After Wei Yunlie left, the Eldest Princess kept Jiang Li back alone to speak with her at length, offering her comfort.
“Child, I know you have good intentions, but the imperial family is not as simple as you think. This time you were lucky, and no mishaps occurred. But if something were to happen to the First Prince, I would find it very difficult to protect you. My brother’s first wife, Empress Pei, passed away early and was unable to bear him any princes or princesses. Although the First Prince was born to a concubine, he is my brother’s first child, and he naturally values him highly. I tell you this so you understand that while the First Prince may be able to help you, it is best to avoid any connection with him if possible.”
Jiang Li certainly knew that the Eldest Princess had her best interests at heart, and she understood the various risks of dealing with the imperial family. However, in order to escape the Yin family—a place that would “eat you alive”—she had no choice but to take the risk.
Jiang Li thanked the Eldest Princess for her kindness. After confirming with Princess Baoqing that they would look at the new jewelry shop together in a few days, she did not stay any longer and left the Princess’s mansion.
As Jiang Li exited the mansion, she saw a carriage parked outside.
A palace attendant approached her and handed her a small box.
“Miss Jiang, this is a token of gratitude from our master.”
Jiang Li reached out to receive it, understanding that this was from the First Prince.
“Please trouble you to thank His Highness for me. If his birthmark does not fade, he may seek me out again.”
The attendant nodded and took his leave.
Jiang Li watched the First Prince’s carriage disappear into the distance before turning to leave.
She opened the box and saw a stack of bank notes resting quietly inside.
Jiang Li closed the box and returned to the clothing shop. She handed the box to Rendong for safekeeping, changed back into her original clothes, and returned to the Yin household.
Still, no one noticed Jiang Li’s absence; the Yin family members were all busy with their own affairs and had no time to spare for her.
Jiang Li was content with the quiet and pondered the matter of opening a new shop.
The businesses of the Jiang family were all extremely prosperous and could have continued to operate, but now, to leave the Yin family, she had to keep them closed.
However, Jiang Li did not intend for the shops to remain idle for nothing. She would think of a better way to reopen them.
It was cumbersome to always have people pretend to be the owner, so Jiang Li planned to forge an identity for the opening of the new shop. She might as well use the surname of her maternal clan and tell the public that a businesswoman named He had come to the capital to open a shop.
She just wondered if anyone would grow suspicious of her identity and guess the truth.
It didn’t matter; there was no rush. Perhaps the Yin family would soon be too occupied to deal with their own affairs and choose to let her go.
The following day, Jiang Li assumed it would be another uneventful day, but she did not expect her father-in-law to summon her for a talk.
Yin Hongcai first inquired about Jiang Li’s food and housing in the estate, asked if she lacked anything, and finally brought up his true intent.
Yin Hongcai sighed: “You know that nowadays, only your second brother-in-law can uphold the family’s reputation. But he is fond of play and was kicked out of his previous academy. He is still young; he cannot simply stop studying, otherwise, all his previous efforts will have been in vain. You grew up with your grandparents and must know many people. Can you find a suitable academy for your second brother-in-law?”
Jiang Li had originally intended to act as she had before, playing the timid and submissive daughter-in-law, and refuse Yin Hongcai’s proposal.
But this time, Jiang Li changed her mind.
Although she could find ways to leave the house without the Yin family noticing, over time, there would always be a risk of being discovered. It would be better to agree to find an academy for Yin Chengzhou; that way, she would have a legitimate excuse to go out.
In any case, it was impossible for her to pay out of her own pocket. She would use the gifts prepared by the Yin family, and it would not be strange if she were rejected.
Jiang Li asked hesitantly: “Does the estate still have the funds to prepare gifts for the visits? My hands are truly not affluent.”
Yin Hongcai almost forgot this point. He always felt that Jiang Li was wealthy, as it was the Jiang family’s assets that made them willing to let her marry into the family in the first place.
Now that the Jiang family didn’t have as much money, Yin Hongcai thought of utilizing the connections Jiang Li had. If nothing else, at least it would give his younger son a place to study, which was better than hanging around gambling dens.
Yin Hongcai had no choice but to grit his teeth and agree: “Fine, don’t worry. I will order the steward to prepare the gifts; you won’t go empty-handed.”
Jiang Li breathed a slight sigh of relief and reluctantly agreed: “I will do my best.”
Even though Jiang Li made no promises that she could succeed, Yin Hongcai was half-relieved. As long as she was willing to seek out people, there was still a chance.
Yin Hongcai did not know Jiang Li’s schemes, nor could he see through her thoughts.
The moment Jiang Li turned to leave, a flash of imperceptible humor crossed her eyes.
She now had the perfect excuse to go out and look at shops.
Jiang Li did not delay. After returning to Qinghe Court and tidying up a little, she took Wangyou and set out.
She first visited a student of her grandfather, who was now the head of an academy in the capital.
When Jiang Li arrived at the entrance of the academy, she did not mention her identity as a woman of the Jiang clan; she only stated that she was a member of the Yin family and was seeking an education for the second young master of the Yin house.
The academy’s gatekeeper went in to pass on the message, but as soon as the head of the academy heard “second young master of the Yin house,” he waved his hand repeatedly.
The news that the Yin family’s second young master had been kicked out of his previous academy for gambling had long since spread throughout the capital.
Under no circumstances would their academy accept a student addicted to gambling. Moreover, Yin Chengzhou’s academic performance at his previous school had been mediocre; it could be said he had no great talent, so there was even less reason to accept him.
However, the head did think of Jiang Li. He had heard that the Jiang girl had married into the Yin family, but she had married the late eldest young master; it shouldn’t have been her place to manage the schooling of the second young master.
The head gave it no more thought and sent word of his refusal.
Jiang Li, as she expected, failed to see the head of the academy. But she was not anxious and continued to take her maid to the next academy.
Though she was allegedly visiting schools, Jiang Li sat in the carriage along the way and examined the locations of several storefronts.
After a few glances, she determined the location for the jewelry shop and had Wangyou take note of it.
After passing several Jiang family shops, Jiang Li came up with a plan.
The Jiang family had many shops, some of which did not bear the Jiang family’s signboard, so even passersby were unaware they belonged to the Jiang family.
The shops bearing the Jiang name had already ceased operations; she might as well create the illusion that they had been bought by other businesses.
Jiang Li had Wangyou pass a message to Rendong, telling her she could begin the work.
As for what to say when the Yin family discovered this and asked where the money from selling the shops had gone, she would simply say it had been used to plug the financial holes.
The Yin family was concerned with face; even if they harbored suspicions, they wouldn’t dare to truly audit the shop accounts. Otherwise, if such things were publicized, it would not be a good thing for the Yin family’s reputation.
Jiang Li spent two days this way.
Every day after eating breakfast, she would board the carriage and go out, visiting one academy after another.
It was not until before sunset that she would return to the Yin household.
Yin Hongcai heard from the servants that Jiang Li was very attentive to finding an academy. Although there was no result, she was doing her utmost just as she had promised, so he felt reassured.
Although people’s hearts grow cold when they are no longer in power, there were so many academies in the capital that surely one would be willing to take the second son.
Yin Hongcai did not know that Jiang Li had not mentioned her true identity to anyone.