Chapter Sixty: The Splendor of the Capital

The time it took to leave the Late Phoenix Hall was even shorter than Jiang Li had anticipated.

Tong’er, anxious and restless, was pacing at the entrance to Fragrant Blossom Court. She was momentarily stunned to see Jiang Li and Bai Xue return so soon. “Why are you back so quickly?” she asked in surprise.

Jiang Li smiled. “Indeed, it was quicker than I thought.”

She had expected the three-hall assembly’s inquiry to drag on, but it hadn’t lasted long at all. First, Jiang Li had admitted her fault with sincere humility; second, with the matter already settled, the wager could not be rescinded. Neither Old Madam Jiang nor Jiang Yuanbai could come up with a better solution, while Ji Shuran and Jiang Youyao were eager to see Jiang Li humiliated. Thus, the affair was finalized with surprising ease.

Jiang Yuanbai had still wished to find a tutor in the coming days so Jiang Li could prepare and avoid an embarrassing loss, but she politely declined. Jiang Li said that, with time so short, it would be futile; she might as well preserve her strength.

Jiang Yuanbai, seeing no way forward with Jiang Li, sighed deeply and swept away. Jiang Li guessed he had gone to ponder other solutions.

Once inside, Tong’er poured Jiang Li a cup of hot tea. “Whatever the outcome, even if you lose, at least you’ll lose with dignity. That takes more courage than those who quit before even trying.”

“I don’t think the young lady will lose,” Bai Xue said earnestly. “She’s blessed by fortune.”

Jiang Li was amused by Bai Xue’s remark, but after smiling, she felt a pang of bitterness. If she were truly blessed, she would never have encountered Shen Yuyong, nor would she have brought ruin to the Xue family.

She had scarcely sat down when Jiang Jingrui came bustling in, uninvited as ever. He must have just returned from outside and hadn’t yet gone back to his own quarters, for he still carried a cricket cage in his hand. Upon seeing Jiang Li, he exclaimed, “Jiang Li, you’re really something! News of your wager is everywhere now. All my friends know I have such a talented cousin and are eager to see you for themselves.”

“I’m not some courtesan from a pleasure house—what is there to see?” Jiang Li replied bluntly.

Jiang Jingrui, tea halfway to his lips, nearly choked. He sputtered, “What kind of talk is that? You’re a young lady—mind your words! If Uncle hears you, you’ll be writing family rules in the ancestral hall ten thousand times over!”

“All right, what did you come here for?” Jiang Li asked.

That odd feeling crept up in Jiang Jingrui’s heart again. Though he was older than Jiang Li, he always felt like the younger sibling around her. Jiang Li seemed the sort of adult who had little patience for coddling children, tolerating his antics with restraint.

But today, he wasn’t here to play around. “Ahem,” he began, “while your acceptance of the wager shows the same boldness I had at your age, it was reckless. If a young lady truly kneels to apologize, how could you ever hope to marry respectably in the future? You should have considered more carefully—Miss Meng is no virtuous person; she was waiting for you to fall into her trap.”

“And you’re so sure I’ll be the one kneeling?” Jiang Li asked.

He looked at her solemnly. “I know you’re angry and unwilling to yield, but now isn’t the time for stubbornness. I suspect Uncle will try to find some way to keep you from losing too badly. I also have some money.” Jiang Jingrui produced three silver notes from his sleeve. “I’ll lend these to you—you can use them at Mingyi Hall to see if anyone is willing to help you.”

He meant for Jiang Li to bribe a classmate to cheat for her.

Jiang Li glanced coolly at the pitiful sum in his hand. “If you could come up with several dozen more silver notes, perhaps that would be possible.”

“Not enough?” Jiang Jingrui scratched his nose. “That’s all I have. Mother doesn’t give me much. I could go ask my elder brother, but several dozen is impossible.”

Jiang Li shook her head. The girls at Mingyi Hall were all daughters of officials and hardly in want of money. Besides, silver was not the true issue. Apart from Liu Xu, nearly every student there considered Jiang Li an enemy; anyone who helped her would be opposing the entire Hall. Other than that silly Liu Xu, who else would dare stand by her?

Moreover, her defeat was already taken for granted by everyone in the capital.

“Miss,” Tong’er piped up, eyes suddenly bright, “if it’s silver you need, Young Master Ye must have plenty. Why not borrow from him?”

Jiang Li started. Jiang Jingrui realized as well, exclaiming, “That’s right! Your cousin is from the Ye family—he can’t lack for silver! You just did him a favor, so if you ask, he surely won’t refuse.”

Both turned to Jiang Li, who hesitated for a moment before replying, “Forget it. He’s about to sit for the Imperial College examination himself. Associating with me now would be unwise.”

If she were to seek help from Ye Shijie now, he would only look down on her, and besides, his lawsuit with Li Lian was still unresolved. Jiang Li had no wish to make her alliance with Ye Shijie so public at this time.

In truth, the best outcome would be for Ye Shijie to distinguish himself in the coming examination, while she herself also rose to fame in a single stroke. Everything after that would fall into place effortlessly.

Jiang Li said quietly, “The Six Arts: calligraphy, music, rites, mathematics, horsemanship, and archery. To take the top prize, one must master them all.”

Jiang Jingrui gaped. “What nonsense are you talking about?”

Jiang Li considered her odds. Calligraphy, she had excelled in since childhood. Music—her skill with the seven-stringed zither in her previous life rivaled even Xiao Deyin, so this, too, was not difficult. Rites were even simpler, for her memory was unmatched and she had studied extensively. Mathematics—she had managed the family accounts when there were no other girls at home. Horsemanship—she had practiced with Xue Zhao, and had won praise. Archery—she had hunted birds and wild game herself.

All these ordinary skills, woven into every part of her former life, were now, in Mingyi Hall and the capital, gilded as the proud accomplishments of noble ladies.

In her past life, she had been careful not to draw attention, keeping a low profile, yet still earned a reputation for both talent and beauty. In this life, with the Jiang family’s protection and her high status, she had nothing to fear.

“To shine among the elite of the capital”—so the saying went, and it was exactly what she intended.

In this battle, she would make her name resound throughout the land.

—End of chapter—

Ah, the holiday passed too quickly! How vexing!