Chapter 52 Empathy
"I heard that you had an argument with someone on the street on your way home from school today?" asked Old Madam Jiang.

Jiang Li glanced at Jiang Youyao and Jiang Yu'e, who were trying their best to hide their gloating. As expected, Jiang Youyao and Jiang Yu'e really spared no effort in throwing dirty water on her and making complaints.

Jiang Li smiled and said, "I don't know where the old lady heard this from. It's completely different from the facts."

Madam Jiang said, "Oh, what is the truth? Please tell me."

Jiang Youyao and Jiang Yu'e wanted to speak but didn't dare to. Old Madam Jiang was a strict woman who paid great attention to rules. They were not allowed to interrupt when others were talking.

Jiang Li smiled and said, "I'm afraid it might be unfair if I say it alone, so let my maid, Bai Xue, speak." Jiang Li called Bai Xue in.

After Bai Xue came in, she bowed to Old Madam Jiang first. Jiang Li said, "Tell the old lady what happened after school today."

Bai Xue received Jiang Li's instructions and immediately told the whole story from beginning to end. Bai Xue was honest and upright, and she usually spoke in a very formal manner, never exaggerating anything. She was just standing from the perspective of a spectator, restoring the whole story, without biasing anyone.

After hearing this, Madam Jiang seemed to be thinking about something, and then asked Jiang Li, "So, you are speaking for justice, not just arguing randomly."

"I don't dare to say that I am speaking for justice, I am just telling the truth." Jiang Li still smiled.

At this time, Jiang Youyao finally couldn't help it and said, "Grandma, the young man that my second sister helped is not a stranger, he is from the Ye family in Xiangyang."

At the Ye family in Xiangyang, Old Madam Jiang’s expression suddenly became serious.

You know, since Ye Zhenzhen's death, the Jiang family and the Ye family have had less contact, and after Jiang Yuanbo married Ji Shuran and became in-laws with the Ji family, he almost cut off contact with the Ye family. Originally, the Ye family and the Jiang family had an inseparable connection, which was Jiang Li, but Jiang Li swore many years ago that she would not associate with the Shang family. The Ye family was heartbroken and no longer had any contact with the Jiang family.

Ji Shuran said, "Youyao, don't talk nonsense. You have never met the Ye family, so how do you know that they are from the Ye family in Xiangyang?"

"I heard it with my own ears, as did my fourth and fifth sisters," Jiang Youyao explained, "The young master's name is Ye Shijie, and Liu Zimin said he is from the Ye family in Xiangyang."

"Ye Shijie..." Madam Jiang hesitated for a moment before looking at Jiang Li: "He should be the son of the Ye family's eldest son, your eldest cousin."

Only then did Jiang Li realize that Ye Shijie and she were cousins.

"Li'er, what's going on?" Ji Shuran asked, "You've only been back in Beijing for a month, how come you got to know Ye's cousin?"

This is so heartbreaking!

Sure enough, Mrs. Jiang's eyes suddenly became sharp, and she looked straight at Jiang Li, her eyes were like two knives that wanted to see through Jiang Li. Jiang Li had only been back in Beijing for more than a month, and she was not even familiar with Yanjing City. Today, she happened to help her cousin out of trouble. How could things in the world be so coincidental? Since the Ye family broke off contact with the Jiang family, they have not entered Beijing for many years. This is hard to believe that it is just a coincidence. Could it be that Jiang Li and Ye Shijie have been in contact for a long time?

In the eyes of Old Madam Jiang, this is an absolute taboo!

Jiang Li glanced at Ji Shuran with a smile. Ji Shuran seemed completely unaware that what she said could push Jiang Li into an irretrievable situation. It seemed more like a joke.

Jiang Li said, "I don't know him, and I don't know he is my eldest cousin. If the old lady hadn't told me, I wouldn't know his relationship with me. If it wasn't him today, if it was anyone else, I would have stepped forward to stop it if I saw such a scene." Jiang Li smiled and said meaningfully, "In this world, although it is good to be prudent and protect yourself, sometimes you also need to be brave and righteous. Especially for a family of integrity like us, we must preserve the character of scholars."

Old Madam Jiang was startled.

Madam Jiang's husband, Jiang Yuanbo's father, Old Master Jiang, was a third-rank scholar in Guanwen Hall all his life. He was a third-rank scholar when he was thirty and he was still a third-rank scholar when he died. Although a third-rank scholar was also very good, there must be a reason why he had not been promoted for decades.

The reason was that Lord Jiang was too aloof and straightforward, and he did a lot of things like direct criticism. Although the late emperor knew that Lord Jiang was a good official, it was really hard for him to like him. Lord Jiang's career also came to an end because of his personality.

Old Madam Jiang complained about her husband's temper on the surface, but she was proud of him in her heart. However, among the three sons of the Jiang family, the eldest son Jiang Yuanbo was conservative and moderate, the second son Jiang Yuanping was a smiling tiger, and the third son Jiang Yuanxing was a concubine's son and was even more cowardly and indecisive. None of them inherited the character of Old Master Jiang, and Old Madam Jiang was very disappointed.

Therefore, even though Jiang Yuanbo became the leader of the civil officials by virtue of "moderation", Mrs. Jiang was not completely satisfied with him. In the world, there is gain and loss. If you get a high position and a generous salary, you must lose some things, such as backbone and pride.

Jiang Li had long discovered that Madam Jiang was a proud person, and she was also somewhat noble in her bones, which could be seen from the decoration of Wanfeng Hall. Therefore, she deliberately said these high-sounding and righteous words just to resonate with Madam Jiang.

It reminds Mrs. Jiang of the deceased Mr. Jiang and she sees the shadow of Mr. Jiang in Jiang Li.

Sure enough, Mrs. Jiang's gaze towards Jiang Li gradually softened.

Ji Shuran was shocked. She didn't know how Jiang Li's few words could make Old Madam Jiang soften her attitude. Although she was a smart person, her mind was the same as Jiang Yuanbo's, that is, she was absolutely selfish. Putting herself in other people's shoes, she couldn't understand Old Madam Jiang's "character", but Jiang Li could understand it.

Jiang Li continued, "I helped people on impulse and didn't consider the consequences. But if it's true as my third sister said, Ye Shijie is my eldest cousin and a member of the Ye family in Xiangyang, then my action is even more correct. Although my biological mother has passed away, the Ye family and our family were once in-laws. My relatives are in deep trouble. If I had just walked away at that time and been seen by others, they would only say that our Jiang family is cold and hard-hearted. My father is an official in the court, and his every word and action is watched by others. What if someone uses this to impeach my father?"

"We just need to do our job well and let others find no fault with us, and then we can live in peace. Besides, this is not a big deal. Young Master Liu said it himself, it was just a misunderstanding. Isn't it a good thing to resolve a misunderstanding with just a few words? You don't need gold or silver, just a word to help others. If I am stingy with this word, then I am really not worthy of being a human being."

The last sentence, however, satirized both Jiang Youyao and Jiang Yu'e.

(End of this chapter)