Chapter 25.2: Part 2: Ah Lî

Jiang Li came out of her daze and said with a smile: "Although my old friend is no longer in this world, I'm still here."

Although Xue Fang Fei was no longer here, Jiang Li was still here. Xue Fang Fei wasn't able to redeem this jade, but Jiang Li was able to get it back.

Xue Fang Fei's baby name was Ah Lî, Jiang Li's name also was a single character "Li1". Perhaps this was a mysterious fate, letting her take the place of this pitiful lady to once more return to Yanjing.

Jiang Li, Jiang Li2, the meaning of the name wasn't good. But after all, the former Xue Fang Fei3 also didn't have a prosperous life in her lifetime. It's clear that in the end, destiny was in one's own hands.

Tong'er blinked, seeing Jiang Li's smile, she was able to relax. She seemed to recall something and said: "The two servant girls from Warm and Graceful Courtyard'susually don't bother about their work. Today also came a few sweeping servants from the outer courtyard, but they also slack off. Young lady shouldn't let them continue this way, Ji shi didn't care about this thing, but master can't be involved in the matters of the backyard. Old Madam can take care of this, right!"

"Old Madam is not close to me at all. If I tell her this thing, she can take care of this for a while but she cannot manage it for a lifetime. It's better for me to take care of this matter myself." Jiang Li shook her head. Old Madam Jiang was powerful and capable. Being calm and obedient might not necessarily get her favor. Moreover, Jiang Li had previously made Old Madam Jiang's heart cold. If she really wanted to raise her dissatisfaction, it wasn't known who she would lean towards more.

"What does young lady plan to do?" Hearing this, Tong'er was immediately eager to hear. Ever since Jiang Li used the monkeys in Mount Qingcheng to plan her return to the capital, Tong'er had absolute belief in Jiang Li.

"In these few days, as much as possible, in front of Yi Shurang, just mutter to yourself about how much benefits I've given Xiang Qiao." Jiang Li said: "More than half of the jewelry in the small box Ji shi sent over was given away to her."

"Young lady wants to drive a wedge between them?" Tong'er was clever and promptly asked.

"From the beginning, both of them couldn't be considered close, it's not possible to drive a wedge between them." Jiang Li laughed, "This can be considered as simply giving them a small test, that's all."

Just a test, if won, then naturally they could live together in harmony. If lost, then the whole game was lost.

In Warm and Graceful Courtyard, Xiang Qiao was standing in the middle of a room. Facing the table, Jiang Youyao was practicing writing characters, but her expression was obviously absent-minded.

Ji Shuran asked: "A ruby head ornament?"

"Yes, the ruby head ornament from Jixiang Lou, 400 taels of silver. This servant saw it personally." said Xiang Qiao.

"What can a head ornament that costs 400 taels of silver be regarded as?" Jiang Youyao felt disdainful.

"Although it cannot be regarded as much, it also wouldn't make her lose face." Ji Shuran muttered, "It probably would be similar to what your two elder cousins from the second branch would send." According to reason, she didn't make an error in choosing it.

Hearing what was said, Xiang Qiao thought in her mind, Ji Shuran saying this was clearly wanting to make a fuss during Jiang Youyao's hairpin ceremony.

"Mother, then what can make her have a good time?" Jiang Youyao put her pen down and hastily looked at Ji Shuran.

"These days she just returned to the capital, Liu Yuan Feng is looking after her, your father also feels guilty towards her. However, if you want to make people loathe her is also very simple." Ji Shuran said.

"How to do it?" Jiang Youyao's eyes turned bright.

"Don't forget, she still has a reputation of being evil, harming the mother and murdering the brother. How can it be so easily erased? Now it has been too long, people have forgotten about it. In case the people were reminded, she will not have any way out." Ji Shuran smiled virtuously, "The most hateful thing the nobles in Yanjing cannot stand is touching a bit of mud."

Xiang Qiao's heart jumped, and stared at Ji Shuran who had looked over at her.

Mmm just wondering, would you rather have the name of the courtyards left in pinyin or translated? With Warm and Graceful Courtyard (淑秀园 - Shu Xiu), the first times it appeared Lime translated it, but lately she is leaving it in pinyin (Shu Xiu Courtyard). I have been replacing it with the translation to keep it consistent across the chapters, but if you prefer the pinyin version I can also leave it like that, I don't mind either option...

Also, remember that there is a character list for all characters and places' names, in case you forgot or get lost... I consult it more often than you'd think 🤣

Footnotes:

1: Li (梨) in Jiang Li means pear; Lî (狸) in Ah Lî means racoon.

2: The first one is 姜梨 Jiang Li, her name; the second one is 将离 Qiang Li, it means inviting separation, it can be seen as a not auspicious word ( the Chinese have similar-sounding words whose characters are written differently)

3:Fang Fei (芳菲): fragrant, luxurious growth (prosperity).