“You want to become an official?”

Ye Shijie was momentarily speechless. The way Jiang Li stared at him was too pure, even giving him an illusion of clean clarity. Ye Shijie immediately averted his gaze from Jiang Li and made a sound through his nose as a response.

Actually, he shouldn’t be telling her such things. After all, Jiang Li had once treated their Ye family as enemies. But somehow, as if possessed by ghosts and spirits, he felt that Jiang Li was someone who could be trusted.

“At the Imperial Academy’s examinations, those with excellent grades can be appointed to official positions.” Jiang Li said: “But you came from Xiangyang to become an official—will Grandmother and the others also move here in the future?”

Ye Shijie was extremely surprised that Jiang Li could think of this. He said: “After things stabilize here, perhaps they will move over.”

“Moving here has both advantages and disadvantages,” Jiang Li laid out her thoughts in detail: “Establishing a firm foothold in the capital, the Ye family will gain prestige in the future. If one or two of the Ye family children enter officialdom, the Ye family can be secure for a hundred years without worry. However, once you move to the capital, there may be envious people, and likewise, the Ye family will also be in greater danger.”

Ye Shijie stared at her strangely and said: “You certainly think far ahead.” He knew Jiang Li had only recently returned to Yanjing City. When Jiang Li was sent to the nunnery back then, Old Madam Ye was so anxious about it that she fell ill in bed, and he had felt quite pleased about it—after all, Jiang Li was truly too heartless.

Eight years’ time had passed before returning to the capital, yet Jiang Li seemed able to discuss the power dynamics in the capital fluently, as if she understood it very well.

Jiang Li smiled and said: “After all, I am from Yanjing.”

Ye Shijie said disdainfully: “Do people from Yanjing City have to be superior to others? Ridiculous.”

Knowing this cousin’s hostility toward her wouldn’t dissolve quickly, Jiang Li didn’t get angry. But suddenly thinking of something, she said: “Entering the Imperial Academy requires a recommendation. Since no one from the Ye family serves as an official at court, how did you get in?”

Ye Shijie said: “Why are you asking this?”

Jiang Li felt Ye Shijie’s attitude was somewhat strange, so she said: “Just curious.”

“The second young master of the Right Chancellor’s household recommended me.” Ye Shijie ultimately still answered Jiang Li’s question.

“The Right Chancellor?” Jiang Li was puzzled. “How did the Ye family become connected with the Right Chancellor?”

Speaking of which, the current Right Chancellor was precisely Jiang Yuanbai’s mortal enemy. Right Chancellor Li Zhongnan’s rise had been in these past few years. Back when Li Zhongnan was still promoted by Jiang Yuanbai, but later for some unknown reason, his power gradually grew. He almost reached the point of rivaling Jiang Yuanbai on equal footing. Jiang Yuanbai’s regret came too late, and he could only confront Li Zhongnan.

Therefore, hearing Ye Shijie mention Li Zhongnan, Jiang Li found it very strange.

“Li Zhongnan’s second son, Li Lian, once came to visit relatives near Xiangyang and was schemed into a lawsuit. I happened to pass by and casually saved him. Later, when he learned I was from the Ye family, he proposed recommending me to study at the Imperial Academy.”

Being able to study at the Imperial Academy was, for the Ye family, no different from a pie falling from the sky. If Ye Shijie could use his studies at the Imperial Academy to obtain some official position, the significance for the Ye family would be completely different. Therefore, Ye Shijie very readily agreed to Li Lian’s proposal.

After hearing Ye Shijie’s words, Jiang Li’s heart felt very strange. Setting aside other matters, Li Lian decided to recommend Ye Shijie just because he was grateful for Ye Shijie’s help? Was Li Lian really such a person who repaid kindness?

Jiang Li knew that when Shen Yurun first won the top scholar position and was riding high with the spring breeze of success, in order to understand the temperament of future court colleagues, she had put in considerable effort. Right Chancellor Li Zhongnan had two sons. The eldest son was indeed praised by everyone as an outstanding young talent, but the second son Li Lian was clearly a profligate dandy full of evil deeds. For such a profligate dandy to play at repaying kindness—Jiang Li instinctively sensed something was wrong.

Perhaps because she thought something was wrong, her thoughts went even deeper. Jiang Li suddenly also remembered that Liu Zimin, who had caused trouble for Ye Shijie yesterday, was precisely one of Li Lian’s cronies and very close to Li Lian.

If Li Lian truly wanted to repay Ye Shijie, he wouldn’t have failed to even tell Liu Zimin Ye Shijie’s name. Knowing the relationship between Ye Shijie and Li Lian, how would Liu Zimin dare to cause trouble for Ye Shijie?

Unless Li Lian knew about Liu Zimin causing trouble for Ye Shijie, even tacitly approved it, or perhaps even instigated it himself.

But why would Li Lian do this?

In just a brief instant, Jiang Li had already guessed through all the possibilities she could think of.

Ye Shijie didn’t know Jiang Li’s thoughts. Seeing Jiang Li lost in thought, he asked: “What are you thinking?”

“Cousin,” Jiang Li said seriously: “Li Lian is a person of ill intent with an extremely poor reputation in Yanjing City. If you want to enter officialdom, it’s best not to become involved with him. Otherwise, if you’re implicated in the future, it would be one thing if it were just you alone, but the Ye family would lose more than they gain.”

Ye Shijie’s expression became serious as he asked Jiang Li: “Do you know something?”

What a clever young man. Jiang Li admired him in her heart, but right now she herself hadn’t figured out Li Lian’s intentions and couldn’t make wild guesses. She could only give a tactful reminder: “I don’t know yet, but I believe that given Li Lian’s character, he’s definitely not such a person who repays kindness, so there may well be other reasons for him recommending you to the Imperial Academy. Cousin Ye, you’re going to be the person who shoulders the Ye family’s burdens in the future. In all matters you must be cautious in word and deed. As for people like Li Lian, stay away from them if you can.”

“You…”

Before Ye Shijie could speak, Jiang Li continued: “Liu Zimin and Li Lian are close friends. Yesterday you already saw Liu Zimin’s character. Birds of a feather flock together—think about it yourself.”

Ye Shijie’s gaze flickered slightly. Jiang Li knew he had taken in the implications of her words.

“What about you then?” Ye Shijie asked: “What are your ulterior motives? Although you say yesterday was an unintentional act, our Ye family does business and emphasizes most not owing and not being owed. You helped me—what price do you want me to pay? Want to reconcile with the Ye family?”

Standing to the side attending them, Tong’er, hearing these words, almost couldn’t help but jump up. The Ye family’s young master’s words were truly unpleasant, as if Jiang Li were some calculating merchant.

“How could I want you to help me reconcile with the Ye family?” Jiang Li smiled unconcernedly and spread her hands toward Ye Shijie.

Ye Shijie looked at the delicate jade hands extended before him. The fingers were truly like scallion tips, pure white and tender. However… Ye Shijie also noticed the calluses between Jiang Li’s fingers.

Ye Shijie was startled, suddenly remembering that Jiang Li had stayed in the nunnery for eight years. Eight years—after all, she was just a young girl. Who knew how much hardship she had suffered? He had always had a sharp tongue but a soft heart. No matter how harsh his words, seeing these things, his heart unconsciously softened a bit.

But then he heard Jiang Li’s unhurried voice: “Since Cousin Ye insists on saying I have ulterior motives, if I continue to want nothing, Cousin Ye will also feel uneasy. So please give it.”

“Give what?” Ye Shijie frowned.

“Silver, of course.” Jiang Li said matter-of-factly: “One hundred taels of silver. Your Ye family does business, so you should be familiar with a term called ‘transaction settled with payment and goods exchanged.'”

Author’s Note: Hey, it’s April! Happy April Fools’ Day to all my dear treasures!