The Double

Chapter 111: East Mountain

After learning from Deaf Woman that Xue Huaiyuan's former subordinates had been sent to East Mountain, Ye Mingyu had someone escort Deaf Woman back. Just as Jiang Li had anticipated, due to Deaf Woman's advanced age and the general belief that she couldn't speak, Feng Yutang hadn't paid her much attention. When Ye Mingyu's men returned her, no one noticed anything amiss.

Inside the room, Jiang Li and Ye Mingyu remained seated across from each other. Though it was already late at night, neither felt the slightest bit sleepy. Ye Mingyu looked at Jiang Li and said, "A Li, this matter is far from simple."

Although Ye Mingyu had known from the start that the Xue family case was no trivial affair—after all, exonerating a convicted official would inevitably infringe upon others' interests—Feng Yutang, the current county magistrate of Tongxiang, was clearly not a good person. What Jiang Li intended to do was naturally complicated.

But Deaf Woman's account had greatly surprised Ye Mingyu. Feng Yutang had dared to so blatantly turn former officials into slaves, arbitrarily controlling their lives—this was both audacious and cruel. Ye Mingyu was certain that such actions couldn't occur without powerful backing. Although Jiang Yuanbai was the Grand Secretary, the Northern Yan dynasty had more than one influential minister.

Ye Mingyu thought he hadn't underestimated the severity of the situation, but he realized he had still miscalculated.

Seeing the gravity in Ye Mingyu's expression, Jiang Li understood his concerns and said, "I know, Uncle, but I don't plan to give up."

This response was exactly what Ye Mingyu had expected. Jiang Li had gone to such lengths, even confronting Feng Yutang head-on. If she were to retreat so easily, it wouldn't be like her. Moreover, Ye Mingyu suspected Jiang Li understood this matter far better than he did.

As a man of rough martial background, lacking the sharp wits of Ye Da and Ye Er, he couldn't devise clever strategies to assist Jiang Li. He could only follow her lead and help her to the best of his abilities within his means.

After only a brief hesitation, Ye Mingyu said straightforwardly, "In that case, A Li, I won't try to dissuade you. Just tell me what to do next, and I'll stand by you."

His words warmed Jiang Li's heart. She replied, "Although Deaf Woman said those people are at East Mountain, it's been a long time. We don't know if Feng Yutang has moved them or if they're even still alive." She paused, then added, "You heard what Deaf Woman said. Life in the mines is harsh, and Feng Yutang intends to torment them. It's hard to say how long ordinary people can endure under such conditions."

"You're right," Ye Mingyu agreed. "I'll take some men to East Mountain first and see what their current situation is. Tongxiang isn't large—making a trip to East Mountain overnight shouldn't be difficult."

Jiang Li continued, "Not only that, but if they are indeed at East Mountain, Feng Yutang must have overseers stationed at the mine. Your men need to assess how many guards there are, whether we can avoid alerting them, and if we must confront them, whether we can subdue them quickly to prevent them from reporting back to Feng Yutang. If reinforcements arrive, it will be much harder for us to act."Ye Mingyu chuckled heartily, "Don't worry, I've already mastered the art of making threats."

Jiang Li nodded, "Can you give me an answer by tomorrow, Uncle?"

"So soon?" Ye Mingyu was taken aback.

"It's not that I want to make things difficult for you," Jiang Li said apologetically. "It's just that we don't have much time left. In seven days, County Magistrate Xue will be executed. If we can't find enough evidence to raise doubts and halt the execution within these seven days, all our efforts will be in vain."

Ye Mingyu sighed, knowing Jiang Li had a point. If Xue Huaiyuan died, everything else would be meaningless. He replied, "Alright, I'll do my best this time. A Li, while I'm away, stay in the residence and wait for me. Be careful."

Jiang Li said, "Alright." She pulled out a previously drawn map of Tongxiang from her sleeve and handed it to Ye Mingyu, saying, "This is a map of Tongxiang I drew based on what others described. Take it with you—it might come in handy when needed. I can also draw a map of Dongshan, but I'll need about an hour to finish it."

Ye Mingyu took the map and was momentarily stunned. The paper was densely marked with detailed annotations. Jiang Li had said she drew it based on others' descriptions of Tongxiang, but from his travels with maritime merchants, Ye Mingyu knew that such a map could only be drawn by someone intimately familiar with the area.

But he said nothing, merely laughing heartily, "Excellent, excellent! With this, I reckon our task just got half as difficult. A Li, I'll leave the rest to you. I'll go brief my men first."

As Ye Mingyu went outside to instruct his subordinates, Jiang Li watched his retreating figure with a mix of guilt and gratitude. He was clearly aware of many inconsistencies, yet for her sake, he asked no questions and placed his trust in her—a trust she would forever cherish. Since arriving in Tongxiang, Ye Mingyu had stood by her side, offering help without rest, and now he was setting out overnight without a moment's pause. Jiang Li hated to see him work so hard, but on the other hand, her father's life was at stake.

She was certain that while she was devising strategies, Feng Yutang was also finding ways to report the situation in Tongxiang to Princess Yongning. Once Princess Yongning learned of this, she would undoubtedly try to have Feng Yutang stop her, but Jiang Li believed it was more likely that Yongning would order Feng Yutang to kill her directly.

Between her and Feng Yutang, the key to this battle lay in time. Whoever acted faster would gain the upper hand. She dared not pause, not even for a moment.

"Tong'er, help me grind the ink," Jiang Li said.

Tong'er hurried to the desk. Jiang Li picked up her brush. Once, out of curiosity and because Xue Huaiyuan wanted to understand the situation at Dongshan, she had accompanied him there. Though it was only once, she still remembered every place she had visited. Even if Dongshan had changed somewhat due to Feng Yutang's "excavations," the general layout should remain the same.By sketching the location of the East Mountain mine shaft, she could make it easier for Ye Mingyu and his men to investigate. However, once Ye Mingyu had a preliminary understanding of the situation there, she would still need to personally visit East Mountain. Her father's former subordinates, whom she had lived and worked closely with in the past, knew her best. To persuade them to step forward and trust her, Ye Mingyu couldn't accomplish it—she had to speak with them herself.

It wouldn't be long now; soon enough.

...

After the time it took for an incense stick to burn, Jiang Li handed the completed map of East Mountain to Ye Mingyu. Ye Mingyu didn't delay either; as soon as he received the map, he immediately set out with his men. East Mountain wasn't far from here, but exploring an unfamiliar place required caution nonetheless.

After Ye Mingyu left, Jiang Li didn't rest idle. She continued to slowly review Xue Huaiyuan's case files. Tong'er and Bai Xue urged her to take a break, warning that such relentless reading would inevitably wear her out. But Jiang Li paid no heed and silently read on until the rooster crowed three times. Only when she truly felt exhausted did she lie down on the couch, still in her clothes, for a brief nap.

Yet she didn't rest for long.

Jiang Li woke on her own. Though she was very tired, her concern for Xue Huaiyuan kept her mind somewhat alert even in her dreams, ready to awaken at any moment. In her drowsy state, she faintly heard Tong'er whispering to someone outside, "The young lady just fell asleep not long ago. She didn't sleep until daybreak last night. Perhaps you could wait a little longer for her to rest, Uncle."

Jiang Li's eyes snapped open, and she rose from the couch to see Ye Mingyu, who had returned looking travel-worn and weary, though his eyes shone brightly.

Her sleepiness vanished instantly, and without hesitation, she asked, "Uncle, you're back."

Only then did Ye Mingyu and Tong'er notice Jiang Li emerging. Tong'er fretted, "Ah, young lady, why are you up already?"

"Yes, A Li," Ye Mingyu added, "Why not sleep a bit longer?" For men like them, accustomed to traveling constantly, staying up one night was nothing. But Jiang Li was still young and a girl—such exertion would surely take its toll.

"I've had enough sleep," Jiang Li replied. "Uncle, how did the investigation at East Mountain go?"

At the mention of serious matters, Ye Mingyu set aside other concerns and answered, "A Li, I took my men to check. The Deaf Woman was right—there are people in the mine shaft on East Mountain. But there are guards posted outside. We waited until the night watchmen were asleep and approached the entrance. We intended to go further in, but the East Mountain cave is simply too vast. We couldn't find our way and feared getting separated or alerting others, so we retreated for now."

Jiang Li murmured, "That's right. The terrain in the East Mountain cave is indeed complex. Those unfamiliar with it can easily get lost. It was wise of you and your men to retreat in time, Uncle. Otherwise, you might have been trapped inside."

Her words sounded as if she frequently traversed East Mountain and knew its conditions intimately. But at that moment, Ye Mingyu didn't notice the oddity in her statement. Instead, he said, "Although we didn't enter, we confirmed that people are indeed mining gold in the shaft. As for whether they are the former officials, I couldn't tell since I don't know what they looked like."

Jiang Li asked, "How did you confirm it, Uncle?""Feng Yutang's men are utterly despicable! We reached the mine late at night, and even at such an hour, the miners were still laboring!" Ye Mingyu spoke with righteous indignation. "They treat people like animals—it's absolutely abominable!"

Jiang Li lowered her gaze. Since Feng Yutang was determined to torment those people, he naturally wouldn’t let them off easily. But working day and night like this—how many of those officials could possibly endure it?

"Uncle, do you have any idea how many miners are extracting gold in the mine shafts?" Jiang Li asked.

Ye Mingyu replied, "I don’t know the exact number, but I suspect it’s definitely not many."

Jiang Li’s heart sank. "Why do you say that?"

"Because there are too few guards," Ye Mingyu explained. "Only two in total. If it weren’t for the unfamiliar terrain, honestly, I could take down those guards alone and rescue the miners inside. But think about it—if there really were many people, why would Feng Yutang assign only two guards? Wouldn’t he fear something going wrong? Unless there simply aren’t many people to begin with, and he considers two guards sufficient. That would make sense."

Jiang Li remained silent for a long while before saying, "Uncle, you’re absolutely right." In truth, there was another possibility: in Feng Yutang’s eyes, with the change of regime, Xue Huaiyuan was already a dead man walking, and the Xue family had no heirs. Their former subordinates had naturally become expendable. Why would anyone bother rescuing pawns? Since no one was likely to come to their aid, stationing more guards was unnecessary.

But Jiang Li knew this was just a thought she conjured to comfort herself. Ye Mingyu’s explanation was far more plausible. Still, at least some were alive—that was a good thing. It meant the witnesses she hoped for still had a chance of being found.

"A Li, we’ve located the people, but the terrain around East Hill is complex. For now, we can’t figure out how to extract all of them. Moreover, even if we could move them, I’m unfamiliar with Tongxiang. I don’t know where we could safely hide them. If Feng Yutang sends men to search, it would be easy to track them down—Tongxiang is just too small."

This was a valid point. Ye Mingyu’s concerns were not without reason.

After pondering for some time, Jiang Li said, "Uncle Mingyu, don’t worry about where to hide them. I have a solution." Though Tongxiang was small, it wasn’t entirely exposed. She and Xue Zhao had grown up there, exploring every nook and cranny. Those abandoned hidden chambers, which Xue Zhao had once shared with her as amusing secrets, now turned out to be treasures unknown to others.

Though curious about how Jiang Li would resolve this, Ye Mingyu never pried into matters he shouldn’t. His mind was straightforward, and he preferred not to dwell on overly complicated issues. "Alright, let’s set that aside for now. But how do we extract those people? If you want them as witnesses, we must get them away from East Hill. Once Feng Yutang realizes your intention or even suspects it, he’ll silence them to cover his tracks. Then all our efforts would be in vain."

"Uncle Mingyu, the difficulty isn’t the guards outside but your unfamiliarity with East Hill and the fear of getting lost in its numerous mine shafts," Jiang Li said. "Leave this to me."

Ye Mingyu asked, "What do you mean? A Li, what’s your plan?""I'll go to East Mountain," Jiang Li said. "I'll enter the mine shaft and lead those government officers out."

Upon hearing this, Ye Mingyu nearly jumped up. "Are you joking, A Li? How can you go in there?"

"Yes," Tong'er, who had been listening all along, couldn't help but speak up to dissuade her. "Miss, this is your first time in Tongxiang. Even Uncle doesn't know the way through the mine shaft. It's so dangerous inside—how can you take such a risk?"

"I'm not taking a risk," Jiang Li replied. "I know the way through the mine shaft."

"No," Ye Mingyu insisted. "It's too dangerous. Besides, how would you know the way through the mine shaft?"

"Uncle Mingyu," Jiang Li looked into Ye Mingyu's eyes and spoke earnestly, "I said, I know the way through the mine shaft."

Ye Mingyu was taken aback.

Jiang Li's eyes were clear and distinct, like a stream of water, yet the determination in them turned that stream into unyielding bedrock. She wasn't lying—she truly knew the way through the mine shaft.

For a moment, Ye Mingyu was at a loss for words. His niece appeared sincere, gentle, and kind-hearted, yet she carried countless mysteries about her, sometimes making one feel as though they could never truly reach her heart.

"Alright," Ye Mingyu finally said after a long pause. "But I can't let you go in alone, A Li. I'm coming with you."

Jiang Li wanted to say something more, but Ye Mingyu waved his hand. "A Li, I know you have your own reasons for doing things. I won't press you about why or what, but I'm your family. I can't stand by and watch you take risks. If it were me going into the mine shaft today, I doubt you'd feel at ease just standing by either."

Ye Mingyu's stance was equally firm.

Tong'er and Bai Xue glanced back and forth between the two, not daring to speak.

After a while, Jiang Li said, "Fine."

Hearing this, Ye Mingyu's earlier seriousness vanished. "Good! A Li, tell me, when do we set off?"

Jiang Li replied, "Now."

"Now?"

"Yes, right now. Feng Yutang hasn't thought about the officers yet, but he will soon. To cover all bases, he'll eliminate anything that could serve as evidence, including the officers. So we don't have any time to spare—we must bring those officers out as quickly as possible."

"But Miss, you've only just woken up..." Tong'er reminded her.

"I'm fine. Uncle Mingyu, we'll have to endure a bit more hardship. Once we get them out and hide them, we can relax for a while."

Ye Mingyu answered readily, "No problem, A Li. Whatever you need, just tell your uncle. I won't hesitate—let's go!"

Bai Xue and Tong'er exchanged helpless glances. This uncle and niece were equally bold and fearless, acting without hesitation.

"Then let's set off."

...

From decision to departure, it took no more than the time it takes for half an incense stick to burn.

Though Ye Mingyu's actions were rough and reckless, his nature of acting on impulse meant he wouldn't hesitate or waste time. This decisiveness aligned perfectly with Jiang Li's thinking. The group took advantage of the early morning, avoiding pedestrians, and secretly set off for East Mountain.

Ye Mingyu didn't bring all his men. He left some behind to impersonate him and deceive the people Feng Yutang had sent to monitor them.Excluding Jiang Li, the party consisted of seven people. After Jiang Li and Ye Mingyu discussed their plan, the remaining six waited at the mine entrance to provide support while Ye Mingyu and Jiang Li entered the mine shafts to search for the government officers. Before this, they had to incapacitate the guards Feng Yutang had stationed there. However, to prevent any unforeseen circumstances—such as the guards having special methods to send messages—the entire process, from locating the officers to escorting them out, needed to be completed within the time it takes for one incense stick to burn.

Actually, providing support wasn’t difficult; the real challenge lay in finding the officers within the labyrinthine mine shafts. There were many passages, and no one knew which route the officers had taken. The common folk of Tongxiang were unfamiliar with the paths inside the East Hill mine shafts, and even those who knew were unwilling to guide them, as everyone knew it was Feng Yutang’s territory.

Thus, the entire burden fell upon Jiang Li.

Due to the danger, Tong’er and Bai Xue were not brought along this time. Jiang Li had also changed into men’s attire: a short linen shirt, black trousers, deerskin boots, and her long hair tied up and hidden under a hat. She now looked like a handsome young man, her usual gentle beauty concealed, replaced by a sharp, spirited air.

Ye Mingyu asked Jiang Li, "A Li, don’t worry too much. If we can’t find them, we’ll just go back and try again a few more times. We’ll eventually figure out the paths. You don’t have to shoulder everything alone." Ye Mingyu thought Jiang Li was overly invested in the Xue family case, and though he didn’t know the reason, he didn’t want A Li to grieve or blame herself because of it.

"I’m not worried," Jiang Li replied with a slight smile. "Uncle Mingyu, we will find them."

Ye Mingyu was taken aback for a moment, then scratched his head and said, "Alright then."

The distance from Blue Stone Alley to East Hill wasn’t far. Along the way, the carriage followed the route Jiang Li had specified. Ye Mingyu gradually noticed that the path Jiang Li had chosen was remote and devoid of pedestrians. Taking this route indeed minimized the risk of being discovered by Feng Yutang’s men. He found it strange; as far as he knew, this was Jiang Li’s first time in Tongxiang, yet her familiarity with the area surpassed even that of the locals.

Because of this, what he had initially thought was Jiang Li’s attempt to comfort him by claiming she knew the paths of the East Hill mine shafts now seemed increasingly believable. Jiang Li truly did know the way to East Hill.

After some time, the carriage came to a halt. Ye Mingyu called from outside, "A Li, we’re here."

Jiang Li jumped down from the carriage.

East Hill lay to the west of Tongxiang, a place seldom visited. Unlike ordinary mountains, which are lush and serene, this one was desolate and barren. Occasionally, a crow’s cry echoed from the vast sky, adding to the bleakness.

Jiang Li lifted her gaze toward East Hill.

She saw a bald, round-topped mountain standing solitary beside a dried-up lake. The mountain was jagged with strange rocks, giving it a bizarre shape, like the head of some monstrous creature, sending a chill down one’s spine. Ye Mingyu had previously visited at night and hadn’t been able to see the mountain’s features clearly. Now, seeing it in daylight, he felt a creeping unease. He thought of telling Jiang Li not to be afraid, but when he saw her staring intently at the mountain peak, the corners of her lips slightly upturned, she showed not a trace of fear—instead, she seemed almost pleased.

At that, Ye Mingyu decided to say nothing more.In truth, Jiang Li hadn't reached the point of feeling overjoyed, but she genuinely felt a sense of familiarity. When she and Xue Zhao first arrived here with Xue Huaiyuan, he had brought them to this place once while investigating the history of Dongshan, though they had only viewed it from the mountain entrance without venturing inside.

But Xue Zhao was bold and adventurous by nature, sneaking into the mine shafts several times on his own. Not only that, he also dragged Xue Fangfei along with him. Though she appeared obedient on the surface, she was actually unconventional at heart and was more than willing to join Xue Zhao in exploring the secrets of East Hill. Unlike the tales in unofficial histories and biographies, they never found any treasure, but after frequent visits, she became thoroughly familiar with the layout and contents inside.

Now that Feng Yutang had ordered the mine shafts to be reopened, Jiang Li initially thought the passages might have been altered. But upon reflection, her father’s subordinates and the previous officials numbered only a dozen or so. For a mere dozen people to excavate many new shafts would be no easy task. Moreover, Feng Yutang had sent these officials not to actually mine gold but to torment them. After all, it was common knowledge that East Hill had never yielded any gold—a fact known for years.

Thus, the mine shafts inside the cave were likely unchanged. As long as nothing unexpected happened, they could still locate those people.

Ye Mingyu instructed Jiang Li and two guards to wait where they were while he and his men went ahead to "take down" the two guards on watch. Unsure if the enemy had any tricks up their sleeves, he arranged for the guards to escort Jiang Li to safety at the first sign of trouble.

Jiang Li and the guards waited quietly in the grass. As they awaited Ye Mingyu’s return, she closed her eyes, replaying the memories of her explorations with Xue Zhao in the East Hill mine shafts.

Just as she was about to revisit those scenes a second time, one of the guards beside her whispered, "Third Master is back!"

Jiang Li opened her eyes to see Ye Mingyu’s cheerful face. He announced, "We’ve subdued both of them. I left a few men to keep watch. A Li, you and I will go in first—the others will wait outside! If anything goes wrong, we’ll fire a signal arrow."

Jiang Li thought to herself that if trouble did arise, her familiarity with the East Hill mine shafts would allow her to use them as cover to hide. The only drawbacks were the lack of food and water, and the fact that she still needed to resolve Xue Huaiyuan’s situation. Hiding indefinitely wasn’t an option; otherwise, the shafts would be an excellent place to evade villains.

The thought amused her, and she couldn’t help but smile faintly.

Seeing her smile, Ye Mingyu assumed it was out of satisfaction with his performance, swelling with pride. He said, "A Li, no need to wait any longer. Let’s go in!"

Jiang Li and Ye Mingyu then entered the mouth of the mine together.

The cave was pitch black. When Ye Mingyu lit a torch, it illuminated the surroundings, only emphasizing the vastness and emptiness of the mountain’s interior. Gazing upward, Ye Mingyu exclaimed, "Good heavens, this place is enormous! How are we supposed to find anyone in here? Where do we even start?"

Jiang Li smiled and said, "Don’t worry, Uncle, follow me." Without waiting for further exclamations from him, she stepped forward and strode ahead confidently.

Unable to stop her, Ye Mingyu hurried to catch up.

Jiang Li’s guess was correct: the paths within the East Hill mine shafts remained unchanged. After all, even if modifications were intended, the previously dug shafts wouldn’t need altering. Relying on her memory, Jiang Li led the way, keeping an eye out for fresh footprints and changes in wind direction and scent as they advanced.The mine shaft was deep. Ye Mingyu, afraid that Jiang Li might venture too far and lose her way back, kept making marks along the path. Yet his pace of marking could hardly keep up with Jiang Li’s forward strides. She walked swiftly and resolutely, making it difficult for Ye Mingyu to even attempt to stop her.

After what felt like a long time, Ye Mingyu noticed that the surroundings were filled with mine tunnels, all indistinguishable from one another. He couldn’t fathom how Jiang Li could tell them apart. Just as he was about to suggest they turn back, a sudden cough echoed from deep within the mine.

Jiang Li called out, "Who’s there?"

(End of Chapter)