The Double

Chapter 112: East Mountain

"Who's there?"

In the empty mountain cave, the torch in Ye Mingyu's hand cast two flattened, swaying shadows on the stone wall. The echoing voice sounded particularly eerie.

He shielded Jiang Li beside him, cautiously taking two steps forward while raising the torch higher. Suddenly, his gaze froze.

By the stone wall sat two people. At first glance, they hardly appeared human - so wretched were their conditions. Their clothes hung in tatters, their bodies filthy and foul, with bloodstains covering their hands and limbs. They resembled convicts more than anything else.

Seeing Jiang Li and Ye Mingyu, neither of the two moved, appearing like corpses. Only the slight movement in their eyes revealed they were still alive.

While Ye Mingyu stood stunned, Jiang Li had already snatched the torch from his hand and walked forward to squat before the two. Showing no fear, she gazed calmly at them, yet her heart felt like lead, sinking relentlessly.

Though she knew Feng Yutang would torture Xue Huaiyuan's former subordinates to the utmost, witnessing this scene made Jiang Li realize she had underestimated Feng Yutang's cruelty.

These two were clearly at death's door, barely clinging to life. Perhaps the guards outside didn't know, or perhaps they knew but watched coldly, hoping these people would starve to death inside. Had Jiang Li not come today, these two likely wouldn't survive the night.

As Jiang Li squatted before them, their eyeballs shifted slightly again, but they remained deathly still, unmoving.

Jiang Li carefully examined their features and finally recognized them - these were Gu Da and Gu Er, who used to follow her father. The Gu brothers were twins who, after being orphaned, were recruited by Xue Huaiyuan as constables for their martial prowess. In her memory, Gu Da and Gu Er always moved about energetically, their exquisite sword skills once making Xue Zhao so envious that he pestered them to teach him.

Never did she imagine they would be reduced to such wretched states.

Jiang Li said softly, "Gu Da, Gu Er, I'm Jiang Li. I've come to take you out."

Gu Da's eyeballs shifted slightly, as if finally recognizing where Jiang Li stood. His lips moved, but Jiang Li heard no sound, unable to discern what he was saying.

"His throat is hoarse from shouting. Two days without water - he can't speak," came a raspy voice from behind. Though hoarse, it was still intelligible.

Jiang Li turned to see two more figures standing behind the stone wall. One appeared slightly better off, looking much more alert than the Gu brothers, his sharp eyes watching Jiang Li warily. The other was slender and frail, perhaps from Feng Yutang's torture, so thin he seemed likely to snap in two with a strong wind.

The speaker was the sturdier one.

Had he not seen it with his own eyes, Ye Mingyu would never have believed these were former government officers. Their condition was more pitiful than exiled criminals convicted of heavy crimes - even refugees weren't this wretched. They seemed to be sustained by sheer will alone, ready to collapse at any moment.

Looking at the speaker, Jiang Li's eyes nearly moistened. After a pause, she said, "You must be Peng Xiao."The man, Peng Xiao, stared at Jiang Li and asked, "Who are you?"

"I'm here to take you away from this place," Jiang Li replied. "I intend to clear County Magistrate Xue's name."

At these words, a glimmer of hope sparked in the eyes of Peng Xiao, the men beside him, and the barely conscious Gu Da and Gu Er.

As Jiang Li looked at Peng Xiao, an indescribable ache filled her heart.

The four men present in this cave were all her former acquaintances, as dear as family. Gu Da and Gu Er often practiced swordplay with Xue Zhao. Peng Xiao was the chief officer under her father's command. Jiang Li still remembered how, despite being the head constable, he was always amiable in daily life, his smile revealing a set of white teeth as warm as winter sunlight. Both she and Xue Zhao regarded him as an elder brother. The frail man who looked as if he might be blown over by a gust of wind was He Jun—the only literate one among all the constables. He often sought Xue Fangfei's guidance and was a diligent learner. Xue Zhao had once joked that He Jun seemed more interested in pursuing scholarly honors than being a constable, suggesting he befriend Shen Yurong so that if Shen ever passed the imperial examinations, he might recommend He Jun for a position like Proofreader.

The saying "When a man attains the Dao, even his pets ascend to heaven" had never rung true for the Xue family. Shen Yurong had indeed attained success, but he had climbed over the Xue family's blood and suffering. Meanwhile, the studious He Jun was now trapped in this mine, emaciated to little more than skin and bones.

"Who are you? Why do you want to clear the Magistrate's name?" He Jun asked.

Even in his current state, he remained clear-headed enough to question Jiang Li.

"My name is Jiang Li," she answered, with a frankness that even surprised Ye Mingyu. "I am the legitimate daughter of the current Grand Secretary, Jiang Yuanbai. I've come to Tongxiang at the request of County Magistrate Xue's daughter, Xue Fangfei, to seek justice for the Xue family."

"Jiang Yuanbai?" For a moment, the men looked bewildered. To them, Yanjing was too distant, and the Grand Secretary of Yanjing City was a figure they had never even glimpsed. Peng Xiao stared at her and said, "Miss Xue is already dead."

Jiang Li sighed inwardly. If even Peng Xiao and the others knew this, then Xue Huaiyuan must have known as well. It made sense—to torment Xue Huaiyuan, Yongning would surely have delivered each piece of tragic news one by one, crushing his spirit and driving him to despair.

"Miss Xue is indeed dead, but her death was not a simple matter," Jiang Li said. "Xue Fangfei and I were old friends. I am here to clear the entire Xue family's name."

Not only Peng Xiao and the others, but even Ye Mingyu was stunned. He had never known that Jiang Li had any connection to this Xue Fangfei. If what she said was true, then the Xue family's misfortune did not only involve Xue Huaiyuan—his children had also been implicated. This meant the family had faced utter ruin. What kind of deep-seated hatred could have driven such cruelty? Ye Mingyu began to grasp the gravity of the situation.

"How do you plan to clear the Xue family's name? And why should we believe you?" He Jun pressed.

Jiang Li rose to her feet and met He Jun's gaze. "I intend to use you as witnesses and the inconsistencies in the case records as material evidence. I will gather the people of Tongxiang, collect evidence of Feng Yutang's crimes, then bring the case to the capital and proclaim the truth to the world. If the Court of Judicial Review fails to deliver justice, I will appeal directly to the Emperor. Feng Yutang is not the mastermind behind this—there is someone else pulling the strings, someone significant enough to capture the Emperor's attention. I have no fear that our appeal will fall on deaf ears.""As for how you can believe what I'm saying, Feng Yutang now controls all of Tongxiang. The common people don't even dare mention the Xue family in conversation. What happened to the Xue family is happening to you as well. In fact, aside from me, no one has stepped forward to clear the Xue family's name. I have no reason to deceive you. Right now, you have nothing left but your lives, and even those are only half-lived. If I wanted your lives, I wouldn't need to go through all this trouble—I could take them easily."

Peng Xiao and the others fell silent.

Jiang Li was right. The four of them were now weak, some sick, some injured. Even the tall man behind Jiang Li could likely overpower all four of them single-handedly. If Jiang Li truly intended to harm them, there would be no need for her to fabricate lies.

"Now, I only ask you: are you willing to come out with me and clear your Lord Xue's name?" Jiang Li asked.

Her gaze was resolute and fearless, inexplicably inspiring the same determination in others.

Peng Xiao was the first to look up at her, speaking slowly and deliberately: "I'll go with you."

"Me too!" He Jun said. "We've been stuck in this mine for so long. Fifteen brothers—fifteen of us were tortured until only five remain! Why have we clung to life, fighting to survive until now? Is it because we're afraid of death? No! It's because we hoped that one day we could walk out and clear our lord's name. Such a good man being falsely accused—it's a mockery to the world! Since you, young lady, are willing to help the Xue family overturn the case, the five of us brothers are willing to follow you!"

In the corner, Gu Da and Gu Er helped each other stand up. They were so weak that Jiang Li could barely hear their hoarse voices, but she could see their lips moving, forming the words: "We're willing."

"But wait," Ye Mingyu clicked his tongue. "That's only four people at most. Didn't you say five survived? Where is the fifth person?"

Peng Xiao glanced at Jiang Li and Ye Mingyu, then turned and walked forward, saying, "Follow me."

They rounded a cave chamber and found a person lying against the inner stone wall. At first glance, he appeared dead, but upon crouching closer, they could see faint breaths from his nostrils—so fragile, like a candle with a flickering flame that could be extinguished with a single breath.

Xiao Hei? Jiang Li recognized the person's face.

"Hei Zi has been sick for about half a month now. We suspect he won't last much longer," He Jun said bitterly. "Feng Yutang's men won't get us a doctor. Our other ten brothers died this way, tortured to death." As he spoke, he tremblingly untied the clothing on Xiao Hei's back.

The fabric and flesh on his back had fused together into a bloody, mangled mess, emitting a foul stench. It was hard to imagine this was the skin of a living person. The whip marks were embedded deep into the flesh, leaving not a single patch of intact skin.

"The whips they use to beat us have barbs on them," He Jun said, looking at Xiao Hei. "Xiao Hei is young, but he endured to the very end. Now, he's almost gone."Jiang Li knew Xiao Hei—the youngest among her father's subordinates, about the same age as Xue Zhao, with a particularly youthful, boyish face that made him look like some family's mischievous lad. Every time she saw Xiao Hei, it was as if she were seeing Xue Zhao. Now, lying here motionless, Xiao Hei made Jiang Li's heart ache with a sharp, throbbing pain.

She had already lost too many people around her, one after another.

"We must take them out immediately and find a doctor for him. He cannot die." Without delay, Jiang Li made a swift decision and said to Ye Mingyu, "Uncle Mingyu, please help carry Xiao Hei. I'll support Brother Gu Da. We need to leave this place as quickly as possible. Once we're outside, we'll take them to the secret chamber and find a doctor. Xiao Hei can't afford any more delay."

"But how do we get out?" He Jun couldn't help asking, "Although we've been in the mine shaft for months, the paths inside are all interconnected. We've lived and eaten here, never venturing outside the mine shaft."

"Don't worry," Jiang Li said, "I know the way."

Before He Jun could voice his question of "How do you know the way?" Jiang Li had already moved to help Ye Mingyu carry Xiao Hei. Swallowing his doubts, He Jun had no choice but to follow Jiang Li forward.

The group made their way out of the mine shaft.

Jiang Li supported Gu Da and Gu Er. Though she wore the attire of a male servant, her face was delicate and fair, with skin as smooth as jade—clearly that of a young lady raised in a wealthy household. Peng Xiao hadn't forgotten Jiang Li's earlier introduction either: she was the legitimate daughter of the current Grand Secretary. Such a noble young lady, supporting these grimy, foul-smelling men—people who in her eyes might be considered no more than ants—yet her gaze remained gentle, without a trace of disgust.

Peng Xiao felt somewhat dazed. The girl, lips pressed together, exuded a blend of tenderness and determination that reminded him of their lord's daughter, Miss Xue. Miss Xue was also the pride of their Tongxiang, a presence in their hearts as pure as moonlight, not to be insulted by anyone. Miss Xue possessed peerless beauty and exceptional intelligence, yet she carried no airs of superiority; they had watched her grow up. Later, when they learned of her misfortune—and under such disgraceful charges—none of them could believe it.

Their lord didn't believe it either, but before they could uncover the truth, their lord was imprisoned, and they became captives.

But now... Peng Xiao looked at Jiang Li, who was supporting Gu Da and Gu Er, carefully matching their pace while resolutely moving forward. In the pitch-black mine shaft, where one couldn't see one's own hand, she seemed to know exactly which direction held the light, as if persisting would surely lead them to the exit.

Yes... as long as they kept going, there would be hope. With this thought, Peng Xiao felt as if he had been infused with boundless strength. His spirits lifted, and he followed onward.

...

When they reached the exit, it had taken less than half an incense stick's time, yet both Jiang Li and Ye Mingyu felt as if it had been exceptionally long.

Ye Mingyu's subordinates were waiting outside and eagerly welcomed them as they emerged. Jiang Li gave up the carriage for Xiao Hei, Gu Da, and Gu Er, as they were too weak to walk. Ye Mingyu had been wondering what Jiang Li would do, but then he saw her decisively mount a horse, her movements so graceful that even he was impressed."Let's go, Uncle." Jiang Li said, "We must make haste and head to the next location to hide them first."

Feng Yutang's men would soon discover that the officials in the mine shaft had been rescued and would undoubtedly search everywhere for their whereabouts. By moving the people to the secret chamber before Feng Yutang initiated a citywide manhunt, they would be much safer.

Ye Mingyu agreed wholeheartedly and rode alongside Jiang Li's horse as the convoy set off. He asked her, "How do we summon a physician to treat them? If Feng Yutang's men track the physician, they'll find us. Even if they don't, the commoners are all terrified of Feng Yutang's authority—how would they dare to help voluntarily?"

"Find a physician with a wife and children, bring his family along to the secret chamber, and prepare all the medicinal herbs in advance," Jiang Li whispered. "There's no other way. Given the circumstances, we must resort to coercion. When the time comes, we'll offer ample silver and guarantee their safe passage out of Tongxiang. They'll agree." After a moment's thought, she added, "Let's seek out Physician Zhong from Baohe Clinic. He's a suitable candidate."

Here we go again, Ye Mingyu thought to himself. Jiang Li was far too familiar with the affairs of Tongxiang, as if she could effortlessly recount every detail about the place. But how was this possible? Though he had countless questions, Ye Mingyu refrained from pressing further. Despite his bewilderment, he respected Jiang Li's right to keep her secrets.

Tsk. Those in the martial world valued temperament above all and never forced others into difficult positions.

...

For the time being, news of Jiang Li's rescue of the people at East Mountain had not yet reached Feng Yutang's ears.

In Feng Yutang's mansion, within his study, he paced back and forth restlessly. His beautiful concubine knelt on the floor, gently massaging his legs. Serving Princess Yongning had brought him many benefits—not only had he been able to build such a lavish mansion in Tongxiang, but he also maintained a house full of lovely concubines. His study was merely for show, filled with precious ancient texts, though he only ever indulged in frivolities here.

Today, however, was a rare occasion of seriousness; even his charming concubine failed to stir his interest.

After an indeterminate amount of time, a voice suddenly called out from outside. A young servant hurried in, and Feng Yutang immediately dismissed his concubine, allowing the servant to enter and closing the door behind him. The servant pulled a letter from his robes and handed it to Feng Yutang, who snatched it up, tore it open, and scanned the contents in an instant before collapsing into his chair.

"Master?" the servant asked softly, noticing his ashen expression.

Feng Yutang remained silent, but the hand holding the letter trembled slightly. Inadvertently, the letter fluttered to the floor. The servant quickly glanced at it and, though he couldn't make out the rest, caught a startlingly prominent character: "Kill."

Feng Yutang's heart raced wildly.

The carrier pigeon message had arrived through a special channel, and Princess Yongning's reply had come unusually fast. Feng Yutang had long known that Yongning was arrogant, domineering, and lawless—a trait evident in how she had dealt with the Xue family. But Xue Huaiyuan was merely a minor official; in Princess Yongning's eyes, disregarding such a low-ranking figure hardly seemed worth mentioning.Feng Yutang never expected that Princess Yongning's arrogance and tyranny would show no restraint even when dealing with the family of the Grand Secretary. In her letter, she unhesitatingly wrote that if Jiang Li intended to investigate the Xue family case with the aim of exonerating Xue Huaiyuan, Feng Yutang must ruthlessly eliminate Jiang Li in Tongxiang, ensuring she met her end!

Feng Yutang could hardly believe his eyes.

He had written to Princess Yongning hoping she would advise him on what to do next, but he never anticipated her solution would be this extreme. The thought of murdering the daughter of the Grand Secretary made his heart race with fear—he dared not do it!

This was no ordinary man's daughter; she was the daughter of Xue Huaiyuan, the Emperor's mentor, Chief Grand Academician, and Grand Secretary! Xue Huaiyuan's disciples were everywhere. If Feng Yutang murdered his daughter, the matter would be grave beyond measure. An investigation would surely follow, and if it were traced back to him, his life would be forfeit!

If he had known it would come to this, he should never have hastily written to Princess Yongning. Now, things had taken a turn for the worse: Princess Yongning had outright ordered him to kill Jiang Li. Having carried out many tasks for Yongning, Feng Yutang understood her temperament well—those who complied thrived, while those who defied perished. Her commands could not be ignored; failure to act would mean his own death!

What was he to do?

Feng Yutang felt sweat pouring down his forehead, drop by drop. He dared not look again at the letter lying on the ground, as if the black ink had transformed into blood-red talismans demanding his life.

Death lay ahead, and death behind—what path should he take?

The servant knelt respectfully on the floor, not daring to make a sound. After what felt like an eternity, Feng Yutang's voice drifted down, faint and uneasy, as he asked, "What do you think would happen if I defied our master's orders?"

"That would be absolutely unthinkable," the servant replied, startled. "Master, you know her temperament. If you were to... your life would be in immediate danger!"

Even the servant was aware of Princess Yongning's merciless, murderous nature, let alone Feng Yutang himself. Agitated, Feng Yutang paced around the room a couple of times before suddenly slamming the table and declaring, "I'll do it! A wretched life is better than an honorable death. Killing her might lead to my demise, but not killing her means certain death now. I'll kill her!"

He had made up his mind. Even if he killed Jiang Li, it would take some time for Jiang Yuanbai's investigators to reach Tongxiang. He could use that opportunity to flee—after all, the wealth he had accumulated in Tongxiang was enough to live comfortably. Besides, he was carrying out Yongning's orders; surely, she would offer him some protection. Even if Yongning, as a noble of the highest rank, wouldn't bother herself with a minor figure like him, the reward in silver would likely be substantial. But if he failed to act, Yongning could immediately send someone to take his life.

Under these circumstances, it was better to secure his immediate safety and deal with future consequences later.

"How many people are in Jiang Li's party?" Feng Yutang asked.

The servant answered, "Eight in total: six guards, one large man, and Jiang Li herself."

"Eight..." Feng Yutang pondered for a moment. "That's not too many. Our master left a few assassins behind. Send for them now—it's time for them to take action. Our own manpower is insufficient."

Just as he spoke, someone rushed in frantically from outside, exclaiming, "It's terrible, Master, it's terrible!"Feng Yutang had just made up his mind and was in a state of unease when he suddenly heard these words, which only added to his irritation. He snapped angrily, "What's all the shouting about? What's so bad?!"

"Master," the servant dared not say more and replied, "Those people in the East Mountain mine shaft have been taken away by force!"

"What?" Feng Yutang flew into a rage. "What were those guards doing? How could they let people be snatched right under their noses? Drag them away! Did anyone see clearly who did it?"

The servant shook his head.

"Hmph, I know without you telling me." Feng Yutang sneered, "The only ones in Tongxiang who still dare to openly mention the Xue family case are that group of people. Those yamen runners are practically useless—ordinary folks wouldn’t bother with them. It’s clearly Jiang Li’s doing!"

"But the mine shaft has a complex layout. How did they find the exit?" the servant asked.

"Who knows?" Feng Yutang snorted, a growing unease settling in his heart. Jiang Li ought to be nothing more than a clueless young lady, yet she seemed intimately familiar with everything in Tongxiang. It was this very familiarity that allowed her to handle matters with such ease, putting Feng Yutang’s side at a disadvantage.

"They took those yamen runners to overturn Xue Huaiyuan’s case," Feng Yutang said with a dark expression. "Search! Mobilize every person from the county office. Dig three feet underground if you must, but find those yamen runners. I refuse to believe so many people could just vanish into thin air!"

The servant hurried off to carry out the order, but Feng Yutang felt a knot in his chest. He couldn’t quite explain why, but he sensed something uncontrollable was unfolding.

Regardless, there was one thing he still had to do: assassinate Jiang Li.

After all, Jiang Li was the source of all this unease. Once she was dead, those yamen runners would soon be found. Without a leader, what trouble could they possibly stir up?

"This Second Miss Jiang is quite formidable," Feng Yutang’s eyes flashed with ruthlessness. "But this is where it ends."

…

The tavern in Tongxiang was empty, devoid of anyone.

Ever since Lu Ji handed over an exorbitantly large silver note, the tavern keeper had vanished, never to be seen again. Ji Heng now inexplicably owned a tavern in Tongxiang, though he didn’t particularly care.

"That’s Feng Yutang’s men, isn’t it?" By the window, Lu Ji’s gaze followed a pair of figures downstairs. Yamen runners were streaming out of the county office continuously, as if something significant had happened.

"They’re heading to East Hill," Lu Ji remarked with a smile. "Second Miss Jiang works quickly." The more he observed Jiang Li’s actions, the more he marveled at this young woman. Even in an unfamiliar place like the East Hill mine shaft, she managed to swiftly rescue Xue Huaiyuan’s subordinates. For anyone else, merely finding the mine shaft’s exit without getting lost or trapped inside would be a headache-inducing challenge.

Truly, Second Miss Jiang was remarkably capable.

"It’s too late to go now," Ji Heng glanced downstairs and said, "The people are already in the secret chamber. What’s there to find?"

"How did Second Miss Jiang discover the secret chamber here?" Lu Ji wondered. "She’s never been to Tongxiang before, nor has she met anyone. How could she uncover such a well-hidden chamber?"

"Don’t you think she seems like she grew up in Tongxiang?" Ji Heng replied with a faint, ambiguous smile.

"What do you mean?" Lu Ji asked, puzzled.

"Nothing much."

After a pause, Lu Ji spoke again, "Princess Yongning’s letter should have reached Feng Yutang by now. What do you think, sir, will Princess Yongning instruct Feng Yutang to do?"

"She has a vicious heart, unlike my tender regard for beauty. Of course, she’ll demand eradication without a trace," Ji Heng played with his folding fan, his tone light.

"Will Feng Yutang go through with it?"

"He will."

Lu Ji fell silent for another moment before tentatively asking, "Second Miss Jiang has always been resourceful and courageous. Surely, nothing will happen to her, right?"For some reason, having watched Jiang Li for so long—though he had initially been an outsider merely observing the spectacle—Lu Ji found that the longer he watched, the more it felt like raising a child himself. He was unwilling for this nurturing to come to an abrupt halt halfway through. At least, not now.

"Not necessarily," Ji Heng said.

Lu Ji: "Will you intervene, my lord?"

Ji Heng: "No."

Lu Ji: I've been following this drama for so long that I've grown attached to it... (T_T)

The Duke is about to be proven wrong by his own actions (laughing triumphantly with hands on hips).

(End of Chapter)