Part 1 - The Double / Marriage of the Di Daughter

☆ Chapter 25 Ah Li

Jiang Li didn't know that her actions in front of the Jixiang Building were all seen by others. When Tong'er came back from the pawnshop, she shook her head and said, "The jade I had before has been redeemed by someone, but I found a very beautiful jade pendant in the pawnshop, so I bought it instead." Then she spread out her palm.

The jade pendant in Tong'er's palm was of average quality. In a place like Jiang's house, Xiang Qiao herself was used to seeing good things, and this piece of jade was really nothing special in comparison. If there was anything special, it was a fat civet cat carved on the jade, which was very lifelike.

Xiang Qiao looked away after just one glance, but Jiang Li, on the other hand, was so fascinated that she took it and couldn't let it go, saying to Tong'er, "It's really beautiful."

"I know that the young lady will like it, so take it if you like it."

Jiang Li accepted it without any hesitation. Xiang Qiao looked at it and laughed in her heart. After all, Jiang Li was a bumpkin who had stayed in the mountains for eight years, and she liked such a broken thing.

When they returned to Fang Fei Garden in Jiang's house, it was already very late. Xiang Qiao disappeared without a trace, and Jiang Li knew it well. She must have gone back to Shuxiu Garden to report to Ji Shuran.

Tong'er saw that there was no one in the room, so she closed the door, poured a cup of hot tea for Jiang Li, and asked softly: "Miss, why do you suddenly ask me to redeem this jade pendant? Whose jade pendant is it? What's special about it?"

Tong'er and Jiang Li have been dependent on each other in Qingcheng Mountain for eight years. They are master and servant, and even better than master and servant. Tong'er knows everything about Jiang Li, but since that time, Tong'er doesn't understand the meaning of some things Jiang Li does.

For example, before going out today, Jiang Li told her that she must redeem a jade pendant for her. Jiang Li taught Tong'er to say what she said in front of Jixiang Tower. What about the deceased mother? It's all made up.

Jiang Li smiled at her, "You did a good job." She stroked the jade pendant in her hand and said, "This jade pendant is from an old friend, who is no longer here."

The jade pendant in her hand was carved by Xue Huaiyuan himself with a knife when she was born. The night before Xue Fang Fei's mother gave birth to Xue Fang Fei, Xue Huaiyuan dreamed of a civet cat coming to the door of his house and bowing in a formal manner. 

After she was born, she asked Mr. Yinyang to read Xue Fang Fei's fortune. The gentleman said that Xue Fang Fei would be a drifter all her life and her beauty would be short-lived. Xue Huaiyuan, who had always been steady and upright, was so angry that he almost beat Mr. Yinyang to death with a stick. He said he didn't believe it, but he still cared about it in his heart. He heard from neighbours far and near that people with short fates should be given a lowly name. The King of Hell will be too lazy to take her life.

So, Xue Huaiyuan didn't give Xue Fang Fei a nickname, but directly gave her the name Ali.

This jade pendant was bought from a traveling merchant by Xue Huaiyuan after saving up his salary for half a year. It was not expensive. Xue Huaiyuan personally asked a monk to consecrate it and carved it himself, hoping to bless Xue Fang Fei with a safe and smooth life.

Later, this jade pendant accompanied Xue Fang Fei to Yanjing City. After Shen Yurong won the first place in the imperial examination and was appointed as a secretary, she needed to take care of social activities. The Shen family was too poor, so Xue Fang Fei took out all her dowry. When she was in the most difficult time, she even pawned this jade.

She thought that she would redeem the jade pendant when her family got better next time. Who knew that the birthday banquet happened not long after, and her reputation was ruined. She had no face to go out, and she could not redeem this jade until she died.

Tong'er saw that Jiang Li was in a daze, and her eyes were very desolate. She couldn't help but say: "Miss..."

Jiang Li came back to her senses and smiled: "It's okay. Although the old friend is gone, I am still here."

Although Xue Fang Fei is gone, Jiang Li is still here. Xue Fang Fei failed to redeem the jade, but Jiang Li did.

Xue Fang Fei's given name is Ali, and Jiang Li's given name is ‘Li’. Perhaps this fate allowed her to replace the poor girl and return to Yanjing City.

Jiang Li, Jiang Li, the meaning of the name is not good, but the original Xue Fang Fei never had a prosperous life, which shows that fate is ultimately in one's own hands.

Tong'er blinked and breathed a sigh of relief when she saw Jiang Li smile. She thought of something and said, "The two maids in Shuxiu Garden don't do any work on weekdays, and the few sweepers in the outer courtyard who came today are also lazy. The girl can't let them go all the time. Ji Shi doesn't care about this matter, and the master can't interfere in the backyard. The old lady has to take care of it!"

"The old lady is not close to me. If I bring up this matter, she can only take care of it for a while, not for the rest of my life. I'll have to solve this matter myself." Jiang Li shook her head. Old Lady Jiang is a person of great potential. Being obedient and stable may not please her. Besides, Jiang Li has disappointed Old Lady Jiang before. If she really wants to make a fuss, she really doesn't know who will be on her side.

"What is the young lady going to do?" Upon hearing this, Tong'er immediately rubbed her hands and was eager to try. Ever since Jiang Li used a monkey to plot her way back to Yanjing on Mount Qingcheng, Tong'er has believed in Jiang Li's decision.

"These few days, you should mutter to Yunshuang how much I have done for Xiang Qiao." Jiang Li said, "Most of my box of jewellery sent by Ji is now with her."

"Does the young lady want to alienate them?" Tong'er was also smart and asked immediately.

"They are not close to each other, so there is no question of alienation." Jiang Li smiled, "This is just a little test for them."

It's just a test. If they win, they will be fine. If they lose, they will lose everything.

...

In Shuxiu Garden, Xiang Qiao stood in the room. Jiang Youyao was practicing calligraphy at the table, but her eyes were absent-minded.

Ji Shuran asked, "Ruby headpiece?"

"Yes, it's a ruby ​​headpiece from Jixiang Tower. It cost four hundred taels of silver. I saw it with my own eyes." Xiang Qiao said.

"What's a headpiece worth four hundred taels of silver? It's really shabby." Jiang Youyao was disdainful.

"Although it's not much, it won't lose face." Ji Shuran pondered, "It's about the same as what your two cousins ​​from the second room gave. Logically speaking, there's nothing wrong with it."

Xiang Qiao heard this and calculated in her heart. Ji Shuran's words clearly meant to make a fuss about Jiang Youyao's coming-of-age ceremony.

"Mother, how can we let her live well?" Jiang Youyao put down her pen and looked at Ji Shuran in a hurry.

"She just returned to Yanjing these days. Liu Yuanfeng is watching her, and your father feels guilty about her. However, it is also very simple to get people to hate her." Ji Shuran said.

"How to do it?" Jiang Youyao's eyes lit up.

"Don't forget, she also has a reputation as a wicked woman. The past of killing her step brother is not so easy to erase. Now it's been too long, and people are almost forgetting. Once people remember, she will have no way to survive." Ji Shuran smiled virtuously, "The nobles in Yanjing can't stand the mud the most."

Xiang Qiao's heart jumped, and she watched Ji Shuran looking at her.

*If you think the novel is exciting, please vote and share it with your friends. Thanks for your support!* (>.<)