Chapter 98 Part 4: Disturbance
Instantly, Ye Ru Feng’s face turned red through and through. Before, everyone in Xiangyang praised the Ye family when mentioned. He, as the young master, naturally also received their respect. However, nowadays, they seemed to have become the target of everyone’s scorn. The contempt in the common people’s eyes was true and absolute. They fought against him.
The young boy had not yet experienced this kind of thing. He was at a loss, could not comprehend, and there’s a feeling of cold dejection. No one was willing to believe him, he felt the coldness of the indifference in society, that was too cold.
Ye Jia Er was a bit older than Ye Ru Feng. Even though she loved the younger brother dearly, at present, she couldn’t comfort him. She stood out and said: “Everybody, I don’t know where the saying that ancient fragrant satin causes people to die come from. We haven’t finished investigating this matter. In Xiangyang, the Ye family has done business for many years, its reputation is clear to all. We will not deceive you.”
But these words were immediately drowned by the clamor. Jiang Li even caught sight of someone stooping to pick up a stone, wanting to hurl it towards Ye Jia Er.
Jiang Li hurriedly pulled Ye Jia Er behind the bodyguards.
“Who said that ancient fragrant satin causes people to die when worn?” The sharp and clear female voice had a touch of coldness. It wasn’t loud, yet seemed to have a penetrating power that passed through everyone’s ears clearly.
Everyone looked ahead.
Soon they saw a maiden, whom nobody knew where she came from, standing in front of the bodyguards. She was clothed in a deep and light cyan dress, especially neat, her features were beautiful and tender, clear and lovely.
Perhaps the change of identity between “a chief assistant’s noble daughter” and “a merchant’s young lady” before made the feeling somewhat distinctly not alike. Those common people had the courage to throw stones at the Ye family, but confronting this seemingly gentle young lady, they did not dare to open their mouths and let out malicious words as if they were afraid of the consequences.
Perhaps, there’s an unscrupulous air emanating from Jiang Li’s body.
“Who are you? There’s a problem with ancient fragrant satin, this is something that everybody knows. Look at us!” That man probably wanted to shame Jiang Li, this little girl, and pulled his sleeve to show Jiang Li the dense rash on his arm.
Maybe he thought that Jiang Li would panic and blocked her eyes. However, Jiang Li merely took an indifferent glance at his naked arm, as if looking at a teacup, a bowl, or a small oil lamp, there wasn’t any fluctuation.
“Oh.” She faintly said before immediately taking out a short dagger from her sleeve.
The surrounding crowd were startled and involuntarily took a step back. This little girl right away took a dagger after clashing verbally, she is not thinking of killing people, right?! Although they kept on saying that the Ye family murdered people, they were clear in their hearts that in broad daylight, the Ye family would not kill people.
“Cousin——” Ye Jia Er was about to dissuade her anxiously.
However, she saw Jiang Li unexpectedly put the dagger under her hand and with a “riiip”, she directly cut a piece of the fabric.
She casually threw the material to the man who pulled his sleeve up which the man subconsciously caught.
“Everyone may as well see, I am also wearing ancient fragrant satin, but there’s no rashes appearing on me. If you don’t believe, that sister-in-law1 over there can come over to verify.” Jiang Li said.
Ye Jia Er and Ye Ru Feng were stunned. They were not aware that the clothes Jiang Li was wearing was made from ancient fragrant satin. They left in a hurry today, who would still take note of what Jiang Li was wearing. However, when Jiang Li arrived in Xiangyang, an accident already occurred involving the ancient fragrant satin, even Li Zheng Hall no longer sold the ancient fragrant satin. It’s not possible for Jiang Li to get a half bolt or a bolt. Then this must certainly be bought in the capital.
Jiang Li saw the expressions of the common people eased a little and she relaxed slightly.
She discovered this clothes among the gifts she brought to Xiangyang. Yesterday, Tong’er was looking for clothes for her and coincidentally saw the clothes Jiang Li wanted. Jiang Li’s heart stirred, she didn’t think that this would be used so fast.
Ancient fragrant satin was worth a lot, the common people who could afford them could at least be considered as not impoverished families, but it was also not a small number. Many bought them as gifts; so after spending so much money and there’s problems with the gifts, naturally these people would not take it lying down.
Nothing was more convincing than wearing it yourself. Jiang Li heard Xue Huai Yuan once said, if the knife did not cut their own body, a person would forever not know the pain. The common people’s words, it wasn’t that simple to just sympathize. But if you could make the common people believe that you were truly aware of their feelings, many things could be resolved.
No one came to check Jiang Li’s arm. Perhaps it was because of Jiang Li’s magnanimous expression which made people can’t help but believe that the arm under the sleeve was just as fair as her face.
There were also some people who didn’t believe Jiang Li, picked up the cut fabric and examined it carefully. Finally they nodded: “It’s indeed ancient fragrant satin.”
Jiang Li smiled: “Look, if ancient fragrant satin really has problems, I will never wear it and seek death, right?”
“How is this impossible?” Someone muttered among the crowd, “if by chance you are a fake customer sought by the Ye family who got paid to put on a play on behalf of the Ye family, then what can a life be regarded as?”
Before Jiang Li could speak, Tong’er by her side immediately blew her top: “Rubbish! Our family’s young lady’s life is much more valuable than money!” However, her mouth was still tight and did not declare Jiang Li’s identity.
The people in Xiangyang had never seen Jiang Li and did not know who Jiang Li was. Hearing Ye Jia Er called Jiang Li, cousin, they thought that Jiang Li was the Ye family’s distant relative who came to seek shelter in the Ye family.
Jiang Li said: “Indeed it’s not worthwhile for me to act as the Ye family’s fake customer. My life could be said to be worth more than this Li Zheng Tang.”
“Who are you in the end?” Someone asked mockingly: “Don’t tell me you are a princess?”
Mentioning the word “princess” made Jiang Li’s face sank a little. Very quickly, she raised her head and lifted the corners of her mouth. It’s just that her smile was carrying a slight ridicule.
“I’m not a princess, I’m the capital’s chief assistant, Chief Assistant Jiang’s di daughter, Jiang second.” She said.
The derision in the crowd gradually disappeared.
Jiang Li’s smile also cooled down.
In the small teahouse opposite Li Zheng Tang, there’s a beautiful youngster dressed in red drinking tea while watching the crowd.
The scholar in blue shirt, Lu Ji, was standing directly in front of him, watching the current scene in front of Li Zheng Tang. He was frowning slightly: “Unexpectedly, Jiang second miss would step forward for the Ye family.
Ji Heng supported his chin with one hand, the other hand lightly shook the folding fan. The folding fan was thin, being shaken this carelessly, small gold traces could be vaguely seen.
“Tong Zhi Yang’s plan will not succeed.” He said.
Footnotes:
1: the sister-in-law mentioned here is not her actual sis-in-law, just calling a stranger politely.