The Double-Chapter 28 - 26 Shen Family

28: Chapter 26 Shen Family freeweɓnøvel.com

28 -26 Shen Family

July third was the coming-of-age ceremony for Jiang Youyao.

From the evening of the day before, the entire Jiang Residence had been bustling with activity.

Jiang Li, who had been quietly out of sight these days, naturally slipped further into the background.

Even by the next morning, no one in the kitchen remembered to send meals to Fangfei Garden for Jiang Li.

Tonger went to the kitchen by herself and only found some leftover pastries.

While bringing them to Jiang Li, she complained indignantly, “It’s just a coming-of-age ceremony.

They’re all legitimate daughters of the Jiang family, and yet this disparity in their treatment is just too excessive!”

Jiang Li picked up a piece of chestnut cake, took a bite, and consoled her, “Jiang Youyao has always been the pearl of the main house, and her coming-of-age ceremony is indeed a big event.

With many distinguished guests coming and going these days, it’s natural that she cannot be neglected.”

“Miss, the way you talk, one would think you’re an outsider if they didn’t know better,” Tonger said.

“I feel it’s unfair for you, even if you don’t think so.” She continued, “As for the servants in Fangfei Garden, aside from a few still sweeping outside, they’ve all disappeared.

That Yunshuang, after all, is just a maid, but she puts on airs and often shows us her cold shoulder.

Let that be.

But Xiangqiao, after taking so many of your jewelry, is nowhere to be seen today.

She must have gone over to Lady Ji to claim credit again, pfft, such an ungrateful wolf!” Tonger had long harbored resentment toward Xiangqiao and Yunshuang, and today she could no longer hold back her grievances.

“Xiangqiao is, after all, Lady Ji’s person.

Recently, she’s been fawning over me just for silver.

My chest has been emptied for her sake, and naturally, she has no reason to curry favor with me anymore.

As for Yunshuang, seeing how well I treated Xiangqiao and gaining nothing for herself, it’s obvious she would hate me even more for being partial.” After finishing a piece of pastry, Jiang Li took a sip of tea to rinse her mouth.

As Tonger looked on, ever since returning to the Jiang Residence, Lady Ji had still dared not to obviously mistreat Jiang Li.

The food and daily necessities were still tolerable.

As a result, Jiang Li’s complexion had been nurtured to look even better.

Her features were delicate and clear, and with slightly better clothes than usual, she immediately looked the part of a beauty in the making.

And her every move, Tonger couldn’t express it, but felt it was especially charming.

Seeing Tonger lost in thought, Jiang Li asked, “What’s wrong?”

Tonger snapped back to reality, responding immediately, “Miss, today is the younger Third Miss’s coming-of-age ceremony.

Surely they won’t prevent you from attending, will they?”

Until now, not a soul had come to inform Jiang Li about attending the ceremony.

If this had been the real Miss Jiang the Second, she inevitably would have had mixed feelings, necessitating much thought and perhaps leading to panic.

After all, Miss Jiang the Second once had a bad reputation.

People like Madam Jiang the Elder, who cherished her family’s good name, might prevent Jiang Li from appearing at the ceremony to avoid any mischief.

After all, Miss Jiang the Second had a past of being accused of matricide and fratricide, and today, Heir of Marquis Ningyuan, Zhou Yanbang, would also be present.

If Miss Jiang the Second saw Zhou Yanbang and thought of her diverted marriage arrangement, she might become incensed and act out inappropriately.

Jiang Li smiled, “That won’t happen.”

Tonger asked, “Miss, how can you be so sure?”

“Even if every single person in the Jiang Residence wishes for me not to attend Jiang Youyao’s coming-of-age ceremony, there is one person who will definitely hope I do—Lady Ji.

To ensure I witness the ceremony, she will surely try her best to persuade everyone, to secure this opportunity for me.”

Tonger’s eyes widened as she looked at Jiang Li.

“The stage has already been set up.

If I don’t make an appearance, how can they carry on with their play?” Jiang Li’s smile was gentle.

“It’s impossible.”

No sooner had she finished speaking than Xiangqiao walked in from outside, all smiles, as if she had come upon a great fortune.

Seeing Jiang Li and Tonger seated, she said, “Second Miss, please dress and make yourself up quickly.

All the distinguished guests are arriving for the Third Miss’s coming-of-age ceremony, and Madam and the rest are waiting for you.”

Jiang Li’s face showed just the right touch of surprised delight as she said, “That’s really wonderful.”

It’s really wonderful; the play is finally about to start.

…

Quite a number of guests arrived at the Jiang Residence today.

Jiang Yuanbai holds a not insignificant position in the court.

On one hand, court officials disdain how he always mediates and blindly concurs with the Emperor’s wishes, while on the other hand, they can’t help but envy the status he enjoys in Emperor Hongxiao’s heart.

The previous Minister Yuan, at the height of his power, could almost sit on an equal footing with Emperor Hongxiao.

Still, wasn’t he later stripped of his wealth and exiled?

From glory to decadence, it took merely three short years.

However, Jiang Yuanbai has been securely seated in that position for over a decade, which naturally indicates he’s not as incompetent as he seems.

Regardless, Jiang Yuanbai plays a pivotal role in the court, and scholars vie to foster relations with him.

His daughter’s coming-of-age ceremony naturally attracted a plethora of attendees.

The principal guest conducting the ceremony for Jiang Youyao was Ji Shuran’s full-blooded elder sister, now Mrs.

Yilang, Lady Ji Chen.

Ji Shuran has two elder sisters: one is Lady Ji Chen, and the other holds a position in Emperor Hongxiao’s harem, now being Consort Li.

Ji Shuran has clout in the Jiang family mainly because the Ji family, the Vice Imperial Envoy, is becoming increasingly influential in court, and also due to the face of Consort Li.

Emperor Hongxiao is particularly fond of Consort Li.

In the main hall, numerous noble ladies had already arrived.

They all were high society from Yanjing, discussing recent interesting events.

Even Madam Liu, the wife of the honest official Liu Yuanfeng from Chengde, had come.

Although Liu Yuanfeng is at odds with the Ji family, there is no direct conflict between him and the Jiang family on the surface; they are still at peace.

Madam Liu came to the ceremony today not truly to see Jiang Youyao, but to check how Jiang Li was faring.

Madam Liu hadn’t seen Jiang Li since her return to Yanjing.

Ji Shuran sat among the noble ladies, her beauty and gentleness shining through, skillful in conversation and dancing.

It didn’t take long for her to warm to the distinguished guests, much of which was due to said guests’ desire to curry favor with the Jiang family.

Jiang Yue and Jiang Yu Yan had also arrived early.

Jiang Yu Yan wore a purple dress, quite proper, and coupled with her plain appearance, she didn’t attract much attention.

Accustomed to fading into the crowd, she sat quietly to the side, accompanying her mother, Lady Yang.

However, Jiang Yue wasn’t one to settle for mediocrity.

Knowing that Jiang Youyao was today’s star and not wanting to steal the spotlight, yet reluctant to be as lackluster as Jiang Yu Yan, she wore a light yellow dress and combed her hair into a red bean bun, radiating the charm of a delicated beauty.

Her brows danced with gaiety, and she eagerly engaged in conversations with some of the young ladies, hoping to climb the social ladder.

Among these noblewomen in the hall, two were seated to the left.

One of them was middle-aged, with wrinkles at the corners of her eyes, looking much older than the other ladies present, but dressed in extreme finery.

However, the opulence seemed slightly odd on her, not quite fitting.

By her side sat a young woman, around seventeen or eighteen, fairly pretty, with a slender, narrow face and slightly raised cheekbones, lending her a somewhat severe look.

She was dressed ostentatiously, standing out among the noble ladies.

Yet impatience lurked in her eyes as she asked the woman beside her in a low voice, “Mother, why hasn’t Jiang Youyao come out yet?”

These two were the mother and sister of the current imperial secretary, last year’s Top Scholar, Shen Yurong – Madam Shen and Shen Ruyun.