The Double-Chapter 30 - 28 Unforeseen Changes

30: Chapter 28 Unforeseen Changes

30 -28 Unforeseen Changes

Walking toward the crowd in the courtyard under their varied gazes, Jiang Li proceeded as if everything was normal.

Her steps were brisk, yet her movements leisurely, as if she were a young girl strolling carefree and joyful through blossoms, absorbed in delight and beauty.

She made her way into the courtyard and first stopped beside Jiang Youyao, smiling at her, “Congratulations to my third sister on her coming of age today.” She then turned toward Jiang Yuanbai and Ji Shuran on the steps, apologizing with a smile, “I didn’t know the hairpin ceremony was in the middle courtyard, and wanted to find a servant to guide me.

However, today is so busy, and the Mansion is short-handed, I couldn’t find anyone to lead the way.

I had to search on my own, which took quite some time; father, mother, please don’t be angry with Jiang Li.”

The surrounding crowd pondered upon hearing this.

How could a mansion of a Grand Secretary be short of staff to the point that Jiang Li couldn’t find a servant?

It was clearly someone’s intent not to bring her over, likely just to make her late and look foolish.

As they contemplated this, they suddenly came back to their senses.

What did that girl just say—Jiang Li?

Wasn’t that the very Jiang Li, the Second Miss of the Jiang Family, accused of parricide and fratricide?

The noble guests attending the ceremony were either elders a generation older than Jiang Li or juniors about her age.

The juniors had never seen Jiang Li before, and the elders who had seen her knew her from many years ago when she was but a young child.

In the mouths of Yanjing City’s nobility, the Jiang Family’s Second Miss was almost an imagined figure; despite not being described as some green-faced monster, at the very least, she was said to possess a stern and unkind look.

Yet, the girl before them was so pure, gentle, and even her softness and grace nearly outshined the Third Miss Jiang.

It was hard to imagine such a person committing matricide and fratricide.

Ji Shuran’s complexion subtly changed the moment Jiang Li appeared.

Being adept at reading people, she could clearly see the shock of the guests in the courtyard upon Jiang Li’s arrival, their admiration for her beauty.

What Ji Shuran least wanted was for Jiang Li to overshadow Jiang Youyao—as when she became the matriarch of the Jiang Family, people seemingly forgot about Ye Zhenzhen.

As soon as Jiang Youyao became prominent, Jiang Li would just be mud on the ground.

But this mud almost outshone her precious gem, prompting a surge of violence in Ji Shuran’s heart.

Jiang Yuanbai stood on the steps, looking down at his two daughters.

In his heart, he naturally favored Jiang Youyao, who had grown up by his side from childhood.

However, Jiang Li’s current resemblance to him, her outstanding appearance and demeanor, filled him with pride, dissipating much of his dissatisfaction with Jiang Li.

Jiang Yuanbai waved his hand and said, “It’s all right.”

Jiang Li then performed another courtesy to Jiang Yuanbai and stood beside Lady Lu, pretending to observe the ceremony.

Jiang Li’s appearance attracted the attention of everyone in the courtyard, turning Jiang Youyao from the main focus of the ceremony to someone secondary, which greatly irritated Jiang Youyao.

However, she could not show her frustration and had to suppress her anger to continue with the hairpin ceremony.

The guests took their seats, and Jiang Yuanbai stood to make a speech.

A highly respected female scholar from Yanjing City, addressed in praise, combed Jiang Youyao’s hair.

Officials presented the Silk Veil and Hairpin Box.

Lady Ji Chen stepped forward to Jiang Youyao and sang a blessing loudly, “On this auspicious day, you wear the hairpin for the first time.

Abandon your youthful impulses, follow the path to virtue.

Wishing you long life and happiness, may you be blessed with good fortune.” She then knelt to comb Jiang Youyao’s hair.

As Jiang Li watched, memories of her own coming of age ceremony from when she was Xue Fangfei surfaced in her mind.

Her mother had passed away too early, and Tongxiang was too small.

Her officiant was a neighbor who had watched her grow up from childhood.

During the ceremony, Xue Huaiyuan still secretly wiped his tears away.

Xue Zhao had told her that Xue Huaiyuan was murmuring to himself, “Ah Li is all grown up, she’s going to leave father.”

She was oblivious at the time, hugging Xue Huaiyuan’s arm as she laughed, “Ah Li isn’t going anywhere.

Ah Li will stay with father forever, spending her whole life with father.”

Jiang Li took a deep breath, repressing the tears in her eyes.

The people who vowed never to leave ultimately abandoned their old father and younger brother to marry far away, never to return.

Perhaps the tragic fate of a beauty was the punishment for her broken promises.

Jiang Yue stood by Lady Yang’s side, watching Jiang Youyao participate in the ceremony on stage, with desire and envy barely concealed in her eyes.

Her own coming-of-age ceremony would certainly not be as grand as Jiang Youyao’s.

Thinking about this, she ultimately felt some resentment and couldn’t help but look at Jiang Li.

As a legitimate daughter of the Jiang Family, when Jiang Li watched Jiang Youyao’s coming-of-age ceremony and thought of her own, she would probably feel even more injustice and resentment.

In Jiang Yue’s heart, a sudden sense of pleasure emerged, but when she looked over, she saw Jiang Li staring at Jiang Youyao on the stage, calm as if they were strangers.

How could this be?

Could it be that Jiang Li did not feel angry, did not feel the injustice, did not feel resentful?

It wasn’t just Jiang Yue; many of the surrounding guests also watched Jiang Li’s expression.

However, Jiang Li just looked on, with a smile lingering on her lips that seemed sincere, as if she were genuinely happy for Jiang Youyao.

The people around were confused.

While Jiang Youyao was performing the rites on stage, she also didn’t miss Jiang Li’s expressions.

The calmer Jiang Li appeared, the more Jiang Youyao refused to believe it, screaming madly in her heart, “She’s faking it, all of it is an act!”

It wasn’t until Ji Shuran shot her a warning glance that Jiang Youyao realized she had almost lost her composure.

She calmed herself down, thinking about the scene that Jiang Li would soon face, and her earlier indignation evaporated, replaced by an eager excitement.

It was at this moment that the three prostrations and three kowtows were completed.

Jiang Youyao knelt before Jiang Yuan Bai and Ji Shuran, listening to their admonitions.

The ceremony of thanks was completed. ƒгeewebnovёl.com

After the ceremony, it was time for the guests to present their coming-of-age gifts.

To show their goodwill toward the Jiang Family, these nobles were generous, and one gift was more precious than the next.

With the exception of the gifts from the third branch of the Jiang Family, which were lighter, they all were substantial.

Jiang Youyao, holding the box that Tonger had brought on behalf of Jiang Li, looked at Jiang Li with a beaming smile and said, “Second Sister, may I open your coming-of-age gift now?”

Her smile was somewhat shy, caught between the coyness of a girl and a young lady, making her appear especially radiant.

The guests all stopped in their tracks and turned their attention to Jiang Li.

Although Second Miss Jiang appeared gentle and lovely at the moment, the past events had indeed truly occurred.

Miss Jiang the Third was young and spoiled, unaware of the perils of the world, and had no idea how the calculating Second Miss Jiang would respond to Miss Jiang the Third’s words.

Jiang Li smiled and said, “Of course you may.”

Xiangqiao stood far behind the crowd, her palms unknowingly damp with sweat.

Fairly speaking, these days, Jiang Li had treated her well, with generous rewards and in a friendly manner, far more than ten times better than Jiang Youyao and Ji Shuran.

However, Xiangqiao regretfully thought that in this world, it’s not the case that good people always receive good returns.

“The kind are exploited and the gentle horse is ridden hard,” even a three-year-old child understands this truth.

Jiang Youyao lowered her head to open the box, unseen by anyone, her smile grew deeper, but in a flash, she let out a cry as if severely frightened, exclaiming, “Oh my God, what is this?”