Chapter 40 Part 2: Academy
Jiang Li said: “Many thanks for coming here specially to warn me.” This time around, her tone was much gentler.
Hearing the change in Jiang Li’s tone, Jiang Jing Rui was ineffably happy. When he came out of his daze, he couldn’t help scolding his own big mouth. He’s the bully in the Jiang family, even Jiang Youyao didn’t dare to provoke him rashly and he himself looked down even more upon these people. But towards Jiang Li, a person with a not so good reputation, moreover without any status in the residence, Jiang Jing Rui always felt somewhat afraid, or perhaps admiration.
As if he always wanted to please her.
Jiang Jing Rui scoffed at himself in his heart and asked Jiang Li: “What’s your plan now? When you plan to see old madam, let me know, I’ll go together.”
He was willing to come out and stand by her, after all, he was still a warm-blooded young man.
Jiang Li spoke: “Actually I don’t understand why father wants to choose a teacher for me. He must be aware that all the n.o.ble ladies in the capital attend the female academy.”
“The female academy?” Jiang Jing Rui was stupid for a few seconds before speaking: “What are you joking about? Ladies who went to the female academy are respectable if not wealthy. All the female students accepted by the Ming Yi Hall* in Yanjing have both integrity and talent. Even the worst of them is still out of the ordinary when placed among the people. If you go …….”
If you go, it will be a joke! Jiang Li understood the words Jiang Jing Rui didn’t say.
“But,” Jiang Jing Rui asked again curiously: “Surprisingly you are aware of the female academy in Yanjing. You have actually inquired clearly about it.”
Jiang Li smiled noncommittally. When she arrived at Yanjing, she became well-known due to her beauty and people were also aware of her talents. So much so that she and the teachers in Ming Yi Hall had held debates and discussions together and she was friends with those teachers.
Doing all these things at that time was none other than to open doors and let Shen Yurong have more connections. The number one scholar having a brilliant wife would add fragrance to his popularity. Hearing that would always add a layer of radiance.
Of course, her beauty and her talents, when the matter of her affair emerged, they became her source of calamity, her crimes.
Jiang Li was not at all willing to keep staying in Jiang residence. If she never went out, she would have no chance to have access to Shen Yurong and the people around him. Supposedly, if Jiang Yuan Bai had really invited a teacher for Jiang Li, Jiang Li would be stuck in the backyard studying and practicing writing, then she would have a lot less opportunities.
Besides, studying and reading books, it went without saying that she would be no worse than any other people. She wanted to enter Min Yi Hall not for her to really learn, rather, it was to become famous.
With fame, the people in the Jiang family would no longer take her as a dispensable young lady and she would have a status in the residence. With status, there would be people making friends with her. Once a circle of friends was established, she could approach Princess Yongning step by step.
Won’t it take a very long period of time? It won’t take too long a time. In Ming Yi Hall, her talents would be able to make her famous in the shortest possible time. This was the simplest method.
Jiang Jing Rui didn’t know what she was thinking about and reached his hand out to wave in front of Jiang Li’s eyes. He asked: “Have you thought when you are going to see grandmother?”
“I won’t look for grandmother.” Jiang Li said: “I want to see father.”
“Eldest uncle?” Jiang Jing Rui was stunned: “You won’t be able to persuade eldest uncle. As long as eldest uncle has decided on a matter, no one could change his decision unless grandmother says a few words to him. Since he has decided to hand the matter of looking for a teacher to eldest aunt, it’s already final. It will be a waste of energy to look for him, don’t make yourself eat a bellyful of anger.”
“Many thanks for your reminder.” Jiang Li spoke: “But I’m still going to see my father.”
“Why are you so stubborn as a person?” Jiang Jing Rui spoke unhappily.
“Not stubborn,” Jiang Li laughed: “It’s persistent.”
She would persist until the end.
Out of Topic:
A Li: I’m not going to a fake university, I’m going to Tsinghua* [smile]