The news that Jiang Yuanbai planned to send Jiang Li to Mingyi Hall quickly spread throughout the entire Jiang family.

When Madam Lu from the second branch was talking with Jiang Yuanping, she said: “What was Elder Brother thinking? Why would he decide to send Jiang Li there? If Jiang Li goes, those young ladies studying there will surely gossip about her behind her back, and who knows if they’ll even bully her. Won’t our Jiang family lose face too?”

Madam Lu had been pampered and spoiled since childhood, and Jiang Yuanping had a good-natured, smiling temperament, so she usually spoke without much restraint. The first half of her words seemed to show concern for Jiang Li, while the second half seemed to blame Jiang Li for bringing shame—it was unclear whether her intentions were good or bad.

“Elder Brother has his own plans. Why are you worrying about such things unnecessarily?” Jiang Yuanping took a leisurely sip of tea. “Our second branch doesn’t even have daughters.”

“That’s true.” Madam Lu thought for a moment and said: “If anyone loses face, it will be the first branch. But I think Jiang Li is no pushover either. She’s only been back at the manor for a short while and has already made Sister-in-law look utterly disheveled. She seems to have improved considerably compared to before. I just wonder how long she can hold out. That Ji Shi—I’ve never seen her let anyone who got the better of her off the hook.”

From Madam Lu’s tone, her relationship with Ji Shuran wasn’t as harmonious as it appeared on the surface.

“Don’t meddle in others’ affairs.” Jiang Yuanping waved his hand dismissively. “Peace and quiet.”

At Wanfeng Hall, Old Madam Jiang was also discussing this matter with Jiang Yuanbai.

“Yuanbai, what exactly are you thinking?” Old Madam Jiang asked.

“Mother, Li’er is already fifteen now. Common children enter school at fifteen, but sons of princes and marquises enter at eight, and sons of high officials enter at ten. Though Li’er’s enrollment is late, it’s the same as for common children.”

Old Madam Jiang looked at Jiang Yuanbai. “You know that’s not what I’m asking about. Second Girl’s age for enrollment isn’t what matters.”

Jiang Yuanbai hesitated for a moment. “Mother, though Li’er made mistakes in the past, it’s never too late to mend the fold after the sheep are lost. She was too young at that time. We can’t let mistakes made in youth affect her future.”

Old Madam Jiang lowered her eyes, seemingly lost in thought. After quite a while, she finally said: “Since you’ve already decided, then proceed as planned. Zhenzhu,” she called to the maid beside her, “take that set of purple wood writing implements from the storehouse and send them to Second Girl.”

Zhenzhu quickly stood up. Seeing this, Jiang Yuanbai finally breathed a sigh of relief.

After discussing some matters about school enrollment with Old Madam Jiang, Jiang Yuanbai took his leave. After he departed, Feicui, the maid at Old Madam Jiang’s side, asked: “Does Old Madam not wish for Second Miss to enroll?”

“If I didn’t wish it, I wouldn’t have sent her the writing implements.”

Sending the writing implements expressed Old Madam Jiang’s support for Jiang Li’s enrollment. When the other members of the Jiang manor saw this, no matter what other opinions they had, they wouldn’t voice them.

“Then…” Feicui didn’t understand.

“I watched Yuanbai grow up. He’s a man of deep schemes. I’m afraid he’s taken an interest in Second Girl and wants to use her for some purpose.” Old Madam Jiang let out a long sigh. “But the Second Girl of today is no longer someone just anyone can manipulate.”

“I’m afraid this will cause discord between father and daughter, bringing unrest to the household.”

…

While Old Madam Jiang was speaking, in the back garden of the Jiang manor, Jiang Youyao smashed a teapot.

Jiang Yu’e looked with distress at the purple clay teapot. Such a teapot would sell for a hundred taels of silver outside, yet Jiang Youyao had smashed it without the slightest care.

“Jiang Li! Why would Father send Jiang Li to Mingyi Hall? What exactly did she say to him!” In front of Jiang Yu’e and Jiang Yuyan, Jiang Youyao never concealed her anger.

Jiang Yuyan shrank back timidly, but Jiang Yu’e chimed in: “It must be that Jiang Li said something before Uncle. That Jiang Li is truly uncanny—she’s only been back at the manor for a short while and Uncle’s heart has already turned toward her. Oh, that’s right,” Jiang Yu’e still wanted to prod Jiang Youyao further and said: “I heard that Grandmother also sent Jiang Li a set of purple wood writing implements—the very set that Third Sister asked Grandmother for before but she wouldn’t give. Jiang Li is really something—not only has she won over Uncle, but even Grandmother.”

Hearing this, Jiang Youyao froze, then pressed urgently: “Is what you’re saying true? Grandmother really sent Jiang Li a set of purple wood writing implements?”

“Of course it’s true.” Jiang Yu’e shrugged. “All the servants at Wanfeng Hall saw it.”

“That shameless woman!” Jiang Youyao flew into a rage. She had loved that set of purple wood writing implements and asked Old Madam Jiang for it several times without success. Now Old Madam Jiang had given the set to Jiang Li—wasn’t this a blatant slap in her face, telling everyone that she, Jiang Youyao, was inferior to Jiang Li?

“No, I need to find Mother,” Jiang Youyao said. “I cannot let Jiang Li go to Mingyi Hall!”

“Third Sister,” Jiang Yu’e held her back. “Now that both Old Madam and Uncle have spoken, Jiang Li’s enrollment at Mingyi Hall is a foregone conclusion. It’s too late for Third Sister to say anything now. But I think Jiang Li’s entering Mingyi Hall just shows she doesn’t know the immensity of heaven and earth. She doesn’t consider that Mingyi Hall has so many young ladies from noble families—which one would dare associate with her? Moreover, her learning is shallow and crude. Who knows how many embarrassments she’ll create? Won’t she just become a foil for Third Sister and be laughed at by others?”

Hearing this, Jiang Youyao gradually calmed down. What Jiang Yu’e said made sense. She said: “Even so, having her constantly flitting about in front of me is still unbearable!” Thinking that Jiang Li might go across to the Imperial Academy to do something with Zhou Yanbang made Jiang Youyao extremely upset.

“Third Sister, if you can’t endure small matters, you’ll ruin great plans.” Jiang Yu’e smiled.

After Jiang Youyao had calmed down and left, Jiang Yuyan asked: “Fifth Sister, why did you incite Third Sister to go after Second Sister?”

Jiang Yu’e let out a cold laugh. “Who told her to bite off more than she can chew!”

The third branch of the Jiang manor was inherently weak, being the branch of a concubine-born son after all. Jiang Yuyan and Jiang Yu’e’s ability to enter Mingyi Hall to study was an opportunity obtained only because Jiang Yuanxing constantly curried favor with Jiang Yuanbai. In Jiang Yu’e’s heart, she felt both inferior and arrogant. Her ambitions soared high—she was determined not to be inferior to anyone. In terms of learning, throughout the entire Jiang family, the most outstanding was actually Jiang Yu’e.

Jiang Youyao was the family’s treasured daughter even without winning fame as a talented woman, but Jiang Yu’e needed that reputation as a talented woman to add luster to herself. This was the only thing Jiang Yu’e took pride in—being more talented than Jiang Li, trampling this legitimate daughter under her feet gave Jiang Yu’e a sense of superiority.

But now, Jiang Yuanbai was sending Jiang Li to Mingyi Hall. This way, all four daughters of the Jiang family would be the same. When someone who was originally far inferior to you suddenly catches up, Jiang Yu’e’s sense of superiority vanished, and Jiang Li was the chief culprit behind it all.

To restore her sense of superiority, Jiang Li would have to be worse off than herself. Jiang Youyao and Jiang Li were already at daggers drawn—the slightest provocation would inevitably create countless conflicts.

All Jiang Yu’e needed to do was add fuel to the fire from the sidelines.