The Double

Chapter 33: Two Birds with One Stone

The sudden mention of Yun Shuang’s name from Jiang Li’s lips took everyone by surprise.

Yun Shuang, who was standing among the crowd, was caught off guard by the callout. When she clearly heard what Jiang Li had said, her first instinct was to glance at Ji Shuran’s expression.

Even through the crowd, Yun Shuang could feel Ji Shuran’s gaze fixed on her, as if staring at a corpse.

She instinctively wanted to shake her head in denial, but Jiang Li turned to her again, speaking with apparent gratitude and even a hint of admiration, “Yun Shuang had warned me earlier to be wary of Xiang Qiao. At the time, I didn’t quite believe it, but looking back now, I was too arrogant. Thank you, Yun Shuang.” Then, addressing Ji Shuran, she added, “Although Mother misjudged Xiang Qiao, you sent a thoughtful Yun Shuang to my side. I am grateful for your careful consideration.”

Ji Shuran forced a smile, though no one could fathom the turmoil in her heart at that moment.

It was too late for Yun Shuang to say anything now, and with so many guests present, she had no way to refute the claim. It was true that Xiang Qiao had hidden the ruby headdress, but Yun Shuang, who had been following her, had dug it out and secretly placed it in Xiang Qiao’s room.

Most people in this world resent inequality more than scarcity. Both she and Xiang Qiao were spies planted by Ji Shuran beside Jiang Li, but Xiang Qiao, with her silver tongue, had managed to secure numerous rewards from Jiang Li—rewards that even a decade of service under Ji Shuran might not have earned them.

Yun Shuang grew envious and increasingly resentful of Xiang Qiao. Overhearing Tong’er and Jiang Li’s plan, she learned that to turn the tables on Ji Shuran, Tong’er would expose Xiang Qiao’s theft of the headdress in front of the guests. Yun Shuang quietly returned the headdress to Xiang Qiao’s room.

Even so, Ji Shuran’s plan would fail. So what? Even if Xiang Qiao reported Jiang Li’s scheme to Ji Shuran, allowing her to rearrange her strategy, Yun Shuang would only gain credit without harming Xiang Qiao in the slightest. But by aligning with Jiang Li’s plan, Xiang Qiao was doomed.

A servant with malicious intent, who framed their master, had no place in the Jiang residence. Moreover, having botched the task assigned by Ji Shuran, how could Xiang Qiao possibly end well?

Everything had gone smoothly until Xiang Qiao was exposed. But just as it was about to conclude, Jiang Li’s single sentence plunged Yun Shuang into an abyss.

Yun Shuang’s legs weakened, and she nearly collapsed to her knees.

Jiang Li’s smile grew more genuine. Ji Shuran was likely a suspicious person; a single remark from Jiang Li would make her genuinely doubt whether Yun Shuang had turned traitor. After all, what seemed foolproof had suddenly unraveled—unless there was a mole who had tipped off Jiang Li.

Xiang Qiao would never dig her own grave, so it had to be Yun Shuang.

By now, the truth was clear. Old Madam Jiang said coldly, “What are you waiting for? Drag this troublemaking maid away and beat her to death!”

Xiang Qiao’s eyes widened, her mouth gagged with cloth, muttering incoherently as she desperately looked to Ji Shuran for help. But at this point, why would Ji Shuran risk implicating herself for Xiang Qiao? She even urged, “Hurry up! Didn’t you hear Mother?”

Xiang Qiao struggled as she was dragged away. The guests watched, a chill running down their spines. The Jiang family’s rules were strict—truly befitting Jiang Yuanbai. Despite his usual amiable appearance, his methods were not to be underestimated.Yun Shuang watched on, a chill creeping down her spine. She vaguely sensed that by going along with the scheme to frame Xiang Qiao, she might have committed a grave mistake.

Jiang Li pressed her palms together and softly uttered, "Amitabha." Everyone turned to look at her—the eye of the storm, the center of this entire turmoil. She lowered her head slightly, as if pained by Xiang Qiao’s fate, yet her profile appeared all the more pure and virtuous.

Old Madam Jiang cast an ambiguous glance at Jiang Li and said to Ji Shuran, "Since Li Yatou has lost Xiang Qiao, she must be assigned a new maid. Tomorrow, have the matrons bring in some candidates and let Li Yatou choose a few herself."

Upon hearing this, Tong’er’s heart stirred, and she immediately spoke up crisply, "Reporting to the Old Madam, the cleaning maids in Fragrant Garden Courtyard were also assigned by Xiang Qiao. Since Xiang Qiao has proven morally deficient, I beg the Old Madam to dismiss those maids as well and select new ones, so that Fragrant Garden Courtyard may be thoroughly cleansed inside and out."

These words made Ji Shuran’s face burn with even greater embarrassment and anger. How dare a mere maid imply criticism in her words! Yet no matter how furious she felt inside, she maintained a calm exterior.

Old Madam Jiang said, "Let it be done as you suggest."

Ji Shuran hurriedly agreed and turned to Jiang Li with a smile, "It was my fault for misjudging someone and nearly causing a major mishap. How about this: Yun Shuang shall return to my side, and Li’er, you may personally choose your personal maid tomorrow. Would that be acceptable?"

Jiang Li showed a hint of regret. "I had thought Yun Shuang was quite suitable and hoped to keep her by my side, but Mother’s reasoning makes sense. I shall defer to your arrangement."

Listening to Jiang Li’s words, Yun Shuang was terrified out of her wits. Jiang Li’s remark was pushing her straight into the fire! Ji Shuran already suspected her; keeping her close would only mean torment. And now Jiang Li was adding fuel to the flames!

"Today, we have made a spectacle of ourselves before our guests," Old Madam Jiang declared solemnly, seeing that matters were largely settled. "Our Jiang family has failed in disciplining our servants, resulting in this laughable incident that has disrupted everyone’s enjoyment. On behalf of the Jiang family, I offer my apologies."

The guests hurriedly expressed that it was no trouble, and Jiang Yuanbai added, "We shall invite you all to gather again another day."

Those who had come to witness the Hair-pinning ceremony had enjoyed quite a drama, yet their gains were meager. The one who should have been the center of attention, Jiang Youyao, had subtly been overlooked.

As Shen Ruyun and her mother were escorted out by the Jiang family servants, Shen Ruyun couldn’t help but whisper to her mother, "I find that Third Miss Jiang is rather unremarkable, but Second Miss Jiang is quite formidable. With just a few words, she turned the situation around. I fear she is far from simple."

Shen Ruyun disliked Jiang Youyao because Jiang Youyao was Zhou Yanbang’s fiancée. Today, Jiang Li’s reversal of the situation had ostensibly punished Xiang Qiao, but in reality, it had also undermined Ji Shuran’s dignity and made Jiang Youyao lose face. Shen Ruyun was delighted to see Jiang Youyao humiliated, but that didn’t mean she liked Jiang Li either. To Shen Ruyun, if Jiang Youyao hadn’t replaced Jiang Li, Zhou Yanbang’s fiancée would now be Jiang Li.

They were both rivals in love—equally detestable.

As they spoke, they suddenly heard someone call out, "Miss." Shen Ruyun and her mother turned to see two people approaching—none other than the recently prominent Second Miss Jiang and her maid, Tong’er.Second Miss Jiang also spotted them, pausing her steps briefly to offer a faint smile and nod before brushing past them.

Since they were never close to begin with, it could hardly be considered impolite.

Yet in that moment, Shen Ruyun was suddenly struck by how familiar Second Miss Jiang's smiling nod seemed.

Where had she seen it before?

(End of Chapter)