The Double-Chapter 680 - 210: Goodbye

The Yin siblings’ family banquet at the Jiang Family could be counted as a joyous occasion for both guests and hosts. The siblings were interesting speakers, full of both humor and propriety, and also very patient. It was no secret that The Late Emperor sending Zhaode General to the harsh, cold lands of the Northwest wasn’t considered a desirable assignment. However, when Jiang Yuanping inquired about their life in Yunzhong, neither sibling displayed a hint of resentment or discontent in their tone; instead, they spoke as if they relished their life, appearing quite content with their situation.

It’s rare to find people who can be content amidst adversity, and even rarer are those who can find joy in hardship. As Jiang Li observed the increasing satisfaction in the eyes of Madam Jiang the Elder and Lady Lu, she became increasingly silent.

Yin Zhili didn’t make any deliberate moves to get close to her, maintaining a friendly yet respectful distance, as though he was dealing with a friend, which made any potential displeasure difficult to foster. Jiang Li was familiar with this feeling, much like the way Ye Shijie and Wen Renyao behaved around her, or even, Yin Zhili was better at it, making it more comfortable for others.

But Jiang Li still understood the difference between a friend and a husband.

As evening approached and the Yin siblings prepared to take their leave, Jiang Li escorted them out. Upon her return to Night Wind Hall, only Madam Jiang the Elder and Lady Lu were present.

Madam Jiang the Elder gestured, "Tonger, come here."

Jiang Li walked inside.

She already knew what Madam Jiang the Elder wanted to discuss; the men had left the room, clearly because what they were about to discuss wasn’t meant for male ears.

Lady Lu looked at Jiang Li gleefully and asked, "Jiang Li, after meeting the Crown Prince today, he truly lives up to his reputation. Not only is he handsome, but he’s also gentle and courteous. He seems like a good child, right, Mother? What do you think?"

"The Prince of Xia County certainly knows how to raise his children well; this pair of siblings are both quite outstanding," Madam Jiang the Elder observed Jiang Li, "Tonger, what do you think of the Crown Prince?"

Jiang Li responded indifferently, "Grandmother, what kind of person the Crown Prince is, does it have anything to do with me?" frёeweɓηovel.coɱ

Both women in the room were taken aback while Bai Xue and Tonger exchanged confused glances by the door.

Lady Lu cleared her throat lightly and said, "Jiang Li, you’ve always been intelligent, how come you’re confused about this? How can the Crown Prince not be related to you, you..." She didn’t know how to continue her sentence. With nothing set in stone, voicing her thoughts could needlessly damage Jiang Li’s reputation.

Madam Jiang the Elder, however, detected something amiss. Jiang Li was too clever not to notice the Jiang family members’ intentions with her question, which was unusually contrary. It was known that even if Jiang Li was stubborn at heart, she at least appeared docile and obedient on the surface, her emotions never betraying her composure, even in the worst situations she could maintain a serene, smiling demeanor. It was this equanimity that Madam Jiang the Elder appreciated about Jiang Li.

Yet today, she didn’t even offer a superficial, courteous smile and was almost overtly resistant.

Why was that?

Madam Jiang the Elder asked softly, "Tonger, then do you think there’s something not good about the Crown Prince?"

"Grandmother, as I’ve said before, whether the Crown Prince is good or bad is irrelevant to me, nor is it my place to judge him," Jiang Li’s tone remained calm but carried an imperceptible coolness as she said, "However, from the Jiang Family’s perspective, it’s not advisable to have too much interaction with the Yin Household. His Majesty already harbors suspicions about the Jiang Family, and no one can see clearly the current momentum of the Yin Household. Caution is the parent of safety, and I still believe that the Jiang Family should not seek trouble for itself."

Her words left Lady Lu speechless; she exclaimed, "Oh, Jiang Li, that’s going too far, it’s not that serious..." Jiang Yuanping had not spoken to her about such matters, and while she thought Jiang Li might be overstating the situation, seeing Jiang Li’s earnest expression, she subconsciously felt there might be some truth to it. Thus, she halted her speech and looked helplessly towards Madam Jiang the Elder.

Madam Jiang the Elder gazed at Jiang Li deeply before saying, "Tonger, are you truly saying these things out of consideration for the Jiang Family?"

"If Grandmother doesn’t believe me, there’s nothing I can do."

"I’m just afraid you may have developed some inappropriate thoughts," Madam Jiang the Elder said.

Jiang Li smiled faintly, offering no counter, as there seemed little point in doing so. Even if the Jiang Family truly wished for her to marry Yin Zhili, Jiang Li believed it was not the time to show eagerness; at least they should wait until after Prince Cheng’s matter was resolved and see what kind of stance Yin Zhan would take.