The Double

Chapter 219: Shock

This victory banquet was originally prepared for Prince Xia, Yin Zhan, yet in the end, Yin Zhan lost face and failed to obtain what he desired. Although the Hongxiao Emperor bestowed numerous gold, silver, and jewels, upon reflection, the treasures awarded to General Zhaode for his illustrious military achievements years ago had long since filled the storerooms.

What truly captivated the banquet attendees was the marriage arrangement between Jiang Li and Ji Heng. In truth, both Yin Zhili and Ji Heng appeared to be excellent choices. They were of similar age—Yin Zhili gentle and refined as jade, Ji Heng strikingly handsome and captivating. One was the son of a prince, the other a Duke. However, by comparison, Yin Zhili seemed far more approachable and mild-tempered. In contrast, Duke Su was notoriously unpredictable and merciless, killing without blinking an eye. While Second Miss Jiang’s marriage appeared glamorous on the surface, it might not compare to marrying into the Yin family. With this thought, the envy and jealousy among the women toward Jiang Li lessened, replaced instead by pity—and, of course, no small amount of schadenfreude. Jiang Li noticed all this but said nothing. From start to finish, she remained perfectly composed, not even faltering when the Hongxiao Emperor decreed the marriage.

And so, the victory banquet concluded.

As it ended, everyone prepared to leave the palace. Many colleagues congratulated Jiang Yuanbai, who, despite the bitterness in his heart, forced a smile and accepted their well-wishes. Jiang Li stood to the side, her gaze fixed on Ji Heng. He rose slowly, as if unaware of the magnitude of the event he had instigated. His eyes met hers from across the room, and upon seeing her watching him, he curved his lips into a smile so dazzling it was almost blinding.

How dare he act so conspicuously at a time like this, without fear of drawing suspicion? Jiang Li thought to herself, quickly lowering her head to avoid his gaze and feigning nonchalance. Unbeknownst to her, two people had witnessed the entire exchange.

One was Yin Zhili, the other Yin Zhiqing. The siblings, each harboring affection for Jiang Li and Ji Heng respectively, naturally paid close attention to their every move. Watching Jiang Li and Ji Heng’s silent communication—clearly not the interaction of strangers—Yin Zhiqing stood frozen, barely holding back her tears. Though Yin Zhili maintained his composure better than his sister, a flicker of sorrow still passed through his eyes.

So, she had known all along. Ji Heng’s request for the marriage decree was likely something she welcomed with joy. A dull ache spread through Yin Zhili’s heart—not sharp, but profoundly unsettling. He recalled each time he visited the Jiang residence to see Jiang Li; she would smile at him, and he had believed, at the very least, that she did not dislike him. But seeing the way she looked at Ji Heng, he understood what it meant for Jiang Li to truly love someone.

It was nothing like how she behaved around him.

Yin Zhan passed by his children, his expression still cheerful and hearty. “Let’s go!” he said.

Only then did Yin Zhili snap out of his thoughts. He composed himself, pretending as if nothing had happened. Lady Yin took Yin Zhiqing’s hand and said softly, “Zhiqing, let’s go.”

And so, the family departed.

On the other side, after Jiang Yuanbai finally managed to deal with the flood of congratulations from his colleagues, Jiang Li prepared to leave. By then, Ji Heng had already vanished. She didn’t dwell on it and returned to the residence with Jiang Yuanbai and the others.On the way back to the residence, Jiang Li still shared a carriage with Jiang Jingrui and his brother. Jiang Jingrui studied Jiang Li's expression, seemingly bursting with questions. He struggled to hold back but ultimately couldn't resist, saying to Jiang Li, "You've been granted a marriage arrangement. How come you don't seem to care at all?"

"How should I be?" Jiang Li asked curiously.

"At the very least... you should show some surprise," Jiang Jingrui muttered. "And going from the Prince's heir to Duke Su—how are you not the least bit afraid?"

"Why should I be afraid?"

Jiang Jingrui seemed stunned by Jiang Li's matter-of-fact tone. "Haven't you heard the rumors about Duke Su?"

"I have," Jiang Li replied. "But they might just be hearsay. Before, wasn't the whole of Yanjing City saying I murdered my mother and killed enemies? Yet no one knows the truth. Perhaps Duke Su and I have similar experiences—just outsiders spreading false tales."

Both Jiang Jingrui and Jiang Jingyou were taken aback. Noticing their strange expressions, Jiang Li asked, "What's wrong?"

"You're really odd. We've never seen you defend anyone like this before," Jiang Jingrui said. "When Grandmother asked you to spend more time with the Prince's heir, you weren't willing. Now, suddenly betrothed to a stranger, you show no resistance and even speak up for him. Jiang Li," he continued, "is it because Duke Su is handsome that you treat him better than the Prince's heir? But the Prince's heir isn't bad-looking either."

"Don't talk nonsense," Jiang Li retorted impatiently.

"Ah," Jiang Jingrui suddenly sighed. "It's too late now anyway. The imperial decree has been issued. Even if we knew Duke Su had a bad temper, there's no way to back out now. I originally thought it would be the Prince's heir..." He wore a look of deep regret.

It seemed the Jiang family generally considered Yin Zhili a better choice than Ji Heng. However, after the Hongxiao Emperor's actions tonight, Jiang Yuanbai and Jiang Yuanping probably wouldn't think the same as before. Jiang Jingrui didn't understand the complexities of court politics, but the rest of the Jiang family weren't fools.

Jiang Li guessed that once they returned to the Jiang residence, Jiang Yuanbai would want to "have a talk" with her.

Sure enough, when the carriage arrived at the Jiang residence gates, Jiang Li had only taken a few steps toward her courtyard when Jiang Yuanbai stopped her, saying, "Xiao Li, come with me for a moment."

Bai Xue and Tong'er looked at Jiang Li with concern. Jiang Li gave them a reassuring glance and followed Jiang Yuanbai to his study.

As soon as the door closed, Jiang Yuanbai turned and asked, "Did you know in advance about Duke Su requesting the marriage arrangement tonight?"

"No," Jiang Li replied.

She had no choice but to lie about this matter. If she admitted it, Jiang Yuanbai would only think her earlier warning about the Yin family's issues was motivated by personal bias.

Jiang Yuanbai looked at her skeptically.

"I truly didn't know about this marriage arrangement. I didn't even know the Prince of Xia would ask His Majesty for it. But there is one thing I know: the Jiang family must not get too close to the Yin family. If there's even a hint of it, someone will definitely step in to stop it. I just didn't expect that person to be Duke Su."

Jiang Yuanbai was half-convinced, half-doubtful. "Are you telling the truth?" he asked."If Father doesn't believe me, then there's no need for me to continue." Jiang Li's candid attitude made Jiang Yuanbai feel that he was being overly meticulous. Looking at his daughter before him, he felt somewhat sentimental. Jiang Li was a young girl—what young girl would spend her days worrying about court politics? There were indeed young ladies who sacrificed themselves as bargaining chips for their families, but the daughter of the Grand Secretary should be cherished and pampered, not troubled by such trivial matters.

"Why would Duke Su seek to marry you?" Jiang Yuanbai said. "Before this, in Huangzhou as well, he saved you... Have the two of you... had prior dealings?"

"What happened in Huangzhou was a coincidence. The relationship between Duke Su and me is not what Father imagines. As for why Duke Su sought to marry me, I suspect he had long known about the news of the Xia Junwang's intention to form a marriage alliance with the Jiang family. He was merely preempting the situation."

"So, he values you, which is why he competed with the Yin family for you," Jiang Yuanbai said.

"Father overestimates me too much," Jiang Li smiled faintly. "Whether it's the Yin family or the Duke's residence, I doubt either would overturn their grand plans for the sake of a daughter. I believe Duke Su sought to marry me not because he values me, but because he didn't want the Jiang and Yin families to form an alliance. Father, don't forget—Duke Su is loyal to His Majesty. The Emperor's attitude in this arranged marriage is also thought-provoking. It seems His Majesty would rather have me marry into the Duke's residence than into the Yin family. What does that indicate?"

Jiang Yuanbai looked at Jiang Li, the thoughts in his heart too difficult to voice aloud. In truth, he had already guessed the possibility but was unwilling to believe it. To speak it out would mean he had misjudged before, made the wrong choice, and might have to pay the price for that decision in the future.

"His Majesty suspects Xia Junwang and does not trust him. Xia Junwang holds military power, and Father is the head of the civil officials. Who's to say Xia Junwang won't become the next Prince Cheng? Even Prince Cheng failed to win over the Jiang family. If Xia Junwang were to succeed, how could His Majesty rest easy? In comparison, Duke Su has no military power but possesses loyalty, making him the superior choice. I suspect that even this arranged marriage might not have been Duke Su's idea but His Majesty's, with Duke Su merely following orders."

Jiang Li's words, half-truths and half-falsehoods, sounded more believable than if they were entirely true or entirely false. Jiang Yuanbai was no exception. He recalled the Hongxiao Emperor's reaction at the banquet. Though the young emperor was growing older and becoming increasingly unfamiliar, in that moment, he could still sense that the Hongxiao Emperor was observing.

The Hongxiao Emperor indeed did not trust Yin Zhan—this much, Jiang Li did not lie about.

"What exactly has Xia Junwang done..." Jiang Yuanbai murmured. "If His Majesty didn't trust him, he wouldn't have recalled him to the capital in the first place."

"Prince Cheng's rebellion is imminent, so Xia Junwang naturally needs to step forward and earn merits," Jiang Li replied. "Has Father considered that even without Prince Cheng's affair, Xia Junwang might have returned to the capital one day? His Majesty is merely adapting to the circumstances—like closing the door to beat the dog, keeping Xia Junwang under close watch to see more clearly when it's time to act."Jiang Yuanbai frowned as he stared at Jiang Li, sensing she likely knew more than she let on. From the start, her attitude toward the Yin family had been evasive, as if she had long known they were trouble. But Jiang Li was merely a sheltered young lady—how could she know so much? In all of Yanjing City, the only official family she knew aside from the Jiangs was Ye Shijie. Yet if even he was unaware of certain matters, Ye Shijie certainly wouldn’t know. Could it be… Ji Heng?

Jiang Yuanbai’s head began to ache again. Jiang Li repeatedly claimed to have no connection with Ji Heng, but his intuition told him otherwise. Yet this daughter of his was tight-lipped, and he couldn’t force her to reveal the truth, leaving him helpless and anxious.

"Father," Jiang Li asked, "why did the late emperor transfer Prince Xia to Yunzhong in the northwest back then?"

This was something Jiang Li had been unable to uncover, no matter how hard she tried. When she asked Ji Heng or Old General Ji, both urged her not to get involved. Jiang Li thought perhaps Jiang Yuanbai might know some clues.

Jiang Yuanbai shook his head. "When the late emperor made that decision, I was not yet the Chief Grand Secretary and was unaware of the details. But over all these years, no rumors have ever surfaced. It seems very few knew about it—the late emperor didn’t confide in others."

His words only deepened Jiang Li’s suspicion. For no apparent reason, why would the late emperor suddenly issue such a transfer? Before that, it was said the late emperor and Prince Xia had an extremely close relationship—closer than blood brothers, despite being half-siblings. Something must have caused a rift between them, yet it likely wasn’t severe enough for the late emperor to execute Prince Xia outright, leaving a thread of mercy that now led to the current chaos.

Jiang Li’s words seemed to strike a chord with Jiang Yuanbai. He stopped pressing her about other matters and fell into thoughtful silence.

Jiang Li waited for a long time, but Jiang Yuanbai said nothing more. After a while, he looked at her and said, "Never mind, you may go back for now. I will look into these matters slowly."

Jiang Li nodded and was about to leave when Jiang Yuanbai suddenly called her back.

He said, "Xiao Li… the emperor’s marriage decree cannot be changed. You are to marry Duke Su… Ji Heng. The rumors about him are not favorable—they say he’s capricious. Marrying him may not be as glorious as it appears on the surface… Are you willing?"

"Father, what matters isn’t whether I’m willing, but that there’s no room for reversal," Jiang Li turned back and replied calmly. "When you hoped I would marry Yin Zhili before, you didn’t concern yourself with my willingness either, even when I expressed resistance."

Jiang Yuanbai’s lips moved, but he was left speechless by her words.

"Duke Su Ji Heng is merely rumored to be a bit wicked, while the Yin family is praised by all—yet they alone are guarded against by His Majesty. That is what could drag the Jiang family into an abyss of ruin. Since I am already a Jiang, I cannot escape the fate of being part of it. In that case, it’s better to align with the side that appears most likely to win. From the matter of Prince Cheng, Father, you might see that His Majesty is no ordinary man. I believe His Majesty holds the greatest power, surpassing even Prince Xia."

Having said this, she bowed to Jiang Yuanbai, exited the study, and left without looking back.

…In the Ye residence, when the news arrived, Xue Huaiyuan was discussing literature with Ye Shijie. The old and the young got along more harmoniously than real father and son. Ye Shijie, intelligent and eager to learn, greatly admired Xue Huaiyuan's knowledge and broad-mindedness. Whenever he encountered difficult questions, he would turn to Xue Huaiyuan for advice. Xue Huaiyuan never held back and, appreciating Ye Shijie's integrity, taught him everything he knew.

In contrast, Xue Zhao was not as interested in books as Ye Shijie. Though he was no longer as agile as before, his lively nature remained unchanged. He most enjoyed spending time with Ye Mingyu. When Ye Mingyu practiced martial arts in the courtyard, Xue Zhao would watch with envy. Ye Mingyu knew that Xue Zhao had talent for martial arts, but it was a pity that Princess Yongning had crippled him. So, he brought out all the weapons that could be used from a wheelchair for Xue Zhao to try, even attempting to teach him how to wield a whip while seated. Mastering the whip would at least prevent him from being entirely passive.

The people in the Ye residence found it strange: real uncles and nephews weren't this affectionate, and real fathers and sons weren't this close. Yet, with these two, the pairing seemed perfectly natural.

On this particular day, late at night, Xue Zhao wheeled himself around Ye Mingyu's room. Ye Mingyu had several large chests of treasures, all collected during his travels with merchant caravans. They weren't particularly valuable items, but each was unique. He generously let Xue Zhao pick whatever he liked to take back. Xue Zhao looked left and right, marveling at the items while also yearning for the carefree life Ye Mingyu had led.

As the two were talking, A Shun rushed in from outside, gasping, "Master... Master..."

"What's got you so out of breath?" Ye Mingyu glanced at him. "Has the sky fallen?"

"It's not the sky," A Shun stamped his foot anxiously, knowing how much his master doted on his niece. "It's the young lady... the young lady is in trouble!"

"A Li?" Ye Mingyu's eyes widened. "What happened to A Li?"

Sitting to the side, Xue Zhao didn't immediately react to "the young lady," as he wasn't yet used to Jiang Li being referred to as the Ye family's niece. But when he heard Ye Mingyu call out "A Li," he realized it was about Jiang Li. Instantly alarmed, he nearly tried to stand up, but his legs failed him, so he could only stare intently at A Shun.

Ye Mingyu was startled by Xue Zhao's reaction and wondered to himself, Could it be that this kid also has feelings for Jiang Li? Though Xue Zhao is a good person... not being able to stand is still a pity. But then Ye Mingyu mentally slapped himself: even if Xue Zhao liked Jiang Li, it didn't mean Jiang Li felt the same. Jiang Li had high standards; winning her favor was as difficult as reaching the sky.

A Shun stammered, "Everyone outside is saying that today, during the celebration in the palace for General Zhaode's achievements, His Majesty arranged a marriage for the young lady! He's betrothed her to Duke Su!"

"What?" Ye Mingyu rubbed his ears, hardly believing what he heard. "A Li is betrothed to Duke Su?"

What was going on? They were celebrating Yin Zhan's merits, so how did it end with Jiang Li being given in marriage? Was the emperor confused, or did he simply not know who was who? How could he mismatch couples like this?Xue Zhao was momentarily stunned before quickly thinking of Ji Heng. Back when he had asked about the relationship between Ji Heng and Jiang Li, Ji Heng had said they would soon be in a brother-in-law relationship. Xue Zhao had thought this lord spoke rather arrogantly. Yet today it had become reality—he truly had become his brother-in-law, and through an imperial decree no less. This... couldn't possibly be a coincidence!

A Shun continued, "I heard that General Zhaode originally requested the emperor to bestow a marriage between the young lady and the commandery prince's heir in exchange for his military merits. But the emperor said General Zhaode was a step too late—someone else had already requested the marriage, and the imperial edict had been drafted. That person was Duke Su."

"I..." Ye Mingyu's face flushed crimson as he finally blurted out, "Damn it! How could it be Duke Su?!"

How could it be Duke Su?

He had long known that Jiang Li and Duke Su Ji Heng didn't seem to share an ordinary relationship. It wasn't that Ye Mingyu was overly suspicious—even he knew Ji Heng had helped Jiang Li several times. Why would Ji Heng assist Jiang Li without reason? He must have had ulterior motives. Moreover, Ji Heng's appearance was dangerously captivating. Young girls could easily be deceived by superficial charm, and Ye Mingyu's greatest fear was Jiang Li being bewitched by Ji Heng. He knew Duke Su's reputation well—this was not a man easily controlled. No matter how capable Jiang Li was, she was only sixteen. How could she handle such a man? Yin Zhili would have been easier to manage—at least he appeared to be a gentleman who wouldn't do anything outrageous.

But the imperial decree had been issued. It was too late for regrets now. Ye Mingyu wore a helpless expression, unsure what to do. Meanwhile, Xue Zhao, after sitting dazedly for a moment, suddenly remembered something and pushed his wheelchair toward the door, saying, "I'm going to see Father!"

"See Father?" Ye Mingyu questioned, but before he could ask why at such a time, Xue Zhao had already vanished with his wheelchair.

Ye Mingyu chased after him and saw Ye Shijie emerging from Xue Huaiyuan's room next door. Spotting Ye Mingyu, Ye Shijie hurried over and said, "Third Uncle, what they're saying is true..."

"It's true," Ye Mingyu replied, looking at him. Ye Shijie frowned, his lips moving silently. Understanding, Ye Mingyu patted his shoulder and said, "Shijie... your cousin... you should forget about her."

Meanwhile, Xue Zhao pushed his wheelchair into the room. Xue Huaiyuan also seemed dazed, and Xue Zhao could tell he had heard the news. Closing the door, he wheeled himself before Xue Huaiyuan and tentatively asked, "Father?"

Xue Huaiyuan's gaze slowly shifted toward him.

"You've heard about Sister's imperial marriage decree, haven't you?" Xue Zhao asked.

Xue Huaiyuan remained silent. Though he appeared less shocked than Ye Mingyu, it didn't mean his heart was calm. After a long pause, he finally spoke, "Ever since I learned Ali had become the Jiang family's young lady, I've worried about one thing. I feared her marriage would no longer be decided by her or me, and she might end up with the wrong person. But I had resolved that if that day ever came, I would take you and your sister away from Yanjing. The world is vast—there would always be places to hide. At worst, we could live under assumed names and still find comfort."

Xue Zhao listened quietly as Xue Huaiyuan continued."But I never imagined I would be even more useless in this matter than I thought. Your sister is bound by the imperial decree—under heaven, all lands belong to the sovereign. If they truly pursue this, even if we flee to the ends of the earth, it will be futile. Ah Zhao," Xue Huaiyuan asked, "what should we do?"

This old man, just a year ago, had been a decisive and fair-minded middle-aged man. Xue Zhao had never seen him in a moment of weakness. But after enduring so many trials and the immense upheavals of life, though he still wore a smile, he had ultimately been worn down by the hardships.

He cherished his daughter and was unwilling to let her suffer, yet he had no other solution. Could there be anything more helpless in this world?

"Father, you're overthinking it." Xue Zhao's heart ached as well. "Have you forgotten what kind of person Sister is? If she doesn't want to marry someone, she absolutely won't. Especially after what happened with Shen Yurong, she will only be more cautious in this matter."

Xue Huaiyuan frowned. "What do you mean by that?"

"Father, do you know who Sister is going to marry?"

"It's Duke Su. I've heard rumors about him, but he didn't exist when I left Yanjing City. The Golden Crow General was a rare hero, what a pity. I've heard Ji Heng is moody, kills without batting an eye, and acts entirely on whim. How could I dare entrust Ali to him?" Xue Huaiyuan let out a long sigh.

"Father, back then our whole family thought Shen Yurong was wonderful. Even I thought he was too weak to do anything outrageous. But what happened in the end? Look how he treated Sister and our Xue family. People who are as good as they appear are truly rare nowadays, Father."

Xue Huaiyuan was no fool. Hearing Xue Zhao's words, he immediately realized something and looked at him. "What? Do you know something about Ji Heng?"

"Do you remember Sister's 'friend'? The one who rescued me from Princess Yongning's private prison—that was Duke Su Ji Heng."

Xue Huaiyuan was greatly shocked. "How could that be?"

"Not only that, from what I know, when Sister returned to Xiangyang's Tongxiang and got involved in Feng Yutang's case, Ji Heng was the one helping behind the scenes. Physician Situ was also sent by Ji Heng to treat your illness. When Prince Cheng kidnapped Sister to Huangzhou, it was Ji Heng who saved her. Most importantly, how did I reunite with Sister? It was because one day Sister went to the Duke's residence and saw me there that we were able to recognize each other. But Father, you should think about it—why would Sister go to the Duke's residence? This shows she's at least more than mere acquaintances with Duke Su, they must share considerable friendship."

This was the first time Xue Huaiyuan had heard these things, his face full of astonishment. Xue Zhao had hinted before that Jiang Li had a "friend." Although Xue Huaiyuan found it strange, since Jiang Li didn't want to elaborate, he hadn't pressed further. Now it appeared that the "friend" with whom Jiang Li shared a deep connection was actually Duke Su Ji Heng.

"Why... would he do all these things?" Xue Huaiyuan asked.

"Father, regardless of his motives, he has helped us. We cannot be ungrateful and turn around to call him a monster. Outsiders may say he's heartless, but in my view, he is our lifesaving benefactor."

Xue Huaiyuan fell silent. Having never met Ji Heng, he couldn't easily determine whether Xue Zhao's words were true.

"That day when I saw Sister at the Duke's residence, she didn't avoid Duke Su when we recognized each other," Xue Zhao said. "This indicates that Sister trusts Ji Heng enough to entrust him with her true identity. I thought after what happened with Shen Yurong, Sister wouldn't easily trust anyone. So Ji Heng must have passed some test and been deemed trustworthy by Sister."

"Ali truly didn't avoid Ji Heng?""It's true. So I think, although this imperial marriage may not be seen as a good thing in the eyes of the world, for my sister, it might not be a bad thing. I've even observed Duke Su—a man others describe as ruthless and cruel—yet he goes through great trouble to do many things for my sister. Isn't that intentional? Perhaps..." Xue Zhao paused before continuing, "When Duke Su sought this imperial marriage, my sister was aware of it."

Husband-defender Ali~

(End of Chapter)