The Double

Chapter 129: The Mastermind

"I think she's possessed by evil spirits. Otherwise, mother, why would she seem like a completely different person after returning from Qingcheng Mountain? Can Qingcheng Mountain turn fools into clever people? Are those nuns and monks really immortals? Could it be that some fox spirit has possessed her body and come to bring disaster upon our family?"

Jiang Youyao's casual remark actually made Ji Shuran seriously contemplate.

To be honest, her suspicions about Jiang Li hadn't developed overnight. When Ji Shuran first married into the family, she could tell that Jiang Li was foolish. Ye Zhenzhen had died early, leaving no one to teach Jiang Li proper manners. After Ji Shuran entered the household, she managed to completely win over Jiang Li.

Jiang Li was impulsive and never thought things through. Keeping such a person in the residence wouldn't normally be problematic, but later when Ji Shuran set her sights on the marriage arrangement with Zhou Yanbang and wanted to clear the path for Jiang Youyao, she began considering ways to sabotage Jiang Li's situation.

Unexpectedly, Jiang Li might have learned that secret, which made Ji Shuran extremely anxious. She even resorted to sacrificing the child in her womb just to make Jiang Yuanbai despise Jiang Li and refuse to believe anything Jiang Li said.

Jiang Yuanbai indeed followed through—he sent Jiang Li to Qingcheng Mountain. For eight years, the entire Jiang family ignored Jiang Li, leaving her to fend for herself on Qingcheng Mountain. Ji Shuran was surprised by Jiang Li's tenacity—how could she survive under such circumstances? But as Jiang Youyao's marriage with Zhou Yanbang approached, she feared Jiang Yuanbai might remember this daughter, so she secretly sent people to interfere.

The reports came back saying Jiang Li had thrown herself into the lake. No one could detect any foul play, and she was on the verge of death, unlikely to survive the summer. Only then did Ji Shuran feel at ease. But this peace didn't last long—Jiang Li had walked through the gates of hell and actually returned alive. Not only that, but the scandal between Liaowu of Helin Temple and Jing An Shitai was exposed, Madam Liu of the Chengde Official suddenly intervened, and Hongxiao Emperor personally reprimanded Jiang Yuanbai... One incident after another came unexpectedly, disrupting all her plans, and Jiang Li safely entered the capital just like that.

It was from that moment everything started spiraling out of control. She stole Jiang Youyao's spotlight at the verification grounds, Zhou Yanbang suddenly got involved with Jiang Yu'e, that young master from the Ye family inexplicably became an official, and now the entire Yanjing City was singing her praises... Jiang Li seemed like a completely different person. Facing this fifteen-year-old girl, Ji Shuran couldn't gain any advantage and frequently suffered losses.

It wasn't that she had become foolish—rather, Jiang Li had become clever. She turned cunning and calculating, while maintaining a gentle appearance on the surface. Whenever Ji Shuran looked into her eyes, she would feel chills running down her spine.

How could there be a girl so skilled at deception?

Beyond feeling indignant for Jiang Youyao, Ji Shuran had her own considerations. Since returning to Yanjing City, Jiang Li had never mentioned that incident. Ji Shuran thought perhaps Jiang Li never actually heard what she said back then. But... she couldn't afford to take that risk. That secret could endanger her at any moment—she couldn't afford any risks. Jiang Li was becoming increasingly difficult to deal with. If she wasn't eliminated soon, it would likely become even more difficult to take action against her in the future.

Jiang Youyao's words had reminded Ji Shuran.Since returning from Qingcheng Mountain, Jiang Li's temperament had drastically changed, and she seemed to excel at everything. Her meticulous care for Xue Huaiyuan, the County Magistrate of Tongxiang, suggested there must be some hidden connection between them. Even if it couldn't be proven, simply highlighting these suspicions would be enough to prevent Jiang Li from escaping unscathed.

But how to expose it and achieve the best outcome had to be done according to her plan.

"I must go to the palace," Ji Shuran stood up.

"Why are you going to the palace?" Jiang Youyao asked.

Ji Shuran smiled faintly. "To see your aunt, of course—Consort Li."

When it came to scheming without leaving a trace, Consort Li was a master. To devise a plan, her help was essential.

...

In the palace, Consort Li was seated in her hall, watching someone play the qin.

Sitting opposite her was Xiao Deyin, the instructress of Mingyi Hall and currently Yanjing City's foremost female qin master.

Although Xiao Deyin refused to enter the palace officially, she was on good terms with Consort Li and occasionally visited for casual conversations. Because of this, even though Xiao Deyin wasn't a palace qin master, those in the palace treated her with respect.

As the piece concluded, Consort Li applauded and laughed lightly. "You have leisure to visit me today—why not go see Her Highness the Princess?"

Princess Yongning also adored Xiao Deyin's qin music and often invited her to the estate to perform.

"Her Highness has been troubled these past few days. It's better not to disturb her," Xiao Deyin replied with a smile.

Hearing this, Consort Li asked, "Is it because of the Xue family case?"

Xiao Deyin nodded. "Exactly."

Consort Li sighed. "Yongning has suffered an undeserved calamity. How did the Xue family case suddenly implicate her? With all sorts of rumors spreading outside, she'll need to expend considerable effort to clear her name."

Xiao Deyin said, "Indeed, Second Miss Jiang acted too recklessly this time. The Xue family case was already complex and lacked evidence, yet she dragged Princess Yongning into the mud. For Second Miss Jiang, it was just a casual remark, but for Princess Yongning, it's now impossible to explain clearly."

"True," Consort Li lamented. "I heard that during the Imperial Council, Second Miss Jiang even mentioned Xue Huaiyuan's relatives. When she spoke of Xue Fangfei, Imperial Secretariat Writer Lord Shen was present and seemed quite embarrassed."

At the mention of "Xue Fangfei," Xiao Deyin's expression flickered briefly with unease.

Fortunately, Consort Li didn't pursue the topic further and instead remarked, "That Second Miss Jiang is truly formidable. Not only in this Imperial Council but even during the earlier examinations, she stole the spotlight. You've heard her qin playing—it's quite remarkable."

At this, Xiao Deyin's face darkened further. After that examination, many had compared Jiang Li's performance of "Eighteen Songs of a Nomad Flute" to her own. If they had competed directly, many would likely have said Jiang Li surpassed her. Even without such a direct comparison, people were already saying that the future top qin master of Yanjing would undoubtedly be Jiang Li.

Xiao Deyin felt deeply resentful but had to admit that Jiang Li's mastery of the qin was something she couldn't yet match. She feared how long her title as the top qin master would last if Jiang Li performed again on any significant occasion.

Whether Consort Li noticed Xiao Deyin's expression or not, she picked up her teacup and took a sip. Just then, a palace attendant entered and announced, "Your Ladyship, Lady Jiang has arrived."Xiao Deyin quickly rose to her feet: "In that case, I won't disturb Lady Li Pin any further. Deyin takes her leave."

Li Pin didn't try to keep her, saying: "Since that's the case, let's chat another day then. Hongzhu, see Master Xiao out."

After Hongzhu escorted Xiao Deyin away, Lüwu asked: "Why did Your Ladyship bring up Second Miss Jiang playing the qin at the examination ground? This servant noticed Master Xiao's expression turned quite unpleasant."

"Precisely to make her uncomfortable." The smile gradually faded from Li Pin's face as she said: "Xiao Deyin is extremely competitive and values her reputation above all else. With Jiang Li being so troublesome, having Xiao Deyin deal with her will make things easier for my younger sister. However," she sighed, "Shuran must be truly desperate to come seek my help like this. I wonder what trouble she's encountered."

Ji Shuran entered.

Upon entering, she first paid respectful greetings. From her seat, Li Pin instructed a palace maid to help her up.

"Third sister," Li Pin said: "What brings you here?"

Ji Shuran looked at her elder sister, who appeared younger than herself. It wasn't that Ji Shuran lacked beauty, but rather that Li Pin, though older, always maintained a certain girlish charm in her demeanor. This made her seem no different from the other young women in the rear palace, even possessing more allure.

Among the three Ji sisters, Li Pin was the most beautiful, Chen Jishi had the strongest personality, while she, being the youngest, received the most doting affection. Though Ji Shuran was closer to Chen Jishi, she held the greatest admiration for this eldest sister. If nothing else, at their age, Li Pin still monopolized Hongxiao Emperor's favor in the palace.

Ji Yanlin had decided since childhood to send his eldest daughter to the palace, so regardless of food or possessions at home, the best portion always went to Li Pin. When young, Ji Shuran didn't understand this and often complained about Ji Yanlin's favoritism. Only after growing up, when Li Pin became the Ji family's reliance in the palace, did she gradually come to understand.

Especially now, when she needed help everywhere, she felt even Chen Jishi couldn't fully assist her, and had to seek help from this exceptionally clever eldest sister.

"Sister," Ji Shuran didn't address her by her title but called her as ordinary sisters would, saying: "You've seen the situation in my household. That girl Jiang Li is becoming increasingly difficult to control. I need to find a way to eliminate her."

Hearing this, Li Pin shook her head: "I saw her at the last palace banquet and immediately thought Jiang Li would be difficult to deal with. Younger sister, you've been managing the inner household for so many years - how could you let her grow to this extent? If it were me, I wouldn't have waited until now to act. Now that girl has grown her wings, eliminating her won't be as easy as before."

"It's not that I never considered eliminating her, but things happened suddenly back then," Ji Shuran said: "My husband sent her to Qingcheng Mountain. I thought she was just a young girl who wouldn't amount to much - when she grew older, we could marry her off to pave the way for Bingji. Who would have thought Jiang Li would return completely changed, so cunning that even I find her difficult to handle."Li Pin looked at her and said, "You've come to me now because you want me to help you eliminate her. Not to mention that I'm in the palace, where eyes are watching everywhere—if I intervene to help you, it would only bring trouble upon myself. Moreover, the Xue family case has just concluded. If anything were to happen to Jiang Li at this time, His Majesty would surely order an official investigation. To act now would not be a wise move."

"Sister, you misunderstand me," Ji Shuran replied. "I naturally know that Jiang Li cannot be endangered at this moment, but if it's a family matter, outsiders shouldn't interfere, right?"

Li Pin asked, "What do you intend to do?"

"Sister, you must know many influential people in the palace. I find that girl Jiang Li suspicious in every way since she returned to Yanjing City. There were no teachers in Qingcheng Mountain, so how did she acquire such skills? Sometimes I even feel... as if she's become a different person, with no trace of her former self. You’ve heard about the Tongxiang case—before that, Jiang Li brought Xue Huaiyuan to the Jiang residence and cared for him meticulously. Even now, she visits the Ye family daily to see Xue Huaiyuan, acting more like his daughter than our own father. There are rumors in the mansion that Jiang Li has been bewitched. Qingcheng Mountain is in the highlands, where fox spirits and demons abound. Perhaps she’s been possessed by something, which explains her strange behavior... I’d like you to help me find someone, preferably a renowned master, to perform an exorcism at our residence..."

They were both clever people, understanding each other implicitly without needing to spell things out, especially as sisters who grasped hints easily.

Li Pin had already caught on. She smiled faintly and said, "That’s one approach, but if it’s not executed well, it may not be convincing."

"Exactly," Ji Shuran agreed. "That’s why the 'master' is crucial." The words of this "master" must be persuasive, ideally coming from someone of high repute.

"I understand," Li Pin said. "I will arrange it. But little sister, if you proceed with this, you must succeed. There are many in the rear palace eyeing my position. If you fail and it implicates me..."

"It won’t," Ji Shuran replied, her heart tightening. If Li Pin were indeed implicated, not to mention what would happen to Li Pin, even Ji Yanlin would not spare her. Thinking of this, she glanced at Li Pin’s abdomen. "Actually... if you were to conceive a Dragon Child, what would a mere Jiang Li matter? Even if our father wanted to protect her, he couldn’t. And Youyao wouldn’t have to fret over the marriage arrangement anymore."

"Don’t you think I want that?" Li Pin sighed softly. "I’ve tried every method, but I just can’t conceive. It must be fate."

Afraid of touching on Li Pin’s sorrow, Ji Shuran didn’t dare say more. Still, she was pleased to have Li Pin’s promise. After discussing a few more family matters, she took her leave.

After Ji Shuran left, Li Pin said to her personal maid Hongzhu, "Take my invitation and ask Chongxu Daoren to come."

Hongzhu obeyed and left. Lüwu asked, "Your Highness, are you really going to invite Chongxu Daoren?"

"Of course," Li Pin sighed. "Although my sister is confused, there’s one thing we both feel the same about." Her gaze darkened. "Jiang Li cannot be allowed to remain."

...

In the Jiang residence, Jiang Li had just returned from visiting Xue Huaiyuan at the Ye family.As soon as they entered the courtyard, Qingfeng and Mingyue eagerly came forward to greet them. Once inside the inner room, Qingfeng said, "Miss, shortly after you left, Ji Shi went to the palace."

"To the palace?" Jiang Li sat down, curious. "What did she go there for?"

"I secretly bribed a maid from the Elegant Beauty Garden," Qingfeng replied. "I heard she went to see Consort Li."

Tong'er was shocked upon hearing this and looked at Jiang Li. "Miss, could Ji Shi's sudden visit to Consort Li be about you?"

"Exactly," Mingyue chimed in, nodding. "That's what I thought too. Ever since you returned to the mansion, Ji Shi has been unusually quiet. She must be plotting something. Now that she's meeting with Consort Li, she’s probably trying to get Consort Li to support her in some underhanded scheme."

Qingfeng and Mingyue, who were originally well-behaved maids, had spent so much time with Tong'er that they had almost been influenced by her. In private, they didn’t hold back their words. Jiang Li smiled and said, "It’s fine. They can’t do anything to me anyway."

"But I’m afraid they might use dirty tricks," Tong'er said with a serious expression.

"It’s alright," Jiang Li replied, thinking of the small porcelain whistle hidden in her sleeve. She now had an extra bargaining chip. Ji Heng had said that if anything happened, she could blow the whistle, and the person he had arranged in the Jiang residence would appear. This person was temporarily lent to her by Ji Heng, so she should be the one to decide how to use him, right?

Perhaps because she was pleased with the thought of having someone at her disposal, or perhaps because she was still happy from her recent visit with Xue Huaiyuan, Jiang Li couldn’t suppress the smile on her face.

Tong'er looked at Jiang Li strangely, unable to understand how she could be so cheerful when it was clear that Ji Shuran was already scheming behind the scenes.

"Oh, and the Marquis Ningyuan's residence has also sent an invitation," Mingyue said, pulling a letter from her sleeve and handing it to Jiang Li.

"The Marquis Ningyuan's residence?" Bai Xue exclaimed in surprise. "But the Heir of Marquis of Ningyuan is already engaged. Why would they send an invitation to you?"

"It’s not from Heir Zhou," Qingfeng clarified. "It’s from the Fifth Young Lady."

"Jiang Yu'e?" Jiang Li paused as she opened the letter. Looking down, she saw that the invitation was indeed from Jiang Yu'e. It simply stated that she hadn’t seen Jiang Li in a long time and invited her for a small gathering at the Zhou residence.

After just a glance, Jiang Li tossed the letter aside.

"Miss?" Tong'er asked, confused.

"I don’t know what she’s up to, and I really don’t have the energy to deal with her," Jiang Li said. Jiang Yu'e’s invitation might as well have had the words "ill intentions" written all over it. In the Jiang residence, she and Jiang Yu'e had never gotten along—Jiang Yu'e had always sided with Jiang Youyao. After the incident at the palace banquet, Jiang Yu'e had fallen out with Jiang Youyao and even ended up with a scarred face. But even so, it didn’t mean Jiang Yu'e had reconciled with Jiang Li.

Moreover, Jiang Li believed that a person’s temperament couldn’t change so drastically in such a short time. The tone and wording in Jiang Yu'e’s invitation were unusually gentle, as if she were a different person. If Qingfeng and Mingyue hadn’t brought it, Jiang Li would have suspected that the letter wasn’t written by Jiang Yu'e at all.

Jiang Li didn’t believe that Jiang Yu'e would humble herself like this just to invite her to a small gathering at the Zhou residence. Zhou Yanbang had likely figured out that she had manipulated him at the palace banquet and might not be willing to let it go. He was probably trying to use Jiang Yu'e to stir up trouble. Jiang Li had no time to play along with their little drama."Are we just going to ignore this?" Tong'er asked. "Should I burn it or store it away? Miss, you should send a reply to decline."

Jiang Li thought for a moment and said, "Don't throw it away. Find a way to drop it where Jiang Youyao's maid will pass by, so Jiang Youyao can see it."

"Why?" Bai Xue asked, puzzled. "Won't the Third Young Lady be even angrier if she sees it?"

"Exactly. She's not very clever—when she gets angry, she does outrageous things. I want her to cause a scene so Ji Shuran will be busy dealing with her and have no time to bother me. Even if it's just a temporary reprieve, it'll give me time to figure out what they're up to. It's better to fight a battle with preparation, don't you think? And with preparation, wouldn't the fight be even more lively?"

After discussing it, the maids agreed the plan was feasible and began scheming how to naturally place the letter in Jiang Youyao's path.

Jiang Li dismissed them, claiming she needed to study. But when she sat at her desk, her fingers brushed against the silver whistle in her sleeve.

The whistle felt cold to the touch—it was hard to believe Ji Heng had people hidden even within this residence. After a moment's thought, Jiang Li tucked it away again.

It wasn't safe now. She would wait until dark to test it.

...

Night fell, and the entire Jiang residence sank into silence.

Jiang Li sent Tong'er and Bai Xue to bed, insisting she wanted to read a while longer. After the maids left, she stood by the window, drew the whistle from her sleeve, and blew it softly.

She didn't know if Ji Heng's people would hear it, or in what form they might appear. She needed to test it first. Jiang Li stood quietly, waiting patiently.

After a while, a shadow flickered beneath the tree outside her window—someone had appeared below.

"Come in," Jiang Li said softly.

The next moment, the figure slipped silently through the window and landed before her.

Jiang Li closed the window and turned to look. When she saw the person's face clearly, she froze in surprise. It was none other than the Jiang family's gardener—the one who tended the gardens daily. She couldn't recall his name but knew of him. Rumor had it Ji Shuran had hired him at a high price for his exceptional skill with plants.

He was quite young, perhaps only sixteen or seventeen, with a delicate, handsome face. His gardening skills were said to be extraordinary—he'd even revived Ji Shuran's favorite orchid when it was near death.

At first, Jiang Li found it unbelievable that someone like him would be planted in the Jiang residence. But upon reflection, it made perfect sense. Ji Heng was known for his love of flowers—his manor collected rare blossoms from across the land, and all his servants were skilled gardeners, each as handsome as the next. This young man, both talented with plants and good-looking, fit the profile perfectly. No one had imagined Ji Heng's people would be bold enough to openly serve as gardeners in the Jiang household.

"What's your name?" Jiang Li asked.

"Your subordinate is Zhao Ke," the gardener replied.

"Zhao Ke," Jiang Li mused. "How long have you been in the Jiang residence?"Zhao Ke hadn't expected Jiang Li to ask this question. He glanced at her but didn't answer. Jiang Li said, "Since your master has revealed your existence to me, for now our purposes shouldn't be hostile. I believe Ji Heng also knows I would ask you this question. Since he didn't object, he has tacitly consented. Just speak freely—I guarantee he won't punish you for it."

Having grown up following Ji Heng, Zhao Ke was astonished to hear Jiang Li repeatedly call him "Ji Heng" so directly. He couldn't tell whether Jiang Li was exceptionally bold or if her relationship with Ji Heng was closer than he had imagined. After a moment's hesitation, Zhao Ke finally replied, "Seven years ago."

Seven years ago, when Jiang Li had already left the Jiang family, Ji Heng was merely a fourteen-year-old youth. Yet he had already sent someone to infiltrate the Jiang household. However, over all these years, the Jiang family hadn’t collapsed, which suggested that his purpose in placing someone there wasn’t to bring them down.

"What do you usually do?" Jiang Li asked.

"I work as a gardener in the Jiang residence. If there are major matters, I report them to my superior. If not, I tend to the flowers and plants," Zhao Ke replied.

He was quite frank, but Jiang Li knew that was as far as it went. Zhao Ke wouldn’t reveal anything deeper—perhaps he didn’t even know more.

Jiang Li nodded. "You know that Ji Shuran went to the palace today to see Li Pin, right?"

Zhao Ke nodded.

"What did she go to see Li Pin for? And what did she do after returning to the residence?" Jiang Li asked.

Zhao Ke said, "I did not follow her into the palace, so I don’t know what Ji Shi and Li Pin were plotting. But today, I heard from a maid in the Elegant Beauty Garden that Jiang Youyao suspects you..." He hesitated, as if the words were difficult to say, then continued after a pause, "...of being possessed by a mountain spirit or wild demon, which is why your temperament changed so drastically after returning from Qingcheng Mountain. It was after hearing this that Ji Shi suddenly decided to go to the palace."

Jiang Li glanced at him. "You’re quite well-informed about the happenings in the Elegant Beauty Garden. Could it be that not a single move in my courtyard escapes your notice?"

Zhao Ke remained silent.

"I’m not blaming you," Jiang Li said. "I know this is your master’s order and has nothing to do with you. It’s fine. Watch if you must. I’ve already guessed Ji Shi’s purpose in going to the palace."

Zhao Ke looked at Jiang Li. She had figured it out so quickly? And she seemed so certain, without a hint of hesitation. It seemed Wen Ji was right—this Second Miss Jiang was both sharp-minded and bold.

Jiang Li lowered her gaze. Ji Shi’s tactics were all too familiar. Back when she had married Shen Yurong and first arrived in Yanjing, during Shen Yurong’s most prosperous period, she had attended social gatherings as Madam Shen and heard many secrets of noble families. It was quite common for legitimate wives seeking to frame a favored concubine to seek the help of Taoist priests or sorcerers.

Of course, Jiang Li was no ordinary favored concubine—she was Jiang Yuanbai’s daughter. It wouldn’t be easy for Ji Shuran to frame her. An ordinary Taoist priest or sorcerer likely wouldn’t convince anyone. That was why Ji Shuran had thought of Li Pin. Li Pin had extensive connections in the palace, and the expert she found for Ji Shuran must be renowned—only his words could carry absolute authority.

"Chongxu Daoren," Jiang Li said.

Zhao Ke looked up at her in surprise.

"Three years ago, Li Pin was on the brink of death in the palace after being framed by a favored consort using witchcraft. Fortunately, Chongxu Daoren appeared and saved her life, allowing her to gradually recover. Li Pin wanted to reward the Taoist priest handsomely, but he refused any payment and went off traveling, disappearing without a trace."

Zhao Ke was puzzled. Although these events weren’t exactly palace secrets, they weren’t common knowledge either. Moreover, Jiang Li had been at Qingcheng Mountain three years ago—how could she have known about this? At the time, the Empress Dowager considered such incidents in the palace to be scandals that shouldn’t be spread, so everyone in the palace had been ordered to keep silent.

Yet Jiang Li still knew.Jiang Li smiled faintly. She could see Zhao Ke's confusion, but she truly knew about this matter. Shen Yurong had later told her about it, though she didn't know where he had heard it from. But by then, he had already become an official and naturally had access to such secrets.

"Ji Shi sought out Li Pin for no other reason than to borrow her hand in finding a master. No one is more suitable for this than Chongxu Daoren. I think," her gaze turned slightly cold, "this elusive Chongxu Daoren will soon make his appearance again."

(End of Chapter)