The Double

Chapter 69: His Arrival

The female students in the examination grounds had mostly gathered together.

Following the instructor leading them, Jiang Li walked to the side designated for the examination. She would draw lots to determine when her turn would come. The bamboo slips for drawing were placed in a small oblong wooden container. Jiang Li and Liu Xu each drew a small slip from it, one after another.

The person in charge of recording announced: "Jiang Li, thirteenth. Liu Xu, eighteenth."

There were only thirty participants in total for the examination. Jiang Li was placed in a middling position. As soon as the announcement was made, Jiang Yu'e on the other side exaggeratedly exclaimed, "Ah!" in a voice loud enough for Jiang Li to hear: "Second Sister is thirteenth, right after Third Sister! Third Sister is twelfth—what a coincidence!"

Jiang Youyao was twelfth?

Jiang Li was momentarily stunned, then inwardly chuckled. This really was quite a coincidence.

Liu Xu, however, was not as relaxed as Jiang Li. Shaking her head, she said, "This isn't good. Jiang Youyao's zither skills have always been among the best in Mingyi Hall. Last year, her performance of 'Transformation into a Butterfly' amazed everyone. This year, her skills must have improved even further. The better she plays, the more you'll suffer by comparison later. Even if your performance is decent, it will pale in comparison to hers."

People always love to compare. After witnessing exquisite delicacies, they are then presented with coarse fare—making the rare delicacies seem even more extraordinary and the simple food even harder to swallow.

This was indeed unfavorable for Jiang Li.

"Why is Second Child right after Third Child?" Old Madam Jiang also frowned. As members of the same Jiang family, if Jiang Li fell too far behind, it wouldn't reflect well on the Jiang family's reputation.

Jiang Youyao was overjoyed, never expecting such a pleasant surprise. She felt as though the heavens were on her side. This time, she was determined to make Jiang Li appear inferior and lose all face.

Seeing this, Meng Hongjin snorted coldly, also taking great pleasure in Jiang Li's misfortune. Though her own zither skills were no match for Jiang Youyao's, she was still delighted to see Jiang Li humiliated.

Jiang Li, however, had no mind to dwell on these matters. She had spotted Princess Yongning but had yet to see Shen Yurong. Yet, she knew in her heart that since Princess Yongning had made an unusual appearance today, Shen Yurong would surely come as well.

Just as she was pondering this, the girls around her suddenly grew excited again, and even the nearby crowd began to stir and buzz. Liu Xu's surprised voice reached her ears: "Why has Prince Cheng also come?"

"Prince Cheng?" Jiang Li looked toward the source of the commotion and indeed saw a man in blue taking his seat beside Princess Yongning. It was indeed Prince Cheng.

Prince Cheng and Princess Yongning were siblings born to the same mother, both children of Consort Liu. Back when Jiang Li was still part of the Shen family, she had heard some palace secrets from Shen Yurong. During the previous emperor's reign, Consort Liu and Consort Xia had fiercely competed for favor. Later, Consort Xia fell ill and passed away, and the Hongxiao Emperor was raised by the empress, eventually becoming the crown prince.

Prince Cheng had once been just a step away from that position. Perhaps because of the favor he enjoyed in the past, the current Consort Liu still retained her domineering temperament, and Prince Cheng, too, seemed unable to restrain himself, his sharpness too pronounced. If not for the Hongxiao Emperor's benevolence, a more suspicious ruler would have made Prince Cheng suffer greatly.As Prince Cheng entered the venue, he immediately stirred excitement among the crowd. Jiang Li even overheard noble young ladies nearby whispering shyly, "His Highness Prince Cheng is truly exceptionally handsome..."

Jiang Li suddenly recalled that Prince Cheng currently had one principal consort but no secondary consorts. Among the noble ladies present, those of slightly lower status might aspire to become his secondary consorts through advantageous matches. She wondered if Prince Cheng had come specifically to select a suitable woman. Remembering Jiang Jingrui's remark about "choosing a wife," Jiang Li couldn't help but feel amused.

Before the smile could reach her eyes, Jiang Li suddenly froze. Not far from Prince Cheng—or rather, near Princess Yongning—sat a familiar figure. Dressed in a simple moon-white robe, his features were gentle and refined, hinting at the handsome youth he once was. Though now matured, he had grown steady and dignified.

Even from a distance, Jiang Li recognized him instantly. Or perhaps, even across mountains and rivers, across millennia, she would still recognize him at a glance.

He was her husband—the husband she had grown up with, shared tender affection with, the one who had painted her eyebrows and pledged to grow old with her, hand in hand.

He was her husband, her companion in bed, yet also her enemy—the one who had watched coldly as she marched toward her death.

Jiang Li abruptly closed her eyes.

A surge of fragmented memories from the past rushed into her heart, almost piecing together into a complete picture before abruptly halting at the crucial moment. Like a bronze mirror shattering, the last image that flashed before her eyes was that panicked, fleeing silhouette outside the window while she struggled in someone else's grasp.

That cold, familiar yet unfamiliar silhouette.

Jiang Li opened her eyes woodenly.

Even with just a distant glance, Jiang Li was certain she had seen Shen Yurong and Princess Yongning exchange looks. Princess Yongning was charming as a flower, her laughter lively and vibrant—a woman full of life. Meanwhile, Xue Fangfei was already dead, reduced to a pile of bones buried in the earth, cold and decaying.

She lowered her head, unable to cry or laugh.

Unaware of her turmoil, Liu Xu tugged at Jiang Li and said, "The examiner for today's test has arrived. Look, that's Jinghong Xianzi..."

With her heart tangled in complex emotions, Jiang Li had to lift her head and look in the direction Liu Xu pointed. There, she saw a woman dressed in snow-white robes, her hair adorned with fresh yellow ribbons. Her red lips were radiant, her teeth pearly white, and her brows delicate like moth antennae. Her grace was enchanting, and as she moved, her wide sleeves fluttered slightly, evoking an ethereal immortal that captivated the heart.

This was Jinghong Xianzi. Originally a courtesan at Gazing Immortal Pavilion who sold her talents but not her body, she had later captivated the noble youths of Yanjing City with her transcendent zither skills, earning a reputation more pristine than that of ordinary gentlewomen. Eventually, Jinghong Xianzi fell in love with the son of a tea merchant, who redeemed her freedom. She then left Gazing Immortal Pavilion to become a devoted wife, leaving behind her former life.

Everyone in the capital lamented never hearing her play again, yet no one questioned her zither artistry. Thus, her presence among today's examiners was not entirely unexpected.

Among the young men present, many blushed and dared not look directly at her, for though she was now a married woman, her beauty surpassed that of any maiden.

Just as Jiang Li was marveling at Jinghong Xianzi's celestial grace, she heard Liu Xu exclaim beside her, "Duke Su has arrived as well."As if to echo Liu Xu's words, the surroundings suddenly fell quiet, punctuated only by faint, indistinct breaths—each one carefully restrained, as if afraid of disturbing something.

Following the snow-white robes came a flash of deep, vivid crimson—a red so poignant, so intensely rich.

That was Duke Su, Ji Heng.

(End of Chapter)