38: Chapter 36: Consulting 38: Chapter 36: Consulting Jiang Li watched the two people opposite her.
Jiang Youyao and Zhou Yanbang were sitting very close to each other.
Their engagement was known throughout Yanjing City, so it was not too much for an engaged couple to be a bit intimate.
However, Zhou Yanbang’s expression at the moment seemed rather uncomfortable.
Jiang Youyao naively spoke up, “Second sister, what were you discussing so intently just now?
Why did you stop when I arrived?”
“There was nothing much,” Jiang Li replied.
“We just ran into the Princely Heir and greeted him when you came.” Jiang Li smiled, “Now that Third Sister is here, you should spend some time with the Princely Heir.
I’ll be heading back.” With that, she didn’t wait for Zhou Yanbang and Jiang Youyao to respond and left with Tonger.
Zhou Yanbang couldn’t help but watch Jiang Li’s retreating figure, and seeing this, Jiang Youyao bit her lip in frustration.
On the way back, Tonger asked Jiang Li in a low voice, “Miss, it would be best not to associate with Prince Zhou.”
“What are you trying to say?”
Seeing that Jiang Li was not angry, Tonger became a bit bolder and said, “Although Miss and Prince Zhou were once betrothed, it is now Third Miss who is engaged to him.
Even though Miss has returned, the master will not reinstate the engagement.
Marriage is not child’s play, changing it back and forth repeatedly would make our Jiang Family the laughingstock of Yanjing City.
The master will certainly not let that happen.”
“Secondly,” Tonger continued, carefully gauging Jiang Li’s expression, “Prince Zhou was too warm towards Miss just now.
He is now Third Miss’s fiancé, but he pays no regard to his status and behaves so inappropriately.
It’s clear he’s not a good match.
Miss…”
“I understand,” Jiang Li laughed.
“Of course, I know he’s not a good match.
But our Tonger, to think of so much, really opens my eyes.”
Tonger was usually straightforward—loyal but otherwise unremarkable.
Unexpectedly, she had depth and was not blinded by immediate benefits, which Jiang Li very much appreciated.
Hearing Jiang Li’s praise, Tonger laughed as well, “Miss need not worry.
Our Miss is a legitimate daughter of the Jiang Residence.
Not to mention the Heir of Marquis Ningyuan, even becoming a Princess is possible.
We can take our time to find a good husband.”
Jiang Li laughed at this, finding Tonger ultimately too naïve, unaware of the power of gossip.
Just the past accusation of plotting against her stepmother was enough to make her an outcast in Yanjing City.
Otherwise, Jiang Yuan Bai wouldn’t have sent her to the temple, knowing that even as Second Miss of the Jiang Family, she wouldn’t fare any better in Yanjing City.
But then again, in this lifetime, she didn’t plan to marry anyway.
…
At the same time, in Shuxiu Garden, Lady Ji and Lady Ji Chen were talking.
The guests had already dispersed.
Today’s capping ceremony for Jiang Youyao was nothing short of a mess, utterly disordered.
To outsiders, they would only say that she, as the matriarch managing the household, was not assertive enough, and the back courtyard was in disarray.
Jiang Yuanbai’s parting gaze had left Lady Ji extremely irritated.
Clearly, he was blaming her.
She had planned to deal properly with Jiang Li, but instead Jiang Li slipped away and she even lost a maid, Xiangqiao.
That much was tolerable, but anyone with eyes could see today’s intricate twists and turns.
Those ladies and misses loved to gossip about the affairs of others’ backhouses; the clever ones would certainly spot the oddities.
Ji Shuran wasn’t afraid of others finding the situation odd.
As a matriarch who manages the household, who doesn’t employ some tactics?
But having used tactics and still lost, squandered both her dignity and her soldiers, such a defeat, if known, would surely provoke laughter at her expense.
It would be an admission that she was outwitted by a mere young girl.
Always proud and haughty at heart, Ji Shuran came back and, in a fury, smashed vases and pottery all over the yard.
Lady Ji Chen consoled her, “What sort of behavior is this?
If others see you like this, they will say you can’t keep your composure, entirely unbecoming of the Grand Secretary’s wife.”
“Sister, I just can’t swallow this insult,” Ji Shuran said angrily.
“That wretched Jiang Li is truly vile!
Barely older than Youyao and yet so cunning.
You saw what happened today; how can she be so scheming?”
“She is indeed no simple character, don’t you unravel yourself,” said Lady Ji Chen.
She instructed the maids to partially close the door and continued, “Right now, you are in charge of the Jiang Residence’s main household.
Don’t forget you bore Jiang Yuanbai a pair of children, and his heart leans toward you.
As for Jiang Li, a daughter neglected, has anyone within the Jiang Residence ever truly regarded her as the miss?
If you wish to deal with her, it would be effortless, but remember to plot it out slowly and not to give others a handle against you.
Look at what happened with Xiangqiao this time, it nearly caused trouble.”
Ji Shuran gradually calmed down, “I understand.”
Yunshuang had already been taken away, and Jiang Li’s words to her earlier ultimately raised Ji Shuran’s suspicions, though Yunshuang had explained that it was jealousy over Xiangqiao that led to the current situation.
Regardless of whether it was true or not, Yunshuang’s actions caused Ji Shuran’s plans to fall short and her grave mistake meant she couldn’t be kept around.
As for how to deal with her, when others asked, it would only be said that Yunshuang couldn’t bear Xiangqiao’s death and packed up to return to her hometown.
“It’s that Madam Liu,” Lady Ji Chen’s expression darkened, “she has opposed our Ji family time and time again.
Just the other day, father mentioned that Liu Yuanfeng filed another complaint against him.
Liu Yuanfeng is such an ingrate, and now Madam Liu repeatedly opposes us, truly infuriating.”
“Indeed annoying,” Ji Shuran echoed.
“If it weren’t for her meddling, how could Jiang Li have had the chance to return to Yanjing!”
“No matter,” said Lady Ji Chen coldly.
“If the Liu Family dares oppose our Ji family, they will have their comeuppance.
The urgent matter is for you,” she advised Ji Shuran, “you upset Jiang Yuanbai this time, you must soothe him well.
As for Jiang Li, there’s no rush, you can find any reason to deal with her at your convenience since she’s under your watch.
Don’t forget, her lifelong affair is still in your hands, isn’t it easy to trip her up?”
Ji Shuran nodded, “You make sense.”
While they were speaking, someone suddenly burst in, it was Jiang Youyao, her expression furious and her features almost twisted.
Seeing Lady Ji Chen and Ji Shuran, she didn’t care for formalities and blurted out, “Mother, aunt, that vixen Jiang Li actually flirted with Prince Zhou right in front of me, shameless!
You must discipline her for me!”
“How dare she?” Ji Shuran immediately stood up with a surge of anger.
“She just does,” said Jiang Youyao, extremely aggrieved.
“Mother, she pays us no respect at all, how can we tolerate this?
Mother, you must avenge this for me!”