The crowd of onlookers who thrived on drama were eagerly waiting to see what kind of tangled lawsuit would unfold next, but no one expected Jiang Li to suddenly throw out such a statement.
“Fine.” Liu Zimin, however, was afraid Jiang Li would change her mind and immediately agreed. Although he had agreed, he still sought to salvage some face, so he said to Ye Shijie: “Young Master Ye, I was also deceived which led to this misunderstanding. Although you tore my painting, one should be forgiving when possible, so I won’t hold it against you either. Forget about those twenty taels of silver. For the sake of Second Miss Jiang today, let’s let this matter pass. The painting is yours as a gift—I, this young master, don’t want it anymore.”
Hearing the sighs of regret from the crowd, Liu Zimin forcibly suppressed the humiliation and resentment in his heart. He cupped his hands toward Jiang Li again and left with a feigned composure.
The two fellow students following behind him also slunk away dejectedly. Ye Shijie didn’t stop them, probably understanding that insisting on continuing the dispute wouldn’t gain him any advantages either. Ye Shijie looked at Jiang Li with an inquiring gaze and was about to speak when he saw Jiang Li nod slightly at him before saying to Bai Xue beside her: “Bai Xue, return the painting to Young Master Ye. We’re going back.”
Bai Xue responded in a low voice, rolled the counterfeit “Sparrows Drinking at Spring” into a scroll haphazardly, handed it to Ye Shijie, then turned back to help Jiang Li toward the carriage at the other end, showing no intention of conversing further with Ye Shijie.
Ye Shijie stood dazed, watching the master and servant board the carriage and leave in the distance. The surrounding crowd also gradually dispersed. He couldn’t help but shake his head, casting aside the many thoughts in his mind, and walked away toward the other end of the street.
However, no one noticed that in an alley not far from the street where the commotion had just occurred, a black phoenix palanquin was stopped. Outside the palanquin, a guard was speaking. If someone passed by at this moment, they would discover that what this person was saying was precisely the account of the disturbance between Ye Shijie and Liu Zimin just now.
When the words ended, after a long while, a voice came from within the palanquin.
“Understood.”
The young man in the palanquin leaned against the window in a lazy manner, his red robes spread across the soft couch, his expression subtle: “The Jiang family.”
Opposite him, a scholar in green robes stroked his goatee and smiled: “Originally intended to use the Liu family boy to trap Ye Shijie and force the Ye family to step forward. Didn’t expect Second Miss Jiang to coincidentally help Ye Shijie out of his predicament. This way, Your Excellency’s plan is completely disrupted.”
Although he spoke words of regret, his expression showed no trace of regret, instead seeming quite relaxed.
“Ye Shijie is just a small pawn,” Ji Heng flicked away some dust from his sleeve and said: “He can’t play too great a role. If he’s lost, he’s lost—no need to rush.” His features were strikingly beautiful, yet his voice carried a hint of strange huskiness, like muffled desire, irresistibly captivating.
“Besides, compared to Liu Zimin,” he slowly curved his lips, “Second Miss Jiang is much more interesting.”
…
Bai Xue and Jiang Li returned to the Jiang estate.
At Fangfei Courtyard, Tong’er had been waiting in the courtyard early on. When Jiang Li wasn’t there, Tong’er couldn’t do anything comfortably. Seeing the two return, she jumped three feet high and asked repeatedly whether Jiang Li was doing well and if she had encountered any trouble.
Bai Xue was honest and simple, unlike the lively Tong’er. For instance, regarding the matter with Ye Shijie, she simply followed Jiang Li’s orders without saying an extra word.
When Tong’er heard from Bai Xue about the disturbance Jiang Li encountered after school, she nearly dropped her cup in shock, exclaiming from time to time: “Heavens!” “How detestable!” “How could they bully people like this!” “Fortunately Miss is alright.”
After Bai Xue finished recounting the entire sequence of events and their outcome, Tong’er finally felt satisfied and picked at her ear, suddenly remembering something and said: “This time was too dangerous for Miss. Although you have a kind heart, it’s best not to rashly step forward next time. Today you didn’t even bring a single guard from the estate. If that Young Master Liu had actually started fighting, Miss would have been the one to suffer.”
Jiang Li smiled without speaking, only hearing Tong’er continue: “However, Bai Xue said that Young Master Ye is from the Ye family of Xiangyang, isn’t that Miss’s maternal family? It’s a pity Miss didn’t converse with him at the time—though it truly wasn’t the place for conversation. Otherwise, we might have learned which branch of the Ye family that person belonged to. This time Miss helped him, he will certainly be grateful.”
“I didn’t save him seeking repayment. If it were for repayment, I might as well not have saved him.” Jiang Li smiled. Drawing one’s sword to help when encountering injustice was Xue Zhao’s consistent principle. The children of the Xue family all possessed chivalrous courage, always wanting to step forward and help when encountering injustice in the world. Although she had died once and had given herself many excuses when stepping forward today, Jiang Li was clear in her heart that even without those reasons, she would probably still have stepped forward.
This was human nature.
Just as they were talking, Qingfeng from outside lifted the door curtain and entered, saying: “Miss, Sister Feicui from Wanfeng Hall just sent word that Old Madam wants you to come over.”
“Now?” Jiang Li was surprised—this wasn’t the usual time for paying respects.
“Third Miss and the others are also at Wanfeng Hall, saying that when Miss left school today, she quarreled with someone.” Qingfeng said uneasily.
“Ha, the complaint was filed quite quickly!” Tong’er said indignantly. “Our Miss was helping someone—what quarreling with others! She really dares to say such things!”
Since Tong’er returned to the Jiang estate, her temperament had become increasingly fierce, though Jiang Li quite liked this aspect of her character. The people of Fangfei Courtyard occupied a very delicate position in the Jiang estate. If they said nothing and had no fierce person to hold up the scene, others would truly bully them.
Jiang Li stood up: “No matter. She took the initiative to tell Old Madam, which actually saves me the trouble.”
Bai Xue cracked her knuckles with an air of going to fight, saying imposingly: “Miss, this servant will accompany you.”
“You may.” Jiang Li smiled. “However, no fighting—we’re going to reason with them.”
In Wanfeng Hall at this moment, all was quiet.
Jiang Bingji sat on Old Madam Jiang’s soft couch, picking at the nest silk candy in the dish and eating. Old Madam Jiang, however, did not smile and coax him as she usually did, but was instead lost in thought.
Jiang Yuyan sat to one side, cautiously keeping her mouth shut. Jiang Yu’e and Jiang Youyao sat together. Jiang Youyao’s expression showed some smugness, while Jiang Yu’e’s eyes kept darting about.
Ji Shuran was also there. She sat at Old Madam Jiang’s lower hand, her face bearing a gentle smile that also seemed somewhat worried. Her gaze kept looking toward the doorway, as if waiting for someone.
Before long, the person she was waiting for arrived.
When Jiang Li and Tong’er arrived at Wanfeng Hall, Jiang Bingji saw her at first glance and seemed about to curse loudly, but suddenly thought of something and forcibly swallowed it back.
Jiang Li only pretended not to see this scene and still walked in with a smile, standing in the hall. Looking toward Old Madam on the couch, she said gently: “What matter does Grandmother summon Jiang Li for?”
Old Madam Jiang raised her eyelids to look at her.