Chapter 54: Settled
“You want to become an official?”
Ye Shijie was momentarily speechless. Jiang Li’s gaze was too piercingly clear, almost giving him an illusion of stark clarity. He immediately averted his eyes and grunted in response.
Truthfully, this was not something he should have discussed with her. After all, Jiang Li had once regarded the Ye family as enemies. Yet, inexplicably, he felt that she was someone he could trust.
“Outstanding performance in the Imperial College examinations can lead to an official appointment,” Jiang Li said. “But since you’ve come from Xiangyang to pursue an official career, does that mean Grandmother and the others will eventually move here as well?”
Ye Shijie was taken aback that Jiang Li had deduced this. “They might relocate once things are stable here,” he replied.
“Moving here has its advantages and disadvantages,” Jiang Li explained thoughtfully. “Establishing a foothold in the capital would bring prestige to the Ye family. If one or two of its younger members enter officialdom, the family could secure its future for a century. However, once you move to the capital, there will be envy, and the Ye family will also face greater risks.”
Ye Shijie stared at her strangely. “You’ve given this quite some thought,” he remarked. He knew Jiang Li had only recently returned to Yanjing City. When she was sent to the nunnery years ago, Old Madam Ye had fallen ill from worry, yet he had felt a sense of satisfaction at the time, believing Jiang Li to be utterly heartless.
After eight years away, she had just returned to the capital, yet she spoke about the power dynamics in Yanjing as if she understood them thoroughly.
Jiang Li smiled. “I am, after all, from Yanjing.”
Ye Shijie scoffed. “Are people from Yanjing City inherently superior? Ridiculous.”
Knowing that her cousin’s hostility toward her would not dissipate anytime soon, Jiang Li was not offended. Instead, a sudden thought occurred to her. “Admission to the Imperial College requires a recommendation. Since no one in the Ye family holds an official position, how did you manage to enroll?”
“Why do you ask?” Ye Shijie retorted.
Jiang Li found his attitude somewhat odd but replied calmly, “Just curious.”
“The second young master of the Right Prime Minister’s household recommended me,” Ye Shijie finally answered.
“The Right Prime Minister?” Jiang Li was puzzled. “How is the Ye family connected to him?”
As it happened, the current Right Prime Minister was Jiang Yuanbai’s archrival. Li Zhongnan’s rise to power had occurred in recent years. Initially, he had been promoted by Jiang Yuanbai, but for unknown reasons, his influence had grown exponentially, nearly reaching a point where he could rival Jiang Yuanbai. By then, it was too late for Jiang Yuanbai to regret his decision, and he had no choice but to confront Li Zhongnan.
Thus, hearing Ye Shijie mention Li Zhongnan struck Jiang Li as very strange.
“Li Lian, the second son of Li Zhongnan, once visited relatives near Xiangyang and got entangled in a legal dispute. I happened to pass by and helped him out. Later, when he learned I was from the Ye family, he offered to recommend me for admission to the Imperial College.”
For the Ye family, gaining entry to the Imperial College was like a dream come true. If Ye Shijie could secure an official position through his studies there, it would significantly elevate the family’s status. Therefore, he had readily accepted Li Lian’s offer.
After hearing Ye Shijie’s explanation, Jiang Li felt uneasy. Leaving aside other considerations, was Li Lian truly the type to repay a favor so generously just because Ye Shijie had helped him? Was he really that grateful?Jiang Li knew that when Shen Yurong first achieved the top scholar title and was riding high on success, he had put in considerable effort to understand the temperaments of his future court colleagues. Right Prime Minister Li Zhongnan had two sons: the elder was widely praised as a talented young man, while the second son, Li Lian, was clearly a wicked and profligate scoundrel. For such a wastrel to play the gratitude card instinctively struck Jiang Li as wrong.
Perhaps because she sensed something amiss, her thoughts delved deeper. Jiang Li suddenly recalled that Liu Zimin, who had troubled Ye Shijie yesterday, was one of Li Lian’s cronies and very close to him.
If Li Lian truly wished to repay Ye Shijie, he wouldn’t have failed to even mention Ye Shijie’s name to Liu Zimin. Knowing Ye Shijie’s connection to Li Lian, how would Liu Zimin dare cause trouble for him?
Unless Li Lian was aware of Liu Zimin’s harassment of Ye Shijie—perhaps even condoning it, or worse, instigating it.
But why would Li Lian do this?
In that brief moment, Jiang Li had considered every possibility she could imagine.
Unaware of Jiang Li’s thoughts, Ye Shijie noticed her distraction and asked, “What are you thinking?”
“Cousin,” Jiang Li said seriously, “Li Lian is a man of ill intent with an extremely poor reputation in Yanjing City. If you wish to enter officialdom, it’s best not to associate with him. Otherwise, if you’re implicated, it’s one thing for you alone, but the Ye family would suffer a greater loss.”
Ye Shijie’s expression turned grave. “Do you know something?”
What a sharp young man, Jiang Li thought admiringly, but since she hadn’t yet figured out Li Lian’s motives herself, she couldn’t speculate recklessly. She could only hint cautiously, “Not yet, but given Li Lian’s nature, he’s certainly not the type to repay kindness so sincerely. Therefore, his recommendation for you to enter the Imperial College might have other reasons behind it. Cousin Ye, you’re the one who will shoulder the Ye family’s responsibilities in the future. You must be prudent in all matters. As for people like Li Lian, keep your distance whenever possible.”
“You…”
Before Ye Shijie could speak, Jiang Li added, “Liu Zimin and Li Lian are close friends. You saw Liu Zimin’s character yesterday—birds of a feather flock together. Think about it.”
A flicker in Ye Shijie’s eyes told Jiang Li he had grasped her implied meaning.
“And what about you?” Ye Shijie asked. “What are your intentions? Even if you say yesterday was unintentional, in our Ye family’s business, we value clear accounts—no debts owed. You helped me; what price do you want? Do you want to reconcile with the Ye family?”
Tong’er, standing by in attendance, nearly jumped in indignation at his words. The young master of the Ye family spoke so harshly, as if Jiang Li were some scheming merchant.
“Why would I need your help to reconcile with the Ye family?” Jiang Li smiled dismissively and spread her hands toward Ye Shijie.
Ye Shijie looked at the delicate hand extended before him—slender fingers like scallion tips, fair and tender, yet… he also noticed the calluses between Jiang Li’s fingers.
Ye Shijie was taken aback, suddenly remembering that Jiang Li had spent eight years in a nunnery. Eight years—she was just a young girl then, who knew how much hardship she had endured? Despite his sharp tongue, his heart was soft, and at the sight of this, he unconsciously felt a pang of sympathy.But then Jiang Li's unhurried voice was heard: "Since Cousin Ye insists I have ulterior motives, if I keep refusing everything, you'd feel uneasy too. So please give it to me."
"Give what?" Ye Shijie frowned.
"Silver, of course." Jiang Li spoke as if it were the most natural thing. "One hundred taels of silver. Your Ye family does business, so you should be familiar with the term 'transaction completed upon payment'."
Hey, it's April now, my dear treasures, Happy April Fools' Day!
Spring is truly wonderful n(≧▽≦)n
(End of Chapter)
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