miss. The implication clear that Wei Wuxian must have had intentions toward his Shijie.
To Jiang Yanli's credit, she didn't lose her temper, but judging by her clenched fists she was close.
"You have no need to be concerned about me," Jiang Yanli answered, "A-Xian isn't like that at all. He has only ever regarded me as an older sister. He is my little brother in all but blood."
The first miss didn't seem to have any shame and said, "That is how it appears. But who knows what goes on in a man's head? For all we know he could have already-" her sentence was cut off when all three misses felt a cold chilling weight creep down their spines.
They paled and turned to see that Jin Hua had approached them and had let loose a trickle of spiritual energy to pressure them.
"What are you three doing?" Jin Hua asked, her voice neither cold or friendly.
The three misses share uneasy glances because Jin Hua was wearing the golden inner core disciple robes before directing their fake innocent smiles at Jin Hua.
"Cousin, we were just concerned about Young Miss Jiang!" The first miss said.
"Right Right!" The second miss said, "it would be better if our future young madam didn't have any more connection with such a vile person. Can you imagine what people would say?"
Jin Hua smiled at them. It was a polite smile, but for some reason the three misses felt even more uneasy.
"Ah," Jin Hua clicked her tongue, "so you do know that she is your future young madam. Yet you show her such disrespect! Tsk Tsk. What would Sect Heir think when he hears how you treat his beloved future wife? Tell me, what is the punishment for slandering the main family?"
Hearing this the three misses become ghostly pale.
"I- I- But- But," the third miss protested, entirely losing her composure, "we didn't slander Young Miss Jiang. We only spoke about Yiling Patriarch!"
"And who is Wei Wuxian?" Jin Hua narrowed her eyes at this miss, "he may have defected from YunmengJiang, but he is still part of the Jiang family. Jiang family will now be connected to the main Jin family. Who do you three think you are? Remember your place. Apologize to Young Miss Jiang this instant."
The three misses hastily bowed to Jiang Yanli and murmured their apologies before running away.
Jin Hua sighed and turned to face Jiang Yanli. She cupped her hands and bowed in greeting, "Sorry you had to endure that Young Miss Jiang. They will learn their place in due time."
Jiang Yanli smiled before greeting in kind, and Jin Hua was a little caught of guard because it was a real sincere smile and couldn't help, but tentatively smile back.
"Thank you. Not just for defending me but also A-Xian," said Jiang Yanli.
Jin Hua shook her head, "I just said what I thought. Young Miss Jiang, think nothing of it."
"Please, call me Jiang Yanli. Would you like to join me for tea?"
"Only if you call me Jin Hua. I would love to join you."