The Double

Chapter 171: Tenderness

The uproar that had erupted in the Golden Luan Hall finally reached a resolution after two days.

Imperial Secretariat Writer Shen Yurong and the Eldest Son Li of the Li family both resigned from their official positions. As for Princess Yongning, she was stripped of her title and reduced to a commoner. Shen Yurong and Li Xian fared relatively better—they proactively resigned before Hongxiao Emperor could take action. However, Princess Yongning’s fall from her lofty status as a princess to the muddy depths of commoner life was decreed personally by Hongxiao Emperor.

Upon hearing the news, Consort Liu immediately went to plead with Hongxiao Emperor. The emperor refused to see her, sending Eunuch Su out instead with the excuse that he was unwell. Consort Liu initially intended to emulate past imperial consorts by waiting stubbornly until the emperor emerged. However, as time dragged on, her frail body could no longer endure the strain, and Hongxiao Emperor showed not an ounce of compassion toward her. Realizing the situation was irreversible, Consort Liu waited for half a day before leaving in frustration, never mentioning the matter again.

The Princess’s residence was now guarded by soldiers, no longer belonging to Princess Yongning. Having just divorced Li Xian and barred from returning to her own estate, Princess Yongning found herself utterly destitute and homeless.

Consort Liu promptly spoke with Prince Cheng, urging him to locate Princess Yongning and arrange shelter for her. Even though Princess Yongning had been reduced to a commoner, Consort Liu could not possibly abandon her. She believed that for now, they must feign compliance with Hongxiao Emperor. In time, when the empire changed hands and a new ruler ascended, her daughter would once again be able to return to the capital in glory.

Prince Cheng had no choice but to comply. He secretly arranged for Princess Yongning to be escorted to safety, provided her with silver, and settled her temporarily in an inn. They dared not choose a reputable establishment, fearing discovery. After all, this was a royal decree—if anyone found out they were defying it, no one could save Princess Yongning.

Having never stayed in such a shabby inn in her entire life, Princess Yongning immediately demanded that Prince Cheng find her a better place. Enraged, Prince Cheng rebuked her harshly. Because of Princess Yongning’s scene in the Golden Luan Hall, Shen Yurong had resigned, Li Xian had resigned, and the Li family had developed a rift with him. Although Prince Cheng had managed to placate the Right Prime Minister, could the cracks in their relationship truly be mended so easily? Li Zhongnan had superficially claimed to let bygones be bygones, but who knew what he truly thought? At this critical juncture, if his subordinates turned against him, it would pose an immense challenge for Prince Cheng.

Thus, Prince Cheng harbored considerable anger toward Princess Yongning, the root cause of all this trouble. He even reproached her, “Since you were pregnant, why didn’t you tell me? Why were you so determined to marry Li Xian? Didn’t you know the Li family is not to be trifled with? How dare you act so recklessly?”

“If I had told you, Elder Brother, would you have let me have my way?” Princess Yongning retorted defiantly. “The emperor’s decree was already issued. Even Mother couldn’t do anything—what could you have done? You might have even pressured me to abort the child to appease the Li family! You speak so righteously, but you have no idea why I ended up in this state! If you had the capability to claim the throne, why would Mother and I have endured all these years of humiliation?”

Furious, Prince Cheng slapped Princess Yongning across the face. The two parted on bitter terms.Therefore, from the moment she was settled here until now, Princess Yongning had not taken a single step outside this inn. Because once she went out and saw the way people looked at her, she couldn't help but want to have them arrested and beheaded. But now, with her current status, she could no longer do such things as she pleased.

She had become a commoner.

It was almost laughable. Back then, she had mocked Xue Fangfei for being merely the daughter of a petty official, low in status, someone she could trample and insult at will. Now, she was even worse off than Xue Fangfei—she had become a commoner.

This probably wasn't real.

Princess Yongning lay on the couch and closed her eyes, thinking only that when she opened them again, someone would come and tell her it was all just a dream, that she was still the princess no one dared to slight.

There was a noise at the door. She sat up and saw Meixiang walking in from outside.

After Princess Yongning was demoted to a commoner, the maids in her princess manor no longer belonged to her. But Meixiang had consistently stayed by her side. After entering, Meixiang closed the door, walked up to Princess Yongning, and said softly, "Your Highness, I just heard news from outside. Lord Shen has resigned from his official post."

"What?" The previously listless Princess Yongning jolted. "Why would he resign so suddenly?"

"They say he resigned early this morning, and Li Xian has also resigned. It wasn't by the emperor's decree, so it must have been their own decision."

Hearing this, Princess Yongning was stunned for a moment before saying, "It's because I've implicated him. If it weren't for that scoundrel Li Xian... why would he have come to this?"

Amid her resentment, a trace of unease flickered in her heart. For Princess Yongning, whether it was being demoted to a commoner or living in this inn, it was only temporary. As long as Prince Cheng became emperor, everything from the past would be nullified, and she would still be a princess. Thus, Princess Yongning always held onto a glimmer of hope in her heart, preventing her from falling into complete despair.

But Shen Yurong was different.

Princess Yongning could see Shen Yurong's ambition and thirst for power, but she didn't think there was anything wrong with that. Shen Yurong had talent and ability; it was only natural for him to want to realize his aspirations. But now, because of the shame brought upon him by her, he had resigned voluntarily. For Shen Yurong, this was not just a change in status—it was a harsh blow to his pride.

And Shen Yurong was, at his core, an extremely proud man.

He would likely blame her for this.

Princess Yongning felt unsettled. She had lost everything now—her status, her position, even her child. The only thing she had left was Shen Yurong. If Shen Yurong were to leave her because of this, after all the effort and everything she had invested in him, what would she have gained in return?

She jumped down from the bed and said, "Meixiang, I must go to the Shen residence."

"Your Highness wants to visit Lord Shen?" Meixiang hesitated. "Shouldn't we wait a while longer..."

"I can't wait, and there's nothing inappropriate about it anyway. Now that he's resigned, he's just a commoner like me. Besides, everyone in the world knows about our relationship. There's no need to avoid it anymore. It's only natural for us to be together, and no excuse can stand in our way now," she said.

Meixiang paused and said nothing more.

...

At the same time, Jiang Li's carriage was heading toward the Duke's residence.Zhao Ke was still leading Jiang Li along the small path to avoid being noticed, though he couldn't help but wonder when the Second Miss of the Jiang family had become so familiar with his master. After all, even the highest-ranking officials had to submit formal requests in advance to visit the Duke's residence—requests that Ji Heng was likely to toss into a dusty corner of his study for days or even weeks without a glance.

Yet Second Miss Jiang could come and go as she pleased.

Sitting in the carriage, Jiang Li reflected that her visit to Ji Heng today wasn't for any urgent matter. Regarding the affairs of Princess Yongning and Shen Yurong, Ji Heng had already handled the most challenging part for her; the rest would be much simpler. She simply felt the need to express her gratitude in person once more.

Another reason was to find out exactly where Princess Yongning was keeping Jiang Youyao imprisoned. When exposing the princess's crimes later, she wouldn't mind adding this charge against Jiang Youyao. No matter how tarnished Jiang Youyao's reputation might be, she was still a legitimate daughter of the Jiang family. If Princess Yongning were proven to have harmed her, it would be undeniable evidence of plotting against an official's family.

When the carriage arrived at the Duke's residence, the gatekeeper greeted Zhao Ke warmly and smiled at Jiang Li. The young servant was quite handsome and seemed to like Jiang Li; during her frequent visits, he would sometimes sneak Tong'er and Bai Xue some melon seeds or candies.

As Jiang Li entered the estate, she didn't see Wen Ji or Ji Heng today. Instead, she found Old General Ji practicing swordplay in the courtyard. Spotting her, he set down his sword and approached, cheerfully asking if she had come to help roast venison.

Jiang Li had to reply, "I'm here to see the Duke."

"Aheng is out," Old General Ji said. "Not sure when he'll be back. Didn't he tell you?"

"I didn't inform the Duke of my visit today, so he wouldn't know when I was coming," Jiang Li explained.

Hearing this, Old General Ji immediately wore a knowing expression.

Feeling slightly uncomfortable under his gaze, Jiang Li asked, "Since the Duke isn't here now, would you allow me to wait in the residence for a while until he returns?"

"You want to wait for that boy?" Old General Ji said. "He comes and goes at all hours—once he's out, there's no telling when he'll return. He might not be back until nighttime. Are you still willing to wait?"

"If it gets that late, I'll leave. But if I go now and he returns right after, it would be a pity," Jiang Li said with a smile. "It's not easy for me to come out."

"If you don't mind waiting in vain, then wait. The Duke's residence can certainly afford to offer you a cup of tea." With that, Old General Ji added, "Let's go to my study. It's hot outside—I'll have the servants bring you some tea." Without waiting for her agreement, he strode off toward the study.

Watching his retreating figure, Jiang Li sighed inwardly. Old General Ji seemed even more domineering than Ji Heng.

The old general's study was entirely different from Ji Heng's. Ji Heng's study was a proper, serious workspace, albeit somewhat austere. In contrast, aside from a few military texts tossed on the desk, Old General Ji's study lacked even basic writing tools like ink, brushes, paper, or inkstones. The walls were covered with weapons—an array of swords, knives, axes, and spears—and a suit of golden, imposing armor stood proudly before the desk.Seeing Jiang Li staring at the armor, the old general laughed heartily and said, "What, it's impressive, isn't it? This is what I wore on the battlefield back in the day." His tone was filled with pride and satisfaction, but it quickly turned somber. "It's a pity I can no longer wear it."

Jiang Li could understand his feelings.

She remarked, "The old general’s collection is quite extensive."

"Of course," Old General Ji said, "but it’s a shame that Heng boy refuses to use these well-suited weapons of mine. He’s only interested in those flashy things, like using a fan!"

Jiang Li thought to herself that the old general probably hadn’t seen Ji Heng using a fan to kill—it was no less lethal than these blades and swords.

Recalling that Ji Heng’s father was also a general, she asked Old General Ji, "Why didn’t the Duke become a general? When the late emperor was alive, he trusted the general greatly and entrusted him with military power. Although times are peaceful now, I haven’t seen the general training troops."

Old General Ji replied, "The military tally is lost."

"What?" This time, Jiang Li was genuinely shocked.

Old General Ji explained to Jiang Li, "You must have heard about Minghan. When Minghan disappeared, he took the tiger tally with him. It’s been missing all these years. The late emperor investigated it, and the current emperor is still looking into it, but nothing has come of it. This matter cannot be known to others. People think the military power still lies with the Duke’s residence, but it’s only because Heng acts recklessly."

"For so many years, Northern Yan has seen no military conflicts, so even if someone suspects something, they cannot confirm it. But if a war breaks out and someone asks about the Golden Guard Army, the truth will eventually come out. Although everyone says the Golden Guard Army has declined, in reality…"

Old General Ji smiled at Jiang Li, "You know quite a lot, girl. I don’t mind telling you—the Golden Guard Army was handed over to Heng long ago. Without the military tally, Heng cannot command the Golden Guard Army, and the soldiers only follow Minghan’s orders. What people say about the Golden Guard Army’s decline is true. So, if a war happens, the Golden Guard Army won’t be deployed. First, without the tiger tally, they cannot be mobilized; second, they are too weakened to take the field. Our Duke’s residence now only holds the title of Duke."

As Jiang Li listened to Old General Ji, his expression seemed sincere, but she couldn’t shake the feeling that things weren’t as they appeared. Ji Heng was feared in the court, and even Prince Cheng dared not oppose him lightly—he must have some foundation of power. Even if it wasn’t the Golden Guard Army, there had to be something else. Moreover, with such an army at his disposal, how could Ji Heng let it go to waste? Perhaps Old General Ji was being kept in the dark by Ji Heng, who might have his own reasons for secrecy.

Suddenly, she remembered the last time she saw Ji Heng, when they had talked about Xia Junwang, the Zhaode General Yin Zhan, who was as renowned as the Golden Guard Army. Jiang Li asked, "Old General, do you know anything about Zhaode General Yin Zhan in recent years?"

At this question, Old General Ji’s expression changed. He remained silent for a long while before finally saying, "Girl, there are many things you don’t know the details of, so it’s best not to ask. Asking too much won’t do you any good. If Jiang Yuanbai knew you were inquiring about these matters, he would advise you to stop as well. No matter what Heng has told you or what you think you know, stay out of it. That way, you’ll remain safe."Since Jiang Li first met Old General Ji, this was the first time she had seen him speak to her with such a serious expression. Jiang Li was also taken aback for a moment. After thinking it over, she said, "I understand, Old General. I won't ask again."

Only then did Old General Ji nod with satisfaction. "Clever girl."

Although Jiang Li outwardly agreed not to inquire further, deep down she understood that this General Zhaode was likely deeply problematic. Otherwise, Old General Ji wouldn't have warned her so sternly, and Ji Heng's expression that day wouldn't have been so peculiar. Jiang Li had never understood why Ji Heng wanted to divide Prince Cheng, Hongxiao Emperor, and the Jiang family into three stable forces, then use this divided situation to become Hongxiao Emperor's trusted confidant.

Now it seemed Jiang Li was beginning to understand a little—this was her random speculation, but sometimes guesses might accidentally hit upon the truth. Perhaps just as Hongxiao Emperor was growing in power, Ji Heng was also expanding his own influence. He might need to deal with a force he previously couldn't handle, so he needed to increase his own bargaining chips. As for his relationship with Hongxiao Emperor—while the emperor leveraged Ji Heng's power, wasn't Ji Heng also leveraging the emperor's influence? Prince Cheng was merely a facade; Ji Heng's true target had never been Prince Cheng, but the person behind him.

Could that person be Xia Junwang Yin Zhan?

Jiang Li didn't know.

While chatting idly with Old General Ji, when the old general grew thirsty from talking, he would drain his tea in one gulp before going to the courtyard to practice swordplay. Jiang Li sat in the study, propping her head with one hand. Faintly, she could still hear Little Red's emotional cheers from outside—"Excellent swordsmanship!" Her mind drifted between thoughts of Ji Heng, the tiger tally, and Xia Junwang until, feeling drowsy, she eventually fell asleep without realizing when.

By the time Ji Heng returned to the residence, it was already evening.

The sky over Yanjing City rarely displayed sunset clouds, but today golden-red hues cascaded from the horizon, dazzling to behold. Ji Heng glanced up briefly. The flowerbeds outside were strewn with scattered petals—a mess left behind by Old General Ji's sword practice. After finishing his exercises, the old general, exhausted, had collapsed into sleep, completely forgetting that Jiang Li was still in his study. Had the gatekeeper of the ducal residence not informed Ji Heng earlier that Second Miss Jiang had come and not yet left, Ji Heng might never have known there was an extra person in the residence.

The servants nearby didn't know where Jiang Li had gone either. Instead of having Wen Ji search for her, Ji Heng went room by room himself. His footsteps were unhurried, maintaining his usual leisurely composure, until he pushed open the door to Old General Ji's study.

He stopped in his tracks.

The lingering sunlight streamed through the window, creeping across the girl's face and gilding her hair with a fuzzy golden halo. Her eyes were closed, lashes resting gently, nose small and delicate, lips refined. In her quiet slumber, she lacked her usual clarity and occasional cunning—she was simply peaceful.

Wen Ji stood behind Ji Heng, who waved a hand, signaling him to leave. After Wen Ji withdrew, Ji Heng walked over to Jiang Li's side.In Old General Ji's study, or rather his armory, were stored nothing but weapons. And these were not newly forged arms from a blacksmith's shop—they were all blades the old general had carried into battle, weapons that had taken lives and been stained with blood. People often said the room carried too heavy an aura of slaughter, too fierce and ominous. Aside from the old general himself, few were willing to step inside.

Yet Jiang Li slept peacefully here, seemingly without the slightest discomfort. Perhaps it was because her very bones carried the same unyielding sharpness as these weapons, or perhaps her presence softened the room's ferocious implements. Even the golden armor seemed like a gentle general guarding a delicate young girl.

Ji Heng sat down opposite Jiang Li. The tea on the table had long gone cold. He took a clean cup, poured himself some, and drank slowly. He didn't wake Jiang Li, nor did he make a sound—the scene was silent as a painting, utterly beautiful.

It wasn't until Jiang Li felt cold that she woke.

Strangely, when she slept at the Jiang residence, she often dreamed—visions of her past life—and upon waking in the morning, would frequently struggle to distinguish dream from reality. But in Old General Ji's study, she slept soundly and dreamlessly, vaguely sensing someone by her side that made her feel secure enough to sleep without reservations.

The first thing she saw upon opening her eyes was the red-clad youth sitting across from her, toying with a folding fan. The room was already lit with lamps—it was dusk, the sun's last rays lingering in the twilight, preserving the final traces of sunset.

"Duke?" she asked, still groggy.

"You're quite at home," Ji Heng remarked with a faint smile. "Treating this as your own residence?"

Jiang Li paused, then laughed. "I didn't realize when I fell asleep. Perhaps the general's study feels safe—with so many weapons around, it feels very secure."

"Do you sleep poorly at the Jiang residence, then? Afraid of something? That someone might harm you in your dreams?" he asked pointedly.

The smile faded from Jiang Li's face. "Perhaps. Maybe I'm just naturally suspicious."

After a moment of silence, Ji Heng asked, "Why did you come?"

"Hmm?" Jiang Li remembered her purpose and said, "Princess Yongning and Shen Yurong are now commoners, and Prince Cheng and the Li family have developed a rift. I didn't expect it to succeed so quickly. I'm very grateful to you, Duke."

Her gaze was clear and sincere, capable of sweeping away the shadows in one's heart. Ji Heng glanced at her, then suddenly opened his fan, holding it between Jiang Li and himself.

Jiang Li was taken aback.

Then she noticed a new fan pendant on Ji Heng's fan—the very one she had given him earlier. The blood-red butterfly danced after the golden peonies embroidered on the fan, almost intoxicating to behold. Such a lethal weapon now appeared increasingly tender and captivating.

Jiang Li smiled. "You've started using the fan pendant. It suits you well."

Ji Heng closed the fan and examined the pendant. "Your craftsmanship is excellent."

"Thank you," Jiang Li replied with a smile. "To earn your praise feels truly worthwhile."Ji Heng smiled. In the twilight, the hazy sunset glow and bright lanterns made his face appear both near and distant, while the chill in the depths of his eyes faded, replaced by gentleness.

"What do you plan to do next?" Ji Heng asked. "Regarding Yongning and Shen Yurong."

"After being reduced to commoners, the privileges of nobility they once possessed should crumble," Jiang Li replied. "County Magistrate Xue has regained consciousness. I believe it is time for Xue Fangfei and Xue Zhao's case to be brought to light."

"Are you preparing to strike back?" Ji Heng inquired with keen interest. "In what capacity?"

"My identity is unnecessary. The fact that County Magistrate Xue is Xue Fangfei's father alone is enough to draw the attention of all Yanjing residents. What I need to do is simply give him a hand, which is only reasonable since I was the one who stepped forward regarding the Tongxiang case. With Haitang and Xiao Deyin as witnesses, the evidence is complete. Xue Zhao's case is much more difficult because the people involved back then are no longer here. But if there's no evidence, we'll just have to create some. When other evidence is conclusive, no one will bother to verify new evidence one by one, isn't that right?"

Her eyes reflected the lamplight, which should have made them bright, but instead they grew dim. Like secrets buried deep in one's heart, making them impossible to scrutinize.

Ji Heng said, "You've considered everything thoroughly."

"There's one more matter regarding Jiang Youyao," Jiang Li asked. "Could the Duke tell me where Princess Yongning has hidden Jiang Youyao? When the time is right, Jiang Youyao's existence could add another layer to Princess Yongning's crimes."

Ji Heng replied, "In her private prison. It won't be easy for you to get in. If anything happens to Yongning, Prince Cheng will immediately set fire to her private prison. There are too many key figures inside who must be eliminated completely."

Jiang Li said, "Duke..."

"Wanting my help again?" The corner of his lips curled, and the previous gentleness instantly transformed into an alluring charm. He leaned closer, allowing Jiang Li to clearly see the red teardrop mole at the corner of his eye. "Last time it was a fan pendant. What do you plan to exchange for it this time?"

"What does the Duke want?" Jiang Li asked. "If it's within my power, I will certainly do it."

"I don't like asking others for things," Ji Heng raised an eyebrow. "I prefer when others offer them willingly. Since you want me to help you, how to please me is something you should consider." His tone was utterly arrogant and difficult to refuse.

"Then I'll think about it," Jiang Li understood implicitly. She no longer found Ji Heng moody, but he probably had some mischievous tendencies.

Ji Heng rested his chin in his hand and watched her, suddenly saying, "You've truly gone above and beyond for the Xue family."

Jiang Li was taken aback and said, "Doesn't the Duke think the Xue family is pitiful?"

"Pitiful?"

"The Xue family has fallen to this state. Xue Fangfei is indeed pitiful, but if not for her foolishness in misjudging people, she wouldn't have let the wolf in through the door. She failed to see the ill intentions of the person beside her, even harming her own family." Jiang Li lowered her head. "Shen Yurong and Princess Yongning are guilty, that's true, but Xue Fangfei probably isn't entirely without fault, is she?"

Ji Heng looked at her meaningfully: "You're usually not this harsh towards the dead. Why single out Xue Fangfei like this?"

Jiang Li asked, "Does the Duke think what I said is wrong?"

Jiang Li and Ji Heng had spoken about Xue Fangfei before, but at that time, their relationship wasn't as peaceful as it was now. Jiang Li intended to conceal, Ji Heng intended to probe, and neither knew whether the other was telling the truth. Their discussions back then naturally couldn't be taken seriously.

But today, suddenly speaking of Xue Fangfei, Jiang Li suddenly wanted to know what kind of person Xue Fangfei had been in Ji Heng's eyes in the past. She knew he had said she was "beautiful but soulless" - and then? Was there anything else?

Ji Heng said, "What if you're right? What if you're wrong?""You must have met Xue Fangfei," Jiang Li stubbornly pursued the answer. "In your eyes, what kind of person was she?"

What kind of person? Jiang Li thought he might say a fool, an idiot, someone with a broken mind. Or even a dull person—given Ji Heng's inherent arrogance that looked down on everyone, Xue Fangfei would surely be beneath his notice in his eyes.

Ji Heng seemed somewhat surprised by her persistent questioning. His slender fingers stroked the fan handle, his amber eyes deep in thought. After a moment's consideration, he finally said: "A beauty."

Pay attention, class! See? This is the standard answer!

Our Little Ji really knows how to charm women!

(End of chapter)