Chapter 59 Watching a Show
The bet between Meng Hongjin, the daughter of the Chengxuanshi Mansion, and Jiang Li, the daughter of the Prime Minister, caused a great uproar in Yanjing City. Even in the most remote alleys and the most humble taverns, whenever people discussed recent news, there would be people who talked about this matter with relish.

Gambling houses of all sizes even started to set up bets, and everyone, young or old, had to buy a round.

In the usual place at Wangxian Tower, three people were drinking tea.

The scholar in blue looked at the endless stream of people at the entrance of the gambling house opposite and said with a smile: "The bet is new, so it attracts people to come one after another."

"But it's all one-sided." The armored soldier, Kong Liu, shook his head and said, "These people are crazy. They all bet on the eldest daughter of the Chengxuan Envoy's mansion to win, and no one bets on the Second Miss Jiang. Tsk, tsk, tsk, it's really ugly." He drank a cup of tea, and the way he drank tea was as casual as if he was drinking wine. He patted the table and said proudly, "I am the most compassionate person. I can't stand others bullying the weak. Wen Ji," he called the guards standing outside and took out ten taels of silver from his pocket, "Help me go downstairs and bet on the Second Miss Jiang to win!"

"Don't act like you're being righteous." The scholar in green stroked his beard and said with a smile, "You spent a hundred taels of silver to bet on Meng Hongjin to win half an hour ago."

Hearing this, Wen Ji immediately showed contempt. Tsk, spending ten taels of silver to buy Miss Jiang Er, and spending a hundred taels of silver to buy Miss Meng, Kong Liu is clearly making a profit, he is no different from those people outside, and he still has to pretend.

Kong Liu was furious and looked at the scholar in green and said angrily, "Mr. Lu, why do you know exactly where I am going? Are you a rat?"

Lu Ji, the scholar in blue, ignored Kong Liu's questioning and looked at the person beside him, asking, "What do you think, Duke?"

Ji Heng raised his eyelids and glanced lazily downstairs, saying, "Not interested."

"I'm not saying anything," Kong Liu said, "Although I also admire Miss Jiang's courage to make a bet, that was the school entrance examination of Mingyi Hall. Oh, my father wanted to send me to Mingyi Hall, but I was kicked out before I even touched the door. Is Mingyi Hall accessible to ordinary people?" Kong Liu smacked his lips, "The young lady from the Meng family has stayed in Mingyi Hall for a few years, but Miss Jiang is a newcomer. It's okay to be a newcomer, but before that, Miss Jiang stayed in a nunnery. Not to mention that the nunnery was a romantic nunnery. Even if it was prosperous, could a nun compare to a gentleman from the palace? If Miss Jiang could beat the young lady from the Meng family, that would be a miracle."

"I beg to differ." Lu Ji said, "Since Miss Jiang Er dared to mention the stakes, especially three stakes, the stakes are increasing layer by layer, and it is so impressive, she must have something to rely on. Otherwise, why would she do this and cause trouble for herself?"

"You usually look quite smart, why are you so stupid now?" Kong Liu laughed and said, "Miss Jiang said that, it's just like when we fight, we say something harsh, we should overwhelm you with our momentum first! How can there be so many profound meanings? You scholars have too complicated thoughts!"

The last sentence choked Lu Ji. After a long while, he finally said, "You can't play the lute to a cow."

"A rooster cannot talk to a duck." Kong Liu retorted.

Ji Heng propped up his chin in boredom. Even such a casual movement looked quite beautiful when done by him.

"My lord," Lu Ji looked at Ji Heng again, "Ye Shijie's matter disrupted your plan because of Miss Jiang's relationship. Although I don't know if it was accidental, Miss Jiang is not as stupid as the rumors say. This matter may become an opportunity. It is better to wait and see. The Jiang family must not make any mistakes in their plan. Miss Jiang can be the trigger."

Kong Liu was puzzled: "Miss Jiang Er is not valued in the Jiang family. How will this affect the Jiang family's decision?"

Lu Ji quietly waited for the answer from the person on the other side.

After a long while, Ji Heng finally said, "The Jiang family's drama hasn't started yet, there's no rush." ​​He waved his hand, Wen Ji stepped forward and leaned over. Ji Heng said, "Take 10,000 taels of silver and go to the largest gambling house in Yanjing." Kong Liu's eyes lit up: "Are you also planning to take this opportunity to make a fortune?"

"You have to watch the show till the end," Ji Heng chuckled, "Go, bet on Second Miss Jiang to win."

……

Jiang Li was unaware of the uproar in Yanjing City regarding her bet with Meng Hongjin, because from that day on, she had been "preparing for the test" in Jiang's mansion.

However, this concerns the reputation of the entire Jiang family. Once Jiang Li's actions get out and reach the ears of Old Madam Jiang and Jiang Yuanbo, it will be a big deal.

In Wanfeng Hall, Madam Jiang stared at Jiang Li with a complicated look and asked, "Little Li, what do you want to do?"

"Mother, don't be angry." Ji Shuran said cautiously: "After all, Li'er is young and easily impulsive, that's why she makes bets with others."

"You are still young," Jiang Yuanbo said coldly, "You are already of marriageable age, and you will be old enough to get married soon. But you are still so ignorant of the situation!"

In Wanfeng Hall, there was only the eldest family. Although the matter concerned the entire Jiang Mansion, it was Jiang Li who was in trouble after all.

"Who knows, Second Sister must have a plan in mind." Jiang Youyao did not hesitate to add fuel to the fire, "That's why she was so confident in accepting Miss Meng's bet and even made a request."

It would have been fine if he hadn't mentioned this. Once he mentioned this, Jiang Yuanbo was furious. He hated conceited people the most, especially those who were conceited without any strengths. He looked at Jiang Li with a harsh look in his eyes, "I know you write well, but if you think you can pass the Mingyi Hall exam like this, you are totally wrong! Don't be a frog in the well. The Jiang family values ​​self-knowledge. You don't even know yourself, and you still dare to dream of taking the top spot. You know, you are not only losing your lifelong reputation, but also the reputation of my Jiang family. If you lose, the entire Jiang family will be criticized!"

Jiang Li looked very respectful, with a timely sense of guilt, but she was absent-minded. Jiang Yuanbai and the others thought that they were ignorant and understandable, after all, they didn't know that they were not the real Second Miss Jiang. If they were in a different place, they would only think that this matter was ridiculous if they were faced with such a situation.

Jiang Li lowered her eyebrows and said, "Dad, I was wrong. I shouldn't have acted so impulsively. But now that things have come to this, everyone in the city knows about it. If I cancel the bet right now, I will be laughed at. I will be laughed at anyway, so I might as well try my best. There is still a chance of winning."

Everyone was stunned. No one expected Jiang Li to admit her mistake so readily. Her attitude of admitting her mistake was so good that Jiang Yuanbo couldn't even continue to scold her.

Jiang Li remained calm, as she had learned from Xue Zhao that "admitting one's mistakes should be done sincerely and forthrightly, and making a mistake should be done with courage and without looking back", and this attitude always worked.

Anyway, a dead pig is not afraid of boiling water, so we have to give it a try.

(End of this chapter)