The Double

Chapter 209: Taking Action

Ji Heng and Jiang Li walked into the study.

His study remained as austere and cold as ever, starkly contrasting with his striking beauty. After Jiang Li entered the study, Ji Heng did not follow her inside immediately. He said, "I need to change my clothes first."

His inner garments were stained with mud. While Jiang Li could wash her hands with water, he had no choice but to change. She sat at Ji Heng’s desk, where several sheets of paper with writing lay scattered—likely practice sheets for calligraphy. Jiang Li picked one up and was surprised to see that Ji Heng’s handwriting was unexpectedly elegant, with bold, intense strokes that carried a hint of fierceness.

It resembled him closely. He did not write poetry; instead, the words seemed to be lines from operas. After a brief glance, Jiang Li set the paper aside.

The tea on the table was still warm, and there were two teacups set out, as if he had anticipated her visit and prepared them in advance. Since he always poured tea for her, this time, Jiang Li filled both cups and placed one opposite her.

Just as she finished, the door opened.

Ji Heng had changed quickly and was now draped in a red outer robe. Almost all his clothes were red, differing only in the gold and silver embroidery patterns. Jiang Li rested her chin in her hand and watched him. He raised an eyebrow as he sat down and asked, "Why are you staring at me?"

"The Yin siblings visited our residence today," Jiang Li said. "Yin Zhan’s daughter is the young lady we encountered on the street that day, the one who saved Xiao Yao."

Ji Heng stared at her without speaking, a faint smile on his lips that revealed nothing of his thoughts.

"Before leaving, she asked about you," Jiang Li continued. "She wanted to know your identity—the person who was with us that day."

"Did you tell her?" Ji Heng asked.

"I did. If I hadn’t, she would have found out sooner or later anyway."

Ji Heng looked at her, his tone ambiguous as he remarked, "How generous of you."

Jiang Li didn’t understand what he meant by that. Was telling Yin Zhiqing his identity an act of generosity? Ji Heng always dressed so conspicuously; anyone with a bit of curiosity could easily find out. Besides, when Yin Zhiqing asked her directly, how could she refuse? That day, she had been standing right beside Ji Heng, clearly acquainted with him. If she had withheld the information, Yin Zhiqing would have surely thought she was being deliberate.

Recalling the incident, Jiang Li felt a faint, almost imperceptible irritation. It was Ji Heng’s fault to begin with—he didn’t have to step out of the carriage that day. If he hadn’t, Yin Zhiqing wouldn’t have seen him, and none of this would have happened.

Ji Heng seemed oblivious to her annoyance and asked instead, "Why did the Yin siblings suddenly visit the Jiang family? As far as I know, Jiang Yuanbai and the Yin family haven’t had much contact in the past."

"There wasn’t any before, but now…" Jiang Li paused. Of course, she knew why. The Jiang family had chosen Yin Zhili as her prospective "ideal husband."

She could have stated this openly, but for some reason, the words stuck in her throat and refused to come out.

"Could it be that the Yin family intends to form a marriage alliance with the Jiang family?" Ji Heng asked with a mocking smile.

Jiang Li looked up abruptly, meeting Ji Heng’s beautiful amber phoenix eyes. His gaze was profound and inscrutable, but she sensed a hint of probing and provocation in his words.Ji Heng actually knew about this? Of course, if he intended to investigate something, as long as there were traces to follow, he could naturally find out. Moreover, he had been paying such close attention to Yin Zhan's family from the start—it seemed every move the Yin family made was already in the palm of Ji Heng's hand.

Since he already knew, Jiang Li's earlier hesitation and reluctance to speak were now entirely unnecessary. She nodded slightly and said, "Perhaps."

"To see your prospective husband?" Ji Heng asked with a laugh.

Jiang Li gritted her teeth and replied, "Perhaps."

"And what are your thoughts?" he inquired with interest.

Jiang Li looked at him. Ji Heng seemed completely unaffected by this news, even having the mood to ask her these questions. A self-mocking smile surfaced in Jiang Li's heart—he truly could step back and remain an outsider at any time. The affairs of the Jiang family were, to him, merely a play that he could watch or ignore as he pleased. Though he considered her a friend and had done many things for her, when it came to matters of emotion, he always stopped at just the right distance.

"I have no particular thoughts," Jiang Li said. "We don't yet know the true nature of the Yin family. If the Jiang family rashly forms a marriage alliance with them and ends up boarding a pirate ship, it would be difficult to disembark later."

"Aside from that?" Ji Heng raised an eyebrow, leaning back and toying with his folding fan as he asked nonchalantly, "Regarding Yin Zhili himself, have you developed any feelings for him?"

His posture was casual, but his tone held a trace of imperceptible coldness. Jiang Li didn't notice it. After thinking for a moment, she looked at Ji Heng and said earnestly, "As the Duke knows, when I was Xue Fangfei, I already suffered bitterly once. To easily develop feelings for someone now is truly not easy."

"Yin Zhili seems quite decent. I've heard your family likes him very much too," Ji Heng said. "Do you have absolutely no inclination toward him?"

He wasn't normally this meddlesome. Even when he learned she was Xue Fangfei and about her past entanglements and grievances with Shen Yurong, Ji Heng hadn't asked a single question, as if he completely didn't care. Anyone else would have long tried to pry indirectly. But Ji Heng was different—he seemed to have no curiosity about people unrelated to him, often remaining indifferently on the sidelines.

Yet today he was inexplicably asking many questions, clearly placing great importance on the Yin family.

"I have absolutely no inclination toward him," Jiang Li said. "The Prince's heir appears to be a good person. Objectively speaking, he's much better than Shen Yurong. But perhaps Shen Yurong made me wary of trusting too easily. The better someone seems, the more suspicious I become, the more I dare not get close. Naturally, I can't speak of liking or not liking, having feelings or not."

Her words were genuinely sincere and truly reflected Jiang Li's thoughts. As Ji Heng listened, he suddenly asked her, "Are you implying that I'm not a good person then?"

Jiang Li was taken aback, then heard him continue, "You haven't kept your distance from me.""The Duke is certainly a good man." Jiang Li smiled, saying, "But the Duke's goodness is different from theirs. Shen Yurong is two-faced, a wolf in sheep's clothing. Yin Zhili appears to uphold great righteousness, which is commendable, but those standing beside such a righteous person fear the day he might sacrifice them for the sake of the world. As for the Duke, I believe he would rather betray the world than let the world betray... those he values."

He chuckled softly, as if Jiang Li's words brought him great delight. He said, "I've told you before, your words are incredibly sweet, and even your lies sound utterly sincere."

"I'm not lying. That's just the kind of person the Duke is," the girl insisted stubbornly with a smile.

Being with a good person like Yin Zhili might seem wonderful. But such a good person might one day uphold justice for the world yet fail those closest to him. Ji Heng, on the other hand, is widely seen as a villain—feared and deemed unpredictable. Yet, when faced with a choice between the world and his own people, such a villain would undoubtedly choose his own. Jiang Li had no doubt about that.

Perhaps it was precisely because he was so different from Shen Yurong that she viewed him in a special light.

Ji Heng said, "Then don't lie now. Answer my question."

Jiang Li replied, "Alright."

"Aside from Shen Yurong, have you ever been fond of anyone else?"

His voice dissipated into the night, more intoxicating than the spring breeze. Jiang Li stared blankly at the person before her. With a smile on his lips and captivating eyes, he sat before her gently, almost seductively, creating an illusion. He seemed like a spirit born from the deep mountains, feeding on human sincerity and claiming lives.

Aren't the legendary calamitous seducers usually women? Yet he was a man.

Jiang Li lowered her head, her voice meek as she said, "No."

Ji Heng's gaze flickered, and he tapped the table with his fan handle, saying, "Very well."

The suffocating tension vanished. He had finally let her off.

"I don't care what Jiang Yuanbai is scheming, but you must keep your distance from Yin Zhili," Ji Heng stated.

Jiang Li asked, "Why?"

"Since you don't like him either, there's no need for you to always be around him. You've often asked me about the history between the Yin family and the Duke's residence. I can tell you this: Yin Zhan will inevitably die by my hand. Yin Zhili and Yin Zhiqing will inevitably become my enemies as well. Ali," he said gently, "don't entangle yourself with my enemies, and don't make things difficult for me."

His enemies?

This was the first time Ji Heng had openly admitted to Jiang Li that the Yin family and the Duke's residence were indeed enemies. But why? Just as Jiang Li was about to ask, Ji Heng said, "Don't ask why. I can't tell you."

"Does the Yin family know they are your enemies?" Jiang Li asked.

Ji Heng smiled faintly and said, "Yin Zhan certainly knows."

If Yin Zhan certainly knew, did that mean Yin Zhili and Yin Zhiqing might not? This only strengthened Jiang Li's conviction that the enmity between the Yin family and the Duke's residence was likely related to Ji Heng's parents.

But since Ji Heng refused to speak, asking further would be futile."What about Yin Zhiqing?" Jiang Li asked. "Regardless of my situation, Princess Pingyang took the initiative to ask me about you. I don't think it was just a whim. Duke, she probably thinks very highly of you."

"Are you jealous, Second Young Lady?"He raised an eyebrow in retort."

"Not at all."

"What a pity." He always said things that could easily be misunderstood. Ji Heng continued, "As for Yin Zhiqing, you needn't worry. As I've said before, mediocre women had better not appear before me."

His preference for beauty and aversion to ugliness was a well-known fact, but... Jiang Li said, "Princess Pingyang's appearance is truly beyond reproach."

Ji Heng shook his head. "Among all women in the world, Xue Fangfei could be considered a beauty."

Jiang Li's heart skipped a beat, unsure of what Ji Heng meant, and could only remind him, "Xue Fangfei is already dead."

"So now, all women in the world are mediocre in my eyes." He said with a smile.

Jiang Li: "So the Duke is insulting me along with them."

"You're different," he pondered for a moment. "You're more endearing than them."

Jiang Li: "..."

...

After returning from the Duke's residence, Jiang Li no longer had trouble sleeping. She would fall asleep almost as soon as she got into bed. The effort of planting trees at night had exhausted her, so she naturally slept very soundly. The next morning, when Tong'er and Bai Xue discovered her new shoes covered in mud, they were quite surprised. Jiang Li explained that she had been walking in the courtyard and accidentally wandered into the garden, thus glossing over the matter.

In the following days, nothing particularly noteworthy happened in Yanjing City. Perhaps the words Jiang Li had previously spoken in the Evening Phoenix Hall had finally stirred something within the Jiang family. At least over the past half month, Old Madam Jiang had not brought up Yin Zhan's matter with Jiang Li again. The two siblings from the Yin family had also not come to the Jiang residence as "guests."

This greatly relieved Jiang Li, who still remembered Ji Heng's warning. She knew well that the Jiang family should not get too close to the Yin family, but if Jiang Yuanbai insisted on his own course, there was little she could do. This development saved her some trouble.

Jiang Li considered that she might take advantage of the guards' inattention these days to sneak out of the residence and visit the Ye family. However, the Jiang family's gatekeepers had become increasingly vigilant.

Over the past fortnight, Prince Cheng's troops had remained stationary just outside Yanjing City. They neither advanced nor retreated, keeping the city's residents on edge. Unable to leave, people stayed home every day, and the streets saw far fewer pedestrians and playful activities.

Jiang Li knew that as time passed, Prince Cheng's forces couldn't afford to wait indefinitely. Sooner or later, they would storm the gates of Yanjing City. As for how General Zhaode would respond when that time came, Jiang Li couldn't yet imagine.

Until that day arrived.

It happened one night.

Jiang Li had gone to bed early that evening. She was asleep when suddenly, noise erupted outside. Waking groggily, she initially thought she was dreaming, but then noticed the courtyard was brightly lit and realized she wasn't the only one awake, understanding this was no dream.

She threw on her clothes and got out of bed. Walking into the courtyard and standing at the entrance, she saw maids rushing about in panic. Tong'er and Bai Xue were outside too, apparently about to come wake her. Puzzled, Jiang Li asked, "Tong'er, what's happening?"Tong'er said, "Miss, you're awake? I was just about to wake you. Old Madam wants you to hurry to Evening Phoenix Hall and not stay in the courtyard."

The anxiety in her tone was impossible to conceal, and from beyond the courtyard walls, noises seemed to be coming from the neighboring houses. Jiang Li was startled, and a thought surfaced in her mind. She pulled Tong'er aside and whispered, "Has Prince Cheng made his move?"

"Miss, how did you know?" Tong'er looked at her in surprise, then said, "Second Master's people instructed us not to speak of it to avoid causing panic. Miss, let's go to Evening Phoenix Hall first. It's safer there with the mansion's guards outside."

Given the gravity of the situation, Jiang Li did not delay and immediately headed out.

Upon arriving at Evening Phoenix Hall, she found it packed with a dense crowd. Everyone from the first and second branches of the family was there, along with maids and servants gathered at the entrance. Fortunately, the third branch had separated from the family, or there wouldn't have been enough space in Evening Phoenix Hall for so many people. Guards were stationed outside, and Old Madam Jiang had them move into the inner rooms of the hall.

Jiang Bingji, being a child, sensed the tense atmosphere and began to cry. Old Madam Jiang comforted him for a while until he quieted down, exhausted from crying, and soon fell asleep. She then handed him over to a nursemaid to take him to the inner room to rest.

Jiang Youyao was also seated in the room, one eye wrapped in a white bandage so the servants wouldn't be too frightened by her appearance. However, her other eye stared blankly, and she sat silently in her chair as if in a daze.

Lu Shi was somewhat afraid. Though she no longer disliked Jiang Youyao as she once had, she couldn't bring herself to be close to her either. Seeing Jiang Youyao in such a state made her feel even more uneasy, so she moved closer to Jiang Li.

"Where are Father and Second Uncle?" Jiang Li asked, noticing the absence of Jiang Yuanbai and Jiang Yuanping.

"They've gone out and aren't in the mansion. But your second uncle said our mansion is safe and nothing will happen, so don't worry, Xiao Li," Lu Shi replied with a smile. Though she said this, her tone carried a hint of fear. Jiang Li understood that the people of Yanjing hadn't experienced war in many years, but having heard of Prince Cheng's actions in Huangzhou City, they couldn't help but feel some apprehension.

Jiang Li said, "I believe General Zhaode will handle everything properly."

She wasn't speaking falsely. If Yin Zhan still had the mind to send Yin Zhili to the Jiang family for such matters, it meant things hadn't reached a desperate point. Clearly, Prince Cheng wasn't much of a threat to him. Jiang Li also saw clearly that Ji Heng's attitude toward Prince Cheng wasn't one of fear, but he treated General Zhaode with seriousness.

It seemed Yanjing City would remain peaceful tonight. In this battle against Prince Cheng, Yin Zhan would likely win much public support. However, being inside the city, they couldn't hear what was happening outside. The maids and servants at the entrance were whispering among themselves, their expressions filled with confusion and fear.

Jiang Jingrui asked Jiang Li, "Why aren't you afraid at all?"

"Second Aunt already said nothing will happen. Besides, His Majesty specifically recalled General Zhaode to the capital to deal with Prince Cheng.""Ah, I heard that General Zhaode also had numerous military achievements in his day." Speaking of Yin Zhan, Jiang Jingrui seemed quite interested. He said, "I wonder if Brother Yin will become a general in the future too."

He affectionately referred to Yin Zhili as Brother Yin, as if it were perfectly natural. Jiang Li heard this but inwardly disagreed—since when did a general's son automatically become a general? Ji Heng's father was the Golden Crow General, yet after all these years, no one had seen Ji Heng pick up a spear. The Golden Crow General's tiger tally still hadn't been found. Jiang Li's heart stirred—could it be that Ji Heng was hiding some backup plan? Claiming the Golden Crow General's troops were disbanded while secretly preserving them, waiting to suddenly emerge when confronting Yin Zhan?

But if that were the case, the Hongxiao Emperor would surely grow suspicious. Jiang Li's mind was filled with these wild speculations. Unconsciously, the room fell silent, with no one speaking anymore. Everyone's expression was grave. As time slipped away, no one could say whether the next moment would bring enemy troops breaking through the city gates, unleashing slaughter in Yanjing City. No one could be certain they would survive the night, so of course, no one was in the mood for casual chatter. Even the servants and maids outside had fallen silent. Everyone gazed at the sky over the courtyard, speculating about every possible development outside.

...

In the Duke's manor, however, everything remained as usual. No one gathered in a specific location, nor were all the guards mobilized. Only Old General Ji wandered into the study, approached the set of golden armor, and caressed it fondly. Finally, he walked to the wall covered with weapons and selected a long blade. Drawing it out, he carried a stool to the courtyard and sat down. The long blade, unused for so long, had rusted in places. Rolling up his sleeves, he sat in the courtyard sharpening the blade.

In the pitch-black night, an elderly man with silver hair sat in the courtyard, slowly grinding the blade, producing a grating sound that set teeth on edge. Anyone passing by would likely be terrified, but the servants in the Duke's manor were long accustomed to it and found it unremarkable. Only the mynah hanging under the eaves, usually full of pretty words, tonight fluttered restlessly in its cage without speaking, seemingly agitated.

The youth called Ah Zhao woke with a start in the middle of the night.

Outside the residence, faint sounds of commotion could be heard. Groping for the tinder on the bedside cabinet, he lit the oil lamp and saw a shadowy figure outside his room. Ah Zhao paused, then called out uncertainly, "Physician Situ?"

The figure, about to pass by, halted at the sound, turned back, and pushed the door open. Seeing Ah Zhao like this, Situ Jiuyue frowned and asked, "Why are you awake?"

"The noise outside woke me," he said, noticing Situ Jiuyue was fully dressed and equipped. "Physician Situ, are you going out so late? Has... something happened outside?"

"Prince Cheng has rebelled and is making his move tonight. It's chaos out there," Situ Jiuyue glanced at him. "Go back to sleep. Don't come out." With that, she moved to close the door and leave.

"Wait," Ah Zhao called after her.

Situ Jiuyue asked impatiently, "What else do you want?"

"If Prince Cheng has rebelled... will the people in this residence be in danger?" Ah Zhao asked.Situ Jiuyue chuckled and said, "If you're worried about any danger to yourself, there's no need. This is the Duke's residence. In Yanjing City, there's no place safer than here—even the imperial palace is more dangerous. As long as you stay here, no one would dare barge in to take your life. Never mind that Prince Cheng hasn't breached the city yet; even if he did, no one would dare touch you as long as you're inside this residence."

Ah Zhao was taken aback for a moment before replying, "That's not what I meant. No matter how impenetrable the defenses, they're still man-made. Sometimes accidents happen not because people lack skill, but because they fear being caught off guard by loopholes." He smiled wryly. "I'm just like that."

This time, it was Situ Jiuyue's turn to be stunned.

"Physician Situ, you're a doctor, but you're also a woman. If you encounter danger, I'm afraid it would be difficult for you to protect yourself..."

"You're not suggesting I stay here, are you?" Situ Jiuyue raised an eyebrow. "You can't even walk right now—how could you possibly protect me?"

"That wasn't what I meant to say. I only meant to suggest that Physician Situ should seek out those with martial skills rather than remain alone. However, if there were no one else in the residence and Physician Situ encountered danger while I happened to be nearby, even if I cannot leave my bed or have lost my martial abilities, I could still take blades and swords for you."

Had these words been spoken by an ordinary man, a woman might have found them slick and deliberately ingratiating. Yet when Ah Zhao said them, they carried such sincerity that one believed he truly meant them—and would act on them.

"I don't understand," Situ Jiuyue said calmly. "You and I are neither kin nor acquaintances. By your logic, you'd willingly sacrifice your life for me. Why? Just because I saved your life, and this is how you repay me?"

"Even if Physician Situ hadn't saved my life, I would still help in times of danger. Because Physician Situ is a woman, and I am a man. Shouldn't a man protect the elderly, children, and young women who are unarmed?"

His eyes were bright, especially resolute amid the surrounding clamor. It was strange—clearly, he had lost all his martial prowess and couldn't even walk now. Such a person couldn't truly protect anyone. Yet Situ Jiuyue felt an unusual sense of security by his side.

"You're mistaken there," she said. "I'm no unarmed, helpless woman. When I was six, my own uncle killed my father to seize everything he had. Do you know what I did?"

Ah Zhao shook his head.

"I poisoned the family chef, then threatened him to tamper with their food—adding a special toxin I'd prepared. The whole household ate it: my aunt, her sons and daughters. Without the antidote, they would rot to death within three days. I thought he'd trade his own life for his wife and children's, avenging my father that way. Who knew he'd prove so ruthless—he watched his wife and children die in agony right before his eyes."

Ah Zhao looked at Situ Jiuyue, his lips parting as if to speak, but in the end, he said nothing.

"After that, he tried every means to capture and kill me. Because my existence was a threat to him. On my escape from my hometown, I lost count of how many I killed. I've been killing since I was six. I may lack martial skills, but all the experts sent to hunt me down died by my hand—because every part of me, every item I carry, could be poisoned."

She recounted these events lightly, as if they were utterly ordinary. "I know you want to be a chivalrous hero—perhaps you were such a person before. Punishing evil, promoting good, upholding justice, aiding the weak, drawing your sword against injustice—it satisfies your heroic ideals and saves lives, a win-win situation.""I don't like this," Situ Jiuyue said. "What I've believed since childhood is that the strong prey on the weak. I don't need others to save me. If anyone harms me, I'll kill them. You and I are not the same kind of people, so don't think about protecting or saving me. To me, that's ridiculous and unnecessary."

She said, "Get some rest." After speaking these words, she turned and walked out.

Suddenly feeling that Sister Situ is quite cool?

(End of Chapter)