The Double

Chapter 134: Performing the Ritual

By the time Jiang Li received Jiang Yuanbai's message, it was already evening.

Jiang Yuanbai didn't explicitly state that a Taoist priest would come to exorcise evil spirits the next day, but he did say that everyone in the Jiang residence must remain at home and not leave.

Even with her eyes closed, Jiang Li knew what this meant—it was nothing more than trapping the turtle in a jar. Only when everyone was gathered would it be convenient for Chongxu Daoren to identify who was the "evil spirit." However, Jiang Li had to give Ji Shuran some credit this time. Knowing that inviting a Taoist priest to perform exorcisms for no reason wouldn't be convincing, she used Li Pin's name. This way, publicly, the Jiang family had to comply with Hongxiao Emperor's order. Privately, since Li Pin had been harmed by similar means years ago, it was reasonable for her to have such concerns.

Jiang Li stood by the window and blew the whistle, not avoiding Tong'er and Bai Xue this time—they needed to gradually get used to her shocking actions. Zhao Ke appeared silently in the room.

Tong'er and Bai Xue were startled. Seeing Jiang Li's calm demeanor, it was clear this wasn't the first time she had done this. They didn't know what expression to wear as they watched Jiang Li ask Zhao Ke, "Has the talented vocal performer been arranged?"

"Everything is set," Zhao Ke replied. "He has replaced a young servant in the residence and will be stationed in the courtyard tomorrow."

Jiang Li asked curiously, "How was he replaced? Won't the steward notice the difference?"

Zhao Ke said only two words: "Disguise."

Jiang Li suddenly understood, feeling that Ji Heng's subordinates were truly remarkable. She had thought disguise was something only mentioned in storybooks and extremely difficult to achieve in reality. Noticing her expression, Zhao Ke seemed to know what she was thinking and explained, "Disguise is usually challenging, but the servant we replaced was an ordinary, inconspicuous person in the Jiang residence who rarely drew attention. Even if there are slight differences, no one will notice. If we tried to disguise as someone who receives more attention, it would be discovered immediately."

"I see," Jiang Li said, feeling somewhat disappointed. She had considered using this method as a shortcut but now had to abandon the idea.

Tong'er and Bai Xue, seeing Jiang Li speak so naturally with the man in black and realizing he seemed to be working for her, mustered their courage despite their fear and asked, "Miss, if that charlatan really points at you tomorrow, will the master really stand by and do nothing?"

Jiang Li hadn't hidden the truth from her maids, having told them about Ji Shuran's possible plans for the next day. She would likely be accused of being an evil spirit harming the family. The two maids had been worried to the point of twisting their handkerchiefs, and with Zhao Ke present, they couldn't help but ask this question.

"Of course he will," Jiang Li answered frankly.

"But... you are his daughter after all," Bai Xue found it hard to accept. Where she came from, if someone claimed she was an evil creature, at the very least, her parents and siblings would never believe it."Chongxu Daoren is a master," Jiang Li said without a hint of sorrow. She even smiled reassuringly. "Since he is a master, he must have some reputation among the people. His words will naturally be regarded as the truth. Even if my father doesn't believe in ghosts and spirits, Ji Shuran must have prepared thoroughly. There are too many suspicious points about me. If I can't explain them clearly, the only explanation left is that I am a monster."

"How could that be!" Tong'er blurted out. "How dare they say such things?"

Jiang Li's smile faded slightly. "Tong'er, not everyone has lived with me for eight years like you have. I've been away from the Jiang family for too long. This so-called familial affection and guilt are pitifully thin. I can't deny its existence, but I know it's fragile and cannot withstand tests."

Zhao Ke, who had been listening quietly, looked at Jiang Li in surprise. This girl was only fifteen or sixteen, yet she seemed to have already lost faith in human nature. Even toward her own family, she maintained the most detached tolerance. On the surface, it appeared as indifference, but in reality, it was coldness. It was quite similar to his own master's temperament. However, his master had developed such a character due to his life circumstances. Although Second Miss Jiang was also pitiable, surely it hadn't reached this extent.

It was as if she had already seen through everything.

When Jiang Li glanced at him, he quickly lowered his head.

"Miss, from what I've observed, Chongxu Daoren, who would do such a thing, is definitely not a true master but a mere charlatan. Moreover, he once treated Li Pin. It's very likely he's already one of Li Pin's people. Tomorrow, should we... expose his true nature?"

Jiang Li replied, "No rush. Exposing someone should be done under the spotlight. But you're not wrong—Chongxu Daoren is indeed a charlatan."

Zhao Ke was quick and thorough in gathering information. Although Chongxu Daoren was quite famous in Yanjing City, years ago, he had actually come to Yanjing because he was involved in a homicide case. In his hometown, he had an affair with a married woman. When the woman's husband discovered them, a struggle ensued, and Chongxu killed the man. He and the woman buried the body and fled overnight, changing their names along the way. Later, he encountered the wandering Taoist Chongxu and pretended to study under him as a disciple.

The Taoist eventually died in a military conflict. Chongxu Daoren took his master's name, assumed the identity of Chongxu, and came to Yanjing City, where he began swindling people. His appearance was quite imposing, giving off an air of immortality, and many truly believed he was a master. After gaining some fame, he became involved in the matter of Li Pin.

Although it was difficult to investigate the details of Li Pin's case now, Jiang Li speculated that it might have been orchestrated by Li Pin herself. At that time, the consort who framed Li Pin was locked in a fierce rivalry with her and enjoyed the emperor's favor. If not for the incident involving witchcraft, she might have risen even higher. But because of Chongxu Daoren's appearance, Li Pin's greatest enemy in the harem simply vanished.

This might very well have been a tacit arrangement between Chongxu Daoren and Li Pin. However, daring to meddle in harem affairs showed that Chongxu Daoren's audacity was truly remarkable."Since Consort Li places such faith in Chongxu Daoren, having twice survived calamities thanks to him—as everyone in the palace knows—she will be utterly humiliated when his true identity is exposed. Moreover, she will have to explain herself to the Emperor. Why is that?"

"The most important thing is to make Ji Shuran regret her actions," Jiang Li said gently. "By seeking help, Ji Shuran isn't gaining an ally—she's inviting a wolf into her home. I want her to get burned by her own scheme, to reveal her true nature through this 'master,' and then learn that he is a fraud."

Zhao Ke felt a chill run down his spine. This seemingly gentle and harmless Second Miss Jiang had methods of torment that did not match her innocent appearance.

It would be wiser not to provoke her.

...

The next day arrived quickly.

Jiang Li woke at a reasonable hour, neither too early nor too late. Unfortunately, the weather was dreadful. Winters in Yanjing City were known for heavy snow, but today there was none. Instead, the sky was oppressively gloomy from early morning, with thick, dark clouds hanging so low they seemed to brush the rooftops. The gloom felt stifling; though it was morning, it felt as dark as dusk.

Tong'er peered outside from inside the room and whispered, "This weather is truly bizarre." She felt uneasy. Today was the day Chongxu Daoren would come to the Jiang residence to "exorcise evil spirits." Though they had prepared for this, Tong'er couldn't quite calm her nerves and still felt a lingering fear.

In contrast, Jiang Li appeared much more composed. She even had Bai Xue style her hair into twin buns. With her delicate and elegant features, she looked like a lotus fairy from the immortal mountains—ethereal and untouched by worldly cares. Tong'er studied her for a long moment before shaking her head and sighing, "If Ji Shi and that so-called Daoist master really accuse you of being a monster, no one would believe it. How could a monster be so transcendent? In folktales, monsters are always dressed in bright clothes, captivating people at first sight and leading them astray."

Bai Xue, overhearing this, replied seriously, "You're describing Duke Su."

Zhao Ke, lurking in the shadows and idly listening to the conversation inside, nearly stumbled and fell. He stared into the room, speechless. His proud, unrivaled master! To be discussed so casually by a maid—if this reached the Duke's residence, he wondered if his lord would want to silence the speaker.

Jiang Li was also taken aback by Bai Xue's words, but after a moment, she couldn't help chuckling. "You do have a point."

Ji Heng was indeed skilled at captivating hearts. She still remembered the first time she saw him perched on the eaves of a nunnery during peach blossom season. Amid the hazy pink blossoms, he sat there with an air of effortless grace, so strikingly beautiful it almost seemed cruel. Tong'er had nearly mistaken him for a flower demon.

Back then, Jiang Li had recognized Ji Heng immediately and wondered why he would appear in such a place. Now, it felt like a lifetime ago. She had long left Qingcheng Mountain, and her relationship with Ji Heng had settled into a delicate balance—not quite friends, but certainly not enemies. Both understood they could not grow closer, for that would be dangerous. The future was uncertain, so they maintained this distance.The whims of fate are truly unpredictable.

"Have something to eat first." Jiang Li smiled faintly. "It will still be some time before Chongxu Daoren arrives."

Esteemed figures often put on airs when making appearances. Especially this one, who had been to the palace and twice saved Li Pin's life. Arriving too quickly would make him seem overly eager and cheapen his status. Though Jiang Li didn't quite understand this, she didn't particularly care.

"Young lady, everything you requested has been arranged," Bai Xue reported. "All placed in the garden bushes. Brother Zhao has already replaced everything that Ji Shuran's people put down."

"Good." Jiang Li smiled. "Now we can rest assured."

...

Two hours later, a maid from Old Madam Jiang's quarters came to summon Jiang Li to Evening Phoenix Hall.

Seeing that it was about time, Jiang Li took her cloak and went to Evening Phoenix Hall with Tong'er and Bai Xue.

Before they even reached Evening Phoenix Hall, they could hear Jiang Jingrui's voice from inside: "Tsk, what's there to exorcise in our perfectly fine residence? What evil spirits could there be? This is absurd."

Then came Lu Shi's admonishing voice: "Jingrui, be quiet. This is by the Emperor's decree."

Jiang Jingrui fell silent.

Jiang Li stepped inside, and all discussion within abruptly ceased. Everyone turned to look at her.

Ji Shuran stood with Jiang Youyao beside her, while a nursemaid held Jiang Bingji. The second branch's Lu Shi and Jiang Yuanping had both arrived, though their opinions on the matter remained unreadable. Jiang Jingyou remained the same smiling, plump figure, much like Jiang Yuanbai. As for the third branch, they had grown noticeably quieter, perhaps due to Jiang Yu'e's situation. The relationship between the third branch and the other two had become quite strained, and even when they met, they exchanged few words. Jiang Yuyan, timid and fearful by nature, glanced briefly at Jiang Li before quickly looking down at her own feet.

Moreover, all the masters of the residence were present today, including concubines and maidservants from every branch—whether favored or neglected, young or old. It was said that since last night, an order had been issued forbidding anyone in the residence, including servants and maids, from leaving. Clearly, this was to ensure the smooth proceeding of Chongxu Daoren's ritual.

Jiang Li also spotted Hu Yiniang.

Hu Yiniang stood isolated with her only maid, Baoqin, on the outskirts of the crowd, as if forgotten by everyone, appearing particularly pitiful. Her thin cotton robe was worn and yellowed, and she wore no jewelry. Among the younger concubines of the second and third branches, if no one pointed her out, she would surely be mistaken for a servant attending to the concubines.

Her gaze briefly met Jiang Li's in the air before quickly shifting away, settling vacantly into space. She always had this dazed demeanor, and people tended to extend sympathetic tolerance toward her. After all, she was someone suffering from hysteria, her mind not entirely clear—what more could be expected of her?

But Jiang Li knew that the opportunity Hu Yiniang had been waiting for all these years was about to arrive. Only Jiang Li caught the fleeting hint of satisfaction and anticipation at the corner of Hu Yiniang's lips.

They were both waiting for the day when the truth would be revealed, and vengeance would be exacted.

"A Li," Jiang Yuanbai said, "today is the day Chongxu Daoren comes to perform the exorcism ritual. Everyone in the residence must participate." He explained.

A perfectly measured look of surprise surfaced on Jiang Li's face, as if somewhat puzzled, but she asked no further questions. She quickly nodded and said, "Understood, Father."Jiang Youyao wanted to needle Jiang Li with a few words—she had always disliked Jiang Li. However, Ji Shuran had already warned her earlier today not to cause trouble or say anything unnecessary, as someone else would naturally deal with Jiang Li.

Ji Shuran’s reasoning was simple: although she had orchestrated today’s setup, she was not the one leading it from start to finish. Whether it was Li Pin’s sudden illness in the palace or Chongxu Daoren’s coincidental visit to the capital, those who had come step by step to perform the exorcism had all appeared by chance. In other words, if that little vixen Jiang Li proved to be too cunning and Chongxu Daoren failed this time, it absolutely could not be blamed on her, because the matter had nothing to do with her.

Of course, Chongxu Daoren would definitely not fail.

Just then, a servant from outside reported, “Master, Chongxu Daoren has arrived.”

Old Madam Jiang said, “Let’s go out and see.”

This was Jiang Li’s first time meeting Chongxu Daoren. Back when she was in Qingcheng Mountain, she had encountered many eminent figures in temples and nunneries. For instance, there was the handsome monk Liaowu, who was exceptionally good-looking yet carried an aura of purity without any hint of wickedness. No wonder it was so hard to believe the scandal involving him and Jing An Shitai. As for Chongxu Daoren, he had the mysterious and elusive presence of a true master.

He wore a Taoist robe and cloth shoes, and his appearance was quite refined. More importantly, his expression exuded an air of righteousness. The moment Jiang Li saw Chongxu Daoren, she somewhat understood why, back when Li Pin claimed to have been “harmed” by witchcraft, Chongxu Daoren had uncovered clues, yet no one in the palace suspected him of being a fraud. It was simply because people are easily deceived by appearances, and Chongxu Daoren happened to have just the kind of face that could mislead others.

After Chongxu Daoren entered the Jiang residence, he remained neither haughty nor humble in the face of Old Madam Jiang and the large crowd accompanying her. He simply instructed his young acolyte to set up the altar.

The young acolyte complied and went to do so. Jiang Yuanbai greeted Chongxu Daoren with a salute and said, “We are deeply grateful for your efforts in performing the exorcism for our household today.”

“There is no need for formalities, Lord Jiang,” Chongxu Daoren replied with a return salute. “This is merely my duty.”

“Do you really know how to exorcise evil?” Jiang Jingrui asked, crossing his arms provocatively. “You’re not a fraud, are you? Yanjing City is full of such swindlers—the kind who set up fortune-telling stalls on the streets. Eight out of ten of them are fakes.”

“Jingrui!” Lu Shi smacked him on the back. It was one thing for the Jiang family’s little tyrant to be outspoken on ordinary days, but this was a Taoist master recognized by the emperor and the savior of Li Pin. If this were reported back to Li Pin, who might then whisper in Hongxiao Emperor’s ear, what would happen if Jiang Jingrui—or even Jiang Jingyou, who aspired to enter officialdom—faced obstacles in the future? Even though Li Pin was from the Ji family, Lu Shi knew full well that she and Ji Shuran were at odds. How could Ji Shuran possibly wish her well?

The thought made her feel stifled, and Lu Shi could only stew in her own frustration.

Jiang Yuanping stepped in to smooth things over, saying, “My son is ignorant. I hope you can overlook his rudeness. Please forgive us.”

“It is of no consequence,” Chongxu Daoren replied with a clear and cheerful expression, smiling. “Your son’s straightforwardness and honesty are quite rare.”Jiang Jingrui scoffed and turned away. Jiang Li observed Chongxu Daoren—this man certainly knew how to spin words, no wonder Li Pin was willing to elevate him. Come to think of it, this person had built quite a reputation in Yanjing City through Li Pin’s patronage, but he also had his own merits. With his refined and upright appearance, if he had pursued other skills, he might well have become another Jiang Yuanbai.

Jiang Li found it amusing.

Chongxu Daoren didn’t even glance at Jiang Li, his gaze fixed intently on his own altar. His expression grew more serious as he addressed Jiang Yuanbai, “Lord Jiang, to be frank with you, when I last saw your wife in the palace, I sensed that she was tainted by an evil aura. That is why I came to observe the Jiang residence. Today, before I even reached your doorstep, I noticed…” He hesitated, leaving his sentence unfinished.

Before Old Madam Jiang could speak, Ji Shuran couldn’t resist asking, “What did you notice, Daoren?”

“A dark energy hovers above your esteemed residence, suggesting the presence of a great evil. If not eradicated, I fear it may lead to bloodshed.”

“Ah!” Jiang Youyao cried out in fright. Jiang Yuyan was also scared but merely hid behind Yang Shi, revealing only half of her body, her eyes filled with unease.

A moment of silence fell over everyone.

Matters of gods and ghosts were often a matter of belief—if you believed, they existed; if not, they didn’t. In reality, however, people like Jiang Yuanbai who disbelieved in such things were in the minority. Most, especially timid women, tended to believe.

Moreover, Chongxu Daoren spoke with such conviction and seemed sincere, so some were inclined to believe him, at least partially.

“Are you saying there is an evil entity in our residence?” Lu Shi asked. “But nothing strange has ever happened here.”

“The absence of strange occurrences does not mean there is no evil,” Chongxu Daoren’s gaze swept over the crowd in the courtyard, not sparing even the servants and maids. Those caught under his stare instinctively lowered their heads, afraid to meet his eyes, lest this esteemed figure declare them haunted by evil spirits as well.

“Judging by the dark energy over your residence, the evil spirit must have been here for some time. Since you say no strange events have occurred, it seems no one has died recently.” Chongxu Daoren furrowed his brows, pondering for a moment before continuing, “Therefore, this evil entity has been lurking in your residence for a while, though not for too long. If it had been over a year, the evil spirit would have fully formed, corrupting the household’s fortune, and bloodshed would have already occurred. In other words, everyone in your esteemed household could be in mortal danger.”

His words sent another chill through the crowd.

“Then… how could an evil spirit appear in our residence out of nowhere?” Ji Shuran asked. “As you said, it seems this evil spirit has been here for less than a year. Could it have been brought in from outside?”

“That is entirely possible.” Chongxu Daoren flicked his horsetail whisk. “It might have been summoned by someone from outside, or perhaps someone brought in unclean objects, attracting the evil entity to follow.”

Everyone exchanged uneasy glances.

Jiang Li watched coldly. With just this, he could only fool the servants, at most stirring up panic, but it wasn’t enough to make everyone fully believe Chongxu Daoren. At the very least, Jiang Yuanbai’s expression showed no sign of belief. Jiang Li knew this wasn’t just because Jiang Yuanbai inherently disbelieved in gods and ghosts, but also because he felt that Chen Jishi’s interference in Jiang family affairs was a slap in his face.

Not that it made much difference anyway.Lu Shi asked, "Daoren, what should we do now?"

"Nothing to worry about," Chongxu Daoren replied. "Allow me to first investigate where this evil spirit comes from."

By now, the altar had been set up. The acolyte had arranged the peachwood sword, copper coins, red threads, cinnabar, yellow paper inscribed with strange talismanic symbols, bells, and other items in their proper places. In the center was a square area with thin copper rods inserted at each corner. Between these rods, red threads dyed with cinnabar were stretched taut, forming a perfect square. Beneath each thread hung tiny bells.

There was no wind at the moment. Chongxu Daoren stood in the center of this square, holding a long sword made of copper coins. He sat on the ground atop a trigram cushion, closed his eyes, and began murmuring incantations whose meaning remained unclear.

Jiang Li watched the scene with keen interest. Xue Huaiyuan had never believed in ghosts or deities. Back when Tongxiang was poor, the entire countryside had only two barefoot doctors. The impoverished couldn't afford medicine, and when children fell gravely ill, anxiety clouded judgment—they would turn to so-called "spirit mediums." These mediums would demand payment based on the families' financial situations, and their methods amounted to nothing more than performing "rituals" in homes, muttering incomprehensible chants, and forcing people to drink talisman water mixed with incense ashes. Xue Huaiyuan detested such practices deeply, knowing that many children missed their best chance for treatment this way and ultimately succumbed to their illnesses.

After Xue Huaiyuan took office in Tongxiang, he banned such "spirit mediums." At first, these women still secretly visited households, stubbornly clinging to their old ways. When Xue Zhao found out, he would play mischievous pranks to expose their scams. After repeated incidents, the common folk came to realize that spirit mediums were nothing but frauds and stopped falling for their tricks.

Although Xue Huaiyuan always scolded Xue Zhao for his mischief, he turned a blind eye to his antics against the spirit mediums. Now, seeing Chongxu Daoren act this way, Jiang Li inexplicably recalled those past events. She couldn't help but wonder what kind of prank Xue Zhao would have devised had he been here, one that would force Chongxu Daoren to reveal his true colors.

But... her expression gradually cooled. Xue Zhao was no longer here, and she wouldn't interrupt Chongxu Daoren's "ritual" with mischief.

She had to watch him exhaust all his tricks.

Chongxu Daoren chanted incantations for a while when suddenly, for no apparent reason, the bell hanging from the thin thread tied to the pillar began to stir slowly.

There was no wind at that moment—everyone standing in the courtyard could feel it distinctly. Yet they watched helplessly as the bell first trembled faintly, then gradually grew more frantic, until the ringing became clear enough for everyone to hear, growing louder and louder.

Jiang Youyao nervously clutched Ji Shuran's sleeve. She didn't know what would happen today, only that Jiang Li was likely to face misfortune, so she had come to revel in schadenfreude. Earlier, when Chongxu Daoren mentioned the evil spirit, she had already felt somewhat afraid. Now, seeing the bell ring on its own for no reason, her fear intensified. The courtyard felt chillingly cold.

The weather had been strange all day, with heavy dark clouds looming overhead. In the courtyard, the thin incense lit by the acolyte swirled with smoke, making the atmosphere even more eerie and ghostly. The servants unconsciously drew closer together, and even Tong'er and Bai Xue felt goosebumps rising on their backs.

At the back of the crowd, Hu Yiniang couldn't help but clench her fists, her palms sticky with sweat from extreme tension. Yet, an unease lingered in her heart, and she glanced toward Jiang Li again.

She saw Jiang Li standing beside Jiang Yuanbai, her expression still calm and gentle. Perhaps it was the firelight illuminating her face, but Hu Yiniang felt that the girl's dark eyes seemed to hold a burning flame—not fierce or impulsive, but quietly blazing.

And it would burn everything to ashes.

The bell did not stop ringing but grew louder and louder. At the same time, a sudden gust of wind rose from the ground. Yet this wind seemed to follow some pattern—it blew for a while, then ceased.Chongxu Daoren had already released his hand, yet the coin sword did not fall. Instead, it trembled and stood upright.

Another wave of gasps swept through the crowd.

The coin sword was a treasure used to ward off evil, capable of vanquishing demons and monsters. For it to stand on its own in front of everyone—did this mean there truly was an evil spirit in the estate?

At this, Jiang Yuanbai’s brow furrowed deeply.

Jiang Li, however, sighed inwardly.

Without some real skill, how would Chongxu Daoren dare to deceive even the emperor? This sleight of hand was nothing short of miraculous.

The next moment, the coin sword suddenly turned, its tip pointing directly at Jiang Li, and shot straight toward her!

(End of Chapter)