Marriage of the Di Daughter

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Marriage of the Di Daughter Chapter 139 Part 1: Meeting

Early in the morning of the second day, before Jiang Li had time to go to Wan Feng Hall to greet old madam Jiang, Fang Fei Garden ushered in an unexpected guest.

Jiang Yuan Bai was here.

Qing Feng and Ming Yue were sweeping the yard and were taken aback upon seeing Jiang Yuan Bai. He stopped them as they were about to announce his arrival. Jiang Li woke up a bit late; he did not disturb her and just sat facing the stone table in the courtyard outside Fang Fei Garden, looking at the snowy white branches, lost in thought.

After Jiang Li woke up and freshened up, what she saw was Jiang Yuan Bai sitting alone.

Tong’er and Bai Xue saluted him. Jiang Yuan Bai looked at Jiang Li, the corner of his mouth moved a bit, seemingly wanting to smile, but he did not know how to smile more naturally. He said, “Xiao Li.”

Jiang Li greeted, “Father.”

Her attitude was courteous and estranged, she did not look like she was treating her father, but like treating the master of another family. A trace of disappointment flashed in Jiang Yuan Bai’s eyes, followed by him laughing at himself.

Things had gone this far, he had no way of demanding too much of Jiang Li. Back then, when Jiang Li was set up by Ji Shuran and was sent to Mount Qingcheng, as her father, he did not detect the actual facts and took the side of the evildoer. With his own hands, he pushed this daughter to the side of a beast. It was actually useless for him to want to make amends now.

Jiang Li had grown up, her unfamiliarity was completely caused by his own hands. Jiang Yuan Bai did not even have the qualifications to doubt her.

In any case, he still wanted to do something. He said, “You should not have breakfast yet, together?”

Jiang Li took a look at him, to her surprise, Jiang Yuan Bai’s eyes revealed a trace of nervous anticipation. Jiang Li’s heart softened a little and she answered, “Okay.”

Jiang Yuan Bai was overjoyed.

The servant girls waiting saw this scene and felt incredible. Jiang Li was once the abandoned young lady of the Jiang family, and was ignored for many years. But now Jiang Yuan Bai valued her so much.

However, Jiang Li felt that it was nothing but retribution. In the end, fate would put a price in the dark for the things done before. Now it’s time for Jiang Yuan Bai to settle the debt.

When having their meal, Jiang Yuan Bai observed Jiang Li’s preference. Jiang Li was indeed different from before. Her food habits now and when she was young were just like two different people. Jiang Yuan Bai recalled the words Jiang Li said in front of Taoist priest Chong Xu, how she survived eight years staying in Mount Qingcheng, and felt that the sumptuous dishes were difficult to swallow.

“The matters from two days ago…..” Jiang Yuan Bai said, “You…..”

“After being exorcized by the Taoist priest, I immediately lost consciousness, hearing people speaking in a daze, but not knowing anything. After waking up, Bai Xue told me what happened afterwards.” Jiang Li’s voice was as soft as before, “I’m really surprised, as it turned out, Taoist priest Chong Xu said the truth, I was really being possessed by an evil spirit.”

“What Taoist priest,” Jiang Yuan Bai scoffed, “he’s nothing more but a swindler who pretended to be in contact with supernatural beings. Once there was an accident, he was so scared his original identity was immediately fully revealed!”

Jiang Li looked at Jiang Yuan Bai in astonishment, “Swindler? Father, he is personally recognized by His Majesty.”

“It’s possible for His Majesty to make an error of judgement.”

Jiang Li said with hesitation, “Is father going to tell His Majesty about this matter?”

“Of course.” Jiang Yuan Bai said, “The crime of deceiving the monarch, I must not follow the bad example of a swindler.”

“But, after all, this is a matter of the imperial household. If father participated in it….. Are you not afraid that the emperor’s heart might be unhappy?” Jiang Li asked.

Even Taoist priest Chong Xu understood the principle that the more secrets he knew, his days would become more difficult. It’s impossible for Jiang Yuan Bai not to know. Supposed Jiang Yuan Bai informed Emperor Hong Xiao about this, it would only make Emperor Hong Xiao lose face. Emperor Hong Xiao trusted others easily, being deceived by a swindler about supernatural beings, if it was known by the court officials, in any case, it would turn into a needle that pricks the monarch’s heart.

“This is the way of a ruler and his ministers.” Jiang Yuan Bai said, “Even if His Majesty is unhappy, I still have to inform him.”

Jiang Yuan Bai’s words made Jiang Li somewhat have a new level of respect for him. Jiang Li knew Jiang Yuan Bai was an old fox, completely crafty. However, he did not take refuge under Cheng Wang, regardless of Emperor Hong Xiao’s treatment towards him. Also, regardless how much Jiang Yuan Bai’s loyalty was, at least he had done his utmost in his duty as a court official. When he was at the peak of power, he had no thought of “rebelling”.

Of course, even if the Jiang really had the idea of rebelling, they would die even faster. Originally, Jiang Li did not understand too clearly, but she was well aware of it now. Ji Heng definitely would not allow the Jiang family to break the balance. He needed a smooth situation to come up with a strategy for his own matters.

“That….. Madam, how does father intend to handle it?” Jiang Li still asked.

Jiang Yuan Bai’s body shook. In fact, he had been waiting for Jiang Li to ask this question, but he still felt a complex emotion when she really asked. After a short silence, he said, “What she did was unforgivable, naturally she will be punished.”

Jiang Li smiled, “What kind of punishment?”

“A life for a life.” He said.

Jiang Li’s complexion did not have much fluctuation. Jiang Yuan Bai sighed in his heart; he knew, merely this would not suffice to compensate for the grievances suffered by Jiang Li. At the same time, he was the Jiang family’s eldest master, and he could not disregard the Jiang family’s reputation.

“I didn’t know….. I didn’t know Ji-shi had such a vicious heart. Not mentioning anything else, when your mother’s condition got worse day by day, I only thought that your mother had a weak body, it never occurred to me she was harmed by a villain. If I had known….. If I had known, I would never have let Ji-shi enter the Jiang family’s doors.”

Jiang Yuan Bai couldn’t be blamed for this. Who would have thought that someone would harm Ye Zhen Zhen? Aunt Hu did not have the courage, Jiang Yuan Bai also did not have other women. Unexpectedly, before entering the Jiang family, Ji Shuran had calculated it step by step.

The entire Jiang family was toyed with by Ji Shuran, and the first step she engaged in was through Jiang Yuan Bai’s “love at first sight”.

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