The Double-Chapter 524 - 159: Green Hat_2

Old General Jih’s birthday banquet only invited these people in the end.

Considering that apart from Kong Liu, who served in the court, none of the guests had any significant connections with the Jiang Family, it was no wonder that Madam Jiang the Elder and Jiang Yuanbai were worried. Even if Jiang Li reported today’s guests at the banquet to Madam Jiang the Elder and Jiang Yuanbai upon returning to the Jiang Residence, it was likely they would still have no idea who these people were.

However, this also begged the question, did this mean that Old General Jih at least considered her one of his own? As Jiang Li pondered this, she took her seat at the banquet table.

The dishes were extremely lavish, and Wen Renyao said, "Our Ah Heng is cooking again today. Everyone should seize the opportunity and eat up, speak less, eat more, and chit-chat less."

Jiang Li looked at Jih Heng in surprise—is it truly Jih Heng cooking again? It seemed that on festivals or Old General Jih’s birthday, it was always Jih Heng who cooked. To say it was treasured would also not be much of a treasure, given it happened several times each year; yet to say it was common would be far from ordinary. Jiang Li estimated that the people who had the chance to taste Jih Heng’s cooking were probably all here.

She really wanted to ask why someone of Jih Heng’s status, who definitely did not need to cook personally, possessed such culinary skills. However, since Jih Heng himself disliked discussing his skill in cooking, Jiang Li dismissed the thought.

Furthermore, although she was curious, curiosity did not necessarily require an answer.

This birthday feast turned out to be quite a joy for both hosts and guests. Compared to the last visit, Jiang Li was more familiar with these people, and there wasn’t any conversation about important matters at the banquet, just some idle family chit-chat. Perhaps because Jiang Li had given a precious horse as a gift, Old General Jih was obviously much more affectionate towards Jiang Li and even exchanged some knowledge on horse appraisal with her—they both gained a lot from the exchange.

Throughout this banquet, Jiang Li still did not drink any alcohol.

Ever since the incident with the Shen family, Jiang Li no longer drank at banquets. However, everyone was considerate of her not being a good drinker and did not urge her to drink, specifically preparing a non-alcoholic fruit dew for her. By the time the banquet was over, Old General Jih and the others were already drunk to the point of being scattered haphazardly. Situ Jiuyue, Hai Tang, and Jiang Li, the three women, were not drunk. The only other sober person left was Jih Heng.

The servants helped the drunken guests inside, while the remaining folks stepped out of the hall. Seeing Situ Jiuyue standing at the front of the courtyard, Jiang Li approached and said, "Miss Jiuyue."

Situ Jiuyue said, "The medicine you requested is ready. I’ve given it to Jih Heng. You can ask him for it, but remember that this medicine can only be used for three months. After three months, all signs of pregnancy will disappear and a doctor’s pulse check will reveal the previous pulse to be fake."

"Three months is ample," Jiang Li bowed deeply to Situ Jiuyue, "I am indeed grateful to Miss Jiuyue for this."

"No need to thank me." After saying this, she turned and went inside without looking back, probably to create a new medicine. Hai Tang might have been assisting Situ Jiuyue, because after bowing to Jiang Li, she quickly entered the same room Situ Jiuyue had entered. Jiang Li watched and then chuckled, thinking that with Hai Tang finding temporary work to do, she too seemed a bit more at ease.

After all, Jiang Li did not wish Hai Tang to be consumed by thoughts of vengeance. She would take care of the revenge against the Xue Family herself. Hatred can change a person; being burdened with it does not bring happiness. One person enduring it was enough, there was no need for others to do so.

"What are you laughing at?" While Jiang Li was lost in thought, Jih Heng’s voice suddenly came from behind her. Turning around, she saw him standing shoulder to shoulder with her at the entrance of the courtyard, not looking at her but gazing at the sky, seemingly lost in his own thoughts.

"Nothing bad, just feeling good, so I laughed," Jiang Li replied.

"Then it seems you will keep smiling," he said.

"What?" Jiang Li was momentarily taken aback.

Jih Heng said, "Come with me," and he started walking out of the courtyard.

Jiang Li hurriedly followed.

At this moment, all of the Duke Residence’s Kong Liu and his entourage were passed out drunk, Situ Jiuyue had gone off to perform alchemy, leaving only Jih Heng and Jiang Li among the people besides the servants. Seeing the direction Jih Heng was heading, which was clearly towards the study, Jiang Li instantly had a clear understanding—Jih Heng must have something he wished to discuss with her.

As it happened, she too had something she wanted to say to Jih Heng.

The two of them walked neither fast nor slow, leaving clear footprints in the snow—Jih Heng’s were deeper, the shape of boots, and Jiang Li’s were shallower, the shape of embroidered shoes. One large, one small, the footprints were in perfect harmony.