The Double

Chapter 105: In Prison

At the back door of Cherish Flower House, the courtesan greeting guests was the same young woman Jiang Li had met last time. Seeing Jiang Li, she was momentarily stunned but soon smiled and asked, "Are you here to see Qiong Zhi again, miss?"

Jiang Li replied, "Indeed," and handed a silver note from her sleeve.

The woman accepted it without hesitation, gracefully taking the note before saying to Jiang Li, "Please follow me, miss." She personally led Jiang Li to Qiong Zhi's room.

The courtesans at Cherish Flower House were all clever, knowing what to ask and what not to. Though unsure of Jiang Li's relationship with Qiong Zhi, since their last meeting had gone smoothly and Jiang Li was generous, helping out was a small favor she didn't refuse.

Jiang Li was brought to the front of Qiong Zhi's room.

The woman smiled and said, "Qiong Zhi is waiting for you inside. If you need anything, just call for me," before withdrawing.

Jiang Li pushed the door open and entered Qiong Zhi's room.

Whether it was her imagination or not, after not seeing her for some time, Qiong Zhi had grown noticeably thinner. But a beauty remained a beauty; even in her weariness, her charm took on a more languid quality, revealing a beauty she hadn't possessed before. Like a red flower on the verge of wilting, it drew even more attention.

Jiang Li guessed that Qiong Zhi might have learned of Xue Zhao's death, which had caused her to waste away these past days.

"You've come," Qiong Zhi said, sitting at the table and fiddling with a messy chessboard. Hearing the movement, she didn't rise, merely looking at her.

Jiang Li closed the door and replied, "Yes."

Qiong Zhi stared at her intently for a moment before suddenly laughing. "They always said Xue Zhao was bold, but it seems there's someone here even bolder than him. I wonder what expression Jiang Yuanbai, the Grand Secretary of Yanjing, would have if he knew his daughter was visiting a house of pleasure in Xiangyang."

She had discovered Jiang Li's identity.

Jiang Li was silent for a beat, then walked forward and sat opposite Qiong Zhi. "You know."

"Second Miss Jiang's impassioned speech in front of Lizheng Hall has spread throughout Xiangyang—it's hard not to know," Qiong Zhi sighed. "I just didn't expect that the one who came to see me was the Second Miss of the Jiang family."

"Who knows if it's a good thing or a bad one," Jiang Li smiled wryly. While she had used the Jiang family's reputation to help the Ye family deal with Tong Zhiyang, she had also exposed her own identity. From now on, whatever she did, she might be recognized. Perhaps it was better to be like Ji Heng—no one knew his identity, and those who did wouldn't cause trouble by revealing it.

"I have only one question for you," Qiong Zhi said, playing with the bracelet on her wrist. The silver bracelet had delicate bells that chimed softly as she touched them, exquisitely crafted. She asked, "Why do you know the Xue family? I've already learned about Second Miss Jiang's past deeds, and by all accounts, you shouldn't have any connection to the Xue family."Qiong Zhi was a capable woman whose patrons included both knights-errant and court officials—not someone to be underestimated. That was precisely why Jiang Li had asked Qiong Zhi to inquire about matters in Tongxiang. However, Second Miss Jiang was no ordinary person; her deeds were known not only in Yanjing but also in other parts of Northern Yan. A little investigation would reveal her "illustrious achievements." From this perspective, Second Miss Jiang and the Xue family were as different as heaven and earth. It was no wonder Qiong Zhi found it suspicious that they were entangled.

Jiang Li remained silent for a long time before saying, "I know Xue Zhao's sister." Without giving Qiong Zhi a chance to question her, she continued, "Don’t doubt how I came to know Xue Fangfei. I truly wish to avenge her. I can’t tell you more, but for now, you have no choice but to trust me."

Qiong Zhi was taken aback and looked up at Jiang Li with a serious expression.

"As I said, I know how you felt about Xue Zhao. Now that he’s dead, you must want to avenge him too, but the truth is, you can’t do anything about it. I, however, can." At this point, Jiang Li gave a faint smile. "I am Jiang Yuanbai’s daughter, the legitimate daughter of the Grand Secretary. Even if the other party is powerful and influential, I have no fear. Only I can avenge Xue Zhao. You have no choice but to trust me."

Qiong Zhi twitched her lips, as if intending to sneer, but in the end, she let out a soft sigh, half-resigned and half-unwilling. "You’ve known all along that I have no choice but to trust you."

Only then did Jiang Li’s heart settle, though her expression remained unchanged. She smiled and said, "Actually, you needn’t worry too much. Telling me about Tongxiang won’t affect you in any way."

Qiong Zhi was a clever girl. Her cleverness might not lie in scholarly pursuits, but she was well-versed in the ways of the world. Those who made their living in the streets were naturally more observant, and women like Qiong Zhi, who grew up in a brothel, were even more cautious and guarded than ordinary people.

"Now, can you tell me about Tongxiang?" Jiang Li asked.

"Do you really want to know?" Qiong Zhi countered.

Jiang Li’s hands, hidden in her sleeves, unconsciously tightened slightly. Her heart felt as if suspended by a thread, swaying uneasily in the air.

"It wouldn’t hurt to tell you. The Xue family has fallen into ruin. Over these days, I’ve entertained quite a few guests and finally managed to gather some clues." She glanced at Jiang Li first, her tone growing somber. "At first, I thought Xue Zhao’s death might be some absurd lie you made up, and I still held onto a sliver of hope. But then I met a noblewoman who had just returned from visiting relatives in Yanjing. She told me that the top scholar’s wife, Xue Fangfei, had indeed grown increasingly frail due to an affair and eventually died of illness. Her younger brother, Xue Zhao, was killed by bandits on his way to Yanjing and his body was discarded in the river—exactly as you described."

"That’s all about Yanjing," Jiang Li said. "What about Xue Huaiyuan in Tongxiang?"

Perhaps a hint of urgency in her tone caught Qiong Zhi’s attention. Qiong Zhi paused and looked at Jiang Li inquisitively. "This is what I don’t understand. You said Xue Huaiyuan died half a year ago and asked me to find out why he died and where he was buried. But the truth is, Xue Huaiyuan isn’t dead.""What did you say?" Jiang Li couldn't help but exclaim.

She had always maintained composure and openness before Qiong Zhi, never showing the slightest loss of dignity. This was the first time Qiong Zhi had witnessed Jiang Li in such disarray.

Jiang Li paid no mind to how Qiong Zhi might perceive her at that moment, her heart flooded with overwhelming joy. She asked, "You said Xue Huaiyuan isn't dead?! Is this true? Where did you hear this?"

Initially, Qiong Zhi had suspected Jiang Li's inquiries about the Xue family might harbor ulterior motives—perhaps to exploit them for some scheme. But seeing Jiang Li's current state, her doubts instantly vanished. The excitement and delight shining in Second Miss Jiang's eyes upon hearing Xue Huaiyuan was alive could not be feigned.

After calming herself slightly, Qiong Zhi replied, "He is indeed alive, but the situation isn't favorable. This master of the Xue family, Xue Huaiyuan, the County Magistrate of Tongxiang, has gone mad. He no longer recognizes anyone and is now imprisoned in the Tongxiang government jail."

It felt like plummeting from heaven into an abyss. Jiang Li's palms turned icy cold in an instant, the earlier euphoria evaporating without a trace. She could hardly believe her ears and stared fixedly at Qiong Zhi, demanding, "What did you say?"

Qiong Zhi found Jiang Li's gaze somewhat terrifying, even frenzied. It resembled a grief-stricken beast restraining itself, desperately suppressing the urge to tear everything around it to shreds.

Unconsciously softening her voice, Qiong Zhi explained, "I've asked every influential guest who visits me. But for some reason, they all avoid discussing Xue Huaiyuan of Tongxiang with me, either changing the subject or leaving abruptly. Only one merchant, with whom I've always had a good relationship, saw how earnest I was and quietly told me."

"I heard that half a year ago, County Magistrate Xue Huaiyuan was imprisoned for embezzling government disaster relief funds. Someone else now holds his position. Xue Huaiyuan has lost his mind in prison, no longer recognizing anyone... It's truly pitiful..."

"How could Xue Huaiyuan embezzle?" Jiang Li cried out indignantly. "The people of Tongxiang would never believe it!"

Qiong Zhi was taken aback by how naturally Jiang Li spoke of Tongxiang's residents and how well she seemed to know Xue Huaiyuan. Nevertheless, she continued, "The common people can do nothing. After all, it's the decision of higher authorities. Besides," Qiong Zhi let out a hollow laugh, though it was unclear whom she meant to mock, "when a man's influence wanes, his friends disperse. Since ancient times, it's been said that commoners shouldn't oppose officials. Even if Xue Huaiyuan were truly an honest official who didn't embezzle the relief silver, who would speak up for him? Everyone just looks out for themselves."

Jiang Li froze.

Xue Huaiyuan had always served the people wholeheartedly, never expecting anything in return. Neither Xue Zhao nor Xue Fangfei had ever considered such outcomes. Yet now, it seemed Qiong Zhi was right—people are selfish. Who would risk offending higher authorities for a madman already imprisoned? If Xue Huaiyuan were still sane, witnessing this would surely break his heart.

Perhaps Xue Huaiyuan had been driven mad precisely by seeing the cold indifference of the people he had dedicated himself to protecting, compounded by the loss of his children.

Suddenly, Qiong Zhi paused and said, "Second Miss Jiang, you..."

Noticing Qiong Zhi's strange expression, Jiang Li unconsciously touched her face and realized she had been silently weeping.In the end, she couldn't remain indifferent—after all, he was her father. Knowing that her father was suffering in prison, how could she remain calm and composed?

"So it seems that no one dares to inquire about the Xue family's matter now?" Jiang Li drew a silk handkerchief from her sleeve, wiped the tears from the corner of her eyes, and her expression turned icy.

Qiong Zhi noticed the change in her demeanor and hesitated before saying, "Indeed, since everyone avoids mentioning it, I'm afraid this matter involves other influential figures. It's not as simple as it appears on the surface."

Jiang Li sneered inwardly. Involving other people—it didn't take much thought to know that Yongning was behind it! At the time, when she herself was on the brink of death, Yongning, either to sever her hopes or to make her suffer unbearably, told her that Xue Huaiyuan had died of illness. But now, thinking back, the fact that all three members of the Xue family passed away in quick succession inevitably aroused suspicion. Yongning naturally had no fear, but Shen Yurong couldn't afford to be careless. To avoid trouble, Yongning couldn't kill Xue Huaiyuan outright, but with her narrow-minded nature, she couldn't tolerate his existence either. So, she resorted to trumped-up charges to have him imprisoned, subjecting him to endless torment!

Yongning knew that Xue Huaiyuan cared deeply for the common people. Making him abandoned by those he cherished and tarnishing his upright and clear reputation was even more painful than killing him. Once Xue Huaiyuan learned of the deaths of Xue Fangfei and Xue Zhao, he would naturally fall into despair, wishing for death. To use such despicable means against a father—Yongning was truly capable of it!

"This is all I've been able to find out," Qiong Zhi said. "After all, I can't leave Cherish Flower House freely, and this matter involves powerful forces... You were right. Perhaps you are the only one who can avenge Xue Zhao." A glimmer of hope appeared in Qiong Zhi's eyes as she looked at Jiang Li. As a daughter of the Jiang family, Jiang Li had dared to confront Tong Zhiyang over the Ye family affair, showing she had the courage. At the very least, she was willing to do what ordinary people dared not.

Jiang Li smiled faintly, but the smile was chillingly cold at that moment. She said slowly, "Of course, I will avenge Xue Zhao. Not only will I avenge him, but I will also make those who schemed against the Xue family pay a hundredfold."

Such words, coming from the mouth of a seemingly delicate young lady from an official family, should have been laughable. Yet, for some reason, Qiong Zhi shivered. She felt as if the clear, bright eyes of the young lady before her had deepened into an unfathomable vortex, concealing turbulent storms within.

"Thank you," Jiang Li said, looking at Qiong Zhi. "Thank you for gathering information about the Xue family for me. But as you said, since this matter involves many people, if your inquiries were discovered..."

Qiong Zhi replied, "Don't worry. The people I asked are trustworthy. Besides, they aren't the type to invite trouble upon themselves." She seemed touched that Jiang Li was concerned for her at such a time, and her expression softened slightly. She couldn't help but ask, "Second Miss Jiang, since you've decided to intervene in Tongxiang's affairs... what should we do next?"

"We can't uncover the truth here in Xiangyang," Jiang Li said coldly. "I need to go to Tongxiang."

Qiong Zhi's mouth fell open."No matter how powerful the forces behind them may be," Jiang Li lowered her gaze, "even if it costs me my life, I will drag them down with me to the grave."

Her words were so chilling that Qiong Zhi felt the girl who had once been as warm as spring had transformed into a vengeful spirit clawing its way up from the underworld of the Yellow Springs, carrying the weight of blood debts as it wailed its way toward retribution.

Qiong Zhi was so intimidated by her sudden ferocity that she dared not speak another word.

...

When they emerged from the Cherish Flower House, both Tong'er and Bai Xue could tell that something was amiss with Jiang Li.

She had always been fond of smiling; even when meeting strangers, she would wear a hint of a smile. It was like a gentle spring breeze, exceptionally comforting. Today had been no different, yet after spending just a short while in the Cherish Flower House, she seemed like a completely different person upon exiting.

Not a trace of a smile remained on her face, as if she were troubled by heavy thoughts. Her lips were tightly sealed, her brows deeply furrowed, and her gaze was somewhat unfocused.

Tong'er was startled, fearing that she had been mistreated inside, and quickly asked, "Miss... Miss, what's wrong with you?"

The call seemed to snap Jiang Li back to her senses. She looked at Tong'er, seemingly dazed for a moment, before slowly replying, "It's nothing. Let's return to the residence." She took the bamboo hat from Bai Xue's hands, put it on herself, and walked ahead without another word.

Bai Xue and Tong'er were deeply concerned, but since they were outside, they couldn't press for details. They had no choice but to follow Jiang Li and hurry back toward the Ye family residence. Though they didn't know what exactly had happened to Jiang Li in the Cherish Flower House, it was clear that she had suffered a severe blow and was deeply distraught.

In the neighboring house of the Ye residence, Lu Ji sat on a long rattan chair inside the room. Diagonally opposite, on the couch, Ji Heng was casually flipping through a book.

Wen Ji entered from outside and announced, "My lord."

Ji Heng: "Speak."

"Second Miss Jiang went to the Cherish Flower House again just now," Wen Ji reported.

Lu Ji looked at Wen Ji, but Ji Heng didn't even glance up from the book, casually asking, "Did she go to see that Qiong Zhi girl again?"

"Exactly," Wen Ji replied, hesitating for a moment before adding, "There's something strange. I noticed that after Second Miss Jiang met with Qiong Zhi and left the Cherish Flower House, something happened—she seemed utterly disheartened."

Ji Heng paused in his reading, and a flicker of surprise crossed Lu Ji's face.

"Disheartened?" Ji Heng asked.

"Indeed," Wen Ji explained in detail. "After leaving the Cherish Flower House, Second Miss Jiang returned to the Ye residence with her two maids. Along the way, she took many wrong turns, clearly not paying attention. Later, her two maids appeared very anxious, likely because Second Miss Jiang's demeanor was unusual."

Lu Ji couldn't help but ask, "What did she and Qiong Zhi discuss? Is there no way to find out?"

"None," Wen Ji said helplessly. "This Qiong Zhi girl is very guarded and extremely clever. The people we sent to gather information couldn't get her to talk. Since you, my lord, forbade us from using force, we still don't know what exactly Second Miss Jiang and Qiong Zhi discussed."Wen Ji was truly at his wit's end. Though Second Miss Jiang appeared innocent and carefree, her actions were always thoroughly considered. Of all people she could have consulted with, she had to choose Qiong Zhi—the most difficult person to deal with at Cherish Flower House. Having grown up in the world of pleasure quarters, Qiong Zhi neither sought redemption nor had any discernible weaknesses. As the saying goes, "He who desires nothing is invincible." With no desires to exploit, there was nothing that could move her. Under Ji Heng's strict prohibition against using forceful methods on Qiong Zhi, they found no way to make her talk.

Second Miss Jiang had clearly deliberately chosen this toughest nut to crack.

"No need to know what they discussed," Ji Heng said. "Just watch what she does."

"Sir, do you know what Second Miss Jiang intends to do?" Lu Ji asked.

Lu Ji was considered exceptionally intelligent, well-versed in court strategies and worldly affairs. Yet when it came to this Second Miss Jiang, he often found her incomprehensible. Jiang Li seemed to act without rhyme or reason—her sudden goodwill toward the Ye family, her assistance to them, all appeared impulsive and without ulterior motives. Yet every action she took would eventually reveal its purpose long afterward.

But at the outset, no one could ever discern what she truly intended.

Lu Ji could sense that Jiang Li's meeting with Qiong Zhi must involve something crucial to her—something significant enough to disturb the usually composed Jiang Li to the point of being "distraught." The problem was, they didn't know what Jiang Li was planning, and even if they did, they might still fail to grasp her underlying motives. She was truly peculiar: her past appeared straightforward and transparent upon superficial investigation, yet even after examining all her history, one would still feel she remained entirely enigmatic.

Lu Ji couldn't help glancing at Ji Heng. In this aspect of being an unsolvable mystery, Second Miss Jiang and Duke Su Ji Heng were quite similar.

"I don't know," Ji Heng said. "But we'll know soon enough."

"I think Jiang Li's true purpose for returning to Xiangyang is about to reveal itself. In fact," Ji Heng said with a faint smile, "I'm quite curious about what exactly she intends to do."

...

Jiang Li remained unaware that all her movements were being closely watched. But even if she had known, she wouldn't have had the mind to engage in games with Ji Heng at the moment. Her thoughts were completely occupied by the news of Xue Huaiyuan's madness and imprisonment, leaving her uncertain whether to feel joy or sorrow.

Joy that at least he was still alive—father and daughter hadn't been separated by death. Sorrow that the mad Xue Huaiyuan might never recognize his daughter again, and even if they were reunited, they might never acknowledge each other in this lifetime.

This was how Heaven operated—seemingly offering a thread of hope, only to reveal deeper despair afterward.

Jiang Li sat blankly at the table.

Tong'er and Bai Xue asked several times, but Jiang Li never told them what had happened. Eventually, whether out of annoyance or something else, she simply sent both Tong'er and Bai Xue out, remaining alone in the room. The two maids, fearing she might do something foolish, sat right outside the door with their ears pressed against it, carefully listening for any movement inside. They were determined to break down the door at the first sign of trouble, ensuring Jiang Li came to no harm.

Silently, Jiang Li buried her face in her arms.Whenever Jiang Li thought of what Yongning and Shen Yurong had done to Xue Huaiyuan, she wished she could tear them all to pieces. She refused to believe that Shen Yurong knew nothing about Xue Huaiyuan's misfortune! Even if Xue Zhao's tragedy was Yongning's own doing, and Shen Yurong could do nothing about it since Xue Zhao was already gone, now that Xue Huaiyuan was still alive, how could Shen Yurong stand by and watch him suffer like this?

Back when Shen Yurong first came to Tongxiang, Xue Huaiyuan had mentored him. Though one could not expect Shen Yurong to treat Xue Huaiyuan as his own father, given the bond between teacher and student, he should have shown at least a shred of conscience.

They were nothing but two heartless beasts!

What infuriated Jiang Li even more was that, even if she could see Yongning and Shen Yurong now, she couldn't immediately avenge the Xue family. Not only were they surrounded by guards who made it impossible for her to get close, but even if she were to trade her life for theirs, it would still be letting them off too easily. Until the Xue family's grievances were cleared and their vile faces exposed to the world, this was far from over!

Jiang Li's heart burned with hatred, yet she understood that the more pressing matter now was not revenge, but rescuing Xue Huaiyuan from prison. If the news Qiong Zhi had gathered was true, Xue Huaiyuan’s current plight in prison likely extended far beyond mere deprivation of food and clothing. Yongning would never let Xue Huaiyuan off easily—she would surely have arranged for people to torment him in secret. Xue Huaiyuan was advanced in years; if he couldn’t endure it… Jiang Li dared not dwell on the thought.

She rose abruptly to her feet. There was no time to lose—she must return to Tongxiang at once!

Just as she was thinking this, Tong'er and Bai Xue’s voices sounded outside the door. Bai Xue said, "Third Master, you’ve come. Our young lady is inside…"

Ye Mingyu? Jiang Li stood and opened the door. Before Bai Xue could finish speaking, she saw Jiang Li step out on her own. Noticing that Jiang Li’s complexion had improved slightly from earlier, Bai Xue breathed a quiet sigh of relief.

Jiang Li said, "Uncle Mingyu."

"I came specifically to see you." Ye Mingyu, oblivious to the unusual expressions on the maidservants’ faces today, strode into the room and settled himself at the small table, laughing heartily. "A Li, you have no idea—Eldest Brother and Second Brother went to the weaving workshop, and the craftsmen there think the peacock feathers we brought are worth a try. It seems the method you suggested might actually work! If it succeeds, our Ye family could produce a new type of fabric besides the Ancient Fragrance Satin. You’d be the one to credit for this achievement!"

Jiang Li managed a faint smile. Had she received this news before meeting Qiong Zhi, she would have been overjoyed for the Ye family. But now, her mind was wholly consumed by Xue Huaiyuan’s situation in Tongxiang, leaving no room to spare for the family’s weaving endeavors.

"Congratulations, Uncle Mingyu," Jiang Li said aloud. "If it does succeed, the true credit should go to you. If you hadn’t found those peacock feathers, I could never have devised this method."

Ye Mingyu laughed uproariously at her words. "That’s what I like about you, A Li—you never take credit for yourself! Don’t worry, Eldest Brother and Second Brother already praised me at the workshop. They said if this succeeds, they’ll assign me a merchant convoy with trained guards, so I can travel more throughout the year and bring back rare treasures. I’m thinking of taking Rufeng along—the boy has a good head for business, and he might learn even more by accompanying me. Besides, young men ought to travel and broaden their horizons. Staying cooped up in Xiangyang all year won’t lead to any great accomplishments."

Jiang Li smiled distractedly and replied, "That sounds wonderful."

"A Li, you came from Yanjing City, and I heard you recently topped the academy examinations—you must be very learned. I was thinking, if the fabric made from peacock feathers turns out well, what should we name it? Something like Ancient Fragrance Satin, which evokes a sense of elegance and refinement without being clichéd. Do you have any suggestions?"

Ye Mingyu usually paid no attention to the Ye family’s business affairs. Perhaps it was because he took pride in his contribution of discovering the peacock feathers that he now involved himself in such minor details, even humbly seeking Jiang Li’s opinion.

Under normal circumstances, Jiang Li would have been glad to discuss such trivial matters with Ye Mingyu as a way to strengthen her ties with the Ye family. But after meeting Qiong Zhi, Jiang Li knew that every passing moment was a missed opportunity. The longer time dragged on, the more precarious Xue Huaiyuan’s situation became.She was not a daughter who could stand by and watch her biological father suffer in prison.

"Uncle Mingyu, I have a favor to ask of you," Jiang Li interrupted Ye Mingyu's rambling.

Ye Mingyu was taken aback. Seeing his niece's unusually solemn expression, he instinctively straightened his posture and asked, "What is it?"

Jiang Li took a deep breath. "I want to make a trip to Tongxiang."

(End of Chapter)