Marriage of the Di Daughter Chapter 9.1: Love Affair
The crowd of madams and masters standing behind Madam Liu had been startled by Madam Liu’s earlier baffling words. This Jiang second miss was the poisonous di daughter of the first wife. Even though she looked pitiful, if they were to openly help her, they would be standing opposite Ji Shu Ran. These days, the Vice Imperial Censor Ji was a trusted man of Emperor Hong Xiao. Also, the family matters of the Chief Assistant were not something that anyone could manage. Therefore, everyone was just planning to watch without lifting a finger.
Who would have imagined that Jiang second young miss merely greeted Madam Liu with a few words and afterward Madam Liu immediately proposed for her to return to Yanjing together? To everyone’s surprise, Madam Liu didn’t hesitate to offend the Ji family to give face to this unfamiliar young lady.
What made everyone even more surprised was, this Jiang second miss still declined.
Everyone was astonished upon hearing Jiang Li’s answer. In her heart, Tong’er was also anxious. Madam Liu faced her to enquire: “Jiang second young miss, what is the reason?”
Jing Li replied with a smile: “Father sent me to the family temple to let me grow and cultivate moral character. Although it was hard, but I am able to pray for the family’s peace and health. If I give up halfway, it would be a blasphemy to the Bodhisattva. Moreover, father has not yet allowed me to go back. How could I just act on my own initiative?”
In her reasoning, she didn’t bring out the matter of being punished for harming her di mother at all. She only mentioned her being sent here to cultivate her moral character and to ask for good fortune for her whole family. This made the people who heard her feel that this Jiang second young miss avoided the major charges while admitting to the more trivial matters. However, in Madam Liu’s ears, there seemed to be another meaning.
Madam Liu and Ye Zhen Zhen had been good friends for a few years. She knew Ye Zhen Zhen as simple, honest and benevolent. Naturally, she did not believe that Ye Zhen Zhen’s daughter was that malicious. However, at the time when Jiang Li had the accident, Madam Liu and the Jiang family had not been in contact for a few years already. Also, the accident where Ji Shu Ran was pushed over and miscarried happened in the presence of many madams. The evidence was conclusive. Although Madam Liu did not believe, there was no other way to come out of it.
Now, seeing how her former acquaintance’s daughter was being bullied here, and also seeing how she was warm, soft, simple and benevolent, suspicions grew in Madam Liu’s heart. Jiang Li not mentioning the matter of her mistake, perhaps it was because originally, she didn’t make any mistakes. Harming the di mother was just an excuse. It was deliberately made up so that people would believe it as she sent this daughter out to be tormented.
Listening to Jiang Li’s final words, everything was to listen and obey Jiang Yuan Bai. However, one was afraid Jiang Yuan Bai had never thought of this daughter!
A fire rose inside Madam Liu’s heart, but she saw Jiang Li raising her head to see her and somewhat hesitatingly said: “Talking about it, don’t know why Madam come here at this time? Furthermore, these…….” She saw the crowd behind Madam Liu and asked: “Could it be that you came here to light incense? Normally, there are not many people who come here to light incense, they usually go to He Lin Temple that is on the other side. Also, it’s already very late now, madams and gentlemen, you couldn’t be here to light incense, right?”
When these words came out, everyone present had different expressions on their faces. Suddenly Madam Liu thought of something, looking thoughtful for a moment then she abruptly asked Jiang Li: “This family temple is not a very good family temple. Since your father sent you here, he should have looked for a decent family temple. Never mind, since you are not willing to leave with me, tomorrow I will set my trip to go back to Yanjing. But I think, your father should quickly pick and bring you back home.”
The meaning in her words was quite obvious.
Jiang Li looked as if she understood but at the same time didn’t. She merely smiled and replied: “Then I have to thank madam.”
Madam Liu spoke once again: “Actually, you don’t have to be this devout. In the middle of the night kneeling in the hall, justice is at people’s hearts. If the heart has sincerity, Buddha naturally will know. Yu Xiang,” she called the servant girl by her side, “stay here these few days and take good care of Jiang second young miss. There is only one servant girl by Jiang second young miss’s side, I fear it is not enough to look after her.” Then she turned her attention to Jiang Li and continued, “Jiang second young miss doesn’t have to refuse. Your mother and I were good friends. Yu Xiang, this girl, is my personal servant girl. She knows a bit of martial arts. With her by your side, I will be a bit more assured. Wait until you return to Yanjing and then you can let Yu Xiang go back to my side.”
To go as far as to lend her close servant girl to Jiang Li, it was clear that Madam Liu regarded Jiang Li as important. It could be said that perhaps not too long in the future, Jiang Li would be able to quickly return to the Jiang family in Yanjing and play her role as the Jiang family’s young miss.
And another chapter that does not answer our questions about the nuns’ ‘scandal’… I can’t help but think, it really was a great coincidence that Madam Liu (a former good friend of JL’s mother) was here. Seeing how selfish these ‘people with a heart as kind as Buddha’s’ are, I am not sure if they would have really helped JL in case no one with a bit of acquaintance to her was there.
Names:
Liu Yuan Feng (柳元丰). Liu means willow, Yuan is first/original, Feng is charm/abundant (appeared in the last chapter). Yu Xiang (玉香). Name meaning fragrant jade. Madam Liu’s servant.
