Chapter Twenty-Five: Ah Li

Jiang Li was unaware that her actions in front of Auspicious Pavilion had been observed by others. When Tong’er returned from the pawnshop, she shook her head and said, “The piece of jade I pawned before has already been redeemed by someone else. But I found a very beautiful jade pendant in the shop, so I bought it.” She opened her palm as she spoke.

The quality of the jade pendant in Tong’er’s hand was unremarkable. In the Jiang household, where even Xiangqiao was accustomed to fine things, this piece hardly stood out. If there was anything unique, it was that the jade was carved into a plump raccoon cat, lifelike and vivid.

Xiangqiao merely glanced at it before looking away, but Jiang Li could not take her eyes off it. She took the pendant and held it fondly, saying to Tong’er, “It really is lovely.”

“I knew you would like it,” Tong’er replied. “If you do, then keep it.”

Jiang Li accepted the gift without protest. Watching her, Xiangqiao inwardly scoffed—after all, Jiang Li had spent eight years on the mountain like a country bumpkin. To think she would be pleased with such a worthless trinket.

By the time they returned to the Jiang estate’s Fragrant Court, it was already late. At some point, Xiangqiao had slipped away, and Jiang Li knew full well she must have gone to Shuxiu Garden to report to Ji Shuran.

When Tong’er saw that the room was finally empty, she closed the door, poured Jiang Li a cup of hot tea, and asked softly, “Miss, why did you suddenly have me redeem this jade pendant? Whose is it, and what makes it special?”

After eight years together on Mount Qingcheng, Tong’er was more than just a maid to Jiang Li; she knew every detail of Jiang Li’s life. Yet lately, Tong’er found herself unable to understand the meaning behind some of Jiang Li’s actions.

Take today, for instance: before they left the house, Jiang Li had instructed her to redeem a certain jade pendant, and the story she told in front of Auspicious Pavilion had been rehearsed beforehand. The talk of a deceased mother was nothing but a fabrication.

Jiang Li smiled at her. “You did well.” She stroked the jade in her palm and continued, “This pendant belonged to an old friend—one who is no longer in this world.”

The jade pendant in her hand had been painstakingly carved by Xue Huaiyuan himself when she was born. On the eve of Xue Fangfei’s birth, her mother had a dream in which a calico raccoon came to their door and bowed solemnly. After her birth, a fortune-teller was consulted, who predicted that Xue Fangfei’s life would be fraught with hardship and early death. Xue Huaiyuan, normally steady and dignified, was so enraged that he nearly beat the fortune-teller with a stick. Though he insisted he did not believe such nonsense, the words still troubled him.

It was said that children fated for misfortune should be given humble childhood names, so that even the spirits of the underworld would not bother with such a life. Thus, instead of a formal style name, Xue Huaiyuan gave her the simple childhood name “Ali.”

He scrimped and saved for half a year to buy this piece of jade from a traveling merchant. It was not expensive, but he had a monk bless it and carved it himself, hoping it would protect Xue Fangfei all her life.

Later, the pendant accompanied Xue Fangfei to the capital. When Shen Yuyong became a top scholar and was appointed as an official, many connections had to be made. The Shen family was poor, and Xue Fangfei brought out all her dowry. In their most difficult times, she even pawned this jade.

She had thought that when their fortunes improved, she would redeem the pendant. But not long after, the incident at the birthday banquet occurred—her reputation was destroyed, and she was too ashamed to show her face. She died without ever reclaiming the jade.

Seeing the desolate look in Jiang Li’s eyes, Tong’er could not help but speak. “Miss…”

Jiang Li returned to herself and smiled. “It’s nothing. Though the old friend is gone, I am still here.”

Although Xue Fangfei was no longer in this world, Jiang Li remained. What Xue Fangfei failed to reclaim, Jiang Li had now redeemed.

Xue Fangfei’s childhood name was “Ali,” while Jiang Li’s given name was simply “Li”—perhaps some subtle fate had brought her to take this poor girl’s place and return to the capital.

Jiang Li—her name meaning “to leave”—did not bode well, but Xue Fangfei had never lived up to her own name, which promised flourishing beauty. In the end, fate truly lay in one’s own hands.

Tong’er blinked, and seeing Jiang Li smile, she too felt relieved. Then she remembered something. “The two maids at Shuxiu Garden never do any work, and even the servants who came from the outer courtyard today are used to shirking their duties. You can’t let them continue like this. Madam Ji ignores it, your father won’t interfere in the inner quarters, but surely the old madam should take charge?”

“The old madam isn’t close to me. Even if I raised the issue, it might be solved for a while but not forever. I should handle this myself,” Jiang Li replied, shaking her head. The old madam was strong-willed and capable, but being obedient and quiet would not necessarily win her favor. Besides, Jiang Li had already become estranged from her in the past. If it came to a reckoning, who knew where her loyalties would lie?

“What are you planning to do?” Tong’er asked eagerly. Since Jiang Li had used a monkey to plot their return to the capital from Mount Qingcheng, Tong’er had trusted her mistress’s schemes without question.

“In the next few days, drop hints to Yunshuang about how many benefits I’ve given Xiangqiao,” Jiang Li instructed. “Most of the jewelry Madam Ji gave me is already with her.”

“You want to sow discord between them?” Tong’er guessed, quick as ever.

“They were never close to begin with, so there’s no need to drive a wedge between them. This is merely a little test,” Jiang Li replied with a smile.

Just a test—if they passed, all would remain peaceful; if not, everything would be lost.

…

In Shuxiu Garden, Xiangqiao stood in the room while Jiang Youyao practiced her calligraphy at the desk, though her mind was clearly elsewhere.

Ji Shuran asked, “Ruby hair ornaments?”

“Yes, the ruby set from Auspicious Pavilion—four hundred taels of silver. I saw it with my own eyes,” Xiangqiao answered.

“Four hundred taels—such a paltry sum,” Jiang Youyao sneered.

“It’s not much, but it’s enough not to lose face,” Ji Shuran mused. “About the same as what your two cousins from the second branch gave you for your coming-of-age ceremony. No one can really find fault with it.”

At this, Xiangqiao pondered. Clearly, Ji Shuran intended to make an issue of this at Jiang Youyao’s hair-pinning ceremony.

“Mother, then how can we let her off so easily?” Jiang Youyao set her brush aside and looked at Ji Shuran anxiously.

“She’s just returned to the capital, and with Liu Yuanfeng keeping an eye on things, your father still feels guilty towards her. But if you want people to dislike her, that’s easy enough,” Ji Shuran said.

“How?” Jiang Youyao’s eyes lit up.

“Don’t forget, she still carries the reputation of a wicked woman—a patricide, a matricide. Such a past can’t be erased so easily. It’s only because so much time has passed that people are starting to forget. Once they remember, she’ll have no place here,” Ji Shuran replied with a gentle, virtuous smile. “The noble families of the capital, after all, cannot abide a stain on their name.”

Xiangqiao’s heart skipped a beat as she met Ji Shuran’s gaze.