The Double

Chapter 51: Empathy

"I heard you got into a public argument on your way home from school today?" Old Madam Jiang asked.

Jiang Li glanced at Jiang Youyao and Jiang Yu'e, who were trying hard to conceal the schadenfreude in their eyes. Indeed, when it came to smearing her reputation and tattling on her, Jiang Youyao and Jiang Yu'e truly spared no effort.

Jiang Li smiled. "I wonder where you heard that from, Old Madam, but it's quite different from the truth."

Old Madam Jiang said, "Oh? Then what is the truth? Tell me about it."

Jiang Youyao and Jiang Yu'e wanted to speak but didn't dare. Old Madam Jiang was a woman who valued rules and was strict; she didn't allow others to interrupt when someone was speaking.

Jiang Li smiled. "My account alone might not be fair. Let my maid speak instead. Bai Xue." Jiang Li called Bai Xue in.

After entering, Bai Xue first bowed to Old Madam Jiang. Jiang Li said, "Tell Old Madam what happened after school today."

Following Jiang Li's instruction, Bai Xue immediately recounted everything from beginning to end. Bai Xue was honest and straightforward by nature, usually speaking in a measured way without any exaggeration. From an observer's perspective, she restored the complete picture of the event without bias toward anyone.

After listening, Old Madam Jiang pondered thoughtfully and then asked Jiang Li, "So it seems you were speaking up for justice, not quarreling recklessly."

"I wouldn't dare claim to speak for justice—I was merely stating the facts," Jiang Li replied, her smile unchanged.

At this point, Jiang Youyao could no longer hold back. "Grandmother, the young master Second Sister helped wasn't a stranger—he was from the Ye family of Xiangyang."

At the mention of the Ye family of Xiangyang, Old Madam Jiang's expression instantly turned grave.

It was important to note that since Ye Zhenzhen's death, the marital ties between the Jiang and Ye families had dwindled. After Jiang Yuanbai married Ji Shuran and formed an alliance with the Ji family, they had almost severed all contact with the Ye family. Originally, the only remaining connection between the Ye and Jiang families was Jiang Li herself, but years ago, Jiang Li had sworn an oath refusing to associate with merchant families. The Ye family had been deeply hurt and had since cut off all relations with the Jiang family.

Ji Shuran spoke up, "Youyao, don't talk nonsense. You've never met anyone from the Ye family—how could you know he was from the Ye family of Xiangyang?"

"I heard it with my own ears, along with Fourth Sister and Fifth Sister," Jiang Youyao hurriedly explained. "That young master was called Ye Shijie, and Liu Zimin said he was from the Ye family of Xiangyang."

"Ye Shijie..." Old Madam Jiang murmured thoughtfully before turning to Jiang Li. "He should be the son of the Ye family's eldest branch—your eldest cousin."

Only then did Jiang Li realize that Ye Shijie was her cousin.

"Li'er, what's going on?" Ji Shuran said. "You've only been back in the capital for just over a month—how did you come to know your Ye family cousin?"

This remark was insidious!

Sure enough, Old Madam Jiang's gaze suddenly turned sharp, piercing straight through Jiang Li like two knives.

Jiang Li had only returned to the capital a little over a month ago and hadn't even familiarized herself with Yanjing City, yet she had coincidentally helped her own cousin out of a predicament. How could such a coincidence exist in this world? The Ye family hadn't set foot in the capital for many years since cutting ties with the Jiang family. It was hard to believe this was merely a coincidence—could it be that Jiang Li and Ye Shijie had been in contact long before, perhaps even for quite some time?

In Old Madam Jiang's eyes, this was absolutely forbidden!Jiang Li smiled as she glanced at Ji Shuran, who seemed completely unaware that her words could push Jiang Li into an abyss of ruin, treating them more like a casual jest.

Jiang Li said, "I didn’t know him, nor was I aware he was my eldest cousin. If not for Old Madam telling me, I wouldn’t have known of our relation. Today, even if it had been anyone else in that situation, I would have stepped in to intervene." She chuckled meaningfully, adding, "In this world, while it’s wise to protect oneself, there are times when one must act bravely for justice. Especially in a family of scholars like ours, we must uphold the integrity and dignity of literati."

Old Madam Jiang was taken aback.

Her late husband, Jiang Yuanbai’s father, had been a third-rank Scholar of the Guanwen Hall his entire life—holding the same position at thirty as he did at his death. Though a third-rank civil official was respectable, remaining stagnant for decades surely had its reasons.

The reason was his unwavering integrity and frequent blunt remonstrations. Although the previous emperor acknowledged him as a good official, he found it hard to genuinely like him. This temperament ultimately halted the elder Jiang’s career.

Outwardly, Old Madam Jiang complained about her husband’s nature, but inwardly, she took pride in it. Yet, among their three sons, the eldest, Jiang Yuanbai, adhered to a cautious, moderate path; the second, Jiang Yuanping, was a smiling tiger; and the third, Jiang Yuanxing, as an illegitimate child, was timid and indecisive. None had inherited their father’s moral backbone, leaving Old Madam deeply disappointed.

Thus, even though Jiang Yuanbai had risen to lead the civil officials through his "moderation," Old Madam was not entirely satisfied. In life, gains come with losses—high rank and wealth often cost one principles and pride.

Jiang Li had long observed that Old Madam Jiang possessed a proud, somewhat aloof nature, evident even in the decor of the Evening Phoenix Hall. Deliberately, she spoke these lofty, righteous words to strike a chord with the old lady.

To make Old Madam recall her late husband and see his reflection in Jiang Li.

Sure enough, Old Madam’s gaze toward Jiang Li gradually softened.

Ji Shuran was startled, unable to grasp how Jiang Li’s few words had swayed Old Madam. Though shrewd, her mindset aligned with Jiang Yuanbai’s—utterly self-serving. Projecting her own values, she couldn’t comprehend Old Madam’s "integrity," but Jiang Li could.

Jiang Li continued, "I helped on impulse, without considering the consequences. But if, as Third Sister said, Ye Shijie is my eldest cousin from the Xiangyang Ye family, then my actions were even more justified. Though my birth mother has passed, the Ye family was once allied with ours by marriage. If I had abandoned our own kin in trouble, witnesses would have labeled our Jiang family cold-hearted and unfeeling. Father serves in court, where every word and deed is scrutinized. What if someone used this to impeach him?""As long as we handle our own affairs properly and leave no room for criticism, we can naturally coexist peacefully. Moreover, this was never a serious matter to begin with. Young Master Liu himself admitted it was merely a misunderstanding. To resolve a misunderstanding with just a few words—isn't that a wonderful thing? It requires neither gold nor silver, only a single sentence to help others. If I were to begrudge even these few words, I would truly be unworthy of being called a decent person."

The final remark carried a pointed sarcasm aimed at both Jiang Youyao and Jiang Yu'e.

(End of Chapter)