166: Chapter 88: Hall Meeting_3 166: Chapter 88: Hall Meeting_3 Jiang Jingrui had not expected this, but he also didn’t want to give up on the lantern and, in a moment’s hesitation, he actually didn’t catch up with Jiang Li.
By the time he caught up, Jiang Li’s figure had already disappeared in the crowd.
Jiang Jingrui immediately thought to himself that this was bad.
Following the crowd, Jiang Li was walking slowly.
Lady Lu and the others had already moved to the front, and Jiang Jingrui was behind; the crowd was so dense that people soon dispersed, not staying in one place, making it easy to get lost.
Jiang Li was not very afraid; she knew the roads of Yanjing City well and caught sight of the City Garrison’s location out of the corner of her eye.
If there really was a problem, she could call for help from the City Garrison nearest to her at the first opportunity.
She also did not wish to look for Lady Lu or Jiang Jingrui, feeling that this was a rare moment of solitude.
Ever since she returned to the capital, she had been Jiang Li, and although she had grown accustomed to this identity, there were times when she would remember her original name, Xue Fangfei.
She was afraid that, if she lived as Jiang Li for too long, she would forget her real name and the things she wanted to do.
Indulging in the comfort that this identity provided was not what she desired.
The riddles of the lantern festival tonight were like a bitter medicine; they were numbing to the heart, yet they also provided a moment of clarity.
Therefore, having a moment to set aside the role of “Jiang Li” and be by herself was quite pleasant.
Tonger and Bai Xue did not know what Jiang Li was thinking.
Seeing that Jiang Jingrui and his party were no longer visible in the crowd, Tonger said, “Miss, shouldn’t we go look for Old Master the Second and the others?
We can’t see anything now.
What if we can’t find our way back to the residence later?”
“It’s all right,” Jiang Li said.
“I remember the way.”
“But there are too many people,” Bai Xue also advised, “We didn’t bring any guards with us.
What if something happens?”
Jiang Li looked at herself; the person who harbored the most enmity against Miss Jiang the Second was none other than Ji Shuran and her daughter.
But even if Ji Shuran and her daughter wanted to harm her, they would not choose such a time with a multitude of eyes upon them.
Leaving aside Jiang Youyao, Ji Shuran was extremely meticulous, never leaving the slightest hint of a clue.
However, there are always exceptions to any rule, and one cannot deduce from common sense alone.
If this mother and daughter were to act in madness, anything could happen.
She thus dropped the idea of wandering off alone and said, “You make a good point.”
Bai Xue and Tonger both sighed in relief.
As Jiang Li was about to move forward to search for Lady Lu, she inadvertently caught sight of someone not far away: “Ye Shijie?”
After the palace banquet, Jiang Li rarely visited Mingyi Hall.
The incident involving Jiang Yue had impacted the reputation of the Jiang family daughters.
Madam Jiang the Elder had instructed them to go out as little as possible on normal days, to wait until this period of scrutiny had passed before considering it again.
Consequently, Jiang Li had not had the opportunity to meet Ye Shijie again.
At this moment, in front of a small vendor selling lanterns not far away, Ye Shijie and a middle-aged man seemed to be choosing lanterns, talking intimately.
Jiang Li guessed that the man was someone Ye Shijie knew.
Contemplating inquiring about Ye Shijie’s recent situation, especially if Li Lian had tried to recruit him again, she planned to cross the crowd and walk toward Ye Shijie.
Unbeknownst to her, this very move was being watched by someone else.
Up in Wangxian Tower, Kong Liu was intently watching the throng of people below, lost in thought.
He didn’t really like looking at all these flashy flowers and lanterns; they dazzled the eyes.
But compared to staying in the Duke Residence and watching boring court affairs, the liveliness here was, of course, more pleasing to the eye.
Besides, amongst the bustle, there were many beautiful girls, adding luster to the dull night.
Yet tonight, among those pleasing girls, Kong Liu spotted a familiar shadow.
“Ah, it’s Second Miss Jiang!” Kong Liu stood up excitedly and called out to Jih Heng, “Come quick, look!
It’s Second Miss Jiang, I didn’t expect her to come out to enjoy the lanterns tonight.
That’s odd, she’s all by herself?
No one from the Jiang family is with her.
Did she sneak out?”
Lu Jiu, who was sipping tea, glanced down following Kong Liu’s gaze and said, “There’s no sneaking out that involves bringing maids, with so many people outside, she probably got separated from her family.”
“Separated?” Kong Liu frowned, “There are so many people outside, and not a few scoundrels.
Every year there are girls abducted by villains, and a girl as lovely as her is bound to attract attention.
It would be bad if something were to happen.”
“So what do you propose?” Lu Jiu looked at him with curiosity.
“I’ll escort her to find her family!” Kong Liu said as if it were the most natural thing to do.
“Kong Liu,” Lu Jiu said, “don’t delude yourself.
Let alone the Grand Secretary’s daughter, even ordinary girls wouldn’t fancy a man of your age.”