The Double-Chapter 58 - 56 The Musicians

58: Chapter 56 The Musicians

58 -56 The Musicians

When she came out of the teahouse, Jiang Li was carrying a silver note for an additional one hundred taels of silver.

Tonger followed by Jiang Li’s side, hesitating to speak.

Seeing her like this, Jiang Li said, “If you have something to say, just say it.”

“Miss, if you are short of silver, you can go to the old madam or the master…

why ask Young Master Cousin Ye?

Although Young Master Cousin Ye is indeed related to you, he is ultimately an outsider.

If word gets out…”

“He’s not the type to gossip,” Jiang Li said.

“Moreover, taking one hundred taels of silver from him is also buying his peace of mind.”

“This servant does not understand.”

“Cousin Ye thinks I helped him yesterday with an ulterior motive.

Although we’ve had a discussion just now and his suspicions have somewhat abated, past misunderstandings don’t just vanish into thin air.

It’s only natural for him not to fully trust me.

Rather than letting him overthink, it’s better to take a sum of silver from him, treating this matter as a transaction.

It will make him feel much more at ease.

At the least, he won’t interact with me with a sense of indebtedness.”

Tonger nodded thoughtfully, then suddenly thought of something and looked at Jiang Li, “Will Miss continue to associate with Young Master Cousin Ye from the Ye Family in the future?”

“Of course,” Jiang Li said.

“You see the difference now between having the support of a maternal family and not having one.

Jiang Youyao acts without fear, whereas I am alone and unsupported in the Jiang Family.

Although the Ye Family is not an official family, they are by no means weaker than the Ji family.

Affairs in this world always require silver, and the Ye Family just happens not to lack it.

Even though their status is somewhat inferior, Ye Shijie is already preparing for an official career.

Just now, from the way he talked and his abilities, I could tell he’s no mediocre individual.

If he were to make a name for himself, he could certainly lead the Ye Family to prosperity and strength.”

“Miss is thinking of restoring the old ties with the Ye Family,” Tonger finally understood and asked, “But why didn’t Miss bring up this matter with Young Master Cousin Ye just now?

Miss helped Young Master Cousin Ye yesterday, and if today you suggested that Young Master Cousin Ye write a letter back to Xiangyang to speak a few good words for Miss at the Ye Family, Young Master Cousin Ye would certainly not refuse.”

Jiang Li smiled, “There’s no need for me to mention it; he will bring it up on his own.”

With his doubts about himself, Ye Shijie would surely write about the incident in Yanjing City to the Ye Family in Xiangyang.

Jiang Li was not worried that Ye Shijie would keep the Ye Family in the dark.

The tricky part was that the words spoken by Miss Jiang the Second in her youth to the Ye Family were truly too hurtful.

Anyone with a bit of pride would not easily forget such words.

To restore the old ties with them would be very difficult.

Jiang Li sighed inwardly.

With things as they were, she could only take one step at a time.

If she could restore relations with the Ye Family to what they once were, she would be able to return to Xiangyang under the pretense of visiting relatives.

What exactly had happened to her father in the end?

Xue Zhao’s ashes had not yet been returned to his hometown, which was not proper.

And who had taken care of her father’s affairs after he passed away?

Help from afar cannot quench an immediate thirst.

She must return to Xiangyang as soon as possible.

With these thoughts in her mind, Jiang Li arrived at Mingyi Hall.

The women in Mingyi Hall saw that Jiang Li and her maid had arrived and continued to speak freely about her.

Jiang Li heard snippets of discussion about how she had publicly put Liu Zimin to shame the day before.

Amongst the noble daughters of Yanjing City, such public confrontations were rarely heard of.

People generally agreed with what they understood and were perplexed by what they didn’t.

Jiang Li’s actions were seen by them as deviating from the norm, as shocking and scandalous.

They looked at Jiang Li as if she were an oddity, isolating her both intentionally and inadvertently.

Jiang Li paid no mind as she walked to her place and sat down.

However, today Liu Xu seemed a bit odd, even taking the initiative to greet her.

This was a bit fresh, and Jiang Li knew clearly in her heart that Liu Xu’s care for her came from Madam Liu’s instructions.

As for her true feelings, Liu Xu probably didn’t like her that much.

Yet today, Liu Xu unexpectedly took the initiative to engage with her, even her smile seemed genuine.

Liu Xu blushed for a moment before saying to Jiang Li, “I saw what happened yesterday at the gate of the Imperial College with Liu Zimin.”

“Oh?” Jiang Li smiled, “I was a bit out of line.” When in Rome, do as the Romans do.

Since the young ladies here considered speaking out for justice to be out of line, she had no intention of making a point of her aloofness.

“No, no, no,” Liu Xu rapidly repeated several “no’s,” then looked at Jiang Li earnestly and said, “Liu Zimin’s integrity is flawed, blatantly extorting and deceiving in broad daylight.

There were so many onlookers, yet you were the only one brave enough to speak the truth.

I admire your courage.”

Jiang Li was a little surprised.

“I had heard those rumors about you before and I wasn’t very friendly.

Now I know I couldn’t see clearly, nearly misunderstanding a good person.

Since you dared to stand up for someone you had never met, you are far more admirable than those who only know how to hide in the crowd and enjoy the drama.” She very straightforwardly bowed to Jiang Li, “I was wrong in the past. frёewebnoѵel.ƈo๓

Today I come to apologize and make amends.

I won’t behave that way from now on.”

Jiang Li smiled and said, “You have always been quite friendly to me.” After all, Liu Xu was the daughter of Madam Liu, but a very generous and introspective girl, a good girl.

Everyone likes a good girl, and Jiang Li liked her too.

Seeing Jiang Li’s carefree smile, Liu Xu couldn’t help but blush.

She said, “Yesterday, when you were discussing with Liu Zimin, it seemed you had quite some study on discerning the authenticity of fake goods.

Could you teach me as well?”

Jiang Li was momentarily startled, then said, “What’s so difficult about that?

I’ll teach you.”

When Xue Huaiyuan was serving as the county magistrate in Tongxiang, there was a case where someone went to the government office to file a complaint.

It was about a shop that sold paintings and calligraphy allegedly by masters but was accused of dealing in forgeries.

Those forgeries were much more sophisticated than the one Liu Zimin had yesterday; they were nearly indistinguishable from the real thing.

Neither side would give in, and, in the end, someone invited a master who happened to be visiting Tongxiang to discern the truth.

At that time, Jiang Li was still a playful child and sneaked into Xue Huaiyuan’s entourage to join them.

Later, when she was discovered, Xue Huaiyuan apologized, but Jiang Li found it amusing.

The master found her lovely and charming, and thus taught her some principles to distinguish between genuine and counterfeit items.

As the saying goes, a great teacher produces a worthy student.

Jiang Li could be considered a half-disciple of this master.

Her skill was not very advanced, but it wasn’t bad either.

The counterfeit that Liu Zimin brought yesterday wasn’t very clever, and with Jiang Li’s full knowledge of Liu Zimin’s character, it only took a few words to expose him.

She was explaining some keys to appreciating ancient paintings to Liu Xu when a teacher came in.

Jiang Li looked up and saw a slender woman dressed in a light purple gown with large sleeves and a narrow waist walking gracefully in.

The woman had delicate features, serene and amiable.

A young maid holding a long zither followed behind her; she was the teacher of Zither Music among the Six Arts.

Compared to Jin Luo, this teacher seemed to have a much better temperament, very gentle.

Jiang Li watched, smiling inwardly.

This woman could also be considered her “good friend” from the past, Yanjing City’s foremost female musician, Xiao Deyin.