The Double-Chapter 26 - 24 Peeking

26: Chapter 24 Peeking

26 -24 Peeking

In the Auspicious Building, Jiang Li and her companions were still selecting jewelry.

Fearing Jiang Li’s “infamous” reputation, both the shopkeeper and the assistants were extremely attentive in serving her.

There were no other customers that day, so the shopkeeper practically displayed all the newly made jewelry for Jiang Li to choose from.

Xiangqiao initially thought that Jiang Li was picking out a gift for Jiang Youyao, and wouldn’t put her heart into it, maybe even deliberately sabotaging the effort.

But unexpectedly, Jiang Li really did take the selection seriously and generously purchased a set of Red Jade Drop Bead Phoenix Headdress, which cost a whole three hundred taels of silver.

The box of silver that Madam Jiang the Elder gave to Jiang Li totaled only four hundred taels.

After buying the headdress, there would only be one hundred taels of silver left.

Watching Jiang Li, who didn’t seem the least bit distressed, Xiangqiao felt she truly didn’t understand what the Second Miss was thinking.

The shopkeeper and the assistants were also nervous throughout the day, but Jiang Li didn’t make things difficult for them from beginning to end.

She was even more easygoing than other noble’s daughters from Yanjing, which was somewhat unthinkable.

Having bought the headdress, it was impossible to purchase any other jewelry from the Auspicious Building with the remaining silver.

As Jiang Li and her companions were leaving, just about to walk towards the carriage, Tonger suddenly pointed to a pawnshop not far off and said to Jiang Li, “Miss, before I left the capital, I pawned a jade pendant given to me by my deceased mother.

I’d like to go have a look to see if it’s still there.

If it is, redeeming it would be a nice keepsake.”

Jiang Li replied, “Go ahead.” She handed the remaining silver to Tonger, “Use these.”

Unable to refuse, Tonger took the silver and headed towards the pawnshop.

Xiangqiao stood there, dumbfounded, watching Jiang Li.

She treated her servants so well that even Xiangqiao herself had received many benefits from being with Jiang Li.

Honestly speaking, having such a mistress was far better than serving the Third Miss or Ji Shuran.

Xiangqiao felt a tinge of regret; if Jiang Li weren’t the Second Miss of the Jiang family, destined to suffer a tragic fate at the hands of Ji Shuran, she would have even been willing to follow such a mistress for a more comfortable life.

Their actions in front of the Auspicious Building were all observed by two people at the window of a building called the “Wangxian Tower.”

The two men seated in front of a pearwood table, one with thick eyebrows and big eyes, wearing black armored clothing edged with yellow ribbons – apparently a military man – poured tea with a rough but chivalrous air.

He opened his mouth brashly and asked, “Which Miss of the Jiang family is that?

Why is she going to the pawnshop?”

After a while, the person opposite him drawled in response, “The second in line.”

“The second in line?” The armored soldier smacked his lips and then caught on, “Miss Jiang the Second?

The eldest daughter of Jiang Yuanbai who recently returned to the capital?

Are you talking about that evil woman who killed her mother and brother?

Damn, it can’t be?!”

Of the two people standing in front of the Auspicious Building, one was clearly dressed as a maid, while the other was slender with a delicate figure, like a willow swaying in the breeze.

The soldier, who might have sharp eyes, could roughly make out the appearance of Miss Jiang the Second and muttered, “She looks so pitiable.

Is that Jiang Li?

I, Kong Liu, have never misjudged someone.

Either you’re mistaken, or this young lady hasn’t done such things!”

The other person ignored him.

Seeing his friend unresponsive, Kong Liu asked again, “…

Really?”

The other still ignored him, and Kong Liu understood that it was indeed true.

He said, “Damn, appearances can be deceiving.

But how do you know this is Miss Jiang the Second, have you seen her before?”

“I have,” replied the other person.

“Wow.” Kong Liu shook his head, “Rumors are unreliable; they say that Miss Jiang the Second is extremely ugly, but she looks pretty good to me, delicate and pretty, right?” he asked.

“Bland and insipid.”

Kong Liu choked for a moment, “What about Miss Jiang the Third?

She must look very charming, right?”

“Mediocre and vulgar.”

“Damn it, what about Xue Fangfei?

She’s the number one beauty in Yanjing; you have to admit she’s pretty!”

“Pretty?” The person opposite him replied with a cold tone, “Do you want me to comment on a…

dead person?”

As he spoke, he finally turned his gaze away from the window and looked at Kong Liu across from him.

This young man was dressed in a crimson robe with a black and gold phoenix butterfly embroidered at the collar, which cast his face in an alluring, bewildering light.

He had a pair of narrow phoenix eyes, with the corners tilted slightly upwards, an attitude of pride, but a red mole at the corner of his eye added a touch of subtle charm to his arrogance.

His lips were thin yet vividly red, and his skin was too pale, making his deep-set features all the more striking.

Despite his ostentatious appearance, his demeanor remained indifferent, and even the interest he showed seemed half-hearted.

Kong Liu nearly choked looking at him.

He couldn’t help but acknowledge that the man opposite him truly had the grounds to critique the world’s beauties, as his own appearance granted him the privilege to disregard all famously beautiful people with disdain.

This was Duke Su, Jih Heng.

“Let’s drop the subject of women,” Kong Liu scratched his head.

“The Right Chancellor’s moves have been growing bolder recently, and he has begun to woo the Top Scholar, Shen Yurong in secret.

Although Shen Yurong seems to be observing for now, if he could be swayed, the Right Chancellor and the Jiang family could become evenly matched in the court.”

“Then you go help the Right Chancellor, dear sir,” Jih Heng’s tone was very gentle.

“Make sure the Top Scholar is definitely won over by him.”

“In a few days, it will be the coming-of-age ceremony for the third daughter of the Jiang family.

I think the Shen family will send someone to investigate Jiang Yuanbai,” said Kong Liu.

“Shen Yurong is favored by Emperor Hongxiao, and both Jiang Yuanbai and the Right Chancellor are eager to win him over.

However,” Jih Heng’s lips curved slightly, “he must not be swayed by the Jiang family.”

“I understand,” Kong Liu nodded, “The days ahead for the Jiang family will be troublesome.”

“Pity,” Jih Heng sighed softly, causing Kong Liu to shiver.

He knew that this person across from him wouldn’t truly pity anyone; on the contrary, if he called someone pitiful, their fate would definitely be pitiable.

Perhaps it was the lament over the future of the Jiang family that made Kong Liu look at the figures in front of the Auspicious Building with a sigh.

He said, “You know, with such a pure and attractive face as that of the Jiang family’s Second Miss, the matter of killing her mother and brother could be a misunderstanding.

Maybe she never did such a thing.”

“No.” Unexpectedly, Jih Heng responded, “With Miss Jiang the Second’s facial features, she certainly has the potential to commit matricide and fratricide.”

Kong Liu rolled his eyes and fell silent. freeωebnovēl.c૦m