The Double

Chapter 38 Enlightenment

Perhaps because she had been admonished by Old Madam Jiang, Ji Shuran remained silent throughout Jiang Li's selection of new maids. The entire process was accompanied by Old Madam Jiang's personal maids, Zhenzhu and Feicui. Of course, Jiang Li understood that whichever maids she selected would likely be quickly reported to Ji Shuran.

However, the newly reorganized Fragrant Garden Courtyard was temporarily beyond Ji Shuran's reach.

These past few days, the Jiang residence had been relatively peaceful.

In the Elegant Beauty Garden, Jiang Yuanbai returned from court with a slightly furrowed brow, allowing Ji Shuran to remove his outer robe for him.

Although Jiang Yuanbai served as the Grand Secretary, his inner courtyard was considerably more tranquil compared to his colleagues. When Ye Zhenzhen was still alive, there were only two maids sent by Old Madam Jiang to serve as bedchamber attendants. Later, one of them became pregnant and was elevated to concubine status. After Ye Zhenzhen died from illness, that concubine passed away early due to excessive grief over her daughter's premature death. By the time Ji Shuran entered the household, there was only one bedchamber attendant left in the main branch.

This attendant had previously been Old Madam Jiang's personal maid - steady in temperament and non-confrontational, she was practically decorative in the Jiang residence. After Ji Shuran's arrival, she proactively promoted this attendant to become Concubine Zhao. Childless throughout, Concubine Zhao devoted herself wholeheartedly to serving Ji Shuran after her arrival, behaving more like a servant than a concubine.

Thus, Ji Shuran's position in the main household remained unshakable.

Although Old Madam Jiang had previously expressed dissatisfaction with Jiang Yuanbai's sparse offspring, when eight-year-old Jiang Li pushed Ji Shuran causing a miscarriage, Ji Shuran not only held no grudge but pleaded for Jiang Li's forgiveness, making Old Madam Jiang feel indebted to her. Later, when Ji Shuran gave birth to Jiang Bingji, Old Madam Jiang ceased all complaints.

After all, as the Grand Secretary, Jiang Yuanbai had many eyes in court watching his every move. Numerous offspring in the inner courtyard meant complicated family relations, and having multiple concubines wasn't necessarily advantageous. As long as the main branch had one male heir, it was better not to be greedy for more.

With Old Madam Jiang's tacit approval and Jiang Yuanbai's affection, Ji Shuran flourished like a fish in water. Her own children received the utmost pampering. Over the years, among the sisters-in-law, Yang Shi went without saying, but even Lu Shi had to defer to her.

Yet all this was disrupted by Jiang Li's return to the residence. Within less than a month of Jiang Li's return, Ji Shuran had suffered several setbacks. This time, even the usually lenient Old Madam Jiang had become angry. Ji Shuran couldn't help feeling resentful.

After putting away Jiang Yuanbai's outer robe, Ji Shuran handed him a cup of cooled tea and asked softly, "Why does my lord look so troubled? Is something weighing on your mind?"

Jiang Yuanbai looked up at her.

Ji Shuran's features were exquisitely refined. Unlike Ye Zhenzhen's simple, vague roundness, Ji Shuran resembled a cultured young lady properly raised in a scholarly family - every word and gesture was as pleasing as a painting. Jiang Yuanbai's gaze fell upon Ji Shuran's fingers, where tender fingertips showed a small injury. In the basket beside the table lay unfinished needlework.

Ji Shuran was making clothes for him.

Jiang Yuanbai's heart softened, and his recent displeasure with Ji Shuran vanished in that moment. Taking her hand, he chided, "How did you get injured? You should leave these tasks to the servants."Ji Shuran smiled and said, "Husband has forgotten, I never entrust your intimate garments to anyone else."

Jiang Yuanbai looked at her. Seeing her gentle, timid smile, he felt a pang of guilt for having deliberately cold-shouldered her these past days due to the incident at the hair-pinning ceremony. He said, "You've worked hard."

"I haven't worked hard at all. It is you, husband, who truly bears the burdens," Ji Shuran replied.

Jiang Yuanbai sighed with emotion. He had two wives. The first, Ye Zhenzhen, was not his own choice but selected for him by Old Madam Jiang. At that time, his career was flourishing, but he had many enemies at court. Old Madam Jiang believed it best for him to keep a low profile and marry a woman from a less prominent family. The Ye family, with their vast wealth and extensive connections, was ideal—yet since they weren't an official family, they wouldn't attract jealousy.

Jiang Yuanbai complied with his mother's wishes and married Ye Zhenzhen. She was naive and lively, untouched by worldly hardships. Though she couldn't share his worries, they got along well enough.

After Ye Zhenzhen passed away, Jiang Yuanbai took notice of Ji Shuran, daughter of the Vice Metropolitan Inspector-General, at a banquet. That night, Ji Shuran astonished everyone with her performance—elegant and graceful, she captured Jiang Yuanbai's heart in an instant.

If Ye Zhenzhen was the wife chosen by Old Madam Jiang, then Ji Shuran was the one Jiang Yuanbai had chosen himself. Whether in affection or favoritism, he leaned more toward Ji Shuran. Even when she made mistakes, Jiang Yuanbai forgave her quickly. Moreover, over the years, Ji Shuran had managed the household impeccably.

Jiang Yuanbai sighed and said, "Today, during the ebb tide, Vice Director Liu Yuanfeng spoke with me."

Ji Shuran's hand tightened around her teacup, though her smile remained as she inquired, "Minister Liu? He usually has little contact with you, husband. Was there some matter?"

"When Ye Zhenzhen was still alive, Liu Yuanfeng's wife was close to her and often visited. Liu Yuanfeng came about Li'er," Jiang Yuanbai explained. "He reminded me that since Li'er has returned to the capital, we should find her a tutor to teach her reading and etiquette."

Thinking of this, Jiang Yuanbai felt a headache coming on. Back when Jiang Li committed a grave mistake and was sent to the nunnery, she stayed for a full eight years—precisely the prime time for enlightenment education. Now, after so much time had passed, she certainly had no teacher in the nunnery to instruct her in reading or studies.

He was the Grand Secretary, the emperor's tutor, the foremost minister of the court, a man of profound learning—yet his own legitimate daughter was an illiterate ignoramus. If this got out, wouldn't it be a laughingstock?

Though Liu Yuanfeng's words weren't pleasant, upon deeper reflection, they weren't entirely without merit. So Jiang Yuanbai considered finding a tutor to teach Jiang Li some basics.

Hearing this, Ji Shuran relaxed and smiled, "I thought it was something serious, but it's just this. Husband, there's no need to worry too much. While the world values talent, it is more lenient toward women. Li'er is no longer young; even if she starts learning now, she likely won't achieve much. Why not hire tutors in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting? A little guidance in each, just enough to get by, would suffice. This way, when it's time for her to marry, her future in-laws will think more highly of her."

"You make a good point," Jiang Yuanbai said. "But to only learn the surface of each skill—how can a daughter of the Jiang family be like that...""Master," Ji Shuran said with a smile, "one should not be absolute in all matters. Ali had never learned to read before. If you are too strict and set excessively high demands, I fear it may backfire."

After careful consideration, Jiang Yuanbai nodded and said, "Let's proceed accordingly."

Ali: Hmph, I used to be a top student, you fools╭(╯^╰)╮

(End of Chapter)