Chapter 38: Lovely Girls

Chapter 38 The Lovely Girls

When she had read the book back then, this unfortunate character was only mentioned a few times in the villain’s monologue. It seemed he lamented his elder brother’s untimely death, but the exact circumstances were never detailed.

However, Jiang Wan had reason to suspect this was merely the lazy author’s contrivance, a stepping stone specifically designed for their golden boy—the male lead, Li Liugou.

Otherwise, how could someone of such obscure maternal and uncertain paternal lineage so easily deceive the Duke Cheng’en household, simply by virtue of a face that bore a striking resemblance to Crown Prince Yuande?

After all, the Zhao family was a prominent noble clan, and its patriarch could hardly be a fool. It defied logic that he would be so easily swayed by that scoundrel’s casual fabrications, accepting him as the true son of a Zhao woman and offering him full support.

While various family considerations might have played a role, the primary reason was undoubtedly that face!

Of course, whether this was truly the case or not, she had skipped many chapters and hadn’t read carefully back then. But now, thinking about it, it was probably spot on.

Yes, spot on!

Throughout history and across cultures, such characters always remain popular.

"Heh, interesting."

"What’s so interesting?"

Li Laosi’s broad face leaned in.

"Scram, your ugliness offends me."

"Jiang Wan, am I still your fourth brother or not? Is this how you treat me?"

The accused ignored him, merely raising a hand to point at the bruise on her own lip. The other immediately lowered his voice, knowing he was in the wrong.

"Fine, I’ll go back to my seat. You should sit down quickly too, Wan Jieer."

As soon as he finished speaking, he bolted away.

Watching his kicked-puppy act, a faint smile flickered in Jiang Wan’s eyes as she leisurely made her way to her seat and sat down.

Strictly speaking, Li Chengxiu wasn’t a bad person. Even if he didn’t turn out as outstanding as his elder brother in adulthood, it couldn’t be said that his misdeeds were unforgivable. He certainly didn’t deserve to be framed for the crime of molesting his brother’s wife and die in such disgrace.

Especially since the other victim in this so-called “palace scandal” was her own second brother, Jiang Wan felt she could personally tear that bastard to shreds!

Li Shenxiu, you’d better not let me catch you!

Otherwise, I’ll make sure you experience just how mind-bending a psycho’s fourth dimension can be.

With a cold glare, she pulled out her book but hadn’t even opened it when a familiar, grinning face leaned in front of her desk.

"Wan Jieer, I really admire you!"

"Huh? Admiring me again? What earth-shattering thing did I do today to win you over?"

While casually responding to Ji Jingshu’s chatter, she opened her book. Although this girl was the sister of that scoundrel Ji Yunzhi, she was nothing like him.

Perhaps because they were half-siblings, Ji Jingshu didn’t have a close relationship with Ji Yunzhi. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have later thrown this poor girl into the fire.

Remembering the original story, the eldest daughter of the Ji family, Ji Jingshu, had once been a pampered little flower, showered with parental love. But after her father’s death and her mother’s passing, she was hastily married off.

At the prime age of eighteen, a noble-born daughter, she was wedded to a nearly forty-year-old rich merchant from Jiangnan—all to secure funds for her family’s bribing of officials.

In the end, the Ji family did regain its status, but it was the scoundrel Ji Yunzhi who basked in glory, while the bright-smiling girl before her was bullied by her stepson and ultimately drowned in a Jiangnan river.

Jiang Wan felt like sighing; she was growing irritated.

What kind of story was this? Why was everyone around her such a poor wretch? Each had their own miserable tale, each more tragic than the last.

Truly, what a mess!

"Sigh."

"Wan Jieer, don’t sigh! What I said just now was sincere. You’re really amazing—the most incredible girl in our eyes! Just like what you said before…"

"Head Sis!"

An abrupt voice chimed in. The quiet girl sitting on the left also smiled timidly at Jiang Wan, trying to curry favor.

Though she didn’t understand why she was called "Head Sis," Guo Yutang had always been attentive and remembered it after hearing Jiang Wan say it once.

"Sis Wanwan, you’re our Head Sis!"

"Yeah, yeah! Jiang Wan, you’re truly badass. Even someone as fierce as Chang Yuning—you dared to confront her right to her face! You’ve really got back at her for me! From today on, you’re my role model, Sun Lanlan!"

There were only four girls in the entire Dizi class, and now three of them were gathered around Jiang Wan, leaving her unsure whether to laugh or facepalm.

"What exactly did I do to earn such admiration? Sun Lanlan, weren’t you talking trash about me just yesterday? Are we calling a truce today?"

"Yes!"

The second daughter of the Sun family nodded emphatically.

"That fight between my younger sister and your younger brother—let’s just forget it and never bring it up again. Anyway, you handled it fairly yesterday and made your chubby little brother apologize to my chubby little brother.

My brother says we should be reasonable and get along well with our classmates. I was already planning to reconcile with you today, and then you went and did something so awesome just now!

Jiang Wan, I’ve decided to be close sisters with you, just like Ji Jingshu. From now on, we sisters stand united and take on Chang Yuning together.

Don’t worry, I’m quick with comebacks too. When it comes to arguing, I’ll handle it; when it comes to fighting, you step in. Let’s piss off that wretched woman!"

Her words dripped with deep resentment, making Jiang Wan, who loved gossip, curious enough to ask for details.

"You have beef with Chang Yuning? She’s several years older than you, and the Tianzi class’s Jiusi Hall is far from our Dizi class’s Jiusi Study. How did you end up in a feud with her?"

"Beef? I have serious beef against her!"

Sun Lanlan shot a few angry glares in Chang Yukang’s direction, making him raise his book to block her view.

"What happened?"

Seeing Sun Lanlan’s furious expression, Jiang Wan blinked. Guo Yutang, on her left, spoke up softly.

"Head Sis, don’t misunderstand. My second cousin’s anger isn’t directed at you. Actually, it’s not some big secret. My eldest cousin once spoke with Young Master Li San a few times, and then Chang Yuning, that wretched woman, ambushed her in a dark alley, beat her up, and... even clawed her face."

Hearing her cousin mention her elder sister, Sun Lanlan’s eyes reddened with rage.

"Don’t you think that Chang woman is insane? Is Young Master Li San some kind of property of hers? Does that mean no one else is allowed to talk to him?

Even if my sister didn’t have any of those silly ideas she assumed, let’s say for argument’s sake—pretty things are for everyone to appreciate. Why should he be exclusively hers to keep locked up?

My innocent sister was humiliated for no reason, almost scarred, and nearly rejected by her fiancé’s family. Although she’s now successfully engaged, some nasty gossip still follows her around."