The Double

Chapter 116: Popular Support

On this morning in Tongxiang, a light snow began to fall.

For the southern regions, even in the coldest winters, snowfall was a rare occurrence. The streets were sparsely populated. Walking out from Blue Stone Alley, one could see women in many courtyards sweeping away the snowflakes. The children were the most delighted—snow was a natural source of fun and a novelty.

Dai Yun had risen early, carefully brushing the snow off the vines in the yard. Her young daughter, six-year-old Ping An, sat obediently in the main room eating her meal. Even the watery, mirror-like porridge was consumed with relish, and she occasionally glanced out the window, fascinated by the fluttering snowflakes.

Dai Yun called from the yard, "Ping An, close the window. Don’t catch a cold."

Ping An responded, climbing down from her stool and tiptoeing to shut the window.

Dai Yun glanced at the roof and sighed. The weather was growing colder, and when the snow melted, it would seep through the broken roof, making the interior even chillier. If it dripped onto Ping An, it would be troublesome. She needed to find someone to repair the roof soon... If only there were a man in the house. Dai Yun couldn’t help but think this way. When Xue Huaiyuan was still around, she had never entertained such thoughts, but now the idea surfaced frequently.

Dai Yun was not yet twenty-five, young and beautiful, but she was a widow. Her husband had gone fishing when Ping An was just two years old and encountered a once-in-a-decade storm. The boat capsized, and he never returned. Since then, it had been just Dai Yun and Ping An, mother and daughter, relying on each other.

Without a man in the household, life was often inconvenient. The newly appointed county magistrate, Feng Yutang, frequently had designs on her. Dai Yun had managed to fend him off once or twice, but she didn’t know how much longer she could hold out. The neighbors, who had once been willing to help, now avoided her out of fear of Feng Yutang’s threats, leaving her to endure silently.

Dai Yun sighed. No matter what, she only wished for Ping An to grow up healthy. She walked to the stone table in the yard and sat down, where her unfinished needlework lay. It was through such work that she supplemented the household income. Seeing this, Ping An obediently brought out her wooden puppy and sat beside Dai Yun. The wooden puppy had been made by Ping An’s father before his death, and the sight of it tugged at Dai Yun’s heart.

Just as the mother and daughter were about to begin their day’s work, they heard a knock at the courtyard gate—tap, tap, tap.

"Someone’s here!" Ping An exclaimed.

Dai Yun’s heart tightened as she looked toward the gate, fearing it was Feng Yutang coming to cause trouble again. Every visit from him was a nightmare. But today’s knock was gentler, lacking the usual impatience and urgency.

Ping An stared wide-eyed at Dai Yun, who had no choice but to stand up and walk to the gate. After a moment’s hesitation, she opened it.

Standing outside was not the detested Feng Yutang but an unfamiliar young girl.

The girl appeared to be only fifteen or sixteen, with delicate features and clear, bright eyes. She wore a dark green Suzhou Embroidered Moonflower Dress, draped with a blue patterned cloak. The cloak was oversized, making her seem especially petite and fragile. Her eyes sparkled with intelligence, and a faint smile played on her lips.

Dai Yun did not recognize the girl, but she could tell that the fabric of the girl’s clothing was worth at least a hundred taels of silver.She felt somewhat apprehensive and asked, "You are...?"

The girl smiled at her. "My name is Jiang Li. I've come to see you regarding County Magistrate Xue's case."

Dai Yun was taken aback. Ping An quietly followed and hid behind the fence in the yard, secretly watching this unfamiliar older sister.

Before Dai Yun could speak, the girl had already walked straight in, saying, "Let's talk inside. It's cold out here."

Jiang Li stepped directly into Dai Yun's courtyard.

The yard remained as it was before, though if compared, it appeared even more dilapidated and worn than in the past. It seemed Dai Yun's life had not been easy. Back when Xue Huaiyuan had asked Jiang Li to deliver silver to Dai Yun, she had visited this place. At that time, Ping An was just a little one, but now she had grown so tall.

Time truly passed quickly.

Looking at this girl, Dai Yun suddenly felt extremely hesitant. This girl named Jiang Li entered the courtyard without any sense of unfamiliarity, even sitting down at the stone table and examining her needlework, sincerely praising, "This is really well done."

Unable to help herself, Dai Yun pulled Ping An along and approached Jiang Li, saying, "Miss... Miss Jiang, I don't understand what you mean? County Magistrate Xue's case... what about it?"

Jiang Li looked up at her and said, "Dai Yun, County Magistrate Xue has been imprisoned for embezzling disaster relief funds and will be executed in five days. You surely know what kind of person County Magistrate Xue is. I want to clear his name and need witnesses. Dai Yun, are you willing to be my witness and help clear County Magistrate Xue of this false accusation?"

Her voice was soft and gentle, yet it struck Dai Yun's heart like a heavy hammer. For no apparent reason, Dai Yun tightened her grip on Ping An's hand, forcing a smile as she said, "We're not very clear about County Magistrate Xue's affairs. We're just common folk—whatever the authorities say, we accept..."

"How could you not know?" Jiang Li looked at Ping An, who was hiding behind Dai Yun and watching her curiously. Jiang Li reached out her hand, and Ping An couldn't help but take two steps forward, extending her chubby little hand to touch Jiang Li's fingertips.

"Ping An!" Dai Yun exclaimed sharply, stopping her. Ping An was her life—she would never allow anything to happen to her.

Hearing her mother's scolding, Ping An quickly withdrew her hand but continued to watch Jiang Li with curiosity, showing no fear.

"If it weren't for County Magistrate Xue, Ping An wouldn't be alive and healthy today, would she?" Jiang Li looked at Dai Yun. "Isn't that reason enough for you to testify and speak up for County Magistrate Xue?"

Dai Yun felt as if struck by lightning.

Back when her husband died young, Dai Yun was beautiful and youthful. A widow's doorstep attracts trouble, and some had designs on her. But Dai Yun had been deeply devoted to her late husband and had no intention of remarrying. When Ping An was two and a half years old, she fell seriously ill. Dai Yun had no choice but to borrow money from everywhere for Ping An's treatment. The illness was cured, but it cost a great deal of silver. A creditor who had long coveted Dai Yun's beauty demanded she become his concubine to settle the debt. When Dai Yun refused, he threatened to take Ping An away and sell her to the House of pleasure.Just as Dai Yun was at her wit's end, Xue Huaiyuan stepped forward. He rescued the kidnapped Ping An and repaid the silver debt for the mother and daughter. At that time, it was Xue Huaiyuan's daughter who delivered the silver. Dai Yun still remembered the appearance of that young lady from the Xue family, marveling at how there could be such a stunningly beautiful and kind-hearted woman in the world. Ping An also liked the young lady very much, giggling happily whenever she saw her.

Now that Jiang Li suddenly brought up the past, Dai Yun grew extremely flustered. She didn't want her daughter Ping An to know she was an ungrateful person. But she couldn't risk Ping An's safety either. Everyone in Tongxiang knew what kind of man Feng Yutang was—those who obeyed prospered, those who resisted perished. If Feng Yutang learned she had come forward as a witness, he would surely target Ping An.

She was a mother—she couldn't just stand by and watch her child fall into danger.

Dai Yun looked at Jiang Li, a trace of pleading in her eyes: "Miss Jiang, we... we really don't know anything. Please find someone else... Just consider us ungrateful to County Magistrate Xue..."

Jiang Li said nothing, but Dai Yun still caught a flicker of disappointment in the other's eyes. At that moment, whether out of guilt or not, Dai Yun felt as if she wasn't looking at this unfamiliar Miss Jiang, but rather that beautiful and kind-hearted young lady from the Xue family. Her gentle smile was gone, and she simply sat there quietly, gazing at her with disappointment.

Dai Yun suddenly felt too ashamed to face anyone.

Jiang Li stood up, patted Ping An's head, and said, "In that case, I'll find someone else." She said to Dai Yun, "Sorry to disturb you," then turned and walked away.

Just like that... it was over? Dai Yun called out, "Miss Jiang..." But when Jiang Li stopped, she didn't know what to say. After a long pause, she stammered, "Perhaps others in Tongxiang... are like me..." She couldn't continue.

Jiang Li said, "I know. But if we don't do this, County Magistrate Xue truly has no hope left. I'm grateful that County Magistrate Xue helped every household in Tongxiang in the past. Five hundred and sixty-eight households—that still sounds quite hopeful. If he had only helped a few people, and those few were all like you, that would truly be disappointing." After a pause, she added, "Take good care of Ping An. Since you've paid such a high price, don't give up."

Jiang Li left.

Dai Yun lowered her head. Ping An tugged at her skirt, wide-eyed and innocent, calling out, "Mother."

Dai Yun burst into tears.

...

Meanwhile, Ye Mingyu was knocking on another household's door.

This family was very poor, living in a dilapidated thatched cottage. After last night's snow and wind, the entire house looked precarious, a heartbreaking sight. Having grown up in an extremely wealthy family, Ye Mingyu rarely encountered such poverty and regarded it almost as a novelty.

After a long time, someone came to the door—an elderly woman in her twilight years, wearing a thin cotton jacket. Just looking at her made Ye Mingyu feel cold.

The old woman seemed not to see Ye Mingyu and asked doubtfully, "Is someone there? Who are you...?"

The woman was blind and couldn't see anything.

Ye Mingyu said, "Madam, is your son home? I'm here to see your son." According to the register Jiang Li had given Ye Mingyu, this family clearly had a scholar son."You're looking for Wenxuan," the old woman said. "He went out to buy tofu and will be back soon. What do you need him for?"

As soon as she finished speaking, a voice came from outside: "Mother, I'm back!"

The moment Mo Wenxuan returned home, he saw a tall, burly man standing at his doorstep. When the man turned around, revealing a scarred face with a distinctly bandit-like aura, Mo Wenxuan was so startled he nearly dropped the tofu. He asked, "Elder brother..."

"So you're Mo Wenxuan?" Ye Mingyu scrutinized Mo Wenxuan critically. Mo Wenxuan was nearly thirty, still unmarried and living alone—no surprise given his extreme poverty. He was a scholar devoted to his studies, yet after all these years, he remained merely a xiucai. His hair was unkempt, he had a scruffy beard, and he wore a faded cotton robe. His eyesight seemed poor, as he had to lean closer to see people clearly.

Mo Wenxuan replied, "Yes."

"I have some matters to discuss with you," Ye Mingyu said bluntly. "Let's speak elsewhere." He needed to persuade Mo Wenxuan to serve as a witness and didn't want the elderly woman to overhear, so he gestured for Mo Wenxuan to step outside.

Though hesitant, the old woman didn't follow. The family was so poor they didn't even have a courtyard, so Ye Mingyu had to lead Mo Wenxuan to an empty spot behind the house to talk.

Ye Mingyu said, "Mo Wenxuan, are you aware that County Magistrate Xue has been imprisoned?"

Mo Wenxuan froze, then nervously waved his hands and glanced around. "Elder brother... we mustn't speak of this, we mustn't!"

Such a timid, fearful scholar, Ye Mingyu thought with disdain. "What are you afraid of? Will talking about it kill you? Don't worry, with me here, I guarantee you won't die."

Mo Wenxuan clearly hadn't expected to encounter someone so recklessly outspoken. Despite his terror and desperate attempts to stop him, Ye Mingyu remained unmoved, repeatedly uttering "County Magistrate Xue" as if afraid no one would hear.

"Listen, kid," Ye Mingyu continued, "County Magistrate Xue is in prison now, sentenced to execution in five days on charges of embezzling disaster relief funds. You know what kind of man he is, don't you? We're trying to overturn his case and need witnesses. Are you willing to step forward, expose Feng Yutang, and help clear County Magistrate Xue's name?"

At this, Mo Wenxuan trembled like a sieve, stammering, "It can't be done, it simply can't be done!"

"What do you mean, 'can't be done'?" Ye Mingyu had no patience for such cowardice. "Why can't it be done? Explain yourself! As I recall, County Magistrate Xue helped you settle in Tongxiang, got you into the local school, and supported you until you became a xiucai. Back then, you didn't say 'it can't be done.' If not for him, you wouldn't even have copper coins to buy tofu now—how would you support your mother?"

Mo Wenxuan wasn't originally from Tongxiang. Years ago, he had come with his blind mother to seek refuge with relatives, only to find the distant relative had died. Penniless and a stranger in town, he nearly ended up begging on the streets. It was Xue Huaiyuan who accidentally encountered him being bullied by local thugs and intervened. After learning of Mo Wenxuan's circumstances and his dedication to scholarship, Xue Huaiyuan arranged for him to enter the local school, enabling Mo Wenxuan to eventually pass the xiucai examination. Though still impoverished, without Xue Huaiyuan's help back then, Mo Wenxuan would likely have starved to death long ago—let alone been able to care for his mother."They say the righteous often come from humble origins, while the faithless are mostly scholars—today I've truly witnessed it!" Ye Mingyu said bitterly. "If County Magistrate Xue had known he was helping such an ingrate, he should never have extended a hand to pull you up! You deserved to be bullied to death by those local tyrants!"

Mo Wenxuan listened in a daze, his face flushing crimson. Suddenly he shouted angrily, "Enough! Shut up! Do you think I don't want to clear Magistrate Xue's name? Do you think I don't know he's innocent? Benevolence, righteousness, loyalty, and filial piety—I studied them all when I was a scholar! But Feng Yutang is utterly despicable! Do you know how he treats those who tried to help Magistrate Xue before? He harms their parents, wives, and children! I, Mo Wenxuan, may not be much of a hero, but I'm not afraid to die if it means helping my benefactor! But I still have my mother—she worked tirelessly to raise me, and now she's blind, unable to do anything. I've failed to give her a comfortable life, but I can't let her fall into danger because of me!"

After pouring out these words in one breath, Mo Wenxuan's chest heaved violently. He had probably never argued with anyone like this before. Even his neck turned red, and veins bulged on his forehead from agitation.

Ye Mingyu looked at him, his anger slightly abating, but he still resented Mo Wenxuan's lack of resolve. He said coldly, "You don't want to endanger your mother, but are you willing to let her be shamed because of you? Do you know how disappointed she would be if she found out what you've done? Being such a son—making her unable to hold her head up—is a hundred times worse than being poor or incompetent!"

"You—!" Mo Wenxuan was left speechless.

Just then, a trembling voice spoke up: "Wenxuan."

The two turned to see Mo Wenxuan's mother, the blind old woman, groping her way toward them with a cane. She had likely overheard their argument and couldn't resist coming over. It was clear she had heard every word of their earlier quarrel.

The old woman asked, "Wenxuan, is what this young man said true? Has County Magistrate Xue really been imprisoned?"

Mo Wenxuan stammered, unable to reply. The old woman, being blind and unable to leave the house, had no idea that Tongxiang had undergone dramatic changes. He hadn't told his mother, knowing that if she learned of it, given her temperament, she would inevitably speak up for Magistrate Xue.

But he couldn't bear to see his own mother put in danger.

"Wenxuan." The old woman's voice grew stern.

"It's true," Mo Wenxuan admitted helplessly. "It's been over half a year. Magistrate Xue was imprisoned on charges of embezzling disaster relief funds and will soon be executed."

"Nonsense!" The old woman suddenly struck the ground hard with her cane, clearly enraged. "Everyone in Tongxiang knows what kind of man County Magistrate Xue is. Without him, Tongxiang wouldn't be what it is today. Wenxuan, tell this young man now that you're willing to be a witness. We must not forget our roots—if we don't stand up, how are we any different from those villains? This is aiding tyranny!"

"But Mother...""I know what you're afraid of in your heart. I've lived to this age and have had my fill of life—I'm not afraid of death! If you're not afraid to die, then step forward. If anyone wants to harm you, I'll face it with you. We've been through so much together all these years as mother and son—what's there to fear in dying together? The most important thing in life is to have integrity. If you're afraid of death, then find a place to hide. I'll go out with this young man to testify, and I absolutely won't drag you into it!"

"Mother, what kind of talk is this? How could I let you face danger alone?" Mo Wenxuan stamped his foot anxiously, then turned to Ye Mingyu and said with resolve, "Brother, please find a place to hide my mother. I'll go out with you to testify. My mother is right—one must never forget their roots. A villain like Feng Yutang will go to hell sooner or later. What does it matter if I'm the one to send him there this time?"

Ye Mingyu had almost given up. This scholar named Mo Wenxuan was timid and hesitant, and Ye Mingyu had never had the patience to deal with literati. Jiang Li might have been able to persuade him tactfully, but he simply couldn't manage such delicate negotiations. Even mentioning Xue Huaiyuan's assistance hadn't moved him—it seemed truly hopeless. Who would have thought that at the last moment, the situation would turn around when Mo Wenxuan's mother stepped in and changed her son's mind.

Looking at the mother and son, Ye Mingyu felt a pang of emotion. He was young and strong, bold since childhood, often acting without considering the consequences. But many people had families and attachments—courage wasn't so easily summoned. No wonder Jiang Li had said the final step was the most difficult, for human hearts were hard to predict and bound by many constraints.

But in the end, someone was willing to step forward, right?

Out of 568 households, if one stood up, surely there would be a second, a third... Human nature held both evil and goodness.

Ye Mingyu clapped Mo Wenxuan on the shoulder and said gruffly, "Kid, don't act like you're marching to your death. Feng Yutang is nothing but a paper tiger, not worth mentioning. Besides, his days of luxury in Tongxiang are numbered. No one will harm you or your mother. Everyone will be fine—only Feng Yutang will face trouble."

Mo Wenxuan cupped his hands respectfully. "I rely entirely on you, brother."

"Don't mention it!" Ye Mingyu said. "I won't stay long then—I still need to find the next household."

"The next household?" the old woman asked curiously.

"There are 568 households in Tongxiang, and every family has received Magistrate Xue's kindness. I need to visit all 500-plus households to find witnesses one by one," Ye Mingyu declared proudly.

"You truly are a good man," Mo Wenxuan said, dazed. "You're helping Magistrate Xue so diligently—did you also receive his kindness in the past? With someone like you who repays kindness, Magistrate Xue must be very comforted. I thank you on his behalf."

"Hey, don't talk nonsense—I never received any kindness from Magistrate Xue," Ye Mingyu said. "It's my niece who has old ties with Magistrate Xue's family. She came specifically to Tongxiang to help. If you want to thank anyone, thank her. Her name is Jiang Li, daughter of the current Grand Secretary Jiang Yuanbai. You'll see her soon—she's a remarkable young woman."

Ye Mingyu thought cheerfully that this was only the first household, and they'd already found someone willing to step forward. Jiang Li would surely be delighted when she heard.

For herself, and for that poor Magistrate Xue, languishing in prison.

...In the county office, Feng Yutang anxiously awaited a reply.

He had to take Jiang Li's life within five days. He didn't know what Jiang Li was doing—leaving aside the Xue family case for now—but even if Princess Yongning learned he had botched the task, she would not spare him.

Moreover, the dispatched troops and the twenty corpses laid out in the county office's backyard left Feng Yutang restless and uneasy. Jiang Li was such a formidable foe—who knew what methods she might use against him? He had already lost twenty of his most elite men. Would he, too, soon become one of those twenty corpses?

Feng Yutang dared not even think about it. The only way to stop his fear was to have Jiang Li killed immediately—future troubles could be dealt with later. For now, he had to eliminate this unsettling danger.

But the men he had dispatched early that morning, like the twenty-three sent the previous night, had yet to return with any news. Feng Yutang waited from dawn until noon, then from noon until afternoon. By evening, the light snow gradually ceased, and the world outside grew calm—windless and snowless.

A calm that bred restlessness.

There was no news. Worse, there was no trace of these men anywhere. It was as if they had vanished into thin air within moments, leaving no clues behind—so thoroughly that one might doubt they had ever existed.

"My lord..." The gatekeeper scrambled in, his voice trembling with terror. "My lord, they... they've been found!"

"Found!" Feng Yutang’s spirits lifted. He stood up, no longer even hoping for news of Jiang Li’s death—just knowing the men’s whereabouts would suffice. "Where?" he demanded.

"In... in the backyard," the servant stammered, bewildered.

Feng Yutang’s heart sank. His steps faltered, nearly causing him to lose his balance. Gathering his resolve, he said, "Let’s go see..."

But the servant’s expression alone told him the situation in the backyard was grim. Still, Feng Yutang didn’t ask, as if only by seeing it with his own eyes would he accept the truth.

The twenty bodies discovered that morning had been covered with white cloths and piled in a corner of the backyard, with no plan yet for their disposal. Now, with the snow stopped, the once-empty yard was lined with another row of lifeless forms.

Feng Yutang closed his eyes.

Such methods, such provocation—he was at a loss. Jiang Li had only seven people. How could they mow down his men like cutting vegetables, one batch after another? Were these guards all peerless masters?

And how had they silently returned the bodies to the county office’s backyard? Feng Yutang knew that if they could deliver corpses undetected, they could just as easily take his life without a sound.

So why hadn’t they assassinated him?

Feng Yutang didn’t understand. "Isn’t there a Deaf Woman in the yard?" he snapped. "Bring her out! Ask her when she saw any suspicious people. If she can’t speak, have her gesture!"

If the Deaf Woman had been in the yard, she might have seen how they entered.

The servant froze, as if just remembering her existence. "Now that you mention it, it seems no one’s seen the Deaf Woman for days."

"Could she be dead?" Feng Yutang frowned. That old woman had lived long enough; every time he saw her, he felt she might breathe her last any second. They had never paid her any mind, so her disappearance went unnoticed—or if noticed, disregarded. She had probably died of old age in her room.

"Since these men failed to kill Jiang Li, she must still be alive," Feng Yutang suddenly asked. "Where is Jiang Li now? What is she doing?"

The two subordinates exchanged uneasy glances, neither daring to speak.

Feng Yutang’s temper flared. "Speak!" he roared."Second Miss Jiang and Third Master Ye split up early in the morning, starting from the east of the county and heading westward. They knocked on commoners' doors, spoke briefly with those inside, then quickly moved on to the next household. They continued this way for several hours."

"However, it's said that Xue Huaiyuan's name could be heard being mentioned, likely discussing the Xue family case."

(End of Chapter)