The Double-Chapter 418 - 139: Meeting

The next morning, Jiang Li had not yet managed to visit Night Wind Hall to greet Madam Jiang the Elder when an unexpected guest arrived at Fangfei Garden.

Jiang Yuanbai came.

Qingfeng and Ming Yue were sweeping the courtyard when they saw Jiang Yuanbai. They were greatly surprised and were just about to go inform someone when Jiang Yuanbai stopped them. Jiang Li got up a little later and he did not disturb her, but instead sat at the stone table in the courtyard outside Fangfei Garden, staring at the frost and snow-covered branches, lost in thought.

After Jiang Li got up and freshened up, what she saw was the scene of Jiang Yuanbai sitting alone.

Tonger and Bai Xue saluted first, and Jiang Yuanbai looked at Jiang Li. The corners of his mouth twitched as if he wanted to smile but didn’t know how to do it naturally and said, "Little Li."

Jiang Li nodded, "Father."

Her demeanor was polite yet distant, not like that towards a father, but more like towards an elder from someone else’s family. A trace of disappointment flashed in Jiang Yuanbai’s eyes, and then he began to mock himself.

The situation had reached this point; he truly couldn’t expect too much from Jiang Li. When she was framed by Ji Shuran and sent to Green City Mountain, he, as a father, didn’t notice the truth and, by aiding and abetting, pushed his daughter away from himself. Now, wanting to make up for it, but it was already too late.

Jiang Li had grown up, and her estrangement was entirely of his own making. Jiang Yuanbai didn’t even have the right to doubt.

But he still wanted to do something. He said, "You haven’t eaten yet, have you? Shall we eat together?"

Jiang Li glanced at him, and in Jiang Yuanbai’s eyes, there actually flashed a tinge of anxious hope. Jiang Li’s heart softened a little and she said, "Sure."

Jiang Yuanbai was overjoyed beyond expectation.

The maids serving nearby witnessed this scene, all finding it hard to believe. Jiang Li had once been the abandoned daughter of the Jiang Family, neglected for many years. Now, Jiang Yuanbai was valuing her to this extent.

Jiang Li, however, felt that it was just retribution, what had been done in the past, in the end, fate would secretly tally the price. Now it was time for Jiang Yuanbai to pay his debts.

During the meal, Jiang Yuanbai watched for Jiang Li’s preferences. Indeed, Jiang Li had changed from before; her dietary habits were completely different from those of the little Jiang Li of her childhood days. Jiang Yuanbai recalled what Jiang Li had said in front of Chongxu Daoist Master about her eight years on Green City Mountain, and he felt even these sumptuous dishes difficult to swallow.

"About the other day..." Jiang Yuanbai said, "You..."

"After the Daoist Master performed the exorcism, I lost consciousness, vaguely heard someone talking, but knew nothing. When I woke up, Bai Xue told me what had happened afterward." Jiang Li’s voice remained calm and soft, "I was surprised, it turns out that what Chongxu Daoist Master said was true, I really was haunted by evil spirits."

"What Daoist Master," Jiang Yuanbai sneered, "nothing but a trickster playing at gods and ghosts. Once things went south, he showed his true colors!"

Jiang Li looked at Jiang Yuanbai in astonishment, "A trickster? Father, the emperor has personally recognized him."

"Even the emperor can be mistaken."

Jiang Li hesitated, "Will father tell the emperor about this?"

"Of course," Jiang Yuanbai said, "I can’t be complicit with a trickster guilty of deceiving the emperor."

"But this is after all a private matter of the Imperial Family. If father gets involved... Aren’t you afraid the emperor might take offense?" Jiang Li asked.

Even Chongxu Daoist Master knew that the more secrets one is privy to, the harder life gets. Jiang Yuanbai must know that too. If Jiang Yuanbai were to tell Emperor Hongxiao about this matter, it would only serve to embarrass the emperor. The fact that the emperor was fooled by charlatans would become known to a minister, and in any case, it would become a thorn in the emperor’s side. ƒгeeweɓn૦vel.com

"This is the way of monarch and minister," Jiang Yuanbai said, "Even if the emperor takes offense, I must speak out."

Jiang Yuanbai’s words made Jiang Li look at him with newfound respect. She knew that Jiang Yuanbai was as cunning as an old fox. Although he had not sided with Prince Cheng, no matter how the emperor treated him or how much genuine loyalty Jiang Yuanbai had, he had at least fulfilled his duty as a minister and at the height of his power, had no thoughts of "rebellion."

Of course, even if the Jiang Family truly had such intentions, they would have only died faster. Jiang Li hadn’t been entirely clear about this before, but now she understood perfectly. Jih Heng would not allow the Jiang Family to upset the balance; he needed a stable situation to plot his schemes.

"Then... about madam, how does father plan to deal with her?" Jiang Li still asked.

Jiang Yuanbai was visibly shaken. In fact, he had been waiting for Jiang Li to ask this question, but when Jiang Li actually did, his heart was filled with an array of complex emotions. After a moment of silence, he said, "She committed an unforgivable act and deserves to be punished."