The Double-Chapter 20 - 18 Inquiries

20: Chapter 18 Inquiries

20 -18 Inquiries

Miss Jiang the Second’s birth mother, Ye Zhenzhen, had married into the Jiang Family and remained childless for three years, until after Jiang Yuanbai’s concubine had given birth to an illegitimate eldest daughter.

Only then did Ye Zhenzhen conceive Jiang Li.

Unfortunately, Ye Zhenzhen’s life was short, and her health steadily declined after giving birth to Jiang Li, leading to her passing half a year later.

Jiang Yuanbai, considering that his young daughter needed someone to care for her, soon married Ji Shuran into the family.

The courtyard where Ye Zhenzhen had been convalescing was located in this Fangfei Garden.

Jiang Yuanbai was a scholar, although he was a scholar with great ambition for power and prestige, he was not without the pedantic temperament of a scholar.

For instance, Jiang Yuanbai liked to present himself as lofty and refined, disliking vulgarity.

Ye Zhenzhen, born into a merchant family, had always enjoyed ostentatious and lively things; even her preference in flowers was for the brilliant and dazzling, whereas Jiang Yuanbai favored pure lotuses and verdant bamboo.

Ji Shuran knew how to cater to his preferences, marketing herself as demure and graceful, and considered Fangfei Garden beneath her.

Now that Jiang Li had returned to the residence, the courtyard where her mother had convalesced was intentionally or unintentionally given to her.

Thinking more cynically, this courtyard was the most remote within the principal family’s residence, far from her siblings, not to mention Madam Jiang the Elder and Jiang Yuanbai, highlighting a lack of closeness.

Living in her birth mother’s recuperating courtyard, would Miss Jiang the Second feel an emotional connection, perhaps even become aggravated or enraged?

Tonger’s concerns completely dissipated after witnessing Jiang Li’s behavior.

Jiang Li was neither sad nor angry, and after a brief pause upon seeing the three characters ‘Fangfei Garden’, she remained calm throughout.

Even Granny Sun was very surprised, and after giving a few hasty instructions, she left.

Only Jiang Li and Tonger remained in the room.

Now that they had returned to the Jiang Residence, and Yu Xiang had gone back to Madam Liu’s side at Gentleman Chengde’s mansion, Jiang Li had asked Yu Xiang to convey her thanks to Madam Liu and promised she would personally visit to express her gratitude another day.

The room was quite clean, but the various flowers once instructed to be planted by Ye Zhenzhen in Fangfei Garden had gone neglected for many years.

Aside from the cleared weeds, the area was desolate.

The vastness of the courtyard only added to the sense of desolation.

Tonger looked at Jiang Li hesitantly before finally asking, “Miss, don’t you feel uncomfortable in your heart?”

“This courtyard is very nice,” Jiang Li looked around and said, “It’s spacious and tranquil.” She seemed not to take Tonger’s worries to heart and thoughtfully examined the neglected flowerbed before saying, “The lack of flowers and plants makes it seem desolate.

But no matter, you and I have lived in Green City Mountain for many years, and we are skilled in tending plants.

Find some seeds someday, and we will plant them in the courtyard.

In some days, it will become lively.”

As Tonger listened, she became cheerful and said, “What you say is true.

We’ve grown crops on Green City Mountain; flowers will be the same.

With such a large courtyard, planting flowers will surely look beautiful.” She felt that ever since Jiang Li had that frightful accident in the water, she had been getting better day by day since waking up.

Perhaps the affair involving the Marquis of Ningyuan had indeed motivated Jiang Li, who now acted with purpose and showed strong resolve.

Maybe this was what the elders meant by “one must be torn down before being rebuilt.”

“Our days will be like the blooming flowers in this courtyard, becoming more vibrant and better with each day,” Tonger said earnestly.

Jiang Li smiled faintly.

Her intention to plant flowers in the courtyard was not merely for show, nor to signify hope in life.

It was because she needed to do something to draw attention, signaling to others that Miss Jiang the Second was not someone who could be neglected in a corner, forgotten as if covered in dust.

The same would be true for everything she did in the future.

She had no intention of being a quiet, unnoticed daughter of fortune.

By evening, Fangfei Garden had become lively.

First, Ji Shuran sent tailors to make clothes for Jiang Li.

With the words Jiang Li had openly spoken in front of everyone at the gates of the Jiang Residence during the day, Ji Shuran could no longer brush them off.

To demonstrate this stepmother’s magnanimity and to mend her tarnished image, Ji Shuran naturally had to spend a good sum of money to make a few truly elegant garments for Jiang Li.

Not only that, but Ji Shuran also sent a box of jewelry, and Madam Jiang the Elder had some silver sent over.

Compared to the jewelry, the silver provided by Madam Jiang the Elder was more practical.

With no silver in her hands at the moment, Jiang Li would struggle to get anything done in the Jiang Residence.

Jiang Yuanbai also paid a visit, and after seeing that Fangfei Garden was adequately arranged, he nodded in approval.

After saying a few words, and feeling the affection had waned after so many years apart, he left.

Shortly after, when lamps were lit in the room, the two maids sent by Ji Shuran, Xiangqiao and Yunshuang, arrived.

These two servant girls that Ji Shuran praised as “sensible and clever” stood in front of Jiang Li to greet her.

The servant girls sent by Ji Shuran could only be Jiang Li’s personal maids.

They were dressed far more lavishly than Tonger, especially Xiangqiao, whose gold bracelet gleamed brightly on her wrist, made of pure gold.

Although Yunshuang stood to greet her, her eyes revealed pride and her courtesy was negligent.

She probably felt that Jiang Li was just a fallen Miss who, even upon returning home, would still end up poorly under the current rule of Ji Shuran.

She didn’t even bother to pretend.

Xiangqiao was a shrewd one with a sweet mouth, her eyes constantly rolling, darting over the jewelry box Ji Shuran had sent before she greeted Jiang Li with the utmost respect.

No matter what, they were all sent by Ji Shuran to keep an eye on her.

Jiang Li took one look at their expressions and movements and had a general understanding of their characters.

Yunshuang was conceited and dismissive, Xiangqiao was greedy and opportunistic.

Both were sycophants – although not her own people, they were not necessarily unprofitable to use.

Tonger found both of them displeasing from every angle and displayed her disfavor openly on her face.

Jiang Li then waved her hand and said, “There’s nothing more for me here.

Xiangqiao, stay behind and tell me about the current situation in the mansion.

Yunshuang, you may leave.”

Yunshuang couldn’t wait to leave and responded immediately.

Xiangqiao stayed behind, and when Jiang Li asked her to sit, Xiangqiao repeatedly insisted that she couldn’t.

After Xiangqiao hesitantly sat down, Jiang Li opened the jewelry box sent by Ji Shuran, picked out a ruby dragonfly hairpin, and pressed it into Xiangqiao’s hands, saying, “I’ve just returned to the residence and will need Sister Xiangqiao’s guidance.

Please talk to me about the situation here at the mansion.”

Xiangqiao’s throat constricted as she swallowed, and though she should have refused, the weighty precious hairpin in her hand made it impossible for her to utter any words of rejection.

Miss Jiang the Second didn’t show her hand easily, but once she did, it was with a temptation one couldn’t refuse!

Who could resist?

After some thought, Xiangqiao reckoned that the Second Miss was naive.

Now that she was serving at the Second Miss’s side, as long as she could cheer up the Second Miss, wouldn’t she be overflowing with riches every day?

Speaking of the mansion’s situation, there was nobody clever by Jiang Li’s side – it all depended on her own words, right?

In this way, she wouldn’t be betraying Madam and could even earn double the silver.

With this thought, Xiangqiao became cheerful and said, “Second Miss mustn’t say that, helping you is my duty.

As for the mansion now…” yet she never let go of the hairpin in her hand.

Tonger was impatient and visibly anxious.

Xiangqiao clearly had ulterior motives, yet Jiang Li still rewarded her so handsomely; after all, greed knows no bounds.

However, Jiang Li appeared to be listening intently to Xiangqiao.

Xiangqiao spoke with effusive enthusiasm, her mouth dry from talking.

Noticing that Jiang Li was paying close attention, she felt smug inside – what she shared seemed detailed, but in fact, most of it was about the second and third families of the house, without giving away a word about the Madam of the Principal Residence.

The Second Miss was foolish enough to believe every word as if they were crucial, not realizing she just needed to talk about inconsequential things to get a gem hairpin – a fortunate and rare opportunity indeed.

Having spoken for half a shichen, when she finally ran out of things to say, Xiangqiao added, “Second Miss, that’s all there is about the current situation in the mansion.”

Jiang Li listened with rapt attention, and when Xiangqiao stopped, she seemed to want more, mulling over it before saying, “Since there’s not much to talk about inside the mansion, let’s talk about some interesting things from outside.

What fun events have happened in Yanjing City over the past few years?

I heard that the old Madam of Rong Xinling passed away three years ago, I remember her giving me a Guanyin Double-Sided Embroidery when I was a child.

Also, Sister Yu Xiang mentioned to me once about the most beautiful woman in Yanjing City, whose husband was a newly successful candidate in the imperial examination.

I heard he passed away recently, is that true?”