Chapter 209 Looking at each other
Three days later on the morning, when the Yin family's children were going to visit their house, after Jiang Li got up, Tong'er was busy dressing her up.

Since Old Madam Jiang and Mrs. Lu had both told her to do so, Jiang Li had to dress up carefully today. Fortunately, the new clothes that Mrs. Lu sent were not particularly bright in color. Perhaps because she knew that Jiang Li did not like to wear particularly bright colors, she wore light and plain clothes, which suited Jiang Li very well. Therefore, Jiang Li took a look and did not think anything of it. Tong'er also picked out a hairpin and earrings that matched the color of the clothes for Jiang Li to wear. Looking at the girl in the mirror, she sighed, "The girl is really nothing like she used to be."

Jiang Li looked at the girl in the mirror. It was strange that when she just woke up from Miss Jiang Er's body, she had seen the child's appearance. She was pale and thin, very weak, but still a child. Now, only a year or so later, the childishness of the child has completely faded, revealing the youthfulness and charm of the girl.

She should actually thank God for giving her another chance to start over in life. It seems that the future has infinite possibilities. Just as Mrs. Lu and Mrs. Jiang thought, a girl like her should live a leisurely and beautiful life in the future, find a good man, live in harmony with him, and live a life of wealth and honor.

But after all, she is not the real Second Miss Jiang, and she is not willing to be trapped in the same days day after day forever.

Jiang Li stood up and walked outside to the yard. The flowers in the yard were all in bloom. Since Tong'er returned to Fangfei Garden, she had been working hard to spread flower seeds around the yard. It was not noticeable in autumn and winter, but when spring came, the flowers were blooming one after another. There was no trace of the desolate appearance when Jiang Li first arrived at the Jiang Mansion.

"Miss, how about it? I have said it before, our lives will get better and better." Tong'er said with a smile.

Jiang Li also smiled: "Of course."

She also hopes to get better and better.

While they were talking, Mingyue came over and said, "Young lady, Sister Feicui from the old lady's side just came over and said that the prince and Princess Pingyang have arrived at the door, and asked you to hurry over."

"So early?" Tong'er muttered.

When such a person of high status visits someone else's house, he always has to arrive late to show his dignity. Of course, for Prince Xia, the Jiang family is not a family that can be treated lightly. If his two children really want to put on airs in the Jiang family, Jiang Yuanbai may not be able to accept it.

Jiang Li was not afraid of meeting him anyway, she said, "Let's go."

Just arrived at the gate of Wanfeng Hall, before she could go in, she saw a servant leading someone in from the outside at the end of the garden. It looked like they were guests. Therefore, Jiang Li did not go in any further, but stopped in front of the door and looked at the person who came.

The visitors were naturally a man and a woman, Yin Zhan's son, the handsome brother and sister that Jiang Li met on the street that day. The prince was dressed in white, very elegant, handsome, gentle as jade, making the little maid of the Jiang family couldn't help but look at him secretly with a red face. He was also good-tempered, smiling all the time, as if he could tolerate anything.

The woman walking beside him was Yin Zhiqing, the Princess of Pingyang County. Yin Zhiqing wore a bright red skirt with a golden crane pattern and a long-sleeved silk shirt. Her face was bright and beautiful, and the bright colors just matched her charm, making people feel that she was aggressively beautiful. She had big and charming eyes and liked to smile, but compared with the smile of the prince, her smile was a bit more radiant and passionate.

Jiang Li looked at the woman in red and inexplicably thought of Ji Heng. For some reason, Jiang Li felt that the Princess of Pingyang County wore such a red dress today, perhaps because she liked such eye-catching colors, or perhaps... because of Ji Heng.

When the two men walked in front of Jiang Li, Yin Zhiqing suddenly stopped and looked at Jiang Li. He frowned at first, probably because he felt that Jiang Li looked familiar, and then he said "Huh", as if he remembered who Jiang Li was and was startled.

Yin Zhili also stopped and looked surprised.

Jiang Li smiled slightly and said, "I am Jiang Li, the second daughter of the Jiang family. A few days ago, the county lady saved my friend on the street. We met before."

Yin Zhiqing suddenly realized and said, "So you are the Second Miss Jiang, Jiang Li!" She turned to look at Yin Zhili.

Yin Zhili was also stunned for a moment, then suddenly smiled and said, "It turns out that we have met before. It is really fate. Second Miss, I am Yin Zhili. You already know my sister's name."

Jiang Li also smiled: "Meet the prince."

They were talking outside the door, and Lu's voice rang out from inside, "Xiao Li, why don't you come in? Are the prince and the county lady here?"

"Let's go in and talk." Jiang Li said.

Yin Zhiqing and Yin Zhili nodded.

They entered Wanfeng Hall, and everyone in the room was there. Jiang Yuanbai and Jiang Yuanping were also there. Jiang Li noticed that there was no one behind Yin Zhili and Yin Zhiqing, which meant that their father, General Zhaode Yin Zhan, did not come. This was puzzling. If Jiang Yuanbai wanted to make friends with the Yin family, why didn't Yin Zhan show up, but let his two children come to visit?

On the other side, Old Madam Jiang and Yin Zhili and his sister had already started talking.

Jiang Li originally thought that the Yin family members targeted by Ji Heng were not good people. Even if they looked good on the surface, they were probably scheming. She had also seen many people who were two-faced, such as Shen Yurong, Xiao Deyin, and even Zhou Yanbang. However, the way the brother and sister spoke and behaved was not pretended, but was formed naturally after years of infection. Yin Zhili was gentle and polite, while Yin Zhiqing seemed to have been influenced by some of the straightforwardness of a general family. She spoke a little bluntly, but she was still a smart girl. At least when chatting with Madam Jiang, she didn't say a word that shouldn't be said or leaked. Coming and going, they were all just some fun family stories.

Even Jiang Jingrui, the tyrant of the second house, and Jiang Jingyou, who was obsessed with the books of sages, listened to their conversation intently.

Jiang Li sighed inwardly. Madam Jiang was old, and sometimes she would be confused when asking questions. She asked the same question twice, but Yin Zhili seemed to be unaware of it and patiently explained it again without any impatience on her face.

As a result, Lu's face showed even more satisfaction. Jiang Li thought, if it weren't for the fact that the second house had no daughter, but only two sons, Jiang Jingrui and Jiang Jingyou, Lu herself would probably want Yin Zhili to be her son-in-law.

Jiang Yuanping was better, he was smiling when he spoke, but Jiang Yuanbo didn't say much today, he just kept looking at Yin Zhili, occasionally he seemed to be thinking about something. Jiang Li understood, she was afraid that what Tong'er said was not wrong, today he was clearly here to find her a "good man", and it was obvious that this good man had not made any mistakes at least for now, everyone in the family seemed very satisfied, except Jiang Li herself.

Yin Zhili and Yin Zhiqing are half-siblings. Tong'er has been trying hard to help Jiang Li find out in the past few days. Yin Zhili's mother died when she gave birth to Yin Zhili. A few years later, Yin Zhili's second wife gave birth to Yin Zhiqing. Although the two are not siblings from the same mother, they have a good relationship. Yin Zhan is probably not partial, and the second wife is not a person like Ji Shuran, so the family is harmonious.

Of course, if one thinks even worse of people, it is possible that the second wife was no match for Yin Zhili at all and was completely dominated by Yin Zhili, so she could not find a chance to attack him.

After chatting and laughing for a while, Old Lady Jiang suddenly said, "You are all young people, Second Girl, Jing Rui, Jiang You, you can walk around the yard with the prince and the county lady and chat. We, the elderly, are afraid that you will get bored if we chat with you for too long."

Although Yin Zhili and Yin Zhiqing said they had no such intention, Lu urged them to do so and the young people still went out.

Jiang Li smiled, said nothing, and followed him out. Today in Wanfeng Hall, she was very silent from beginning to end, and she almost didn't say as much as Jiang Jingyou. She knew what Madam Jiang meant, she just wanted her to spend some time with Yin Zhili, but it was strange for unmarried men and women to stay together, so she added Yin Zhiqing and Jiang Jingrui brothers.

In the eyes of the Jiang family, not to mention Yin Zhan as a father, Yin Zhili himself is probably very satisfactory. Even Jiang Li has to admit that Yin Zhili is indeed a likable person. When they were in Tongxiang, Jiang Li thought Shen Yurong was the most gentle and talented person, but in fact, Shen Yurong was still far behind Yin Zhili.

Yin Zhiqing was walking in front. Maybe it was because she was so pretty, even Jiang Jingrui, who had never been interested in "sexual affairs", couldn't help looking at her and talking to her. Yin Zhiqing was very cheerful. As they walked, Jiang Li suddenly realized that she and Yin Zhili were left behind.

She was stunned at first, but then she understood. Everyone present today probably knew what Madam Jiang was up to, and she was trying to give them a chance to get along. Not to mention the Jiang Jingrui brothers, the Pingyang County Lady seemed to hope that they could succeed.

Without the noise, Jiang Li's heart calmed down. She simply slowed down her pace and walked slowly in the garden.

Walking beside Yin Zhili, she didn't feel uncomfortable at all. She could even say that she almost pretended that this person didn't exist. People are probably like this. If there is someone in your heart, you can't see other people. Yin Zhili is very good, but in Jiang Li's eyes, what does that have to do with her?
Her indifference appeared calm and composed in Yin Zhili's eyes.

The young girl wore a dark green satin skirt, a green brocade shirt, a red bean hairpin, and two small green jade beads hanging from her ears. The deep and light green made her look particularly handsome among the colorful flowers.

Her profile is small and delicate, with a kind of exquisiteness that is different from that of a young lady from an official family. She doesn't look like a delicate flower that has been nurtured and cared for in a flower garden, but rather like a special plant growing beside a stream in a valley, with a graceful posture, not existing to please anyone, and moving and comfortable.

"After coming to Yanjing City, I have heard many rumors about Miss Jiang Er." Yin Zhili suddenly spoke.

His voice was also gentle. Jiang Li asked, "What rumors?"

"There are many rumors about the Second Miss, but the one that impressed me the most was the story of the Second Miss leading the people of Tongxiang County to the capital to fight against the injustice of Xue Huaiyuan of Tongxiang County." He smiled and said, "I was very surprised to hear this. There is such a woman in the world. I really want to meet her, so I sent a letter to Prime Minister Jiang." At this point, he said shyly, "I know this is a bit abrupt, but I don't have any other intentions. I just think such a woman is worth making friends with."

He laughed again, "I originally thought that such a woman would be passionate and straightforward, just like my sister. I thought she was also a bold girl, but I never thought that the one I saw today was the same you I saw on the street that day. To be honest, the Second Miss is different from what I imagined, but now I understand why the people of Yanjing City say that about the Second Miss."

Hearing this, Jiang Li became curious: "What do the people in Yanjing City say about me?"

"They say the second daughter of the Prime Minister's family is lovely and pure as a snow-white lotus. I didn't believe it at first," he said, "I always felt that the girl in the rumors was too weak to do so many bloody things. Now it seems... you can't judge a person by appearance, I was short-sighted."

The way he spoke was very comfortable, neither hurried nor slow, and without any offensive intention. Admiration was admiration, curiosity was curiosity, and there was no trace of pretense or deliberate flattery.

Jiang Li smiled and said, "So this is what the people say about me."

"Very similar to the Second Miss."

"what?"

"Pure and lovely, lotus," he said.

Such a jade-like gentleman's praise, I think any woman would blush with shyness after hearing it. However, after Jiang Li heard it, she just laughed in her heart.

So, Yin Zhili still didn't understand her, he only saw her surface. For example, Ji Heng, he had reminded her again and again that she was really cunning and not as docile as she looked.

"I heard that the second young lady also won first place in the six arts examination of Mingyi Hall." Yin Zhili said: "This is very difficult."

"If the prince was also among the candidates taking the exam, he would also be able to get the first place." Jiang Li replied.

Tong'er had heard that this prince was a man of both civil and military abilities, and was almost omnipotent. There was nothing he was not good at. Jiang Li had no doubts.

"It's a pity that I wasn't there that day, otherwise I could have seen the Second Miss's grace. It's such a pity." Yin Zhili smiled and said, "I really hope there will be another chance in the future." Jiang Li smiled slightly and said, "There are many people in the world who are better than me. The prince can naturally see the best, but that's not me."

There seemed to be something else in her words. Yin Zhili looked at Jiang Li, who looked calm. He thought for a while and stopped talking. At this time, they walked to the stone table in the yard. There was a chessboard and chess pieces in front of the stone table. Yin Zhili asked, "Second Miss, can we play chess?"

"Okay." Jiang Li said.

They sat down in front of the stone table, which was under a tree. The tiny rays of sunlight between the branches and leaves shone on the expectation, turning it into a patchwork of golden color.

Yin Zhili made a "please" gesture to Jiang Li, and Jiang Li chose the black piece. Yin Zhili then chose the white piece.

Black goes first.

Jiang Li hadn't played chess with anyone for a long time. Xue Zhao didn't like playing chess, but Xue Huaiyuan liked it very much. When they were young, Xue Huaiyuan dragged Xue Fangfei to play chess with her, and turned a bad chess player into an expert. In the first few years after she married into the Shen family, Shen Yurong also liked to play chess with her, and they had the gentleness and elegance of "gambling on books and drinking tea", but later they were worn away by more and more tedious things.

Later, she became Jiang Li, and she was only interested in revenge, and there was no one who could play chess with her. Ji Heng didn't seem to like playing chess, at least Ji Heng had never played with her, so Yin Zhili could be considered the first person who played chess with her in her spare time after she became Jiang Li.

Yin Zhili's chess style was very gentle, but each step was very firm. In comparison, Jiang Li's chess pieces looked a little disorganized and a little lame. But how could someone who won the first place in the six arts know nothing about chess? Yin Zhili sighed and said, "The second lady's chess style is quite unique."

"It's just a little cleverness." While Jiang Li was talking, she made another move and said casually, "Your Highness also knows that King Cheng's troops have recently arrived outside the city and are preparing to rebel."

Yin Zhili paused, as if he had not expected Jiang Li to suddenly bring up this matter, but he still answered in a gentle voice: "I know about this. My father returned to Beijing this time to capture the rebels under the order of the emperor."

"Can General Zhaode subdue the rebels?" Jiang Li asked.

She said this in a rather naive way, as if she had no idea how many soldiers King Cheng had or how many soldiers General Zhaode had. For her, fighting a war was just a matter of "winning or losing", and she didn't understand anything else.

Yin Zhili smiled and said, "Don't worry, Second Miss. With father here, the rebels will not enter the city."

"Then it seems that General Zhaode is stronger than King Cheng?" Jiang Li asked.

Yin Zhili had just placed a white piece when he heard the words and looked up at Jiang Li.

The girl didn't seem to notice the strange look on the other side. She just held the black piece, as if thinking seriously about where to place it. She said casually, "General Zhaode will not only defend the city, but also suppress the rebels. Otherwise, King Cheng's men will keep hovering outside the city. If this goes on for a long time, people outside the city can't enter the city, and people inside the city can't leave the city. It's inconvenient for everyone. What if King Cheng simply attacks other cities? Isn't it recorded in history books that there was a rebel who conquered half of the country and established himself as king?"

"Miss, you are right to think so." Yin Zhili lowered his head again, and followed Jiang Li's move. He moved quickly, unlike Jiang Li who was still thinking, as if he had already calculated every step. He said, "The rebels will be eliminated sooner or later, but once the war starts, the common people will suffer." At this point, a trace of sadness flashed in his eyes.

Jiang Li saw his pain and was surprised. It was said that the prince was a kind-hearted and compassionate person. Now it seemed that it was not a lie. As a superior, or even a person of higher status, one could not always put oneself in the shoes of the people and understand the sufferings of the world. However, Yin Zhili could think about the people affected by the war, which showed that he was different from others.

Jiang Li said: "The war is also to protect more people. This has nothing to do with the prince. The prince does not need to blame himself too much."

Yin Zhili also laughed: "My father often said that I am too soft-hearted, which is not a good thing. Second Miss, please forgive me for making fun of me."

"It's not shameful to be kind and righteous. You don't have to say that, my lord." Jiang Li smiled and said, "My lord is very good."

"You always call me the prince, which is too distant. We met on the street before and played chess together. We are friends after all." Yin Zhili said gently, "Don't call me the prince in the future."

Jiang Li was stunned for a moment, hesitated for a while, and then said: "Mr. Yin."

Although he was better than the prince, he was not that familiar. Fortunately, Yin Zhili was not a person who pushed for more. On the contrary, he seemed to be very satisfied with Jiang Li's title and did not mention the previous words.

The two played chess seriously.

While they were playing chess, no one came to disturb them. There was not even a maid to pour tea, which made the game very quiet. You can think about it. At the beginning, Yin Zhili's white pieces had the upper hand. It seemed that he always pushed Jiang Li's black pieces into a desperate situation, but Jiang Li's black pieces always managed to survive. When they were in the middle, Jiang Li's black pieces slowly caught up and swallowed up some of the white pieces. The two were evenly matched. So Yin Zhili's originally fast movements slowed down, and he even stopped to think for a while.

Until the end.

The black and white chess pieces each occupied half of the sky. Jiang Li placed the last piece, raised her head, and smiled, "I won."

She always had a faint smile, and although she was gentle and polite, she always felt that there was something covering it. But at this moment, her smile was sincere from the bottom of her heart. The girl's smile was as beautiful as a flower, her eyes were bright, and the sunlight shining through the branches on her was particularly moving.

Yin Zhili was also stunned.

Then, he looked at Qiwang, and suddenly shook his head and laughed, saying, "I thought I was a person with a firm goal, but now it seems that Miss Jiang Er is the one."

The chess moves seemed to be random and irrelevant, but in fact, they all had the same goal from beginning to end. She walked carefully and cautiously, not as thorough as Yin Zhili, but it was like she spent a long time laying a net. When she laid the net, she naturally didn't get anything, but she was not in a hurry, she waited patiently, and waited until the net was laid, the prey walked over, and she killed it all the way, leaving no one behind.

What a gentle blow.

"I can't tell whether the Second Miss's chess style is gentle or sharp." Yin Zhili smiled bitterly, "But the Second Miss is very good, I have to admit she is better."

Gentle or sharp? In Jiang Li's mind, a figure emerged, just as she always wanted to ask, is he affectionate or indifferent?

Jiang Li smiled and said, "Master Yin is also very powerful."

The character of a person can be seen from his chess skills. Yin Zhili's chess style can more or less show his personality. Although he is gentle, he is definitely not cowardly. It is unlikely that anyone would try to take advantage of him or cheat him.

She said this sincerely, and Yin Zhili also smiled. When the two were about to get up, Yin Zhiqing's voice came over, and she said, "I've been looking for you for a long time. It turns out you're hiding here to play chess." She glanced at Jiang Li, and then said to Yin Zhili, "Aren't you always arrogant? I want to play chess with you, but you don't want to?"

"Your chess skills are too bad," Yin Zhili pretended to have a headache and said, "You always regret your moves. You should just play with yourself."

Yin Zhiqing snorted, but didn't take his words seriously.

Jiang Jingrui and Jiang Jingyou followed behind them, and when they saw them, they said, "It's getting late, the banquet is about to start, let's go outside first."

Jiang Li nodded.

She was walking along with everyone naturally, but as she was walking, she felt her sleeve being pulled. When she turned around, she saw that it was Yin Zhiqing.

Jiang Li looked at her suspiciously.

Yin Zhiqing did not move. After Yin Zhili and Jiang Jingrui walked forward and put some distance between them, Yin Zhiqing looked at Jiang Li. She seemed a little hesitant, but she still asked in a low voice, "Second Miss Jiang, I have something to ask you."

Jiang Li vaguely guessed what she might ask, and a strange feeling rose in her heart, but her face remained calm, and she only said: "Please speak, County Lord."

"That day my brother and I met you on the streets of Yanjing City. Beside you was a young man in red. May I ask who that young man was?"

Jiang Li stared at her.

Yin Zhiqing seemed a little embarrassed, her cheeks slightly flushed, and she looked as beautiful as a peach. Seeing that Jiang Li didn't answer, she frowned slightly and asked again: "Second Miss Jiang?"

"That is the current Duke Su." Jiang Li replied.

"Duke Su?" Yin Zhiqing was stunned for a moment. She might not be familiar with the officials in Yanjing City. It was as if she had heard of such a person for the first time. But soon, she said, "I don't mean anything else. What is the relationship between the Duke Su and the second Miss Jiang?"

This question was really a bit too much. Jiang Li didn't know whether it was because the people in Yunzhong were open-minded and the county lady was so straightforward, or whether she said it on purpose. Jiang Li thought for a while before saying, "We just know each other and have some interactions."

"Are you on good terms?"

Jiang Li shook her head: "Not very good."

As soon as these words came out, Jiang Li swore that she saw Yin Zhiqing's eyes light up. Yin Zhiqing immediately raised the corners of her mouth. When she smiled, she was particularly beautiful, and compared the surrounding scenery, Jiang Li felt a little dazzling for some reason.

"We will live in Yanjing City in the future." Yin Zhiqing smiled and said to Jiang Li meaningfully, "Brother doesn't often play chess with others, and doesn't often get along so well with women. It seems that he admires you very much."

One by one, they all hinted at something. Jiang Li couldn't help laughing in her heart, but she still smiled and said, "The prince is very good. It is Jiang Li's honor to be appreciated by the prince."

(End of this chapter)