Chapter Forty-Eight: Relatives

Jiang Li had a handful of cordial connections among the female instructors at Mingyi Hall, but there was only one with whom her strained relationship was so apparent: Ji Luo. Ji Luo taught etiquette and ritual; she had once been a palace maid in the Empress Dowager's court. After the establishment of Mingyi Hall, Ji Luo was appointed by imperial decree to instruct the noble ladies, which had always made her seem exceptionally proud.

Jiang Li understood Ji Luo’s character well—she valued virtue and propriety above all. When the scandal with Xue Fangfei erupted, it was Ji Luo who had vociferously denounced her. Now, with Jiang Li carrying the burden of her own notorious past, having such a student under her tutelage was something Ji Luo surely found intolerable.

Once Ji Luo entered, she began her lesson promptly as the hour arrived. The texts taught at Mingyi Hall—Yanyue, Etiquette, Women’s Script, the Classic of Filial Piety—were all books Jiang Li had long since studied, to the point that she could recite them backwards. Yet by her side, Liu Xu listened intently, her expression wholly absorbed.

During her teaching, Ji Luo would occasionally call on students to stand and recite lessons from memory. She was a strict instructor, and the students all feared her, behaving with impeccable decorum in class. Yet from start to finish, Ji Luo never once called on Jiang Li, nor did she even glance in her direction.

Typically, when a new student joined Mingyi Hall, the teachers would offer a few words of welcome or concern. Ji Luo, however, seemed to overlook Jiang Li’s very existence, making no effort to acknowledge her at all.

Jiang Li noted this without surprise. For someone so bound to the codes of virtue, her presence was naturally anathema. If Jiang Li were not Jiang Yuanbo’s legitimate daughter, Ji Luo would likely have found a way to send her back to the family estate entirely. Unable to act against Jiang Yuanbo’s daughter, Ji Luo chose simply to ignore her.

Jiang Youyao, too, observed Ji Luo’s behavior, her spirits rising. No matter how cunning Jiang Li might be, she could never change the past—her crimes against her mother and brother. The people of Mingyi Hall would never welcome her. Even if she managed to enter, she would find only misery.

After the etiquette class ended, Ji Luo stood at the lectern and announced, “In ten days, this year’s academy examinations will be held. This year, the academy’s exams coincide with those at the Imperial Academy. Those who achieve excellent results will be reported to the Empress Dowager and rewarded accordingly. For you, this is a tremendous honor.” She paused, her words pointed. “But for those who fail to meet the standard, their names will be reported up the chain, and they will be sent away.”

A hum of anxious conversation swept through the hall.

Failure meant expulsion from Mingyi Hall.

In truth, being expelled was not the worst fate—few among them were true prodigies. But every girl here was a daughter of a prominent family in the capital. Should word spread that one of them had been dismissed for failing her assessment, the shame would be unbearable.

“I hope you will all give it your best effort,” Ji Luo concluded tersely. Without another word or even a flicker of expression, she took her books and left the classroom.

As soon as she was gone, the room came alive with chatter. Someone said, “Would they really expel someone from Mingyi Hall? Is Professor Ji just trying to scare us? My own studies are a mess.”

“It’s the music lessons that are the real headache for me.”

“It’s hopeless—what if I can’t defend myself in the exams?” someone else wailed.

Amid the commotion, a clear voice rang out: “What are you all afraid of? Second Miss Jiang doesn’t know anything, and she’s not worried about joining Mingyi Hall, so why should you be?” It was Meng Hongjin.

Her words stunned those nearby into silence, before laughter broke out. “She’s right, we’re being silly.”

“Second Miss Jiang really is unlucky. If she’d known things would be like this, why bother coming to Mingyi Hall at all?” There was no small measure of schadenfreude in the tone.

To these girls, Jiang Li was little better than an unlettered commoner; they had all begun their studies seven or eight years earlier than she had. If anyone were to be expelled, surely Jiang Li would be the first.

Jiang Li heard all this but merely smiled and paid it no mind.

“Professor Ji’s words may not be entirely true,” Liu Xu suddenly said, still gathering her books, head down, not meeting Jiang Li’s eyes. But Jiang Li knew the words were meant for her. Liu Xu continued, “Besides, Lord Jiang would never let you fall into such a predicament. When the time comes, you can simply have your family tutor explain things to Mingyi Hall.”

Jiang Li curved her lips in a small smile. “I know. Thank you.”

Liu Xu seemed a little uncomfortable at Jiang Li’s gratitude, stiffening slightly and falling silent.

After Ji Luo’s class, other instructors arrived to teach. Jiang Li was familiar with them all, and even more so with the material, yet she remained attentive, as if she were learning everything for the first time.

Still, these instructors, whether by design or coincidence, also ignored Jiang Li.

The day, at least, passed without major incident. Despite the provocations of Meng Hongjin and her cohort, Jiang Li met them always with a gentle smile, sometimes responding with a few words that left her detractors momentarily speechless.

After classes ended, Bai Xue accompanied Jiang Li to the carriage waiting outside Mingyi Hall, ready to ride home together. Jiang Youyao and Jiang Yuer would never share a carriage with Jiang Li, and Jiang Li found the prospect equally tiresome.

Just as they exited the hall, they spotted a commotion not far across the street—a group of people tugging and shoving at one another. Jiang Li cast only a fleeting glance and was about to walk away. The entanglements of Yanjing’s elite were many and complex; getting involved in someone else’s trouble could be difficult to extricate oneself from. All the more so now, as the legitimate daughter of the Jiang family, she had to exercise extra caution.

At that moment, from the group came a sharp voice: “Doesn’t the Ye family of Xiangyang have plenty of money? Use your silver to buy your way into the Imperial Academy. This painting here is an original by Zeng Zimo, a court painter from the previous dynasty—priceless beyond compare. I’m in a good mood today. If you give me thirty thousand taels of gold, I’ll let it go.”

The Ye family of Xiangyang? Jiang Li paused mid-step.

Her mother, Ye Zhenzhen, was the youngest daughter of the Ye family of Xiangyang. That made them her maternal relatives.

So this boy was her kin.

Jiang Li looked over.

She saw several young men surrounding a boy of seventeen or eighteen. He wore a simple robe of silver thread—modest in cut, even austere. His features were striking, but now his eyes flashed with anger. Opposite him stood three richly dressed young gentlemen. Two of them gripped his sleeves, while the leader—a rat-faced youth—clutched a scroll, pressing the matter with relentless aggression.

“So? Will you pay or not?” The rat-faced youth was Liu Zimin, the youngest son of the Grand Minister, notorious for idleness and bullying.

The handsome boy gritted his teeth. “And if I refuse?”

Liu Zimin gave him a sinister smile, sweeping his gaze over the boy. “Simple. I’ll have you taken before the magistrate!” He gestured to his two companions. “Take him away!”

They meant to drag the boy off.

At this, Jiang Li had no choice but to step forward.

“Wait,” she said.