The Double
Chapter 177 - 177 90 Uncle_4

177: Chapter 90 Uncle_4 177: Chapter 90 Uncle_4 Feeling guilty about what?

Jiang Li was taken aback.

However, the way Madam Jiang the Elder treated the Ye Family suggested that Ye Shijie’s appointment as the Assistant Minister of Revenue had indeed softened the Jiang Family’s stance to some extent.

As long as Ye Shijie kept climbing the ranks, and the Ye Family continued to thrive thanks to him, it was only a matter of time before they mended their relationship with the Ye Family.

By then, Jiang Li would be a girl with the protection of her maternal family background, and Ji Shuran would no longer be able to harass her as confidently as before.

Ji Shuran must be regretting it deeply now, Jiang Li thought.

The reason she had not taken action sooner or had done so discreetly was that Ji Shuran wanted to maintain her reputation as a virtuous mother.

Little did she know, she had given Jiang Li the opportunity to slip through the cracks, and once missed, the chance would not come back.

Collecting her thoughts, Jiang Li continued chatting with Uncle Ye Ming Xuan and his nephew, as well as Madam Jiang the Elder.

It was all idle family chitchat.

Madam Jiang the Elder inquired about the latest on the other members of the Ye Family of Xiangyang, and Ye Ming Xuan responded with politeness and decorum.

At least on the surface, it seemed that relations between the Jiang Family and Ye Family had significantly eased.

Jiang Li also noticed that, on this occasion, no one else was present, not even Jiang Yuan Bai.

Perhaps Madam Jiang the Elder felt that it would be somewhat awkward for the whole Jiang Family to suddenly meet, so she decided it was better to have fewer people around, taking things slowly.

Before they knew it, a cup of tea had been finished.

Ye Ming Xuan also stood up to take his leave, mentioning he had matters to attend and that he would visit another day.

He then smiled at Jiang Li, “I’ll have the gift for Jiang Li moved to her courtyard right now.”

“Very well,” said Madam Jiang the Elder, “Jiang Li, you should also show Uncle Ming Xuan your courtyard.”

This was to give the uncle and niece some private time to talk.

Both old foxes, Ye Ming Xuan readily agreed to the old madam’s arrangement.

Jiang Li then led Uncle Ming Xuan and Ye Shijie back to Fangfei Garden.

Tonger walked in front, standing tall and straight.

This was her first time meeting the relatives from Ye Zhenzhen’s paternal family, and she was fearful of them harboring any resentment toward Jiang Li for her past of murdering her mother and brother.

She was determined to present herself as neither servile nor overbearing.

However, judging from Ye Ming Xuan’s demeanor, which seemed approachable, it appeared that he was not a harsh person.

Ye Shijie had been silent the whole way, seemingly lost in his own thoughts today, unusually silent.

In contrast, Ye Ming Xuan occasionally asked Jiang Li how she was doing, to which she responded with a smile.

Ye Ming Xuan was again surprised to see how composed Jiang Li was.

Years ago, when Jiang Li was sent to Green City Mountain, the Ye Family had also secretly negotiated with the Jiang Family.

Despite Jiang Li’s disrespect toward the Ye Family, she was still their descendant.

Unfortunately, at that time, Jiang Yuan Bai was too stubborn to disclose where exactly Jiang Li had been sent, and in the end, they had to let it be.

Even after learning from Ye Shijie that Jiang Li had returned to Yanjing City and done some significant things, Ye Ming Xuan thought that people like the Jiang Family, who were opportunistic and avoid harm, wouldn’t care too much about a daughter like Jiang Li who could tarnish the Jiang Family’s reputation.

But now, seeing Madam Jiang the Elder’s attitude, it seemed Jiang Li’s position within the Jiang Family was not as lowly as he had thought.

And watching Jiang Li’s manners and behavior, well-educated and elegant, she did not seem mistreated.

This niece of his seemed to have many secrets unknown to others, Ye Ming Xuan quietly thought.

When they arrived at the entrance of Fangfei Garden, Qingfeng and Ming Yue were cleaning the yard; Bai Xue quickly offered tea when she saw Jiang Li returning.

Upon noticing Ye Ming Xuan and Ye Shijie accompanying Jiang Li, she couldn’t hide her surprise.

“This is Uncle Ming Xuan and Cousin Ye,” Jiang Li said with a smile.

“Bai Xue, serve the tea.”

Ye Ming Xuan was instantly stunned at the sight of Fangfei Garden.

Even in autumn, Fangfei Garden was a riot of color, blooming with various chrysanthemums and osmanthus, their fragrance overpowering, showing no sign of withering or loneliness.

Jiang Yuan Bai liked to flaunt his integrity, so the plants in his yards were primarily green.

In autumn, he preferred the solemnity of black and white to highlight his purity.

Thus, on the way here, such lushness was nowhere to be seen.

But Jiang Li’s courtyard was lively and utterly out of place with the Chief Minister’s Residence, reminding Ye Ming Xuan in an instant of his late sister, Ye Zhenzhen.

Ye Zhenzhen was a girl who loved liveliness.

Before she got married, her courtyard was always filled with birdsong and flowers.

Her brothers, being mischievous, always practiced swordplay in her yard, chopping her flowers into a mess, infuriating Ye Zhenzhen to the point of complaining to Elder Master Ye and Old Madam Ye.

The scene before him suddenly brought back memories for Ye Ming Xuan, leaving him with a bitter taste in his eyes.

The old scenery still remained, but the people had passed away—a truly regrettable affair.

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