Chapter 22: An Acquaintance
After meeting Jiang Youyao and Jiang Jingrui, Jiang Li spent considerable time familiarizing herself with every corner of the Jiang residence.
The Jiang family had deep roots and an expansive estate, but fortunately, Jiang Li possessed an excellent memory. Back in Tongxiang, although the magistrate's residence was small, she had loved accompanying Xue Huaiyuan on his official duties, roaming every alley until she became adept at navigation.
The following days passed with unexpected tranquility. Beyond daily encounters with Xiang Qiao's flattery and Yun Shuang's bossy demeanor, nothing noteworthy occurred. What felt peculiar was that neither Old Madam Jiang nor the second and third branches sought her out after that initial chance meeting—not even her father, Jiang Yuanbai, bothered with superficial gestures. Within the Jiang household, Jiang Li seemed utterly insignificant, as if she had been retrieved only to be neglected, destined to fade from memory entirely before long.
No—she was already forgotten.
Since others showed her no regard, Jiang Li saw no need to force camaraderie. She pretended nothing was amiss, avoiding visits to the matriarch and having Tong'er bring meals to her Fragrant Garden Courtyard, maintaining an out-of-sight, out-of-mind existence.
Yet conflicts don't vanish through avoidance; this calm was merely the prelude to coming storms.
One morning, after rain cleared the skies, a rare coolness replaced the usual swelter. After breakfast, Jiang Li informed Xiang Qiao of her plan to go out.
Yun Shuang stood farther away, eavesdropping discreetly as Xiang Qiao asked, "Second Young Lady, why the sudden outing?"
"I've been back for half a month, cooped up indoors. It's stifling," Jiang Li replied. "I've no idea how Yanjing City has changed these years and wish to stroll around." Before Xiang Qiao could respond, she added, "Besides, Third Sister's hair-pinning ceremony is soon—I can't arrive empty-handed."
Xiang Qiao's eyes darted. "Are you selecting a gift for Third Young Lady?"
"Indeed," Jiang Li smiled. "And perhaps browsing for other novelties."
Xiang Qiao's heart itched with anticipation. If she accompanied Jiang Li shopping, rewards might follow. Though raised in a nunnery, this second young lady was remarkably generous—whether out of foolishness or inheriting her late mother Ye Zhenzhen's spendthrift nature, her daily tips were lavish. In just half a month, Xiang Qiao had received nearly a year's worth of jewelry.
Feigning concern, she probed, "Second Young Lady, your recent expenses…"
"The silver Grandmother gave me remains untouched," Jiang Li interjected cheerfully. "It'll suffice for decent purchases."
Xiang Qiao realized Jiang Li had gifted jewelry but conserved cash—though silver paled next to jewels. Not one to sabotage her own gains, she swallowed dissuasion and chirped, "In that case, this servant will accompany you. Having shopped with Third Young Lady before, I know Yanjing's finest stores."Yun Shuang was somewhat displeased with Xiang Qiao's reaction when Jiang Li spoke up, saying, "Very well, Tong'er, you'll accompany me too. Thank you for your trouble, Sister Xiang Qiao."
She had deliberately or inadvertently ignored Yun Shuang.
With two maids already sufficient, Yun Shuang naturally wouldn't follow along. Although Yun Shuang had never intended to accommodate this second young lady from the start, Jiang Li's current actions seemed to clearly indicate one thing: Jiang Li didn't think much of Yun Shuang either.
After Jiang Li and Xiang Qiao left the room together, Yun Shuang spat angrily and headed straight to Ji Shuran's side in the Elegant Beauty Garden.
When Jiang Li went out, the gatekeepers were somewhat nervous. Fortunately, Xiang Qiao was very familiar with them and chatted warmly with the gatekeepers for a few words before having two guards accompany the Jiang family carriage out.
Perhaps because Jiang Li wasn't considered important, the number of guards was pitifully small - which happened to suit Jiang Li's preference for not having too many people around.
Once outside the Jiang residence, Tong'er breathed a sigh of relief. She had been feeling stifled during her time at the Jiang residence, afraid of causing trouble for Jiang Li, living each day with extreme caution as if treading on thin ice. Now that they were out, even the usually disagreeable Xiang Qiao didn't seem so detestable.
Xiang Qiao didn't beat around the bush either, saying as soon as they left: "Second Young Lady, this servant knows that the best jewelry shop in Yanjing is Jixiang Pavilion."
"Then let's go to Jixiang Pavilion," Jiang Li agreed with unusual ease.
Actually, Jiang Li's maternal grandmother's family, the Ye family, had started with jewelry business. Although not as prestigious as Jixiang Pavilion, they focused on quantity. Later as the Ye family's commercial enterprises expanded more and more, they paid less attention to the jewelry sector.
When they arrived at Jixiang Pavilion, the shop assistant who saw Xiang Qiao greeted her warmly. But when he noticed Jiang Li beside her, he was taken aback and blurted out: "This honored guest..."
Usually Xiang Qiao came with Ji Shuran and Jiang Youyao, but today Xiang Qiao was accompanying a young lady alone. This young lady clearly arrived in the Jiang family carriage, yet her face was completely unfamiliar. The assistant wondered to himself - if not a Jiang family concubine-born daughter, perhaps she was some relative of the Jiang family.
Just as he was thinking this, he saw Xiang Qiao wearing a strange expression, hesitating for a moment before awkwardly saying: "This is our residence's Second Young Lady."
When the assistant first heard "Second Young Lady," he didn't immediately react, maintaining his enthusiastic smile while wondering when the Jiang family had gained a Second Young Lady. But when he saw Jiang Li's face, he suddenly understood and nearly choked on his own saliva.
Second Young Lady? The Jiang family's Second Young Lady who poisoned her stepmother and legitimate brother and was sent to the nunnery for moral cultivation!
She wasn't the ferocious, ghost-faced figure from rumors, nor the sharp-tongued, vicious fighter from imagination. The girl before him wore a moon-white silk dress with a jade-colored blouse, her makeup simple and neat. She was tilting her head slightly to look at him, as if finding him quite interesting, with a faint smile at the corner of her lips.
Clear and gentle, with delicate and charming features - she was clearly a fairy maiden or jade child from beneath the Bodhisattva's seat.
Good heavens, how could this be the Jiang family's Second Young Lady?
The assistant felt his head spinning dizzily, unable to process anything clearly. Tong'er frowned and said angrily: "Young man, do you not intend to welcome customers?"
The assistant immediately snapped back to attention, apologizing repeatedly while stealing glances at Jiang Li. Seeing that Jiang Li still wore a gentle smile without any sign of anger, his previously clear mind suddenly became confused again.As he ushered the group into the shop, he thought to himself, why were there so few customers today? At the moment, there wasn't a single patron in the main hall. Otherwise, if other guests were present, they would surely be just as astonished as he was to see how vicious Second Miss Jiang had grown to look!
Jiang Li and her party entered Jixiang Lou. Not far across from it stood a magnificent building, resplendent and dazzling, with ethereal music drifting through the air.
By the window upstairs sat two figures. One of them remarked, "Look, it's the Jiang family."
Opposite, a hand with distinct knuckles poured tea gracefully from a delicate pot—the fingers so porcelain-white they outshone the teapot itself.
"Oh," came the reply, tinged with lazy amusement. "An acquaintance."
The beauty has come out to watch the show again ╮(╯▽╰)╭
(End of chapter)
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