The Double

Chapter 159: Pregnancy

By the time they returned to the estate, it was already evening.

Jiang Li did not go directly to her courtyard but instead headed to the Evening Phoenix Hall. Both Old Madam Jiang and Jiang Yuanbai were puzzled by her visit to the Duke's residence and had specifically waited for her in the Evening Phoenix Hall. Seeing her return safely, calm and composed, they finally felt relieved.

"Li Yatou, during your visit to the Duke's residence today, did you meet anyone? What did you do there? Did Old General Ji mention why he invited you alone to the banquet?" Old Madam Jiang asked.

"At Old General Ji's birthday banquet today, I wasn't the only guest. There were five or six others, but they all seemed unfamiliar and didn't appear to be officials from Yanjing. There were both men and women, likely old acquaintances of the general," Jiang Li fabricated without batting an eye. She continued, "After the meal, the old general asked me a few questions about horseback riding and archery. Perhaps he had heard about my performance in the Six Arts examination and thought I was skilled in these areas, which piqued his curiosity, so he specifically invited me. Later, I spent the afternoon chatting with a few young ladies and returned in the evening. It seemed like an ordinary family banquet, nothing out of the ordinary. As for why I was the only one invited, it wasn't appropriate to ask, and the old general didn't mention it either."

Her response left no room for doubt. Old Madam Jiang and Jiang Yuanbai exchanged glances, finding no further questions to ask. Even if they had any, judging by Jiang Li's demeanor, it seemed she had merely attended a meal and knew nothing more, so she likely couldn't provide any answers.

Jiang Yuanbai said, "In that case, you may go back and rest."

Jiang Li hesitated for a moment before adding, "Father, today at the Duke's residence banquet, I overheard discussions about the current situation. It seems Yanjing City might become unstable soon. Father... please be prepared."

Jiang Yuanbai straightened up. "What do you mean by that?"

"I don't know the specifics. They didn't say much during the banquet, and this bit of information was all I managed to gather with great effort," Jiang Li replied. After saying this, she bowed to Jiang Yuanbai and Old Madam Jiang and returned to her courtyard.

After Jiang Li left, Old Madam Jiang asked, "Yuanbai, what did the second child mean by that just now?"

Jiang Yuanbai's expression darkened. "Prince Cheng is likely about to make a move."

"Should the Jiang family... temporarily avoid the conflict and leave the capital?" Old Madam Jiang inquired.

Jiang Yuanbai let out a bitter laugh. "Mother, at this critical juncture, even if I wanted to leave, I couldn't. In my position, I have no choice but to face it head-on. I can only hope that the Emperor is not entirely unprepared. This battle... there might still be a chance."

Old Madam Jiang heaved a heavy sigh. Given the current situation, even as the family of the Grand Secretary, they appeared to enjoy boundless glory, but in reality, they were merely ants under the weight of power. Throughout history, the victors become kings, and the losers become bandits—bloodshed has always been inevitable. What could they do? Yet, with these developments, Prince Cheng's uprising and the Emperor's counterattack, who knew how much blood would flow through Yanjing City again, and how many families would be torn apart.

Meanwhile, Jiang Li had returned to her courtyard.Tong'er and Bai Xue were busy tidying up, but she sat in the room, her brow furrowed with worry. After much thought, she still mentioned it to Jiang Yuanbai. Although in Jiang Li's view, Prince Cheng was likely to lose this battle, the Jiang family was at the center of the storm, and who knew if something might happen? Now that she was part of the Jiang family, they had to rely on each other. If the Jiang family truly faced disaster, it would bring her no benefit at all.

Moreover, although the Jiang family had once wronged Second Miss Jiang and produced a venomous woman like Ji Shuran, her daily meals, clothing, and living arrangements all depended on the Jiang family. If Second Miss Jiang were still here, she wouldn't want her family to be destroyed. If Jiang Yuanbai could prepare in advance, perhaps many troubles could be avoided in the future.

As for Jiang Youyao's matter, Jiang Li also planned to follow Ji Heng's advice and not tell Jiang Yuanbai for now. She would first see what moves Li Lian made. Jiang Youyao deserved to suffer a bit. If they tried to bring her back to the estate now, not only would she not be grateful to the Jiang family, but she might even think they were deliberately trying to separate her from Li Lian. Such an ungrateful person might turn and bite the Jiang family at any moment. It was better to leave her with Li Lian for now, so the Jiang family could have some peace.

Even if Li Lian wanted to extract any secrets about the Jiang family from Jiang Youyao, it would be impossible. After all, Jiang Youyao cared about nothing but herself, so any attempts by Li Lian to gather information would surely be in vain.

What Jiang Li was most concerned about now was Princess Yongning.

According to Ji Heng, Princess Yongning was already showing signs of pregnancy, though it was unclear if she had realized it herself. Once Princess Yongning discovered she was pregnant, the next step would likely be to discuss it with Shen Yurong. For Shen Yurong, this was not good news. As for how things would unfold, Jiang Li was eagerly looking forward to it.

She couldn't wait to see the ugly expressions on their faces.

...

In the princess's residence, a faint incense burned in the room. The slender stick of incense released a wisp of thin blue smoke, emitting a delightful fragrance reminiscent of jasmine.

Princess Yongning had always preferred rich and intense scents, so lighter incenses were almost never found in her residence. However, in recent days, she had been easily fatigued and listless, especially with no appetite for food. She often felt chest tightness and was prone to nausea. The strong scents made her uncomfortable, so all the incense in the princess's residence had been replaced with this lighter variety.

Yet, even with the lighter incense, Princess Yongning didn't feel much better. She reclined on the soft couch, looking dispirited. Her usually delicate and exquisite makeup was neglected, revealing a somewhat haggard appearance. Her skin, once fair, now had a sallow tone.

"Princess, Imperial Physician Zhang will be here soon," Meixiang said softly as she massaged Princess Yongning's shoulders. "Once he arrives and prescribes a couple of remedies, I'll prepare the medicine for you. After you take it, you won't feel so unwell anymore."Princess Yongning responded with a weak "Mm." She didn't know when she had started feeling so unwell. Thinking back carefully, it probably began after Shen Ruyun's wedding banquet. But that day, she hadn't done anything out of the ordinary—just seized the opportunity to cling to Shen Yurong as usual, nothing more. Why, then, had she returned to the princess's residence feeling so ill? It had been several days now, with no sign of improvement. Left with no other choice, she had Meixiang take her token to summon Imperial Physician Zhang for an examination.

At this thought, she felt a twinge of resentment toward Shen Yurong. She had clearly sent her attendants to inform him days ago that she was unwell, yet he hadn't come to see her. Though she knew court affairs kept him busy, his neglect made her wonder if she meant nothing to him.

These grievances festered in her heart, only worsening Princess Yongning's discomfort. Her head ached, her hands ached, her legs ached—even her toes throbbed with pain.

Evening descended swiftly, darkness enveloping the sky in no time. A fierce wind swept through Yanjing City at night. The maids, fearing Princess Yongning would feel stifled, opened all the windows of the residence. As soon as they did, the gale rushed in eagerly, extinguishing half the candles in the hall and scattering papers and brushes across the room. Vases wobbled precariously.

Princess Yongning grew even more agitated and was about to reprimand the servants when Meixiang hurried in, followed by an elderly man in a pine-green cotton jacket. "Your Highness," Meixiang announced, "Imperial Physician Zhang is here."

Imperial Physician Zhang was a familiar doctor from the imperial medical bureau, often summoned by Princess Yongning for minor ailments. Seeing him finally arrive, she mustered a bit of energy, straightened her posture, and extended her hand proactively. "Imperial Physician Zhang, I've been feeling terribly unwell lately. I can't pinpoint exactly what's wrong—just constant fatigue, lack of appetite, and frequent nausea. Sometimes I doze off in the afternoon and don't wake until midnight. Please examine me and determine the cause."

Upon hearing this, Imperial Physician Zhang froze, his face suddenly clouded with shock and doubt. Princess Yongning, irritated by his motionless stance and failure to take her pulse, snapped impatiently, "Imperial Physician Zhang, why are you just standing there? Hurry and check my pulse!"

Only then did he snap out of his daze, forcing a smile. "Your Highness, please don't worry. This old physician will examine you right away."

He reached out and placed his fingers on Princess Yongning's wrist, carefully feeling her pulse.

Though it hadn't been long, at a certain moment, Imperial Physician Zhang's face turned deathly pale. Not only that, cold sweat began to bead on his forehead, and his hands trembled slightly.

Princess Yongning, growing impatient with the prolonged examination, frowned and scolded, "Imperial Physician Zhang, what is the matter? Why are you silent?"

He abruptly withdrew his hand and stood up. Not daring to look at her, he hung his head hesitantly, his voice trembling. "Your Highness... this old physician... I may have misdiagnosed. Perhaps you should seek another, more skilled doctor to determine the cause of your condition."The more he spoke this way, the more suspicious Princess Yongning became. She declared, "Among the Imperial Medical Institute, you are the only one I trust. Imperial Physician Zhang, whatever it is, speak plainly now, or I shall charge you with the crime of deception!"

Imperial Physician Zhang was startled and immediately knelt down. Despite his advanced age, his voice trembled with uncontrollable fear, as if he were on the verge of tears. He pleaded, "Your Highness, spare my life! Your Highness... I fear you may be with child!"

With child! The words struck her like a sudden clap of thunder. Princess Yongning was so shocked she nearly lost her composure.

"How dare you speak such nonsense before Her Highness! Drag him away!" Meixiang reacted swiftly, issuing the command at once.

"I dare not speak falsely, Your Highness, spare me!" Imperial Physician Zhang kowtowed repeatedly, his voice filled with desperation.

Princess Yongning furrowed her brow, as if finally grasping the meaning of his words. She looked at Imperial Physician Zhang and suddenly asked, "Are you telling the truth?"

Imperial Physician Zhang hurriedly replied, "This humble official would not dare to lie."

"How far along do you estimate I am?" Princess Yongning inquired.

Sweating profusely, yet not daring to ignore her question, he answered, "It should be less than a month."

"Less than a month..." Princess Yongning murmured to herself. Calculating the timing, it seemed to align perfectly—she had only met Shen Yurong a few times during this period. What puzzled her was that she had taken birth control medicine each time, as Shen Yurong was exceedingly cautious in this regard. Of course, Princess Yongning herself had no desire to become pregnant before marriage; even in the relatively liberal customs of Northern Yan, such a matter would be considered a disgrace in any ordinary family.

Yet, despite all precautions, she had still conceived Shen Yurong's child.

Involuntarily, Princess Yongning's hand drifted to her abdomen.

Seeing this, Meixiang anxiously asked, "Your Highness, what do you plan to..." She left the sentence unfinished. Princess Yongning turned to her and demanded, "Plan what?"

Meixiang stammered, "Do you intend to keep the child?"

Upon hearing this, Princess Yongning delivered a sharp slap across Meixiang's face, causing her head to jerk to the side. She snapped furiously, "How dare a lowly servant like you comment on the child in my womb?"

Imperial Physician Zhang, still kneeling on the floor, trembled even more fearfully. Meixiang also dropped to her knees. The clear imprint of five fingers marked her cheek, yet she seemed oblivious to it as she continued, "The child in Your Highness's womb will grow day by day, and eventually, it will be impossible to conceal. If the Emperor sees it, or if outsiders find out, it will be difficult to explain. Your Highness cares deeply for that person. If this matter comes to light, the Emperor and others will not let it rest. If it is discovered to be that person's child, his official career will surely be ruined. Your Highness would undoubtedly be heartbroken."

With Imperial Physician Zhang present, Meixiang did not dare to utter Shen Yurong's name, referring to him only as "that person." Her words struck a chord with Princess Yongning. As the child grew, her pregnancy would become impossible to hide. If the Emperor discovered it, he would undoubtedly investigate, and once it was revealed to be Shen Yurong's child, his career would be over. Although Princess Yongning did not care whether Shen Yurong remained an official or not, she knew he would be deeply unhappy. And if Shen Yurong was unhappy, Princess Yongning would not find joy either.

She suddenly felt a headache coming on."But this is my child with him..." As Princess Yongning spoke, a glimmer of maternal tenderness and softness unexpectedly surfaced in her eyes. She resembled a gentle mother, eagerly anticipating the arrival of a new life.

This was her child with Shen Yurong—that fact alone gave Princess Yongning countless reasons not to abandon it. It might be a son, or perhaps another daughter. Perhaps the child would have Shen Yurong’s eyes, or maybe a mouth shaped like her own. In the future, it would call Shen Yurong "Father" and her "Mother." This child was proof of the deep affection between her and Shen Yurong, and no matter what, she would not cast it aside.

"I will keep it." Princess Yongning’s words were resolute and unwavering. Meixiang and Imperial Physician Zhang, both kneeling on the floor, were startled into silence.

"As for what to do next, there’s no need to rush. It hasn’t even been a month yet, so no one will notice. The most urgent matter now is to nurture my child well. People’s hearts are unpredictable these days, and countless individuals wish harm upon my child. I must protect it," Princess Yongning declared.

Meixiang responded, "This servant will protect the young prince/princess."

Princess Yongning nodded in satisfaction, her gaze sweeping over the kneeling Imperial Physician Zhang. A cold glint flashed in her eyes as she said, "Imperial Physician Zhang has worked hard today. Meixiang, take him to another room and offer him a cup of tea before he leaves."

Understanding her mistress’s intent, Meixiang complied. Imperial Physician Zhang began to plead for mercy, but Princess Yongning cut him off with a light laugh. "There’s no need to hurry, Imperial Physician Zhang. Have some tea before you go. In the time it takes to drink a cup, your wife and son won’t even notice."

At these words, Imperial Physician Zhang shuddered violently, the light in his eyes dimming instantly. He said nothing more and followed Meixiang out, his spirit utterly broken.

The hall returned to silence.

The smile vanished from Princess Yongning’s face. Though she desperately wished to keep the child, Meixiang’s words had reached her ears—continuing like this was indeed not a viable solution. Should she tell Shen Yurong? Probably not. If Shen Yurong found out, he would surely urge her to abandon the child. Lately, he had repeatedly warned her that they were in a precarious position and must avoid giving others any leverage, maintaining a distance. If a child were involved, wouldn’t that be handing their enemies a weapon?

He always had a way with her. No matter how determined she was, his gentleness would eventually sway her, and she would yield to his wishes. But this time, Princess Yongning had no intention of obeying Shen Yurong. She was resolved to keep this child.

What method could she use to legitimize the situation and ensure the child’s survival? The child could not grow up without a father—it must call Shen Yurong "Father."

A sudden idea struck Princess Yongning. Yes, the child must have a father, and that father could only be Shen Yurong. If she married him before anyone noticed her condition, she could later claim the child was born prematurely, making everything appear proper and above board, couldn’t she?

But arranging a marriage with Shen Yurong in such a short time was no easy task. Princess Yongning had no intention of discussing it with him, knowing he would raise objections, and she couldn’t reveal her pregnancy. She planned to visit Consort Liu first thing tomorrow morning and persuade her to convince the Emperor to issue an imperial decree for the marriage.

No matter what, this plan must not fail.

…In the night of Yanjing City, some households rejoiced while others grieved. While some felt complex emotions over the child in their womb, others anxiously pondered their future prospects.

The Right Prime Minister's Li Mansion was exquisitely renovated with extravagant luxury. Having held his position for many years, especially in recent times, the Right Prime Minister's standing in the court had become increasingly secure. There were never few visitors bringing gifts on ordinary days, many of which went unexamined before being tossed into the storeroom along with their inventory lists. Rumors claimed that the storerooms of the Right Prime Minister's residence were even more abundant than the national treasury, though whether this was mere gossip or truth remained unknown to anyone.

In a courtyard on the western side, it was noticeably quieter than the others. Only two or three maids were sweeping and cleaning, yet the courtyard remained quite tidy. Inside the room, a person sat at the table, holding a book but too distracted to open it, instead staring blankly out the window.

This young woman, who could be described as charmingly lovely, was none other than Third Miss Jiang, Jiang Youyao, who had fled from the Jiang and Li families.

Jiang Youyao had been at the Li Mansion for quite some time. On the day she escaped from the Jiang family, she had originally intended to go to the Ji family. However, on New Year's Eve, she unexpectedly encountered bandits on the street. Seeing she was a woman, they not only robbed her of her bundle but also attempted to take liberties with her. Just as Jiang Youyao felt utterly hopeless, a handsome young gentleman appeared as if descending from heaven. He ordered his attendants to drive off the bandits, helped Jiang Youyao to her feet, and, seeing her trembling with fear and unable to speak, brought her back to his residence to clean up and calm her nerves.

In truth, from the moment she was rescued, Jiang Youyao had recognized who this gentleman was. It was the Second Young Master of the Right Prime Minister's Li family, Li Lian. Normally, Jiang Youyao should not have had any entanglement with members of the Li family, given that the Li and Jiang families were sworn enemies. Yet, for some reason, she did not refuse Li Lian's offer to take her back to his residence. Perhaps it was because she resented the Jiang family for causing her mother's death and neglecting her, wanting to spite them out of revenge. Perhaps it was because she truly had nowhere else to turn and didn't know whom to rely on. Or perhaps it was because this Second Young Master Li seemed too gentle, unlike the cunning man her father had described, and in such a desperate situation, being treated kindly made it easy to trust.

She followed Li Lian back to the Li Mansion, and after she had washed her face, Li Lian also recognized her. Steeling her heart, Jiang Youyao poured out her grievances about her time with the Jiang family in front of Li Lian. She explained that she had been forced to leave home and begged Li Lian not to reveal her presence at the Li residence to anyone, fearing that if the Jiang family found out, they would drag her back.

Li Lian, being a man who cherished the fairer sex, seemed to have taken pity on her. True to his word, he did not inform Li Zhongnan of the matter. He allocated a section of his own courtyard to Jiang Youyao, where she resided daily. She could not go out, lest she be seen, so Jiang Youyao could only move about near the courtyard, always wary of avoiding other members of the Li family. As time passed, she naturally grew weary and bored.

And the only people she saw each day, aside from the servants, were Li Lian.The longer Jiang Youyao spent time with Li Lian, the more she felt he was a good man. He was gentle and considerate, and understood her heart perfectly. After several interactions, Jiang Youyao couldn't help but open her heart to him. Later... after developing a deeper relationship with Li Lian, Jiang Youyao was initially afraid. Having fled from the Jiang family, she still carried the identity of the Grand Secretary's daughter in her heart. If this matter were to spread, she feared it would bring shame upon the Jiang family.

But Li Lian told Jiang Youyao, "If you don't wish to return, then there's no need to go back. After all, you said the Jiang residence treated you harshly. Why not stay in our household? I will find you a suitable identity, so we can be together properly for a lifetime."

Jiang Youyao was deeply moved.

A promise is the embodiment of sincerity. Zhou Yanbang had always refused to give her a promise, making her wait foolishly for many years, only to end up marrying someone else, which had truly broken her heart. Now that someone had stepped forward willingly to soothe her pain, Jiang Youyao naturally found it irresistible.

She had also thought about the future—for instance, Li Lian’s wife could only be a young lady from a noble and influential family. No matter how resourceful he was, even if he managed to secure an identity for her, she could never be the daughter of a prestigious household. Staying by Li Lian’s side without any status, at best, she would only be a concubine. But how could Jiang Youyao ever be content with being a concubine?

Even if she were still the Third Young Lady of the Jiang family, she could never become Li Lian’s wife, because the Li and Jiang families had never gotten along—this was not a recent development.

Although the days spent with Li Lian were joyful, the future seemed bleak and uncertain. Even so, Jiang Youyao couldn’t bring herself to leave him. After all, leaving Li Lian wouldn’t necessarily lead to a better life. It was better to seize the present moment and enjoy it while she could. As for the future, she would worry about it later.

Feeling as though she had been sitting for too long, Jiang Youyao stood up, intending to take a walk in the courtyard. The maids were all busy with their own tasks. She wasn’t sure if they had recognized her identity, but truth be told, Jiang Youyao wasn’t entirely satisfied with them. Sometimes she sighed inwardly, thinking that she should have brought Jinhua and Yinhua along—they had been by her side since childhood and were much more familiar to work with. These maids, however, served Li Lian. They were respectful and deferential to him but were not particularly warm or attentive to Jiang Youyao.

What bothered her most was that all the maids in Li Lian’s courtyard were exceptionally beautiful, fluttering around like a flock of charming birds, which irritated her endlessly. At times, she couldn’t help but wonder jealously if Li Lian kept these maids around for his own convenience. She had once hinted at her suspicions in front of Li Lian, but he was so skilled at sweet-talking that with just a few words, he would make her forget her original intention and drop the matter altogether.

As Jiang Youyao walked to the edge of the courtyard, she couldn’t help but glance toward the neighboring courtyard.

That was the courtyard of Eldest Son Li, Li Xian. Li Xian seldom returned to the residence, as he was said to be heavily occupied with official duties. Jiang Youyao had long heard that among Li Zhongnan’s two sons, Li Xian was far more praised by others than Li Lian. At a young age, he had already achieved a smooth and successful career, was exceptionally talented, and possessed a handsome and scholarly demeanor. Compared to Li Lian, he seemed far more disciplined and principled. Despite his age, there had never been any rumors of improper behavior about him.

Jiang Youyao’s gaze swept across his courtyard.

The most significant difference between Li Xian’s courtyard and Li Lian’s was likely the servants. While Li Lian’s courtyard was filled with charming and lovely maids, Li Xian’s courtyard had almost none. Instead, there were many young servant boys, though they were quite young—most appeared to be around twelve or thirteen years old. On one occasion, Jiang Youyao had even spotted a child of about eight or nine. She couldn’t quite understand why all the servant boys were so young. Wouldn’t it be inconvenient to have them serve? When it came to running errands or carrying heavy objects, these young boys didn’t seem capable of handling such tasks well.

She had once asked Li Lian about this, and he would always shake his head with a smile, explaining that those children were orphans without parents. Li Xian, taking pity on them, had brought them to the residence to work as servants. On the surface, they were servants, but in reality, it was a way to provide them with food and shelter. Once they grew up, they could also contribute to the household.

Upon hearing this, Jiang Youyao thought to herself, It seems this Eldest Son Li is truly kind-hearted, a genuinely good person, to come up with such an indirect way of looking out for them.She withdrew her gaze and turned back, unable to suppress a sigh in her heart. However, this Eldest Son Li certainly knew how to pick people—every one of those young boys in the courtyard was exceptionally beautiful. If she didn't know what kind of person Li Xian was, she might have thought he was like that Duke Su with his peculiar preferences, a cut-sleeve who favored men.

Eldest Son Li is a pedophile—how utterly disgusting!

(End of Chapter)