The Double-Chapter 25 - 23 Acquaintance

25: Chapter 23 Acquaintance

25 -23 Acquaintance

Having met Jiang Youyao and Jiang Jingrui, it took quite some time for Jiang Li to familiarize herself with all the routes inside the Jiang Residence.

The Jiang family’s foundation was deep, and the mansion vast; fortunately, Jiang Li had a good memory.

Moreover, when in Tongxiang, though the mansion was smaller, she enjoyed accompanying Xue Huaiyuan on his official business, having explored every corner of Tongxiang; she was quite skilled in navigating her way around.

In the following days, surprisingly, all was calm.

Apart from witnessing Xiangqiao’s flattering and fawning and Yunshuang’s arrogant ordering around daily, nothing particularly unusual occurred.

Strangely enough, neither Madam Jiang the Elder nor anyone from the second or third households, besides that one accidental encounter, took the initiative to seek out Jiang Li—not even Jiang Li’s father, Jiang Yuanbai, bothered to pretend to fulfill the social courtesy.

Within the entire Jiang family, Jiang Li was like a person of no importance, as if bringing her back was just to neglect her on one side, and after a few days, she would be completely forgotten.

No, there was no need to wait for a few days; it was already the case now.

If others were not giving her face, Jiang Li saw no reason to embarrass herself by fawning over them.

She treated it as if it did not concern her, not taking the initiative to visit the old madam and even having her meals alone, sent to her in Fangfei Garden by Tonger, as if out of sight was out of mind.

But the conflict would not vanish simply by ignoring it; the current peace was merely preparation for future unrest.

One morning, following a rainfall that cleared up, the weather was refreshingly cool, a change from the usual heat.

After breakfast, Jiang Li told Xiangqiao that she planned to go out.

Standing a bit farther away, Yunshuang listened discreetly as Xiangqiao asked Jiang Li, “Second Miss, why do you want to go out all of a sudden?”

“I have been back in the residence for half a month, staying indoors every day; it’s really suffocating.

I don’t even know what Yanjing City looks like these years.

I just want to go out for a walk and a look around.” Before Xiangqiao could respond, Jiang Li continued, “Moreover, the coming-of-age ceremony for my younger sister is in a few days; I can’t show up empty-handed.”

Xiangqiao’s eyes darted as she asked, “Miss, are you going to pick out a coming-of-age gift for the Third Miss?”

“Exactly,” Jiang Li replied with a smile.

“And I’ll see if there’s anything else interesting to buy while I’m at it.”

At this, Xiangqiao’s heart was itching with anticipation.

If Jiang Li was going to shop, and she could accompany her, there might be a chance of receiving some rewards.

It must be said that although this Second Miss was raised in a temple, she was quite generous with money.

Xiangqiao wasn’t sure whether it was foolishness or she was just following the late Lady Ye Zhenzhen’s habit of spending money like water, but the rewards she received while with Jiang Li for half a month nearly matched what she had gotten in the previous year.

Purposely, she asked, “Second Miss, your expenses these days have been quite substantial…

”

“The silver that grandmother gave me hasn’t been spent yet,” Jiang Li cut her off, smiling.

“It should be enough to buy some decent things.”

Xiangqiao thought about it and realized it was true—while Jiang Li had been rewarding her with jewelry, she had not touched the silver.

After all, what value does silver have compared to jewelry?

However, Xiangqiao naturally wouldn’t cut off her own financial path.

Thinking there might be a chance to strike gold today, she swallowed the words she had planned to dissuade Jiang Li from going out and simply said, “Well, in that case, I’ll accompany the Second Miss out to have a look.

I’ve been out with the Third Miss before, and those shops in Yanjing are quite nice.”

Yunshuang was somewhat dissatisfied with Xiangqiao’s reaction, but Jiang Li had already spoken, “Good, Tonger, you come with me too; thank you for your help, Sister Xiangqiao.”

She deliberately, albeit subtly, ignored Yunshuang.

Two maids were already enough; Yunshuang naturally wouldn’t follow along.

Although she hadn’t planned to cater to this Second Miss from the start, Jiang Li’s current actions also seemed to clearly signal one thing: Jiang Li didn’t care for Yunshuang’s company either.

After Jiang Li and Xiangqiao left the house together, Yunshuang spat in disgust and headed to Shuxiu Garden to be with Ji Shuran.

As Jiang Li was leaving, the doormen were somewhat nervous, but luckily Xiangqiao was very familiar with them.

After chatting warmly with the doormen for a bit, she had two guards accompany Jiang Li’s carriage out of the residence.

Perhaps it was because Jiang Li was not highly regarded, so this small escort seemed pitifully inadequate, but it just happened to coincide with Jiang Li’s preference for fewer people.

Once out of the Jiang Residence’s main gate, Tonger let out a sigh of relief.

She had also felt quite stifled during her time in the Jiang Residence, afraid of causing trouble for Jiang Li, treading on eggshells every day.

The moment she stepped out, she suddenly felt that even Xiangqiao, who she always found disagreeable, wasn’t so hateful anymore.

Xiangqiao was straightforward as she said upon leaving, “Second Miss, the best jewelry shop in Yanjing is surely the Auspicious Building.”

“Then let’s go to the Auspicious Building,” replied Jiang Li, easygoing to a fault.

In fact, Jiang Li’s maternal family, the Ye Family, had started as jewelers.

Although they weren’t as luxurious as the Auspicious Building, they emphasized quantity.

Over time, as the Ye Family’s business holdings grew, they began to pay less attention to the jewelry sector.

Upon arriving at the Auspicious Building, the attendants warmly greeted Xiangqiao, but when they noticed Jiang Li beside her, they were taken aback, blurting, “This esteemed guest…”

Normally, Xiangqiao would come with Ji Shuran and Jiang Youyao.

But today, Xiangqiao was accompanying a young lady of unfamiliar appearance.

This girl was clearly seated in the Jiang’s carriage, but the attendant pondered that she didn’t fit the image of a Jiang family daughter of a concubine; perhaps she was a relative of the Jiang Family.

Just as he was thinking this, he saw Xiangqiao’s face show a strange expression.

She hesitated before reluctantly speaking up, “This is our Mansion’s Second Miss.”

At the mention of “Second Miss,” the attendant’s cordial smile remained, still puzzled as to when the Jiang Family had acquired a Second Miss.

His expression changed dramatically once he saw Jiang Li’s face, nearly choking on his own saliva.

Second Miss?

The one who reputedly poisoned her stepmother’s own brother, sent to the temple to cultivate her character?

She did not bear the hideous, ghost-like face surrounded by murderous aura from the rumors, nor the sharp and harsh demeanor, fierce and prone to conflict, as one would imagine.

The young lady before him was dressed in a pale-blue muslin skirt and a light-green blouse, her makeup simple and elegant.

She was slightly tilting her head at him, as if she found him amusing, a smirk playing on her lips.

Clear and gentle, her eyes and brows beautiful—it was as if a fairy maiden or jade girl had descended from the seat of a Bodhisattva.

Good heavens, how could this be the Jiang Family’s Second Miss?

The attendant felt his head spinning, unable to think straight.

Tonger frowned and impatiently said, “Young man, do you not intend to welcome customers?”

The attendant promptly snapped back to reality, apologizing profusely, while sneaking glances at Jiang Li.

Seeing that Jiang Li still wore a gentle smile, not showing any signs of anger, his mind, which had just cleared, became muddled once again.

As he ushered them into the shop, he thought to himself, why were there so few customers today?

Not a single customer was present in the main hall.

If only the other customers could see, they would be just as shocked as he was by the appearance of the notorious Second Miss of the Jiang Family!

As Jiang Li and her group entered the Auspicious Building, a magnificent building stood not far across from it, resplendent and filled with the sounds of heavenly music.

Sitting by the window on the upper floor were two people, with one of them remarking, “Look, people from the Jiang Family.”

Across from them, a hand holding a teapot delicately poured a cup of tea, the joints of the hand whiter than the fine porcelain of the pot.

“Oh,” came a voice laced with a hint of languid interest, “acquaintances.”