Jiang Li didn’t know what Madam Ji Chen and Ji Shuran were discussing, but she was well aware that with today’s events—her actions in the face of Ji Shuran’s schemes—she had laid bare the conflict between herself and Ji Shuran for all to see. Judging from what Ji Shuran had done to Second Miss Jiang in the past, Ji Shuran was not a magnanimous person. With the conflict intensifying, Ji Shuran would inevitably resort to even more severe methods.

Jiang Li wasn’t afraid.

In the past, when she was with Xue Huaiyuan, he hadn’t concealed political affairs from her and occasionally even discussed them with her. Jiang Li was not a timid person. Moreover, having died once and been destroyed along with her family by the person who shared her pillow, the current her harbored a resolute determination to drag anyone down with her if necessary.

She returned to Fangfei Courtyard and had barely sat down to rest for less than half a double-hour when an uninvited guest arrived.

Jiang Jingrui came carrying a cricket cage, arriving uninvited at Fangfei Courtyard to drink tea.

This young master of the second branch had an unruly temperament that defied discipline. Neither Second Master Jiang Yuanping nor Second Madam Lu Shi could control him. Only occasionally would Jiang Jingrui listen to a word or two from Jiang Yuanbai. Yet this Second Young Master seemed quite familiar with Jiang Li.

Jiang Li invited him to sit and asked: “What are you here for?”

Jiang Jingrui found himself a teacup and had Tong’er pour him tea, not showing the slightest courtesy. He tilted his head to look at Jiang Li and said: “You performed beautifully today. Both Jiang Youyao and First Uncle’s wife were outmaneuvered by your counter-strategy—I almost wanted to applaud you.”

These words were truly rude. Even Tong’er, who was pouring tea at the side, felt somewhat angry upon hearing them. Although this young master from the second branch seemed to harbor no hostility toward her miss, sometimes his attitude clearly showed he didn’t take Jiang Li seriously, which was why he spoke so casually.

“You shouldn’t speak carelessly,” Jiang Li said indifferently. “I merely spoke the truth.”

“Why hide it from me?” Jiang Jingrui played with the teacup on the table. “I won’t tell anyone.”

“Cousin’s words make it sound as if you and I are very familiar.” Jiang Li smiled slightly.

The moment the words “cousin” left her mouth, Jiang Jingrui’s expression changed slightly. He looked at Jiang Li seriously and asked: “Jiang Li, what do you mean by that?”

“Is there anything wrong with what I said?” Jiang Li’s smile carried a trace of peculiar mockery. “Previously, when I was accused in the courtyard of cursing Jiang Youyao, I asked if anyone believed me. In the entire Jiang household, Madam Liu and Tong’er believed me. I remember—you, Cousin, were not among them.” Jiang Li said: “If you and I were very familiar, Cousin, you would have believed me at least a little, no matter what. Therefore, I’m saying you and I aren’t that familiar.”

Jiang Jingrui’s face flushed bright red in an instant. Tong’er at the side, however, felt extremely satisfied hearing this. That was exactly right—putting on an act of familiarity, as if standing on Jiang Li’s side, yet when the critical moment came, not daring to let out even a peep, not even as good as an outsider with no blood relation. How could such a person be considered familiar?

Jiang Jingrui had always been glib and extremely skilled at sophistry. Just as he was about to refute, he saw Jiang Li’s eyes, and the words on the tip of his tongue were swallowed back down. He couldn’t say anything at all.

Jiang Li’s eyes were like transparent stream water, exceptionally clear, as if all the lies in the world would have nowhere to hide within them. Jiang Jingrui suddenly felt somewhat ashamed, as if sitting on pins and needles.

He had thought his relationship with Jiang Li was quite good. He had reminded her before and felt he had done his utmost. But he hadn’t expected Jiang Li would so brazenly ask: Why didn’t you stand on my side? Jiang Li asked so candidly that it made him seem like a petty person instead.

“I can understand Cousin’s unwillingness to offend Mother for my sake. Everyone in the Jiang household deeply understands the principle of protecting oneself wisely—I don’t blame you for anything. However, Cousin, please don’t say in the future that you and I are very familiar. I’m the kind of person who dislikes keeping up appearances the most.” Jiang Li spoke unhurriedly.

Jiang Jingrui only felt these words were extremely grating and didn’t know how to respond. Jiang Li was clearly mocking him for lacking courage and not daring to stand out. After all, he was a hot-blooded young man who was usually pampered and spoiled—how could he accept such humiliation? He immediately said: “I understand. Stop speaking in such a passive-aggressive manner. I just won’t come anymore in the future!” After speaking, he slammed his teacup down on the table with a “bang” and stormed off in a huff.

Tong’er was startled and complained: “How does Second Young Master have such a violent temper?” She then looked at Jiang Li. “Miss, did you anger him just now?”

“Jiang Jingrui isn’t bad by nature.” Jiang Li tapped the cup. “Although selfish, he’s not selfish to the point of being cold-blooded. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have warned me beforehand. Living in a prominent household with intricate and complicated interests, one must naturally have concerns about everything. I can understand why he acted that way, but I don’t like it.”

Perhaps because Xue Huaiyuan had taught her from childhood to see things in black and white, Jiang Li herself extremely disliked such people. Call them good people and they were detestable; call them bad people and sometimes they weren’t thoroughly bad—it left one’s feelings complicated.

“By saying this, either he’ll completely detest me and cease associating with me, or he’ll feel guilty toward me and from now on will no longer stand by and watch when it comes to my affairs. This way, his attitude will be clear rather than ambiguous. If someone with an ambiguous attitude remains nearby, it’s always a hidden danger—what’s frightening is being stabbed in the back.”

Tong’er listened with only partial understanding and nodded: “What Miss says makes sense. Otherwise, today wouldn’t have resulted in Xiangqiao reaping what she sowed.”

That day when Xiangqiao returned from Shuxiu Garden, she had secretly played with the box containing Jiang Li’s jewelry, occasionally showing reluctant expressions. Tong’er had reported this to Jiang Li, and Jiang Li guessed that Ji Shuran was probably going to make her move at the coming-of-age ceremony. With Second Miss Jiang’s past of killing her mother and murdering her brother, it wasn’t hard to guess what Ji Shuran was planning.

Jiang Li had Tong’er bribe the outside servants, saying there was a craftsman who could make imitation fakes. Sure enough, Xiangqiao went to find the craftsman and switched the jewelry. Jiang Li then had Tong’er speak much ill of Xiangqiao in front of Yun Shuang, also saying that Xiangqiao had received many rewards from Jiang Li. In her jealousy, and having learned of Jiang Li’s counter-strategy plan, Yun Shuang’s envy of Xiangqiao led her to decide to go with the flow and help Jiang Li put Xiangqiao to death.

After Xiangqiao was caught, the single sentence Jiang Li said to Yun Shuang made Ji Shuran suspicious. Everything proceeded very smoothly—Yun Shuang eliminated Xiangqiao for Jiang Li, Ji Shuran eliminated Yun Shuang for Jiang Li, and even thoroughly cleaned out and replaced all the servants in Fangfei Courtyard. It was accomplished once and for all.

In all this, Xiangqiao’s greed, Yun Shuang’s jealousy, and Ji Shuran’s suspicion were interconnected links, each indispensable. What Jiang Li exploited was precisely the malice in human nature.

Human nature was the most difficult to fathom, yet also the easiest to grasp. With just a little inducement, one could achieve one’s objective.

All of this had planted its seed from the very first hairpin Jiang Li had gifted to Xiangqiao.

The hunter had laid the trap from the very beginning, and in the end, the prey had fallen into the net.

In this round, Jiang Li had won.