Time Is Slow - Chapter 31

Li Guangwen was quite conflicted.

If he went back now to reprimand her, it would be inappropriate. He had just finished playing chess with her. 

How could someone as upright as him stoop to such a petty act of settling scores afterward?

But if he didn’t go back to discipline her, wouldn’t that girl become even more unruly in the future?

He hesitated again and again before finally pushing open the study door.

Forget it, he would do it next time. He could use the opportunity to ask how that girl’s chess skills had become so impressive.

His second wife, Madam He, had plenty of silver. Because she was often mocked for her background and felt she had dragged her daughter down, she spared no expense in hiring private tutors for Li Zhao, hoping that her daughter would surpass the young ladies of both the Eastern and Western branches in every art. Be it in music, chess, calligraphy, painting, and even archery.

Unfortunately, Li Zhao had always been mediocre, especially in archery, where she was an utter disaster. As the servants in the household would say in private, the Third Miss had the temperament of a domineering person but lacked the strength to back it up.

In Li Guangwen’s memory, this daughter of his had always been ordinary. Today, however, she had given him quite the shock.

Meanwhile, Li Hui had followed his elder sister to the eastern courtyard to comfort her. 

“Eldest Sister, don’t take it to heart. Li Zhao is just like that. When has she ever spoken nicely to anyone?”

Li Jiao personally poured a cup of tea and handed it to her younger brother. She spoke gently, “I won’t mind. If I did, I wouldn’t have been able to get through life all these years.”

Hearing this made Li Hui feel miserable. He reached out and grasped Li Jiao’s hand. 

“Eldest Sister, you’ve suffered. I spend all day studying at the Imperial Academy, and I can’t even be there to help when you’re bullied.”

Li Jiao withdrew her hand and spoke seriously, “Third Brother, your studies are the most important thing right now. Don’t always worry about me. Remember, only if you succeed in your studies will I no longer have to endure grievances in the future.”

Li Hui felt both heartbroken and inspired.

He solemnly promised, “Eldest Sister, don’t worry. I will pass the imperial exam and become a top scholar even earlier than Father did. One day, no one will dare to bully you again!”

Li Jiao smiled and reached out to straighten his collar, her tone meaningful. 

“Why compare yourself to Father? If you want to compete, compare yourself to our eldest cousin.”

Their eldest cousin was the eldest son of the Eastern branch, the son of the Marquis’ wife, Old Madam Jiang. At just over forty, he had already risen to the rank of Vice Minister, a prestigious third-rank official. In the bureaucratic system of Great Liang, which highly valued seniority, he was considered a young and promising talent.

Meanwhile, their father, Li Guangwen, had placed third in the imperial examination and entered the Hanlin Academy, a prestigious post often reserved for future prime ministers. Yet, after more than ten years… well, he was still stuck in the Hanlin Academy, compiling historical records.

Thinking about it made Li Jiao frustrated.

Her father had the best prospects, achieving high honors in the exam and marrying into nobility. Yet, he had completely squandered his opportunities. He had played his hand so badly that even their second uncle, who had taken a lesser role as a provincial governor, had done better.

“All right, go back to your studies. If you linger here too long, people will start gossiping,” Li Jiao said, giving Li Hui a little push.

Li Hui was displeased. 

“We are siblings born of the same mother, what gossip could there be?”

Despite his words, he obediently stood up and took his leave.

Once Li Hui was gone, Li Jiao finally relaxed completely, leaning lazily against the bed railing with a faint smile.

No matter what, Li Zhao had caused her to be rejected from her engagement. That girl would only become more disliked in the household from now on. As for herself, though she now bore the reputation of being abandoned, at least she wasn’t at fault. If she played her cards right, she might still find a good match in the future.

And even if all else failed, even if she remained unmarried for life, it would still be better than marrying that scoundrel.

However, Li Zhao did seem… different this time.

Just as she was deep in thought, a maidservant tiptoed in and reported, “Miss, the Master has left the western courtyard and returned to his study.”

“Oh?” Li Jiao smiled. “What was Father’s reaction?”

The maid looked conflicted, as if hesitant to speak.

“What kind of expression is that? If you have something to say, say it. Don’t keep me guessing,” Li Jiao said, sitting up straight. A vague sense of unease crept into her heart.

“This servant wouldn’t dare! It’s just that… the Master… he came out smiling…”

“Smiling?” Li Jiao’s own smile faded. “Did you see clearly? Was it a cold smile, a bitter smile, or—”

“No, no!” The maid shook her head. 

“It was a silly grin, like a starving man seeing a roasted chicken leg or a freezing man finding a warm coat.”

“Are you sure?” Li Jiao’s face turned serious as she instinctively looked out the window.

Outside, peach blossoms were blooming, and spring was in full swing.

She knew it. Ever since that wretched girl returned, everything had started to feel… strange.

“Miss—”

Li Jiao snapped out of her thoughts, loosening the handkerchief she had been gripping tightly. Her face returned to its usual calmness. 

“You may go.”

The maid had barely left when she hurried back again. 

“Miss, the Second and Fifth Misses from the Eastern branch have arrived.”

Li Jiao quickly sat up straight. Before she could even get up, a girl in a water-red blouse strode in. Behind her, a girl in a yellow dress followed, her head bowed, looking demure and obedient.

The one in red was none other than the Second Miss, Li Jiao, a lively young woman with arched eyebrows and phoenix eyes, brimming with energy.

“Eldest Sister, I came to see you.” Li Jiao spoke, the curve of her lips forming the perfect arc.

Li Jiao couldn’t help but feel envious.

This cousin of hers was naturally proud and willful, but she was blessed with good fortune. Her grandmother was a titled noblewoman, and from the moment she could walk, she had been strictly trained under her guidance. The girls from their Western Courtyard were lucky if they were merely allowed to attend the Eastern Courtyard’s female academy; they couldn’t even dream of anything more.

Thinking of this, Li Jiao felt a pang of sadness.

Her mother had been a noblewoman from a marquis’s household. If she were still alive, she might have done everything in her power to find a palace-trained etiquette instructor to teach her the proper courtly arts…

“Eldest Sister, I heard everything. Li Zhao caused your engagement to be annulled. Just wait, I’ll go teach her a lesson right now!”

With those words, Li Jiao turned and strode straight toward the Western Courtyard.

Li Jiao was more than happy to see this happen, but on the surface, she feigned urgency and worry. 

“Second Sister, you don’t have to do this—”

Her personal maid, Chunfang, followed beside her, smiling. 

“Second Miss truly cares for you, Miss.”

Among all the young ladies of both branches, for her own mistress to be on good terms with the most highly regarded girl of the Eastern Courtyard was a source of pride, even for a maid.

But this remark displeased Li Jiao.

She sneered inwardly. 

Care for her? If she weren’t just slightly inferior to Li Jiao in every single skill, be it in music, chess, calligraphy, painting, and even archery, would Li Jiao even bother to befriend her?

“Stop following me. Just watch over the courtyard properly!” Li Jiao ordered coldly before heading out.

Meanwhile, in the Western Courtyard, Li Zhao had just finished tidying up the chessboard. She held a teacup in her hand and was giving instructions to Ah Zhu.

“You’ve just arrived, so if you deliberately try to befriend the household servants, no one will think much of it. It’s only natural. Take this hundred taels of silver and exchange it for small silver pieces. Don’t hesitate to spend the money. Focus on building good relations with the gatekeepers, kitchen staff, and other well-informed people. I want to hear about anything happening outside as soon as possible.”

She didn’t care which young lady received fine fabric today or which madam lost her temper tomorrow, but she refused to be deaf to outside affairs.

If everything was going as expected, her elder brother should be at their maternal grandfather’s residence right now. Shao Mingyuan had returned victorious yesterday, and today was the perfect moment for their grandfather to openly bring up the Qiao family’s fire.

If there was no commotion in the capital today, then she would have to worry whether her brother had made it into the city safely.

Countless thoughts swirled in Qiao Zhao’s mind. She finished an entire cup of tea without even realizing it and absentmindedly lifted the cup again for another sip.

Just then, a voice rang out from outside. It was Binglu.

“Second Miss, you can’t just barge in! Let me inform the young miss first!”