Chapter 77
"Li girl, you are going to enter the palace with us tomorrow." Mrs. Jiang said, "If you need anything, just tell your mother, and your mother will prepare it for you."

Jiang Li nodded in agreement.

"This is your first time entering the palace when you return to Yanjing City. Don't break the rules. If you don't understand, just ask. If you don't know how to do it, just do what Youyao girl did." Old Mrs. Jiang instructed carefully, "Clothes The jewelry is ready for you, tomorrow you will represent the face of the Jiang family, I believe you can do well."

Mrs. Jiang praised her for the first time. Jiang Li smiled and nodded, but did not show a very excited look.

With her like this, Jiang Yu'e, who was left on the side, felt very uncomfortable. Jiang Yu'e watched Jiang Li's status improve little by little after returning home.Jiang Yu'e has always hated people and laughed at others. Jiang Li's life is very good, which is very dazzling in Jiang Yu'e's eyes. She wished that Jiang Li would fall into hell overnight and live in a worse life than herself.

"Liyatou is really amazing. This time, His Majesty is going to give the gift in person. Liyatou is the only junior in our mansion who did it alone." Lu said with a smile: "I heard that the head of the Imperial College this year is Ye Shijie, and Ye Shijie is from Xiangyang. People from the Ye family, speaking of it, are related to our Jiang family, and he is Jiang Li's cousin."

Ye Zhenzhen had passed away for many years, and the Jiang family had no contact with Ye Zhenzhen's natal family. At this time, Lu's mention of Ye Shijie was naturally to block Ji Shuran's heart.You must know that Ji Shuran's natal nephew didn't even make the list in the Guozijian Red List, let alone the leader.

When Jiang Li heard that Lu mentioned Ye Shijie, she sighed slightly in her heart, she didn't want to involve the Ye family in the troubled waters of the Jiang family.The Ye family is in Xiangyang, and she will have to rely on the Ye family if she wants to go back to Xiangyang to worship Xue Huaiyuan in the future.It may not be a good thing for the Ye family to involve the Ye family and the Jiang family together.

She hoped that the Ye family would be clean.

Ji Shuran looked at Jiang Li with a smile: "Yes, I also thought that Li'er and Master Ye should walk around more. Although sister Zhenzhen has gone, the two families are related by marriage. If Master Ye enters the official career, in the future Our master can also help, we are all from our own family, and it is better to help our own family than outsiders."

When Jiang Li heard this, her eyes moved slightly.

What Ji Shuran said was very sincere.But Ji Shuran would really be so kind, and even let Jiang Yuanbai help Ye Shijie?This is absolutely impossible, Ji Shuran will only let people secretly suppress Ye Shijie.It's not that Jiang Li deliberately made people's thoughts dark, but after staying in Jiang's house for so many days, she knows what kind of person Ji Shuran is.

This time Zhou Yanbang even proposed to break off the engagement with Jiang Youyao and be with him, all kinds of things, it's no wonder that Ji Shuran's mother and daughter hate her for poisoning her.

But until now, Ji Shuran's mother and daughter have been very quiet and have not acted like demons.

Thinking of this, Jiang Li looked at Ji Shuran.

Ji Shuran smiled virtuously, as if she was really a loving mother, but Jiang Li felt that her eyes were more like a poisonous python hovering on a branch, squinting her eyes, looking at her prey slowly, and giving out a sinister smile , the fangs are still quenching the venom.

What is she calculating.

Jiang Li's eyes fell on Jiang Youyao again.

After all, Jiang Youyao is younger, not as perfect as Ji Shuran's expression. She also tried her best to show a smile like no one else, but she couldn't hide the hatred for Jiang Li in her eyes, and there was a trace of excitement for some reason.

That kind of sticky gaze made Jiang Li seem to have known him before, but in the blink of an eye, Jiang Li didn't know when he saw it.But the only thing that can be confirmed is that this kind of gaze made her very uncomfortable, and her spine was chilled, which made her wake up in an instant.

Mrs. Yang didn't have much to say in the Jiang family, she just kept turning her shrewd eyes, looking at Jiangli for a while, and Ji Shuran for a while.

Mrs. Jiang didn't say much, and told Jiang Li something about entering the palace.In fact, these Jiang Lis have known for a long time that she also entered the palace as Shen Yurong's family members.But the Jiang family, as court officials, had a lot more relaxed rules.

After Mrs. Jiang finished explaining one by one, it has been a long time.Thinking that they had to go back to prepare, everyone dispersed from Wanfengtang.

Jiang Li walked out of the gate of Wanfeng Hall and walked into her yard.Fangfeiyuan is in the corner of Jiang's mansion, and it is not in the same direction as Jiang Youyao's yard, so naturally there is no need to go together.

But unexpectedly, after walking for a short distance, someone behind her called her: "Second Sister."

Turning around, there were two sisters, Jiang Yu'e and Jiang Yuyan.

For these two, Jiang Yuyan was silent, but Jiang Yu'e never had a good look towards Jiang Li.As soon as she saw Jiang Yu'e, Jiang Li knew what the other party was planning.

"Second Sister, you're walking so fast, I almost can't catch up with you." Jiang Yu'e said affectionately.

Jiang Li stood where she was, not even wanting to make a fuss, but said politely, "What's the matter, Fifth Sister?"

Jiang Yu'e didn't expect that Jiang Li would even disdain to put on a face, and she couldn't bear it, but after a while, she quickly adjusted and said with a smile: "This one is in Wanfengtang today, and the second sister hasn't come here yet. I heard a Something." At this point, Jiang Yu'e paused for a while before saying: "It's the third sister's marriage. The eldest aunt said that the marriage between the third sister and Zhou Shizi has been finalized, and the spring will start at the end of next winter. I think two Maybe my sister didn't know about it, so I came here to tell my second sister."

Just for this?
Tong Er was a little angry, Jiang Li smiled slightly and said, "Thank you Fifth Sister for letting me know, I understand."

Seemingly a little dissatisfied with Jiang Li's flat tone, Jiang Yu'e carefully looked at Jiang Li's face, and saw that Jiang Li didn't have a look of pain and loss, so she said: "Actually, the marriage between the second sister and Zhou Shizi was very good at the beginning. If nothing happened to the second sister, she would be the second sister who married into Ningyuanhou's mansion now. Zhou Shizi is one of the best matches in Yanjing City, and now the third sister can marry into Zhou's family without any effort, and the second sister I am older than the third sister, but my marriage has not been settled, so I feel sorry for the second sister from the bottom of my heart."

Jiang Yuyan glanced at Jiang Li with some trepidation, trying to stop Jiang Yu'e's words, but in the end she just reached out and tugged at the corner of Jiang Yu'e's clothes without saying anything.

Jiang Li didn't rush to answer Jiang Yu'e's words, but just stared at Jiang Yu'e carefully, with a smile on her lips.Her smile was gentle and clear, not including anyone in it, but Jiang Yu'e, who looked at it for no reason, was a little flustered.

In order to break through this sense of oppression, Jiang Yu'e asked Jiang Li: "What is the second sister staring at me for?"

"It's nothing." Jiang Liyun said calmly, "I just feel that Fifth Sister is so worried about me, and I'm a little touched, but..." She said lightly, "Does Mother and Third Sister know about Fifth Sister's hard work?"

Jiang Yu'e's face suddenly changed.

She was anxious to come over and poke Jiang Li's heart, but she didn't know what it would be like when the phrase "speak for the second sister" fell in the ears of Ji Shuran's mother and daughter.

Jiang Yu'e forced a smile and said, "This is a heartfelt message from my second sister..."

Jiang Li looked at Jiang Yu'e and smiled: "Actually, Fifth Sister doesn't have to worry too much about my marriage. My father is the chief minister of the court. No matter how poor Yanjing City is, he can find an official family to marry. Even if my mother doesn't I’m worried, there are my father and the old lady, I’m the eldest daughter of the Jiang family, can I still marry at a low price?” She glanced at Jiang Yu’e meaningfully: “Although the fifth sister is not yet ready, it’s better to take care of her. Myself, third uncle's current official career is not bright, and according to the situation of third uncle and third aunt, it is hard to say what family Fifth Sister will marry in the future."

Seeing that Jiang Yu'e's face turned livid in an instant, Jiang Li regained her mood and continued to say unhurriedly: "In this world, you must know that although talent, appearance, temperament and morality are very important, if you lose your family background, you are nothing. Or , look at those girls in the capital leaning on the red building, which one is not one in a million, beautiful as a fairy, with a beautiful quality and a blue heart, but she will only be a girl all her life."

After saying this, she didn't wait for Jiang Yu'e to answer, and took Tong'er away.

I didn't see Jiang Yu'e's expression behind her.

On the way back, Tonger laughed all the way down, and when she returned to Fangfei Garden, she told Baixue and the others about the matter verbatim. The expression on her face at that time was, ouch, our girl is really capable, comparing Fifth Miss with the girls leaning on the Red Mansion in Yanjing City, Fifth Miss must have exploded in anger, phew, who told her to deliberately provoke her!"

"Why does Fifth Miss always have trouble with our girls?" Mingyue was young and asked curiously: "If Third Miss and Miss are hard to get along with, it's because Third Miss and Miss are both the first daughters of the big house. Third Miss is jealous, but Fifth Miss The young lady belongs to the third room, and the young lady doesn't bother her."

"I can't see people being nice." Tong'er blurted out, "I want everyone to suffer and hate like her. Why, the girl is a golden branch and jade leaf, why does she always compare with the girl. The girl is better than her, that's not a matter of course something?"

Listening to the discussions of her maids, Jiang Li smiled and shook her head.

What Jiang Yu'e wanted was nothing more than unwillingness.Jiang Yu'e hoped to see that she was living in an unexpected way and was heartbroken, so that she could feel superior to herself.Jiang Yu'e even wanted to use Zhou Yanbang to stimulate herself, but what Jiang Yu'e didn't understand was that Jiang Li really had no interest in Zhou Yanbang.

To her, Zhou Yanbang was just a stranger, even a very annoying stranger.

Jiang Li said: "There are people like this who come from bad backgrounds but are restless. They always think about jumping on the branches, thinking that the world is full of injustice, and they are not reconciled. Such people can do anything."

A few servant girls nodded with half understanding.

Jiang Li thought, from this point of view, in fact, Jiang Yu'e and Shen Yurong are the same people. The more humble a person is, the more he has tasted the taste of high places, the more he yearns for high places, and he is obsessed with them. climb up.It's just that Jiang Yu'e doesn't know how to hide her unwillingness, and Shen Yurong knows how to hide her unwillingness too well.

He concealed it so well that even his own wife didn't notice it, and thought he was a passionate and passionate ambition.

It's ridiculous.

Jiang Li's smile gradually fell silent, and she remembered Jiang Youyao's gaze at her in the Wanfengtang, the kind of deja vu gaze that made her still uncomfortable.

She had to be on her guard.

Jiang Li thought for a while and said, "Tong Er, bring me my box."

……

The turmoil on the first day did not affect the joy of everyone entering the palace on the second day.

When Jiang Yu'e saw Jiang Li again, she didn't turn her eyebrows coldly at Jiang Li because of what happened yesterday, she still smiled as before, and even praised Jiang Li's dress for being so beautiful.

Jiang Li replied, "Fifth Sister is also very good."

Jiang Yu'e is about to reach the age of Ji. Although she is younger than Jiang Youyao and is the youngest daughter of the Jiang family, Jiang Yu'e is tall, only a little shorter than Jiang Li, and she doesn't look childish at all.She is wearing a honey-colored hachibura skirt, with crab claw chrysanthemums embroidered on the skirt, her long hair tied into a cloud bun, and decorated with a jade hairpin with begonia dripping green beads.

In fact, this rich dress overwhelmed Jiang Yu'e's Xiaojiabiyu style, but Jiang Yu'e herself was very happy.It was probably because the old lady called a tailor to prepare the clothes and jewelry for the palace. It was rare for Jiang Yu'e to have such expensive clothes and jewelry in the past, so she didn't feel bad and was very satisfied.

Ji Shuran was obviously happy with this situation. Jiang Yuyan's appearance was ordinary, and Jiang Yu'e was overdressed, so Jiang Youyao, who could naturally complement her, stood out.

Jiang Youyao really put a lot of thought into it. Among other things, that rose red and golden double-layer long-tailed Luan robe is enough to attract people's attention.Canny hairpins, bracelets with eight treasures, cherry-red webbing around the waist, and special make-up.Jiang Youyao seldom wears heavy makeup on weekdays, but this time she is going to enter the palace, so it is rare to paint her eyebrows with powder and rouge.Her facial features are exquisite and beautiful, and she can withstand such heavy makeup. Standing under the flowers, she looks more beautiful than flowers, and she is radiant.

If he enters the palace like this, it will indeed attract the attention of the noble son.However, Jiang Li was very puzzled, since Jiang Youyao was already engaged to Zhou Yanbang, why did she still need to dress up?

You must know that Jiang Youyao doesn't look down on other people at all, let alone actively attract others.

When Jiang Li was looking at Jiang Youyao, Ji Shuran was also looking at Jiang Li, and Lu even covered her mouth with an exaggerated smile: "If I didn't know these two maids, I really wouldn't have recognized Li girl."

Jiang Li is not used to fancy dresses, perhaps Mrs. Jiang has also noticed her habit, this time she asked a tailor to make the clothes, and she didn't choose bright red colors.But because it needs to be holy, it should not be too plain, and some colors are still needed.Jiang Li was wearing a pair of Mulan and green embroidered forgings, with a jasper cloud brocade skirt inside, a clear and light emerald color.The gourd bun made her look extraordinarily fresh and neat. There were no hairpins on her head, only two white jade earrings. The ears were small and delicate, and the face was as white as jade.

She didn't smear as thickly as Jiang Youyao, but only painted her eyebrows lightly, her eyebrows were like snails, her eyes were like lacquer, her lips were light, but she looked like she was out of the dust.

Being with Jiang Youyao is like green bamboo to safflower, and valley to fireworks.The latter is certainly likable, but the former is easy to imprint in the mind.

Ji Shuran turned around and lightly pressed Jiang Youyao's shoulder, and Jiang Youyao put away her resentful gaze.

On the other hand, Old Mrs. Jiang couldn't help but look at Jiang Li twice more.Among the daughters of the Jiang family, the third wife was born to a concubine, and she looked down upon them.The second room has no daughters, and the two daughters of the first room originally thought that Jiang Youyao was the apple of the eye, but now it seems that Jiang Li, who grew up outside, is like a rough jade that has fallen on the shore, with its own elegant demeanor.

It's really hard to tell which is good and which is bad.

Seeing that his two daughters were both slim and handsome, Jiang Yuanbai felt satisfied at this moment, and said, "We can go."

Each house took a carriage, and Jiang Youyao kept acting like a baby to Jiang Yuanbai in the carriage Jiang Li was riding in. I don't know if it was to stimulate Jiang Li.

Jiang Li just smiled and looked at everything in front of him, indifferent, which made Jiang Yuanbai a little uncomfortable.Jiang Li could tell that Jiang Youyao often acted like a baby to Jiang Yuanbai, Jiang Yuanbai's uneasiness at the moment might be due to her guilty conscience towards her as a woman.

But she didn't have any sad look on her face. Seeing this scene, Jiang Youyao felt as if she had punched the cotton with her fist, and her heart was filled with panic.Ji Shuran, who was born virtuous, did not stop Jiang Youyao's provocative behavior.Come to think of it, it's normal for my daughter and father to act like a spoiled child, so why should I stop it?

Seeing that Jiang Li was unmoved, Jiang Yuanbai was slightly disappointed in his heart.This daughter is now born beautiful and outstanding, as a father, he is not without pride.Jiang Li didn't seem to complain about what he did back then, and never complained. This may be Jiang Li's generosity, but Jiang Yuanbai felt that it was Jiang Li who didn't care.

Jiang Li seemed to be watching a stranger.

At this moment, Jiang Li is sitting in the carriage, thinking about going to the palace.

At that time, she was truly and deeply rejoiced, proud of Shen Yurong's achievements, and thankful that she was his wife.She was afraid that she would embarrass Shen Yurong if she made a mistake, so she practiced nervously when she was in the mansion.She was rarely so nervous. At that time, Shen Yurong still laughed at her, and said to her: "Don't be afraid, if Ari does something wrong and angers His Majesty, at worst, she should not be an official as a husband, and go back to Tongxiang to farm with Ari go."

She pretended to be angry and wanted to beat Shen Yurong, which made Shen Yurong laugh out loud.Thinking about it now, it really seems like a lifetime away.In fact, she didn't make a fool of herself at the palace banquet, but did a good job, and the queen praised her for being smart.And Shen Yurong would never lose his official title because of her, but would kill her in order to gain an official title.

What she thought was true was not true, what she thought was a lie was not a lie, true and false, this time, she would not be blinded again by following the path she had traveled.

She will also slowly walk where she wants to go, and accomplish what she is about to accomplish bit by bit.

To avenge his father and Xue Zhao, and seek justice for himself who died unjustly.

The carriage drove, and when it got to the back, Jiang Youyao stopped talking and became silent.This family each had their own thoughts, and felt that time passed quickly.

After about half an hour, the carriage stopped.

The groom outside said: "Ma'am, sir, we're here."

Jiang Yuanbai got out of the carriage first, and the servant girl below came to help Ji Shuran and the others. Jiang Lifu got out of the carriage and collapsed on the land separated by the wall from the palace gate. Looking at the deep palace wall, he felt complicated for a while.

It was in this palace that a vicious and domineering person like Princess Yongning was raised to oppress the people with power, and Shen Yurong sacrificed her without hesitation just to win a place in the resplendent palace.

This palace looks magnificent, but how many people living in it are walking dead?They wear gold and silver, as if they have everything, but in fact they have nothing.Jiang Li pitied them, looked down on them, and didn't want to be with them.

"Second Sister, this is the Palace Gate." Jiang Yu'e said as she got off the rear carriage.

Jiang Li smiled, and Jiang Jingrui twisted his neck uncomfortably, he had to dress like a human being today, and he couldn't be as presumptuous as he was in the house.For Jiang Jingrui, this was his death. Jiang Jingyou beside him was as kind as ever, and he was exactly the same as Jiang Yuanping and his son.

Some official carriages came one after another outside the palace gate, and those of lower rank even came to greet Jiang Yuanbai in a fawning manner.It's just that the Jiang family came a bit late, and Jiang Yuanbai had to see Emperor Hong Xiao first, so he didn't stay outside the palace gate too much, and the guides went in directly.

Jiang Youyao originally thought that Jiang Li would be at a loss and overly nervous when entering the palace for the first time, and it would be great if she could see Jiang Li make a fool of herself.Who knew that when she turned her head, she saw Jiang Li holding her skirt slightly, walking very leisurely.

It was as if the palace was her own back garden.

Jiang Youyao couldn't help but feel depressed, even if it was her first time entering the palace, she was also trembling for fear of doing something wrong, but Jiang Li didn't seem to be stage fright at all.Jiang Youyao deliberately wanted to find out Jiang Li's fault, but until she almost reached her destination, Jiang Li did everything perfectly without making any mistakes.

Mrs. Jiang was very satisfied. After all, among the juniors who came today, only Jiang Li was the most unfamiliar to the palace. She was afraid that Jiang Li might make a mistake. From the looks of it now, Jiang Li is doing very well, so there shouldn't be any problems.

At this moment, many officials and family members have already arrived in the main hall of Yuming Palace.These wives and noble daughters are all family members of official families above the third grade of Yanjing, and their status is precious.Because the night banquet has not yet started, most of them are looking for acquaintances to talk to, such as this kind of palace banquet, the daughter's family is trying their best to dress themselves up, and these women are willing to be at the palace banquet if they are good or not Keep a good look.Because there are still many official viscounts and young talents entering the palace today, the atmosphere of Beiyan is more open than that of the previous dynasty. As long as young men and women do not do transgressive things and have mutual affection, they can all marry Qin and Jin through door-to-door marriage proposals. .

And in places like palace banquets, most of the people who come here are from the right family, which is a great convenience.

Sitting in the east direction is a pair of mother and daughter. The woman is about sixteen or seventeen years old. She wears a jade crepe skirt with flowers sprinkled on it and a jade butterfly pattern on her head. She is quite beautiful. The woman beside her is also beautiful. She is dressed gorgeously, but speaking of it, she is not as natural as the ladies around her, with a bit of pettiness.

The mother and daughter are exactly Shen Yurong's mother and sister, Shen Ruyun.

Now that Shen Yurong is a member of Zhongshushe, Shen Ruyun and Shen's mother can naturally come to the palace banquet.Although Shen Yurong is a widower, everyone in Yanjing City knows that Shen Yurong's wife, Xue Fangfei, is having an affair with others. The death of such a wife is just an eye opener.Shen Yurong herself was young and promising, with a promising future, and she was born with impeccable beauty and gentle manners. Many people also looked at Shen Yurong and thought about sending their daughter to the Shen family.

You must know that the Shen family has a simple population, only Shen Ruyun and Shen mother. When Shen Ruyun gets married in the future, any daughter who gets married can be the head of the family. She doesn't need to get along with her sister-in-law, she just needs to get along well with her mother-in-law. For many pampered young ladies , which is already pretty good.

It was precisely because of these considerations in his heart that, for Shen Yurong's sake, many noble ladies came to make friends with Shen's mother.They didn't dislike Shen's mother's original small family, they praised Shen's mother very enthusiastically, and even praised Shen Ruyun, which made Shen Ruyun feel a little bit elated.

Nie Xiaoshuang, Zhu Xin'er, and the two Mingyitang ladies who were in the same group as Jiang Li when they were examining Yushe last time also surrounded Shen Ruyun and talked.

Seeing this, Liu Xu on the side snorted softly and whispered to Mrs. Liu, "It's the first time I've seen someone rushing to continue the song."

Mrs. Liu touched Liu Xu's forehead, and said in a low voice, "You're the one who talks a lot!"

"Originally." Liu Xu muttered, she really didn't like the behavior of these classmates, and she was one of the most noble ladies in Yanjing City, Shen Zhuangyuan just died of his wife, not to mention Xue Fangfei's character, Shen Zhuangyuan anyway What was shown was the deep affection for the dead wife, and those ladies didn't think about it carefully, since they had the deep love for the dead wife, how could they continue so quickly?If it continued so quickly, then Shen Zhuangyuan would not be as affectionate as he showed, and he was also a duplicity person.

Just talking, I heard someone beside me say: "I heard that the marriage between the son of Ningyuan Hou's mansion and the third lady of the Jiang family, the chief assistant, is also scheduled for the end of next winter."

As soon as these words came out, Shen Ruyun's expression on the other end changed immediately, and she said, "But it's true?"

"It's true." Nie Xiaoshuang said: "I also heard from my mother a few days ago that the marriage between Youyao and Zhou Shizi was settled early in the morning, and now it is only decided on the date, which is also reasonable."

Shen Ruyun couldn't bear the resentment in her heart, and said sarcastically: "I remember Zhou Shizi's marriage was settled with Miss Jiang Er early in the morning."

The people around looked at each other.

What Shen Ruyun said was not pleasant, no one dared to accept it, if he accepted it, he would offend the Jiang family, Jiang Yuanbai is the chief minister of the dynasty, who would dare to say that his daughter is half wrong?But the younger sister of Zhongshu Shelang, we also don't want to offend, so we have to keep silent.

It's just that in the silence, they remembered what Shen Ruyun said at the same time.Indeed, Jiang Li was not the one who got engaged to Zhou Yanbang back then, this younger sister took the lead in her older sister's marriage, and it was not very glorious to say the least.Everyone went to see Mrs. Ning Yuanhou's face.

Mrs. Ning Yuanhou seemed to turn a deaf ear to all of this, she was chatting and joking with Dr. Yilang's wife, Mrs. Ji Chen, who is Ji Shuran's direct sister, as if she didn't hear what the people around her were talking about.

Whether you just heard it or not, only you know.

Liu Xu wanted to complain about Jiang Li, but she didn't know what to say, so she had to look at the door frequently, wondering why Jiang Li hadn't arrived yet.

At this moment, the maid who announced the preaching, the daughters of the Jiang family arrived.

Everyone looked at the door, and saw Mrs. Jiang at the front, Ji Shuran in front, Lu Shi next, followed by Yang Shi, the girls of Jiang's family, walked in gracefully.

　Terrible Monday_(:зゝ∠)_
　　
　
(End of this chapter)