Marriage of the Di Daughter
Chapter 143.1: Part 1: Winter Solstice

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Marriage of the Di Daughter Chapter 143 Part 1: Winter Solstice

The gossip about Ji Shuran was abuzz everywhere in the city. However, the people dispatched by Jiang Yuan Bai still could not find out who actually spread the matter out. This became an unresolved case, nonetheless, the ending was definite. The Jiang family’s reputation was affected. At least, in court, there were many impeaching Jiang Yuan Bai for being rigorous in managing his household.

The people from the Right Prime Minister faction took the opportunity to spread all kinds of unfavourable rumors about Jiang Yuan Bai outside. At this time, the more they clarified, the more they were caught in the center of the rumors. Jiang Yuan Bai neatly claimed illness and did not attend court, becoming much more taciturn. Jiang Yuan Ping was also implicated, the atmosphere in the Jiang residence was not good at all.

In these complex circumstances, the winter solstice in Yanjing came quietly.

The snow fell heavily on the winter solstice. Tong’er stood in the courtyard’s gate and said, “There’s never been such heavy snow in Mount Qingcheng, it’s really beautiful.”

The scene common to the northern people was new and interesting in Tong’er’s eyes. After all, the two people stayed for eight years in the nunnery, it was rare to see this kind of silvery white blanketed scenery. Tong’er asked Jiang Li, “Miss, are we still going to the Ye mansion today?”

“Go.” Jiang Li smiled and said, “We’ll go somewhere else first.”

“Somewhere else?” Tong’er was puzzled.

Jiang Li smiled, not answering.

It was snowing very heavily outside, even the peddlers usually setting up stalls did not come out today. The streets were deserted, even pedestrians were sparse. The snow piled thick on the ground, with only the impressions left by carriages travelling along the road leaving behind two deep wheel tracks as well as horses’ disordered footprints.

When Jiang Li exited the residence, the young gatekeeper moved his lips but finally refrained from dissuading her. Everyone knew that the second lady from the main branch had the final say now. Old madam allowed the second lady to enter and exit as she wished without having to report. Did they, as the subordinates, still wanted to obstruct her?

After smoothly exiting the residence, Jiang Li went to Misty Rain Pavilion in Little Egret Bay, the place where Xue Zhao was buried.

Tong’er and Bai Xue still had an impression of this place. Last time, before they went to Tongxiang, Jiang Li came here once. It was said that the Misty Rain Pavilion looks best during a drizzle, and it was raining when they came last time. There was no rain today, could the snow landscape in Misty Rain Pavilion also look beautiful? Was that why Jiang Li was in the mood to go there first?

Jiang Li let the servant girls wait outside in the garden while she entered the back garden of the Misty Rain Pavilion. Under the peach tree, Xue Zhao’s tomb lay peacefully, almost completely buried by the snow. If it were not for half of the tablet exposed outside, perhaps not a trace could be found.

Since Jiang Li’s return from Tongxiang, there had been no one offering sacrifice in this place. Jiang Li looked on helplessly, couldn’t help feeling sour in her heart. Letting Xue Zhao stay here all alone made it very difficult for her to bear.

She bent down and looked for a shabby broom at the side, then cleanly swept the snow at the front of the tomb away, revealing a small open space. She took out a cleaning rag from the basket to carefully wipe the stone tablet before taking out the incense and fruits for offering and laying them on the open space.

Even if she could exit the residence as she wished, she could not go to Misty Rain Pavilion at will. In any case, the Ye family was her maternal grandmother’s family, but Xue Zhao had no relations with Jiang second miss at all. If she was seen by someone and was connected to Xue Huaiyuan’s lawsuit a few days ago, it would cause a disturbance, which was not good.

But on winter solstice, in former days, the three of them, Xue Zhao, she, and Xue Huaiyuan, were always in the house together. Xue Zhao would roast the venison he hunted in the mountain, Xue Huaiyuan would allow them to drink alcohol on that day. Therefore, the clear plum wine would be simmering on the stove, Xue Zhao would be animatedly talking about his travelling dreams while she would go along with a few words. Xue Huaiyuan would smile indulgently at the side.

Things remained the same, but people changed, what remained was the winter but the people were dead, scattered and crazy. At the moment, Jiang Li could not bring Xue Huaiyuan to Xue Zhao’s grave. She could only come by herself.

She sat in front of the grave, placed the venison wrapped in oil paper, and poured a cup of plum wine for Xue Zhao, just like those years.

After sitting for a while, she got up, patted the snow on her clothes and turned to leave.

Tong’er and Bai Xue waited outside until they felt their whole body turn cold before they finally saw Jiang Li come out. They did not ask Jiang Li where the basket she had brought before was and only asked, “Are we going back?”

Jiang Li nodded.

“Let’s go. We cannot stay too long outside on this cold day.” Tong’er stuffed the hand warmer into Jiang Li’s hand before helping her climb the carriage.

After that, Jiang Li went to the Ye mansion.

In the Ye mansion, Ye Ming Yu brought his rivers and lakes brothers over and were eating meat and drinking. When the gatekeeper came to inform Jiang Li’s arrival, Ye Ming Yu lost his head for a moment. The room is in a mess, how to meet the person? It’s better for Ye Shijie to show up. He shook his head then got up to meet Jiang Li.

Jiang Li only saw Ye Shijie coming alone and did not see Ye Ming Yu in the house. She asked, “Why is uncle not here?”

“Drank alcohol, knowing that you’ve come, he went to change clothes.” Ye Shijie had a headache. Hearing the shouts transmitted as they played drinking games and saw the helpless look on Ye Shijie, Jiang Li understood. Ye Ming Yu originally had an inhibited temper, but Ye Shijie was extremely restrained. Now Ye Ming Yu brought all the rivers and lakes into the mansion, which was not a happy thing for Ye Shijie.

Jiang Li looked behind, smiled and said, “Uncle has a generous nature, you also have to be more responsible.”

“I know.” Ye Shijie replied, “Uncle is like this.” He looked at Jiang Li, “Why are you here so early?”

“Today is the winter solstice, come over to see you guys.” Jiang Li motioned to Bai Xue to take out the prepared pastries, “sending a few pastries for you in passing.”

Ye Shijie received it, a burst of peculiar feeling bubbled in his heart. Jiang Li had a very gentle expression, her attitude was very natural, as if treating family members. When these two words, ‘family members’, echoed in his mind, Ye Shijie quivered, as if hit by something.

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