Jiang Li left Wanfeng Hall even earlier than she had anticipated.

The anxious Tong’er was pacing at the gate of Fangfei Garden. When she saw Jiang Li and Bai Xue return, she was also stunned and said, “How are you back so quickly?”

Jiang Li smiled. “Yes, faster than I expected.”

She had thought the three-party interrogation would drag on for quite a while, but unexpectedly it didn’t last long. First, Jiang Li’s admission of fault was sincere. Second, the die was already cast and the wager could not be cancelled now. Neither Old Madam Jiang nor Jiang Yuanbai could think of any good solution, while Ji Shuran and Jiang Youyao couldn’t wait for Jiang Li to be humiliated. The matter was thus settled smoothly.

Jiang Yuanbai had wanted to find a teacher for Jiang Li to help her become familiar with things over the next few days, at least so she wouldn’t lose too miserably, but Jiang Li politely declined. Jiang Li only said that such a short time would really be too rushed, and it would be better to rest and conserve her energy.

Jiang Yuanbai probably felt that this approach with Jiang Li wouldn’t work, so he gave a long sigh, flicked his sleeves, and left. Jiang Li guessed he had gone to think of other methods.

Entering the room, Tong’er poured Jiang Li a cup of hot tea and said, “No matter the outcome, even if Miss loses, it would be an upright and honorable loss, which is braver than those who don’t even dare to compete and retreat in fear.”

“I think Miss won’t lose,” Bai Xue said earnestly. “Miss is a person of good fortune.”

Jiang Li was amused by Bai Xue’s words, but after laughing felt only bitterness. If she were truly a person of good fortune, she wouldn’t have encountered Shen Yurong and caused the Xue family’s destruction.

She had barely sat down for half a moment when Jiang Jingrui came barging in uninvited again, full of enthusiasm. He must have just returned from outside and hadn’t yet gone back to his own courtyard, still carrying a cricket cage in his hand. Seeing Jiang Li, he said, “Jiang Li, you’re truly amazing! The whole city is now talking about your wager. All my friends know I have such a cousin and really want to see you.”

“I’m not some courtesan or top girl at a pleasure house. What is there to see?” Jiang Li said bluntly.

Jiang Jingrui nearly choked on the mouthful of tea he hadn’t yet swallowed, crying out, “What kind of talk is that? You’re a young lady—speak more elegantly! If Uncle heard you say this, you’d have to copy the family rules ten thousand times in the ancestral hall.”

“All right, what did you actually come here for?” Jiang Li asked him.

That strange feeling arose in Jiang Jingrui’s heart again. Clearly he was older than Jiang Li, yet he always felt as if he were the younger sibling. Jiang Li seemed more like an adult unwilling to humor a child, patiently indulging his nonsense.

But he hadn’t come to cause trouble today. Jiang Jingrui said, “Ahem, although accepting the wager showed great spirit like I had back in the day, this was done too impulsively. For a young lady to actually kneel and apologize to someone—do you want to get married in the future? You should have considered it at the time. That Miss Meng is no good person either—she was clearly waiting for you to fall into her trap.”

“Are you so certain that I’ll be the one kneeling and apologizing?” Jiang Li asked.

Jiang Jingrui looked at her. “I know you’re unwilling and indignant, but now isn’t the time to be stubborn. I reckon Uncle will probably try to find other ways so you won’t lose too badly. I still have some silver here.” Jiang Jingrui pulled out three banknotes from his breast. “I’m lending them to you. Use this silver to see if anyone at Mingyi Hall is willing to help you.”

This was asking Jiang Li to use silver to bribe her fellow students to help her cheat.

Jiang Li glanced at the pitiful few banknotes in Jiang Jingrui’s hand and said calmly, “If you could produce a few dozen more banknotes, perhaps there might be that possibility.”

“Think it’s too little?” Jiang Jingrui touched his nose. “This is already all my savings. Mother doesn’t usually give me much silver. If you need more, I could try asking my older brother for some, but a few dozen is too difficult.”

Jiang Li shook her head. Those studying at Mingyi Hall were all daughters of official families—where would they lack such a small amount of silver? Moreover, the current problem wasn’t silver at all. At Mingyi Hall, aside from Liu Xu, Jiang Li was the enemy of almost all the female students. Whoever helped Jiang Li would be making an enemy of all of Mingyi Hall. Besides that foolish girl Liu Xu, who else would do such a thing?

Furthermore, she would inevitably lose miserably—this was a fact tacitly accepted by everyone in the entire capital.

“Miss,” Tong’er beside her suddenly brightened. “Speaking of silver, Young Master Ye certainly has plenty of silver. What about borrowing from him?”

Jiang Li was taken aback. Jiang Jingrui beside her also reacted and spoke excitedly, “That’s right! Your cousin is from the Ye family and shouldn’t lack silver. You just helped him—if you ask him, he definitely won’t refuse your request.”

Tong’er and Jiang Jingrui both looked at Jiang Li. After a moment of silence, Jiang Li finally said, “Forget it. He also has to take the Imperial Academy examination himself. Getting involved with me at this time wouldn’t be a wise move.”

If Jiang Li asked Ye Shijie for help now, Ye Shijie would also look down on her. Moreover, the lawsuit between Ye Shijie and Li Lian hadn’t been settled yet, and Jiang Li didn’t want to openly establish good relations with Ye Shijie right now.

Actually, the best method would be for Ye Shijie to create a sensation at this examination while she herself became equally famous in one stroke. Then everything afterward would happen naturally, flowing smoothly—nothing could be better.

Jiang Li said, “The Six Arts: calligraphy, music, ritual, mathematics, charioteering, and archery. To take first place, it’s best to be first in everything.”

Jiang Jingrui said, “What nonsense are you talking about?”

Jiang Li calculated in her heart. Calligraphy meant writing—her strength since childhood. Music was instrumental music—in her previous life her seven-stringed zither had been on par with Xiao Deyin’s, so it wasn’t difficult. Ritual was even simpler—with her exceptional memory, she had already studied it in the past. Mathematics was commerce and calculation—when she was young and there were no other women in the household, Jiang Li had managed the household accounts. Charioteering was horsemanship—she had also practiced this with Xue Zhao and had been praised. Archery was shooting arrows—she had also shot sparrows and hunted, sitting to feast on game.

These ordinary things that had once been integrated into every part of her life, when brought to Mingyi Hall, to the capital, were gilded with a layer of gold and became “subjects” that noble ladies took pride in.

In her previous life when she came to the capital, thinking she shouldn’t be ostentatious, she had tried to be as restrained as possible, yet still gained the reputation of being first in talent and first in beauty. In this life, with the Jiang family’s protection and her noble status, she could naturally act without fear.

“Crowns and carriages fill the capital”—just an ordinary phrase, and she would make it reality.

This battle, she would certainly make her name known throughout the world.