The Double

Chapter 114: Mine

"Your Grace, having watched such a long performance, would you care to join me?"

The clear voice echoed through the forest at night, where the moon hung so low it seemed to rest upon the treetops, illuminating Jiang Li's delicate features.

Her eyes were bright and lucid, showing not a trace of panic one might expect in desperate circumstances, but rather an ease and clarity, as if she held complete confidence in her plans.

The black-clad men watched her, their leader laughing, "Second Young Lady, why bother with such mystification..."

Before he could finish, a soft chuckle came from deep within the forest, and a crimson figure gradually emerged from the darkness. Under the moonlight, the darker the surroundings, the more resplendent his red robes appeared. Moonbeams fell upon the black and gold butterflies embroidered on his robe, making them seem as if they might take flight at any moment, appearing utterly enchanting in this moment.

Ji Heng walked leisurely out of the night, holding a golden-threaded folding fan, a smile playing on his lips as he said, "Nothing escapes your notice."

Looking at him, Jiang Li felt a slight relief in her heart.

Ji Heng often enjoyed having people watch her. There was nothing happening in Tongxiang that he didn't know about. She believed that Feng Yutang's men and Ji Shuran's assassins coming to surround and kill her were also within Ji Heng's knowledge. This man loved watching dramas, and such an exciting performance was something Ji Heng would never miss.

Whether Ji Heng himself was watching her or his subordinates were, Jiang Li believed they would never let her leave their sight. When Ji Shuran's people had suddenly appeared, cutting off her retreat and leaving her with nowhere to hide, she suddenly thought that the person silently following her might be able to protect her life here.

Even if they couldn't protect her, having them stay to distract the enemy would be beneficial.

Fortunately, there was indeed someone following her, and even more fortunately, it turned out to be Ji Heng himself.

With Ji Heng here, Jiang Li felt much more at ease. This was actually a strange thought - Ji Heng couldn't be considered her friend, and he remained an enigmatic man. But having interacted with Ji Heng several times, Jiang Li knew he had no intention of harming her. Of course, she didn't think this was because Ji Heng had a soft spot for her; perhaps she still had some value that Ji Heng could use.

Having value was better than having none. As long as Ji Heng was here, she could be completely certain that she wouldn't be the one to die in today's battle. Not to mention Ji Heng's highly skilled guards, even that beautiful golden-threaded folding fan in his hand - Jiang Li had witnessed its power before.

He was not someone who would wait passively for death; instead, he was full of lethal techniques. Anyone who underestimated him because of his beautiful appearance would be harshly taught a lesson by danger.

Ji Heng's appearance immediately caught the attention of the assassins hired by Ji Shuran. Some of them pointed their sword tips toward Ji Heng.

The assassins hadn't missed Jiang Li's address of "Your Grace." And Ji Heng's appearance was too striking, too enchanting. His sudden appearance alone in the dark forest was like a forest spirit, carrying a gorgeous danger. Perhaps because as assassins, they all had an intuition for danger, the black-clad leader asked Ji Heng, "Who are you, sir?"

But Ji Heng paid them no mind, smiling as he looked at Jiang Li and said, "Second Young Lady, your acting skills are becoming more and more impressive.""If the play isn't thrilling, how could it attract Your Lordship to watch?" Jiang Li glanced at the black-clothed leader, her smile deepening. "Your Lordship, they're pointing their swords at you."

Someone like Ji Heng, who wore a smiling face yet was truly ruthless and arrogant, might consider having swords pointed at him as nothing short of an insult.

The black-clothed leader caught Ji Heng's gaze and inexplicably wanted to step back, his fingers gripping the sword unconsciously curling inward, as if sensing something profoundly wrong.

Ji Heng paid no mind, merely smiling at Jiang Li. "Second Miss Jiang, why divert trouble to me? I've said it before—I don't involve myself in plays."

"Has the Duke watched so many of my plays for nothing? If I were to die here today, and you could never see my performances again, wouldn't you feel even a hint of regret?" She looked up and asked.

Her face was clean and fair, tender as if freshly peeled, with a pair of lively, exquisite eyes that seemed to hold boundless entreaty. When she spoke in that soft, pitiable tone, even a deity would be moved to compassion.

But Ji Heng was no deity—he was a demon colder than any god.

He simply gazed at Jiang Li with a smile and said, "Regretful, but I don't involve myself in plays."

In an instant, Jiang Li's pleading expression vanished. It was hard to imagine how she could withdraw so swiftly from such a moving display.

Jiang Li stared at Ji Heng, a flicker of irritation in her heart. In her past life as Xue Fangfei, she had possessed peerless beauty, though she never considered it anything remarkable. Yet, in most situations, that exquisite appearance had smoothed her path. When conflicts arose, others would relent simply at the sight of her face.

A beauty only needed to act coy, and everything would fall into place. She disliked using such methods, which was why Xue Zhao often chided her for wasting such fine looks without earning a reputation as a femme fatale who could topple cities and ruin states.

Now, reduced to her current circumstances, she had no choice but to play the part of the pitiable and charming maiden. Yet, whether it was due to the other's hardened heart or Second Miss Jiang's looks not being utterly captivating, she had failed to move him in the slightest. Instead, she received such a clear-cut reply.

How disheartening.

Ji Heng continued to watch her with a smile, his tone casual, as if he saw nothing wrong with standing by indifferently. Beneath his narrow, phoenix-like eyes, the crimson teardrop mole exuded an alluring charm, slowly suffusing the night with a seductive aura.

The black-clothed leader seemed to grasp the situation at last. He first addressed Ji Heng, "Since you have no quarrel with us, sir, this matter should be straightforward." Then, turning to Jiang Li, he said, "Second Miss, your reinforcement doesn't seem inclined to help. Let's not waste any more time—come on!" With that, as if fearing Ji Heng's presence might lead to complications, he lunged straight at Jiang Li. The silver-glinting sword tip cut through the night, stirring a murderous intent that sent leaves rustling down in a flurry!Seeing that the situation was beyond redemption, and the man beside her remained aloof and detached, Jiang Li hardened her heart and declared without hesitation, "Your Grace, I know why you’re associating with the Right Prime Minister and Prince Cheng. The court is currently divided into three factions. Though the Emperor appears weakened, he is no ordinary man—only deeply suspicious by nature. To make him trust you alone, you must support Prince Cheng’s rise. With threats closing in from all sides, the Emperor will have no choice but to rely heavily on you. By securing the top position among the court officials, you alone have orchestrated this tripartite division of power in the court!"

Jiang Li’s words came out rapid and urgent, startling even the assassins clad in black. Prince Cheng? The Right Prime Minister? What was all this about?

The smile on Ji Heng’s lips seemed to freeze into ice in an instant.

No sooner had Jiang Li finished speaking than a sword tip appeared before her eyes, while another blade thrust toward her from behind. Advance meant death; retreat meant doom—either way, she faced certain demise!

At that very moment, a slender hand reached out, gripping her shoulder and gently pushing her aside. In the next instant, a peony bloomed vividly as Ji Heng unfurled his fan.

The tip of the fan suddenly sharpened like a blade’s edge. Jiang Li watched as the fan swept back and forth, its opening and closing motions causing the golden threads embroidered on the peony petals to shimmer with a faint, glimmering light. In the blink of an eye, two heavy thuds echoed as the two assassins who had surrounded Jiang Li from front and back collapsed to the ground, their faces still etched with bewilderment, as if puzzled by the cause of their deaths even in their final moments.

The surrounding assassins were momentarily stunned by the scene.

No one had fully witnessed how Ji Heng had struck—his movements were too swift. Jiang Li stared fixedly at his fan. Once again, she witnessed its terrifying power. Or perhaps it wasn’t the fan itself that was fearsome, but the man wielding it.

"Brothers, forget caution—attack together!" The leader of the assassins gritted his teeth and suddenly signaled his followers to charge forward!

Having narrowly escaped death, Jiang Li now found herself surrounded by killing intent from all directions. Without a second thought, she immediately clutched the hem of Ji Heng’s robe. Though Ji Heng was dangerous, an enemy of her enemy was a friend. For now, he was the only one who could protect her, even if only temporarily.

Ji Heng cast a cold glance her way but had no time to speak before the assassins surged forward. A faint, mocking smile curled at the corners of his lips as he fully opened his fan. Grabbing the collar of Jiang Li’s robe from behind, he swiftly retreated with her. His movements were so fast they were nearly impossible to follow—only the black butterflies embroidered on his fluttering robe were visible, exuding an eerie and sinister allure.

Under the cover of night, his figure moved with extreme speed. The fan in his hand resembled some dreadful weapon, its opening and closing motions accompanied by sprays of blood blooming like peach blossoms in May. The faint, shimmering light reflecting off the fan sent chills down one’s spine.

Screams rose and fell throughout the forest, transforming the place into a living hell in that moment.

Jiang Li instinctively pressed closer to Ji Heng, only to find his robes icy cold, as though he were not of this world, devoid of any warmth.

It was impossible to tell how much time had passed before the screams outside finally ceased. Ji Heng’s movements came to a halt.

A mocking voice sounded above her: "Second Miss Jiang, the scene has been cleared."

Jiang Li slowly released her grip and lifted her head to survey her surroundings.Under the moonlight, the bodies of black-clad men lay scattered in disarray, the ground splattered with blood, resembling the painted scenes of purgatory on temple murals.

Ji Heng alone had slain over a dozen men, and this seemed to have taken only a brief quarter of an hour.

Jiang Li turned her head to look at Ji Heng.

The moon slowly climbed the treetops again, as if finding the scene before it not terrifying enough, its light exceptionally bright and pure. The innocent moonlight mingled with the bloodstains covering the ground, making it hard to distinguish whether this was a nightmare or reality.

And Ji Heng stood amidst the bloodstains, his long robe a vivid crimson that made one wonder if it had been dyed with the blood on the ground. Yet he held a folding fan, appearing entirely unbothered by the discomfort of it all, and simply gazed at Jiang Li, saying, "Second Miss Jiang, shouldn't you thank me?"

Jiang Li remained silent.

The next moment, the edge of that fan suddenly pressed against Jiang Li's throat. Ji Heng did not step closer; he even maintained a certain distance from her. Yet his expression was unusually cold. From the time she had known Ji Heng until now, he had always been smiling and lazy, even if she knew it was a facade. But when the venomous beast truly bared its fangs, anyone would feel a chill in their heart.

Jiang Li, too, felt afraid.

"Second Miss Jiang, I've told you, I don't like being drawn into the act. Why did you insist on pulling me into your scheme?" His voice was very soft, like the intimate whispers between lovers, yet it carried an inexplicable coldness that crept up one's spine, sending shivers down the back.

"There was no other way," Jiang Li met his gaze directly, her voice softening slightly, as if genuinely apologetic. She said, "I didn't want to die."

Just moments ago, she could clearly sense that Ji Heng truly had no intention of intervening, content to stand by and watch. But she could not allow that to happen. If Ji Heng did not act, she would die here. Her father was still in prison, the truth behind Xue Zhao's death had not yet come to light—she could not die here, at least not now. So she had to take action.

And so, she had no choice but to reveal the secret she had long since uncovered.

She couldn't recall exactly when it happened, but one day, as she pondered the relationships between Ji Heng, Prince Cheng, the emperor, and Jiang Yuanbai, it suddenly dawned on her. There was no particular incident—she just understood.

The current court was divided into three factions: Prince Cheng's faction, Jiang Yuanbai's faction, and the Hongxiao Emperor's faction. But before Prince Cheng allied with the Right Prime Minister, his position was not as secure as it is now. At that time, the court could roughly be divided into two factions. Between Jiang Yuanbai and the Hongxiao Emperor, there was a bond of mentor and student. If Jiang Yuanbai harbored no rebellious intentions, the Hongxiao Emperor would not have much reason for suspicion.

But later, when Prince Cheng suddenly allied with the Right Prime Minister, the balance in the court was disrupted. Prince Cheng's influence sowed discord between Jiang Yuanbai and the Hongxiao Emperor. The mentor-student bond remained, but trust was lost. Jiang Li believed that if evidence of rebellion ever surfaced against the Jiang family, the Hongxiao Emperor would not hesitate to imprison Jiang Yuanbai.

The Hongxiao Emperor could no longer ally with Jiang Yuanbai, and his influence was waning. Yet, from her last encounter, Jiang Li sensed that this emperor, whose mother Consort Xia had passed away early, was not as easily manipulated as he appeared on the surface. Perhaps Ji Heng had seen the Hongxiao Emperor's ambition and had decided to stand with his faction.There is a kind of person in this world who strives for nothing less than perfection. Merely becoming one among the many subjects of the Hongxiao Emperor was clearly not what Ji Heng desired. The outcome Ji Heng hoped for was to become the Hongxiao Emperor's confidant, his most trusted person. Though Jiang Li did not know the reason, she was certain that it was precisely to achieve this goal that Ji Heng had supported Prince Cheng.

In other words, from the very beginning, Ji Heng had schemed to support Prince Cheng, aligning him with the Right Prime Minister to pose a threat to the Jiang family. Through Prince Cheng's provocations, the Hongxiao Emperor and Jiang Yuanbai grew estranged, and the entire court was thus divided into three factions, just as Ji Heng had intended. Isolated, the Hongxiao Emperor chose to trust Ji Heng, making him his confidant.

Thinking this far, Jiang Li felt a chill run down her spine. Ji Heng's scheming, if spoken aloud, would likely be met with disbelief by anyone, for it required foresight, meticulous planning, and a fearless audacity. Yet he had done it, and he had succeeded.

When Jiang Li uncovered this secret, she knew she must bury it forever in her heart, never to be spoken aloud. She understood Ji Heng's intentions, yet when confronting him, she never mentioned it, for she knew that if Ji Heng discovered his secret had been exposed, his first move would be to silence her permanently.

Illness enters through the mouth, disaster exits through it. Choose your food wisely to avoid illness, and your words carefully to avoid calamity. This was Jiang Li's principle. But human plans are no match for the whims of fate. She never expected to be cornered tonight, with Ji Heng by her side but showing no intention to intervene. So she had no choice but to use another's blade to kill.

By revealing Ji Heng's secret in front of the assassins, she ensured they would be silenced, for Ji Heng would never allow those who knew his secret to live.

"Second Miss Jiang, you must understand," he said slowly, "when it comes to silencing witnesses, no survivors are left."

He could kill the assassins, and he could kill her too. Firstly, she knew his secret, and secondly, she had dared to use his secret to manipulate him. These two crimes alone were enough to justify her death.

The cold edge of his fan pressed against her fragile neck. His gaze lingered there, as if tinged with a hint of lingering desire, but upon closer inspection, it was filled with detached cruelty. As the fan pressed closer inch by inch, the sensation of death became unbearably clear. Jiang Li could hear the frantic beating of her own heart, yet her voice remained calm.

"Duke, I do not wish to die," she said. "Otherwise, I would not have spoken those words."

"Give me a reason why you should not die," Ji Heng replied, his eyes fixed on her.

"For Your Grace to gain the Emperor's trust, it is inevitable that Prince Cheng and the Jiang family must clash. Supporting Prince Cheng is not the end goal; it is merely a means to a more thorough resolution," Jiang Li explained. "I can ensure that the Jiang family and Prince Cheng can never reconcile, and I can weaken Prince Cheng's influence."

Ji Heng let out a soft laugh. "How will you accomplish that?"

"The Xue family case—Feng Yutang is merely a decoy. The mastermind behind it is Yongning," Jiang Li said, lowering her gaze. Ji Heng had likely known all along that Yongning was involved, so there was no need to hide it. She continued, "As I investigate the Xue family case, I will inevitably confront Yongning, and it will become a fight to the death with Prince Cheng. No matter how my father views me, I bear the Jiang name, and Prince Cheng will hold the Jiang family accountable. When Prince Cheng and the Jiang family become adversaries, I, as a member of the Jiang family, will help them oppose Prince Cheng.""How do you plan to deal with Prince Cheng?" Ji Heng asked. "You're only fifteen years old now."

Jiang Li spoke just four words: "By any means necessary."

Ji Heng fell silent for a moment, then said, "Neither the Jiang family nor Prince Cheng will remain in the end."

This was something Jiang Li had already guessed. Ji Heng supported Prince Cheng and stirred up trouble in the Jiang family precisely so that Prince Cheng and the Jiang family would oppose and weaken each other, thereby strengthening the Hongxiao Emperor's power. While she was focused on dealing with Prince Cheng, the Jiang family was also in peril.

To be fair, although she wasn't the real Second Miss Jiang, she had accomplished many things by leveraging Jiang Yuanbai's reputation. Apart from Ji Shuran and her daughter, and Jiang Yu'e, the other members of the Jiang family, while not particularly warm toward her, had not harmed her either. If the Jiang family were to truly fall, just as no egg remains unbroken when the nest is overturned, she would have no chance of survival either.

She needed to take revenge on Yongning and Shen Yurong while ensuring the Jiang family's survival.

"Duke, I don't know what your ultimate goal is, but if the Jiang family falls, there will inevitably be a second Jiang family sooner or later," Jiang Li said softly. "If you keep the Jiang family, what if one day they become your support, your reinforcements?"

Her earnest persuasion did not move Ji Heng. He smiled slightly and said, "I don't need support, nor do I need reinforcements."

Jiang Li: "..."

But she actually found this normal, as it was truly hard to imagine Ji Heng having friends or enjoying warm family scenes. A venomous snake living with a flock of sheep—the very thought of such a scene was unbelievable.

"You still haven't convinced me," Ji Heng reminded her. "The reason not to kill you."

"I can't find a reason," Jiang Li said frankly, looking at him. "Because even I can't convince myself with these reasons. But I have unfinished business, and I don't want to die yet. If the Duke insists on not letting me go, I hope you can give me some time. My life remains here, and after I finish what I need to do, I will personally deliver my life to you. I hope the Duke will accept it graciously."

Ji Heng looked at her and said with a smile, "What if I say no?"

Jiang Li fell silent once more.

After a while, she said, "If it really can't be done, then the Duke should strike. Actually, I've already gained something. If the Duke hadn't appeared today, I would have died at the hands of these people, perhaps in a very undignified manner. Now, being able to die by the Duke's hand is an honor. Besides, with so many people accompanying me in death, it doesn't feel like a loss when I think about it. These past days, thank you for your care, Duke. If there is a next life, Jiang Li will repay you with unwavering loyalty." After saying this, Jiang Li truly closed her eyes, tilted her head back slightly, and calmly waited for Ji Heng to strike.

The fan moved across her jade-like neck, like a weapon harvesting lives. Her features were distinct, clean, and delicate, like a mountain fairy child. Her small, red lips pressed together with a hint of stubbornness, while her long eyelashes, like dewdrops about to fall but not quite, trembled slightly, looking utterly pitiful.

Ji Heng's fan traced its path, gradually deepening its pressure. It was not an ornate folding fan but something fiercer than a blade's edge.

A venomous snake coiled around its prey, baring its fangs, venom dripping drop by drop. A white rabbit shrank into a ball, pitiful and cautious, hoping for a sliver of chance to survive.

It slowly approached, its forked tongue cold, its gaze equally icy. With just a gentle bite, the rabbit would never move again.But it suddenly flicked its tail away, turned its head, and swam off.

Jiang Li only felt the fan above her neck lighten, all sensation gone in an instant. She looked up and saw Ji Heng's impassive profile.

Ji Heng said, "You're the first person to thank me while being killed by me."

Jiang Li replied, "Is that so? Then it's my honor."

"Your words are so sweet," Ji Heng's lips curved slightly, "Are you always like this?"

"No, I'm only like this with the Duke." Jiang Li nodded, breathing an inward sigh of relief. She had ultimately gambled correctly, she thought. Though Ji Heng was someone who couldn't be swayed by either soft or hard approaches, he wasn't a madman who killed on sight. While outsiders called him capricious, in truth, Ji Heng only took lives when someone provoked him first.

Once she appeared completely harmless and docile, posing no threat to Ji Heng, he would be too lazy to take action against her.

"I know you're not as harmless and gentle as you seem," Ji Heng suddenly spoke, as if he could read her thoughts. "You've also unintentionally disrupted many of my plans. I don't like showing mercy. But," he suddenly looked at Jiang Li, his gaze clear yet profound, "you've drawn me into this play."

"I want to see this drama through to the end. At its most thrilling moment, you cannot die." Ji Heng said, "So, for now, I'll leave your life with you. Once you've accomplished your tasks, I'll come to collect it."

Jiang Li asked, "What if what I need to do takes a very, very long time to achieve?"

"Then I'll wait." Ji Heng replied, "I have patience, as you know."

Jiang Li fell silent. Ji Heng indeed possessed great patience. Long ago, before Prince Cheng rose to prominence, Ji Heng had already begun laying the groundwork. At that time, no one paid attention to these matters, yet he steadily supported Prince Cheng to the point where no one dared to underestimate him now. The Jiang family's current restraint was entirely due to this man.

He had more patience than anyone. Whatever he set out to accomplish, there was likely nothing he couldn't achieve.

But Jiang Li was already satisfied. Whether this life was temporarily preserved or would eventually be claimed by Ji Heng someday, at least she didn't have to die now. She needed to live - to rescue Xue Huaiyuan from prison, to expose Yongning and Shen Yurong's true faces, to avenge Xue Zhao.

All of this could only be accomplished by staying alive. Since Ji Heng had prevented her from dying today at the hands of those arranged by Ji Shuran, and had preserved her life for revenge, she had no reason to resent him.

The road ahead was long, but as long as she kept her life, she would eventually find her way out.

"These people..." Jiang Li looked at the corpses on the ground.

"Leave them be." Ji Heng glanced at her. "Unless you'd like to pack them up and send them back to Ji Shuran in Yanjing?"

Jiang Li considered this seriously. "No need. If we send them back, she'll know her plan failed and will inevitably devise other schemes. I simply don't have the energy to deal with them. Better to let her believe she succeeded. When I return to Yanjing and she sees me, her shock will be quite satisfying."

Ji Heng nodded approvingly. "Reasonable."

"What are your plans now, Duke?" Jiang Li asked. "I need to return. I don't know how my uncle is doing. Since Feng Yutang's men were determined to kill me, I fear my uncle might be in danger."

"Ye Mingyu is fine." Ji Heng said. "Feng Yutang's men - Yongning's three best assassins - came after you and fell into your swamp trap." He gave Jiang Li a meaningful look before continuing, "The remaining men are no threat. Ye Mingyu can handle them."

Hearing Ji Heng's assurance, Jiang Li felt somewhat relieved. If anything had happened to Ye Mingyu because of her, she would have been filled with guilt. Ji Heng wouldn't lie about such matters, and Jiang Li still trusted him on this.

"Let's go." Ji Heng said, gesturing for her to mount the horse.

Jiang Li hesitated. During her frantic escape earlier, she had twisted her ankle and found walking difficult. She had intended to endure the pain, but hadn't expected Ji Heng to notice. However, this wasn't the time for pretense, so without overthinking it, she supported herself and climbed onto the horse.

Ji Heng walked leisurely beside her while Jiang Li sat astride the horse, holding the reins. The two of them moved forward in an unprecedented harmony."Duke, there's something I want to ask you." Jiang Li said softly: "This life is borrowed from you, but what if I die before returning it to you?"

"That's impossible." Ji Heng didn't even turn his head, his red robes drawing a brilliant trail of light in the night. He said: "What belongs to me cannot be taken by others. Including your life."

(End of Chapter)