Part 1 - The Double / Marriage of the Di Daughter

☆ Chapter 065 Three Gates

Seeing Jiang Li coming, Jiang Yuanbai opened his mouth, but seemed to not know what to say, so he coughed twice awkwardly. 

Jiang Li stepped forward and said, "Second uncle, third uncle."

Jiang Yuanping looked at her with a smile and said, "Xiao Li is so good. It's not easy to win the first place in the Mingyi Hall test. I just told your father that I will reward you well this time."

Jiang Li bowed with a smile: "Thank you, second uncle."

Jiang Yuanping looked at her very lovingly again. This second uncle looked like a good-tempered person. Compared with Jiang Yuanbo, he was more pretentious. Judging from Jiang Yuanxing's timid and cowardly image, Jiang Yuanping was the easiest one to get along with. 

However, Jiang Li didn't really think that Jiang Yuanping was just a kind elder. This is a smiling tiger. Although he likes to laugh, he is still a tiger. If you make him angry, he will show his tiger's tail.

Jiang Yuanxing stood at the end, looked at Jiang Li, and smiled, but this smile was a little cautious, and said: "Congratulations, Xiao Li."

As a bastard of the Jiang family, Jiang Yuanxing was not valued by the third house, especially when Jiang Yuanbo and Jiang Yuanping had a bright career, Jiang Yuanxing was even more forgotten in the corner.

It seemed incompatible with the prosperity of the Jiang family.

When Mrs. Yang saw Jiang Yuanxing also praised Jiang Li, she felt very uncomfortable. In the past, Jiang Yu'e was the best among the young ladies of the Jiang family in the three subjects in the school examination every year. Jiang Youyao was good at piano music, because Ji Shuran had invited the best famous teacher to teach her since she was a child. Jiang Yu'e didn't have such a good teacher, but she became a talent in books, mathematics, and etiquette.

The only chance to be glorious in the Jiang family was snatched away by someone this time. How could Mrs. Yang not be angry?

But her anger was not as bad as Ji Shuran's anger.

Jiang Youyao watched the three masters in the Jiang Mansion, including her father, looking at Jiang Li and praising her. She felt unfair and angry, and couldn't help blurting out: "Second sister, you won the first place this time, and many people will find it hard to believe."

Everyone in the room was silent. Jiang Li looked back at Jiang Youyao and said softly: "Oh?"

Realizing that everyone was looking at her, Jiang Youyao hesitated for a moment and looked at Jiang Li with great concern: "Second sister, you didn't come to Mingyi Hall to study before. You just returned to Yanjing not long ago, and you haven't been to Mingyi Hall for less than ten days. You can win the first place without studying... It's really shocking." 

After that, without waiting for Jiang Li to answer, she persuaded: "I know that the bet between the second sister and Miss Meng is not trivial. The second sister must not want to lose, but we are the Jiang family, and my father is still watching. Don't damage the foundation because of trivial matters. After all, reputation is important, and quality and character cannot be discarded."

Jiang Li wanted to applaud Jiang Youyao in her heart.

Look at what she said, how high-sounding and righteous. But how malicious, directly suspecting that Jiang Li got the first place by cheating.

Jiang Jingrui sneered: "What other people think has nothing to do with us? If they don't accept it, then don't accept it. Can they drag the examiner of Mingyi Hall out and beat him up, so that others can change the ranking? There is also a saying in the casino called ‘willing to gamble and lose’, so, only she Meng Hongjin is allowed to win, and Jiang Li's winning is cheating?"

These words are really embarrassing for Jiang Youyao, and Jiang Youyao's face is flushed. Jiang Jingrui is a bad guy, and it's impossible to reason with him. Jiang Youyao just hated Jiang Jingrui in her heart.

Ji Shuran hurriedly said: "Youyao is also worried." Looking at Jiang Yuanbo.

Although Jiang Youyao's words were heart breaking, to be fair, they were not unreasonable. Jiang Yuanbai stared at Jiang Li's eyes and said, "Li'er, you have never practiced before, how can you get the top score? I have seen the red list, you are the top three subjects, reading, mathematics, and etiquette. You... went to the nunnery at the age of seven, and you were just beginning to learn at that time. Now you have just returned to Yanjing, how can you have such a good result?"

"Father," Jiang Li smiled and said, "If you have a desire to learn, you will gain something regardless of whether there is a learned teacher to teach you." 

After a pause, she recalled, "When I was on Qingcheng Mountain, life on the mountain was hard and there was no fun. There are many books in Suoxing Nunnery, and many pilgrims have donated books. Every night, when I feel that life is hard, I read those books. Immersed in them, time will pass faster, and the hard days will not be so hard to endure."

Everyone was stunned.

Jiang Li sighed leisurely: "I stayed in Qingcheng Mountain for eight years. After reading all the books in the nunnery, I went to the nearby Helin Temple to borrow books. In this way, over the years, I have read no fewer books than the teachers in the academy in Yanjing City." 

Jiang Li smiled: "There is no need for any teacher to teach. I will understand it naturally after reading more." When she said this, her tone was inexplicably a little melancholy. She was clearly a young girl, but she seemed to have experienced the vicissitudes of life.

It makes people feel sad for no reason.

Jiang Yuanbai felt a lump in his throat. Jiang Li did not say a word against him, but every word seemed to be an accusation. In front of him, it seemed that Jiang Li, who was still a girl, was in a broken house in the wind and snow, holding books clumsily, with green lamps and ancient Buddhas, living a lonely and sad life.

After all, blood is thicker than water. Jiang Yuanbai's heart softened suddenly. He was unwilling and did not want to care whether Jiang Li cheated or not.

Madam Jiang obviously felt the same way. She said, "You did a good job." It was a stiff and forced word, but it also contained some comfort.

Ji Shuran's back stiffened. Once again, Madam Jiang and Jiang Yuanbo's attitudes changed again, just because Jiang Li said a few words and turned the situation around.

Ji Shuran was extremely angry. She was just a little girl of fourteen or fifteen years old, but she seemed to have become a spirit, and she could grasp people's minds just right. Since entering the mansion, she has not gained any benefits, but Jiang Li has the upper hand?

It's really unreasonable.

Jiang Youyao didn't say anything. She tried to stir up trouble, but it didn't work at all. Even Jiang Yu'e understood the situation and stopped talking.

Mrs. Lu Shi felt a little sympathy for Jiang Li. Looking at Jiang Jingrui again, it seemed that she was the one who was thrown into the ruined temple. It seemed that as long as Jiang Li gave an order, she would stand up for her.

"Don't be proud, second girl." Old Madam Jiang said calmly, "You got the first place in the top three subjects. Among the six arts, the lower three subjects have not been tested yet. I heard that the girl from the Meng family got second place in the top three subjects. If she surpasses you in music, imperial music, and archery, you still lose the bet."

"You have to continue to win in these three subjects." She asked, "Are you confident?"

Jiang Li smiled sweetly, "Just give it a try and do my best."

－－－－－－－Digression－－－－－－－

Suddenly I feel that the way Ali talks nonsense seriously, she can win the Best Actress Award_(:3ゝ∠)_

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