The Double

Chapter 123: The Rival

The grievance drum before Chang'an Gate had not been struck for many years.

The drumbeats echoed through the sky, startling the people within the palace.

Hongxiao Emperor was playing chess with Li Pin in the garden. Among his harem, Li Pin was the eldest, even older than the Hongxiao Emperor himself, yet she remained the most favored. Compared to the newly entered palace maidens—some willful and spoiled, others virtuous and gentle—she possessed greater charm and wit.

Moreover, her appearance showed no signs of aging; she remained youthful and beautiful, exuding a grace that those young girls could not match.

Thus, whenever the Hongxiao Emperor had free time, he preferred not to visit the Empress or other consorts, choosing instead to spend it with Li Pin. It seemed that merely speaking a few words with her could wash away the weariness and discomfort from court affairs.

Today was no different.

The Hongxiao Emperor’s black pieces had already been largely swallowed by Li Pin’s white ones. This was one of Li Pin’s distinctions from the other women in the palace. Those women either genuinely lacked skill in chess or deliberately pretended to be inferior to the Emperor, losing to him even when they could win.

Only Li Pin never yielded to him in the slightest, making her a rare soul of authenticity in the palace.

“I’ve lost again,” the Hongxiao Emperor said with a smile, shaking his head.

“It was merely luck on my part,” Li Pin replied cheerfully. “That is why Your Majesty lost to me.”

“Nonsense. I have never been your match in chess. Enough,” he teased. “If you were a man, I would surely recruit you to serve me.”

“I am only skilled at chess; I dare not meddle in matters of state,” Li Pin said, taking a delicate sip from her teacup. “The great affairs that men undertake are far too exhausting. I would much rather spend my days playing chess in the garden, indulging in idleness. I have no mind for such weighty matters.”

Subtly, she elevated the Hongxiao Emperor’s stature once more.

The Hongxiao Emperor’s smile grew even more genuine. Eunuch Su, standing by in attendance, sighed inwardly. No wonder the eldest daughter of the Ji family was so formidable—she knew exactly how to appease the Emperor. The Emperor’s current unease stemmed from Prince Cheng’s influence. Though the young Emperor did not voice it, he remained wary of those around him vying for power. At the very least, Li Pin had demonstrated no interest in interfering in court affairs, earning her greater trust from the Emperor.

No ruler would ever feel threatened by such a woman.

Just as he was lost in thought, faint drumbeats drifted in from beyond the palace walls.

At first, the sound was indistinct, but it grew clearer and louder, as if the person striking the drum had been replaced by someone with greater strength, hammering the drum with immense force. Though not as if echoing right beside them, the sound was now unmistakable.

The Hongxiao Emperor paused and asked, “What is happening outside?”

Eunuch Su replied, “Your Majesty, this servant will go and inquire.” He gestured, summoning a young eunuch, and after giving him a few instructions, the eunuch departed. Shortly after, he returned and bowed before the Hongxiao Emperor and Li Pin, saying, “Your Majesty, outside the palace at Chang'an Gate, someone is striking the grievance drum beside the stone lions.”

“Striking the grievance drum?” the Hongxiao Emperor asked, taken aback.

“It is the second daughter of the Grand Secretary’s household,” the young eunuch said cautiously. “She has brought villagers from Xiangyang’s Tongxiang and arrived at Chang'an Gate. I heard she returned this afternoon and came straight here.”The Hongxiao Emperor looked at Li Pin. "Oh? It's your younger sister's stepdaughter."

Li Pin smiled faintly. "Indeed." Then she added with some surprise, "I've heard some rumors from outside before, but I always thought they were just hearsay spread by others. After all, I've met that young girl—she seems gentle and doesn't appear to be someone who stirs up trouble. I never expected the rumors to be true, that she really brought people to the capital to appeal."

"Stir up trouble?" the Hongxiao Emperor said. "It might not necessarily be that. I know that to sound the grievance drum, the person who strikes it must receive fifty lashes. If it were truly just to cause trouble, paying such a price would hardly be worth it." He stood up and declared, "I’d better go outside myself to hear what they have to say. Su Gonggong, come with me."

Su Gonggong hurriedly followed.

Li Pin quickly stepped aside and bowed to see the Hongxiao Emperor off. She did not follow him. Having been with the emperor for so long, she knew his temperament well—when he was handling official matters, it was best for her to stay out of the way. The young emperor detested interference from the inner court in state affairs. Back then, Prince Cheng's mother, Consort Liu, relying on the late emperor's favor and her family's influence, nearly made Prince Cheng the emperor. If not for the current Empress Dowager's maneuvering, this position might not have been his.

The Hongxiao Emperor favored her precisely because of her detached and unobtrusive nature, never meddling in court affairs. It was with her that he felt most at ease.

But... Li Pin thought uneasily, regarding the matter of Jiang Li and the Xue family case, she couldn't quite discern the Hongxiao Emperor's reaction. He didn’t seem enraged, nor did he appear supportive. The emperor grew more inscrutable with each passing year, and often, she couldn't read his thoughts.

As a daughter of the Ji family, she was well aware of the troubles Jiang Li had caused Ji Shuran in the Jiang residence. Li Pin naturally did not wish for Jiang Li to succeed; in fact, like Ji Shuran, she hoped to use this incident to eliminate Jiang Li without shedding blood.

But in the palace, despite the emperor's favor, she had to be even more cautious, avoiding rash actions and taking things one step at a time.

The Hongxiao Emperor went to the imperial study and sat down.

Eunuchs continuously entered, reporting in detail the situation at the Chang'an Gate. When they mentioned Jiang Li's statement that "there isn't just one person sounding the grievance drum; with over a hundred people, fifty lashes would amount to only half a lash per person," his stern expression broke into a smile, and he chuckled, "That old fox Jiang Yuanbai—his daughter is just as cunning!"

Su Gonggong observed from the side. Although the Hongxiao Emperor said this, there was no trace of anger on his face. He began to understand: at the very least, the Hongxiao Emperor was not enraged by Jiang Li bringing villagers to the capital to sound the grievance drum. The emperor bore no ill will toward Jiang Li.

"Your Majesty, it's been over a decade since anyone sounded the grievance drum at the emperor's feet..." Su Gonggong said. "Second Miss Jiang's actions have become a major event in Yanjing City. Countless eyes are watching."

"Su Gonggong, what do you think of what she has done?" the Hongxiao Emperor asked.

"This... this old servant dare not speculate," Su Gonggong replied. "I just wonder if Lord Jiang knows that Second Miss Jiang is acting in this manner.""Of course not." Emperor Hongxiao smiled. "This young lady of the Jiang family didn't even return to the Jiang residence before rushing to the Chang'an Gate to sound the grievance drum. If it were truly so urgent, she would have had time to return home first. If it were Jiang Yuanbai, he would never have allowed her to travel in such haste. Clearly, Miss Jiang was afraid unexpected complications might arise and that Jiang Yuanbai would obstruct her, so she decided to act first and report later."

Eunuch Su looked at Emperor Hongxiao and said with a smile, "The second young lady of the Jiang family is quite clever. Your Majesty even rewarded her last time, though her courage is rather excessive. Which noble young lady would dare do such things? And even mingle with commoners?"

"What's wrong with mingling with commoners?" Emperor Hongxiao replied. "The empire is built upon its common people. Without the populace, there would be no kingdom. Regarding Miss Jiang's estate, Ye Shijie, the Vice Minister of Revenue, has already submitted a memorial to me. I've read it! Had I not seen it, I wouldn't have known that such rampant bandits exist right under the Son of Heaven's nose in my own realm!"

At this point, his voice suddenly turned cold. Eunuch Su dared not respond further, though he was inwardly puzzled. Ye Shijie, the Vice Minister of Revenue? When did Ye Shijie submit a memorial to the emperor?

Since Ye Shijie had already shown the emperor the memorial regarding the Xue family case, and the emperor held such an attitude, the current situation became much clearer. At the very least, regarding the Xue family case, Miss Jiang should stand to gain without any mishaps.

Emperor Hongxiao looked at the memorial before him—the petition submitted by Ye Shijie, which was naturally filled with the crimes of County Magistrate Feng Yutang and the details of how Xue Huaiyuan had been wrongfully accused. In all fairness, merely reading it was enough to enrage him as emperor. However, while this justified sounding the grievance drum, requesting an audience with the emperor was somewhat excessive. Jiang Li had brought so many commoners from Tongxiang to the capital, and the people of Yanjing City were watching closely. If this case were mishandled, he would lose the people's trust. So, Jiang Li had essentially handed him a problem.

Weighing the pros and cons, Emperor Hongxiao should not pay excessive attention to this case and should even advise Jiang Yuanbai to discipline his daughter properly. After all, what did the affairs of the Tongxiang County Magistrate have to do with her? She wasn't surnamed Xue.

However, Ye Shijie's petition subtly mentioned another matter, one of great significance. It indicated that Feng Yutang's master was Princess Yongning of Yanjing City and that Xue Huaiyuan's imprisonment had been ordered by Princess Yongning.

Princess Yongning was Prince Cheng's biological sister, leading Emperor Hongxiao to suspect that her actions against the Xue family might have been orchestrated by Prince Cheng. On the surface, Princess Yongning had no connection to the Xue family, so why would she harm Xue Huaiyuan without cause? Xue Huaiyuan resided in Tongxiang, while Yongning lived in Yanjing; it was unlikely Xue Huaiyuan could have offended her.

Firstly, the circumstances were suspicious. Secondly, even if nothing concrete could be uncovered, if this matter were confirmed, Yongning's reputation would suffer, which might not bode well for Prince Cheng. If Prince Cheng still harbored treacherous intentions, he would surely value his reputation. If his own sister were known to be ruthless and wicked, his reputation would be ruined.

Therefore, this case must be tried—not only tried but made known throughout the land. To achieve the best outcome, he would personally oversee it.At this moment, the Hongxiao Emperor looked upon the cousin pair Ye Shijie and Jiang Li with indescribable favor. If this case hadn't involved Princess Yongning, it would have been just an ordinary lawsuit. But with her involvement, it became a perfect weapon for Hongxiao.

Someone had delivered this weapon into his hands—he would never push it away. On the contrary, he would grip it tightly and strike his opponent with it. Only then would it not be wasted.

"Pass the order: the Ministry of Justice will hold the trial in three days. I will personally oversee it," he said.

Eunuch Su withdrew.

...

Before the Chang'an Gate, the grievance drum thundered deafeningly.

Jiang Li had already released the drumstick. The citizens of Tongxiang rushed forward eagerly, as if unleashing all their long-suppressed resentment, suffering, and oppression—each strike louder than the last. Ping An covered his ears while squatting beside Dai Yun, giggling uncontrollably.

Every face showed not the desperation of mutual destruction but relaxed, hopeful smiles.

These smiles infected the surrounding Yanjing onlookers, who for some reason also began to feel a glimmer of anticipation—hoping these Tongxiang villagers would win their case and obtain the justice they dreamed of.

Inside the prisoner cart, Feng Yutang and his accomplices already looked deathly pale. At this point, they no longer prayed for any miracle. Feng Yutang knew perfectly well that Princess Yongning wouldn't save him—she might even send assassins to silence him. Perhaps the killers were already on their way. That princess dared to murder even Jiang Li—what was he worth? Less than worthless. Since death was inevitable either way, Feng Yutang simply stopped thinking about it.

Soon, officials from the Ministry of Justice arrived upon hearing the commotion. Jiang Li handed them the indictment, and the officials took Feng Yutang's group away, announcing the trial would be held in three days under the Hongxiao Emperor's personal supervision.

Hearing the words "personally overseen by the Hongxiao Emperor," a weight finally lifted from Jiang Li's heart. Although the emperor might be a good ruler, the Tongxiang case alone wouldn't normally warrant such imperial attention. His intense interest stemmed solely from Princess Yongning's involvement.

An emperor who already wanted to deal with Yongning presiding over this case—while not impartial from the start—created the greatest form of justice possible. Her ally was the most powerful person in the realm, at least superficially, meaning she would likely face minimal resistance in this lawsuit.

This was truly excellent.

Ye Mingyu had settled all the Tongxiang citizens safely. The government dispatched guards to protect these witnesses, preventing any silencing attempts. Jiang Li specifically requested Ministry of Justice personnel—the Magistrate of the Capital was Princess Yongning's ally. Last time, when Xue Zhao had sought the magistrate's help, the magistrate had informed Yongning, costing Xue Zhao his life. Jiang Li wouldn't repeat the same mistake. Additionally, she arranged for Ye Mingyu's men to keep watch as well.

As for Ye Mingyu and Xue Huaiyuan, they returned to the Jiang residence with Jiang Li.

Jiang Li didn't trust anyone else with Xue Huaiyuan's care. Moreover, Xue Huaiyuan only showed slight familiarity toward Jiang Li—he sometimes grew suddenly fearful when others approached. Ye Mingyu accompanied them because he feared Jiang Yuanbai might punish Jiang Li. With her maternal uncle present, Jiang Yuanbai would exercise restraint and not dare to openly beat or scold her.

After everything was properly arranged, Jiang Li finally returned to the Jiang residence with Ye Mingyu.

The main gate of the Grand Secretary's manor remained tightly shut today.Normally, there would be two gatekeepers stationed outside the main entrance, but today not even a single one remained, so naturally no one came forward to greet them. Ye Mingyu rested his blade on his shoulder and remarked, "A Li, it seems your father is blaming you so much that he won’t even let you through the door."

Bai Xue and Tong'er were deeply concerned. Jiang Li had returned to the capital, but instead of heading straight home, she had gone to the Chang'an Gate to sound the grievance drum. This had completely disrupted Jiang Yuanbai’s plans. Now that the situation was irreversible and the Ministry of Justice had issued a summons, Jiang Yuanbai could no longer suppress the matter and would inevitably take his anger out on Jiang Li.

"Don’t worry," Jiang Li said calmly. "What’s one more mistake to my name? Back then, I was accused of killing my own mother and brother, and even that didn’t stick." As she spoke, she walked up to the door and knocked gently.

Ye Mingyu was momentarily speechless. It seemed Jiang Li wore her notorious reputation like a badge of honor, not avoiding the topic but even bringing it up herself. However, Ye Mingyu also felt there was more to that story. Jiang Li was his niece, and from their time together, though she could be fierce at times, she was fundamentally kind-hearted and even displayed a chivalrous disdain for injustice. How could such a good girl be capable of harming others? There must be more to the story.

But now was not the time to discuss it. He would investigate it thoroughly another day.

The gatekeeper did not come to open the door immediately. Meanwhile, passersby noticed Jiang Li and the others waiting and gathered to watch the spectacle. Ye Mingyu, thick-skinned by nature, felt no embarrassment. When people stared, he simply grinned back. Jiang Li, too, remained composed and patient. After a while, as if unable to hold back any longer, someone finally came to open the door.

The servant who opened the door glanced at Jiang Li and said, "Second Young Miss." Then, he looked at Ye Mingyu with his blade and Xue Huaiyuan, who was being supported by Tong'er, his expression complicated as he opened the door wider. "The Old Madam is waiting for you in the Evening Phoenix Hall."

Jiang Li and Ye Mingyu entered the Jiang residence.

Jiang Li instructed Tong'er and Bai Xue, "Take Lord Xue to my courtyard and care for him there. My uncle and I will go to the Evening Phoenix Hall."

After Tong'er and Bai Xue had left with Xue Huaiyuan, Jiang Li and Ye Mingyu made their way to the Evening Phoenix Hall.

As soon as they entered, Jiang Yuanbai’s furious roar echoed through the hall: "Wicked girl, kneel!"

Jiang Li looked up and met Jiang Yuanbai’s furious glare.

Sometimes she even wondered how Jiang Yuanbai, as the Chief Grand Secretary, a man of immense learning, could always resort to the same phrase—"Wicked girl, kneel!"—when punishing her, as if only those words could bring him satisfaction. But then again, she realized this command was reserved solely for her. At least, she had never heard Jiang Yuanbai say such a thing to Jiang Youyao.

Perhaps it was because Jiang Youyao never caused as much trouble as she did, or perhaps it was because Jiang Youyao had grown up by his side, and he couldn’t bear to make her kneel. But in the end, it didn’t matter.

Kneeling was no big deal. Jiang Li had never expected to return to the Jiang residence unscathed. The fact that Jiang Yuanbai only ordered her to kneel and didn’t whip her meant she was spared physical pain—she ought to consider herself lucky.

Just as she was about to kneel, Ye Mingyu, quick as lightning, grabbed her arm and roared back at Jiang Yuanbai with full force, "Kneel? Why should she kneel? A Li, listen to me—don’t you kneel!"

Jiang Yuanbai was livid. "I am her father!""I'm still her uncle! Oh, so just because you're her father you can make her kneel? A Li carries half the blood of our Ye family in her veins—doesn't that mean she should listen to the Ye family too? I won't let her kneel! Besides, they say nieces take after their uncles. If we're being honest, A Li doesn't resemble you at all—she takes after me more, so of course she should listen to me!"

When a scholar meets a soldier, reason falls on deaf ears. Though Jiang Yuanbai was indeed the Chief Grand Secretary, facing a scoundrel like Ye Mingyu who twisted logic beyond recognition, he truly found himself at a loss for words.

Ji Shuran looked at Jiang Li and said, "Li'er, after all, he is your father. If others can't control you, surely your father can. You bear the Jiang surname, not Ye."

Hearing this, Ye Mingyu turned to glare at Ji Shuran. She shrank back under his stare, retreating a step to hide behind Jiang Yuanbai.

Jiang Li stepped forward and said, "Father, your daughter was wrong—wrong for not consulting you before involving myself in the Xue family case, wrong for not returning home first upon arriving in the capital but instead going to Chang'an Gate to beat the drum of grievance. And even more wrong for borrowing your authority during the Ye family's Ancient Fragrance Satin incident in Xiangyang, using your name to issue a Weaving Office Order that led to their investigation."

Since childhood, whenever she made mistakes, she and Xue Zhao would use this tactic before Xue Huaiyuan—admitting faults with such seamless fluency and sincerity that Jiang Yuanbai found himself unable to continue scolding her.

Compounded by Ye Mingyu watching like a hawk from the side.

Old Madam Jiang, seated on the couch, said sternly, "Second girl, we can discuss apologies later. Let me ask you—you had no relation to that Xue County Magistrate, so how did you suddenly get entangled in such a case? And you brought so many villagers with you. I heard you even brought that already-mad convicted official back to the residence—have you lost your mind? How could you do such things?"

Jiang Li paused thoughtfully before replying, "Actually, this matter is related to Cousin Ye."

Ye Shijie? Not only the Jiang family members but even Ye Mingyu turned to look at her.

"This matter... I can only tell Father," Jiang Li said apologetically. "May I speak with him alone?"

Ji Shuran smiled and said, "What matter could be so secret that we cannot hear it... Li'er, you..."

"This concerns grave matters. I think it would be better if Mother didn't involve herself," Jiang Li interrupted her.

Ji Shuran's smile froze.

Since Jiang Li's return to the residence, she had become increasingly bold. Now she dared to treat her like this right before Old Madam Jiang and Jiang Yuanbai. Ji Shuran clenched her teeth tightly.

Jiang Li looked at Jiang Yuanbai with determined eyes. After a moment's hesitation, he suddenly said, "Come with me."

A smile bloomed on Jiang Li's face. "Yes, Father."

She followed Jiang Yuanbai to his study.

Others were forbidden from entering Jiang Yuanbai's study—this was already Jiang Li's second time inside. As soon as they entered, Jiang Yuanbai closed the door and stationed guards outside before demanding, "What exactly are you scheming? Why would you do something so outrageous? And what does this have to do with Ye Shijie?"

"Father, during the Ye family's Ancient Fragrance Satin incident in Xiangyang, the Weaving Office's Inspector Tang from Yanjing discovered that someone had framed the Ye family—I believe you learned this from the letters. The suspected herbal medicine shop was wiped out overnight, cutting off all leads. Nevertheless, we found some traces. Father, the ones who framed the Ye family... nine out of ten chances point to the Right Prime Minister's Li family.""The Li family?" Jiang Yuanbai frowned. "Li Zhongnan?"

"Exactly," Jiang Li replied. "Moreover, the Xue family case in Tongxiang might also implicate Li Zhongnan. Cousin Ye is merely a newly appointed Vice Director in the Ministry of Revenue, not even firmly established in the court. Yet the Li family has begun targeting the Ye family—undoubtedly, this is aimed at Cousin Ye. Why would a dignified Prime Minister bother expending so much effort on a minor Vice Director of Revenue? Father, the Right Prime Minister isn't targeting the Ye family—he's targeting the Jiang family."

Jiang Yuanbai said coldly, "Do you realize what you're saying?"

"The Li family has always been at odds with our Jiang family. Ever since the Li family grew closer to Prince Cheng, our Jiang family has gradually declined from its former state. This is something Father and Second Uncle, who serve in the morning court, should know best. Though we can still hold on for now, over time, our Jiang family won't be able to endure. Now, the Right Prime Minister and his faction are already restless and stirring. How can we stand by and do nothing?"

Jiang Yuanbai looked at his daughter as if seeing her for the first time. He knew Jiang Li was clever—brilliant in academic examinations, sharp in the struggles of the inner household—but such cleverness was incomparable to the intelligence she displayed now, discussing court politics and the current situation.

This required not just intelligence, but vision.

"Cousin Ye has also uncovered this matter and asked me to rescue County Magistrate Xue from prison in Tongxiang. As your daughter, it's more convenient for me to act under the Jiang family's name. Since the Right Prime Minister has already moved against us, avoiding confrontation is no solution. It's better to counterattack. The Xue family case is the perfect tool for retaliation. By tracing the case back to the Right Prime Minister and implicating him, wouldn't that turn the tables on them?"

She spoke with utter calm, as if unaware that this case could affect the interests of hundreds, even thousands, of people. Jiang Yuanbai shook his head. "You make it sound simple. Since ancient times, there have been countless unjust, false, and wrongfully decided cases, yet only a handful have been overturned. What makes you think you can reverse this one?"

"Father, you may not know this, but Feng Yutang has been bullying men and women, committing every evil deed in Tongxiang. The people despise him deeply. This time, when I came to the capital, over a hundred people followed to petition. The case files are full of loopholes, and the evidence is solid. Most importantly, Feng Yutang has been illegally mining gold in Tongxiang—a grave crime! Without someone backing him, how would he dare to do such a thing?"

"You're too reckless. The Li family isn't so easily defeated. This time, you might only dampen their momentum, but it will make them resent you. Once they find an opportunity, they will retaliate fiercely against the Jiang family..."

"If we don't counterattack, will the Li family refrain from targeting our household?" Jiang Li interrupted him. "For instance, right now, we've done nothing, yet the Li family is using the Ye family to strike at us. And Father, have you forgotten what happened when I sounded the grievance drum at Chang'an Gate? The result was that the Ministry of Justice will hold a trial in three days, with His Majesty personally overseeing it. The Emperor has taken notice of this matter."

Jiang Li said calmly, "In recent years, the Right Prime Minister has grown increasingly close to Prince Cheng. Do you think the Emperor hasn't noticed? The Emperor is wary too. Since the Xue family case involves the Right Prime Minister, the Emperor has taken it seriously and demanded to oversee it personally. This time, the Emperor is on our side. Father, if the Jiang family and His Majesty are not at odds, shouldn't you stand with the Emperor now?"

"Enough!" Jiang Yuanbai urgently cut her off. "Have you lost your mind? How dare you speak such reckless words!"

Jiang Li looked at him quietly.

Jiang Yuanbai waved his hand irritably. "Forget it. Leave now. I've heard what you said, but I need to think about this further."

Jiang Li nodded.She deliberately tried to link the Xue family case to the Li family. Knowing that the Right Prime Minister was Jiang Yuanbai's greatest concern, she muddled the target to confuse Jiang Yuanbai and obscure her true intentions.

Because if Jiang Yuanbai knew this matter involved Prince Cheng and Yongning, he would certainly intervene.

But if the opponent became the Right Prime Minister Li Zhongnan, his attitude might not be the same.

Have all the high school seniors finished their college entrance exams today? Congratulations! You can now enjoy your summer vacation to the fullest!

So envious 〒▽〒

(End of Chapter)