Chapter 54 Part 2 - Older Cousin
Chapter 54 Part 2: Older Cousin
“I want to say, my age was small at that time. Grandmother is also far away in Xiangyang. My mother left early, father was busy with government affairs, many things were looked after by stepmother. Whatever I said might be taught by someone, or someone threatened me to say these words.”
Ye Shijie wanted to taunt her with a few sentences. But seeing how serious Jiang Li looked, he couldn’t help being distracted.
These words were actually just a guess in Jiang Li’s heart. Jiang second miss’s age was too small at that time, yet she was able to speak such hurtful words out. Moreover, merchants being lowly, this kind of thing, if it was what Jiang second miss really believed someone must have inevitably instilled this point of view to her. Based on Jiang Li’s observation of Ji Shuran, Ji Shuran’s ruthlessness may have been used on the young Jiang second miss.
Whether Ji Shuran coaxed or threatened her, anyhow it certainly wasn’t Jiang second miss’s idea, but the influence of other people.
Ye Shijie was silent. Jiang Li’s words made him waver. Even though he blamed Jiang Li, but the current expression on Jiang Li’s face didn’t appear fake.
“Then what are you planning to do now?” After a while, Ye Shijie said: “You want to renew the relationship with the Ye family?”
Jiang Li smiled: “I only exerted a slight effort to help elder cousin Ye once. Elder cousin Ye immediately thought I wanted to amend the relationship with the Ye family. There’s no harm in telling elder cousin Ye, if I really wanted to restore the relationship with the Ye family, I wouldn’t use your matter.”
“Hmph.” Ye Shijie snorted lightly, but his expression wasn’t as hostile as it was at the beginning. He said: “You spoke eloquently, displaying righteousness. Nobody knows how shrewd one is underneath the surface. Otherwise why wasn’t Liu Zimin sent to the government officials instead of giving him a way out?”
Jiang Li stepped in the dispute between Liu Zimin and Ye Shijie yesterday and turned things around using a few words. Originally, Liu Zimin had no chance to free himself, but Jiang Li took the initiative to give Liu Zimin a way out, letting Liu Zimin dodge the trouble.
“Within Yanjing ground, all parties’ power are tangled and complicated as there are numerous official families. Even though the Ye family is very rich, nobody from the Ye family occupies an official position. Just like a gold mine without any protection, anybody could readily take a bite. Elder cousin, isn’t it due to your wealth that Liu Zimin took note?”
Ye Shijie frowned.
“The Ye family is very rich, but also a commoner. Small officials don’t dare to fight with big officials, moreover commoners against high officials. Giving Liu Zimin a way out is actually for elder cousin’s well-being. If elder cousin continued the entanglement, Taichang Qing’s residence would certainly not let the matter go. The Liu family could afford it, but the Ye family couldn’t.” said Jiang Li.
Ye Shijie’s expression calmed down when Jiang Li spoke of this reasoning, leaving just a small amount of bitterness.
Citizens did not fight with officials, a sneer flashed in Jiang Li’s heart. Isn’t it like that? Her Xue family was still an official family, yet due to the small official post, in Princess Yong Ning’s eyes, a noble person, they were just grass, convenient to kill. There was fairness on earth. However, that depended on what one relied on. Relying on a tyrant, then unreasonableness would be reasonable.
Ye Shijie said: “Of course I am aware, otherwise I wouldn’t have spared him.”
Jiang Li saw Ye Shijie this way and she understood in her heart. The Ye family’s eldest grandson was not a rude and impulsive person. She asked: “I forgot to ask, why is elder cousin in the capital?”
It coulfn’t be coming to Yanjing from Xiangyang for no reason, there must be a cause.
“I am studying at the Imperial College.” Ye Shijie looked at Jiang Li, with a bit of provocation in his tone, “Just like you said, nobody in the Ye family holds any official post, powerless to protect the family property. Therefore I came to the capital to study and become an official.”
“You want to be a government official?” Jiang Li suddenly understood.