Chapter 39: Probing

"Humph! No matter what, today I must probe Jiang Li once more. I refuse to believe he is without any flaws," Lady Wang gritted her teeth, making up her mind in secret.

With that, she led a few maids towards the Zhiqiu Courtyard, but on the way, she pulled one person aside to whisper something.

Before long, Lady Wang and her entourage arrived at the Zhiqiu Courtyard. Jiang Li had already sensed their arrival, sneered inwardly, but put on a surprised expression as he greeted them.

"I wonder why the madam has graced us with her presence today?" Jiang Li asked respectfully with a bow.

Lady Wang looked at Jiang Li, a flash of scrutiny in her eyes, then said with a forced smile,"Jiang Li, I've come today just to chat with you about everyday matters." She then walked straight into the room and sat on the chair next to the desk.

"Oh? To be favored with such attention from the madam, to chat about family affairs, is indeed an honor for Jiang Li," Jiang Li responded with a smile, but he was well aware that Lady Wang had ulterior motives.

"Jiang Li, have you been adjusting well to life in the mansion?" Lady Wang asked casually.

"Thank you for your concern, madam. I am doing well here in the mansion. Reading and writing every day, I find it quite comfortable," Jiang Li replied with equanimity, his gaze as calm as still water.

"Well, that's good to hear, but..." Lady Wang shifted the conversation, her gaze fixed intently on Jiang Li.

"Recently, there have been many rumors in the mansion, all pointing towards you. I've heard that there are unusual noises coming from your quarters, sounds that resemble martial arts practice. You must give me an explanation."

Jiang Li's heart skipped a beat, but his face showed a look of confusion,"Madam, these are baseless rumors. Ever since my father forbade me from practicing martial arts, I have not trained at all. I am now merely a scholar in cultivation. Being in this Zhiqiu Courtyard, I focus solely on reading the scriptures of the sages. The so-called sounds of martial arts practice are groundless rumors, surely fabricated by someone with ill intent to confuse the truth."

Seeing Jiang Li's firm denial, Lady Wang sneered inwardly, but her face still wore that seemingly amiable smile,"If you are truly as innocent as you claim, then why do these rumors revolve around you? Could it be that there is something special about you that attracts such controversy?"

Jiang Li frowned slightly, pretending to ponder, and after a moment, he said,"Madam, if one is convicted based solely on rumors, wouldn't the Jiang household be in chaos? I firmly believe in the saying 'the clear shall remain clear,' and I hope you won't be blinded by these slanders."

"Humph!" Lady Wang snorted coldly, dissatisfied with Jiang Li's response in her heart, but she could not directly refute it, so she continued to probe,"Jiang Li, don't you dare deceive me. You must understand, within the Jiang household, the rules are strict. If someone is secretly practicing martial arts, that is a grave violation."

"Madam's teachings are well taken, Jiang Li naturally understands the rules of the household. It's just that Jiang Li has indeed never done anything to overstep those boundaries, and I hope Madam will see the truth clearly," Jiang Li said with a sincere expression, while inwardly he was calculating what other tactics Lady Wang might employ next.

Seeing Jiang Li's calm demeanor, Lady Wang felt increasingly that he was not an ordinary person.

At that moment, a maid approached and whispered something into Lady Wang's ear. Jiang Li did not dare to release his soul power to eavesdrop, but he saw Lady Wang's brows furrow tightly. After the maid finished speaking, Lady Wang slammed her hand on the armrest and stood up, exclaiming angrily:

"Jiang Li! Even now, you're still arguing. We just found spiritual energy on Chen Mama and that strange man, and the aura of the spiritual energy is yours. How do you explain this?" Her gaze was fixed on Jiang Li.

Hearing this, Jiang Li's heart tightened, but he maintained his composure on the surface, his mind racing.

Pretending to be confused, he widened his eyes and asked,"Chen Mama? Isn't she your close confidante? What happened to her? And who is this strange man you speak of? I don't understand."

Then, he suddenly put on an exaggerated expression and said,"Could it be that Chen Mama, despite her age, is involved with someone? At her age, still so romantic."

Lady Wang saw that Jiang Li did not show any signs of panic, and she sneered,"Outrageous! Stop your nonsense!

Jiang Li, do not think that you can get away with your smooth talk. The aura of spiritual energy cannot be faked!

Chen Mama has been treated by us, and she has confessed that she was instigated by you. Do you still dare to be so stubborn?"

Jiang Li inwardly rolled his eyes,'treated'? He hadn't shown any mercy when he struck, and if Chen Mama could be healed, that would be strange!

Lady Wang was really good at bluffing; if he didn't know the truth, he might have been deceived by her.

So he slowly raised his head, looked at Lady Wang with a firm gaze, and said,"Madam, I, Jiang Li, have always been upright and honest. If it is as you say, then I would like to ask, when and where did Chen Mama have contact with me, and who instigated her?

My every move every day is traceable; Madam might as well investigate carefully.

Furthermore, if I truly had the ability to leave a spiritual energy aura on Chen Mama without being noticed, why would I need to be so cautious and pretend to be weak and unskilled in martial arts in this household? After all, Chen Mama is a martial arts instructor!"

Lady Wang was left speechless by Jiang Li's counter-questions. She had intended to trap Jiang Li into revealing some clues, but she didn't expect him to be so calm and respond so cleverly.

Could this young man have known that she was bluffing him?

She paused for a moment, then continued,"Jiang Li, I've noticed you've been making quite a bit of progress lately. Could it be that you have some master guiding you from behind the scenes?"

Hearing this, Jiang Li instantly realized that they were overthinking the situation, assuming he had help. Instead of answering directly, he slightly lowered his head and fell silent for a moment, as if hesitating about something.

Lady Wang, seeing Jiang Li's demeanor, thought she had hit a nerve and pressed on,"Jiang Li, if you're in any difficulty, or if there truly is a master assisting you, you might as well speak up. I could then help put in a good word for you with the master of the house."

Jiang Li raised his head, looking at Lady Wang with a hint of complexity in his eyes,"Madam!"

It seemed like gratitude, yet also hesitation, and finally, he slowly said,"Madam, I truly do not understand the meaning behind your words. If we're talking about assistance from a master, last night in my dream, an immortal advised me, saying that although my life's path is full of hardships, I am destined for great things in the future, as long as I hold on to my original intentions and do not become discouraged by temporary setbacks.

As for martial arts, I have genuinely never practiced them. I suppose the immortal's advice was also for me to focus more on my studies and improve in that path!"

Lady Wang was taken aback,[Immortal? Could this be the master helping Jiang Li? I always thought it was strange that a mere martial arts student could defeat a martial arts teacher without making a sound. But looking at this boy, he seems genuinely unaware of this matter.]

"Stop your nonsense! Jiang Li, don't think you can deceive everyone and get away with it, even fabricating an immortal story. I believe you've taken on a highly skilled master in martial arts, which is a blatant act of disobedience. I will definitely have the master of the house administer the family law to you," Lady Wang finally lost her patience and threatened severely.

Hearing this, Jiang Li inwardly scoffed, but on the surface, he feigned a look of terror,"Madam, I am truly wronged. I hope you will see the truth and not believe those false rumors!"

"You can play the fool in front of me, but I hope you can do the same in front of the master of the house!"

Seeing Jiang Li's appearance, Lady Wang knew that questioning him further would yield no results, so she said angrily,"Humph! You had better take care of yourself!"

With that, Lady Wang turned around and left with her maids.

Jiang Li watched the back of Lady Wang as she left, a trace of disdain flashing through his eyes.

After this probing, Lady Wang's apprehension towards him would only deepen, and he could use this to his advantage, continuing to navigate within the Jiang household while steadily enhancing his own strength, waiting for the right moment to break free from all these shackles.

Back in his room, Jiang Li sat on the bed, slightly closing his eyes, beginning to contemplate his subsequent strategies.

Since he had decided to play along with their suspicions, he needed to make the act convincing, ensuring that everyone in the Jiang household firmly believed in the non-existent "master" behind him.

It would be best if even Jiang ZhenTing could be made to believe, thus fostering apprehension!

He was a man who brooked no opposition, and if he truly discovered any deceit, Jiang Li feared his very foundation would be shattered.

Although his reputation had grown, it was only enough to deter minor troublemakers; if someone like Lady Wang really wanted to make trouble for him, he wouldn't be able to stop it.

Especially Jiang ZhenTing, accustomed to his high position, his dignity was not to be challenged.

At present, he had not yet taken the imperial examinations and had no capital of his own. Since he planned to leverage their influence, he would use the identities of Princess Le'an and Yun Tian to raise his own banner.

So it was decided!

Compose two letters and send them to invite two guests to my residence.

On the other side, after returning to her own courtyard, Lady Wang was still so angry that her chest heaved incessantly.

She had already made up her mind to find an opportunity to discipline Jiang Li again, to let him know who truly has the final say in this household, but for now, she must wait for Jiang ZhenTing to return.

"For more than a decade, is the Jiang household about to be in turmoil again?" Lady Wang closed her eyes.

After arranging everything, Lady Wang waved her hand:"You all leave, let me have some peace and quiet."

The maids tactfully withdrew.

In the quiet hall, only Lady Wang remained seated, her expression inscrutable:"This unfilial son, indeed a troublemaker, just like that wretched woman."