Capítulo 830: Grand Finale (Part 7)

In Night Wind Hall, only Madam Jiang the Elder and Jiang Yuanbai were present. Madam Jiang the Elder looked at Jiang Li for a long time in silence. After who knows how long, she finally said, “Second young miss, do you truly wish to stay in Yanjing City?”

“Yes, Grandmother.” In fact, Jiang Li had hinted at this matter to Jiang Yuanbai many times already, but the Jiang family members always felt as if she was merely acting up. Perhaps she would change her mind sooner or later, so Jiang Li could only patiently answer again and again.

“Second young miss, I never opposed you when you spoke like this in the past. As long as Duke Su returned to the capital, you were naturally to enter Duke Su’s gates. But now, Duke Su can no longer return.” She looked at Jiang Li with pity, “You have been so obstinately misguided; it is yourself you are burdening in the future.”

“What does Grandmother mean by burdening?”

Madam Jiang the Elder sighed, “If you stay in Yanjing City, I’m afraid you’ll never be able to marry. You’re young now and don’t feel the passage of time. But when you grow older, when you see the daughters of other families becoming wives and mothers early on, do you still intend to stay alone in the Duke Residence? Though our Jiang family isn’t ungrateful, this world is already difficult for women. If you choose this path, your life may be filled with hardship and loneliness. Second young miss, you are a descendant of our Jiang family, a young mistress of the Jiang family. Our Jiang family now has nothing left, so there’s no need to worry about anything else. Even if it means bearing the stigma of unrighteousness, as long as it makes your life a bit easier, we don’t care anymore.”

Since returning to the Jiang Residence, Jiang Li had come to understand that Madam Jiang the Elder was a stern, shrewd and reputation-conscious person. In some aspects, she had Lord Jiang the Elder’s spirit, but in others, she was like Jiang Yuanbai, seeking benefits and avoiding harm. This time was no different; Jiang Li knew that when Madam Jiang the Elder spoke these words, there was a measure of sincere concern for her. Probably because she thought Jiang Li was young and could easily remarry, with no one left in the Duke Residence to protect her in the future. Those treasures from the Duke Residence were like child’s play, tempting to others. Using them could be dangerous, and for Jiang Li to protect them on her own would be difficult.

But Jiang Li just smiled and said, “I understand all the reasons Grandmother has given, but I had an agreement with Duke Su— to wait for his return. If he cannot come back, it’s my duty to protect his belongings so that they are not taken by others. Jih Heng has no relatives left in this world. If I don’t keep them safe for him, no one will. I know Grandmother worries about me, but in public terms, as a descendant of the Jiang family, I should not bring shame upon our family name. If I were to do such a dishonorable thing, how could I face our ancestors under the nine springs many years from now? In private, I would be betraying Duke Su’s trust and sincerity.”

“Furthermore,” she turned to look at Jiang Yuanbai, “the Emperor’s intentions in this matter are indeed thought-provoking.”

Jiang Yuanbai was taken aback.

“The Emperor values Duke Su highly; his current inability to return is a source of great regret and trust to the Emperor. If the Jiang family were to act in such a manner at this juncture, I’m afraid it would not sit well with the Emperor. My father has now resigned his official position, allowing the Jiang family to leave with dignity, but what about many years later, a hundred years hence? It’s not certain that the descendants of the Jiang family will be unable to return to Yanjing City. If on my account future generations of the Jiang family suffer difficulties, it would truly be a loss that outweighs the gain. I am willing to exchange my own life for the possible smooth paths of the Jiang family’s future. To establish a good reputation and ensure that when the name of the Jiang family is mentioned in Yanjing City it is not dishonored, the Jiang family will still be the same upright and honorable house it was, wouldn’t it?”

Jiang Li spoke with great righteousness, yet she herself knew that these were merely excuses. Naturally, all excuses are but pretexts, and the only reason was because she herself wanted to wait for Jih Heng.

This life is long, long enough to meet countless people, but it is also very short—so short that after she saw Jih Heng, she knew she would never meet another like him in the future, someone she liked.

But she would not seek death either; neither Xue Fangfei nor Jiang Li would seek death. The self that Jih Heng knew, under any circumstances, had no reason to give up her life. Here she would be, guarding everything of the Duke Residence, never to be the one to break a promise.

Madam Jiang the Elder did not speak anymore, not because she was reminded by Jiang Li’s words. While Jiang Li’s words made sense, more importantly, Jiang Li was not someone who wished to argue or plead for herself. She had heard many things and let them go after acknowledging them. Just like with Yin Zhili’s matter, where likings and dislikings were outright, but today, she had spoken many words to stay in Yanjing City on her own account, not due to circumstances.