The Double

Chapter 21 Old Acquaintance

Though Jiang Jingrui bore a striking resemblance to Lu Shi in appearance, he possessed none of her shrewdness. Before Jiang Li could even speak, he had already begun chattering away like beans pouring from a bamboo tube.

"You’ve completely changed from before—speaking so slowly and hesitantly, it’s downright awkward!"

"And wearing green—do you think you’re a scallion?"

"You’ve grown far too thin! Has your taste deteriorated too? Dressed so plainly it’s utterly boring."

"Tsk, tsk, tsk. Who would take you for a noble young lady? Anyone unaware would think you’d become a nun. Are you trying to ascend to immortality?"

Finally, he concluded his scrutiny of Jiang Li with, "That nunnery really is no good place—a perfectly fine person changed beyond recognition just like that."

Jiang Li: "..."

She felt both amused and exasperated. Recalling Jiang Jingrui’s earlier behavior, she tentatively asked, "Jiang... Jingrui?"

At these words, Jiang Jingrui’s expression immediately softened. "That’s more like it! Calling me ‘cousin’ gave me goosebumps all over!"

Jiang Li thought to herself that Second Miss Jiang must have been quite close with this cousin, addressing each other by name privately. Judging by Jiang Jingrui’s boisterous and guileless demeanor, he had likely been Second Miss Jiang’s ally in the past.

Jiang Jingrui crossed his arms and said, "I thought I’d never see you again in this lifetime. Never expected Uncle to still have some conscience, bringing you back after all."

"Thank you for your concern," Jiang Li replied, trying to keep her attitude as natural as possible.

Yet this very "naturalness" still struck Jiang Jingrui as extremely awkward. Struggling to hold back, he said, "But don’t let your guard down. Find time to curry favor with Uncle—all my cousins know you’ve returned to the capital... I suspect all of Yanjing knows by now. I’ve overheard them calling you vicious behind your back. If you don’t want to be driven out again, you’d better be smarter."

Jiang Li fell silent. Jiang Jingrui appeared to have been on good terms with Second Miss Jiang, yet now he adopted this detached stance, even seeming somewhat gleeful about her predicament. His presumptuous advice made it hard to discern whether he meant well, leaving Jiang Li both amused and frustrated.

Jiang Jingrui glanced sideways into the distance where the figures of Jiang Youyao and her two companions still lingered in the pavilion. "Hey, when you came over earlier, did they give you a hard time?"

"No," Jiang Li answered. "We just exchanged a few words."

Hearing this, Jiang Jingrui looked at her curiously. "What did they say?"

"In a few days, it will be Third Sister’s hair-pinning ceremony. She reminded me not to forget a gift."

Jiang Jingrui snorted dismissively. "A hair-pinning ceremony, and she acts like she’s a princess." He then turned to Jiang Li, pointing at her with exasperation. "Are you stupid? Didn’t you catch the underlying meaning in her words?"

"What meaning?" Jiang Li asked, puzzled.

"Ah," Jiang Jingrui sighed with unwarranted gravity. "Once Jiang Youyao’s hair-pinning ceremony is over, the Ningyuan Marquis household will come to discuss the marriage arrangement. Don’t you know that Zhou Yanbang is certain to attend Jiang Youyao’s ceremony?"

Zhou Yanbang—Jiang Li suddenly recalled. Tong’er had mentioned that the Heir of Marquis of Ningyuan was named Zhou Yanbang. He was the man originally betrothed to Second Miss Jiang, whom Jiang Youyao had later usurped.No wonder Jiang Youyao had just mentioned that many guests were invited to the hair-pinning ceremony and that they might run into acquaintances. This "acquaintance" must refer to Zhou Yanbang! If it were the real Jiang Li, seeing Zhou Yanbang at the ceremony would either leave her too grief-stricken to speak or cause her to lose composure from overwhelming emotions. In any case, it would be deeply painful, no less agonizing than being stabbed in the heart.

Tong'er supported Jiang Li worriedly, while Jiang Jingrui continued chattering away, "I think you should skip the hair-pinning ceremony. You have no idea—Zhou Yanbang has grown much more handsome since childhood. Nowadays, countless young ladies in Yanjing City admire him. You were so fond of him as a child; seeing him now would only make it harder for you to let go. But what’s done is done. Jiang Youyao and Zhou Yanbang are already engaged. No matter how unwilling you are, it’s pointless. You’ll only end up hurting yourself. It’s better not to see him at all."

As Jiang Li listened to his words, only one thought crossed her mind: Jiang Jingrui truly had no tact. If the real Second Miss Jiang were hearing this "advice," it would be like adding fuel to the fire or worsening an already dire situation—she’d be lucky not to die of anger.

Seeing Jiang Li remain silent, Tong'er feared she was dwelling on sad memories and cautiously asked, "Miss?"

Jiang Li smiled and said, "I’m fine. So Zhou Yanbang is coming too."

Her tone was so calm that both Tong'er and Jiang Jingrui were taken aback.

They didn’t know that Jiang Li was not the Second Miss Jiang. The Second Miss Jiang would have thrown herself into the river over Zhou Yanbang, but Jiang Li would not. To her, Zhou Yanbang was merely a stranger she had never even met. It was far too difficult to feel joy or sorrow over a stranger.

Zhou Yanbang could not provoke her. No matter what schemes Jiang Youyao had, they were misguided from the start. Zhou Yanbang’s presence at the hair-pinning ceremony would only be useful if Jiang Li cared about him. But if Jiang Li didn’t care at all, whether Zhou Yanbang showed up or not was irrelevant.

Jiang Jingrui asked, "Even if Zhou Yanbang comes, will you still attend?" He studied Jiang Li’s face, trying to detect any trace of sorrow or distress.

But he failed.

"If I don’t go, Mother and Third Sister will be upset, and Father will blame me. How could I not go? Besides, there is indeed someone I wish to see," Jiang Li replied.

When Jiang Jingrui and Tong'er heard the first part of her response, they felt sympathy. It was true—Jiang Li had no choice but to attend. If she didn’t, Ji Shuran would surely spread malicious rumors behind her back, handing her enemies a perfect weapon.

But upon hearing the latter half, both were stunned. Was Jiang Li still unable to let go of Zhou Yanbang? Yet her expression showed no lingering affection whatsoever.

Both assumed that the "person she wished to see" referred to Zhou Yanbang, unaware that the one she truly wanted to meet was someone else entirely.

Jiang Yuanbai was the Grand Secretary, the leader of the literary officials. As the legitimate daughter of such a prominent figure, her hair-pinning ceremony would inevitably attract countless scholars and officials. Shen Yurong, as the newly appointed top scholar and a rising star among the court’s civil officials, would maintain surface cordiality with Jiang Yuanbai. His sister was certain to attend the ceremony.

Moreover, Jiang Li knew from her time as Xue Fangfei, when she was sisters-in-law with Shen Ruyun, that Shen Ruyun secretly admired the Heir of Marquis Ningyuan. Shen Ruyun was narrow-minded and competitive—she would undoubtedly come to see what kind of woman Zhou Yanbang’s future wife was.

The person Jiang Li wished to see was an old acquaintance of Xue Fangfei’s: the Shen family.

She was waiting for them to arrive.

(End of Chapter)