In Shuxiu Garden, Jiang Youyao was sitting on the daybed playing with her newly acquired tasseled ornaments when she heard that Jiang Li had gone to the study to see Jiang Yuanbai. She immediately leaped up and exclaimed: “She went to see Father? What does she want with Father?”

The servant who came to report said: “It seems she went to see Master about the matter of hiring a tutor.”

Ji Shuran held an extremely high position in the first branch. Usually, whenever there was any movement from Jiang Yuanbai, Ji Shuran would know about it immediately. The messenger had also acted quickly—Jiang Li had only just gone to Jiang Yuanbai’s study when Ji Shuran received the news.

“What does she want? Could it be she wants to personally select her tutor?” Jiang Youyao pressed.

Ji Shuran noticed the hesitation on the reporting servant’s face and had a maid give him a purse filled with silver coins, then said: “Just speak freely.”

“In response to Madam.” Having received the silver, all the servant’s reservations vanished instantly. He immediately said: “The person guarding the study heard from outside that it seems Second Miss wants to enter Mingyi Hall and is currently pleading with Master.”

“Mingyi Hall?” Jiang Youyao couldn’t hold back and cried out shrilly: “Based on what? What qualifications does she have to enter Mingyi Hall?”

Ji Shuran waved her hand, signaling the messenger to leave. After he departed, Ji Shuran muttered to herself: “Jiang Li just returned to the capital and already wants to enter Mingyi Hall—she truly has grand ambitions. Setting aside the question of her own moral character and learning, if she enters Mingyi Hall, who knows what trouble she’ll stir up. She’s skilled at playing dirty tricks. If she uses some scheme from behind the scenes, she might delay your prospects.”

The incident at Jiang Youyao’s coming-of-age ceremony last time had taken Ji Shuran a long time to repair her relationship with Old Madam Jiang and Jiang Yuanbai. Even so, she didn’t know what other madams were saying about her behind her back. Ji Shuran hadn’t yet settled this account with Jiang Li, and unexpectedly, Jiang Li had delivered herself to cause more trouble.

Jiang Youyao said excitedly: “She must want to get close to Young Master Zhou—that shameless woman!”

The women’s official school, Mingyi Hall, was directly across from the Imperial Academy, where Young Master Zhou Yanbang of Marquis Ningyuan studied. Though Ji Shuran hadn’t immediately thought of this, Jiang Youyao had connected it at once.

“I knew all along she had no good intentions. Last time at the coming-of-age ceremony, she seduced Young Master Zhou in the garden—utterly shameless! Now that one scheme failed, she’s attempting another. Mother, you absolutely cannot let her succeed!”

Hearing this, Ji Shuran’s brows also furrowed. To be fair, Jiang Li was not unattractive, and compared to young ladies like Jiang Youyao, she possessed an indescribable air of composure that made everything she did appear calm and uncompetitive, which actually drew men’s attention even more. Ji Shuran fancied herself an expert on men—if Jiang Li were determined to seduce Zhou Yanbang, it wasn’t necessarily impossible.

This marriage match was one she had worked so hard to secure for Jiang Youyao. Though Zhou Yanbang wasn’t royalty or nobility, Marquis Ningyuan’s status in the capital was no lower than the Jiang family’s. Moreover, the Marquis’s household was simple, Zhou Yanbang’s mother was easy to get along with, and most importantly, Jiang Youyao herself was infatuated with Zhou Yanbang. Having schemed so diligently to snatch this marriage match from Jiang Li’s hands, she couldn’t let all her efforts come to nothing.

“Indeed, we cannot let her go to Mingyi Hall.” Ji Shuran said: “Last time at the coming-of-age ceremony, everything was foolproof, yet in the end she still escaped unscathed. That little wretch is eerily capable. If we let her enter Mingyi Hall, who knows what else will happen. It’s more secure to keep her under our noses. If we want to trip her up, that would be as easy as flipping our hand.” Ji Shuran stood up: “I’ll go find your father right now.”

…

In Fangfei Courtyard, watching Jiang Li and Bai Xue return, Tong’er was extremely surprised: “How did you get back so quickly? Miss, did Master refuse?”

“Master agreed.” Bai Xue said with a smile: “I told you all along—he’s your own father. If you speak nicely, Master will definitely listen.”

Tong’er rolled her eyes. If only matters in this world were truly that simple. She looked at Jiang Li skeptically, and only when she saw Jiang Li also smiling and nodding did she believe it. She said: “Really? That’s wonderful! I always knew our Miss had more than enough talent to enter Mingyi Hall.” Then her expression became worried again: “But Miss, now that Master has agreed, he won’t go back on his word later, will he?”

Perhaps Jiang Li had said a few gentle words and Jiang Yuanbai had softened momentarily and agreed. But when Ji Shuran learned about it, how could she let it go? What if she whispered sweet words in his ear, and if Jiang Yuanbai’s resolve wasn’t firm, what if he changed his mind?

“If I’m not mistaken, Ji Shi is currently on her way to Father’s study, or has already arrived and is persuading Father to cancel the decision to send me to Mingyi Hall.”

The smiles on Tong’er and Bai Xue’s faces immediately froze. Tong’er asked: “Then what should we do? Master won’t agree, will he? Miss, should we go there again now to prevent Ji Shi from taking advantage of the situation?”

“No need,” Jiang Li shook her head with a smile. “She won’t succeed.”

…

“Master, isn’t it somewhat inappropriate for Li’er to go to Mingyi Hall right now…”

In the study, Ji Shuran was speaking to Jiang Yuanbai with a worried expression.

“Enough, stop talking. I’ve already decided—I will send Li’er to Mingyi Hall.” Before Ji Shuran could finish speaking, Jiang Yuanbai interrupted her.

Ji Shuran had never been spoken to this way by Jiang Yuanbai before. For a moment she felt somewhat aggrieved and said: “This concubine is only thinking wholeheartedly of Li’er’s best interests…”

Usually when Ji Shuran appeared aggrieved, Jiang Yuanbai would always feel distressed. But today, seeing her again and thinking of how Jiang Li had endured grievances yet simply stood before him calmly stating the facts, Jiang Yuanbai found Ji Shuran’s behavior somewhat affected and extremely irritating to behold.

He said: “Youyao is my daughter, and Li’er is also my daughter. They are both young ladies of the Jiang family. How can I treat them so unequally? If word of this got out, where would I, Jiang Yuanbai, put my face? And you,” he looked at Ji Shuran, “Li’er hasn’t been in the manor for eight years. Now that she’s just returned, as her mother, you should look after her more. If you would just put half the care you give Youyao toward Li’er, I would be at ease.”

Ji Shuran looked at him in shock. By saying this, Jiang Yuanbai was accusing her of favoritism. Before Ji Shuran could say anything more, Jiang Yuanbai picked up his outer robe and walked out of the study, leaving on his own.

Only Ji Shuran remained alone in the study. The young servant at the door cautiously peeked inside and saw that the usually dignified and gentle First Madam’s face was twisted like a demon’s, her expression terrifying, as if she had transformed into another person entirely.

At this moment, Ji Shuran’s heart was filled entirely with anger and hatred. She didn’t know what words Jiang Li had used to sow discord before Jiang Yuanbai, but all the warmth Jiang Yuanbai had shown her in recent days had completely vanished, as if in an instant they had returned to the past.

“Jiang Li…” she said through gritted teeth.

She would definitely make Jiang Li pay the price for everything she had done today!