The matter of Jiang Yuanbai seeking a tutor for Jiang Li quickly became known to her.
The person who told Jiang Li about this was none other than the second branch’s young master, Jiang Jingrui.
The Jiang family had two young masters. Jiang Jingyou was older and had a good temperament, but his scholarship was said to be mediocre. Lu Shi chased after him daily, urging him to study for the top scholar examination. Jiang Jingrui had a violent temper, but no one dared chase after him to make him study for the top scholar examination—everyone was just happy as long as he didn’t cause trouble outside.
After being mocked by Jiang Li last time, Jiang Jingrui hadn’t come to Fangfei Courtyard for quite some days. Even when he saw Jiang Li normally, he would take a detour to avoid her. Jiang Li naturally couldn’t be bothered with him, but today, this Jiang Jingrui had appeared again at the entrance of Fangfei Courtyard.
Mingyue and Qingfeng were doing embroidery at the entrance when they saw Jiang Jingrui and were startled, saying: “Second Young Master.”
Jiang Jingrui cleared his throat lightly, asked if Jiang Li was inside, then swaggered right in.
Inside the room, Jiang Li was reading a book. Tong’er knew that Jiang Li and Jiang Jingrui had fallen out last time, so she stood to the side without speaking. Bai Xue was brewing flower tea in a corner of the room. Being rather carefree, seeing that Tong’er hadn’t gone to greet him, she herself didn’t rise either, still sitting on her small stool watching the teapot.
Seeing that no one in the room was paying him any attention, Jiang Jingrui felt somewhat uncomfortable and also somewhat embarrassed and angry. He plopped himself down across from Jiang Li. Seeing the book in front of her, he said: “What book are you reading? Can you even understand it?”
This person’s speech was always so irritating. Truly deserving of being a spoiled wastrel young master. Jiang Li raised her head to glance at him and asked: “What business brings you here?”
Seeing that Jiang Li was finally acknowledging him, for some reason, Jiang Jingrui felt extremely pleased. Not bothering to concern himself with the disrespectful attitude of the entire room full of maids and mistress, he immediately said: “I’ve come to tell you something—First Uncle is going to engage a teacher for you!”
Engage a teacher? Jiang Li was somewhat surprised.
“As soon as I learned this news, I rushed here to tell you! I heard that First Aunt told First Uncle that with your aptitude, it would be impossible for you to learn anything substantial anyway. She’ll just find an ordinary teacher to instruct you in some superficial basics—just enough so you won’t embarrass yourself in public. It’s all just for show.”
“How outrageous!” The handkerchief in Tong’er’s hand fell to the ground with a “smack.” “What do you mean our miss’s aptitude? Our miss’s aptitude is excellent!”
Jiang Jingrui glanced at Tong’er and shook his head: “First Aunt isn’t sincerely looking for someone to teach your miss—she basically wishes she would become a complete fool. I heard that First Uncle entrusted this entire matter to First Aunt. The tutor First Aunt finds will probably make Jiang Li suffer some hardship.”
Jiang Li said nothing. Jiang Jingrui coughed lightly again, seeming somewhat embarrassed, and said: “I also want to help, but our second branch has never interfered in the main branch’s affairs. If I mention this matter to my mother, she’ll scold me to death. I think you should go find Grandmother instead. Grandmother is a very fair person. At that time, I’ll speak a few words on your behalf. If it’s a teacher selected by Grandmother, it shouldn’t be too bad.”
Jiang Li stared at him. It seemed that after that round of mockery last time, Jiang Jingrui had ultimately chosen to stand on her side. Whether it was because of the past friendship between Second Miss Jiang and him, or because Jiang Jingrui was inherently a sympathetic person, the facts proved that this youth wasn’t bad.
Jiang Li said: “Thank you for coming specially to remind me.” This time, her tone was much gentler.
Hearing the change in Jiang Li’s tone, Jiang Jingrui inexplicably felt somewhat happy. When he came to his senses, he wanted to slap himself hard. In the Jiang family, he was a little tyrant—even Jiang Youyao didn’t dare provoke him easily. He himself looked down on this person and disdained that one. Yet toward Jiang Li, someone whose reputation wasn’t very good and who had no status in the household, Jiang Jingrui always felt somewhat afraid or perhaps in awe.
Always wanting to curry favor with her, it seemed.
Jiang Jingrui inwardly cursed at himself and asked Jiang Li: “What do you plan to do now? When are you planning to go see Old Madam? Tell me, and I’ll go together with you.”
He was willing to step forward and stand by her side—he was still a hot-blooded young man after all.
Jiang Li said: “I just don’t understand why Father would select a tutor for me. You should know that young ladies of noble families in the capital have always attended official schools for women.”
“Official schools for women?” Jiang Jingrui was stunned for a few seconds before saying: “What kind of joke are you making? The young ladies who attend official schools for women are either wealthy or noble. The Mingyi Hall in Yanjing only admits female students who possess both virtue and talent. Even the worst among them, placed among people, would still be extraordinary. If you were to go there…”
If you were to go there, you’d be a laughingstock! Jiang Li understood the words Jiang Jingrui left unsaid.
“However,” Jiang Jingrui asked curiously again, “you actually know about Yanjing’s official school for women. You’ve inquired quite thoroughly about this.”
Jiang Li smiled but neither confirmed nor denied. When she had come to Yanjing, she had been famous for her beauty, and her scholarship had also been widely known. She had even debated principles alongside the teachers of Mingyi Hall and become friends with those teachers.
At the time, doing all this had simply been to give Shen Yurong more connections. Having a talented wife who added fragrance to his sleeves always sounded like something that enhanced the glory of a top scholar.
Of course, her beauty and her talent, after the matter of her alleged affair with another man came to light, had both become her disasters, her sins.
Jiang Li was unwilling to remain confined within the Jiang household. If she never went out, she would have no opportunity to come into contact with Shen Yurong and her group. If Jiang Yuanbai truly engaged a teacher for Jiang Li, and she only studied and practiced calligraphy within the Jiang household’s inner quarters, she would inevitably lose many opportunities.
Moreover, in reading and literacy, she had never been inferior to anyone. She wanted to enter Mingyi Hall not to truly study, but to make a name for herself.
With fame, the Jiang family wouldn’t treat her as a dispensable miss—she would have status. With status, people would seek to befriend her. Once she had a circle of friends, she could approach Princess Yongning step by step.
Would it take a very long time? It wouldn’t take a very long time. At Mingyi Hall, her talent could make her famous in the shortest time possible—this was the simplest method.
Seeing that she didn’t know what she was thinking about, Jiang Jingrui waved his hand in front of Jiang Li’s eyes and asked: “Have you thought it through? When will you go see Grandmother?”
“I won’t see Grandmother,” Jiang Li said. “I want to see Father.”
“First Uncle?” Jiang Jingrui was startled. “You won’t be able to persuade First Uncle. Once First Uncle has decided on something, unless Grandmother speaks up, no one can change it. Since he’s decided to entrust the matter of finding a teacher to First Aunt, it’s a done deal. Going to see him would be a waste of effort—you’ll just end up swallowing your anger for nothing.”
“Thank you for your reminder,” Jiang Li said. “But I still must go see Father.”
“Why are you so stubborn?” Jiang Jingrui said impatiently.
“It’s not stubbornness,” Jiang Li smiled. “It’s persistence.”
She would persist to the very end.