Jiang Li didn’t know that all her movements before Jixiang Building had been completely observed by others. When Tong’er returned from the pawnshop, she shook her head at her and said, “The jade piece this servant pawned before has already been redeemed by someone else. However, I discovered a very beautiful jade pendant in the pawnshop, so I bought it.” As she spoke, she opened her palm.
The jade pendant in Tong’er’s palm was of ordinary quality. In a place like the Jiang estate, even Xiangqiao herself was accustomed to seeing fine things—this piece of jade had nothing particularly outstanding about it in comparison. If there was anything special, it was that carved on the jade was a plump civet cat, remarkably lifelike and vivid.
Xiangqiao only glanced at it once before looking away, but Jiang Li stared intently, took it with delight, and said to Tong’er, “It truly is beautiful.”
“This servant knew Miss would definitely like it. If Miss likes it, please keep it.”
Jiang Li accepted without declining. Xiangqiao watched and mocked inwardly—after all, Jiang Li was a country bumpkin who had spent eight years on the mountain, actually liking such a worthless trinket.
When they returned to Fangfei Court at the Jiang estate, it was already quite late. Xiangqiao had disappeared in a flash at some point. Jiang Li understood clearly—she must have returned to Shuxiu Garden to report back to Ji Shuran.
Seeing that there was finally no one else in the room, Tong’er closed the door, poured Jiang Li a cup of hot tea, and inquired softly, “Miss, why did you suddenly ask this servant to redeem this jade pendant? Whose jade pendant is this, and what’s special about it?”
Having depended on each other with Jiang Li for eight years at Qingcheng Mountain, Tong’er and Jiang Li were mistress and servant yet closer than mistress and servant. Tong’er knew all of Jiang Li’s affairs clearly, but she didn’t know when it started that Tong’er no longer understood the meaning behind some of the things Jiang Li did.
Like this current matter—before even leaving today, Jiang Li had told her that she must help redeem a jade pendant. The words spoken before Jixiang Building were all what Jiang Li had taught Tong’er to say beforehand. The deceased mother and all that were made up.
Jiang Li smiled at her. “You did very well.” She also caressed the jade pendant in her hand and said, “This jade pendant belonged to an old friend. That friend is no longer here.”
The jade pendant in her hand was one that Xue Huaiyuan had personally carved knife stroke by knife stroke when she was born. The night before Xue Fangfei’s mother gave birth to Xue Fangfei, Xue Huaiyuan dreamed of a flower civet cat coming to his doorstep and bowing properly. After her birth, he asked a yin-yang master to read Xue Fangfei’s fate. The master said Xue Fangfei’s life would be drifting and rootless, a beauty with a thin fate. This so enraged the usually steady and upright Xue Huaiyuan that he nearly beat the yin-yang master to death with a stick. Though he said he didn’t believe it, deep in his heart he was still bothered. Hearing from neighbors far and near that those with thin fates should be given lowly pet names so that the King of Hell and little demons, upon hearing them, would be too lazy to claim such cheap lives.
So Xue Huaiyuan didn’t give Xue Fangfei a courtesy name, but directly added the pet name A’li.
This jade pendant was also something Xue Huaiyuan had saved half a year’s salary to buy from a traveling merchant. It wasn’t expensive—Xue Huaiyuan personally sought a high monk to consecrate it and personally carved it himself, hoping to bless Xue Fangfei with a peaceful and smooth life.
Later, this jade pendant accompanied Xue Fangfei to Yanjing. After Shen Yurong became top scholar and was appointed as Secretariat Drafter, everyone around needed to be entertained and appeased. The Shen family’s foundation was too thin, so Xue Fangfei took out all her dowry. At the most difficult time, even this piece of jade was pawned.
She had originally thought that after some time when the family situation improved, she would redeem the jade pendant. Who knew that not long after, the birthday banquet incident would occur? Her reputation was completely ruined, she was too ashamed to go out, and even until her death, she couldn’t redeem this jade.
Seeing Jiang Li thinking of something with an expression of desolation, Tong’er couldn’t help but speak: “Miss…”
Jiang Li came back to herself and smiled. “It’s nothing. Although that old friend is gone, I’m still here.”
Although Xue Fangfei was gone, Jiang Li remained. Xue Fangfei couldn’t redeem this jade, but Jiang Li had redeemed it.
Xue Fangfei’s pet name was A’li. Jiang Li’s single-character name was “Li.” Perhaps this bit of fate in the unseen realm allowed her to replace this pitiful young lady and return to Yanjing again.
Jiang Li—meaning “about to leave”—the name’s implication wasn’t good. But the original Xue Fangfei ultimately never experienced flourishing fragrance and beauty in her lifetime, which showed that fate was still in one’s own hands after all.
Tong’er blinked, and seeing Jiang Li smile, she also breathed a sigh of relief. Then thinking of something, she said, “The two maids from Shuxiu Garden don’t do any work normally, and today the ones who came from the outer courtyard to sweep are also habitually lazy. Miss can’t let them continue like this forever. Madam Ji won’t manage this matter, the master can’t easily interfere with the inner court—Old Madam should at least manage it!”
“Old Madam isn’t close to me. If I bring up this matter, I can manage it for a time but not forever. I’d better resolve this matter myself.” Jiang Li shook her head. Old Madam Jiang was strong and capable—being docile and obedient wouldn’t necessarily win her favor. Moreover, Jiang Li had previously broken Old Madam Jiang’s heart. If it really came to settling accounts, she truly didn’t know whose side she would take.
“What does Miss plan to do?” Hearing this, Tong’er immediately rubbed her hands together eagerly. Ever since Jiang Li had schemed her way back to the capital with a monkey on Qingcheng Mountain, Tong’er had complete faith in Jiang Li’s decisions.
“These next few days, just mutter in front of Yunshuang about how many benefits I’ve given Xiangqiao.” Jiang Li said, “Most of that box of jewelry Madam Ji sent is with her now too.”
“Is Miss trying to drive a wedge between them?” Tong’er was clever and immediately asked.
“They weren’t close to begin with—it can’t be called driving a wedge.” Jiang Li smiled. “This is just giving them a little test.”
Just a test. If they passed, naturally all would be well. If they failed, they would lose everything.
…
In Shuxiu Garden, Xiangqiao stood in the room. At the table, Jiang Youyao was practicing calligraphy, but her eyes were distracted and unfocused.
Ji Shuran asked, “Ruby headdress?”
“Yes, a ruby headdress from Jixiang Building. Four hundred taels of silver. This servant saw it with her own eyes,” Xiangqiao said.
“What’s a four hundred tael headdress? How shabby indeed.” Jiang Youyao was disdainful.
“Although it’s not much, it won’t lose face either.” Ji Shuran pondered. “It’s probably about the same as what your two cousins from the Second Household will send. Logically speaking, there’s no fault to pick with it.”
Hearing this, Xiangqiao calculated inwardly—the meaning of Ji Shuran’s words was clearly that she intended to make an issue of Jiang Youyao’s coming-of-age ceremony.
“Mother, how can we make her suffer?” Jiang Youyao put down her brush and anxiously looked toward Ji Shuran.
“She’s just returned to the capital these days. Liu Yuanfeng is watching from that side, and your father also feels guilty toward her. However, earning people’s disgust is also very simple.” Ji Shuran said.
“How?” Jiang Youyao’s eyes lit up.
“Don’t forget, she still has the reputation of being an evil woman—the past of killing her mother and murdering her brother can’t be erased so easily. Right now, too much time has passed and people have almost forgotten. Once people remember again, she’ll have no way to survive.” Ji Shuran smiled virtuously. “The noble people of Yanjing cannot tolerate the slightest contamination.”
Xiangqiao’s heart jumped as she watched Ji Shuran look toward her.