Chapter 15 Part 1: Confrontation

The sun hung over the sky resembling a golden platter. There was no wind in the summertime, only the sound of cicadas could be heard.

A young servant girl wearing short, brown, plain clothes, with her hair combed and tied into two knots, and with an adorable appearance, used her arm to support another person to alight from the carriage.

The appearance of the girl alighting was about 14-15 years old, a young girl who was just blooming into maidenhood. Yet she was wearing a grey Buddhist attire that had lost its color from many washes. The attire was wide, making the petite girl’s body appear even more frail, and her jet-black long hair was half bound by a wooden hairpin, while the remaining loose hair at the back of her head was draped carelessly over her shoulders, resembling a waterfall. Her lips were red, her teeth white, and her pair of eyes was just like a young deer eyes in the woods: kind, pure and warm, exceptionally beautiful.

A string of prayer beads was around her wrist and on her feet, she wore the simplest grey cloth shoes. Her hands were put together and her eyes hung low. Long eyelashes, snow-white skin, ink-black hair, for a split second, the people who saw her held their breaths.

She was like a reborn mayfly; beautiful, frail, yet looked docile, as if not knowing the sinister human world. Like the virgin reincarnation of the Goddess of Mercy; pure, simple, such as a white sheet of paper.

There was no wind blowing in the sixth month, yet, the instant the girl went down from the carriage, the people around felt cool and comfortable. Her features were not delicate and dazzling like Jiang You Yao, but naturally graceful. Perhaps growing at the temple deep in the mountain had given birth to her elegance, with no desire and no demands. She walked over step by step, clear like the evening breeze.

The young servant girl supported the girl to Jiang residence’s doorway, then the girl stood before saluting humbly. Her voice was just like her appearance, soft and meek. She spoke: “Jiang Lî is unfilial, seeing father and mother.”

When she said this sentence, the surrounding commoners seemed to have just woken up, each and every one of them looked foolishly at her. Suddenly, someone shouted: “Jiang second miss is very similar to Lord Chief Assistant ah!”

Jiang Lî’s eyelashes trembled faintly and the corner of her mouth slightly pursed, her posture became even more docile.

Jiang Yuan Bai looked at this daughter of his with a complicated expression. Seven years without any meeting, Jiang Lî had changed a lot. He could hardly recognize his former fierce and fiery daughter. He always thought Jiang Lî’s temper resembled Ye Zhen Zhen’s, simple and rough when handling matters, not able to be flexible. Furthermore, still couldn’t understand how to give in. Now, listening to the commoners’ words, Jiang Yuan Bai suddenly discovered that the grown Jiang Lî’s appearance resembled him, even more so than Jiang You Yao.

Jiang You Yao inherited Ji Shuran’s good looks, delicate and exquisite like porcelain. But Jiang Lî had the image of a pear blossom tree that was raised deep in the mountain, noble and clean with an outstanding temperament. Really resembling their scholarly style.

Even if this scholarly appearance was just a pretense.

Perhaps it was due to the sudden appearance of this daughter he hadn’t met for seven years which roused Jiang Yuan Bai’s bloodline bond. Or perhaps it was due to Jiang Lî’s appearance that resembled himself, which made Jiang Yuan Bai feel some familiarity with her. In short, Jiang Yuan Bai’s heart turned soft. He reached his hand out and supported Jiang Lî’s bent waist and warmly said: “It’s good that you have returned. Go right in, your grandmother and them are still waiting for you inside.”

When Jiang Yuan Bai spoke, for an instant, Ji Shuran who was by his side stiffened. Then she looked even more sincere and immediately followed after, holding Jiang Lî’s hand. She said while smiling: “You are finally back.”

Jiang You Yao blinked and suddenly said: “Second sister, you are returning home, why are you still wearing the nunnery’s clothes? Didn’t mother let Sun momo give you new clothes? Why should you wear this crude attire? If people did not know, they would think that mother treats you harshly.”

The surrounding was all quiet, Ji Shuran called out: “You Yao, don’t talk nonsense!” She then turned her head to pat Jiang Lî’s hand and smilingly said: “Your meimei talks straightforwardly but with no bad intention. Don’t take it to heart.”

The commoners standing around the doorway had not scattered yet and they stared at Jiang Lî. Ji Shuran appeased her, full of apology, while Jiang You Yao concealed her pleased gaze. Even Jiang Yuan Bai changed his expression while looking at her. Everyone took in the scene at the moment.

Tsk tsk tsk, what a great performance. Just returned to Yanjing and had not stepped through the doorway of the house, yet had given her such a show of strength. How should these words be returned? Jiang Lî returned home, obviously new clothes were provided, yet she stubbornly wore the nunnery’s black attire. What did she mean? Was it because she was dissatisfied with Ji Shuran, therefore she refused to wear the clothes prepared by her, or had she purposely done so to make the commoners see how she was treated badly by the Chief Assistant’s residence? It seemed that, in Jiang Yuan Bai’s eyes, this conduct of Jiang Lî showed resentment towards Jiang residence. Not at all maintaining its name.

Jiang Lî humbly smiled, her eyes were even clearer than Ji Shuran’s. She replied: “Mother’s good intention, Jiang Lî had received. Sun momo sent over the clothes and they are made from first-rate silk, the embroidery was complicated, still there are precious stones inlaid on them, making people happy upon laying eyes on them.”