The Double

Chapter 28: Accusation

"Heavens, what is this?"

Jiang Youyao's startled cry instantly shattered the previously joyous atmosphere in the courtyard. Nearby guests instinctively peered into the box in Jiang Youyao's hands.

Jiang Yuanbai and Old Madam Jiang stood farther away and couldn't clearly see the box's contents. Lu Shi and Yang Shi rose to their feet, craning their necks for a better look. Jiang Jingrui, standing among the male guests, tried to approach but was held back by Jiang Yuanping.

Before Jiang Youyao could speak, her maid Jinhua reached into the box and lifted its contents, glaring furiously at Jiang Li as she demanded, "Second Young Lady, what is the meaning of this?"

Only then did the crowd see clearly what the maid held: a complete ruby headdress. At first glance, the headdress appeared exquisitely valuable, but it was now covered with dense fine knife marks. The sight made everyone gasp in shock.

"Second Young Lady, we servants know you're unhappy and dislike Third Young Lady," the maid said with clear disrespect that would have warranted charges of insolence in any other household. Yet here, her behavior went uncriticized, even earning silent praise for being a loyal servant protecting her mistress. "But giving such a gift for Third Young Lady's hair-pinning ceremony is truly going too far!"

Jiang Li's gaze fell upon the ruby headdress in Jinhua's hands. Surprise flashed in her eyes before her brows furrowed. She shook her head and said, "No, this isn't right. I've kept this ruby headdress safely stored since purchasing it and never touched it since. I don't know how it could have become like this."

"Could there be some misunderstanding?" Ji Shuran approached, her face showing no suspicion toward Jiang Li but rather seeming genuinely concerned. "Could there be an issue with the headdress itself? Was Li'er deceived?"

"How could that be?" Tong'er interjected quickly. "Young Lady specifically went to Auspicious Pavilion to select this hair-pinning gift for Third Young Lady. It cost a full four hundred taels! How could jewelry from Auspicious Pavilion have problems?"

It was actually bought from Auspicious Pavilion.

The guests looked at Jiang Li with mixed expressions. The fact that she could spend four hundred taels on a headdress for Jiang Youyao indicated both her generosity and that the Grand Secretary's household hadn't mistreated Jiang Li—she clearly had ample funds, making this immune to censure by imperial censors.

"The problem isn't with the headdress itself," Jiang Yu'e suddenly spoke up. "A perfectly good headdress wouldn't develop cracks on its own. Besides, these are clearly knife cuts." She added, "Second Sister, even if you don't like Third Sister, why waste such a fine headdress like this?"

Yang Shi hadn't expected her daughter to speak out and couldn't cover Jiang Yu'e's mouth in time. Jiang Yuyan timidly tugged at Jiang Yu'e's sleeve, keeping her head lowered without speaking. Jiang Yu'e felt pleased with herself—she knew the main branch's mother and daughter certainly disliked Jiang Li, and causing Jiang Li trouble would please them. Not only was she currying favor with the main branch, but Jiang Yu'e personally disliked Jiang Li too.

Jiang Youyao had the Ji family as her backing, but what did Jiang Li have? Her own mother was dead—she deserved to be trampled upon. How could she still properly occupy the position of legitimate daughter? Jiang Yu'e wished nothing more than for Jiang Li to fall to her own status or even lower; that would truly make her happy.Jiang Li looked at Jiang Yu'e. Her expression wasn't exactly panicked, merely somewhat puzzled as she addressed Jiang Yu'e, "Fifth Sister, why would you say that? I harbor no dislike for Third Sister."

"Why would I say that?" Jiang Yu'e glanced at Ji Shuran, whose eyes clearly conveyed approval, bolstering her confidence further. She continued, "If you truly cared for Third Sister, you wouldn't have pushed Eldest Aunt back then, causing her to miscarry. After spending years in the nunnery, you must hold a grudge against Eldest Aunt. You're simply venting your hatred through this headpiece, deliberately gifting it to Third Sister as a curse!"

"Yu'e, hold your tongue!" Yang Shi, who was naturally timid and conflict-averse, couldn't help but intervene as Jiang Yu'e's words grew increasingly outrageous. She knew full well that among the Jiang family, the third branch held the least status. While Jiang Yu'e might have curried favor with Jiang Youyao, she had also offended Jiang Li. A starved camel is still bigger than a horse—no matter how fallen Jiang Li might be, she was still Jiang Yuanbai's biological daughter. Who could say she wouldn't regain power someday?

Having said all she wanted, Jiang Yu'e fell silent. Meanwhile, the surrounding guests regarded Jiang Li with unmistakable wariness.

The scene of Jiang Li causing her mother's death and killing her unborn brother seemed to unfold once more, vivid and gruesome before everyone's eyes. And this time, spurred by Jiang Yu'e's words, another image surfaced in their minds: Jiang Li, under the lamplight, viciously carving into the headpiece with a knife, stroke by stroke.

Venomous-hearted and ruthless.

Madam Liu could no longer contain herself. She was close with Ye Zhenzhen and had briefly encountered Jiang Li on Qingcheng Mountain, inexplicably developing a fondness for her. Seeing her friend's child become the target of public criticism, she declared, "Second Miss Jiang is kind-hearted. She isn't that sort of person."

No sooner had she spoken than an indistinct murmur emerged from the crowd, "It's the ones who appear kind-hearted that are the most fearsome. You can know a person's face, but not their heart."

Though softly spoken, the words pierced clearly into everyone's ears. Madam Liu's face turned livid with fury.

At that moment, Jiang Youyao began to sob quietly. She was accustomed to wearing an innocent, cheerful smile, but now, with tears glistening in her eyes, she looked utterly pitiable. Choking back sobs, she whispered, "Why would Second Sister treat me this way? I truly thought... I thought you had already resolved your grievances with us..."

"I bear no grievances, nor did I damage this headpiece," Jiang Li replied, gazing at her as if somewhat helpless. "It's just that none of you believe me."

"Bad person! Bad person!" Jiang Bingji suddenly started shrieking in his nanny's arms.

"Enough of this commotion!" Old Madam Jiang suddenly barked, rising to her feet with the support of her cane and a maid. Her cold gaze swept across the room, and the guests immediately fell silent. She turned to Jiang Li and demanded icily, "Did you truly not carve this headpiece?"

Jiang Li answered, "No."

"How can you prove it?" she pressed.

Jiang Li's eyes shifted to those standing near Old Madam Jiang. Jiang Yuanbai looked at her, his expression wavering. Ji Shuran covered her face with her sleeve, feigning profound sorrow. Lu Shi didn't even bother pretending, openly relishing the drama, while Yang Shi widened her eyes, urgently whispering something to Jiang Yu'e.

Throughout the entire Jiang residence, everyone was merely watching from the sidelines. Aside from Tong'er, it seemed there was not a single person by her side."I can have my maid Xiang Qiao testify for me." Jiang Li said, "After the headpiece was purchased, it was always Xiang Qiao who kept it for me. I never touched it."

Old Madam Jiang instructed those around her, "Bring Xiang Qiao here."

Shortly after, Xiang Qiao was brought in. Jiang Li asked her, "Xiang Qiao, you kept that headpiece in the box for me. You saw clearly that I never touched it, didn't you?"

Xiang Qiao hung her head, her body trembling slightly. After a long silence that puzzled everyone, she suddenly knelt on the ground and cried, "Second Young Lady, I'm sorry, this servant cannot lie." Before Jiang Li could speak, she turned to Old Madam Jiang, kowtowed, and exclaimed, "Old Madam, I'll tell everything! That headpiece was indeed damaged by Second Young Lady with a knife—I saw it with my own eyes!"

An uproar ensued.

(End of Chapter)