CHAPTER 814: CHAPTER 237 REQUEST_4

Jiang Yuanbai looked at Jiang Li for a while, and he felt increasingly powerless. He was about to resign his official position, while Jih Heng remained the most trusted minister of Emperor Hongxiao. That imperial edict of arranged marriage was almost a warning to Jiang Yuanbai; he couldn’t interfere in Jiang Li’s marriage affairs, nor could he interfere with Jiang Li as a person. In some ways, Jiang Li already belonged to the Duke Residence, even the people from the Ye Family had moved in there. What could he do? He couldn’t possibly meddle, nor did he dare to meddle in the affairs of the Duke Residence.

Therefore, Jiang Yuanbai waved his hand and said with a sense of resignation, "So be it, if you want to go, then go."

Jiang Li smiled, "Thank you, Father."

Seeing Jiang Li smile all of a sudden, Jiang Yuanbai was also taken aback. Since Jih Heng had been ordered to go to war, he had rarely seen Jiang Li smile so freely. Most of the time, she would gaze at the sky in the courtyard, lost in thought, and without guessing, he knew she was thinking of Jih Heng. His daughter appeared independent and generous, but when she fell for someone, she was just like any other girl with someone in her heart.

Jiang Yuanbai couldn’t help but test her, "Jiang Li, if I resign and we have to leave Yanjing..."

"Father, then let me stay here, to watch over the Jiang Family," Jiang Li answered.

Her eyes were still as clear and pure as they had been in the past, but Jiang Yuanbai glimpsed her unwavering determination in that gentle statement. He was silent for a moment before saying, "You should think it through."

"I’ve thought it through a long time ago."

Jiang Yuanbai stared at Jiang Li fixedly, suddenly feeling puzzled. Jiang Li’s temperament reminded him, in a flash, of the late Ye Zhenzhen. Ye Zhenzhen had died early, and later he married Ji Shuran, thinking himself happily married, and seldom thought of Ye Zhenzhen. But looking at Jiang Li, he was reminded that years ago, Ye Zhenzhen had been just as stubborn.

Back then, Madam Jiang the Elder went to the Ye Family to propose marriage. Although the Jiang Family was an official family, the Ye Family was initially hesitant, fearing that Ye Zhenzhen would be wronged due to her merchant background. But after Ye Zhenzhen saw Jiang Yuanbai in the backyard, she turned around and told Old Madam Ye that she wanted to marry him.

After Ye Zhenzhen married into the family, she took the initiative to tell Jiang Yuanbai about it, and he inwardly laughed at her naivety. All the girls in the world play hard to get, fearing that others will look down on them. Even if they liked a man very much, they would only admit a fraction of it. Yet, Ye Zhenzhen never lied; she directly told Jiang Yuanbai how much she truly liked him.

Jiang Li and Ye Zhenzhen were not at all alike; she was much more rational and cunning. But now, she resembled Ye Zhenzhen so much, both were straightforward, both never concealed their feelings, saying things as they were.

Was this a good thing? Jiang Yuanbai wondered, a bit dazed. The reason why Ye Zhenzhen did not meet a good end was that she was plotted against by Ji Shuran, after all, it was all because of him. But deep down, Jiang Yuanbai had to admit that because of Ye Zhenzhen’s unreserved love, there was a part of him that looked down on her.

What about Jih Heng? If Jih Heng saw Jiang Li expressing her feelings so frankly, what would he do? Would he, like himself, look down on Jiang Li because of this and even let her down?

He looked at his daughter before him, a young girl graceful and delicate, with softness that touches one’s heart, but the determination in her eyes was unshakable.

It’s all fate, Jiang Yuanbai sighed deeply in his heart. Whatever destiny held, how could he, a mere mortal, understand it?

His back slightly hunched, he said, "Then do as you wish."

Jiang Li smiled, "Thank you, Father."