Chapter 21.1 - Cousin (1/2)
Inside the pavilion, three people that Jiang Li had just met yesterday were seated. Besides Jiang Youyao, there were also the shu daughters from the third branch.
On one side of Jiang Youyao, two servant girls were fanning her. It was a bit warmer outside than inside the Jiang residence, but walking around outside while still in the morning didn’t feel that hot yet.
On the table, there were a few rock sugar, fruits, and juice. Jiang Yu Yan and Jiang Yu’e were seated on the left and right side of Jiang Youyao, like stars cupping themselves around the moon1.
Jiang Youyao saw Jiang Li yet didn’t take the initiative to greet her. On the contrary, Jiang Yu Yan, who was sitting beside her, hesitated for a while before shyly shouted: “Second sister.”
Jiang Li ranked second in the Jiang family. Jiang Yuan Bai married Ye Zhen Zhen without any children for three years, yet his tongfang got pregnant. According to custom, this child shouldn’t be given birth to. However, Ye Zhen Zhen was kind and didn’t have the heart to harm the pair of human lives2, so the baby was born. The year after, Jiang Li was born. While that tongfang’s position was raised to a concubine.
According to Tong’er, this concubine used to be old madam Jiang’s servant girl and she was a well-behaved and sincere person. She didn’t fight or grab resources in the house. A pity, her fate wasn’t good. When Jiang Li was three years old, that would be two years after Ji Shuran entered the house, Jiang family’s first daughter fell to her death while playing on the rockery in the garden. Her mother, the concubine, grieved day in and day out and soon after she was also gone.
Jiang Li nodded to Jiang Yu Yan and spoke: “Fourth sister.”
Jiang Yu Yan had an ordinary appearance, and apparently, her guts were also small. She didn’t expect Jiang Li to nod towards herself and was surprised. Then very quickly lowered her head as if afraid of something.
Jiang Yu’e who had fixed her gaze at Jiang Li suddenly laughed and spoke: “Not meeting for several years, second sister has become much friendlier. No wonder it’s said that the temple could discipline a person’s temper.”
When she smiled, she had quite the manner of a somewhat delicate and swaying daughter from a small family. However, the words she said were actually stabbing people. Hearing her, a trace of disdain flashed through Jiang Youyao’s eyes.
Jiang Li understood, due to their status, the two shu daughters from the third branch aimed to curry Jiang Youyao’s favor. Jiang Youyao used these two people as tools to make her unhappy.
Jiang Li smiled slightly and replied: “The temple can really temper someone’s temperament. Fifth sister does not need to feel regret, perhaps someday in the future, you would have the opportunity to also experience it. There’s still time in the future.”