Kong Liu wondered: “Jiang second miss isn’t valued in the Jiang residence. How can this affect the Jiang family’s decision?”

Lu Ji calmly waited for the answer from the person opposite him.

After some moments had passed, Ji Heng opened his mouth to speak: “The Jiang family’s drama hasn’t started, no need to be anxious.” He waved his hand and Wen Ji stepped forward and bowed.

Ji Heng said: “Take 12,000 taels of silver, go to Yanjing’s biggest gambling den.”

Kong Liu’s eyes brightened: “You also plan to take this opportunity to earn some money?”

“Have to see a play till the end,” Ji Heng softly laughed, “Go, bet on Jiang second miss.”

Yanjing was abuzz with the gamble between her and Meng Hong Jin, but Jiang Li didn’t know at all.

That’s because from that day onwards, she stayed inside the Jiang residence “peacefully preparing for examination”.

However, as it concerned the reputation of the entire Jiang residence, this act of Jiang Li had become a major event when it was passed from outside to old madam Jiang and Jiang Yuan Bai’s ears.

In Wan Feng Hall, old madam Jiang stared at Jiang Li. With a very complicated gaze she asked: “Girl Li, what do you actually want to do?”

“Mother, don’t be angry.” Ji Shuran gently and cautiously spoke: “After all, Li-er is still young and impulsive, only then could she have set up a bet with others.”

“Young,” Jiang Yuan Bai spoke coldly: “She has already reached marriageable age. After a few days, we could talk about matchmaking already. But when doing things, she still doesn’t know how to advance or retreat!”

Inside Wan Feng Hall, there was only the family from the main branch. Although this matter concerned the entire Jiang residence, the one who met with mishap was after all, Jiang Li.

“Perhaps second sister has a card up her sleeve.” Jiang You Yao unhesitatingly added oil to the fire, “that’s how she has the confidence to agree to Miss Meng’s bet, even raising the stake.”

It was fine if these words weren’t said, but once it was mentioned, Jiang Yuan Bai was even more angry. In his entire life, he most despised the kind of person that were conceited and arrogant, especially those conceited and arrogant people with no strong points. The way he looked at Jiang Li turned even more condemning, “I know that your writing is not bad, but if you think just because of this you could pass Ming Yi Hall’s examination, you are gravely mistaken! Don’t view the sky from the bottom of a well¹. The people in the Jiang family attach importance to knowing oneself, you are not even aware of yourself but still dare to make the vain attempt of gambling. Do you know, the cost will not simply be your reputation for a lifetime, there’s also my Jiang family’s reputation. If you lose, the entire Jiang family will be criticized behind people’s back!”

Jiang Li looked extremely respectful with a suitable remorse on her face. However, she was actually absent-minded. Jiang Yuan Bai and the others believed that she was ignorant and didn’t know the immensity of heaven and earth. After all they didn’t know she was truly not the genuine Jiang second miss. In other places, if a person was confronted with such a scene, would probably think this matter was incomparably absurd.

Jiang Li spoke submissively: “Father, I made a mistake. I shouldn’t have reacted in a moment of anger. But now the matter has already gone this far, the whole city is aware of it. It will make people laugh if the bet is immediately cancelled. In any case, both scenarios will be other people’s jokes, it will be better to strive hard to fight. There’s still a trace of winning.”

Everyone was stunned, nobody thought that Jiang Li would admit her mistake so readily. Moreover, the way she admitted her mistake was so good that Jiang Yuan Bai was unable to continue reprimanding her.

Jiang Li was calm. She learned from Xue Zhao, “when admitting mistakes one has to be frank and sincere, after making mistakes one has to move forward, not taking big steps back”. This kind of attitude was very useful.

Anyway, a dead pig doesn’t fear scalding water. In that case, they could only try as the last resort to save a hopeless situation.

Footnotes:

^{1: 坐井观天 zuòjǐngguāntiān: ignorant and narrow-minded.}