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Marriage of the Di Daughter Chapter 130 Part 4: Master
Jiang Li closed the window, turned her head to look, but she was stunned when she saw the other person’s face clearly. This was no one else but the Jiang family’s gardener who helped to take care of the gardens everyday. Jiang Li did not remember his name, but she knew there was such a person. It was said that this person was invited by Ji Shuran to the residence with a high price as he was skilled in tending the flowers and plants.
He did not look very old, seemed to be around 16 or 17 years old. He looked young and attractive. It was said that his skill in looking after the flowers and plants was rare, the orchid that Ji Shuran was most fond of was nearly dead and this person brought it back to life.
At first, Jiang Li thought it was incredible, as she didn’t antic.i.p.ate this person to lurk in the Jiang family with this ident.i.ty. But after thinking about it, it seemed very natural. It’s widely known that Ji Heng loved flowers the most, and there were the world’s strange flowers and plants in his residence. Each and every one in his residence could grow flowers, in addition, each person was handsome. This person was both good at growing flowers and handsome. Indeed he was a person from Ji Heng’s residence. It’s just that no one thought that Ji Heng’s people were so bold and dared to openly come to the Jiang residence as a gardener.
“What’s your name?” Jiang Li asked.
“This subordinate is called Zhao Ke.” The gardener said.
“Zhao Ke,” Jiang Li muttered for a while, “how long have you been in the Jiang residence?”
Zhao Ke did not expect that Jiang Li would ask this question. He glanced at Jiang Li, not replying to her. Jiang Li said, “Since your master told me of your existence, for the time being, you and I should not be enemies. I think Ji Heng should be clear that I would ask this question. Since he did not refute, that means he acquiesced. Just speak, I guarantee he will not punish you for this.”
Zhao Ke had been following Ji Heng since he was young. Jiang Li straightforwardly saying “Ji Heng”, this distinguished name, made Zhao Ke flabbergasted. He did not know whether Jiang Li’s courage was too big or whether the relationship between Jiang Li and Ji Heng were closer than he thought. In short, Zhao Ke hesitated before finally saying, “Seven years.”
Seven years ago, Jiang Li had already left the Jiang residence then. At that time, Ji Heng was just a 14 years old youngster, but unexpectedly he let someone hide in the Jiang residence. However, it had been so many years and the Jiang family did not find out. It seemed that he sent someone to the Jiang residence not for the destruction of the Jiang family.
“What do you usually do daily?” Jiang Li asked.
“As the gardener, if there’s any big matter, then report to the superior, if there’s no big matter, tend to the flowers and plants.” Zhao Ke replied.
Although he was very frank, Jiang Li knew it was only up to here. Zhao Ke would not speak of any deeper things, or perhaps, he simply did not know.
Jiang Li nodded, “You should know that Ji Shuran went to the palace to meet Li-pin today, right?”
Zhao Ke nodded.
“Why did she meet with Li-pin? What did she do after she returned?” Jiang Li asked.
Zhao Ke said, “This subordinate did not follow to the palace and was not aware what kind of plan Ji-shi and Li-pin, these two people, came up with. But today, a servant from the Warm and Graceful Courtyard said, Jiang You Yao suspected that…..” He hesitated for a while, seemingly feeling that the words were somewhat hard to speak. After a pause, he continued, “a mountainous demon spirit is attaching itself to you, thus the change in temperament after your return from Mount Qingchen. Ji-shi was just listening to these words when she suddenly decided to go to the palace.”
Jiang Li briefly looked at him, “You can actually hear the matters in Warm and Graceful Courtyard so clearly. Could the movements in my courtyard also be unable to escape from your eyes?”
Zhao Ke was silent.
“I don’t intend to blame you.” Jiang Li said, “I know this is your master’s command and has nothing to do with you. It’s okay, if you want to take a look, just take a look. I can probably guess Ji-shi’s purpose in entering the palace.”
Zhao Ke looked at Jiang Li, she guessed it so quickly? Not just that, Jiang Li was calm and had no trace of hesitation. It seemed that what Wen Ji said was right, This Jiang second miss had quite some ideas in her mind and her courage was huge.
Jiang Li lowered her eyes. Ji-shi’s way of doing things was really not unfamiliar. When she married Shen Yurong and had just arrived in Yanjing, when Shen Yurong was flushed with success, she, as Madam Shen, had to go out and socialize. At that time, she heard many famous secrets happening behind n.o.ble and wealthy residences. As long as a primary wife wanted to set up a favored concubine, she would look for a Taoist priest for a.s.sistance, it was a very common thing.
Of course, Jiang Li was not the usual favored concubine, but Jiang Yuan Bai’s daughter. If Ji Shuran wanted to set her up, it was not such an easy matter. The usual Taoist priest would not be sufficient for others to believe. Therefore, Ji Shuran thought of Li-pin. In the palace, Li-pin had a lot more connections. With Li-pin looking for a master, the person must have a famous reputation and only his words would be absolutely effective.
“Taoist priest Chong Xu.” Jiang Li said.
Zhao Ke lifted his head and looked at Jiang Li in astonishment.
“Three years ago, Li-pin was framed for using witchcraft by a pampered concubine and was at death’s door. Luckily, Taoist priest Chong Xu appeared and rescued Li-pin’s life; only then Li-pin gradually took a turn for the better. Li-pin wanted to thank this taoist priest with a large sum of money, but this Taoist priest refused. Afterwards, he wandered outside and his tracks were never found.”
Zhao Ke was puzzled. These things, although they were not secrets in the palace, could not be easily known by others. Moreover, three years ago, Jiang Li was still in Mount Qingcheng, how could she know all these? The Empress Dowager at that time believed that this happening in the palace was a scandal and did not let anyone spread it outside, so everyone in the palace was given an order not to speak of it.
Yet Jiang Li was still aware.
Jiang Li smiled slightly. She could see Zhao Ke’s doubt, but she really knew this matter. Shen Yurong was the one who told her of this afterwards, she did not know where Shen Yurong found out about this from. However, at that time, he was already an official and could naturally access these secret news.
“Ji-shi went looking for Li-pin, precisely wanting to borrow Li-pin’s hand to look for this person. No person other than this Taoist priest Chong Xu would be more suitable. I think,” her eyes shone coldly, “this secretive Taoist priest Chong Xu would soon appear once again.”
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