The Double

Chapter 135: The Young Girl

The bronze coin sword shot straight toward Jiang Li!

Everyone gasped in shock, unable to react in time. Old Madam Jiang nearly fainted on the spot.

Yet Jiang Li stood perfectly steady. The sword tip halted right before her nose. Though the bronze coin sword wasn't as sharp as a regular blade, such a sudden turn of events didn't faze her in the slightest. She remained smiling, without a trace of panic on her face.

Chongxu Daoren stared in astonishment. Before coming, he had learned much about Second Miss Jiang. During the archery examination, she had continued competing despite her horse going wild—proof of her resilient character, unlike ordinary delicate young ladies who would be easily intimidated. But today's situation differed from horseback archery. Even if Jiang Li didn't appear terrified, she should at least have shown some surprise.

But she didn't.

The girl's back remained straight as an unyielding sapling—slender and delicate, yet possessing a determination that even storms couldn't shake.

She even met Chongxu Daoren's gaze and nodded at him.

Instantly, cold dread crept up Chongxu Daoren's spine. Though he had come today to frame Second Miss Jiang as an evil spirit host, in this moment he couldn't help but wonder—perhaps there really was something unnatural about her. Her composure was beyond human.

Jiang Yuanbai finally collected himself and frowned. "Daoren, what is the meaning of this?"

The bronze coin sword still hovered in the air, its tip pointing unwavering at Jiang Li. Jiang Youyao covered her mouth and whispered, "The sword is pointing at Second Sister... Could it be... could it be that Second Sister is the evil spirit?!"

"Silence!" Old Madam Jiang's eyes turned severe. "Youyao, how dare you slander your sister's reputation like that!"Jiang Youyao shrunk behind Ji Shuran in grievance, while Ji Shuran patted her hand comfortingly." Watching mother and daughter, Lu Shi felt puzzled. The Ji mother-daughter pair clearly disliked Jiang Li and would inevitably scheme against her. But today's Chongxu Daoren had been summoned by imperial decree, and the strange occurrences in the courtyard were truly bizarre—the wind chimes ringing without wind, the sword rising on its own to point at Jiang Li. Lu Shi's eyes now held traces of apprehension.

Hearing about something is not as convincing as seeing it. Had they only heard of Chongxu Daoren's reputation, people might not have fully believed in his ability to exorcise spirits. But after witnessing this series of events, everyone couldn't help feeling that the daoist's powers weren't entirely exaggerated.

Chongxu Daoren extended his hand, and the bronze coin sword flew back into his grasp with a "whoosh," as if possessing sight and life rather than being an inanimate object. The surrounding crowd fell into hushed silence. Chongxu Daoren addressed Jiang Yuanbai, "Lord Jiang... This..."

Jiang Yuanbai said, "Speak frankly, Daoren."

"Normally, exorcisms aren't this straightforward. But since the evil entity lurking in your residence hasn't fully formed yet, it's quite easy to identify. It's just..." He glanced at Jiang Li, his eyes filled with hesitation and uncertainty. To everyone else in the courtyard, his meaning became immediately clear.

"Daoren, what do you mean by this?" Old Madam Jiang asked.

"This young lady of your household is the host of the evil spirit," Chongxu Daoren declared, looking at Jiang Li.

Instantly, all the servants and maids in the courtyard turned their eyes toward Jiang Li. Jiang Li could distinguish their gazes—some filled with fear and disgust, others avoiding her as they would a plague.Although she had already warned Tong'er in advance, upon hearing the old Taoist immediately slander Jiang Li, Tong'er couldn't help but defend her: "Nonsense! How could our young lady be related to evil spirits? You're clearly making false accusations!"

"Tong'er," Jiang Li shook her head at her, then said apologetically to Old Madam Jiang, "My maid is overly protective of me. I hope you won't blame her."

"It's fine," Old Madam Jiang replied.

Ji Shuran observed this and frowned almost imperceptibly. At such a critical moment, when Jiang Li was being directly accused of being an evil spirit, she still had the mind to worry about her maid. Did she really think she could escape unscathed? This was no trivial matter.

Ignoring Lu Shi's warning glance, Jiang Jingrui spoke up: "Jiang Li is an evil spirit? Daoist Priest, are you sure you're not mistaken? Our family's Jiang Li lived in the Nunnery on Qingcheng Mountain for eight years. That's a pure land—how could evil things emerge from such a place?"

Lu Shi quickly slapped Jiang Jingrui.

After some thought, Jiang Yuanping also said, "Indeed, Daoist Priest, this niece of mine is usually very gentle and quiet, unlike some evil spirit."

Jiang Li was surprised that her smiling tiger of a second uncle would speak up for her. But upon reflection, if some monster truly appeared in their household, it would tarnish the Jiang family's reputation.

At least Jiang Yuanping had spoken for her, but Jiang Yuanxing and Yang Shi from the third branch hadn't said a word from start to finish. Jiang Yuyan would certainly not speak up voluntarily in such a situation. It seemed Jiang Yuanxing had become even more taciturn since the incident with Jiang Yu'e. Meanwhile, Yang Shi watched from the sidelines with a hint of schadenfreude.

The third branch had completely drifted apart from the main and second branches.

Just as she was thinking this, Chongxu Daoren's voice rang out: "This young master only knows part of the story. Impure things can indeed arise in Buddhist pure lands. On the contrary, many who enter monastic life without purifying their six roots are prone to inner demons, allowing evil spirits to seize the opportunity and use living people as hosts. However, in Buddhist pure lands, even if evil spirits exist, they dare not cause harm—they merely hide within their hosts, waiting for the right moment. Once they leave the monastic environment and enter the mundane world, evil spirits can grow without restraint. Since this young lady previously resided in a nunnery and has now returned to the estate, it's precisely for this reason."

Jiang Jingrui still didn't believe it: "You've covered all the bases with your words. Since it's all up to you to say, what does it matter whether we believe you or not?"

"This humble priest does not speak without basis. The most likely manifestation of being possessed by an evil spirit is a drastic change in temperament, becoming a completely different person. As the saying goes, a person's nature doesn't change overnight. Even if temperament changes, past habits and essence retain traces of their original form. Has this young lady undergone a tremendous change in temperament, becoming entirely different from before?"

At these words, silence fell over the courtyard once again.

Hadn't Jiang Li indeed undergone a drastic change in temperament after returning from Qingcheng Mountain? Thinking of the Jiang Li from before she was sent to Qingcheng Mountain—fiery-tempered, spoiled, and naive, wearing all her emotions on her sleeve, prone to tears. Time had flown by, and the Jiang Li who returned now had become utterly inscrutable to everyone in the estate who had known her before.She was calm and gentle, always wearing a soft smile, yet no one knew what was truly on her mind. She no longer cried; she didn't even show emotions like "fear" or "grievance." No matter what she encountered, she would simply smile.

As if she didn't care at all.

"That's right..." Ji Shuran's voice broke the silence. She said, "Since Li'er returned to the residence, she has indeed been completely different from before. Her temperament has become more composed, unlike a fifteen-year-old girl. Yaoyao is around the same age as her but acts like a child who never grows up... She used to love meat dishes, especially the lamb soup made in the kitchen, but now she feels nauseous at the smell of lamb. She prefers vegetables over meat... Everything is different..."

Was she already so eager to pin the blame on her? Jiang Li watched coldly as Ji Shuran listed one by one the differences between her and Second Miss Jiang. With every word Ji Shuran spoke, the suspicion on the faces of the people in the courtyard deepened. Of course, she wasn't the real Second Miss Jiang, and she shared no similarities with her in terms of upbringing or temperament. So, it was effortless for Ji Shuran to point out their differences. By this count, they seemed to have no overlapping traits at all—they were simply two different people.

These doubts must have crossed Old Madam Jiang and Jiang Yuanbai's minds as well, but they weren't as meticulous as Ji Shuran. By bringing it up now, Ji Shuran was merely trying to make everyone believe Chongxu Daoren's words a little more.

In a way, Ji Shuran had stumbled upon some truth.

Jiang Li didn't retort or defend herself. After Ji Shuran finished listing everything, she looked at Jiang Yuanbai with concern and said, "So, Li'er really is completely different from before... Master, I'm not doubting that Li'er is some evil spirit. But all of this is for Li'er's sake, for the Jiang family's sake. If Li'er... if Li'er has truly become a vessel for some evil spirit, the Daoren will surely have a way to drive it out. By then, won't Li'er be fine?"

Jiang Li said, "Mother."

Ji Shuran turned to look at her, tears even glistening in her eyes. She truly appeared to be a loving mother who only had her daughter's best interests at heart. Yet, there was also a hint of caution, as if she feared being tainted by something evil. When it came to acting, Jiang Li privately admired Ji Shuran, thinking that with such skills, she could rank among Yanjing City's top performers in Ji Heng's eyes.

"Mother has always been loving. Regardless of whether Jiang Li is truly an evil spirit, surely she can still be given a chance to speak."

Old Madam Jiang looked at Jiang Yuanbai, who stared at this unfamiliar daughter and said, "Speak."

"The Daoren is right—a person's temperament and preferences cannot change overnight. However, I didn't leave home overnight, nor for a day or two, nor even a month or two. It was eight years."

"Eight years cannot be considered short, can it?" She smiled warmly at Chongxu Daoren.

Meeting the girl's gentle gaze, Chongxu Daoren felt surprised but still nodded and said, "It is indeed a long time.""For a long time, many things have changed. My mother mentioned that although Third Sister and I are similar in age, our temperaments are worlds apart. Setting aside the inherent differences between individuals, expecting me to be as innocent and carefree as Third Sister would be far too harsh for me." The smile at her lips remained as steady as ever. "When Madam Liu came to Qingcheng Mountain to worship Buddha, she happened to see me. I wonder if everyone noticed her words—when she saw me that day, I was being punished by kneeling in the ancestral hall, without a drop of water for a full day and night."

"For me, this was the norm of life. Going hungry and cold was commonplace. Under such circumstances, I beg your pardon, but Jiang Li truly finds it impossible to remain innocent and carefree."

Upon hearing these words, Old Madam Jiang and Jiang Yuanbai’s faces flushed with shame. Though they had never sent anyone to inquire about Jiang Li’s life in the nunnery, they knew well that life there must have been harsh. At the time, however, they were so angered by Jiang Li’s role in causing Ji Shuran’s miscarriage that they deliberately overlooked her suffering.

Now, with the entire Jiang family present, the old matter was brought up again. Though Jiang Li’s tone was not accusatory, her words struck Old Madam Jiang and Jiang Yuanbai like a sharp slap across the face.

"As for habits, it’s true that in my childhood, I enjoyed meat dishes, soft beds, and even preferred brightly colored, exquisitely embroidered clothing. But during my years in the nunnery, where would I find lamb soup? The bedding consisted of only one layer—stuffed with cotton in winter and emptied of it in summer. Mother may not know this, but the cotton had been worn down to mere shreds from repeated use. In such an environment, clinging to old habits would have driven Jiang Li mad long ago. Changing my habits was simply a matter of survival. Forget about bright clothing—even an extra Buddhist robe from the temple was better than going half-naked."

"I was merely struggling to survive, but Third Sister is different. She lacks nothing in the mansion and has naturally developed a carefree disposition. Life has tempered me; if I hadn’t learned to endure and mature early on... I truly wonder if I would have lived long enough to return and see Father again."

Her words, though calmly spoken, were laden with anguish. Even the usually sharp-tongued Lu Shi could not help but feel a pang of pity, unable to comprehend Jiang Yuanbai’s reasoning. Even if Jiang Li had made mistakes, she was still his own flesh and blood. If Jiang Jingrui or Jiang Jingyou had erred, she would have punished them severely but never to the extent Jiang Yuanbai had gone.

Jiang Yuanbai’s face was a mix of shame, anger, and frustration as he averted his gaze from Jiang Li.

Meanwhile, Ji Shuran cursed inwardly, What a cunning little wretch! Even at death’s door, she still manages to stir up trouble. No wonder she’s so hard to deal with. No wonder, back on Qingcheng Mountain, despite my orders to torment her, this little brat still survived!

Chongxu Daoren, however, felt a growing unease. Over the years, he had swindled his way through life, even deceiving the emperor, not only because of his skillful tricks but also because of his sharp insight into people’s weaknesses. By targeting each person’s flaws, he found it easy to manipulate situations.However, this Second Miss Jiang—from learning of her deeds before entering the mansion to observing her in this short time since his arrival—he simply couldn’t discern any weaknesses in Jiang Li’s character. Even at this moment, she showed no panic at all, speaking logically and methodically, presenting arguments that could convince others.

Whether she could persuade them or not, her composure alone made her a formidable opponent.

Jiang Youyao said, “Second Sister is right, but… Second Sister grew up on Qingcheng Mountain, yet she turned out no worse than the young ladies raised in our Yanjing City. During the evaluation, didn’t Second Sister also take the top honors in the Six Arts?”

The Six Arts? Ji Shuran’s heart stirred, and she hesitantly remarked, “That’s true. Li’er disliked studying as a child. Who would have thought that after eight years in the nunnery, she’d return as a talented young lady? Later, I sent someone to inquire and found out that the nunnery had neither horses nor long zithers. Yet Li’er managed to master these skills without any guidance—truly remarkable.”

Jiang Yuanbai turned his gaze to Jiang Li. This was also his doubt. Although Jiang Li had offered an explanation at the time, and Jiang Yuanbai had believed her, for some reason, he later sent someone to investigate matters on Qingcheng Mountain. The results of his inquiry were exactly as Ji Shuran had just described.

How had Jiang Li become so clever? There were geniuses in this world, but even geniuses needed guidance. A skilled woman couldn’t cook without rice—how could one achieve anything with nothing at all?

“And,” Ji Shuran added with concern, “when Li’er went to Xiangyang last time, she returned with the county magistrate of Tongxiang, Xue Huaiyuan. Even if Li’er is righteous and brave, her attentiveness to Xue Huaiyuan is excessive. She had no prior connection to him, so why is she so concerned about an outsider? Could it be that she’s truly bewitched by an evil spirit, leading her to do such incomprehensible things?”

At these words, Jiang Yuanbai’s expression turned severe. This was also a sore point for him, a stone weighing on his heart. Jiang Li showed more filial piety to Xue Huaiyuan than to him, her own father, which had long filled Jiang Yuanbai with suppressed anger. If Xue Huaiyuan weren’t currently a madman devoid of reason, Jiang Yuanbai would have insisted on getting to the bottom of this.

But Jiang Li couldn’t explain. She had no way to explain.

Thus, in the eyes of everyone present, she appeared to have exhausted her tricks, silently admitting to being haunted by an evil spirit.

“Honestly, no one wants to put a child through this,” Ji Shuran continued, “but if Li’er truly has something wrong with her, and it ends up harming the Jiang family, the entire household, and the younger generations… that would be no small matter.”

At the mention of endangering the Jiang family, Old Madam Jiang was also moved. She asked Chongxu Daoren, “In your esteemed view, what more must be done to exorcise the evil? If we perform the exorcism for my granddaughter, will it harm her?”

Though it seemed like concern for Jiang Li, Jiang Li inwardly shook her head, feeling sympathy for the Second Miss Jiang. After all, once it was tacitly accepted that Jiang Li was connected to an evil spirit, it also meant accepting the path Ji Shuran had laid out for her—a path that undoubtedly led to no good end. Yet, for the sake of the Jiang family, Old Madam Jiang did not stand up for her or believe in her to the very end.

If it were the real Second Miss Jiang, she would surely be heartbroken."Not at all," said Chongxu Daoren. "However, after the exorcism, the Second Young Lady must recuperate in a pure Buddhist sanctuary for a period of time, secluded from outsiders. Though the evil spirit is not currently visible, after its expulsion, the Second Young Lady may experience residual symptoms, such as physical weakness. She will need careful nurturing."

Jiang Li understood immediately. Sent to a Buddhist temple? To repeat the scenario from years ago when she was sent to Qingcheng Mountain? Physical weakness—so that she would grow thinner day by day in the temple, until eventually she succumbed to a severe illness and died quietly, all seeming natural? What a perfect excuse. Jiang Li believed that the moment she left, Ji Shuran would spread this news throughout the city. Then, she would never return to Yanjing City, only to die silently at Qingcheng Mountain.

And to cover up the truth, the Jiang family would fabricate a reason, such as death from illness. Her life would end like Ye Zhenzhen's, or like her own past life—an obscure, unexplained death.

Because Ji Shuran knew she couldn't harm Jiang Li within Yanjing City, and ordinary accusations wouldn't compel Jiang Yuanbai to take her life. By using the pretext of exorcism to drive her out of the estate, far away and isolated, it would be easiest to act.

A thoroughly calculated plan.

"Second Child," Old Madam Jiang asked, "since there's no serious harm, will you allow Chongxu Daoren to perform the exorcism?"

Jiang Li nodded and turned to Jiang Yuanbai. "Does Father agree as well?"

Jiang Yuanbai stared at Jiang Li. He didn't fully trust Chongxu Daoren, but Jiang Li's strange behavior was utterly inexplicable. He truly felt that Jiang Li had become a stranger; even their faint blood ties seemed to have vanished now.

Steeling his heart, he said, "If it won't harm you, then go."

"Very well," Jiang Li nodded, as if she held no resentment toward Jiang Yuanbai's decision. But the moment she lowered her head, he seemed to catch a glimpse of disappointment in her eyes. Instantly, regret stirred in Jiang Yuanbai's heart—had agreeing to Chongxu Daoren's exorcism for Jiang Li been a mistake?

Jiang Li said, "Chongxu Daoren, please proceed."

Taking the initiative, she showed no fear of the unknown, instead carrying herself as calmly as if attending a banquet, which left Chongxu Daoren momentarily stunned.

Chongxu Daoren replied, "Second Young Lady, please."

As Jiang Li moved to walk forward, Tong'er couldn't resist reaching out to tug at the hem of her robe. Jiang Li glanced back, and Tong'er reluctantly released her grip, tears welling in her eyes.

She was always uneasy.

Chongxu Daoren led Jiang Li to stand between the four pillars strung with threads, instructing her to hold a bell. He then approached the altar, where a young acolyte presented a live chicken. Chongxu Daoren's sword tip slit the chicken's throat, and a spurt of blood sprayed out.

"Ah!" The young maids in the courtyard turned away in fright, covering their eyes. At that moment, the black mist thickened, casting an eerie gloom as if night had fallen.

Ji Shuran instinctively pulled Jiang Youyao closer and stepped back. Though she knew it was all an act, the ghostly atmosphere in the courtyard genuinely unsettled her.

Lu Shi had long since clutched her two sons and retreated to the back. She appeared bold and sharp-tongued but was actually quite timid, especially when it came to beliefs in ghosts and gods. Of everyone present, she was the one who truly believed Chongxu Daoren's words without doubt.Yang Shi and Jiang Yuanxing from the third branch wore doubtful expressions, while Jiang Yuyan had long been frightened into turning her back, no longer looking in this direction.

Amid the crowd, Hu Yiniang stood in an inconspicuous position, staring intently at Jiang Li.

From beginning to end, Jiang Li had remained passive. This stirred some uncertainty in Hu Yiniang’s heart. She had staked all her hopes on Jiang Li. Although Jiang Li had explained her plan, Hu Yiniang still felt it was somewhat risky—deceiving others right under their noses was simply too difficult.

But Jiang Li was resolute, and Hu Yiniang had no choice. Alone, she could never achieve revenge. To cooperate with Jiang Li and perform this act well, she had resolved to pay the highest price. If Jiang Li failed… if… Just then, her gaze met Jiang Li’s briefly in the air.

Under the dark mist, the girl's eyes shone bright and gentle, carrying an unwavering determination.

In an instant, Hu Yiniang quieted down.

It was not yet time to be impatient, not yet...

Chongxu Daoren was performing the ritual.

To onlookers, his actions were profound and enigmatic, exuding the demeanor of a master. Over the years, he had become highly skilled in these practices. In truth, how could ghosts and deities exist in this world? What existed were merely the demons in people's hearts.

It was by exploiting these inner demons that he had managed to deceive others for so long without being exposed. His master, the true Chongxu Daoren, was a genuine master, but what had he gained in his lifetime? Only he had truly harnessed the significance of the title "Chongxu Daoren."

At this thought, Chongxu Daoren couldn't help but feel a sense of pride. Whenever he was "performing the ritual," he would look at the nobles whom everyone usually revered, watching him with unwavering, hopeful eyes, relying on him as their last lifeline, and he would feel immensely satisfied. He could manipulate these people at will—this was his skill.

However, the girl today was someone he had to treat with the utmost caution, more so than anyone he had encountered before.

She seemed to have no inner demons, standing calmly and even showing a hint of amusement at his actions, which made Chongxu Daoren feel insulted. Perhaps Jiang Li was someone who did not believe in ghosts and deities, which was why she remained so composed.

Jiang Li noticed Chongxu Daoren's fleeting irritation.

Such people, having been elevated too high, forgot their original place. In truth, she did believe in ghosts and deities—she was someone who had truly died once. After death, she had become Second Miss Jiang—wasn't this proof of the existence of ghosts and deities? But she was certain that Chongxu Daoren had not grasped this layer.

Chongxu Daoren smeared chicken blood on the peachwood sword, and as he chanted scriptures, the yellow talisman papers around Jiang Li suddenly stood upright, encircling her!

The scene was utterly eerie.

The Daoist, with his immortal-like demeanor, pointed the peachwood sword and suddenly shouted, thrusting it toward Jiang Li!

The wooden sword did not pierce her body but stopped a finger's breadth away. However, Chongxu Daoren's body shuddered as if he had struck something in the void, producing a metallic clang.

The chicken, which had already been bled, suddenly crowed.

The people in the courtyard knelt in terror, and even Jiang Yuanbai began to believe it somewhat.

Chongxu Daoren grabbed something unseen and shouted again, "Evil spirit, emerge!" With a flick of his hand, a large handful of glutinous rice mixed with unknown substances scattered down.

Amid the rice, there seemed to be something else. Jiang Li instinctively held her breath and stepped back.

Yet, almost immediately, blood began to flow from her nostrils and the corners of her mouth.

She sneered coldly inwardly—this was Chongxu Daoren's trick!

To appear as an evil spirit, one had to look the part. The rice must have been mixed with some powder that made her appear terrifying. It might even cloud her mind, but since she had held her breath and not inhaled it, she didn't know its full effect.

In the gloomy night, Jiang Li, dressed in plain white with pale skin and dark hair, blood streaming from her ears, nose, and mouth, looked like a vengeful ghost. The courtyard erupted in panic as people scrambled away in fear.

Jiang Youyao screamed, "A ghost!" The Jiang family members stepped back in terror.

Chongxu Daoren felt a surge of pride, eager to see the girl's panicked expression.He was stunned at the sight.

In the dim candlelight, Jiang Li gave him a radiant smile.

Yet her current appearance was far from adorable—it was terrifying instead.

Jiang Li sneered. An evil spirit was indeed an evil spirit, but not the one they had imagined. This evil spirit could take Ji Shuran’s life!

Suddenly, a child’s wail erupted in the courtyard.

Loud and piercing, it seemed to echo in everyone’s ears.

(End of Chapter)