When Jiang Li left the teahouse, she had an additional hundred taels of silver in banknotes tucked away.

Tong’er followed beside Jiang Li, hesitating as if she wanted to say something. Seeing her like this, Jiang Li said, “If you want to say something, just say it.”

“Miss, even if you’re short of silver, you could always go to Old Madam, or to Master… Why ask Young Master Ye? Although Young Master Ye is related to you, in the end he’s still an outsider. If word got out…”

“He’s not the type to gossip idly,” Jiang Li said. “Besides, taking that hundred taels from him is also buying him peace of mind.”

“This servant doesn’t understand.”

“Cousin Ye thinks I had ulterior motives for helping him yesterday. Although we talked things over just now and his suspicions have somewhat lessened, past misunderstandings don’t simply vanish into thin air so easily. As for me, it’s perfectly natural that he wouldn’t trust me completely. Rather than letting him think wildly, it’s better to take some silver from him and treat this matter as a business transaction. That way he’ll feel much more at ease. At least he won’t interact with me while carrying a ‘burden of debt.'”

Tong’er nodded thoughtfully, when she suddenly thought of something and looked at Jiang Li. “Miss, do you plan to continue associating with Young Master Ye in the future?”

“Of course,” Jiang Li said. “Having maternal family support versus not having it—you can see the difference now. Jiang Youyao acts without fear, while I’m isolated and powerless in the Jiang family. Although the Ye family isn’t an official household, they’re certainly not weaker than the Ji family. Everything in this world requires silver to accomplish, and the Ye family happens to have no shortage of it. While their status may be somewhat lower, Ye Shijie is now preparing to enter government service. From what I observed of his speech and abilities just now, he’s not a mediocre person. If he succeeds, he could lead the Ye family to lasting prosperity.”

“Miss wants to restore good relations with the Ye family,” Tong’er understood this time and asked, “But why didn’t Miss mention this to Young Master Ye just now? Miss helped him yesterday, so if you had asked him today to write a letter back to Xiangyang to help speak on your behalf to the Ye family, Young Master Ye surely wouldn’t have refused.”

Jiang Li smiled faintly. “I don’t need to mention it—he’ll do it himself.”

With Ye Shijie’s suspicions about her, he would certainly write to the Xiangyang Ye family about what happened in the capital. Jiang Li wasn’t worried that Ye Shijie would hide things from the Ye family. The thorny issue was that what the young Second Miss Jiang had said to the Ye family back then had been truly hurtful. Anyone with any backbone wouldn’t easily forget such a matter. Restoring good relations would be extremely difficult.

Jiang Li sighed inwardly. Things had come to this point—she could only take it step by step. If relations with the Ye family could be restored to their former state, she could return to Xiangyang under the pretext of visiting relatives.

What exactly had happened to Father in the end? Xue Zhao’s ashes had yet to return home, which couldn’t continue. Who had handled Father’s funeral arrangements?

Distant water couldn’t quench immediate thirst—she had to return to Xiangyang as soon as possible.

Lost in these thoughts, Jiang Li arrived at Mingyi Hall.

When the women at Mingyi Hall saw Jiang Li and Tong’er arrive, they still didn’t avoid their gossiping voices. Listening, Jiang Li could make out that they were talking about how she had embarrassed Liu Zimin in public yesterday. Among the noble ladies of the capital, such public confrontations were rarely heard of. People always approved of the majority and found the minority incomprehensible. In their eyes, Jiang Li’s behavior was unorthodox, shocking and outrageous. So the way they looked at Jiang Li was as if looking at an oddity, consciously or unconsciously isolating her.

Jiang Li didn’t care at all and walked to her seat and sat down. Today, however, Liu Xu was somewhat strange—she even took the initiative to greet her.

This was rather novel. Jiang Li knew clearly that Liu Xu’s consideration toward her came from Madam Liu’s instructions. As for her true feelings, Liu Xu didn’t necessarily like her much. Yet today Liu Xu had unexpectedly taken the initiative to acknowledge her, and that smile even seemed genuine.

After fidgeting for a while, Liu Xu said to Jiang Li, “Yesterday I saw everything when you confronted Liu Zimin at the Imperial Academy gates.”

“Oh?” Jiang Li smiled. “I did act rather outrageously.” When in Rome, do as the Romans do. Since the noble ladies here considered speaking up for justice to be outrageous, she wouldn’t deliberately claim to stand apart from the world.

“No, no, no,” Liu Xu rapidly said “no” several times before looking at Jiang Li earnestly and saying, “Liu Zimin lacks moral character, engaging in extortion and deception in broad daylight. Among all those onlookers, you alone dared to speak the truth, fearlessly. I greatly admire you.”

Jiang Li was somewhat surprised.

“Before, I heard those rumors about you and wasn’t very friendly toward you. Now I know that I misjudged people and nearly wronged a good person. Since you dared to stand up for someone you’d never even met yesterday, you’re countless times more admirable than those who only know to hide in the crowd watching the excitement.” She very straightforwardly performed a bow to Jiang Li. “I was wrong before. Today I apologize to you. From now on, I won’t act that way anymore.”

Jiang Li smiled and said, “You’ve always been very friendly to me.” Liu Xu was ultimately Madam Liu’s daughter—a very generous girl who knew how to self-reflect, a good young lady. Everyone likes good young ladies, and Jiang Li quite liked her.

Seeing Jiang Li’s unconcerned smile, Liu Xu couldn’t help but blush slightly. She said, “Yesterday when you were debating with Liu Zimin, you seemed quite knowledgeable about distinguishing authentic works from forgeries. Could you teach me too?”

Jiang Li was slightly taken aback, then said, “That’s not difficult at all. Of course I can teach you.”

When Xue Huaiyuan was serving as county magistrate in Tongxiang, someone once brought a lawsuit to the yamen—it was a shop selling authentic calligraphy and paintings by famous masters that had been accused of selling forgeries. That forgery was far more sophisticated than the one Liu Zimin had yesterday, nearly reaching the point of passing for genuine. Neither side would yield, and finally someone invited a master who happened to be traveling through Tongxiang to make the determination.

Jiang Li was still young and playful at that time, and had hidden herself in the group accompanying Xue Huaiyuan. When she was discovered later, Xue Huaiyuan apologized, but Jiang Li found it entertaining. The master, seeing how adorable and pure as snow she was, taught her some principles for distinguishing authenticity from forgery.

A famous teacher produces outstanding students. Jiang Li could be considered half a disciple of this master. While her skill wasn’t exceptional, it wasn’t bad either. The forgery Liu Zimin had yesterday wasn’t particularly sophisticated, and combined with Jiang Li’s deep understanding of Liu Zimin’s character, a few words were enough to make Liu Zimin reveal his true colors.

Just as she was telling Liu Xu some key points for appreciating ancient paintings, a teacher entered. Jiang Li looked up and saw a slender woman in a light purple wide-sleeved, narrow-waisted long dress gracefully approaching. This woman had clear, refined features and a gentle, pleasant demeanor. The young maid behind her held a long zither—this was the teacher for music from the Six Arts.

Compared to Ji Luo, this teacher appeared much more good-natured, extremely gentle.

Jiang Li watched with an inward smile. This woman was also one of her former “good friends”—the capital’s foremost female musician, Xiao Deyin.