Chapter 36: Victory
What Ji Chen Shi and Ji Shuran were discussing, Jiang Li did not know. However, she was well aware that today's incident—facing Ji Shuran's false accusations and her own countermeasures—had clearly laid their conflict out in the open. Judging from Ji Shuran's past actions toward Second Miss Jiang, she was not a broad-minded person. With the conflict escalating, Ji Shuran was bound to employ more severe tactics.
Jiang Li was not afraid.
In the past, when she was with Xue Huaiyuan, he never avoided discussing political matters with her and occasionally even sought her opinion. Jiang Li was not a timid person. Having died once and experienced her family's destruction at the hands of someone she trusted, she now carried a resolve within her, ready to destroy everything together if necessary.
She returned to Fragrant Garden Courtyard and had barely rested for half an hour when an uninvited guest arrived.
Jiang Jingrui, carrying a cricket cage, came uninvited to Fragrant Garden Courtyard for tea.
The young master of the second branch was unruly and disobedient—neither Second Master Jiang Yuanping nor his wife Lu Shi could control him. Only occasionally would Jiang Jingrui listen to a word or two from Jiang Yuanbai. Yet, this second young master seemed rather familiar with Jiang Li.
Jiang Li invited him to sit and asked, "What brings you here?"
Jiang Jingrui found a teacup and had Tong'er pour tea for him without any hesitation. Tilting his head, he looked at Jiang Li and said, "You handled things quite brilliantly today. Jiang Youyao and Auntie were both outmaneuvered by you. I almost feel like applauding for you."
His words were rather impolite, and even Tong'er, who was pouring tea, grew somewhat angry. Although the young master from the second branch didn't seem hostile toward her mistress, his attitude sometimes showed a clear lack of regard for Jiang Li, which was why he spoke so casually.
"Words shouldn't be spoken carelessly," Jiang Li said calmly. "I only spoke the truth."
"Why are you keeping it from me?" Jiang Jingrui fiddled with the teacup on the table. "It's not like I'd go around telling people."
"Cousin, your words make it sound as though you and I are very close," Jiang Li said with a light laugh.
The moment "cousin" left her lips, Jiang Jingrui's expression shifted slightly. He looked directly at Jiang Li and asked, "Jiang Li, what do you mean by that?"
"Was there something wrong with what I said?" Jiang Li's smile held a trace of peculiar mockery. "Earlier, when I was accused in the courtyard of cursing Jiang Youyao, I asked if anyone believed me. In the entire Jiang residence, Madam Liu and Tong'er believed me. I recall that you, cousin, were not among them." She continued, "If we were truly close, no matter what, you would have at least shown a little faith in me. So, I say, you and I are not that familiar after all."
Jiang Jingrui's face flushed bright red. Meanwhile, Tong'er found the exchange immensely satisfying. It was true—acting all familiar as if he were on Jiang Li's side, yet when it came down to it, he didn't dare utter a word. He wasn't even as reliable as an unrelated outsider. How could someone like that be considered close?
Jiang Jingrui was always glib and skilled at arguing, but just as he was about to retort, he met Jiang Li's gaze and swallowed his words, unable to say anything.
Jiang Li's eyes were like clear stream water, utterly transparent, as if all lies in the world would be exposed within them. Suddenly, Jiang Jingrui felt a wave of shame and sat as if on pins and needles.He considered himself on good terms with Jiang Li and had even reminded her before, feeling he had done his utmost. Yet he never expected Jiang Li to ask so bluntly, "Why aren't you on my side?" Her frankness made him seem like a petty person instead.
"Cousin, I completely understand your unwillingness to offend Mother for my sake. Everyone in the Jiang residence knows the importance of self-preservation, and I don't blame you for it. However, please refrain from claiming closeness with me in the future. I dislike superficial pleasantries," Jiang Li spoke unhurriedly.
Jiang Jingrui found her words extremely grating and didn't know how to respond. Jiang Li was clearly mocking him for lacking courage and not standing up for her. Being a hot-blooded young man who had been pampered since childhood, he couldn't accept such humiliation. He immediately retorted, "I get it! Stop speaking in that sarcastic tone. I won't come here anymore!" With that, he slammed his teacup onto the table and stormed off in anger.
Tong'er was startled and complained, "Why does Second Young Master have such a fiery temper?" Then she turned to Jiang Li, "Miss, did you provoke him too much?"
"Jiang Jingrui isn't a bad person at heart," Jiang Li tapped her cup lightly. "Though selfish, he's not cold-blooded—otherwise he wouldn't have warned me earlier. In influential families like ours, interests are complex and everyone must consider consequences. I understand his actions, but I don't like them."
Perhaps because Xue Huaiyuan had taught her to distinguish right from wrong since childhood, Jiang Li particularly disliked such people. They weren't entirely good nor completely evil, making them complicated and unsettling.
"By saying this, either he'll despise me completely and cut ties, or he'll feel guilty and stop remaining neutral about my affairs. This way, his stance becomes clear rather than ambiguous. Keeping someone with vague loyalties around is always risky—you never know when they might stab you in the back."
Tong'er nodded, only half-understanding. "Miss makes sense. Otherwise, Xiang Qiao wouldn't have suffered the consequences of her own actions today."
Ever since returning from Elegant Beauty Garden that day, Xiang Qiao had been secretly fiddling with Jiang Li's jewelry box, occasionally showing reluctant expressions. When Tong'er reported this, Jiang Li guessed Ji Shuran was planning something for the Hair-pinning ceremony. Given Second Miss Jiang's history of matricide and fratricide, Ji Shuran's intentions weren't hard to deduce.
Jiang Li had Tong'er bribe an outsider to spread word about a craftsman skilled at making counterfeits. As expected, Xiang Qiao sought out the craftsman to swap the jewelry. Jiang Li then had Tong'er speak ill of Xiang Qiao in front of Yun Shuang, mentioning how Xiang Qiao had received many rewards from Jiang Li. Consumed by envy and learning about Jiang Li's countermove, Yun Shuang decided to help Jiang Li eliminate Xiang Qiao by going along with the plan.
When Xiang Qiao was caught, Jiang Li's remark to Yun Shuang made Ji Shuran suspicious. Everything proceeded smoothly: Yun Shuang helped Jiang Li deal with Xiang Qiao, Ji Shuran helped Jiang Li eliminate Yun Shuang, and even replaced all the servants in Fragrant Garden Courtyard—resolving the issue permanently.
The greed of Xiang Qiao, the envy of Yun Shuang, and the suspicion of Ji Shuran formed interlocking links, each indispensable. What Jiang Li exploited was precisely the malice in human nature.Human nature is the hardest to fathom, yet the easiest to manipulate. With just a little enticement, one can achieve their goal.
The seed for all this was planted from the moment Jiang Li gave Xiang Qiao her first hairpin.
The hunter laid the trap from the very beginning, and in the end, the prey was caught.
In this game, Jiang Li emerged victorious.
(End of Chapter)
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