The Double-Chapter 66 - 63 The Two Champions

66: Chapter 63: The Two Champions

66 -63: The Two Champions

“Second Miss is the top scorer, this round of school examination’s best performer, congratulations to the old madam!”

Ji Shuran’s smile froze on her face.

Jiang Youyao opened her mouth, unable to hold back and blurted out, “What did you say?”

Her voice was sharp with a touch of panic.

“It must be a mistake,” Jiang Yue said, full of disbelief, shaking her head as if to convince herself, “You must have gotten it wrong…”

Lady Lu was the first to react, bursting into laughter and saying, “If I heard correctly just now, is Lili really the top scorer?” She glanced at Ji Shuran’s stiff smile and a flicker of satisfaction crossed her mind.

She had long held reservations about Ji Shuran, who, relying on the recent promotions of Vice Imperial Envoy Ji Yanlin, had increasingly thrown her weight around in the Jiang Residence.

Lady Lu, always proud and haughty, had never liked Ji Shuran.

Moreover, with each year’s school examination, the better Jiang Youyao performed, the more lackluster the two young masters from the second branch seemed by comparison.

Now that Jiang Li had come out of nowhere and seriously undercut Ji Shuran’s prestige, Lady Lu was naturally pleased to see it.

“Who would have thought that Lili is such a capable person.” Lady Lu didn’t hesitate to twist the knife in Ji Shuran’s heart, “She’s only been at Mingyi Hall for a short while, and it seems she hasn’t studied these subjects before.

If you ask me, it is no surprise—after all, she’s the blood of the eldest brother, all of them gifted with literary grace and born with natural talent…”

With every word she spoke, the resentment in Jiang Youyao’s heart grew.

The anger at being surpassed by Jiang Yue was now completely transferred to Jiang Li.

Jiang Yue was one thing, but what was Jiang Li?

She couldn’t even surpass someone who had been at Mingyi Hall for just a few days; wasn’t that the same as being worse than useless?

Jiang Yue was also clenching the handkerchief in her hand tightly, her fingernails almost digging into her palm.

The joy of anticipation just a moment ago was now like a bucket of ice water poured over her head on a hot summer’s day, chilling to the bone and leaving her fingertips cold.

Beyond that, there was a deep-seated unwillingness.

The one thing she had always been proud of, the one thing that allowed her to tread on Jiang Li, was now gone!

Why?!

Madam Jiang the Elder just cast a cursory glance, taking in the varying expressions of everyone.

She asked indifferently, “Are you sure you saw it clearly?

Is it truly the second girl who topped the list?”

“Indeed,” the servant boy said, “Please see the transcript of the winners’ list, old madam.

Second Miss scored top in all three subjects—writing, arithmetic, and rites—the top scorer without a doubt!”

Jiang Youyao’s knees buckled, nearly collapsing.

…

In Fangfei Garden, Jiang Li was watching Lili tend to the flowers and plants.

“Are you really not leaving?” Jiang Jingrui sat in the chair, gulping down tea, and couldn’t help but urge her, “It’s still not too late to run away.

Escaping now at worst means being ridiculed for breaking your word, but if you wait until there’s nowhere to run, and end up kneeling to apologize to Meng Hongjin, then your life is truly over.

In my opinion, you aren’t some great hero, and even heroes should adapt to their circumstances.

Better to preserve the green hills than to burn all the wood; why make life difficult for yourself?”

Despite appearing like an idle playboy, Jiang Jingrui was quite good at dispensing comforting wisdom, and Jiang Li was almost persuaded by his words.

However, she just glanced at him and said, “This tea is Junshan Silver Needle, and I only brewed this one pot today.

You, chewing peony like a cow, from now on you can forget about coming here for tea.”

Jiang Jingrui angrily slammed down his teacup, “Listen to yourself!

Are we even from the same Jiang family?

Why such frugality?

We are from a wealthy and noble family, meant to live luxuriously and indulge in all life’s pleasures.

You’re being far too dull!”

Considering the gap between a Poor Scholar’s Family and a wealthy and noble family was vast, Jiang Li didn’t bother arguing with him; everyone had their own way of living, no need to force it.

While they were talking, Qingfeng and Ming Yue suddenly walked in quickly from outside, both with flushed faces and a hint of excitement.

As soon as Qingfeng entered, she said, “Miss, the winners’ list from Mingyi Hall has been posted!”

Before Jiang Li could say anything, Jiang Jingrui placed his teacup down and asked, “How did it go?

Did our young miss finish last?”

Jiang Li looked at him and felt that when he said he hoped she would win, it must have been insincere.

Ming Yue glared at Jiang Jingrui and said, “What nonsense are you talking?

Our young miss is extremely intelligent, naturally gifted for studying…”

Jiang Jingrui burst into laughter before she could finish speaking, “One shouldn’t lie in such an obvious manner.”

Jiang Li watched him quietly.

Ming Yue became anxious, “I am not lying, the whole Jiang Residence knows by now.

Our miss is the top scorer of the Mingyi Hall school examination, the leader!”

She emphasized the word “leader” forcefully.

Jiang Jingrui said, “You silly girl, don’t you have any brains.

Even if you want to console your mistress, you shouldn’t speak such nonsense.”

Qingfeng said, “It’s true!”

Jiang Jingrui was about to speak again, but seeing several maids genuinely upset, he realized something, gradually stopped laughing, and looked at Jiang Li tentatively, asking, “Is it true?”

Jiang Li couldn’t be bothered to talk to him and instead asked, “What about the Imperial College?

Who’s the top scorer in the Imperial College school examination?”

“It seems to be an unfamiliar name, the surname is Ye…

called Ye Shijie!”

A weight lifted off Jiang Li’s heart.

Jiang Jingrui reacted, suddenly shouting, “What’s going on?

You’ve become the Mingyi Hall school examination’s top scorer, and your cousin has become the top scorer of the Imperial College school examination.” He leaned in close to Jiang Li and whispered mysteriously, “Tell me the truth, did you bribe the examiners?

As you know, your cousin’s family is not short of silver, but is it so easy now to bribe the Imperial College…”

He then muttered to himself.

Qingfeng said, “The old madam asks for you, Second Miss, to go to Night Wind Hall immediately.”

“Alright.” Jiang Li stood up, “I’ll go now.”

“I’m going too!” Jiang Jingrui stood up as well, saying, “This time you’ve truly earned face for the Jiang Family, Grandmother will definitely reward you handsomely.”

Jiang Li saw his boundless excitement, not knowing that he might be mistaken for the one who won the top spot.

She paused, then said, “Are you sure you want to go now?”

“Why shouldn’t I?” Jiang Jingrui was utterly perplexed.

Jiang Li sighed, “Aren’t you afraid that they will discuss your results?”

“I’m not afraid.” Jiang Jingrui replied with pride rather than shame, carelessly saying, “Everyone is used to it.”

Jiang Li didn’t bother to talk further.

If Jiang Jingrui himself didn’t care, why should she be the meddling villain?

She then headed to Night Wind Hall with Tonger and Bai Xue.

Upon arriving at Night Wind Hall, the little maids standing outside all revealed warm smiles toward her.

They were also sizing her up with obvious astonishment, presumably at the news of her becoming the top scorer.

Jiang Li ignored all this and continued walking in.

Upon entering, she found Jiang Yuanbai was also there.

Not just Jiang Yuanbai, but his brothers Jiang Yuanxing and Jiang Yuanping were also present, with Lady Yang and Lady Lu engaged in conversation.

The people from all three branches of the Jiang Family had gathered together at this moment.

This was indeed rare.