Chapter Fifty-Nine: Watching the Performance

The wager between Meng Hongjin, the esteemed daughter of the Chief Announcer, and Jiang Li, the legitimate daughter of the Grand Chancellor, stirred up a tremendous commotion in the capital of Yanjing. Even in the most secluded alleyways and the humblest taverns, whenever talk turned to recent events, this bet was inevitably the subject of lively discussion.

Gambling houses large and small began to set odds on the outcome. Regardless of age or station, everyone seemed compelled to place a wager.

At their usual table in the Wangxian Pavilion, three men sipped their tea. The scholar in blue robes gazed out at the steady stream of people flowing in and out of the gambling house across the street and remarked with a smile, “A fresh wager is sure to attract crowds eager to test their luck.”

“But the bets are all one-sided,” said Kong Liu, the armored officer, shaking his head. “These people have lost their minds. Every last coin is staked on the Chief Announcer’s daughter. Not a soul is backing Second Miss Jiang. Tsk, tsk, what a sorry sight.” He downed his tea with the flourish of one drinking wine, slapped the table, and declared, “I’ve always had a soft spot for the fairer sex and can’t stand to see the strong bully the weak. Wen Ji,” he called to the attendant waiting outside, pulling ten taels of silver from his sleeve, “go downstairs and wager it all on Second Miss Jiang to win!”

“Don’t act so righteous,” the scholar in blue replied, adjusting his beard and smiling. “Half an hour ago, you wagered a hundred taels on Miss Meng Hongjin.”

At these words, Wen Ji’s expression turned disdainful. Hmph, ten taels on Second Miss Jiang and a hundred on Miss Meng—Kong Liu clearly planned to profit no matter who won, no different from the rest, yet still put on airs.

Flustered, Kong Liu glared at the scholar. “Lu Ji, why do you know my every move so well? Are you a spirit in the form of a rat?”

Lu Ji, the blue-robed scholar, ignored the accusation and turned to the third man. “What is your opinion, Duke?”

Ji Heng lazily swept his gaze downstairs. Even in such a casual pose, there was a certain elegance about him. “I’m not interested,” he replied.

“Honestly,” Kong Liu continued, “I admire Second Miss Jiang’s courage in accepting such a bet, but this is the Mingyi Hall’s examination we’re talking about! My father once hoped to send me there, but I couldn’t even get past the front gate before being turned away. Mingyi Hall isn’t a place for ordinary folk. At least Miss Meng has studied there for years, while Second Miss Jiang is a newcomer. Worse yet, she’s just come from a convent—never mind that it’s a rather notorious one. No matter how devout, how can a nun compare to the tutors from the palace? If Second Miss Jiang manages to outperform Miss Meng, it would be nothing short of miraculous.”

“I can’t agree,” Lu Ji replied. “For her to propose such a wager, especially with three escalating conditions, she must have confidence in her abilities. Otherwise, why set herself such a hurdle?”

“You usually seem clever, but how have you turned so foolish now?” Kong Liu scoffed. “Second Miss Jiang is just talking big, like we do in battle—crushing the enemy’s spirit before the fight even begins! There’s no great mystery to it. You scholars always overthink things!”

Lu Ji was momentarily at a loss for words, finally managing, “One might as well play music to a cow.”

“A rooster can’t reason with a duck,” Kong Liu shot back.

Ji Heng propped his chin in his hand, exuding idle boredom, yet even such a careless gesture carried an air of grace.

“Your Excellency,” Lu Ji addressed Ji Heng again, “Your plans regarding Ye Shijie have been disrupted by Second Miss Jiang. Whether or not this was by chance, she does not seem as witless as rumor suggests. This may be an opportunity. Perhaps it is best to wait and see—Jiang’s family cannot afford mistakes in our designs, but Second Miss Jiang could serve as a catalyst.”

Kong Liu was puzzled. “But the Jiang family pays her little heed. How could she possibly affect their decisions?”

Lu Ji waited in silence for Ji Heng’s response.

After a long pause, Ji Heng finally spoke. “The Jiang family’s performance has yet to begin. There’s no hurry.” He beckoned Wen Ji over and instructed, “Take ten thousand taels of silver to the largest gambling house in Yanjing.”

Kong Liu’s eyes lit up. “You intend to make a fortune on this as well?”

“Watching a play is best done to the very end,” Ji Heng replied with a soft laugh. “Go and place it all on Second Miss Jiang to win.”

…

Unaware of the uproar in Yanjing over her wager with Meng Hongjin, Jiang Li remained secluded in the Jiang residence, “diligently preparing for the examination.”

However, because her actions concerned the reputation of the entire Jiang family, once word spread to Old Madam Jiang and Jiang Yuanbai, the matter became serious indeed.

In the Hall of Late Phoenix, Old Madam Jiang regarded Jiang Li with a complicated expression. “Li, child, what exactly do you intend by this?”

“Please, Mother, don’t be angry,” Ji Shuran said cautiously. “Li’er is still young and impulsive, which is why she made this wager.”

“Young?” Jiang Yuanbai retorted coldly. “She’s already of age and nearly old enough to discuss marriage, yet she still acts so recklessly!”

Only the principal family was present in the Hall of Late Phoenix. Though the matter involved the entire Jiang family, it was Jiang Li who had caused the stir.

“Perhaps Second Sister is confident she will win,” Jiang Youyao added, fanning the flames. “Why else would she so boldly accept Miss Meng’s wager and even make additional demands?”

Her words only deepened Jiang Yuanbai’s anger. He had always despised arrogance, especially from those without merit. His gaze toward Jiang Li was filled with reproach. “I know you write well, but if you think that alone will see you through the Mingyi Hall’s examination, you are sorely mistaken! Do not live in ignorance. The Jiang family values self-awareness above all. If you lack even that, how dare you dream of coming out on top? Do you realize that you risk not only your own reputation for life, but the honor of our entire family? If you lose, the Jiang name will be shamed for generations!”

Jiang Li’s expression was respectful and contrite, but her thoughts were elsewhere. It was only natural that Jiang Yuanbai and the others saw her as reckless—they could not know she was not the real Second Miss Jiang. In their place, faced with such circumstances, she too would have found the situation preposterous.

She bowed her head and said obediently, “Father, I was wrong. I shouldn’t have acted on impulse. But now that the whole city knows, to withdraw from the wager would only invite more ridicule. Since we are being laughed at either way, I may as well give it my all—there is still a chance, however slim, to win.”

Everyone in the room was momentarily stunned. No one had expected her to admit fault so readily. And her attitude was so sincere that Jiang Yuanbai found himself unable to continue his scolding.

Jiang Li felt calm. She had learned from Xue Zhao that when admitting a mistake, one must be earnest and decisive—even when wrong, one should stride forward with confidence. Such an approach was always effective.

After all, when the worst has already happened, one must simply make the best of it.