The Double-Chapter 728 - 219 Prophecy_5

Jiang Li and his brother Jiang Jingrui were sitting in a carriage, while Jiang Jingyou didn’t say anything, it was Jiang Jingrui who kept looking at Jiang Li.

Jiang Li, puzzled, "Why are you looking at me?"

"Do you know what it means that grandmother asked you to go to the palace today?" Jiang Jingrui inquired.

Jiang Li’s heart skipped a beat. Lady Lu seemed unaware of the situation, whereas both Jiang Jingrui and Jiang Jingyou were privy to the Yin Household’s intentions. She simply smiled with indifference, "A celebration banquet, what else could it be?"

"How can you not be the least bit curious?"

Jiang Li retorted, "What’s there to be curious about? Do you know something?"

Jiang Jingyou tugged at Jiang Jingrui, clearly reminding him not to blabber. If the matter wasn’t set in stone yet and someone overheard, it could unjustly tarnish Jiang Li’s reputation. Jiang Jingrui understood the stakes and said no more, though he still seemed a bit reluctant, probably because he saw that Jiang Li didn’t take the matter to heart.

"Now that Prince Cheng and the Right Chancellor have fallen, I wonder how the fourth and the fifth sisters are doing," Jiang Li suddenly said.

She mentioned it merely in passing, having heard no news from the third branch in recent days. Jiang Jingrui said, "They’re fine, why bring them up? Don’t tell me you sympathize with them, knowing that your abduction to Huangzhou was the harsh doing of the third branch."

"It’s not sympathy, just a bit odd," Jiang Li explained.

"I actually did hear something about the third branch," said Jiang Jingyou as he cleared his throat, "The third aunt... supposedly drowned by accident, and the third uncle entrusted the fourth sister to relatives of the Yang Family, and now her whereabouts are unknown. As for the fifth sister, I’m not too sure, but the Marquis of Ningyuan’s Mansion has recently been discussing marriage with someone from the Gao Family in the city. It seems the young miss from the Gao Family is set to marry into the Marquis of Ningyuan’s Mansion."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Li displayed no particular surprise. After all, the third branch had chosen to side with Prince Cheng, and they had to be prepared for the possibility of losing the gamble. The drowning of Lady Yang and Jiang Yuanxing’s disappearance were likely the deliberate actions of those with ulterior motives. Jiang Yue didn’t deserve any pity; the Ningyuan Mansion had never been a decent bunch to deal with. Yearning to marry into their household, she had eagerly suppressed Shen Ruyun following Shen’s mishap, and naturally, should have foreseen the potential to share Shen Ruyun’s fate. It was regrettable for Jiang Yuyan, who, born into the third branch, wasn’t in control of her destiny, and hadn’t done anything grievously wrong herself, yet was somewhat timid and had to pay the price for deeds not her own. Perhaps it was the consequence of the third branch’s greed that Jiang Yuyan was now bearing.

"They were a family of ill intents; they got what they deserved," Jiang Jingrui disdainfully said.

Jiang Jingyou shook his head without comment, and Jiang Li also fell silent.

No matter how one looked at it, with the downfall of the Right Chancellor, the last of Prince Cheng’s lackeys, it seemed that the Chapter was coming to a definitive end. Those bureaucrats, both overtly and covertly linked to Prince Cheng, also saw their end with this conflict. Everything appeared to have settled into calm.

Yet Jiang Li felt an unsettling premonition.

Just like the summer weather, though the sun shone brightly and the breeze was light, Jiang Li couldn’t shake the feeling that it wouldn’t be long before the skies would darken and a storm would brew.

All one could do was to adapt to the circumstances.

...

The carriage came to a halt at the palace gate, Jiang Li and Jiang Jingrui alighted and stood outside, looking into the palace; Jiang Li was overwhelmed with emotion.

She had entered the palace several times before: after the academic examination, at the granting of the awards, the royal banquets, the imperial discussions... One event after another, she had accomplished many things. Now, as she returned here, those who had been at odds with her, Ji Shuran was dead, Jiang Youyao had gone mad. Those who had sought revenge, Princess Yongning and Shen Yurong, had long paid the price for their sins.

Ups and downs, twists and turns. In the end, it had only been a year, yet within that brief span, she had nearly achieved all her dreams since being reborn. Everything was going smoothly as if the heavens were compensating her for the suffering in her previous life, or as if fate was playing a cruel joke, letting her sample the honey laid over the trap.

There were already many colleagues around, warmly greeting Jiang Yuanbai. With the complete fall of the Right Chancellor, his faction had met with misfortune. The foremost position among civil officials fell unquestionably to Jiang Yuanbai, and those who aligned with Jiang Yuanping’s side also shared in the glory. It seemed the position of the Chief Minister was still very secure. The officials, ever skillful in changing their sails with the wind, were numerous and not in short supply to pay their respects.

Many among them, who had unmarried sons of suitable age, cast their sights on Jiang Li.

It could be said that Jiang Li was now the true pearl of the Jiang Family; whoever married her would ride the coattails of the Jiang Family’s rising fortune.

Furthermore, Jiang Li was quite attractive herself. Her brilliance had shone at the Six Arts examination, and she possessed a charming beauty that was not overly bold to invite trouble. Her demeanor also seemed gentle. Although what she did with the Tongxiang County citizens at the Stone Lion’s Drum of Grievance was somewhat unconventional, it also earned her a good reputation among the common people, which couldn’t really be considered a bad thing. All in all, her virtues outweighed her flaws, and within the circle of noble ladies of Yanjing City, she was counted among the top few.

Jiang Li noticed the evaluating glances of the officials’ wives, warm as if appraising an item. She slightly frowned and stood behind Jiang Jingrui, shutting out those gazes.

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