Jiang Li came to Wanfengtang, and sure enough, Yin Zhili was here again. This time, Yin Zhiqing was also there. The congratulations they gave to Jiang Li were packed in a box, and Jiang Li asked Tong'er to put it away carefully. Mrs. Jiang was very happy and asked Yin Zhili something about Yin Zhan. You must know that Yin Zhan is now in Yanjing, but what the people want.
And Yin Zhan seems to be at odds with the Right Prime Minister. Now the Right Prime Minister has become a grasshopper in the autumn, and he can't jump a few times. With Yin Zhan in charge, he doesn't have to worry about coming to Jiang's house.
The Jiang family hoped that Jiang Li could get along with Yin Zhili for a while, so they asked Jiang Li to accompany the brother and sister to the yard. Jiang Jingrui and Jiang Jingyou stayed in Wanfengtang to take care of Jiang Bingji.
Knowing that it was the Jiang family's arrangement, Jiang Li didn't refute it. She always accepted it meekly. Yin Zhili walked in front, Yin Zhiqing and Jiang Li were behind.
The yard was not very hot in the morning, and it was still very cool under the shade of the trees. When the summer wind blew, the green waves were surging, and people's hearts were also at peace. Yin Zhiqing was walking, suddenly pulled Jiang Li's sleeve, and whispered, "Miss Jiang Er, have you ever been to the Duke's Mansion?"
Jiang Li was surprised and looked at Yin Zhiqing.
Yin Zhiqing is also wearing a red tulle dress today. Such clothes are frivolous if they are not worn well. However, when she wears them, it sets off her beauty just right. Looking at Jiang Li at her, Yin Zhiqing said, "I met Duke Su in the palace before."
Hearing this, Jiang Li couldn't help but stop.
"The Duke Su should have just come out of the palace. We met in the Imperial Garden. I think we met him once, so I took the initiative to say hello to him. He also greeted him back, and I wanted to say a few more words to him. , but he seemed very busy and left soon."
"So." Jiang Li's heart was a little subtle.
"I heard that the Duke's Mansion has collected all kinds of strange flowers in the world. It is the best place in Yanjing City. Unfortunately, I have never been there. Since Miss Jiang Er is acquainted with Duke Su, has she ever been to the Duke's Mansion?" She stared at Jiang Li with a smile, but there was a hint of imperceptible temptation in her tone.
Jiang Li immediately noticed it, probably because of Ji Heng, she was extremely sensitive, or because Jiang Li was wary of the Yin family. She shook her head almost without hesitation and said, "No, I haven't been to the Guogong Mansion, so I don't know what's going on inside."
"You haven't been to the Duke's Mansion either." Yin Zhiqing's tone was a little disappointed, but her expression was clearly relieved.
"The county owner seems to be very interested in Su Guogong's affairs?" Jiang Li asked rhetorically.
"Forget it, I heard a lot of rumors about him in Yanjing City, but I haven't seen him a few times, so I always think this person is very mysterious." Yin Zhiqing said with a smile: "But in the future, there will be opportunities to meet, Not in a hurry.”
What she said can be said to be very straightforward and straightforward, maybe the woman over there in the cloud has such a temperament. But Jiang Li was a little uncomfortable listening to it.
"Hey, we are so far behind my brother, let's go first." Yin Zhiqing took Jiang Li to Yin Zhili's side, Yin Zhili had found out that he was behind them and was waiting for them under the grapevine trellis. Yin Zhiqing pushed Jiang Li in front of Yin Zhili and said with a smile, "I suddenly feel a little thirsty, brother, Miss Jiang Er, please talk here, I will take the maid to the teahouse to drink some tea to quench my thirst, Beiyan It's much hotter than the summer in Yunzhong." After speaking, before Jiang Li could answer, Yin Zhiqing took the maids away.
Jiang Li looked at their backs, not knowing whether to laugh or cry.
"I'm sorry," Yin Zhili was also a little embarrassed, and apologized to Jiang Li: "My sister has no bad intentions. She is very simple and doesn't think much about her actions."
Jiang Li said: "It's alright, Young Master Yin doesn't need to explain to me. I see that the county lord and Young Master Yin have a deep relationship with each other. The county lord and Young Master Yin seem to be half-brothers and sisters?"
In fact, Jiang Li usually speaks softly and euphemistically, rarely when he is so straightforward. But Yin Zhili is different, because he is always gentle and generous, people can't help but want to see where his bottom line is and when he will get angry. So Jiang Li asked such a sharp question, if Jiang Yuanbai was here, I'm afraid that she would be out of order.
But Yin Zhili was only stunned for a moment, then smiled and said, "Yes, my biological mother passed away very early, and she was almost gone as far as I can remember. Later... My mother treated me very well and treated me like my own, and I have been with Zhiqing since childhood. Not divided."
Jiang Li carefully observed Yin Zhili's eyes when he spoke, and he didn't seem to be lying, indicating that at least Mrs. Yin did not treat Yin Zhili harshly, and their mother-son relationship was so harmonious.
Jiang Li said: "It's really enviable."
Yin Zhili smiled and said, "Miss Jiang Er also has sisters and brothers."
Jiang Li smiled but did not say a word. If it was Xue Fangfei, she naturally had a younger brother who had deep feelings and was willing to sacrifice her life for each other. If it is Jiang Li, there are no siblings of the same mother. Only sisters like Jiang Youyao and Jiang Yu'e are full of scheming, wanting to take their own lives, how can they be called deep feelings.
Yin Zhili probably knew the situation of Jiang's family, and realized that he had said something wrong, his face was a little red, and he was about to change his mind when he suddenly saw the fan in Jiang Li's hand. The fan was given to Jiang Li by Yin Zhiqing. Because of the recent hot weather, Jiang Li also used it. The handle of the fan is icy cold in the hand, and the wind blowing is also cool and comfortable to use.
"Miss Jiang Er is already using this fan?" Yin Zhili said with a smile, "I thought Er Miss Jiang would not be able to use it."
"This fan is very good and very comfortable to use. I would like to thank the county owner." Jiang Li replied. She said "the county owner", no matter whether this fan was chosen by Yin Zhili or not, but in the name of Yin Zhiqing, Jiang Li will have no burden to use it, and there will be no wrong in reputation.
She was also reminding Yin Zhili.
I don't know if Yin Zhili didn't understand it at all, or if he understood but pretended not to understand, Yin Zhili smiled and said, "Miss Jiang Er likes it. If you need anything in the future, Miss Jiang Er can also come to me or Yes, if we can help, we will not refuse."
Jiang Li looked at him amusingly: "Young Master Yin is really polite, so others will criticize him."
"It shouldn't." Yin Zhili said, "because Miss Jiang Er is my friend and Zhiqing's."
He spoke with a smile, his temperament was gentle, and he looked at Jiang Li's eyes intently, with warmth and clarity. Jiang Li was uncomfortable with his gaze, so she had to turn her head away. She was silent and didn't answer Yin Zhili's words, because she really didn't know how to answer. But her heart suddenly became nervous. In the few meetings between Yin Zhili and her, they always followed the etiquette. Although Jiang Li knew that the Yin family and the Jiang family expressed their optimism about this marriage, Yin Zhili himself could not see it. his attitude.
He is good to Jiang Li, but not too good. Just like a friend, he maintains a very comfortable distance. That's why Jiang Li was willing to talk to him. And judging from his playing chess, Yin Zhili is a smart person. Jiang Li has secretly expressed his resistance to this marriage in the past few times. I think Yin Zhili saw it. If Yin Zhili is a proud person, he should not continue to approach.
But today, Jiang Li could feel that his attitude was more obvious than the previous few times. Instead of stepping back, he took a step forward.
Why is this
Could it be that the Yin family has other ideas, and they are about to start planning? But I've only seen it a few times now, not so soon. Speaking of which, today is Miss Jiang's sixteenth birthday. After her sixteenth birthday, most of the noble girls in Yanjing City are married at this age. Jiang Li has not even decided on a marriage until now, it is already very late.
She barely maintained a gentle smile, and waited until the evening when the Yin Zhili brothers and sisters left the Jiang family.
This time, Mrs. Jiang finally did not let Jiang Li send the brother and sister away to speak at Wanfengtang. She may also know about Jiang Li's persuasion, but Jiang Li couldn't listen to it at all, so she simply stopped calling.
Jiang Li returned to Fangfei Garden.
Bai Xue took the two boxes given by the Yin brothers and sisters today, and asked Jiang Li, "Miss, this is something from the Pingyang County Lord and the Prince of the County, do you want to open it?"
Jiang Li said: "Open it."
Bai Xue opened it according to the words, and Yin Zhiqing gave a pair of gemstone heads, which was very valuable at first glance. Jiang Li guessed that it might be something from the reward of the late emperor that General Zhaode had received in the past. Such heads are not available in shops. Arrived, Yin Zhiqing is very generous.
What Yin Zhili gave was a book, which looked unremarkable. Jiang Li opened it and looked at it. It was a handwritten copy left by a great Confucian of the previous dynasty. This book is more expensive than Yin Zhiqing's gift.
After Jiang Li glanced at it, she said, "Just put it in the box." She didn't mean to open the book and put on the headgear, Bai Xue put the things back according to her words. Jiang Li didn't see Tong'er everywhere, so she asked, "Where did Tong'er go?"
"She said she went to the kitchen to get cold food for the girl, but it's been a while, and I don't know why she hasn't come back yet. Girl, do you want a servant to go and have a look?"
"It's alright." Jiang Li shook her head, "Xu is there is something to delay, I have nothing to do, just ask her."
Jiang Li was sitting at the table and flipped through a book in front of her. For some reason, her heart was beating so fast, she always felt like something was going to happen. I couldn't read a single page of the book in front of me, and I was so upset. She pressed her forehead and was about to rub it when suddenly, someone knocked on the door outside, Bai Xue asked, and Tong'er's voice rang from outside.
Bai Xue opened the door, Tong'er came in, Bai Xue looked at her empty hands, and wondered, "Didn't you bring cold food to the girl? Why is there nothing."
Tong'er hesitated, Jiang Li saw her like this, and said: "If you have something to say, just say it, it's all your own, don't worry."
"No, I'm not worried about this..." Tong'er hesitated for a while, looked at Jiang Li, Jiang Li nodded to him, Tong'er seemed to have the courage, and said what was in her mouth, she said: "Miss, the master wants Marry you to Young Master Yin!"
Even though Tong'er said this in a very low voice, Jiang Li and Bai Xue were still taken aback by her, Bai Xue said, "What are you talking about? Why did you suddenly talk about it."
"Tong'er, did you hear something? Don't be afraid, tell me, I'll come up with an idea." Jiang Li comforted her.
Her voice was gentle, and after the shock at the beginning, she immediately regained her composure, as if being affected by Jiang Li's calmness, Tong'er gradually calmed down. She said: "The slave girl originally wanted to go to the kitchen to serve cold food for the girl at night. It was hot at that time, and the slave slave wanted to go around the house behind Wanfeng Hall, where the road is closer, who knows when to walk under the window. , I happened to hear the old lady and the master talking."
Tong'er is different from the little maid in the mansion. The maid in the mansion knows the rules very well, and they also follow the rules on weekdays. Tong'er and Jiang Li stayed in Qingcheng Mountain for eight years, and their minds were very detached. In addition, Jiang Li was accustomed to her on weekdays, so Tong'er often took shortcuts.
"The slaves heard that the master said to the old lady... General Yin has won the battle this time, and your majesty will definitely reward you for your merits. When your majesty is debating merits and actions, he asks your majesty to grant an imperial decree to marry the girl and the prince of the county. "
Jiang Li and Bai Xue were both stunned. This may be a bright thing for the young lady of other people's family. However, in Jiang Li's eyes, in the hot summer, it was like pouring a bucket of cold water over her head and covering her face, making her cold from head to toe into ice cubes.
Yin Zhan is really a way to survive, and if it is the marriage of Emperor Hong Xiao, there will be no room for change in this marriage. Just like Princess Yongning who was domineering and domineering back then, it was not an imperial decree, so she could only obediently marry into the Li family
The Yin family did not hesitate to sacrifice their military exploits to get themselves married. It seemed that they had to be in-laws with the Jiang family.
Tong'er said: "The slave girl seems very happy to hear the old lady's meaning. It is also a blessing for the girl to marry into the Yin family, and she will sit back and relax in the future, and don't have to worry about anything. The only worry is whether the Yin family will return to the cloud in the future. But this time General Yin was able to conquer and destroy the king, so the emperor should not let him go back to the northwest again. Moreover, he and our family became relatives, so the master and the second master will also persuade the emperor to find a way to make the Yin family stay. "
Jiang Li couldn't help sneering: "The Yin family is really good at calculus."
Tong'er was taken aback by Jiang Li's face. Her girl was always kind, gentle and gentle, but even when she was angry, she didn't show any traces of her life. Unlike now, she was clearly angry. , the whole complexion sank, watching to teach people to be afraid.
But I still have to continue talking about what I heard, Tong'er continued: "The master also said that now the girl has passed her sixteenth birthday, your majesty bestows the marriage, and the marriage can be completed this winter. The slave wants to hear more, then Someone's footsteps came over, so I had to run away. The servant wanted to come back and tell you about it, but she forgot to go to the small kitchen to serve cold food."
What time is it, who cares about a bowl of cold food. Bai Xue tugged at Tong'er's sleeve, but Tong'er stared at Jiang Li worriedly.
The two maids could see that Jiang Li clearly wanted Duke Su, how could the Jiang family mess up the mandarin ducks and make Jiang Li and Yin Gongzi marry. Bai Xue thought for a while, and said: "Do you want to go to the master and make it clear. Since the girl thinks that the Yin family is inappropriate and gives reasons, the master is your father after all, as long as the girl's words are reasonable, she will listen. "
"It's useless to talk to him," Jiang Li said. "My father also thinks about the Jiang family. Besides, the Yin family is not good, and the methods are clever. Even if I tell my father, he will not believe it."
"Then... do you want to go to Grandpa Guo for help?" Tong'er asked cautiously.
Bai Xue glanced at Tong'er, who looked back at her innocently. In Tong'er's heart, if there is any trouble with her own girl, she can go to the Guogong's mansion to solve it. It really doesn't work, let Su Guogong go to discuss with the Yin family. Su Guogong is so capable, I think he can make the Yin family retreat without a fight.
Jiang Li's hand rested on the table and couldn't help clenching it into a fist. The Yin family's actions were fast, and they still used this unrewarding method, so that she couldn't find a chance to refuse. Because the marriage of the daughter's family can't be decided by themselves, the Yin family has the initiative, and Jiang Li is in a very passive position.
No wonder, no wonder Yin Zhili's attitude towards her is different today. It can be seen that Yin Zhili already knew in advance that at the celebration banquet, Yin Zhan would ask Emperor Hong Xiao for a marriage gift. They regard themselves as the turtle in the urn, just waiting to be slaughtered. In an instant, the hostility in Jiang Li's heart soared. After she died once, what she hated most was the feeling of being controlled and submissive.
Want her, she will not let it!
Since she clearly can't refuse, secretly she has a way. In the Jiang family's play, she also wanted to be good at the beginning and end, but she didn't want to be regarded as a shadow puppet and become a puppet in the palm of others. She didn't watch this play, and she didn't play this chess game. She wanted to jump out of the chessboard, so she wouldn't be someone else's pawn.
Jiang Li stood up, put on his outer clothes, and said, "Let's go when it's late at night."
Bai Xue asked, "Where is the girl going?"
"The Duke's Mansion." Jiang Li said, and she took the porcelain whistle down from her waist. She hadn't blown this whistle for a long time. Although Zhao Ke didn't seem to be in Jiang's mansion, Jiang Li decided to bet again. In the middle of the night, blow the whistle to see what the outcome would be. If no one comes, she will go by herself and find a way to visit the palace.
Tong'er's eyes lit up and she said, "The girl is going to be with Duke Su... Would it be too risky?" She was half happy and half worried. She was happy that Jiang Li went to her sweetheart to solve the problem, but she was worried that everyone in the world would not be able to solve the problem. That is to say, there is no good end to elopement. Those stories of rich ladies and poor boys eloping, in the end, are the tragic endings of poor and lowly couples who mourn and the rich girls are abandoned.
But... My girl is not short of money for the time being, and Duke Su is even poorer, so that shouldn't be a problem.
Before she could think about whether this was a good thing, Jiang Li's voice came, and she said, "No. I'll go see him and say goodbye to him."
bid farewell? Bai Xue and Tong'er looked at Jiang Li and were too shocked to speak.
In Jiang Li's heart, from the initial hesitation, it gradually became firm. It seems that she has no way to change this matter, the only thing she can do is to leave Jiang's house. When Jiang Yuanbo found out that he was missing, he would naturally think of ways to reject the marriage. Just before leaving, Jiang Li had to take Xue Huaiyuan with him. She plans to go to Ye's house tomorrow to confess her identity to Xue Huaiyuan, and to say goodbye to Ye Mingyu. After all, Jiang Li has no uncle, and Ye Mingyu has long regarded him as his own uncle.
She went to see Ji Heng at night. In addition to saying goodbye to Ji Heng, it was a worthwhile acquaintance with the other party. She also wanted to beg Ji Heng, if possible, to help her and Xue Huaiyuan on their way out of Yanjing City. It might not be difficult to avoid Jiang Yuanbo, but if the Yin family also came to search for her whereabouts, Jiang Li was not sure that she would be able to escape completely. If they really want to be caught at that time, I'm afraid that Xue Huaiyuan will be implicated, and they will also be curious, why Jiang Li only brought Xue Huaiyuan with him.
She must go.
The night gradually shrouded, and the yard was getting closer and closer. Bai Xue and Tong'er looked around at the door of the yard for a while, and they were sure that almost all the people in the house were asleep. Jiang Li stood in front of the window, spread out her palm, and lay the whistle in her palm. She put the whistle to her lips and blew softly.
The crisp whistle sound was exceptionally clear at night. Even though Jiang Li had already blocked some sounds with his hands, he could still hear it clearly in the yard where no one was talking. Tong'er and Bai Xue were standing behind Jiang Li, also looking out the window nervously.
Jiang Li waited for a long time, but no one came. She was a little disappointed, turned her head to Bai Xue and said, "Let's find a way to get out by ourselves."
As soon as he finished speaking, he heard a voice from the tree in front of him: "Where do you want to go, Second Miss?"
Jiang Li suddenly looked up and saw a person squatting on a branch in front of the window. It seemed that he had been squatting here for a long time. Seeing Jiang Li looking up at him, he jumped down from the tree, it was Zhao Ke.
"When did you come?" Jiang Li was surprised, "I thought you weren't in the house."
"I've been here for a while. Seeing that the second lady had no other orders, she slept on the tree." Zhao Ke said, "I heard the second lady blow the whistle, what's the second lady?"
He still looked like he didn't know anything, and Jiang Li didn't know if he heard what Fang Caitong'er said. But it doesn't matter whether Zhao Ke heard it or not, because Jiang Li will explain the reason to Ji Heng in person. She said: "I want to go to the mansion of the Guogong, and tell Ji Heng if he has something to say, is he in the mansion now?"
Zhao Ke noticed that Jiang Li was talking about "Ji Heng" today instead of "Grandpa", which seemed to be an equal title. He felt that today's Jiang Li was a little strange, but he couldn't tell what was strange, he only said: "Your Excellency is in the mansion, is Second Miss going to see Your Excellency now?"
Jiang Li said: "Yes."
"The second lady, come with me."
Jiang Li said to Tong'er and Bai Xue, "You two stay in the mansion. After meeting Ji Heng, I will come back."
Tong'er and Bai Xue nodded, they couldn't control Jiang Li anyway, that's all, as long as Jiang Li was happy.
Jiang Li and Zhao Ke left, the lights in Fangfei Garden went out, and everything returned to silence.