The Double

Chapter 205: Return

“No.”

Jiang Yuanbai’s voice was resolute and brooked no argument. He said, “Last time, you encountered trouble on your way to the Ye family. We don’t know if there are any remaining assassins in Yanjing City. If you go out now, you’ll inevitably be in danger. If you want to see them, they can come to the Jiang residence, but for the next few days, it’s best if you don’t go out.”

Jiang Li sighed inwardly. She had anticipated that Jiang Yuanbai would say this. Before she could argue, Jiang Yuanbai opened the study door and walked out, leaving no room for discussion.

Jiang Li had no choice but to accept it.

When she returned to Fragrant Garden Courtyard, she ran into Tong’er and Bai Xue, who had just received the news and were rushing out. Seeing Jiang Li, Tong’er’s lips trembled, and tears streamed down her face as she said, “Miss, you’re finally back. I thought I’d never see you again… Sob…”

“I’m fine. But you,” Jiang Li took her hand to examine it, “you took a knife for me back then… Are you alright?”

Tong’er shook her head between sobs. “The master had a physician examine me. It’s nothing serious, and I’ll be able to serve you just as before. But you’ve suffered so much this time. Those villains are truly despicable. I heard you were taken to Huangzhou, and there’s still fighting there… I was so worried, afraid something might happen to you.” Her concern was entirely for Jiang Li, who had to comfort her in return. “I’m really fine. Look at me now—I’m perfectly alright.”

Bai Xue also gathered around. She was quieter than Tong’er, but even she couldn’t hold back her reddened eyes. She said, “It’s all my fault for being useless. I failed to protect you back then, otherwise you wouldn’t have had to suffer like this.”

Jiang Li said softly, “I know about what happened at the Duke’s residence. If you hadn’t gone to seek help there, Duke Su wouldn’t have learned so quickly that I was missing. You did very well, Bai Xue. Thank you.”

Bai Xue looked at her, flustered.

After also seeing Qingfeng and Mingyue, Jiang Li finally returned to her room. Once the door was closed, Tong’er repeatedly checked that Jiang Li hadn’t suffered even a scratch before she felt somewhat relieved. Then she asked Jiang Li about other matters, saying, “I heard you were rescued by someone, but I don’t know who… Miss, earlier you mentioned the Duke’s residence… Was it the Duke, then?”

Jiang Yuanbai and Jiang Yuanping hadn’t informed anyone else about this, but Jiang Li didn’t hide it from her two maids and replied, “Yes.”

Both Tong’er and Bai Xue knew that Jiang Li and Ji Heng had a close relationship, so they didn’t find it strange. Tong’er even remarked, “The Duke is truly a good person. Helping you time and again shows he considers you one of his own. You’ve been staying with the Duke in Huangzhou all these days…” She cautiously studied Jiang Li, and though she left the rest unsaid, Jiang Li understood instantly.

Jiang Li smiled faintly and said, “It wasn’t like we saw each other every day. He had matters to attend to and entrusted me to others.”

Upon hearing this, Tong’er hummed in acknowledgment, her earlier expression fading somewhat. Yet, her words stirred a strange restlessness in Jiang Li’s heart.

She stood up and walked to the desk, saying, “Bai Xue, help me grind the ink. Since I’ve returned to the residence, I ought to see my uncle and cousin. But since Father won’t let me go out, I’ll have to trouble them to make the trip here.”

Bai Xue hurried to lay out the paper and grind the ink for Jiang Li.

…In the Ye residence of Yanjing City, a servant rushed with a letter to Ye Mingyu, who was sitting dazedly in the courtyard, and said, "Master, the Jiang family—the Jiang family has sent an invitation!"

Ye Mingyu frowned. "An invitation from the Jiang family? Nothing worth seeing! What scheme is Jiang Yuanbai plotting? I won’t accept it!"

"Not from Grand Secretary Jiang—it’s from the young lady, the young lady’s invitation!" the servant explained.

"A Li?" Ye Mingyu leaped up from his chair at once, snatched the invitation from the servant’s hand, and confirmed it was indeed from Jiang Li. He was stunned for a moment, then exclaimed joyfully, "A Li has returned!"

He was overjoyed! In the twenty-some days since Jiang Li had been abducted, Yanjing City had witnessed Consort Liu being sentenced to death, Prince Cheng fleeing, and later, turmoil in Huangzhou. When Ye Mingyu first received news of Jiang Li’s disappearance, he had asked his friends in the martial world to search everywhere for her, but to no avail. A few days later, however, the Jiang family suddenly sent a letter stating that Jiang Li had been found and was in Huangzhou.

Upon hearing this, Ye Mingyu wanted to send someone to fetch Jiang Li immediately, but Jiang Yuanbai stopped him, claiming it was Jiang Li’s own decision. At first, Ye Mingyu didn’t believe it, but Jiang Yuanbai showed him Jiang Li’s personal letter, and only then did Ye Mingyu relent.

Later, when fighting suddenly broke out in Huangzhou, with Prince Cheng’s troops stationed outside the city and rumors of chaos, looting, and killing within, Ye Mingyu grew even more worried.

Yet, there was little he could do. He spent his days sitting anxiously in the courtyard, too distressed even to visit the pleasure houses. In his frustration, he had even scolded a few of his favorite courtesans, upsetting them.

Now, finally receiving news of Jiang Li and an end to his anxiety, how could Ye Mingyu not be overjoyed? He immediately sent for Ye Shijie, straightened his clothes, and prepared to go see Jiang Li.

Ye Shijie was also delighted by the news. Though he didn’t show it openly, he quickly ordered a carriage to be prepared. Just as they were about to leave, Xue Huaiyuan arrived. His health had improved significantly these days. It seemed that after Princess Yongning and Shen Yurong were executed, and the true culprits behind the cases of Xue Fangfei and Xue Zhao were revealed to the world, Xue Huaiyuan had been unburdened. He visited Xue Zhao’s grave daily to talk, taught Ye Shijie a bit about official conduct, and gradually began to resemble the former County Magistrate Xue, or perhaps Xue Lingyun.

"Master Ye," Xue Huaiyuan said, "I’ve just heard that Miss Jiang has returned to the Jiang family."

Ye Mingyu nodded. "Yes, apologies—I was so overjoyed that I forgot to inform you, sir."

"I would also like to see Miss Jiang," Xue Huaiyuan added. "She helped our Xue family tremendously before. Since her misfortune, I’ve been deeply concerned."

He seemed hesitant, likely because Ye Mingyu and Ye Shijie, as Jiang Li’s uncle and cousin, had a rightful reason to visit her at the Jiang residence, whereas he himself had no kinship with Jiang Li and felt it might be inappropriate.However, Xue Huaiyuan held a particularly peculiar feeling toward Jiang Li in his heart. Perhaps it was because Jiang Li had helped Fangfei clear her name, or perhaps it was because the young lady Jiang herself was straightforward and candid, or maybe because she bore an uncanny resemblance to Ali in certain aspects. When Jiang Li was abducted, Xue Huaiyuan felt a surge of anxiety and worry in his heart—a strange sensation that left him restless even at night. Thus, while Ye Mingyu and the others were visibly anxious, Xue Huaiyuan appeared calm on the surface but was just as troubled as Ye Mingyu.

When he learned today that Jiang Li had returned to the Jiang residence, Xue Huaiyuan’s heart, which had been suspended with worry, finally settled. He too wanted to see if Jiang Li was injured and how she was doing now.

Xue Huaiyuan looked at Ye Mingyu, and Ye Shijie spoke up: “Mr. Xue, why don’t you come with us? I think my cousin would be very happy to see you.”

Ye Mingyu, being straightforward and unobservant, naturally didn’t notice anything amiss. With a wave of his hand, he said, “Let’s go, let’s go, we’ll all go together!”

…

Jiang Li sat in her room. The message had already been sent to the Ye family. She couldn’t leave the residence, and after the incidents involving Princess Yongning and Shen Yurong, she was momentarily unsure of what else she could do. It seemed that all she could do now was to quietly play the role of the Grand Secretary’s daughter, but it was undeniably disheartening.

Unconsciously, she pressed her hand to her chest and took out a jade pendant carved with a lynx.

The patterns on the jade were clear, and it still carried a trace of warmth. Jiang Li’s fingers traced the lines of the pendant, but her mind involuntarily drifted back to that day when Ji Heng disappeared from the carriage and suddenly reappeared outside the thatched cottage at night. He had opened his hand to her, revealing this very pendant.

He said, “You still don’t trust me, Ali.”

His appearance was strikingly beautiful, and so it was only natural to assume that his emotions were equally intense and resolute—so distinct that it made others hesitate and dare not approach. Jiang Li somewhat understood why he was so determined to remain a spectator, refusing to step into the play. The greatest fear was that one might immerse themselves in the drama, only to realize in the end that they had become part of someone else’s play, where all the joys and sorrows were nothing but illusions.

She also recalled those days in Huangzhou, holding an oil-paper package of pastries in her hands while he held onto her sleeve, walking leisurely through the streets. Though the surroundings were in disarray and far from picturesque, they could still clearly sense the arrival of spring.

Spring had arrived unnoticed, just as she couldn’t pinpoint the exact moment her heart had begun to stir. By the time she realized it, the grass had grown tall, the orioles were singing, and the flowers and willows were in full bloom—a scene too beautiful to part with.

She closed her eyes.

Just then, the voices of Qingfeng and Mingyue sounded from outside: “Miss, Miss! Third Master Ye and Young Master Ye are here to see you!”

Jiang Li was startled. She had only sent the message to the Ye family half an hour ago. She had assumed that Ye Mingyu and the others wouldn’t come today, but she never expected Ye Mingyu to arrive so quickly. It seemed they had received the message and rushed over almost without stopping.

After the initial surprise, Jiang Li couldn’t help but smile. She still wasn’t quite used to it, but she thought to herself that if it were Xue Zhao and Xue Huaiyuan, they would have rushed over without delay upon hearing that Xue Fangfei had been abducted and then returned. Family was like that—genuine concern and feigned concern were fundamentally different.Jiang Li opened the door to see Ye Mingyu and Ye Shijie hurrying over from outside the courtyard, followed unexpectedly by Haitang and Xue Huaiyuan.

Spotting Jiang Li from afar, Ye Mingyu waved vigorously and called out, "A Li! Hey, A Li!"

Jiang Li smiled and responded, "Uncle."

As the group approached, Ye Mingyu grabbed Jiang Li's arm and scrutinized her from head to toe. "A Li, are you alright? You were gone for so long! Were you hurt? Where are those bandits now? Did they harm you? Ah, if I'd known this would happen, I should've taught you some self-defense moves. Then you wouldn't have been taken so easily."

Jiang Li interrupted with a laugh, "I'm really fine. Uncle, cousin, Master Xue, please come inside and sit. Bai Xue, prepare some tea."

The room, originally spacious, quickly filled with people. Bai Xue served hot tea, and Ye Mingyu unceremoniously downed a cup in one gulp before catching his breath. "A Li, we came as soon as we received your invitation."

"I should have visited you at the Ye residence instead," Jiang Li said with a smile. "But Father thinks Yanjing City isn't safe yet and advised me not to go out, so I had to send invitations."

"For once, your father did the right thing," Ye Mingyu finally agreed with Jiang Yuanbai. "You shouldn't leave the estate these days. What if those villains remain determined and try to kidnap you again? I heard they were Prince Cheng's men—damned traitors with wolfish ambitions! It seems he's not only plotting to usurp the throne but also targeting young girls!"

Ye Shijie cautioned, "Third Uncle, watch your words."

Although everyone could discuss Prince Cheng, it was better to say little about court affairs.

Ye Mingyu grumbled, "Alright, alright, I'll stop."

Jiang Li reassured him, "The bandits who kidnapped me are dead, Uncle. There's no need to worry."

Ye Shijie glanced at Jiang Li and asked quietly, "Was it... him?"

The "him" naturally referred to Duke Su. Jiang Li hadn't hidden this from Jiang Yuanbai or Ye Mingyu. Back in Tongxiang, Ye Mingyu had already witnessed the relationship between Jiang Li and Ji Heng.

Jiang Li nodded.

"A Li," Ye Mingyu frowned and asked, "What are his intentions? I asked Shijie about him later—this man isn't known for being virtuous in court. He... couldn't possibly have taken a fancy to you, could he?"

Tong'er's eyes widened at Ye Mingyu's blunt and unsubtle remark. Even Xue Huaiyuan and Haitang couldn't help but glance over in surprise.

"Nothing of the sort, Uncle," Jiang Li replied calmly. "He just happened to pass by and recognized me. As for saving me, it was probably because of Father's connections. Court matters are complicated, and only Father might understand the details. I don't know the exact reason, but it's definitely not what you suggested. He's encountered all sorts of people—I'm hardly worth mentioning.""What do you mean you're not worth mentioning?" Ye Mingyu immediately protested upon hearing this. "You're a daughter of our Ye family—don't undervalue yourself. I was going to say, he's merely somewhat handsome, just the type to deceive young girls. Someone as clever as you, A Li, wouldn't judge people by appearances alone. You definitely won't be fooled by him, right?"

Ye Mingyu stared intently at Jiang Li, as if demanding reassurance from her.

Jiang Li didn't know whether to laugh or cry, so she could only reply, "Yes, yes, Uncle, I won't be fooled by him."

Jiang Li found it strange—when she hadn't been aware of her own feelings, everything seemed calm. But now that she had discovered these emotions and was troubled by them, it seemed as if overnight, everyone else had noticed too. Whether it was Jiang Yuanbai, Tong'er, or now Ye Mingyu, they were all subtly reminding her that they were not from the same world and naturally could not be together.

Why bother with these unnecessary reminders? She understood this better than anyone.

Ye Mingyu went on to ask Jiang Li about her experiences in Huangzhou City and what the current situation there was like. Surprisingly, Jiang Li had expected Ye Mingyu to inquire further about Ji Heng, but after his initial warning, he never mentioned the subject again. Upon reflection, she realized that since Ye Mingyu wasn't involved in court affairs, he naturally wouldn't be interested in Ji Heng's other matters.

Ye Mingyu and Ye Shijie stayed until evening before preparing to leave. They asked detailed questions, and Jiang Li patiently answered each one. Xue Huaiyuan also asked Jiang Li some questions, which she answered one by one. She had originally decided that after returning to the capital this time, she would visit the Ye family and reveal her true identity to Xue Huaiyuan. However, Jiang Yuanbai currently forbade her from leaving the residence. If she were to speak of it here, she feared eavesdroppers, and if Xue Huaiyuan showed any unusual reaction, it might arouse suspicion among the household. Jiang Li had no choice but to suppress her intentions, planning to wait until this period had passed before going to the Ye residence to clarify everything with Xue Huaiyuan.

As night fell, the Ye family members couldn't stay overnight. Ye Mingyu and Ye Shijie prepared to leave. Jiang Li saw them to the door, but noticed that Xue Huaiyuan had suddenly stopped moving at her desk.

Puzzled, Jiang Li walked over and asked, "What's wrong, Mr. Xue?" Her words died in her throat as she saw Xue Huaiyuan staring down at something in his hand—it was the jade pendant carved with a wildcat.

Earlier, when Ye Mingyu had arrived in a hurry, Jiang Li had also rushed out and casually placed the pendant on the desk without paying much attention. Now, Xue Huaiyuan had seen it. Holding the pendant, he trembled as he looked at Jiang Li, his voice strangely agitated as he asked, "Miss Jiang, this jade pendant... where did you get it?"

Ye Mingyu and Ye Shijie paused in their steps, both looking at Xue Huaiyuan in confusion, unable to understand why he was so fixated on this jade pendant. Tong'er, witnessing the scene, exclaimed in surprise, "Miss, isn't this the one we saw at the pawnshop—"

"I redeemed it from a pawnshop," Jiang Li interrupted Tong'er. "When I saw this pendant there, I thought the wildcat carving was very beautiful, so I redeemed it."

She couldn't reveal the truth here, not in front of Ye Mingyu and Ye Shijie.

Ye Mingyu asked, "Mr. Xue, what's special about this pendant?"

"This is Ali's jade pendant..." Xue Huaiyuan murmured. "The wildcat on it... I carved it myself..."Ye Mingyu and Ye Shijie were both taken aback for a moment before realizing that Xue Huaiyuan had said "Ali" rather than "A Li." Ye Mingyu, being broad-minded, didn't think much of it and simply laughed heartily, saying, "Really? What a coincidence! It must be fate from a past life that our A Li and the Xue family have met like this!"

Haitang moved her lips but said nothing. Tong'er was full of confusion, while Ye Shijie gave Jiang Li another strange look.

"Miss Jiang..." Xue Huaiyuan looked at her and said, "This jade pendant... could you sell it to me? I want to take back Ali's belongings."

Jiang Li replied, "Since it belonged to Miss Fangfei, please take it, Sir Xue. There's no need for payment." She wanted to comfort Xue Huaiyuan but didn't know what to say.

"Thank you, Miss Jiang." Xue Huaiyuan carefully held the jade pendant in his hand as if it were an invaluable treasure, treasuring it and storing it away securely. He looked at Jiang Li as if he wanted to say more but ultimately remained silent.

Jiang Li understood that Xue Huaiyuan probably wanted to ask about what she had mentioned earlier—the connection between her and the Xue family. However, he also realized that now was not the right time to speak, so he held back.

After Ye Mingyu and the others had left, Tong'er stood in the room and asked Jiang Li, "Miss, wasn't it you who instructed me to redeem that jade pendant? How did you know from the start that it belonged to Miss Xue?"

She couldn't figure it out. Jiang Li had clearly acted with intention but told Xue Huaiyuan that she had redeemed it by chance. Tong'er didn't understand why Jiang Li had lied, nor did she grasp the significance of Jiang Li redeeming the pendant. How could she have known it was Xue Fangfei's from the beginning? Before this, Jiang Li and Xue Fangfei had never met.

Jiang Li said, "Yes, I knew from the very start. I suppose Sir Xue has realized it too."

After all, they were father and daughter. In front of Xue Huaiyuan, she didn't try hard to conceal herself; in fact, she hoped he would notice her differences, so the clues she left became more and more obvious. Her father was a clever man, and this time, he must have truly become suspicious.

She ought to find a way to confess to her father as soon as possible.

...

Back at the Duke's residence, Ji Heng's return didn't attract as much attention as Jiang Li's had. This was natural, as he often went out of the city on business, sometimes not returning for ten days or half a month. Even Old General Ji was used to it, so it wasn't considered anything noteworthy.

However, the mynah bird hanging in the cage under the eaves greeted Ji Heng enthusiastically upon his return, calling out, "Beauty! Beauty!"

The mynah seemed like a lecherous creature, yet Ji Heng was unusually tolerant of it and hadn't crushed it to death. This only encouraged its audacity, as if it had someone backing it up. It had pecked at all the servants in the courtyard, and last time, it even snatched a piece of meat from Zhao Ke's plate.

No one dared to lay a hand on it.The myna bird's loud voice could be heard by everyone in the courtyard, including Situ Jiuyue. It seemed this myna was a bully who only picked on the weak. It would never dare act recklessly around Situ Jiuyue, not even daring to approach her, keeping a wide distance. It probably understood that Situ Jiuyue was a formidable figure—one moment of impatience from her, a puff of poisonous smoke, and its little life would be gone. Thus, while the myna bird brazenly challenged everyone else in the Duke's residence, it flattered Ji Heng obsequiously and kept a respectful distance from Situ Jiuyue.

Situ Jiuyue was picking flowers in the garden. The flowers here grew exceptionally fast and required regular tending. From time to time, Situ Jiuyue would gather some plants to refine medicines, finding it much simpler than painstakingly searching for ingredients elsewhere.

When Wenren Yao dragged Lin Yao over, he proudly showed him off to Situ Jiuyue, saying, "This is my little disciple, Lin Yao. Come, little disciple, this is Sister Situ."

With just one glance from Situ Jiuyue, Lin Yao trembled in fear and hid behind Wenren Yao. Situ Jiuyue remarked, "Just like you—a coward."

"It's because you're too fierce, you scared the child." Wenren Yao pulled Lin Yao outside as they walked away: "Xiao Yao, let's go, don't mind this fierce sister. Remember, all the flowers in this garden are poisonous. You must stay far away from them on ordinary days. Except for that poisonous sister just now, no one else would casually come near you. Though these flowers look beautiful, their toxicity is extremely potent. Once poisoned, your little life would be gone, beyond even a deity's ability to save."

Lin Yao obediently nodded.

Situ Jiuyue restrained herself, placed the picked flowers and plants into a box, and headed toward the medicine refining room. Wen Ji and Zhao Ke stood nearby. Zhao Ke asked: "Miss Situ, how is that young man sent here earlier...?"

"He appears fine, but his martial arts are completely destroyed, and he can never stand again. If Ji Heng wants him to join you all, it's absolutely impossible," Situ Jiuyue replied.

The answer was utterly definitive, yet Zhao Ke and Wen Ji showed no doubt. This was indeed the truth—besides proper medical skills, Situ Jiuyue possessed various unconventional and peculiar prescriptions. If even she declared him incurable, no one in the world could heal him.

"What should we do now?" Zhao Ke asked Wen Ji for a decision. "Should we inform Lord Ji? Has Lord Ji forgotten about this person? We haven't heard him mention it. We can't let him stay in the Duke's residence indefinitely without knowing his background."

"You could investigate his origins thoroughly," Situ Jiuyue raised an eyebrow. "I've told him his legs can never recover, yet he still tries. Several times, he even attempted to get out of bed behind my back—of course, it was impossible. I see he is a person with deep obsession, different from ordinary people."

Zhao Ke said: "Since he was in Princess Yongning's private prison, he must have had a conflict with Princess Yongning. We can follow that lead to investigate."

Situ Jiuyue: "That's your business." After saying this, she took the box and left. However, when she reached the small room next to the medicine refining room, she paused briefly before entering.

Inside, the youth named Ah Zhao was holding a book and reading. Situ Jiuyue noticed it was a travelogue about landscapes and rivers, finding it peculiar. Clearly, his legs could never recover—what was the point of reading such things? He would never be able to visit those places, and it would only make his situation harder to bear.

Yet the young man showed no trace of sorrow. Seeing Situ Jiuyue enter, he put down the book and smiled at her: "Physician Situ."

"Your external injuries will heal completely soon with continued care."

"Thank you, Physician Situ." Ah Zhao hesitated before saying: "In the past, I've had injuries too, but recovery took a very long time. Physician Situ healed me in such a short time—it shows your exceptional medical skill."

"I'm not a real physician; there's no need to flatter me like that," Situ Jiuyue said. "There's something I want to ask you—what deep hatred do you hold against Princess Yongning?"

Ah Zhao was momentarily stunned, seemingly unprepared for her question. Over the past few days, Situ Jiuyue had been cold and rarely spoke with him, mostly about his injuries without inquiring about his personal affairs. The Duke's residence servants brought him food and water but seldom conversed with him. Ah Zhao didn't know the situation outside, only that his enemy was dead."She killed my entire family," Ah Zhao said.

Situ Jiuyue nodded, as if this answer did not surprise her.

"There's something I'd like to ask Dr. Situ," Ah Zhao continued. "Last time, Dr. Situ mentioned that Princess Yongning and Shen Yurong were executed for the crime of murder requiring life as payment, but didn't specify which family it was. May I ask..."

Situ Jiuyue replied, "There were many. I've heard those two killed quite a few people. But the most important was probably when Yongning gouged out the eyes of the current Grand Secretary's daughter and imprisoned her in a private prison. Offending the Grand Secretary was what ultimately landed them in prison."

(End of Chapter)