The Double

Chapter 158: Green Hat

"Not much, five hundred taels of silver."

"Second Miss Jiang, you must be joking," Lu Ji said. If all fine steeds could be bought for just five hundred taels of silver, then the streets and alleys would be filled with such horses.

"It's absolutely true. I bought it from a horse trader in the East Market," Jiang Li replied.

At the mention of the East Market, everyone immediately understood. The East Market was where all the traders gathered. Whether you profited or lost depended entirely on your discernment. Since Jiang Li said so, it must have been that the horse trader thought the colt was ordinary, while Jiang Li happened to recognize its extraordinary qualities and bought it.

"Second Miss Jiang, where exactly was that horse trader? Are there any other horses?" Kong Liu pressed eagerly. Jiang Li's words had stirred his interest—who wouldn't want to buy a fine steed for just five hundred taels?

"Yes, yes," Wenren Yao chimed in, joining the excitement. "Are there any left?"

"There were many other horses, but when I went, there was only one Blood-Sweating Horse," Jiang Li said with a smile. "If you really want to go, you can try your luck. Perhaps the owner has acquired new fine steeds recently." Though she said this, her tone suggested she wasn't very optimistic. Everyone understood that such opportunities didn't come every day.

The one who encountered the colt had luck but no discernment; those with discernment lacked the luck to meet the trader. Only Jiang Li possessed both—happening to visit the East Market on that day, spotting the trader, and picking out this one colt from the herd at a glance.

"Second Miss Jiang is truly knowledgeable," Lu Ji stroked his beard. "You even understand horse appraisal."

"I only know a little, just following what's written in books," Jiang Li laughed. "Luck played a bigger part."

"Enough idle talk. This horse doesn't have a name yet, does it? Give it one," Old General Ji said. "Red Dragon? Shadowless? Surpassing the Herd?"

"Old General, in our cavalry alone, there are three Red Dragons, five Shadowless, and seven Surpassing the Herd," Kong Liu reminded him.

These names were commonly used, and it wasn't unusual for cavalry units to have duplicates. Wenren Yao asked curiously, "With so many identical names, how do you tell them apart?"

"It's simple—just add the owner's surname," Kong Liu said matter-of-factly. "Li Red Dragon, Wang Red Dragon, Zhang Red Dragon. If the surnames are the same too, add the given name. Li Three Shadowless, Li Four Shadowless, Li Five Shadowless—there's always a way."

Wenren Yao: "..."

"Ah Heng, you suggest one. You give it a name," the old general said.

No sooner had he spoken than a voice descended from the sky, shouting, "Fine horse! Fine horse!" It was Little Red, the mynah bird Ji Heng kept, swooping down like an arrow shot from a bow, landing on the colt's head and snatching the cloth flower Bai Xue had pinned to the colt's ear that morning.

Whether Little Red's raucous voice was mocking or admiring, it actually managed to complete a full sentence: "A fine flower suits a fine horse, a fine horse deserves a fine flower!"

Jiang Li: "..." She dearly wished she could shut this embarrassing mynah's beak, while also feeling puzzled. Back at the Shen residence, this mynah hadn't been so noisy—it had even been quite quiet. No one had taught it such nonsense; at most, it only knew how to call someone's name.Could it be that the Duke's residence had awakened some innate trait in the parrot?

"Is it male or female?" Wenren Yao asked.

"It's a boy," Kong Liu had already determined.

Ji Heng glanced at the parrot and suddenly said, "Since it's a boy, let's call him Little Blue."

Everyone: "..."

Kong Liu remarked, "I suddenly feel that the previous names—Red Dragon, Shadow Runner, and Outstanding—were all quite good."

Ji Heng completely ignored Kong Liu's words. Resting his fan against the colt's forehead, he smiled and said, "Your name is Little Blue."

Little Blue, having received such an ill-fitting name, was clearly displeased and seemed ready to throw a tantrum. But Ji Heng merely looked at him with a gentle smile, stroking his mane. The young male colt couldn't help but shiver, not daring to move, and obediently allowed Ji Heng to pet him.

Perhaps such horses are inherently perceptive, and perceptive animals are the best at recognizing who truly poses a threat. Watching the proud parrot Little Red perched under the eaves and the dejected colt Little Blue standing among the crowd, Jiang Li found herself at a complete loss for words.

She truly couldn't find anything appropriate to say.

The excitement over Little Blue eventually subsided after a while. Old General Ji had someone lead Little Blue away, repeatedly emphasizing that the colt must not be allowed near the Duke's residence's flowerbeds. Everyone headed toward the main hall, where they found Situ Jiuyue had already arrived. Haitang was by Situ Jiuyue's side, and the two seemed to be getting along quite well.

Old General Ji's birthday celebration had only invited this small group of people.

Considering that apart from Kong Liu, who held an official position in the court, none of the others had any connection to the Jiang family, it was no wonder Old Madam Jiang and Jiang Yuanbai were uneasy. Even if Jiang Li were to tell them about the guests upon returning to the Jiang residence, they likely wouldn't know who these people were.

But on the other hand, did this mean that Old General Ji, at the very least, regarded her as one of his own? Jiang Li pondered this as she took her seat at the banquet.

The dishes were exceptionally lavish. Wenren Yao announced, "Today, our Aheng is the one who cooked again. Everyone, seize the opportunity to eat as much as you can. Talk less, eat more."

Jiang Li glanced at Ji Heng in surprise—it was him cooking again. It seemed that on holidays or Old General Ji's birthdays, Ji Heng was always the one in the kitchen. While it might seem like a rare occasion, it wasn't entirely so, as it happened several times a year. Yet it was by no means ordinary. Jiang Li estimated that everyone in the world who had ever tasted Ji Heng's cooking was likely gathered here.

She was genuinely curious—why would someone of Ji Heng's status, who certainly didn't need to cook, possess such culinary skills? But since Ji Heng himself disliked people discussing his cooking, Jiang Li dismissed the thought.

Besides, while she was curious, curiosity didn't always require an answer.

The birthday feast was a joyous occasion for both host and guests. Compared to her last visit, Jiang Li had grown more familiar with everyone present. The conversation during the feast didn't touch on any serious matters, focusing instead on casual, everyday topics. Perhaps because Jiang Li had gifted a fine horse, Old General Ji seemed much more affectionate toward her. He even exchanged horse appraisal techniques with her, and both found the exchange rewarding.

Once again, Jiang Li did not drink any alcohol during the feast.Since the incident with the Shen family, Jiang Li had stopped drinking alcohol at all banquets. However, everyone was considerate of her inability to handle liquor and did not press her, instead specially providing her with non-alcoholic fruit syrup to drink. By the time the banquet concluded, Old General Ji and the others were already thoroughly drunk, lying haphazardly about. The three women—Situ Jiuyue, Haitang, and Jiang Li—remained sober, and among the others still clear-headed was Ji Heng.

Servants assisted the drunk guests into their rooms, while the remaining few stepped out of the hall. Jiang Li noticed Situ Jiuyue standing in the courtyard and approached her, saying, "Miss Jiuyue."

Situ Jiuyue replied, "The medicine you requested is ready. I've given it to Ji Heng. You may ask him for it, but remember, this drug only lasts for three months. After three months, all signs of pregnancy will vanish, and a physician will detect through pulse-reading that the previous symptoms were false."

"Three months is more than enough," Jiang Li said, bowing deeply to Situ Jiuyue. "Once again, I am indebted to you, Miss Jiuyue."

"No need for thanks," Situ Jiuyue responded curtly before turning and heading into the house without a backward glance, likely to begin work on some new concoction. Haitang, who seemed to be assisting Situ Jiuyue, bowed to Jiang Li before hurriedly following Situ Jiuyue into the same room. Watching this, Jiang Li smiled. Haitang had found something to occupy herself with for the time being, which surely eased her mind somewhat.

Ultimately, Jiang Li did not wish for Haitang to be consumed by thoughts of vengeance. The grudge against the Xue family was something she would settle herself. Hatred could change a person, and those burdened by it could never find happiness. It was enough for her alone to carry this weight; there was no need to involve others.

"What are you smiling about?" Ji Heng's voice suddenly came from behind just as Jiang Li was lost in thought. She turned to see him standing beside her at the courtyard gate. He wasn't looking at her but at the sky, as if observing something unseen.

"Nothing unpleasant. I just felt content and smiled," Jiang Li replied.

"Then it seems you'll be smiling continuously from now on."

"What?" Jiang Li was taken aback.

Ji Heng said, "Come with me," and walked out of the courtyard.

Jiang Li quickly followed.

At this moment, Kong Liu and his party from the Duke's residence were all drunk, Situ Jiuyue had gone to prepare medicines, and aside from the servants, only Ji Heng and Jiang Li remained. Noting the direction he was heading—clearly toward the study—Jiang Li immediately understood that Ji Heng likely had something to discuss with her.

Coincidentally, she also had something she wanted to say to him.

They walked at a steady pace, their footprints clearly imprinted in the snow. Ji Heng's were deeper, shaped by his boots, while Jiang Li's were shallower, marked by her embroidered shoes. One large, one small, they formed a harmonious pair.

Soon, they reached the study. A servant opened the door, and Jiang Li and Ji Heng entered.

The study was just as Jiang Li remembered—austere and stark in black and white, a style that seemed incongruous with Ji Heng's appearance yet somehow fitting. His inner self was decisive, straightforward, and unadorned, making black and white the perfect representation.

Ji Heng walked to the table, poured a cup of tea for Jiang Li, and then one for himself. Jiang Li noted that no matter when she visited the Duke's residence, the tea in Ji Heng's study was always warm.

This perhaps reflected his nature—always prepared for any situation.

Jiang Li sat down at his desk.

"Two pieces of news," Ji Heng said. "One good, one bad. Which do you want to hear first?"For a moment, Jiang Li felt dazed.

In the past, when Xue Zhao used to joke with her, he would often say, "Two pieces of news—one good and one bad. Which do you want to hear first?"

The young man sitting before her was entirely different from Xue Zhao, and Xue Zhao was already dead.

She steadied herself. In the past, she had always answered, "The good news first." But today, she said to Ji Heng, "The bad news."

Ji Heng curled his lips into a meaningful smile. "It seems you prefer bitterness before sweetness."

"I suppose so," Jiang Li replied with a bitter smile. But when had she ever experienced bitterness before sweetness? In her previous life as Xue Fangfei, her life had been sweet first and bitter later. In the first half of her life, she had felt that life was like a bed of roses, wonderful and delightful. Even if there were dissatisfaction or pain, they were nothing compared to the joy she experienced. So, heaven was fair—enjoyment first, suffering later. Everything that happened afterward only confirmed this truth.

But the bitterness of being killed by Shen Yurong as Xue Fangfei—when would the "sweetness" ever begin?

"Jiang Youyao has been found," Ji Heng said.

Jiang Li was taken aback and blurted out, "Where is she? Is she still in Yanjing City?"

"She's still in Yanjing City," Ji Heng said meaningfully. "But the place she's staying is somewhere you would never have imagined."

Sensing there was more to his words, Jiang Li quietly waited for Ji Heng to continue.

"She's at the Right Prime Minister's residence."

"The Li family?" Jiang Li was shocked. She had imagined many places where Jiang Youyao might be, but she had never expected it to be the Li family. The Li and Jiang families had always been at odds. Even if Jiang Youyao were at her wit's end, she would never seek refuge at the Right Prime Minister's residence. Moreover, that old fox Li Zhongnan would hardly use Jiang Youyao for anything. Jiang Youyao was of no use to the Li family; if anything, she was more of a nuisance and could bring them trouble.

"What's going on?" Jiang Li frowned. "Did the Li family capture her? Or do they have some other scheme?"

"After Jiang Youyao fled the Jiang residence, she ran into trouble before she could reach the Ji family," Ji Heng shrugged. "You know how it is—Yanjing City may seem peaceful, but there's no shortage of unexpected incidents. Li Lian happened to pass by and helped her out of the situation. Seeing her in a sorry state, he took her back to the Right Prime Minister's residence."

"Li Lian?" Hearing this, Jiang Li understood a little more. "He must have recognized Jiang Youyao's identity and deliberately did this, right?"

Li Lian, the younger son of the Right Prime Minister, was unlike his elder brother Li Xian. He spent his days gallivanting around the streets, a spoiled and frivolous young master. Though he had a reasonably handsome appearance, he was known for his reckless behavior. Jiang Li had heard rumors about how many girls he had pursued and how many he had ruined. Yet, on the surface, he presented himself as gentle and magnanimous, like a true gentleman. Young women who encountered him could easily be deceived if they weren't careful.

In fact, it wasn't just women—even men were often fooled by Li Lian's facade. When Ye Shijie first arrived in Yanjing, if Jiang Li hadn't noticed something amiss from the clues and warned him to keep his distance from Li Lian, who knew what schemes Li Lian might have eventually used Ye Shijie for?Li Lian had accompanied the Right Prime Minister to numerous banquets large and small, so it was impossible for him not to have seen Jiang Youyao. Back then, as the daughter of the Grand Secretary, Jiang Youyao was renowned for her striking beauty and charm, and most young nobles in Yanjing City were well aware of her. Even if she had sneaked out of the residence that day in disguise, Li Lian would likely have recognized her.

To put it another way, if someone else had brought Jiang Youyao back to their residence, Jiang Li might have believed they hadn’t identified her true identity. But when it came to Li Lian, Jiang Li had reason to suspect that he had recognized Jiang Youyao and had acted accordingly afterward.

"Clearly, your younger sister didn’t think so," Ji Heng said calmly, "otherwise, she wouldn’t have followed Li Lian back to his residence."

Jiang Li frowned, "What happened to them afterward?"

"Afterward..." Ji Heng drawled, "naturally, things unfolded as one might expect. After being brought back, she revealed her identity, explained her predicament, and pleaded for shelter. One felt pity, the other gratitude; they found themselves mutually attracted and became inseparable..." His tone grew increasingly sarcastic as he spoke.

"I understand," Jiang Li cut him off. She could easily imagine what Jiang Youyao would do—exactly as Ji Heng had described. Once back at the Li residence, she would wash her face, realize she could no longer hide her identity, and then, charmed by the elegant and compassionate Second Young Master Li, pour out her woes with tears and pleas. This would inevitably stir the "truth"-knowing young master’s sympathy, leading him to resolve to shelter and protect the misguided "little white rabbit," and eventually take care of her future.

"How are they now?" Jiang Li pondered and asked, "Have they reached the point of being inseparable?"

"Understated, if anything," Ji Heng replied.

Jiang Li felt an indescribable mix of anger and amusement. Though she had long known Jiang Youyao was foolish, even the most selfish individuals, like Jiang Yu'e, understood the longstanding enmity between the Li and Jiang families. Forming a secret liaison with a member of the Li family was unthinkable—even casual interaction was forbidden. It was like handing the Jiang family’s vulnerabilities directly to their rivals, offering them a blade. While Jiang Li didn’t believe sacrificing personal happiness for the family was particularly honorable, she knew that "when the nest is overturned, no egg remains unbroken." This was a principle Jiang Youyao should have grasped, unless she were a mere toddler.

Perhaps even a toddler would understand such a basic truth.

"She truly doesn’t care about the Jiang family’s survival," Jiang Li said bitterly. "Knowing full well what the Li family represents, she still dares to cozy up to them."

"Perhaps she sees herself as the heroine in a play, with Li Lian as the hero—star-crossed lovers from feuding families, their devotion moving heaven and earth, destined to create a tear-jerking legend," Ji Heng remarked with feigned seriousness.

For some reason today, he seemed relentless in his mockery of Jiang Youyao. Jiang Li looked at him and asked, "How did you manage to uncover this?"

"I have people in the Right Prime Minister’s residence as well," Ji Heng said offhandedly. "I hadn’t initially looked into that place, thinking your sister wouldn’t be bold enough to go that far. But when my informants there noticed something amiss and reported back to the Duke’s residence, I had them verify it. Only then did I discover," he chuckled, "that there really are people in this world who are so utterly foolish."Upon hearing this, Jiang Li's heart couldn't help but leap violently. Ji Heng had actually planted spies even in the Right Prime Minister's residence. All the secrets of Yanjing City's noble households were held firmly in his grasp—no wonder he acted with such audacity. He knew every deeply buried secret of the great families, perhaps even those of the imperial household.

"Regardless, thank you," Jiang Li said. "If you hadn't told me, perhaps the Jiang family would never have discovered Jiang Youyao's presence in Li Lian's residence."

"What do you plan to do now?" Ji Heng asked, tracing the rim of his teacup. "Will you tell your father as soon as you return?"

"I haven't decided yet," Jiang Li hesitated. "Although my father claims to be disappointed in Jiang Youyao, the truth is he still dotes on her. If I tell him now, I believe he would impulsively demand her from the Right Prime Minister's residence. Firstly, Li Lian might hide her away in a short time, leaving us empty-handed. Secondly, it would give the Li family leverage to accuse our Jiang family of deliberate slander. With these troubled times, adding another incident might invite unforeseen consequences."

"I agree," Ji Heng said. "If Jiang Youyao were insignificant to the Jiang family, Li Lian wouldn't have taken such interest."

Jiang Li tentatively asked, "Are you suggesting we leave Jiang Youyao with the Li family for now and observe what Li Lian truly intends?"

Ji Heng spread his hands. "That is your Jiang family's affair."

Jiang Li felt a headache coming on. Jiang Youyao had truly complicated an already intricate situation. Yet Ji Heng wasn't wrong—if they informed Jiang Yuanbai about Jiang Youyao's whereabouts now, who knew what methods the Li family might employ. They could either demand her back by surprise when least expected, or wait until Li Lian's interest in Jiang Youyao waned before devising a way to extract her.

It appeared Li Zhongnan was unaware of this matter—it was likely Li Lian's own scheme. Perhaps winning the trust of a rival family's daughter was particularly gratifying for Li Lian. At least for now, he remained tender and affectionate toward Jiang Youyao.

Since she couldn't unravel this matter immediately, Jiang Li decided to ponder it slowly after returning to the residence that evening. After some thought, she asked Ji Heng, "What was the good news the Duke mentioned?"

Ji Heng had promised two pieces of information. Jiang Youyao's situation counted as one—but the other remained unmentioned.

"Minister Si Tu has completed the false pregnancy medicine," Ji Heng said with a faint smile. "Yongning has already taken it."

Jiang Li was stunned. "When?"

"After Yongning met with Shen Yurong on Shen Ruyun's wedding day," Ji Heng replied.

Princess Yongning frequently sought opportunities to meet with Shen Yurong, and their encounters naturally included intimate moments. Ji Heng had arranged for the medicine to be administered after their liaison—the timing couldn't have been more perfect. Given Shen Yurong's suspicious and cautious nature, even he would find nothing amiss.

Jiang Li was overjoyed. This was indeed good news—perhaps the best she'd received in recent times. It meant her plans could advance significantly, sparing her from prolonged waiting.

"This is truly wonderful," she murmured.

"How will you thank me?" Ji Heng raised an eyebrow.His features were strikingly beautiful, and the way he smiled while asking for a favor was almost breathtakingly captivating. Jiang Li said, "Your Grace, if there is anything you need, please tell me. In truth, even if I were to give everything I have, it would hardly be enough to repay you."

If it weren't for Ji Heng, she would have had to go through considerable trouble to deliver the false pregnancy medicine to Princess Yongning and ensure she took it without suspicion. There was a high chance of failure, and if it failed, Princess Yongning would become wary, making any future attempts much more difficult.

Ji Heng had nearly made the most difficult step of her plan proceed smoothly.

Ji Heng looked at her for a while, smiled faintly, took a sip of tea, and then said, "I can't think of anything for now. But I am quite curious about what you plan to do next."

"Next?" Jiang Li was puzzled.

"After Yongning shows signs of pregnancy, what will you do?" he asked, as though genuinely curious.

Jiang Li thought for a moment. "I wonder when Miss Jiu Yue's medicine will take effect?"

"Twelve hours later," Ji Heng pondered briefly. "By my calculations, it should have already taken effect."

"Then it's quite simple." Jiang Li smiled slightly. "An unmarried young lady suddenly becomes pregnant. In ordinary families, such an incident would ruin the girl's life. In noble households, to protect their reputation, they might even force the girl to hang herself. Of course, Yongning is of royal blood, the biological sister of Prince Cheng. No one would dare make her hang herself, nor does she need to."

Her words were laced with sarcasm.

"So, before the pregnancy becomes too obvious, they will surely arrange a favorable marriage for Yongning. They will joyfully marry her off—first, to conceal the pregnancy, and second, since the princess has reached marriageable age, this would secure her a good match and become an enviable happy event for all."

"So," Ji Heng looked at her serious expression and couldn't help but curl his lips slightly, speaking unhurriedly, "you plan to have her marry Shen Yurong?"

"Of course not." This answer even surprised Ji Heng somewhat.

"Minister Shen is deeply devoted to his late wife. Even though that Lady Shen cuckolded him, he remains unwavering in his affection. He would absolutely not remarry in such a short time. Moreover, if he were to marry Princess Yongning, wouldn't people say they had an affair long ago? There were already rumors in the Tongxiang case that Princess Yongning was the one behind Feng Yutang's plot against County Magistrate Xue! So, it turns out she harmed County Magistrate Xue because she had long been infatuated with Minister Shen and wanted to avenge him."

"Minister Shen has always valued his reputation. He wouldn't allow such a thing to happen," Jiang Li said.

Ji Heng stroked the handle of his fan and laughed along. He said, "Then who does Second Miss Jiang intend for Princess Yongning to marry?"

"Who Princess Yongning marries is not for me to decide. It's up to the Emperor." Jiang Li smiled. "At most, I can only analyze the situation. After all, Consort Liu would look down on Minister Shen. Although he seems decent, his family background is too humble—he rose from common status. Marrying a princess would be reaching too high. Among the talented young men in the court today, those of suitable age and appearance, with wealthy and well-matched families—so that Yongning wouldn't be marrying beneath her—I've actually found one."

She cheerfully uttered a name: "The eldest son of Right Prime Minister Li Zhongnan, Li Xian."

Ji Heng was taken aback, then suddenly laughed heartily. His eyes held undisguised admiration and appreciation.

"This is interesting. Having Princess Yongning marry the cut-sleeve Li Xian is indeed unusual."

Jiang Li said, "What's even more interesting is that this Eldest Son Li, who cannot feel affection for women, would quickly have a son after marriage. The Li family would have an heir, and Right Prime Minister would surely be very pleased.""Not everyone is willing to wear this green hat. In this world, only Shen Yurong can tolerate it and even wear it with delight. I wonder how the Li family will feel when they wear it? Will they find it acceptable? Will they let the matter rest?"

By then, the alliance between Prince Cheng and the Right Prime Minister would be like a plate of sand—scattered with just a puff of wind.

Duke: I've given you the name Little Blue. Are you touched?

Little Blue: I dare not move...

(Why call her Little Blue? Because throughout history, red and blue make the perfect couple~ It's definitely not because the author was too lazy to think of anything better.)

(End of Chapter)