The Double-Chapter 49 - 47 Liu Xu
49: Chapter 47 Liu Xu
49 -47 Liu Xu
Jiang Li’s appearance quieted the female students at Mingyi Hall.
If the rumors about Miss Jiang the Second were true, and she was either a coarse village girl from the mountains or a mean and domineering young lady, the crowd would have immediately drowned her with their unforgiving comments.
However, Jiang Li appeared no different from any well-mannered Official’s daughter, maybe even more gentle and kind, leaving them unsure where to even begin their criticism.
Finally, the tall girl who had been talking earlier took the lead and asked, “Are you the Second Miss of the Jiang Residence?”
Jiang Li looked up and recognized the girl.
She had seen her before at a family banquet at an official’s house, Miss Meng Hongjin from the Chengxuan Envoy’s Mansion, who was usually very close friends with Jiang Youyao.
Jiang Li replied, “Yes.”
“You actually dare to come to Mingyi Hall?” Meng Hongjin raised an eyebrow.
“I heard you’ve been at a temple since you were seven, where no one taught you the basics.
With such a background, instead of hiring a tutor at home, you come to Mingyi Hall without fear of being utterly confused by the lessons?”
These words were quite harsh, and everyone in the school turned their gaze to Jiang Li, waiting to see her reaction.
Meng Hongjin stared at Jiang Li too, but to her surprise, instead of the outburst she expected from others, and even more so from someone like the Chief Minister’s Daughter, Jiang Li simply smiled and said, “Then there’s no need for this Miss to worry.”
In an indifferent tone, she threw Meng Hongjin’s words right back at her.
Meng Hongjin hadn’t expected Jiang Li to react this way, feeling as if she’d punched cotton, her heart filled with smoldering anger.
Yet Jiang Li retained her smile, with no change in attitude.
Frustrated, Meng Hongjin “whispered” loud enough for everyone to hear, “No wonder they say it’s peaceful at the Family Temple, look at this pathetic sight.”
“If this Miss wishes for peace, she too can spend some time at the Family Temple,” Jiang Li murmured in response.
“You!” Meng Hongjin was furious, but Jiang Youyao started to intervene, “Second Sister, how can you talk to Hongjin like that?” She looked worried as she spoke to Meng Hongjin, “Hongjin, my Second Sister just returned to Yanjing and doesn’t understand the rules, sorry about that.”
Meng Hongjin said, “It’s nothing, besides, it’s your Second Sister’s fault.
Why are you apologizing?
Youyao, you’re just too soft-hearted, too easy to bully.”
Jiang Li glanced at Jiang Youyao and spoke calmly, “Third Sister, you’re really too soft-hearted.
I didn’t say anything, yet you’re already apologizing for me.
This Miss calls me pathetic, and not only am I not angry, but I also replied kindly.
Is that wrong too?”
Jiang Youyao was about to reply when Jiang Li spoke again, “I’ve heard that in some places, they don’t argue right and wrong based on reason but on status and position.
Is Mingyi Hall such a place too?
Clearly, I’m in the right, but I must admit defeat.
Perhaps it’s because this Miss’s status is so much higher than mine that I’m compelled to admit my mistake.
May I inquire what rank does this Miss’s father hold?”
The moment these words left her mouth, the entire school went silent.
Then, barely concealed smiles appeared on some of the students’ faces.
Meng Hongjin’s face turned bright red, and she couldn’t utter a word.
While Jiang Li accused them of being unreasonable, she shamed Meng Hongjin’s family background without hesitation.
Everyone knew that Jiang Li’s father was the current Grand Secretary, while Meng Hongjin’s father was the Chengxuan Envoy; the Envoy couldn’t compare to the Grand Secretary.
Jiang Li asked the question earnestly, leaving Meng Hongjin as the butt of the joke.
The atmosphere was awkward, and Jiang Youyao didn’t know what to say.
Defending Meng Hongjin was like trampling on her own father’s respect, but agreeing with Jiang Li would make her bear Meng Hongjin’s grudge.
Silently cursing Jiang Li for her cunning, Jiang Youyao had no choice but to give Jiang Yue a look.
Left with no alternative, Jiang Yue cleared her throat twice, breaking the silence awkwardly and steering the conversation elsewhere, “Second Sister, let’s not talk about that for now.
You’ve just started school, and you need to choose a seat.
I sit in a group with the Fourth Sister, and the Third Sister sits with Miss Meng.
Since you’ve arrived so late, you’ll have to see if anyone is willing to be in a group with you.”
Who would want to be in the same group as herself?
Jiang Li didn’t have to think about it to know that certainly, there would be no one.
Sure enough, as Jiang Li stood in the classroom, no one voiced an invitation for Jiang Li to sit beside them.
Bai Xue was not allowed inside the classroom, so she stayed outside by the carriage with the maidservants of the other young ladies.
It seemed the maidservants also disdained Bai Xue for her sturdy build, leaving her all alone outside.
Bai Xue didn’t mind, squatting beside the rockery to bask in the sun along with a stray cat.
In the midst of the silence, suddenly a voice called out, “I have no one here, come sit with me.”
Jiang Li was somewhat surprised and saw a girl in a green dress and skirt standing up in the front, looking toward Jiang Li.
This girl was quite delicate-looking but with a rather square chin, which gave her an appearance of firmness and determination.
There was a faint shadow of Madam Liu in her features, and Jiang Li realized in an epiphany that this was the daughter of Gentleman Chengde’s mansion, Liu Xu.
Jiang Li did not hesitate and walked over to the desk next to Liu Xu.
From behind, sneering voices could be heard, “Liu Xu, you really dare to sit with her, aren’t you afraid that one day she’ll also push you down the steps and endanger your life?
Don’t say we didn’t warn you when the time comes.”
Liu Xu silently put those words behind her, as if she hadn’t heard them at all, and Jiang Li sat down beside Liu Xu with a smile.
Liu Xu furrowed her brows, revealing a reluctant expression, but she did not say anything.
Jiang Li knew in her heart that likely, Madam Liu had also received news that she would be attending Mingyi Hall for classes and had arranged with Liu Xu to look after her.
In fact, it was quite normal for a girl to feel afraid of another who was accused of matricide and fratricide.
That Liu Xu was able to overcome her fear and fulfill Madam Liu’s wishes was quite admirable already.
Seeing Jiang Li examining her, Liu Xu tightened her lips and turned her head away.
Jiang Li watched with an amused smile, finding her to be an adorable girl.
The murmurs and discussions from behind continued unabated, and voices inquiring about Jiang Youyao could be heard.
Jiang Li knew that Jiang Youyao and Jiang Yuyan would once again do their utmost to tarnish her reputation.
But it wasn’t long before someone entered.
The newcomer was a female instructor, dressed in a pine-colored long robe with her hair coiled up high, with narrow eyes and thin lips, and a frail figure.
As she entered, the noise in Mingyi Hall immediately ceased.
She was a stern teacher.
Jiang Li looked at the female instructor in front of her, feeling somewhat distracted.
This female instructor’s surname was Jin, with a single character for her given name, Luo.
In Mingyi Hall, she taught the “rites” aspect of the Six Arts.
Jin Luo was also a person who strictly adhered to etiquette.
In Jiang Li’s view, she was even somewhat conservatively rigid.
Jin Luo was noble-minded, and had greatly admired Shen Yurong, publicly praising Shen Yurong’s overflowing talents.
She was somewhat harshly pitiable to Xue Fangfei as she was back then.
Being a woman herself, she could naturally tell that Jin Luo was infatuated with Shen Yurong.
Later, when the affair of Xue Fangfei’s illicit relationship spread throughout Yanjing, Jin Luo had even visited her, reproaching her face-to-face for not maintaining womanly virtues and expressing deep sympathy for Shen Yurong’s plight.
However, Jiang Li lowered her eyes, wondering whether Jin Luo would still feel such deep affection upon learning of Shen Yurong’s true face?
