Although Jiang Jingrui greatly resembled Lu Shi in appearance, he was not at all as shrewd as her. Before Jiang Li could say anything, he had already started talking like beans pouring from a bamboo tube.

“Why have you completely changed from before? Speaking so softly and slowly—it’s so awkward!”

“And wearing green? Do you think you’re a scallion or something?”

“You’re way too thin! Even your taste has gotten worse? Dressed so plain you’ve faded into nothing.”

“Tsk tsk tsk, where’s the young lady of a wealthy family? Those who don’t know would think you’re a nun who’s left the world behind. Are you trying to become an immortal?”

Finally, he concluded his assessment of Jiang Li with: “That nunnery really isn’t any good place—a perfectly fine person changed just like that.”

Jiang Li: “…”

She didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. Thinking about Jiang Jingrui’s earlier behavior, she tentatively spoke: “Jiang… Jingrui?”

As soon as these words left her mouth, Jiang Jingrui’s expression immediately softened, and he said, “Now that’s more like it! What’s with calling me ‘cousin’? I got goosebumps all over!”

Jiang Li thought to herself that it seemed Second Miss Jiang’s relationship with this cousin was actually quite good. They called each other by name in private. Looking at Jiang Jingrui’s brash and unscrupulous manner, he must have been on Second Miss Jiang’s side before.

Jiang Jingrui crossed his arms and said, “I thought I’d never see you again in this lifetime. I didn’t expect Uncle to have some conscience after all and bring you back.”

“Thank you for your concern.” Jiang Li tried to make her attitude seem as natural as possible.

However, this “naturalness” still made Jiang Jingrui feel extremely awkward. He restrained himself repeatedly before saying, “But don’t let your guard down either. When you have time, curry favor with Uncle more. All my brothers know about your return to the capital… I think all of Yanjing knows by now. They say behind your back that you’re vicious—I’ve heard it all. If you don’t want to be driven out again, be smarter about it.”

Jiang Li was speechless. Jiang Jingrui seemed to have a good relationship with Second Miss Jiang, yet now he adopted a stance of standing by and watching, even appearing somewhat gloating. His self-important advice—she couldn’t tell at the moment whether it was well-intentioned or not—left Jiang Li both amused and exasperated.

Jiang Jingrui glanced sideways into the distance. In the pavilion, the shadows of Jiang Youyao and the other two were still visible. Jiang Jingrui asked, “Hey, when you came over just now, did they give you a hard time?”

“No,” Jiang Li said. “We just exchanged a few words.”

Upon hearing this, Jiang Jingrui looked at her curiously: “What did you talk about?”

“In a few days is Third Sister’s coming-of-age ceremony. Third Sister reminded me not to forget the gift.”

Hearing this, Jiang Jingrui sneered and said, “One coming-of-age ceremony, and she really thinks she’s a princess.” He looked at Jiang Li again and pointed at her in frustration: “Are you stupid? Didn’t you hear the meaning behind her words?”

“What meaning?” Jiang Li asked, puzzled.

“Ai.” Jiang Jingrui sighed in an old-fashioned manner and said, “Once Jiang Youyao’s coming-of-age ceremony is over, people from Marquis Ningyuan’s household will come to finalize the marriage arrangement. Don’t you know that Zhou Yanbang will definitely attend Jiang Youyao’s coming-of-age ceremony?”

Zhou Yanbang. Jiang Li suddenly understood. Tong’er had mentioned that the heir of Marquis Ningyuan was called Zhou Yanbang. He was the husband originally betrothed to Second Miss Jiang, who was later stolen away by Jiang Youyao, like a cuckoo taking over a magpie’s nest.

No wonder Jiang Youyao had just said something about inviting many people to the coming-of-age ceremony and that she might encounter old acquaintances. This “old acquaintance” must have referred to Zhou Yanbang! If it were really Jiang Li, seeing Zhou Yanbang at the coming-of-age ceremony would either leave her unable to control her grief and sorrow, or cause her to lose composure in front of others from excessive emotion. In any case, it would be unpleasant—no different from being stabbed several times in the heart.

Tong’er worriedly supported Jiang Li while Jiang Jingrui continued chattering on his own: “I think you shouldn’t go to the coming-of-age ceremony. You don’t know this, but Zhou Yanbang has grown much more handsome than when he was young. Now countless young ladies in Yanjing admire him. You liked him so much when you were little; if you see him now, I’m afraid you’ll be even less able to let go. But now it’s a done deal—Jiang Youyao and Zhou Yanbang are already betrothed. No matter how unwilling you are, it won’t help. You’ll only feel miserable. Better not to see him at all.”

Listening to his words, Jiang Li had only one thought: this Jiang Jingrui really didn’t know how to talk. If the real Second Miss Jiang were listening to him counsel her like this right now, it would be like adding fuel to fire and frost to snow—it would be remarkable if she didn’t die of anger.

Seeing Jiang Li remain silent, Tong’er feared she was remembering sad matters and carefully said, “Miss?”

Jiang Li smiled and said, “I’m fine. So Zhou Yanbang will be coming too.”

Her tone when speaking was far too calm, leaving both Tong’er and Jiang Jingrui momentarily stunned.

They didn’t know that Jiang Li wasn’t Second Miss Jiang. Second Miss Jiang would jump into water seeking death for Zhou Yanbang, but Jiang Li would not. To her, Zhou Yanbang was just a stranger she had never even met. To experience joy, anger, sorrow, and happiness for a stranger—that was truly too difficult.

Zhou Yanbang couldn’t provoke her emotions. Whatever schemes Jiang Youyao was plotting, they were wrong from the very start. Zhou Yanbang would be useful at the coming-of-age ceremony only if Jiang Li cared about him. If Jiang Li didn’t care at all, whether Zhou Yanbang appeared or not didn’t matter.

Jiang Jingrui asked, “Even if Zhou Yanbang comes, you’ll still go?” He looked at Jiang Li’s face, trying to find a trace of sadness or distress on it.

However, he failed.

“If I don’t go, Mother and Third Sister will be upset, and Father will blame me too. How can I not go? Besides, there are indeed people I want to see,” Jiang Li said.

When Jiang Jingrui and Tong’er heard the first part of Jiang Li’s words, they felt sympathetic. Indeed, Jiang Li couldn’t not go. If she didn’t, who knew how Ji Shuran would slander her behind her back—it would be like handing a weapon directly to someone.

But hearing the latter half of the sentence, both were simultaneously astonished. Jiang Li still couldn’t let go of Zhou Yanbang, right? But why did her expression not look at all like lingering feelings remained?

Both of them assumed that the “person she wanted to see” that Jiang Li mentioned was Zhou Yanbang, but they didn’t know that the person she truly wanted to see was not him at all.

Jiang Yuanbai was the current Chief Minister, the foremost among scholars. For the coming-of-age ceremony of his legitimate daughter, countless literati and official families would certainly come to observe the ceremony. As the newly appointed top scholar and a rising star among court civil officials, Shen Yurong would naturally maintain good relations with Jiang Yuanbai on the surface. Shen Yurong’s sister would definitely come to the ceremony.

Moreover, Jiang Li knew that when Shen Ruyun was Xue Fangfei’s sister-in-law, Shen Ruyun’s heart had harbored affection for the heir of Marquis Ningyuan. Shen Ruyun was narrow-minded and fiercely competitive—she would certainly come to see what Zhou Yanbang’s future wife looked like.

The person Jiang Li wanted to see was an old acquaintance of Xue Fangfei—the Shen family.

She was waiting for those people to come.