The Double

Chapter 163

The marriage between Princess Yongning and Eldest Son Li decreed by Hongxiao Emperor stirred up quite a storm in Yanjing City.

Among the noble families of Yanjing City, there were many who desired to marry a princess, and even more who sought to form alliances with the Li family. However, with this imperial decree from Hongxiao Emperor, Princess Yongning could only marry Li Xian. As a result, those who had set their sights on Princess Yongning and those who aimed to connect with the Li family both found themselves empty-handed.

Upon receiving the news, Prince Cheng was deeply troubled. Although he and Hongxiao Emperor were at odds, he had never openly and blatantly set up obstacles like this. Shen Yurong was his man, and Li Xian was also his man. It was unlikely that Li Xian was unaware of the relationship between Yongning and Shen Yurong. Both of them were now considered his right-hand men, and he could not afford to let internal strife break out. After confirming with Consort Liu that there was no room for reversal in this matter, Prince Cheng invited Shen Yurong to his residence for a meeting.

Ultimately, in terms of closeness and influence, the Li family was more important. However, Shen Yurong also possessed qualities that Prince Cheng admired. If this man could be of use to him in the future, it would not be a bad thing. Therefore, before the situation deteriorated beyond repair, Prince Cheng still hoped that Shen Yurong would serve him.

He invited Shen Yurong to take a seat of honor and had tea poured for him. With a gentle expression, he said, "Yurong, I invited you here today to discuss the matter of Yongning."

Shen Yurong remained calm and replied, "This humble official understands."

Prince Cheng observed Shen Yurong. Even at such a moment, Shen Yurong appeared composed and unruffled. His gentle and steady demeanor was not surprising in its ability to win Princess Yongning's heart. Even Prince Cheng himself had to admit that this man possessed an unforgettable grace. Moreover, as time passed and his official rank rose, his aura became even more distinguished.

"This imperial decree from the Emperor came out of nowhere. Previously, my mother and the Empress Dowager clearly mentioned your marriage with Yongning, but for some reason, it ended up being Yongning and Li Xian. I know about your relationship with Yongning, and you understand that Yongning has always favored you..."

Shen Yurong remained silent.

"There are countless women in this world," Prince Cheng patted Shen Yurong on the shoulder. "You are a man destined for great things. There's no need to be bogged down by romantic entanglements. Once you achieve success in your career, what kind of woman couldn't you have?"

Prince Cheng could not comfort Shen Yurong by suggesting there was any room for negotiation in this marriage, as it was impossible. Similarly, he could not tell Shen Yurong to endure for now and wait for Li Xian and Princess Yongning to divorce. The Li family would never tolerate such a thing, and Li Zhongnan was someone Prince Cheng still relied on. He had no choice but to sacrifice Shen Yurong, who was not yet as influential as the Li family, or promise to compensate him in the future.

"I know you are not a man of short-sighted ambitions. You have your own aspirations. In that case, why not wholeheartedly follow me in accomplishing great deeds? It would be better than dwelling on these trivial matters." Prince Cheng added, his gaze carrying a meaningful depth.If Shen Yurong and Princess Yongning had truly been in love, Prince Cheng might have sought out Li Zhongnan to discuss whether a mutually acceptable compromise could be reached. However, it was clear from the start that Prince Cheng knew Shen Yurong did not genuinely care for Princess Yongning. In truth, while his sister was charming and lovely in appearance, her temperament was far too disagreeable—few men could truly adore her. Especially someone as inherently proud as Shen Yurong; it was impossible for him to sincerely love a selfish woman like Princess Yongning.

His entanglement with her persisted solely because he sought to climb higher. This was evident from his indifference toward his former wife, Xue Fangfei, and her family. Yet, in the ruthless world of ambition, Prince Cheng somewhat admired Shen Yurong's mercilessness. Even if Shen Yurong did not end up with Princess Yongning, Prince Cheng would still be willing to employ him for his cunning and talent.

Thus, Prince Cheng was making a promise: even without a marital alliance with the Shen family, he would not treat Shen Yurong unfairly.

Shen Yurong responded with a detached expression, "Your Highness's favor fills me with gratitude."He used '臣' (subject), adhering to the propriety between ruler and subject." Hearing this, Prince Cheng was greatly pleased and laughed heartily, "You and I are destined to achieve great things together! Since that fellow deliberately provoked me by meddling in Yongning's marriage, I shall grant his wish! In three months, I will give him a tremendous surprise!"

His unrestrained laughter echoed arrogantly through the hall. Shen Yurong kept his head lowered, his thoughts inscrutable to all.

By the time he left Prince Cheng's residence, night had fully fallen.

Shen Yurong returned to the Shen residence. Earlier that noon, he had already been interrogated by his mother and Shen Ruyun, who had rushed back from Marquis Ningyuan's estate, demanding an explanation for the situation. Shen Yurong could only evade, attributing it all to the Hongxiao Emperor's decree. Even so, his mother and sister insisted on appealing to Princess Yongning to alter the marriage arrangement, giving Shen Yurong a headache.

For the first time, he seriously examined his mother and sister and realized they were not merely foolish but had developed an inflated sense of entitlement from years of having their every whim indulged. They believed even the emperor's irrevocable decrees could be overturned at will, and that Princess Yongning was omnipotent—any difficulty could be resolved simply by informing her.

How could they be so naive? Even unreasonable.

In the end, Shen Yurong nearly lost his temper before they finally quieted down. Yet, his mother and sister still acted as if the sky had fallen. They seemed to believe that the Shen family's current status was entirely dependent on Princess Yongning, and without her, their wealth and influence would vanish overnight. As for himself, they thought his value derived solely from his connection to Yongning Palace.

How pitiful.

Shen Yurong thought of Xue Fangfei again. He lacked her patience to reason with his mother and sister. In the past, when conflicts arose between them and Xue Fangfei, she always yielded. He had dismissed it, offering her a few words of comfort in private. Only when facing the situation himself did he realize that with one's own family, reason often held no sway.

She had truly endured much.Thinking of Xue Fangfei again, Shen Yurong shook his head. He couldn't help but recall her - gathering flower dew beneath the trees, warming tea for him in winter, adding fragrance with her crimson sleeves... He had once had a wife who was so wonderful that even after her death, she frequently appeared before his eyes.

Shen Yurong walked slowly until he reached a corner, where someone suddenly called his name: "Lord Shen!"

Turning around, he saw a maid-like figure emerging from the darkness. He recognized her as Meixiang, Princess Yongning's personal maid.

Meixiang said, "Lord Shen, Her Highness is waiting for you at a nearby teahouse. She has something to discuss with you. Please follow me."

This was something Shen Yurong had grown accustomed to in the past, so he didn't refuse and followed Meixiang to the mentioned teahouse.

Princess Yongning was indeed waiting inside.

The princess looked much more haggard, her breath seeming extremely weak. Whether it was Shen Yurong's imagination or not, she appeared even thinner than a few days ago.

"Shen Lang," she stood up upon seeing him.

Shen Yurong remained standing at the entrance, not stepping further inside, his expression indifferent as he said, "Congratulations, Your Highness."

These words struck Princess Yongning's heart like daggers. Her heart wrenched in pain, and tears nearly fell instantly.

Princess Yongning said, "I don't want to marry Li Xian! You know my heart belongs only to you!"

For someone of her noble status as Princess Yongning, such humble, pleading words would be unbelievable if heard by others. Shen Yurong seemed moved by Princess Yongning's tearful tone as well, turning to look at her.

"Shen Lang!" Princess Yongning grabbed his hand. "You must believe me! I told my mother I wanted to marry you, and my mother even spoke with the Empress Dowager about it. But the Emperor issued an edict betrothing me to Li Xian. I don't know how this happened. How could I willingly marry Li Xian when I'm carrying your child?"

These words immediately changed Shen Yurong's expression. "What child?" he asked.

Princess Yongning froze, realizing she had let it slip. But looking into Shen Yurong's eyes, she steeled herself. She had been searching for the right opportunity to tell him about this matter - sooner or later, it had to be revealed. Perhaps this was the moment to say everything.

"Yes," Princess Yongning said, "I'm pregnant with your child. The imperial physician has confirmed it - not even a month along."

"How is this possible?" Cracks appeared in Shen Yurong's usually calm demeanor, his voice losing its usual composure. "How could this happen?"

Every time they had been intimate, Princess Yongning had taken birth control medicine. Yet now she claimed to be pregnant - this was no small matter!

"I don't know," Princess Yongning shook her head. "Perhaps the birth control medicine isn't completely effective... By the time I discovered it, it was already too late."

The more she spoke, the more Shen Yurong suspected this was Princess Yongning's deliberate scheme - using pregnancy to force him to marry her. But unexpectedly, Hongxiao Emperor had betrothed her to Li Xian, leaving her panicked.

"What do you plan to do now?" Shen Yurong asked."What do you mean, what should we do?" Princess Yongning looked at him blankly. When she saw the slight chill in Shen Yurong's eyes, she shuddered and suddenly understood. She said, "Don't tell me you want me to get rid of this child!"

Shen Yurong remained silent: "His existence... truly isn't the best timing right now..."

"No!" Before Shen Yurong could finish, Princess Yongning screamed, "This is my child! I won't allow anyone to harm him, and I won't abandon him!"

Shen Yurong patiently tried to calm her: "Yongning, you're about to marry Li Xian. If the Li family discovers you're pregnant, it will be very disadvantageous for you. The Li family would never tolerate such disgrace. Even if you could protect the child temporarily, you might not be able to deliver him safely. The Li family would find ways to eliminate this child, and it would create discord between you and Prince Cheng."

He thought these words would at least make Princess Yongning reconsider, as she had always listened to him to some extent before. But today, Princess Yongning just looked at him coldly and said, "You keep saying this is for my sake, but you're actually afraid that if the truth comes out, it will be revealed that you're the father, making it difficult for you to continue living comfortably! Shen Yurong, this is your child. You've thought of everything, but have you considered this child even for a moment? Oh, I forgot—you've already lost one child, so you don't care about losing another."

Shen Yurong's expression changed dramatically.

He had indeed lost a child before—an unborn child that belonged to him and his wife, Xue Fangfei. Back then, when the long-awaited child was coming and he learned the happy news, Shen Yurong wasn't pleased. Because by that time, Princess Yongning had already expressed her affection for him several times.

Did having a child really mean everything was good? Thinking back now, when Xue Fangfei had the miscarriage, although he didn't do it himself, he actually felt relieved upon hearing the news, as if a burden had been lifted. At the time, he even comforted himself, thinking that if the child were born, people might say it was an illegitimate child from Xue Fangfei's affair, which wouldn't benefit the child's future. Why bring suffering into the world?

Thus, his last trace of guilt vanished. He felt no joy at the child's coming and no pain at its departure. It was like an insignificant stranger—he had almost forgotten about it entirely. But now, brought up by Princess Yongning, he felt as if fine needles were pricking his heart, spreading a dense, lingering pain.

Shen Yurong didn't want to stay any longer and turned to leave, but Princess Yongning grabbed him from behind, holding him tightly. Anxiously, she said, "Shen Lang, I misspoke earlier. I didn't mean it. You're the child's father—you must love him, right?" She seemed to be trying to convince Shen Yurong, or perhaps herself, adding, "There's no father in the world who doesn't love his own child."

Shen Yurong sighed and turned around. Princess Yongning looked at him with frantic worry.

"Do you really intend to keep this child?"

"Yes!" Princess Yongning replied firmly, leaving no room for doubt. "My mother knows about this. She promised to help me conceal it when I marry into the Li family!"Consort Liu already knew. Shen Yurong’s heart sank. Under these circumstances, it would be nearly impossible to secretly harm the child in Princess Yongning’s womb. If anything went wrong, Consort Liu would undoubtedly suspect him first.

“Then how do you plan to conceal it?” Shen Yurong said calmly. “It’s still too early to show now, but as time passes…”

“My mother will request the Empress Dowager’s permission for us to marry next month. After I’m married, I’ll find other ways to cover it up,” Princess Yongning replied. “But once the child is born, its nominal father will be Li Xian.”

She spoke with unmistakable resentment.

Shen Yurong inwardly scoffed. If Princess Yongning was unwilling, was Li Xian any more willing? If Li Xian were to discover he had been cuckolded, he might even resort to murder. Over the years, the Right Prime Minister had never been known for his benevolence. Such a profound humiliation would be hard for him to swallow. Princess Yongning’s plan might very well implicate him as well.

“Don’t worry, Shen Lang,” Princess Yongning whispered. “My elder brother will make his move in a few months. Once he becomes emperor, the entire realm will be his. No one will dare disobey his orders. At that time, I’ll have him issue a decree annulling my marriage to Li Xian so I can be with you. The Li family won’t dare say a word.”

She spoke as if everything would unfold exactly as she envisioned, but Shen Yurong sneered inwardly. Princess Yongning was far too naive. The Li family’s reputation was not something she could manipulate at will.

Yet, for now, there was no alternative.

If Princess Yongning was to marry next month, the child in her womb must remain unharmed. Any mishap could arouse suspicion. As long as they could deceive others for the first month, they could later claim the child was conceived on the wedding night, buying them some temporary peace.

As for the future… they would deal with it later. But it seemed this pawn, Yongning, might have to be discarded. Shen Yurong’s eyes darkened.

Unaware of the calculations swirling in Shen Yurong’s mind, Princess Yongning continued to prattle on about her unwavering devotion to him. Shen Yurong replied, “I know, Your Highness. I know your heart.”

Princess Yongning looked at him with mixed joy and worry—joy that Shen Yurong’s attitude seemed to have softened, and worry that he addressed her as “Your Highness,” a sign of growing distance.

“Then you mustn’t be angry with me,” Princess Yongning said, still humbling herself as she reached for his hand. After all, this situation was her fault. If she hadn’t gone to Consort Liu, things wouldn’t have come to this. She felt guilty toward Shen Yurong. “My heart still belongs to you—only you.”

“I know,” Shen Yurong said with a faint smile, pulling Yongning into his embrace, though his gaze grew distant.

It was time to sever ties with Princess Yongning.

…

At the Grand Secretary’s residence, Jiang Li was momentarily stunned upon hearing that Hongxiao Emperor had decreed the marriage between Li Xian and Princess Yongning.

Although she had anticipated this, she hadn’t expected it to happen so soon. But upon reflection, it made sense. Hongxiao Emperor also saw Prince Cheng as a thorn in his side. Now that he had an opportunity to tie the Right Prime Minister and Prince Cheng together, he would naturally act without delay.I wonder what Shen Yurong and Yongning must be feeling after receiving the news. It must be unpleasant for them—a plan they had schemed for years was completely ruined in a single day. Moreover, the situation seems to be developing in a rather terrible direction. No one would be happy about that. Princess Yongning and Shen Yurong have no idea that this is only the beginning—and it’s not even the worst part. What follows will only get worse, one thing after another, until it reaches a point beyond redemption.

"What is the young lady laughing about?" Tong'er asked curiously. She noticed Jiang Li laughing joyfully. In recent days, ever since learning that Xue Huaiyuan from the Ye residence might have regained his memory and was currently unconscious, Jiang Li had been gloomy. Her sudden cheerfulness today was quite intriguing.

"I'm laughing because everything is going smoothly, just as I wished," Jiang Li replied.

Tong'er blinked, about to say something, when the branches outside suddenly rustled, and a figure appeared abruptly.

Tong'er let out a startled "Ah!" before recognizing the person standing by the window—it was none other than Zhao Ke. Tong'er was now familiar with Zhao Ke and knew he was from the Duke's residence. Although she had some reservations about Ji Heng stationing his people at the Duke's residence, she thought to herself that these guards were highly skilled in martial arts. If Jiang Li were ever in danger, they might prove more reliable than the Jiang family's own guards. So, she considered it a free resource. Besides, Zhao Ke’s daytime identity at the Jiang residence was that of a gardener—a little fool who worked as a gardener by day and a guard by night, all for a single monthly wage. Such people were rare these days.

Zhao Ke had no idea that Tong'er viewed him as a "little fool." He simply addressed Jiang Li, "Second Miss Jiang."

Jiang Li asked, "Has something happened?"

Zhao Ke wouldn’t appear on his own unless something was wrong; more often, Jiang Li had to summon him with a whistle. So, seeing him now, her first thought was whether Ji Heng had another task for her.

"The matter Second Miss Jiang asked me to investigate has been clarified," Zhao Ke replied.

Jiang Li asked, "Which matter?" There were too many things she needed to figure out, and she wasn’t sure which one he was referring to.

"The person who spread the rumors about Ji Shuran," Zhao Ke said. "It was Jiang Yuanxing."

"The third branch," Jiang Li realized. In fact, the last time she encountered the third branch, she had already felt a vague suspicion. Jiang Yuyan’s clothing and daily necessities had improved significantly, and Yang Shi occasionally displayed a subtle, disdainful attitude. In the past, Yang Shi might not have been particularly ingratiating, but at least she wouldn’t openly offend the first or second branches.

It seemed as if they had some backing behind them now.

"Not only that," Zhao Ke added, "Jiang Yuanxing has been secretly in contact with Li Zhongnan."

"With someone from the Li family?" Jiang Li was taken aback, then laughed. "It seems the third branch truly harbors deep hatred for the Jiang family." The first and second branches of the Jiang family were full brothers, born of the same mother, while the third branch was an illegitimate child. Old Madam Jiang looked down on them, and Jiang Yuanbai and his brother naturally treated Jiang Yuanxing less intimately than they did each other. Still, they had managed to coexist peacefully until now, when things had nearly reached the point of an open rift. Especially since Jiang Yuanxing was associating with the Jiang family’s rivals—it was clear what their intentions were.Unable to rely on the Jiang family for his official career advancement, Jiang Yuanxing lacked the personal capability to secure promotions and titles. Faced with Jiang Yu'e having no choice but to become Zhou Yanbang's concubine, perhaps driven by desperation or finally realizing the importance of power, he threw caution to the wind. Casting aside Old Master Jiang's teachings, he found another path to climb upward—by betraying the Jiang family.

He disclosed the Jiang family's secrets and scandals to their sworn enemies, the Li family, in exchange for promotion opportunities. Such methods could only be described as despicable.

Tong'er and Bai Xue listened quietly nearby. When they learned the mastermind was actually from the third branch, they were equally shocked. Tong'er asked, "Miss, how could Third Master harbor such malicious intentions? Will our Jiang family be drained dry by him?"

"That's unlikely," Jiang Li said calmly. "The third branch has always been insignificant within the Jiang family. Even if Jiang Yuanxing wanted to secretly reveal the Jiang family's secrets to the Li family, he probably wouldn't know much to begin with. Father and Second Uncle have never been close to him, and certainly wouldn't voluntarily share their secrets with him. Even if Jiang Yuanxing racked his brains, what he knows is probably comparable to what the Jiang family's servants know. I think, up to now, the most interesting thing he could have told the Li family is about Ji Shuran."

"Miss, should we keep the third branch?" Tong'er asked. "If Old Madam Jiang finds out about this, she'll definitely separate from the third branch and make them leave the estate."

Old Madam Jiang had never liked the third branch. If she learned of this, Jiang Li could already imagine what she would say—that the third branch were ungrateful traitors who would immediately be driven out.

"Let's not tell Old Madam. Keeping the third branch isn't without its uses," Jiang Li said. "The third branch interacts with the Right Prime Minister, and any useful information the Right Prime Minister obtains will surely be passed to Prince Cheng. If we need to deliver some 'useful' information to Prince Cheng, the third branch provides a good channel."

They could use Jiang Yuanxing to pass false information to Prince Cheng.

Zhao Ke stood by the window like a block of wood, but he heard every word spoken in the room. He thought to himself, Second Miss Jiang is truly a formidable character. Others would probably be sold out and still diligently count the money for her.

"However, we must inform Father and have him warn Second Uncle as well," Jiang Li continued. "The Jiang family isn't mine alone. Father and Second Uncle are much smarter than I am—they know better how to use the third branch to achieve their own goals. With Prince Cheng's planned uprising approaching, the third branch's existence becomes increasingly useful, especially at this critical juncture."

"Thank you, Zhao Ke," Jiang Li said, turning to the guard by the window. "Please convey my thanks to your master as well."

"Second Miss Jiang, I will definitely deliver your message. Farewell." With that, Zhao Ke's figure vanished from the window.

His ghostlike appearances and disappearances made Tong'er pout. "Miss, you should have a serious talk with the Duke. Other matters aside, having Zhao Ke in the estate does protect your safety. But he's always appearing suddenly, and you are a woman after all. What if you were changing clothes? Wouldn't that be taking advantage of you?"

"Aren't you the one who opens the windows?" Jiang Li reminded her. "He knows better than to appear when the windows are closed during clothing changes."

"It still feels inappropriate. Maybe we should request a female guard next time," Tong'er suggested. "A skilled martial artist, like..." Her eyes lit up as she glanced at Bai Xue, who had moved aside. "Like Bai Xue!"

Jiang Li shook her head with a smile. "The Duke's estate doesn't even have maidservants—how could they find a maidservant with martial arts skills to serve me? Besides, these guards are all quite handsome and refined. Wouldn't you regret it if they were replaced?" Jiang Li teased her.

Tong'er's face flushed. "Miss, you're making fun of me. No matter how handsome these guards are, they can't compare to a single finger of yours. And you're quite accustomed to seeing these guards yourself, aren't you?"Bai Xue was tidying the bedding when she lowered her head and muttered, "Having grown accustomed to the Duke's face, young lady, you naturally can't appreciate the sight of these guards. It's different for you."

Jiang Li: "..."

Well, though her words weren't particularly pleasant to hear, they did hold some truth.

Bai Xue was a fan of the Duke's looks, haha.

(End of Chapter)