Chapter 58 I'll Keep You Company
If Jiang Li had not ranked last in the test, Meng Hongjin would have to kneel down and apologize to Jiang Li.

If Jiang Li performed better than Meng Hongjin in the examination, Meng Hongjin would have to kneel down at the gate of the Imperial College to apologize to Jiang Li.

If Jiang Li was not only better than Meng Hongjin, but also better than all the female students in Mingyi Hall, Meng Hongjin would have to kneel down and apologize to Jiang Li in front of the gate of the Imperial College.

Three conditions, each one more surprising than the last. Three bets, each one more thrilling than the last!
Mingyi Hall fell into a terrible silence. Not only Meng Hongjin was stunned, but also Jiang Youyao and her group, and even Liu Xu were all stunned. No one spoke, and no one could say a word.

After a moment, Meng Hongjin came back to his senses and said angrily: "Jiang Li, you are so brave!"

"I've always been very courageous," Jiang Li smiled faintly, "but I don't know how courageous Miss Meng is? She looked very courageous just now, but now... can you afford this bet?"

Meng Hongjin gritted her teeth and said nothing. Jiang Li spoke so calmly. She spoke so calmly about such a terrible bet, as if it was just a game of gambling for a dime. However, she didn't know that their bet was shocking. If someone won, the loser would lose face in the whole Yanjing City, and even the family would be disgraced.

Jiang Li even mentioned the Imperial College...

The students of the Imperial College are all young talents in the entire Yanjing City, including many children of officials and nobles, and young ladies like them may choose their husbands among them in the future. To lose face in front of the Imperial College is to lose face in front of the person who may be your future husband. Who of these young men would marry a woman who becomes a laughing stock in the future? Jiang Li's intentions are really vicious.

Meng Hongjin just felt a chill in his heart.

"Let's bet!" A petite girl standing behind Meng Hongjin said disdainfully, "Sister Hongjin, please agree to her quickly. Second Miss Jiang is very confident, but she is too confident."

Liu Xu also came back to her senses and looked at Jiang Li with an extremely anxious look.

Meng Hongjin then remembered that she had proposed this bet because she had never thought she would lose at the beginning. You have to know that a woman who has been in the nunnery for eight years, even if there are scriptures in the nunnery to teach her calligraphy, scriptures, literacy and the six arts are very different. Calligraphy, mathematics, charioteering, archery, music, and etiquette all require a long period of practice. Jiang Li is probably new to the six arts, not to mention other things. It is difficult for her to understand them in such a short time. The other girls in Mingyi Hall have studied here for several years. If she really loses to Jiang Li, it would be unbelievable.

Jiang Li was destined to be at the bottom, and all the bets she placed were destined to become the deep pit she dug for herself.

Thinking of this, Meng Hongjin smiled and said, "Since Second Miss Jiang is interested and courageous, I will accompany you to the end. I will keep my word. All the sisters in Mingyi Hall are witnesses today. Once the test results come out, Second Miss Jiang can't rely on the fact that she is the daughter of the Prime Minister's family to break her promise."

"I won't," Jiang Li smiled, "I hope you won't either."

She looked calm and fearless, which was very irritating to Meng Hongjin. He snorted coldly and walked away.

The group dispersed in twos and threes, looking at Jiang Li with a mixture of contempt and pity, as if they had already seen her humiliating end. Jiang Youyao came over, looked at Jiang Li and said, "Second sister, why do you have to compete with Miss Meng? Hong Jin has always been the top three in Mingyi Hall. It is not wise for you to go head-to-head with her this time."

Jiang Li looked at her and said, "According to Third Sister's opinion, should I go find Meng Hongjin and ask her to cancel this bet?"

Jiang Youyao froze for a moment, and said hastily: "But now everyone in Mingyi Hall has witnessed it. If you cancel the bet, others will think you can't afford to lose, and it will affect the reputation of our entire Jiang family." Jiang Li said: "In this case, the bet cannot be cancelled. Third sister, you don't have to worry about me. I have always had very good luck. What if I am lucky this time and win the bet?"

Jiang Youyao smiled and said, "That's great." But her tone was full of disbelief.

After Jiang Youyao left, Liu Xu came forward, looked at Jiang Youyao's back and said with contempt: "Your third sister is clearly a person who takes advantage of your misfortune, waiting to see you make a fool of yourself."

"A bit stupid." Jiang Li smiled. Jiang Youyao was only thinking about seeing her reputation ruined and her face lost, but she didn't think about the fact that if one person prospers, all people prosper, and if one person suffers, all people suffer. If she really lost and fulfilled the bet and kneeled down to Meng Hongjin, it would be a disgrace to the entire Jiang family. As a young lady of the Jiang family, how could Jiang Youyao stay out of it?
Jiang Youyao didn't understand this truth. Perhaps even if she understood it, she would rather suffer losses herself and let Jiang Li make a fool of herself, just like Yun Shuang to Xiang Qiao.

"It's all my fault." Liu Xu looked at Jiang Li guiltily, "I was provoked by them just now. If it wasn't for me, you wouldn't have to do this."

"It's not for you." Jiang Li comforted her, "They are deliberately finding fault. Even if it's not this matter, they will always find an excuse to cause trouble. There is no reason to guard against thieves for a thousand days. It's better to clean it up once and for all."

"But what should you do now?" Liu Xu said, "I think since you dare to take the bet, you must have some confidence. But the six arts of Mingyi Hall are difficult. To be honest, I always fall behind in one or two subjects every year during the test. You just returned to Yanjing."

"Actually, I have a photographic memory." Jiang Li blinked at her.

Liu Xu was stunned and almost exclaimed: "Really?"

"Of course it's fake." Jiang Li smiled and patted her shoulder, "But I'm not as bad as they think. Don't worry about me, just review your lessons and wait for the day when Meng Hongjin kneels at the gate of the Imperial College to apologize after the examination."

Liu Xu wanted to say something, but Jiang Li changed the subject. Although she was extremely worried, she felt relieved when she saw Jiang Li smiling, and believed Jiang Li's words without a doubt.

Maybe she really has a solution.

Jiang Li smiled faintly in her heart. It was just a school exam. Meng Hongjin's provocation did make her a little impatient. However, there was another purpose that attracted her. If she won the first place, she could enter the palace to meet the emperor and receive the ceremony.

At the night banquet in the palace, the new noble of the court, the current Secretary of the Central Secretariat Shen Yurong, should also be present, as well as Princess Yongning.

She really wanted to meet these two people, even if she couldn't do anything, even if she couldn't kill her enemies right now, but at least she could sit far away and look at their faces.

In this way, they can always be reminded of the Xue family's injustice and the blood feud of their closest relatives.

Can’t forget, dare not forget.

(End of this chapter)