After finishing her sentence, Yin Ranshuang flicked her sleeves in a rage and limped away.
Once she was gone, Jiang Li’s tears stopped instantly.
Jiang Li had already made the necessary arrangements. Next, she would wait and see if her cousin, Jiang Xiuyuan, and the Yin family could stir up a conflict with each other.
After leaving Jiang Li, Yin Ranshuang went to see Madam Fan.
Madam Fan had such a severe headache that she could not get out of bed; furthermore, because she had bashed her head against the wall a few days prior, resulting in blood and injury, she was currently in a delirious state.
No matter what Yin Ranshuang said, Madam Fan could not take it in due to the pain.
Yin Ranshuang had originally wanted to consult with Madam Fan, but seeing her in this state, she lost all desire to discuss anything with her.
Yin Ranshuang ordered the steward to investigate Jiang Li’s recent affairs within the Yin household.
Since it would take the steward some time to question the servants, Yin Ranshuang sat in the hall waiting, feeling increasingly unsettled.
After thinking it over, Yin Ranshuang decided to leave the estate personally to check on the shops belonging to the Jiang family.
As Yin Ranshuang expected, the few shops she knew about had ceased operations.
The only remaining one, a pastry shop, had also changed from the “Jiang Family Pastry Shop” to the “Ji Family Pastry Shop.”
Yin Ranshuang made inquiries and learned that this shop had been bought by Official Pan.
When she asked for the reason behind the change of ownership, the clerk stammered for a long time, looking troubled.
Yin Ranshuang figured it out: the change of ownership was likely not due to anything else, but rather that the Jiang family had run into some trouble.
After more questioning by Yin Ranshuang, she finally understood the situation.
It turned out that Jiang Xiuyuan, a cousin from the same clan as Jiang Li, was fighting for the Jiang family’s assets.
It was likely that those shops were closed or sold because of Jiang Xiuyuan.
As for Jiang Li’s clothes and jewelry, it stood to reason that they had been sold to fill the financial gaps.
After guessing these reasons, Yin Ranshuang was shocked and worried that Jiang Li would continue to use their Yin family’s money.
However, she thought again that her parents were no ordinary people; they certainly would not be deceived by Jiang Li.
Still, she had to inform them of this matter.
After returning to the estate, Yin Ranshuang also learned from the steward that some servants not only disobeyed Jiang Li’s orders but had even said harsh things to her face.
Yin Ranshuang frowned deeply upon hearing this. She had yet to gain any benefits from Jiang Li, and even she had to treat Jiang Li with care; by what right did those servants dare to bully her?
Yin Ranshuang had the steward bring those servants in and punished them one by one in her presence.
Even when the servants explained that they had not done so, and that they had only gossiped about the eldest young mistress behind her back, it was of no use.
After disciplining them, Yin Ranshuang ordered them to go and apologize to Jiang Li.
Although the Jiang family’s shops were in trouble, Yin Ranshuang did not dare to truly offend Jiang Li; she even wanted to coax her, thinking that she might still be able to get some benefits from Jiang Li.
Once Yin Hongcai returned from his duties at the Ministry of Justice, Yin Ranshuang told him about Jiang Li’s situation.
Madam Fan also forced herself to get up. After hearing all this, the three of them began to discuss how to seize the Jiang family’s assets from Jiang Xiuyuan.
At the same time, Jiang Xiuyuan also learned that the Jiang family’s shops had closed.
The reason he heard was the exact opposite of Yin Ranshuang’s: although the accounts were also vague and garbled, to Jiang Xiuyuan, they carried a different meaning.
In Jiang Xiuyuan’s view, the reason the shops had suddenly closed was that Jiang Li was being forced to fill the financial holes left by her brother-in-law, who had developed a gambling addiction, and to pay for the medical treatment of her mother-in-law, who suffered from chronic headaches. All of these were massive expenses.
After all, Jiang Li had become a woman of the Yin family, and even if Jiang Xiuyuan went to cause a scene, it would be difficult to clarify the situation.
Consequently, Jiang Xiuyuan came up with a plan: he intended to target the Yin family from the shadows and force them to spit out the money they had taken.
The secret struggle between the two parties was exactly as Jiang Li had planned.
This was the result she wanted: for them to fight each other while she watched from the sidelines.
In her previous life, she had only focused on guarding against Jiang Xiuyuan, yet she had gullibly trusted the Yin family.
This time, she would ensure that the Yin family received the fate they deserved.
……
Two days later, the Princess’s mansion sent word to Jiang Li, asking her to come over.
Jiang Li did not need to think twice to understand; she was being called to the Princess’s mansion to meet the First Prince.
Jiang Li did not delay and hurried out.
She arrived at a clothing store belonging to the Jiang family, picked out a suitable outfit to change into, and then went to see the First Prince.
Just as Jiang Li had guessed, the First Prince had indeed come to the Princess’s mansion.
In her previous life, Jiang Li had never met the First Prince, Wei Yunlie; she had only heard that he had a birthmark on his left cheek and did not know what he actually looked like.
Now, seeing Wei Yunlie, he possessed a handsome and extraordinary face, marred only by a red birthmark that made his whole face appear lackluster.
It was no wonder even the Emperor wanted to help Wei Yunlie remove this birthmark.
One could only imagine that if this birthmark were removed, he would surely mesmerize countless noble young ladies in the capital.
Jiang Li did not delay and retrieved the Beauty Pill from her sleeve to hand over.
After the palace attendant by Wei Yunlie’s side took it, he presented it to him.
The Eldest Princess smiled and said: “Yunlie, this is the Miss Jiang I mentioned to you. The Beauty Pill she has is extremely effective; the scar on my forehead disappeared precisely because I took it.”
Wei Yunlie withdrew his gaze from Jiang Li, his face showing disdain: “Aunt, a scar and a birthmark are different. This pill may have cured your scar, but that does not mean it can cure a birthmark.”
Jiang Li’s brows twitched slightly; she could sense the First Prince’s distrust of her pill.
It was understandable. Had she not saved Princess Baoqing’s life first, the Eldest Princess would not have believed that her Beauty Pill was effective either.
The First Prince was born into wealth; as the Emperor’s eldest son, he should have been the one to sit on the throne as the Crown Prince, yet he had been pointed at and whispered about because of the birthmark on his face. It was only natural that he would be so guarded against people.
Jiang Li said: “Whether it can be cured or not, one will know after trying. If the First Prince does not believe me, you may crush the pill and apply it to your face, though the effect will be slightly weaker.”
Before Jiang Li had even finished speaking, she saw that Wei Yunlie had already opened the porcelain bottle and swallowed the pill inside.
The imperial physician waiting to check for poison: “……”
The palace attendants serving the First Prince: “……”
Even the Eldest Princess was stunned; this child was usually quite steady, so why did he take it so impulsively without letting the imperial physician check it first?
The Eldest Princess did not want to say too much, but since the First Prince was her nephew, she said: “Yunlie, as a prince, you must not be careless with things you consume when you are out; even in my mansion, you must not.”
After saying this, the Eldest Princess looked at Jiang Li and gave her a look.
Jiang Li understood: the Eldest Princess asking the physician to check for poison was not because she distrusted her, but on the contrary, it was to protect her.
It was hard to clarify matters regarding anything ingested; if the First Prince experienced any mishap after taking the pill, it would be difficult for Jiang Li to explain herself.
Jiang Li nodded slightly to show she understood.
However, Wei Yunlie suddenly laughed: “I trust my aunt. If I were to ask the imperial physician to check even the things given to me by my elders, would that not hurt my aunt’s heart?”
Wei Yunlie’s words left the Eldest Princess with nothing to say.
She could only ask the imperial physician to wait a little longer before checking Wei Yunlie’s pulse to confirm the pill was non-toxic, before allowing Wei Yunlie to leave.