The Double

Chapter 91: Traveling Together

Early the next morning, Jiang Li rose and began her toilette.

The entire Jiang household now knew she was returning to Xiangyang. Ji Shuran had initially opposed it in front of Ye Mingxuan, but later changed her mind for some reason. Putting on a motherly facade, she asked Jiang Li if she needed anything.

When Jiang Jingrui learned of Jiang Li's return to Xiangyang, he stayed in Fragrant Garden Courtyard for a long time. He complained that Jiang Li was being unfair, going to Xiangyang to have fun without bringing him along. He actually wanted to accompany Jiang Li to Xiangyang.

Jiang Li found this both irritating and amusing. Jiang Jingrui didn't even know what kind of place Xiangyang was, truly thinking it was some fun destination. Moreover, she wasn't going for pleasure, and she didn't know if the Ye family would even welcome her. As their granddaughter, she herself might not feel entirely comfortable there—how could Jiang Jingrui, a nominal relative, have the nerve to go?

Most importantly, even if all these issues were resolved, Jiang Jingrui's mother, Lu Shi, would never allow him to act so recklessly.

After much persuasion, Jiang Li finally managed to dissuade Jiang Jingrui. She sighed inwardly; it seemed everyone in the Jiang family assumed she would live comfortably with the Ye family, unaware that the road ahead was long and far from the carefree life they imagined.

Yesterday had been sunny, but today brought a continuous drizzle.

Autumn in Yanjing City seemed fleeting, as if summer's heat was still vivid, yet in the blink of an eye, chilly winds had arrived. Looking at the withered branches and fallen leaves on the ground, it was hard to believe in yesterday's vibrant bustle.

Tong'er reached out to test the rain and turned to Jiang Li, saying, "Miss, it's raining quite heavily. Perhaps we shouldn't go out today—let's go another day."

"It's fine," Jiang Li replied, fastening her cloak. "We'll be in the carriage most of the time, not walking much."

Tong'er had no choice but to relent.

Jiang Li had arranged to go out today to shop for gifts for the Ye family. After Old Madam Jiang learned of this, she specifically had Pearl bring some silver for Jiang Li to choose gifts herself.

Unexpectedly, it rained today. Tong'er thought there was no hurry since Ye Mingxuan would remain in Yanjing City for about ten more days—they could pick a nicer day to go. Who would have thought that the usually easygoing Jiang Li would be so stubborn today?

After fastening her cloak, Jiang Li stood before the mirror.

Second Miss Jiang's appearance wasn't as striking as Xue Fangfei's, but her foundation was quite good—excessively delicate. During her time recuperating with the Jiang family, Jiang Li had eaten much better than at Qingcheng Mountain. All traces of weariness and frailty had vanished, leaving her looking fresh and vibrant at first glance.

"Miss, you're truly beautiful," Bai Xue praised sincerely from the side. "It's as if you stepped out of a painting."

"Exactly," Tong'er nodded. "Back at Qingcheng Mountain, we could only wear Buddhist robes, which didn't show off our miss's beauty. But now, in all of Yanjing City, I don't think anyone compares to our miss. If the nuns from Qingcheng Mountain saw you now, they definitely wouldn't recognize you."

Jiang Li gazed at her reflection—the expression was familiar, but the features were so strange. When she stood before Xue Zhao, would he still recognize her?

Father... probably wouldn't recognize her either.

A wave of sorrow welled up in her heart. She turned away from the mirror and said, "Let's go."

"Alright," Tong'er replied, pushing the door open.

...Due to the rain, there weren't many people out and about in Yanjing City. Even the vendors selling candied hawthorns along the streets were scarce today. Jiang Li, along with Tong'er and Bai Xue, could only browse through jewelry or fabric shops, as the peddlers who usually carried their wares on shoulder poles to sell small items likely hadn't ventured out.

It was said that while the Ye family had three sons, the grandchildren were few. Apart from Ye Shijie, there were only Ye Mingxuan's son and daughter. The fourth son of the Ye family had yet to marry, let alone have children. Thus, buying gifts for the younger generation wasn't particularly difficult.

Before long, Jiang Li had selected the gifts she intended to give.

Returning gifts was no simple matter. Many mothers from wealthy families specifically taught their legitimate daughters the art of reciprocating gifts. If a legitimate daughter later married into an official's family, her husband's social engagements would inevitably involve gift exchanges. Giving something too lavish could seem overly formal, while something too modest might appear disrespectful. It was truly challenging.

However, Jiang Li had already learned how to handle gift reciprocation when Shen Yurong began socializing after topping the imperial examinations. In Tongxiang, Xue Huaiyuan, being upright and incorruptible, never accepted gifts. But in Yanjing City, it was different. Sometimes, the return gifts couldn't be too simple, yet if they were too expensive, Shen's mother would complain. She had no choice but to secretly use a portion of her own dowry to make up the difference.

She supposed Shen Yurong no longer faced such troubles now. Princess Yongning lacked no silver, so no matter how lavish the gifts she needed to return, she would never be short of funds, and naturally, she wouldn't have to dip into her own dowry.

Jiang Li had prepared different gifts for her three uncles, two aunts, Old Madam Ye, and her cousins. To do this, she had specifically asked Ye Mingxuan about their personalities and felt satisfied with her selections.

By afternoon, they casually ate a meal at a tavern in Yanjing City. Seeing that the rain showed no sign of stopping, Tong'er said, "It doesn't look like the rain will let up anytime soon, Miss. After we eat, let's head back. There's not much fun to be had outside anyway."

Jiang Li thought for a moment and said, "No, we're not going back. We're going to the Mist and Rain Pavilion."

"The Mist and Rain Pavilion?" Tong'er and Bai Xue exclaimed in unison, "What kind of place is that?"

"It's a pavilion near Egret Bay. I've heard the view of the rain there is exceptionally beautiful. Though I've been back in Yanjing City for some time, I've only heard of it and never visited. Today's rain is perfect for appreciating its charm. Since the opportunity has presented itself, we might as well go now."

Bai Xue, who always followed Jiang Li's lead, had no objections. Seeing this, Tong'er had no choice but to agree, though she looked at Jiang Li and asked, "Where did you hear about the Mist and Rain Pavilion, Miss? I've never heard of it before."

"I overheard someone mention it by chance," Jiang Li replied lightly. "It's not a well-known place, so few people know about it. Isn't there a saying that the most magnificent scenery is often hidden in unnoticed corners?"

Tong'er nodded thoughtfully.

As Jiang Li sipped her tea, her thoughts drifted far away.

Back then, after suffering a miscarriage during her birthday celebrations, she was left weak and bedridden. When she learned of Xue Zhao's death, she struggled to get up. But Tongxiang was too far from Yanjing, and she couldn't transport Xue Zhao's remains back to Tongxiang in her frail state. Shen's mother wouldn't allow it either—she was seen as a disgrace to the Shen family and forbidden from shaming them in public. Even collecting Xue Zhao's body was considered an act of tolerance on Shen Yurong's part.Shen Yurong told her that Mist and Rain Pavilion was a fine place with beautiful scenery and few visitors. If Xue Zhao were buried here, it would be quite fitting. When the opportunity arose later, after she recovered, they could bring Xue Zhao back to his hometown.

At that time, she was overwhelmed and vulnerable, feeling immensely grateful to Shen Yurong. Despite her disgraceful situation, he still considered their past affection and thought of her, which she found truly commendable.

But she later discovered that her predicament had been orchestrated by Shen Yurong himself. How could he not know that Princess Yongning had colluded with corrupt officials to kill Xue Zhao? They were the murderers, yet they pretended to share her grief—a truly nauseating act.

At this thought, Jiang Li frowned deeply. No matter how beautiful Mist and Rain Pavilion was, it had been Shen Yurong's idea, and it likely carried Princess Yongning's intentions as well. She refused to let Xue Zhao remain under their control even after death. For now, there was no other choice, but one day, as soon as possible, she would take Xue Zhao away from Mist and Rain Pavilion and leave Yanjing City.

Jiang Li set down her teacup and said, "I'm finished eating. Let's go."

Tong'er and Bai Xue sensed Jiang Li's subdued mood and exchanged puzzled glances, but they could only follow her as she left.

Egret Bay was located by a lake on the outskirts of Yanjing City. In the previous dynasty, a scholar had lived there and kept a flock of egrets. After the scholar passed away, the egrets flew off, but the name Egret Bay remained. Mist and Rain Pavilion stood not far from Egret Bay.

Xue Zhao's grave lay beneath a peach tree behind Mist and Rain Pavilion.

This was Tong'er and Bai Xue's first visit to Egret Bay. They saw the lake's clear blue waters, and Mist and Rain Pavilion rose six stories high. From the pavilion's upper floors, the entire structure seemed enveloped in a misty drizzle. The lake rippled with fine, dense waves, where water and sky merged into one seamless hue.

Tong'er exclaimed excitedly, "It's so beautiful! Miss, the mist and rain here are truly lovely!"

Jiang Li smiled and said, "You two rest here for a while. I'll go take a look at that peach tree."

Bai Xue quickly offered, "This servant will accompany you."

"No need," Jiang Li stopped her. "There's no one around. I'll just take a quick look and return soon. It's fine."

Without further discussion, she left the pavilion alone.

Not far away, the peach tree stood quietly in its usual spot, just as before. The blossoms had long since fallen, and without the peach flowers, the tree appeared desolate and bleak.

Beneath it sat a small grave mound.

Holding an umbrella, Jiang Li stood before the grave.

Xue Zhao had been killed by bandits on his way to the capital, his body discarded in a river. That was what everyone said at the time, so when Jiang Li saw him for the last time, he was already unrecognizable. If not for the birthmark on his body, she could hardly believe that the spirited young man had become this cold corpse.

He had endured inhuman torture before his death; the knife wounds on his body still made Jiang Li shudder to recall. Back then, she hadn't suspected anything—not until her own dying moments, when she learned that everything was Princess Yongning's doing. Thus, those knife wounds weren't from bandits but from Princess Yongning's people.

She had thought she found an official who could help her, only to fall into another trap. Jiang Li could hardly imagine the despair and fury Xue Zhao must have felt in his final moments.

And after his death, he had only this secluded place. When it rained, there wasn't even shelter to keep him dry.Jiang Li gently set down her own umbrella, sheltering the grave mound from above. As if doing so could shield Xue Zhao from the wind and rain overhead. As if the grave before her was that of a cheerful, laughing youth.

She closed her eyes, murmuring silently in her heart: "Ah Zhao, your sister is here."

"Ah Zhao, it’s me, your sister. You probably don’t recognize me now. I am currently the legitimate daughter of the Jiang family, Jiang Yuanbai’s child. You must find it unbelievable—I felt the same way at first. But now, thinking back, perhaps it was another chance given to me by heaven."

"In about ten days, I will go to Xiangyang. I will find a way to uncover the truth about our father. What happened back then was my fault for involving you all. I know who caused your deaths, and I know who to seek revenge from. Shen Yurong is rising step by step, and Princess Yongning has Prince Cheng backing her. For now, I can’t do much, but it’s not entirely hopeless."

"I will use the identity of Second Miss Jiang to find a way to expose the grievances of the Xue family, reveal the true faces of Princess Yongning and Shen Yurong, and clear your names."

"Ah Zhao," she whispered inwardly, "forgive me for taking so long to visit you. You must blame your sister deeply. But not a single day has passed without me remembering the blood debt of the Xue family. Please wait patiently and watch as I avenge you step by step."

"Ah Zhao... I’m sorry..."

She murmured silently in her heart, as if she could see again that young man who practiced with swords and spears, tilting his head to grin foolishly at her. She didn’t know how much time had passed before Jiang Li finally opened her eyes.

The rain seemed to have lightened. The grave before her remained quiet and still. From somewhere, a red sparrow flew over, perched on a branch, and tilted its head to look at her. Its feathers were dotted with raindrops, so it suddenly flapped its wings, shaking off the water. Noticing the umbrella Jiang Li had placed over the grave, it swooped down, landed on the mound, and under the shelter of the umbrella, chirped incessantly.

Jiang Li smiled faintly and whispered, "So you heard me too."

She turned and slowly made her way back to the Mist and Rain Pavilion.

When she returned, Tong’er and Bai Xue were startled to see her drenched. Tong’er exclaimed, "Miss, where is your umbrella? How did your clothes get so wet?"

"I saw a red sparrow drenched by the rain and felt sorry for it, so I used my umbrella to shelter it. I left it under the peach tree out back."

Upon hearing this, Tong’er said, "Miss, I know you meant well, but you could have told us. There are other umbrellas here—we could have fetched one for you. Why risk catching a chill by getting wet yourself?"

Jiang Li smiled apologetically. "I didn’t think that far ahead."

"Miss, you’re wonderful in every way," Bai Xue murmured, "but you’re a bit too soft-hearted."

Soft-hearted? Jiang Li laughed inwardly.

Perhaps Xue Fangfei was soft-hearted, but the current Jiang Li was as hard as iron.

...

In the Gazing Immortal Pavilion of Yanjing City, Lu Ji was speaking with Ji Heng.

Before long, Wen Ji, who served by Ji Heng’s side, approached.

Wen Ji’s face showed a hint of hesitation. "My lord..."

Ji Heng glanced at his expression and said, "Speak."

"Yes." Wen Ji replied immediately, "Second Miss Jiang went out today with two maids. First, she bought some items from various shops in Yanjing City. After having a meal, she went to the Mist and Rain Pavilion at Egret Bay."

"The Mist and Rain Pavilion?" Ji Heng raised an eyelid and chuckled. "She certainly knows all the obscure places.""What's the matter?" Wen Ji, standing nearby, noticed something amiss and stroked his beard. "My lord, are you having Second Miss Jiang watched?"

Ji Heng waved his hand dismissively. "Not watched. Her behavior is just so peculiar that it's hard not to notice." He casually asked Wen Ji, "What was she doing at the Mist and Rain Pavilion?"

"They say the Mist and Rain Pavilion offers the finest view of misty rain," Lu Ji suddenly recalled, chuckling. "Could Second Miss Jiang have gone there for the view? How truly refined."

"No," Wen Ji said. "Second Miss Jiang first sat in the Mist and Rain Pavilion with her two maids, then went to the peach tree behind it. There's a grave there, and she left her umbrella over it to shield it from the rain."

Both Ji Heng and Lu Ji paused in their movements.

Ji Heng raised an eyebrow, a flicker of interest in his beautiful eyes. "Oh? Was she paying respects?"

"She didn't bring any offerings, but Second Miss Jiang seemed to know the deceased. She stood before the grave for a long time and appeared deeply sorrowful." Wen Ji's reply was remarkably detailed.

"Then she was paying respects," Ji Heng concluded.

Lu Ji asked, "Why do you say that, my lord?"

"This Second Miss Jiang is always meticulous in her actions and adept at covering her tracks," Ji Heng said with a faint, mocking smile. "Today's outing to buy things and visit the Mist and Rain Pavilion were just pretexts. Her true purpose was to stand before that grave for a moment."

"The person buried there must be someone important to her," he concluded decisively.

If Jiang Li's actions were seamless and her cover elaborate, Ji Heng had a knack for cutting straight to the heart of the matter, seeing the truth at a glance.

"Who is buried there?" Ji Heng asked.

"A man named Xue Zhao," Wen Ji replied. "A year ago, he was killed by bandits and his body dumped in the river. However, our investigation suggests there might be more to the story. Xue Zhao's death may be connected to the current Magistrate of the Capital."

Even under the clear sky, there are places the light doesn't reach. At the foot of the emperor in Yanjing City, many die obscure deaths daily. Those with family connections fare better, but the powerless often vanish like blades of grass into the sea, sinking without a ripple, never to be seen again.

"What was this Xue Zhao's background?" Lu Ji wondered. "I've never heard that name among Yanjing's official families."

Wen Ji paused before answering. "Xue Zhao wasn't from Yanjing. He was the brother-in-law of Shen Yurong, the current Imperial Secretariat Writer. Specifically, the younger brother of Shen Yurong's late wife, Xue Fangfei. After Xue Fangfei's incident, Xue Zhao likely came to the capital upon hearing the news, but he lost his life soon after arriving."

"Xue Fangfei's brother?" Lu Ji was taken aback, then shook his head. "I hadn't expected that."

Xue Fangfei was a household name in Yanjing, but few knew about her brother. It seemed the matter had been handled swiftly, without causing much stir.

"But what connection does Xue Zhao have with Jiang Li?" Lu Ji grew more puzzled. "The Xue and Jiang families are completely unrelated. Jiang Li spent eight years at Qingcheng Mountain, so she couldn't have known Xue Zhao during that time. Moreover, Xue Zhao died last year, and Jiang Li only returned this year, so they couldn't have met after her return." He hesitated, then asked, "Did Xue Zhao ever visit Yanjing? Or Qingcheng Mountain?"Wen Ji shook his head: "It seems unlikely. Xue Zhao grew up in Tongxiang, Xiangyang, and never left Tongxiang. His first visit to Yanjing City was last year, but he died before he could even meet Xue Fangfei."

Lu Ji looked at Ji Heng and said, "That's strange."

Two people who had absolutely no connection—how could they have any friendship? And according to Wen Ji, Jiang Li would feel sorrow mourning Xue Zhao. Wen Ji was not one to exaggerate; if he said Jiang Li seemed somewhat sad, then she truly was somewhat sad.

No matter how kind Second Miss Jiang might be, she wouldn't show a sorrowful expression for someone unrelated. Not to mention what Ji Heng said—that Jiang Li went to such great lengths today just to visit Xue Zhao's grave. If they weren't acquainted, why would she go that far?

But no matter how hard Lu Ji racked his brains, he couldn't come up with any other explanation.

"Perhaps..." Wen Ji hesitated for a moment, cautiously proposing a conjecture, "This Xue Zhao and Second Miss Jiang had some past connection? Could Second Miss Jiang have favored Xue Zhao?"

"Didn't you say it was impossible for the two of them to have met before?" Lu Ji replied, "If they never met, how could there be any favor?"

That was true. Wen Ji fell silent.

Ji Heng narrowed his eyes and suddenly asked, "Xue Zhao was from Tongxiang, Xiangyang?"

Wen Ji: "Exactly."

"Jiang Li's birth mother, Ye Zhenzhen, was from Xiangyang, and Xue Zhao was also from Xiangyang..." Ji Heng said, "Don't investigate the relationship between Jiang Li and Xue Zhao. Start by investigating the Xue family."

"The Xue family?" Lu Ji was puzzled. "Top Scholar's Wife Xue Fangfei—her father was just a minor official, the family was small and unremarkable, nothing special."

Back then, Xue Fangfei was renowned throughout the capital for her beauty, but it was also a pity. Some said that if Xue Fangfei had come from a better background, with her looks and talents, she would have been more than qualified to be a princess consort or even an imperial consort without overreaching. Unfortunately, her father was merely a minor official, which meant she could only marry an ordinary scholar without official rank. Although Shen Yurong later achieved the top scholar title and became an official, precisely because of this, some would say Xue Fangfei wasn't worthy of Shen Yurong.

Just imagine—if Xue Fangfei had been the daughter of an official, even if the position wasn't particularly high, how could there be any talk of her being unworthy?

Such an ordinary Xue family—why would anyone pay special attention to them? Lu Ji didn't understand. Even if Second Miss Jiang's behavior was suspicious and she had repeatedly disrupted Ji Heng's plans, making her worthy of Ji Heng's attention was understandable, but the Xue family—he really couldn't see any reason to focus on them.

"Don't forget, Jiang Li is about to return to Xiangyang with Ye Mingxuan. Doesn't that strike you as odd?" Ji Heng's lips curved in a smile, but his gaze remained sharp and clear. He said, "Given Second Miss Jiang's temperament, why would she abandon her victorious position in the Jiang family and suddenly shift to another battlefield? It must be because there's something more important in Xiangyang."

"Isn't she going back to reconcile with the Ye family?" Lu Ji asked.

"Second Miss Jiang doesn't strike me as someone particularly sentimental or righteous," Ji Heng said lazily. "I didn't understand why she wanted to return to Xiangyang before, but now I do."

"She has some connection to the Xue family, or rather, the Xue family has something she wants."After hearing this, Wen Ji and Lu Ji were both lost in thought, momentarily at a loss for words. If anyone else had said this, they would have dismissed it as nonsense—what connection could there possibly be between Second Miss Jiang and the Xue family from a small county like Xiangyang? But Ji Heng never spoke carelessly; once he believed something to be true, he was rarely mistaken.

"Wen Ji, look further into the cause of Xue Zhao's death," Ji Heng toyed with his folding fan and said. "Perhaps our Second Miss Jiang knows quite a bit about the suspicious circumstances surrounding Xue Zhao's death as well."

Lu Ji was startled: "She even knows about that?"

"She has plenty of secrets—one or two more won't make a difference." Ji Heng brushed off the wrinkles on his robe indifferently and said lightly, "It so happens I'm returning to Xiangyang as well. This journey promises not to be lonely."

Duke: This Second Miss Jiang has quite strong counter-surveillance skills [smile]

Another Monday, feeling gloomy/（ㄒoㄒ）/~

(End of Chapter)