Chapter 65 Three Gates
Seeing Jiang Li coming, Jiang Yuanbai opened his mouth, but seemed to not know what to say, so he coughed twice awkwardly.

Jiang Li stepped forward and said, "Second uncle, third uncle."

Jiang Yuanping looked at her with a smile and said, "Xiao Li, you did a great job. It's not easy to win the first place in the Ming Yi Hall test. I was just telling your father that I will reward you well this time."

Jiang Li bowed with a smile: "Thank you, second uncle."

Jiang Yuanping looked at her lovingly again. This second uncle seemed to be a good-tempered person. Compared with Jiang Yuanbo, who was even more pretentious, and Jiang Yuanxing, who was timid and cowardly, Jiang Yuanping was the easiest one to get along with. However, Jiang Li didn't really think that Jiang Yuanping was just a loving elder. He was a smiling tiger. Although he liked to laugh, he was still a tiger. If you angered him, he would show his tiger's tail.

Jiang Yuanxing stood at the end, looked at Jiang Li, and smiled, but this smile was a little cautious, and said: "Congratulations, Xiaoli."

As the illegitimate son of the Jiang family, Jiang Yuanxing was not valued by the third branch of the family. Especially when Jiang Yuanbo and Jiang Yuanping had bright careers, Jiang Yuanxing was even more forgotten in the corner.

It seems incompatible with the prosperity of the Jiang family.

Yang saw Jiang Yuanxing also praised Jiang Li, and she felt very uncomfortable. In the past, Jiang Yu'e was the best among the young ladies in the Jiang family in the three subjects in the school examination every year. Jiang Youyao was good at zither music, because Ji Shuran had invited the best famous teacher to teach her since she was a child. Jiang Yu'e did not have such a good teacher, but she became talented in books, mathematics, and etiquette by herself.

The only chance to enjoy glory in the Jiang Mansion was snatched away by someone else. How could Yang not be angry?
However, her anger was not as great as the anger in Ji Shuran's heart.

Jiang Youyao watched as the three masters in the Jiang Mansion, including her own father, all looked at Jiang Li and praised her highly. She felt both unfair and angry, and could not help but blurt out, "Second sister, you won the first prize this time, and there must be many people who find it hard to believe."

Everyone in the room was silent. Jiang Li turned around and looked at Jiang Youyao, and said softly, "Oh?"

Realizing that everyone was looking at her, Jiang Youyao hesitated for a moment, then looked at Jiang Li with great concern: "Second sister, you have never been to Mingyi Hall to study before. You have only just returned to Beijing and have not been in Mingyi Hall for ten days. It is really shocking that you can win the first place without studying." After that, without waiting for Jiang Li to answer, she advised: "I know that the bet between second sister and Miss Meng is not trivial. Second sister must not want to lose, but we are the Jiang family, and father is still watching. Don't damage the foundation because of trivial matters. After all, reputation is important, and quality and character cannot be discarded."

Jiang Li even wanted to applaud Jiang Youyao in her heart.

Look at what he said, how high-sounding and righteous it was. But how malicious it was, directly suspecting that Jiang Li had won the championship by cheating.

Jiang Jingrui sneered, "What other people think has nothing to do with us. If they don't accept it, then don't accept it. Can they drag the examiner from Mingyi Hall out and beat him up so that others can change their ranking? There is a saying in the casino called "admit defeat after a gamble". So, only Meng Hongjin is allowed to win, and Jiang Li's winning is cheating?"

These words really humiliated Jiang Youyao, whose face flushed. Jiang Jingrui was a jerk, and it was impossible to reason with him. Jiang Youyao just hated Jiang Jingrui in her heart.

Ji Shuran said hurriedly, "Youyao is worried too." She looked at Jiang Yuanbai. Although Jiang Youyao's words were hurtful, to be fair, they were not without reason. Jiang Yuanbai stared into Jiang Li's eyes and said, "Li'er, you have never practiced before, how can you get the top score? I have seen the red list, and you are the top in the top three subjects, reading, mathematics, and etiquette. You...went to the nunnery at the age of seven, and you were just beginning to learn at that time. Now you have just returned to Yanjing, how can you have such a good result?"

"Father," Jiang Li said with a smile, "If you have a love of learning, you will gain something regardless of whether there is a learned teacher to teach you or not." After a pause, she recalled, "When I was in Qingcheng Mountain, life there was hard and there was no fun. Fortunately, there were many books in the nunnery, and many pilgrims donated books. Every night when I felt that life was difficult, I would read those books. Immersed in them, time would pass faster, and the hard days would not be so difficult to endure."

Everyone was startled.

Jiang Li sighed slowly, "I stayed in Qingcheng Mountain for eight years. After I read all the books in the nunnery, I went to the nearby Helin Temple to borrow books. In this way, over the years, the books I read were no less than those of the teachers in the academy in Yanjing City." Jiang Li smiled, "There is no need for a teacher to teach me. I will understand it naturally if I read more." When she said this, her tone was inexplicably a little melancholy. She was clearly a young and fresh girl, but she seemed to have experienced the vicissitudes of life.

It makes people feel sad for no reason.

Jiang Yuanbai felt a lump in his throat. Jiang Li didn't say a word against him, but every word sounded like an accusation. In front of him, it seemed as if Jiang Li, still a little girl, was in a broken house in the snow, holding a book clumsily, with a green lamp and an ancient Buddha, living a lonely and sad life.

After all, blood is thicker than water. Jiang Yuanbai's heart softened suddenly. He was unwilling and didn't want to care about whether Jiang Li cheated or not.

Madam Jiang obviously felt the same way. She said, "You did a great job." Her words were dry and stiff, but they also contained some comfort.

Ji Shuran's back stiffened. Once again, the attitudes of Old Madam Jiang and Jiang Yuanbo changed. Just because of Jiang Li's few words, the situation was turned around.

Ji Shuran was extremely angry. She was just a little girl of fourteen or fifteen years old, but she seemed to be very smart and could understand people's thoughts just right. Since she entered the mansion, she didn't get any benefits at all, but let her take advantage of her?
This is really unreasonable.

Jiang Youyao stopped talking. She tried to stir up trouble but it had no effect. Jiang Yu'e also understood the situation and stopped talking.

Mrs. Lu actually felt a little sympathy for Jiang Li. Then she looked at Jiang Jingrui, as if he was the one who was thrown into the dilapidated temple. It seemed that as long as Jiang Li gave the order, he would stand up for her.

"Don't be proud, second girl." Old Madam Jiang said calmly, "You got first place in the top three subjects. Among the six arts, the bottom three subjects have not been tested yet. I heard that the girl from the Meng family got second place in the top three subjects. If she surpasses you in music, chariot driving, and archery, you still lose the bet."

"You have to continue to win in these three areas." She asked, "Do you have confidence?"

Jiang Li smiled sweetly: "Just give it a try and do your best."

　Suddenly I feel that the way Ali talks nonsense seriously, she can win the Best Actress Award_(：зゝ∠)_
　　
　
(End of this chapter)