The Double
Chapter 114 - 114 78 Entering the Palace

114: Chapter 78: Entering the Palace 114: Chapter 78: Entering the Palace “Lili, you are to join us at the palace tomorrow,” Madam Jiang the Elder began, “If there’s anything you lack or need, just tell your mother, and she will prepare it for you.”

Jiang Li nodded in agreement.

“This will be your first time entering Yanjing City’s palace; you mustn’t break any rules.

If you don’t understand something, just ask.

When in doubt, follow Youyao’s lead,” Madam Jiang the Elder instructed carefully, “Your clothes and jewelry are all ready.

Tomorrow, you will represent the honor of the Jiang Family—I trust you will do very well.”

To Jiang Li’s surprise, Madam Jiang the Elder actually praised her for once.

She smiled and nodded, without showing excessive excitement.

Seeing Jiang Li like this, Jiang Yue couldn’t help but feel uncomfortable.

She had watched Jiang Li’s status in the family rise little by little.

It was always bitter to see someone else happy when one wasn’t, and to Jiang Yue, Jiang Li’s fortune was particularly irritating.

She would have been thrilled to see Jiang Li fall into perdition overnight and live a life even more miserable than her own.

“Lili is truly impressive,” Lady Lu said with a gleaming smile, “This time she is to receive an honor bestowed personally by the emperor.

Of all the younger members in our household, only Lili has achieved this.

I’ve heard this year’s top graduate from the Imperial College is Ye Shijie, a member of the Ye Family of Xiangyang.

Speaking of which, he is even related to our Jiang Family—he’s Jiang Li’s cousin.”

Ye Zhenzhen had passed away many years ago, and the Jiang Family had not maintained contact with her maternal family.

Lady Lu’s mention of Ye Shijie was undoubtedly aimed at upsetting Ji Shuran.

After all, Ji Shuran’s nephew from her maternal family hadn’t even made the honor roll at the Imperial College, much less achieved the status of the top graduate.

When Jiang Li heard Lady Lu mention Ye Shijie, she sighed inwardly.

She didn’t wish to drag the Ye Family into the Jiang Family’s murky affairs.

The Ye Family, being in Xiangyang, was a family she would have to rely on when paying respects to Xue Huaiyuan.

Entangling the Ye Family with the Jiang Family could be unfavorable for the Ye Family.

She hoped the Ye Family would remain untainted.

With a smile, Ji Shuran turned to look at Jiang Li, “Indeed, I also think that Lili should interact more with young Master Ye.

Although sister Zhenzhen has passed, our families are still related by marriage.

If young Master Ye enters the civil service, our master could also extend a helping hand.

After all, it’s better to assist our own kin rather than outsiders.”

Jiang Li’s gaze flickered upon hearing this.

Ji Shuran’s words seemed sincerely spoken.

But could Ji Shuran truly be so kind-hearted, and would she even let Jiang Yuanbai help Ye Shijie?

That was impossible.

Ji Shuran would only scheme to undermine Ye Shijie in secret.

It wasn’t that Jiang Li purposefully thought so darkly of people—it was that having lived in the Jiang Residence for some time, she knew full well what kind of person Ji Shuran was.

Furthermore, Zhou Yanbang had even suggested calling off his engagement with Youyao and joining with her instead—all these things combined made it unlikely that Ji Shuran and her daughter bore anything but malice towards her.

However, up to this point, Ji Shuran and her daughter had been very quiet, without causing any trouble.

With these thoughts, Jiang Li looked toward Ji Shuran.

Ji Shuran bore a smile of graceful virtue, appearing to be a loving mother.

However, Jiang Li felt her gaze was more like that of a venomous python coiled on a branch, squinting its eyes as it slowly and deliberately sized up its prey, emitting a sinister laughter and dipping its fangs in poison.

She was scheming something.

Jiang Li then turned her attention to Jiang Youyao.

Jiang Youyao was significantly younger and was unable to mask her emotions as seamlessly as Ji Shuran.

She tried her best to portray an indifferent smile, but couldn’t hide the resentment in her eyes towards Jiang Li, tinged with a strange excitement for some reason.

That sticky, clingy look was eerily familiar to Jiang Li, but in that fleeting moment, she couldn’t recall when she had seen it before.

Yet one thing was certain—such a look made her incredibly uncomfortable, sending a chill down her spine and snapping her to full alertness.

Lady Yang, who didn’t have much say in the affairs of the Jiang Family, simply twirled her shrewd eyes around, now glancing at Jiang Li, now at Ji Shuran.

Madam Jiang the Elder didn’t say much else, but she mentioned some palace etiquette to Jiang Li.

In truth, Jiang Li was already aware of all this—she had entered the palace before with Shen Yurong’s family.

And since the Jiang Family was part of the imperial court’s officialdom, the rules were actually more relaxed for them.

After Madam Jiang the Elder had finished with her instructions, and quite some time had passed, everyone thought of the preparations they had yet to make and dispersed from Night Wind Hall.

Upon leaving Night Wind Hall, Jiang Li headed toward her own courtyard.

Fangfei Garden was located at the corner of the Jiang Residence and in a different direction from the courtyards of Jiang Youyao and the others, so naturally, she didn’t have to accompany them.

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