Duke Jing's younger sister

Chapter 213: Myself First

No matter whether the woman had intentional intent or it was an unintentional mistake.

It is undeniable that she is now really notorious.

Even someone as straightforward as Luo Zhi could sense that what was said was wrong, and took it personally, thinking that it was a mockery of her.

There are many ways for people to live in this world.

Some people can be free and easy, while others have to be careful with their words and observe etiquette.

She believes she can't do the former, but unfortunately she can't do the latter either.

She walked forward with her head down, feeling as if she was being pressed down by something invisible and intangible, making it difficult for her to breathe.

"girl--"

A woman was standing on the steps, calling her softly.

Jiang Li stopped and looked in the direction of the voice, and saw a graceful woman who seemed to be in her twenties.

She was wearing a green dress, gentle and generous. The color was very similar to the one Shen Beiqi often wore, but slightly lighter.

Jiang Li raised her head and looked at the plaque above the woman's head - Muxue Teahouse.

Yue Niang smiled softly and said, "The girl's skirt is stained. If you don't mind, I have new clothes here that I haven't worn yet. I would like to give them to you."

Jiang Li lowered her eyes and saw that the small mark on the aqua blue skirt that was originally soaked by dirty water had quickly spread along the veins of the fabric and spread out into a large area.

Looking at it this way, it does seem a bit indecent.

Just by hearing her voice, I can tell that Yue Niang must be a gentle person.

For some reason, Jiang Li nodded and followed Yue Niang into the teahouse and came to a room on the second floor.

Inside the wing, a green porcelain vase was placed on a brown wooden cabinet, with two reeds inserted in the vase, like two graceful girls.

Flower arrangement is common, but it is the first time that Jiang Li has seen reed arrangement.

"Would you like to have a cup of tea first?"

Yue Niang gently raised her hand and motioned for Jiang Li to sit on the cushion.

Jiang Li nodded, picked up her skirt and sat down, "Thank you, sister."

"Just call me Yue Niang."

Jiang Li sat there in a daze, his eyes following Yue Niang's slender fingers like green onions.

To be fair, Yue Niang's facial features are not stunningly beautiful, but she has an elegant temperament.

When making tea, every movement she made was natural, but the more natural and unintentionally lazy she was, the more beautiful she looked.

"Girl, try it."

Yue Niang smiled and gently pushed a cup of tea in front of her.

Jiang Li took it with both hands, thanked him, and took a sip.

It tastes a bit bitter at first, like some medicine, but also has a faint scent of tea.

Jiang Li always hated taking medicine, and couldn't help but frowned, "This tea doesn't seem like tea."

Yue Niang raised her hand and poured herself a cup, explaining, "This tea is called Xizhuo, and it is made by mixing top-quality black tea with several medicinal herbs."

Wash away the turbidity?

Jiang Li stared at her for a moment, "Sister Yue Niang, do you know me?"

"Of course I know her," Yue Niang's eyes flashed a little dimly, and she smiled, "The former Third Miss Shen, now the Miss Jiang."

She is also the person he holds close to his heart.

Yue Niang drank her tea and quietly looked at the woman in front of her. She had seen her once from a distance, but couldn't see her clearly.

Now that she was sitting very close to her, Yue Niang couldn't help but want to take a few more glances at her.

She is a little thin and petite, and the aqua blue dress makes her figure look even more graceful.

At this moment, she didn't know what she was thinking about.

There was a hint of confusion in his clear eyes, and his expression became hazy.

It turns out that this kind of simple and clean woman, as pure and transparent as a pear blossom, is the one he likes.

"Could it be that Sister Yue Niang has seen me before?" Jiang Li asked, "Why don't I have any impression of me at all?"

In fact, Jiang Li once came to the Muxue Teahouse secretly.

At that time, Shen Beiqi often came here to drink tea. She heard that the teahouse proprietress was a beauty, so she came here specially, wanting to take a sneak peek to see what kind of beauty she was.

At that time, Yue Niang was in the prime of her youth and her appearance was much more outstanding than it is now.

It was just a quick meeting and several years have passed.

So she didn't recognize Yue Niang just now.

"I once saw him from a distance." Yue Niang answered truthfully, "At that time, you were with the Duke."

That night, he strolled with her along the main street and bought her a basket of lotus flowers.

Yue Niang had never seen his usually indifferent eyes so gentle as autumn water, with a hint of teasing.

I guess it's only in front of the girl he likes that he will show this side of him that is different from the one he shows to others.

Jiang Li understood after hearing this. Yue Niang knew her because she had seen her and Shen Beiqi walking together before.

She nodded, lowered her head and took another sip of bitter tea, and was speechless for a moment.

"Just now I saw you, young lady, you seem to be worried about something?" Yue Niang said, "Why don't you tell me so that I can help you solve your problems?"

Jiang Li was stunned for a moment.

She and Yue Niang were just casual acquaintances, so why should she open her heart and talk to him?

Jiang Li thought she couldn't do it.

Yue Niang seemed to see what she was thinking and smiled slightly.

"In fact, even if the young lady didn't say it, I can guess the reason for her worries. The situation the young lady is in now is something that Yue Niang has also experienced before."

Jiang Li looked at her in confusion, "Why did Sister Yue Niang say that?"

"Young lady, I'm afraid you don't know that when I first arrived in Jiangdu City, I brought my six-year-old brother with me and opened this teahouse alone. Everyone said that I was the concubine of a high-ranking official in the court, and my six-year-old brother was the illegitimate son of the minister. Don't you think it's funny?"

Yue Niang smiled so much that her eyebrows and eyes curved into crescents. It would be a lie to say that there was no high-ranking official supporting the Muxue Tea House.

But if that child is his illegitimate child...

Yue Niang would rather this was true.

"When Sister Yue Niang heard these words, didn't she feel the slightest bit unhappy?" Jiang Li asked.

She said this so calmly, as if she had never cared about it.

Yue Niang: "Why bother about other people's gossip? People always say whatever they want to say and only believe what they believe. Even if you explain, no one will believe you."

"There are so many beautiful things in this world. Why do you have to get so serious and bother yourself with things that you can't see or touch? Besides, do you really care whether those people like you or not?"

"If you make yourself unhappy because of those gossips, then it is truly not worth it."

Yue Niang paused and continued to persuade softly,

"I think you are a wise woman, and your mind is as clear as a mirror. But why do you want to trouble yourself and use those insignificant words as a cage to imprison yourself?"

"The one who can defeat you is not others, nor those rumors, but yourself."

"But..." Jiang Li looked up at her, "What if the family will also be disgraced by this?"

Yue Niang smiled calmly, "If you have too many concerns, you will be timid. If you want to abide by these rigid rules, it must be because you are willing to abide by them, not for anyone else."

"I dare to call you sister."

She stretched out her hand, avoiding Jiang Li's gauze-wrapped fingers, and gently stroked the back of her hand.

"Sister, you should know that you are yourself first. You should live for your own happiness instead of compromising yourself for anyone else."