The Double

Chapter 82: Encountering Beauty

After dealing with Shen Ruyun, Jiang Li's mood improved even further.

Her steps became so light that she almost felt as if she had returned to the country paths of Xiangyang's Tongxiang, unable to resist the urge to sing a song.

She had finally managed to draw Shen Ruyun into this chaotic battle.

Just as she was worrying about how to lead everyone to Yuxiu Pavilion, Shen Ruyun had stumbled right into her hands. Given Shen Ruyun's infatuation with Zhou Yanbang, witnessing her beloved man in an intimate affair with another woman would be unbearable for her. Knowing her impulsive and thoughtless nature, Jiang Li was confident that the moment Shen Ruyun discovered the affair, she would make such a scene that the entire palace banquet would learn of this scandal.

Thus, the world would know that the Fifth Miss Jiang and the fiancé of the Second Miss Jiang had slept together. While a younger sister stealing her elder sister's man was immoral, Zhou Yanbang, as the fiancé, would also be despised. Jiang Li thought that Jiang Yuanbai, who valued reputation above all, would never allow Jiang Youyao to marry Zhou Yanbang. Yet Jiang Youyao was deeply in love with Zhou Yanbang, so having him torn away would feel like having a piece of her heart carved out alive—an unbearable pain for her.

And what about Jiang Yu'e? At most, she would become a concubine to the Heir of Marquis of Ningyuan. But was being a concubine truly desirable? The Marquis and his wife alone would never look kindly upon a woman who had ruined their son's reputation. No matter whom Zhou Yanbang married in the future, the future mistress of the household would not hesitate to torment a seductive woman like Jiang Yu'e.

As for Shen Ruyun, since she was the one who exposed the affair, she would undoubtedly earn the enmity of the Ningyuan Marquis household to some degree. Zhou Yanbang would never develop any affection for Shen Ruyun, and she would never win his heart in this lifetime.

In this play, everyone got what they deserved, and Jiang Li was thoroughly satisfied.

As she was thinking this, she suddenly noticed two people talking ahead. One of them was particularly striking—even in the darkness, he stood out like the most dazzling moonlight, irresistibly drawing one's gaze.

The young man wore brilliant red robes, appearing in the night like an enchanting spirit. He was speaking to the person opposite him, and since he was turned slightly away from Jiang Li, the dim light made it difficult to discern his expression.

She hadn't expected to encounter Duke Su here.

Jiang Li's heart tightened, and the earlier satisfaction from outmaneuvering Shen Ruyun instantly vanished.

Every time she met Duke Su, Jiang Li felt an inexplicable discomfort. Perhaps it was because his beauty was too striking, too aggressive, or perhaps it was his eyes—lazily amused yet giving the impression that he was observing you with utmost clarity.

Jiang Li halted her steps. Duke Su and his companion noticed someone approaching and turned to look at her. inwardly cursing her luck, Jiang Li showed no outward panic. She calmly bowed to Duke Su and then turned to leave in another direction.

It appeared as though she had merely stumbled upon this place by chance, resulting in an ordinary, meaningless encounter with Duke Su before going on her way.

Yet, inwardly, she was anything but calm.

She couldn't shake the feeling that the person speaking with Ji Heng looked very familiar. When that person turned to face her, the sense of familiarity grew even stronger. Though she couldn't recall where she had seen him before, Jiang Li was certain that she had definitely met this person at some point.She couldn't quite understand it. She and Ji Heng were complete strangers, with only a few brief encounters that held little significance. Even in her past life, they had been like strangers passing by. There was no reason she should recognize someone from Ji Heng's circle, so that person definitely wasn't one of his associates. Who could it be then?

Lost in thought, she couldn't help but wonder why Ji Heng was here, swaggering around the palace banquet so boldly. Only the ostentatious Duke Su would dare behave this way, which was only possible because the current Hongxiao Emperor showed him exceptional leniency. Of course, that made sense. With the Jiang family on one side and the Right Prime Minister and Prince Cheng forming an alliance on the other, the Hongxiao Emperor had no one else to rely on but Ji Heng to counterbalance them.

Hmm, the Right Prime Minister?

Jiang Li's heart stirred as she suddenly remembered—the person who had just been speaking with Ji Heng was none other than a servant of Li Jing, the eldest son of the Right Prime Minister!

The eldest son of the Li family was both virtuous and talented, and he loved making friends far and wide. Back when Shen Ruyun achieved the top score in the imperial examinations, Li Jing, disregarding his status as the son of the Right Prime Minister, had taken the initiative to congratulate Shen Yurong. At the time, Jiang Li had been with Shen Yurong to receive guests and remembered that among Li Jing's personal guards, there had been such a person.

If it were anyone else, even if they had seen Li Jing's guard, after so much time and with only one brief encounter, they likely wouldn't recognize him if they met again. But Jiang Li had an exceptional memory—the man's appearance remained as clear in her mind as if she had seen him just yesterday. She couldn't possibly be mistaken.

He was the Right Prime Minister's man!

A sudden realization dawned on Jiang Li, as if she had uncovered a great secret. After all, Ji Heng was the Hongxiao Emperor's man, yet he was secretly conversing with someone from Li Jing's circle. Could it be that Ji Heng and the Right Prime Minister had already established connections? If so, wasn't this a case of feigning compliance while secretly plotting—had Ji Heng already been bribed by the Right Prime Minister?

No, no, the Right Prime Minister wasn't likely capable of bribing Ji Heng. Then... had Ji Heng chosen the Right Prime Minister? Had he chosen Prince Cheng?

Was he a traitor?!

As if catching a glimpse of the tip of an iceberg, this startling realization made Jiang Li's steps halt abruptly. Her heart pounded wildly in her chest.

But just then, a leisurely voice sounded from behind her, as if its owner had been waiting for a long time. He said, "What has Second Miss Jiang discovered to frighten her so?"

Jiang Li whirled around!

Ji Heng stood behind her—she hadn't even noticed when he had followed her. He was so close that only a fist's distance separated them. Because of his height, he had to bend slightly to speak to her, and Jiang Li had turned around so abruptly that she nearly collided with his chest. Instead, Ji Heng grabbed the back collar of her dress, half-lifting her to face him.

He had extraordinarily beautiful eyes.

Their shape was exquisite—long and moist, with ends that tilted upward slightly, exuding a bewitching elegance. Their color was stunning—a faint amber, transparent like glass, allowing her to see her own reflection in them. Their expression was captivating—when he glanced at someone with that half-smiling, half-mocking look, he seemed both affectionate and indifferent, yet there was an aura about him, like the scent of poppies, that seeped into one's very core and made the heart itch.

But he was utterly cold.

Even with this gentle, mesmerizing demeanor and this face capable of captivating nations, Jiang Li could still see a bone-deep coldness in his expression.

He was a demon who could see into people's hearts.

Since becoming Second Miss Jiang, they had crossed paths many times, but this was her first direct confrontation with him.

Jiang Li met his gaze directly, doing her utmost to appear calm. She said, "The Duke jokes."Ji Heng released his grip indifferently, letting go of Jiang Li's collar. He said, "You can't see your own eyes, but are you very flustered?"

Jiang Li instinctively took a step back, putting some distance between them, as if only then feeling somewhat safer. She replied, "The Duke is mistaken. I am not flustered."

In truth, by conventional standards, Jiang Li appeared too calm. Yet if she were to act as panicked as other young ladies of noble birth, she felt certain Ji Heng would see through her disguise.

Ji Heng's eyes were far too sharp.

He looked down at her, pondered for a moment, and suddenly asked, "Perhaps... you know that person from earlier?"

"I don't," Jiang Li blurted out without hesitation. Xue Zhao had once told her that lies must be delivered in one breath to sound convincing. But inwardly, she couldn't help feeling a surge of trepidation—what kind of instinct did Ji Heng possess to have guessed even this?

He truly was terrifying—a beauty with profoundly hidden depths.

Ji Heng finally ceased pressing the matter. He merely looked at Jiang Li meaningfully and remarked, "Every time I encounter Second Miss Jiang, I witness quite a spectacle. I've never seen such thrilling drama in the Duke's residence." He feigned applause, the golden-threaded folding fan in his palm glimmering with a faint light in the darkness. "What a pity."

"The Duke is mistaken," Jiang Li said. "I am no actress, and this is no stage."

"Is that so?" Ji Heng's lips curved. "But the scene you just orchestrated for Fifth Miss Jiang and the Heir of Marquis Ningyuan was truly ingenious."

Jiang Li's heart skipped a beat—Ji Heng even knew about this!

"It seems you truly have no interest in the Heir of Marquis Ningyuan. Pity his sincere affections were misplaced." Ji Heng sighed. "And you even dragged the Shen family's young lady into it." Lowering his voice, he added, "Second Miss Jiang's play is far from simple."

Hearing such words from such a handsome young man, even with his low, husky voice that held a seductive allure, Jiang Li felt fine goosebumps rise on her back.

From arranging Zhou Yanbang and Jiang Yu'e to encountering Shen Ruyun just moments ago—these events had unfolded in mere instants. The palace was vast, and gathering detailed accounts from every corner was no simple feat. Yet Ji Heng seemed to grasp everything almost immediately. What did this imply? It meant Ji Heng had eyes and ears throughout the entire palace!

Was there anything happening within these palace walls that he didn't know? Perhaps even Shen Yurong and Princess Yongning's secret rendezvous were perfectly clear to him!

Jiang Li's expression turned shadowy and unreadable, which only amused Ji Heng further. He asked, "What is Second Miss Jiang thinking?"

Jiang Li lifted her head and met his gaze. In that instant, she had already made up her mind. She said to Ji Heng, "If the Duke enjoys watching plays, then by all means, watch. But surely you are aware of the age-old rule that spectators should not comment."

Upon hearing this, Ji Heng seemed to find it amusing. He tilted his head slightly, his tone growing even more ambiguous. "What if I insist on commenting? What can you do about it?Jiang Li felt a surge of frustration blocking her chest. Truthfully, there was nothing she could do to Ji Heng. As Duke Su, even with her status as Jiang Yuanbai's daughter, she held no power over him. Moreover, this man was unpredictable and operated outside conventional norms. Having previously glimpsed his sinister ambitions, Jiang Li couldn't be sure whether he would keep this matter to himself or not."Then I can only accept my fate," Jiang Li replied evenly.

When under someone else's roof, one must bow their head. Confronting Ji Heng forcefully at this moment would bring no benefits—it would only complicate her situation without achieving anything. At least she had done all she could tonight. If this still didn't work, then it was simply her bad luck.

Everyone experiences bouts of bad luck, but no one remains unlucky every time.

Ji Heng glanced at Jiang Li and suddenly laughed. "Don't worry, I won't say anything," he said, lazily flicking away nonexistent dust from his sleeve with a folding fan. "If word got out, there'd be no more drama to watch. That would be... truly regrettable."

Hearing this, Jiang Li felt a wave of relief.

Though it was just an offhand remark from Ji Heng, given his temperament, he wasn't one to go back on his word. She said, "Then I thank the Duke."

"You seem quite close with Ye Shijie," Ji Heng abruptly brought up Ye Shijie. "Tonight's events—you two were so in sync, your acting methods unexpectedly aligned." He continued, "Are you and Ye Shijie getting rather familiar?"

Why would he suddenly mention Ye Shijie out of nowhere? But Jiang Li immediately recalled the person from Li Jing's faction who had spoken with Ji Heng earlier. The Right Prime Minister's residence had previously intended to win Ye Shijie over, but now Ye Shijie was keeping his distance from them... Could Ji Heng have come because of this?

Quickly weighing her words internally, Jiang Li replied, "My relationship with Cousin Ye is merely ordinary. We've barely spoken, and I know very little about his affairs. What happened tonight was purely coincidental."

Upon hearing this, Ji Heng smiled thoughtfully but said nothing more. Whenever Jiang Li met his gaze, she felt uneasy. Fortunately, he didn't linger with her indefinitely. "Let's go," he said.

Jiang Li asked, "What?"

"Weren't you going to watch the drama?" he stated matter-of-factly. "I'll join you."

Jiang Li: "..."

She had no desire to stand alongside Ji Heng. Never mind what the Jiang family might think—just being scrutinized by Ji Heng's probing eyes made her feel intensely observed.

Though she had been married in her past life and was no naive, ignorant young girl, capable of handling all sorts of people with ease, there was something dangerously unsettling about Ji Heng. He was like a venomous beast that hadn't yet bared its claws—one could only see its beautiful plumage and elegant form, unaware of the sharp claws and predatory stance hidden beneath that pleasing exterior.

Yet, no matter what, she couldn't refuse Ji Heng's request.

Jiang Li had no choice but to walk forward with Ji Heng.

...

At the waterside pavilion, the tea on the tables had been refilled several times.

After the night banquet came the lotus viewing. The Empress Dowager, advanced in years, sat for a while before needing to return to the temporary palace to rest. Consort Liu, who habitually opposed the Empress Dowager, found it dull once the latter left and soon followed suit.

The Hongxiao Emperor was busy discussing current affairs with his ministers, while the ladies in the pavilion gradually began to show signs of weariness.

Though the apricot blossom wine from the palace banquet wasn't particularly intoxicating, having drunk quite a bit, they now felt so soothed by the night breeze that they could only comfortably close their eyes for a brief nap.Seeing this, Ji Chen Shi smiled and suggested, "Sitting here for so long has made us all a bit drowsy. Why don't we take a stroll? I heard the lotus flowers at the end of the waterside corridor are in full bloom. Li Pin mentioned that a twin lotus recently blossomed there—a rare sight indeed. Let's go take a look and broaden our horizons."

At these words, the previously drowsy ladies and young misses perked up almost in unison.

Someone asked, "A twin lotus? I've truly never seen one before. I heard that when a twin lotus bloomed in the pond behind Baiyun Temple, crowds went to see it, saying that those who laid eyes on it would receive blessings and harmony in their households."

Household harmony—though left unspoken, the implication was marital bliss. Among the women present, which married lady didn't wish for a harmonious relationship with her husband? Even the unmarried young misses hoped to one day marry a suitable gentleman and share a lifetime of marital harmony. With such an auspicious omen, who wouldn't want to see it?

"Indeed, it's true," Li Pin also smiled. "If you ladies wish to see it, you may certainly go."

The gathered ladies and young misses immediately brightened, eagerly agreeing with Ji Chen Shi's suggestion to view the twin lotus.

Liu Xu was reluctant to go, finding it difficult to blend in with the noble young ladies. However, Madam Liu still needed to socialize with the wife of Chengde Official's colleague, so she patted Liu Xu's head, signaling for her to join the group.

Ji Shuran also rose with a smile, saying, "Li'er is resting in the tea room at the end of the corridor. She must have rested for a while now and should be feeling less dizzy. I'll fetch her so we can leave the palace together later."

Jiang Yuyan timidly spoke up, "Fourth Sister hasn't returned yet either."

Jiang Li had gone to rest, while Jiang Yu'e had only left to change clothes—yet neither had returned. Yang Shi also noticed this and complained, "That girl, wandering off like that—why hasn't she come back yet?"

"No need to worry," Jiang Youyao said. "Fourth Sister left with Second Sister, so perhaps they're together now. We'll likely see them when we reach the tea room."

Yang Shi didn't dare contradict Jiang Youyao, but inwardly she doubted it—she knew her own daughter best. Jiang Yu'e had never gotten along with Jiang Li, so why would they be together? Moreover, with today being a palace banquet, how could Jiang Yu'e bear to hide away in a tea room instead of making an appearance? Given Jiang Yu'e's nature, she should have long since emerged to draw attention.

Though anxious, Yang Shi couldn't show it. Besides, she truly had no idea where Jiang Yu'e had gone, so she decided to follow the group to the tea room first to see if her daughter was there.

The group thus made their way toward the tea room at the end of the corridor.

The moon had vanished unnoticed, hidden beneath layers of clouds, casting only faint, scattered glimmers of light. The lotus leaves and flowers on the water rustled in the wind, and fish darted beneath the leaves as people passed by.

The water shimmered, its surface rippling with hidden currents.

The corridor appeared long, but with conversation and laughter, they reached the end in no time. There, they indeed found a twin lotus, though it was less vibrant and striking than the other lotuses—just two small, unremarkable blossoms.

Everyone felt somewhat disappointed.Yet she still glanced a few more times because of the legend that it could bless "family harmony," though after looking, she felt it wasn't as pleasing as the scenery in the waterside pavilion.

Ji Shuran smiled and said, "Li'er is inside the tea room. I'll go check on her first. If any of you are thirsty and wish to have a cup of tea, feel free to come along."

After walking for a while, a few thirsty ladies who wanted tea accompanied Ji Shuran.

Ji Shuran arrived at the tea room.

Only a faint, dim light glowed inside the tea room, appearing particularly ambiguous and lingering in the night. Through the window, no figures could be seen, and it was eerily quiet.

Jiang Youyao laughed, "Has Second Sister fallen asleep? Why is it so quiet inside? Not a sound can be heard."

"Very likely," Ji Shuran said with concern. "She mentioned feeling dizzy earlier. If she's asleep now, she might catch a chill." But inwardly, she was immensely pleased. By now, Jiang Li and Ye Shijie must have just finished their passionate encounter and fallen into an exhausted slumber—how could they hear any noise outside? The drug's effects were at their peak, and with so many "witnesses" behind her, this night was destined to be unforgettable for Jiang Li and Ye Shijie.

Thus, without any hesitation, Ji Shuran gently called out "Li'er" and pushed the door open.

The tea room door seemed unlocked, swinging open with a light push.

The lamp flickered abruptly.

Ji Shuran stepped inside.

As soon as she entered, she felt a stir of unease, sensing something amiss. But before she could ponder it, she saw Ye Shijie sitting by the small table under the lamplight, propping his chin with his hand and frowning at her.

His clothes were neat and tidy, the table set with tea and snacks. There was no sign of Jiang Li in the room.

This was completely different from the disheveled, passionate scene Ji Shuran had imagined.

Darkness clouded Ji Shuran's vision as the other ladies arrived behind her, among them Jiang Youyao's deliberately raised voice: "Second Sister—"

The voice cut off abruptly.

The ladies outside were startled to see a man like Ye Shijie here, but someone quickly recognized him as the top candidate in this year's Imperial College examinations, recently appointed by the Emperor as a Vice Minister of Revenue. Someone asked, "Young Master Ye, what are you doing here?"

Jiang Youyao had entered full of glee, eager to witness Jiang Li's humiliating state. Seeing Ye Shijie sitting there composed, she shrilled, "Why are you sitting here? Where is my second sister—"

"Your second sister?" Ye Shijie frowned. "Second Miss Jiang? I haven't seen any Second Miss Jiang. I drank some wine at the banquet, and the guiding palace maid let me rest here for a while. I just arrived not long ago and didn't see your second sister." He looked at Jiang Youyao. "Perhaps Second Miss Jiang has already left."

"Impossible—" Jiang Youyao was furious. "She must be hiding! Where is she?" She began searching around frantically.

The surrounding ladies immediately regarded Jiang Youyao with strange looks. Her behavior, as if certain Jiang Li must be here, seemed rather obsessive.Seeing the looks others were giving Jiang Youyao, Ji Shuran’s heart sank with dread, fearing that Jiang Youyao might slip up. She grabbed Jiang Youyao’s arm and smiled at Ye Shijie, saying, “Youyao is just too worried about Li'er. Look, it’s late at night, and Li'er is nowhere to be seen. Could something have happened to her?” She wore the expression of a deeply concerned, loving mother.

Ye Shijie had long understood that the night’s events were orchestrated by the venomous woman before him. He knew all too well the serpent-like heart hidden beneath Ji Shuran’s loving facade. Coldly sneering inwardly, he maintained a solemn expression and waved his hand dismissively. “Your concern has clouded your judgment, Madam, which is understandable. However…” he said politely, “please knock before entering next time.”

Ji Shuran’s face instantly flushed with embarrassment.

She had been intent on letting everyone witness Jiang Li's disgrace—how could she have deliberately knocked? But what exactly was going on? Ji Shuran grew suspicious. The tea room was so small that Jiang Li couldn't possibly have hidden. Moreover, Ye Shijie was fully dressed, there were no traces in the room, not even any unusual scent—everything indicated that Ye Shijie and Jiang Li had never even begun?

The person who reported back clearly said they saw both Jiang Li and Ye Shijie enter this tea room. Now, Ye Shijie didn’t seem drugged, so where was Jiang Li? Where had she gone?

Ji Shuran grew anxious. Without seeing Jiang Li, she felt something had been overlooked, as if something was about to happen.

After speaking with Ji Shuran, Ye Shijie stood up and cupped his hands in salute to the ladies. As a man, it was somewhat inconvenient for him to remain in a gathering of only women, so it was better for him to excuse himself.

Just as he reached the door, he suddenly paused.

"Madam, Second Miss Jiang is here," Ye Shijie announced to those inside.

Ji Shuran was taken aback and hurried to the door. Who else could it be but Jiang Li, gracefully approaching from the far end of the corridor?

Beside Jiang Li was a handsome young man in red—none other than Duke Su, Ji Heng.

Seeing the group, Jiang Li also looked puzzled. She stepped forward and asked, "Mother... why are you all here?"

"Li'er," Ji Shuran inquired, "weren't you resting in the tea room? Why didn’t we see you earlier? Only Young Master Ye was there."

Jiang Li smiled sheepishly. "I stayed in the tea room for a while but needed to use the washroom. After leaving, I got lost and ended up wandering in circles in the garden." She continued, "I didn’t know the way, and no one passed by. I spent too much time lost in the garden, but fortunately, I met the Duke." Jiang Li smiled. "The Duke saw me struggling and guided me out of the garden. I intended to wait for you in the tea room and returned there, only to find you all here. Why?" She looked at Ji Shuran. "Is something wrong?"

Ji Shuran was speechless.

Duke Su Ji Heng stood beside Jiang Li. Though it was unclear how much of what Jiang Li said was true, Ji Shuran couldn’t express doubt, as questioning Jiang Li would mean questioning Ji Heng. Since Ji Heng said nothing, he tacitly affirmed Jiang Li’s story.

Ji Shuran nearly gritted her teeth in frustration.

Jiang Li turned her head, as if noticing Ye Shijie for the first time. She seemed puzzled. "Why is Young Master Ye here in this tea room? There are so many tea rooms in the palace, and the ones for men aren’t in this area..." She left the sentence unfinished, but her implication gave the ladies much to ponder.

If Jiang Li hadn’t gone to the washroom or gotten lost, she and Ye Shijie would have been alone together. Even if nothing happened, it would have looked suspicious. For the newly appointed Vice Minister of Revenue, this would not have been good, and for Second Miss Jiang, it would have been a blow to her reputation.

But Second Miss Jiang was fortunate enough to have avoided it.

Recalling Third Miss Jiang’s unusual behavior earlier, as if she had known Second Miss Jiang would be in the tea room, and Ji Shuran pushing the door open without even knocking... it was all very thought-provoking.Ji Shuran saw Jiang Li deftly turning the accusations toward her with just a few words. Furious yet unable to immediately counter, she could only cast a pleading glance toward Li Pin and Ji Chen Shi.

Just as Li Pin was about to speak, a figure stumbled in from outside—rushing straight toward the direction of Marquis Ningyuan’s wife. It must have been her maid.

The maid cried out in panic, “Madam, the young master is in trouble!”

Finally, they’re talking! Round it up and it’s practically a marriage, isn’t it!

(End of Chapter)