The Double

Chapter 92: The Ye Family

The following days passed rather uneventfully. Nothing particularly noteworthy occurred. Jiang Li had informed her instructors at Mingyi Hall about her impending return to Xiangyang and was now simply waiting to depart with Ye Mingxuan.

Old Madam Jiang summoned Jiang Li to Evening Phoenix Hall several times to offer instructions, likely placing great importance on this visit to reconnect with the Ye family. Surprisingly, Ji Shuran and her daughter did not cause any trouble. Jiang Li understood clearly that Ji Shuran would not simply let matters rest—she was probably scheming some new plot. However, with Jiang Li’s heart aching for home, she had no extra energy to spare on that mother-daughter pair.

Jiang Jingrui frequently visited Fragrant Garden Courtyard, still unwilling to give up his idea of accompanying Jiang Li to the Ye family. It was unclear what he was thinking—why would he want to roam about instead of staying comfortably in Yanjing City? On another note, Ye Shijie also paid a visit. He did not mention the matter of Xiangyang, instead sharing stories about his recent experiences since becoming a Vice Director in the Ministry of Revenue.

Ever since Ye Shijie assumed the position of Vice Director, many had been watching to see which faction he would align with. Given the relationship between the Ye and Jiang families, Ye Shijie ought to belong to the Grand Secretary’s faction. However, everyone in Yanjing City knew that the Ye and Jiang families had severed ties many years ago, leading to speculation that Ye Shijie might eventually join Prince Cheng’s faction, especially since Prince Cheng’s influence was steadily growing. Nevertheless, Jiang Li believed it would be best for Ye Shijie to remain loyal to the Hongxiao Emperor. For some reason, she had a feeling that although the Hongxiao Emperor currently appeared to lack substantial power, this young emperor who had ascended the throne at an early age was not as simple as he seemed on the surface.

The days slipped by in this manner, and before long, ten days had passed. Ye Mingxuan arrived to pick up Jiang Li, and together they prepared to leave Yanjing City and set off for Xiangyang.

On this occasion, even Old Madam Jiang made a rare appearance at the estate’s entrance to see them off. Jiang Youyao and Jiang Yu'e were still nowhere to be seen. Ji Shuran smiled at Ye Mingxuan and said, “Please take care along the journey. We entrust Li’er to your care.”

Ye Mingxuan replied with a smile, “Rest assured.”

Ye Shijie added, “It’s getting late. You should set off now. Leaving a moment earlier will allow you to cover more ground and return to Xiangyang sooner.”

Jiang Li turned and gave a slight bow to Old Madam Jiang, saying, “Father and Grandmother, please do not worry. I will return as soon as I have visited my maternal grandmother.”

“Of course,” Ji Shuran said, her eyes brimming with an overly sincere affection. “We will be waiting for your return.”

Jiang Li smiled faintly and, without further hesitation, allowed Tong’er to assist her into the carriage. The curtain fell, cutting off the gazes of the Jiang family outside. Soon, Ye Mingxuan’s voice could be heard directing the convoy, and the carriage began to rumble forward.

With that, a sense of relief washed over her, quickly replaced by growing excitement.

This was… the road home.

Though she was no longer Xue Fangfei, though she had become the daughter of a Grand Secretary, she was finally… on her way home.

……

The journey from Yanjing City to Xiangyang would take over a month if they traveled diligently without delays. Fortunately, the roads were not particularly rugged, consisting mainly of official highways, making the trip far less perilous than the route from Qingcheng Mountain to Xiangyang. Moreover, Ye Mingxuan was a cautious man and had specially hired a convoy of security escorts to ensure Jiang Li’s safety. Jiang Yuanbai had also assigned some guards of his own. With these precautions, even if they encountered bandits along the way, they would be able to escape unscathed.Fortunately, the entire journey was safe and uneventful, with no dangers encountered along the way. Ye Mingxuan had initially assumed that Jiang Li, being delicately raised and unaccustomed to long travels, would struggle with the road from Yanjing City to Xiangyang—a distance even greater than that from Yanjing to Qingcheng Mountain. If Jiang Li found the journey difficult, the entire caravan would have to slow down, inevitably delaying their arrival in Xiangyang significantly.

However, Jiang Li’s performance took everyone by surprise.

She was neither picky nor difficult to accommodate. Whether staying at inns or making do in the carriage, she never once complained of hardship. On nights when no inn could be found and they had to camp outdoors, Jiang Li would watch with keen interest as the guards hunted and roasted rabbit meat. If the guards made mistakes, she would even offer a helping hand. This left even Afu, Ye Mingxuan’s attendant, utterly astonished. He whispered to Ye Mingxuan, "The second young lady seems so practiced at this—it’s as if she’s done it many times before!"

Ye Mingxuan found it equally puzzling. Even his own mischievous son, Ye Rufeng, might not have handled such tasks as adeptly as Jiang Li. She was, after all, a young lady of noble birth, yet she carried out these activities with such ease, as if they were second nature to her.

When questioned, Jiang Li merely smiled and explained, "When I was at the nunnery in Qingcheng Mountain, Tong'er and I often went out to catch wild rabbits for food. The monastic meals weren’t filling, but luckily, there were plenty of rabbits in the mountains."

Though Tong'er was inwardly puzzled about when they had ever gone rabbit hunting together, she maintained a composed expression and nodded earnestly as if it were true. Ye Mingxuan said nothing more, only sighing with a faint smile—whether in admiration or pity, it was hard to tell.

The journey turned out to be far smoother than Jiang Li had anticipated. As a result, they reached the outskirts of Xiangyang City in just about a month, half a month earlier than originally planned. Since Jiang Li had caused no delays and the caravan had moved swiftly without interruptions, they made excellent time.

When the caravan arrived at the city gates of Xiangyang, Ye Mingxuan instructed his men to present the travel permit to the guards. Tong'er lifted the carriage curtain and peered out curiously, murmuring, "So this is Xiangyang City—it looks quite bustling!"

Jiang Li gazed at the scenery outside, a flicker of nostalgia in her eyes.

Tongxiang was a small county under Xiangyang’s jurisdiction. In the past, Xue Huaiyuan would only come to Xiangyang during festivals to buy gifts for Xue Fangfei and her younger brother Xue Zhao. Back then, she and Xue Zhao had eagerly looked forward to these trips—Xiangyang was far more lively and prosperous than Tongxiang, with countless delicacies and amusements. However, such opportunities were rare. Reflecting on it, she had left Tongxiang three years ago when she married Shen Yurong. As for Xiangyang, it had been seven or eight years since she last saw it.

The Xiangyang before her eyes still looked familiar, yet it appeared even more vibrant and prosperous than she remembered, evoking a deep sense of longing.

If only Xue Zhao were still here, he would have laughed heartily and dragged her off to explore the city once more…

Just as she was lost in thought, the guards inspected the travel permit and allowed them passage. The caravan continued onward.

After about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, the caravan gradually slowed its pace. Some time later, the carriage came to a halt, and Ye Mingxuan’s voice sounded from outside, cheerfully announcing, "A Li, we’ve arrived. Time to get down."

The gatekeeper, recognizing Ye Mingxuan, promptly opened the gate and called for a servant to rush inside and announce, shouting all the way, "Second Master is back! Second Master is back!"

Tong'er helped Jiang Li alight from the carriage.The Ye family was the wealthiest in Xiangyang City, or rather, their fortune was renowned enough to be recognized even in Yanjing City. As such, the Ye family mansion was lavishly constructed. It was said that the family had resided here since the time of the old master, with vermilion gates and grand tiles, and even the pillars at the entrance were intricately carved with delicate patterns. Even the lanterns hanging from them were draped with Yanchi gauze from Jiangnan.

Tong'er and Bai Xue stood beneath the main gate of the Ye residence, their eyes wide with astonishment. The opulence of the Ye family was entirely different from the refined elegance of the Grand Secretary's residence. For ordinary people, such straightforward and extravagant construction was naturally more eye-catching.

Ye Mingxuan said, "A Li, this is your first time visiting the Ye family, isn't it? What do you think? Is it to your liking?"

"Quite impressive," Jiang Li smiled.

When she and Xue Zhao had visited Xiangyang City in the past, they had heard of the Ye family's reputation and had even passed by their mansion. Xue Zhao had once remarked how wonderful it would be to step inside and see what it was like. Little did she expect that now, she would be able to walk openly through those vermilion gates and witness its splendor.

Ye Mingxuan chuckled, "Let's go in."

Jiang Li walked alongside Ye Mingxuan.

The Ye family's estate appeared even more spacious and bright than the Grand Secretary's residence, and compared to the latter's strict formality, it carried a livelier, more bustling atmosphere. The clothing worn by the servants and maids was made of high-quality fabric, comparable to what Tong'er and Bai Xue wore. This was enough to show the Ye family's immense wealth. The servants bowed respectfully upon seeing Ye Mingxuan, and when they noticed Jiang Li and her companions following him, they cast curious glances, speculating about her identity.

In the Brocade Painting Hall, several people were standing.

"Father has finally returned," said a boy of about fourteen or fifteen. "I wonder what treasures he brought back from Yanjing City this time?"

"You only care about such things," chided a scholarly-looking woman beside him. "You're never short of anything in the mansion. Whatever Yanjing has, you already possess."

"Don't scold Rufeng, sister," another round-faced woman said with a smile. "Rufeng is just being childish. Shijie would have been the same if he were here."

Beside Ye Rufeng stood a girl of stunning beauty, slightly older than him, who said worriedly, "I wonder how Elder Brother is faring? Now that he's become a Vice Minister in the Ministry of Revenue, is he managing well?"

The middle-aged man in a blue robe standing at the center remained silent, quietly sipping his tea.

Just then, a servant's voice was heard from outside: "Second Master has returned!"

The thinner woman immediately stood up, overjoyed, as the curtain of the Brocade Painting Hall was abruptly lifted. Ye Mingxuan laughed heartily, "Elder Brother, Madam, I'm back!"

"Father!" the boy rushed into his arms.

Jiang Li stood behind Ye Mingxuan, feeling equally unfamiliar with the Ye family members. However, even the real Second Miss Jiang would likely have felt the same way, given that they hadn't seen each other for ten years.

The boy was Ye Mingxuan's son, Ye Rufeng. His gaze suddenly fell upon Jiang Li standing to the side, and he immediately stepped out of his father's embrace, asking curiously, "Who is she?"

Jiang Li stood smiling behind Ye Mingxuan. Her attire and appearance did not resemble that of a servant, so she couldn't be a maid Ye Mingxuan had picked up along the way.Zhuo Shi, the tall and slender woman with a scholarly air—Ye Mingxuan's wife—turned pale instantly upon seeing Jiang Li. She likely assumed Jiang Li was a woman Ye Mingxuan had taken in during his travels, a common occurrence among wealthy merchants who often returned from business trips after several years with unfamiliar women and so-called sons. Though Ye Mingxuan had been away for mere months, making a son improbable, acquiring a woman along the way was entirely possible.

Men tend to be careless in such matters, and Ye Mingxuan hadn't noticed his wife's change in demeanor, but Jiang Li had observed it and deduced Zhuo Shi's identity. To avoid misunderstanding, she stepped forward and addressed Zhuo Shi with a bright smile, "Aunt."

This address startled Zhuo Shi, her pallor fading into bewilderment. She asked, "Husband, who is this young lady? Why does she call me Aunt?"

Ye Mingxuan laughed heartily and turned to the man in a blue robe who had risen alongside him—Ye Minghui—saying, "Elder Brother, I didn't return alone this time. Look who this is—do you recognize her?"

Everyone was puzzled. Only Ye Minghui, having heard Jiang Li call Zhuo Shi "Aunt," guessed part of the truth.

"This is Zhenzhen's daughter, A Li," Ye Mingxuan explained cheerfully. "The last time we saw A Li, she was just a little thing, and now she's a young lady. A Li, this is your Uncle Minghui and Aunt Guan Shi."

Jiang Li smiled and greeted, "Uncle Minghui, Aunt Guan Shi."

Both Ye Minghui and his wife, Guan Shi, were taken aback. Guan Shi seemed flustered, while Ye Minghui frowned deeply.

Silence fell over the room.

After a moment, Ye Rufeng spoke up, casting a scornful look at Jiang Li. "Is she Auntie's daughter? The one who looked down on us merchants and made Grandmother ill?"

Zhuo Shi quickly tugged at Ye Rufeng's sleeve, but he glared sharply and retorted unabashedly, "If she did it, why fear others speaking of it!"

The room fell into an even deeper silence, the atmosphere growing intensely awkward.

Indeed, Ye Mingxuan had said nothing about Jiang Li's return during his journey back to Xiangyang. The Ye family had no idea she would come, and her sudden appearance left them at a loss. Years ago, Jiang Li's words had wounded Old Madam Ye and the entire family's hearts. They had since treated her as nonexistent—who could have expected her sudden reappearance?

Ye Minghui shot a reproachful look at Ye Mingxuan, chiding him for not disclosing this earlier. Ye Mingxuan wore an innocent expression but couldn't help glancing at Jiang Li's reaction.

Since Jiang Li had insisted on returning to Xiangyang with him, she should have anticipated such an outcome. The Ye family wouldn't be free of resentment—how would Jiang Li respond or act now?

Jiang Li observed the situation before her, her smile unwavering.

Tong'er felt both awkward and aggrieved; she knew of Jiang Li's past actions. Though she acknowledged Jiang Li had been in the wrong, her young mistress had been only five years old at the time. So much time had passed—why cling to old grievances? Perhaps Jiang Li shouldn't have returned to Xiangyang at all, enduring such unwarranted hostility. She had come with good intentions to visit Old Madam Ye, only to be met with cold shoulders—truly disheartening.

As these thoughts crossed her mind, Tong'er heard Jiang Li's gentle voice break the silence: "Yes, I am 'that' Jiang Li."The Ye family members were all stunned.

Ye Mingxuan nearly choked on his own saliva.

When Jiang Li spoke, her tone was gentle and amiable, her face adorned with a smiling expression. As the saying goes, one does not strike a smiling face—especially when it belonged to such an adorable and pretty girl. This made it even more impossible to raise a hand against her. Except for Ye Rufeng, the rest of the Ye family felt a sense of awkwardness, unsure of how to respond.

This girl truly knew how to adapt to any situation with unwavering composure. Ye Mingxuan sighed inwardly, suddenly recalling Ye Shijie's words: "Jiang Li is an unexpected person." Those words were not false. She was indeed unpredictable, as if the usual feelings of shame, embarrassment, or confusion never manifested in her. She always handled every situation with remarkable poise.

Including the present one.

Ye Mingxuan suddenly felt an urge to laugh. He imagined that even his elder brother, the ever-composed and dignified Ye Minghui, must be somewhat flustered in this situation. Fortunately, Ye Minghui remembered his position as a member of the Ye family and cleared his throat with feigned solemnity, saying, "This is your second aunt." He introduced his wife to Jiang Li.

Jiang Li smiled and nodded at Guan Shi. "Second Aunt."

Guan Shi instinctively returned the smile but then froze momentarily, struck by the girl's sincere expression. When they had gone to Yanjing City to fetch Jiang Li, Ye Minghui, his brother, Ye Shijie, and the Old Madam had all been present, but she had not witnessed it firsthand. However, the rumors about Jiang Li were known to everyone in the Ye family. Neither Ye Minghui nor Ye Mingxuan would lie, and there was no reason to fabricate such matters, so no one ever doubted that Jiang Li was a hypocritical, heartless, and ungrateful young lady. Yet, after seeing her in person, Guan Shi couldn't help but wonder if the past events had been a misunderstanding. How could such a sweet and gentle girl be the person they described?

"This is your cousin Jia'er and your cousin Rufeng," Ye Mingxuan continued.

Ye Jia'er was a year older than Jiang Li, elegant and graceful. To be honest, she didn't seem like a merchant's daughter but rather resembled a well-educated young lady from an official's family. Her eyes held curiosity toward Jiang Li, but she still smiled and nodded at her.

Ye Rufeng, however, was not as amiable as Ye Jia'er. He snorted and turned his head away, refusing to even look at Jiang Li.

"Your uncle Mingyu will not return for a few days; he is not here at the moment," Ye Mingxuan said.

Jiang Li nodded. "And Grandmother..."

"The Old Madam has not been in good health recently," Ye Minghui hesitated before speaking. "If she were to know of your arrival, she might become overly emotional. How about we wait a while before telling her, A Li? What do you think?"

Before Jiang Li could respond, Ye Rufeng sneered, "Better not see her. What if Grandmother falls ill again from anger upon seeing her?"

"Rufeng!" Guan Shi warned him.

Only then did Ye Rufeng fall silent. Jiang Li said, "I will follow Uncle Minghui's suggestion."

Ye Minghui nodded and then said to Guan Shi, "Go to the courtyard and prepare an empty room for A Li to stay in temporarily." Turning to Jiang Li, he added, "You and the second uncle have been traveling for many days and must be exhausted. For today, don't think about anything else. Settle in and rest properly. We can discuss any matters tomorrow."Jiang Li was taken aback. Ye Minghui's words were polite yet distant, entirely as if addressing a guest from afar—and not a particularly close one at that. She sighed deeply in her heart. The rift between Second Miss Jiang and the Ye family was simply too deep; it couldn't be resolved in a short time. Even after spending so much time with her, Ye Mingxuan still hadn't completely let go of his suspicions, still wondering if her return to Xiangyang was the Jiang family's idea.

The task ahead was arduous and the road long.

A sincere smile surfaced on her face as she said, "Thank you, Uncle Minghui."

Compared to the two uncles, the aunts appeared somewhat flustered. They could neither maintain the same detachment as the Ye brothers nor be overly familiar, making them seem quite conflicted. Jiang Li felt like laughing. Fortunately, they wouldn't have to interact for long. After Guan Shi arranged a clean room for her to stay in, Jiang Li had no one else around except her two maids.

Finally, some peace and quiet.

Tong'er closed the door. The room the Ye family had prepared for Jiang Li was quite nice, with nothing to complain about. Jiang Li sat down while Bai Xue went to brew tea. Tong'er whispered, "Miss, the Ye family is clearly deliberately preventing you from seeing Old Madam Ye..."

Anyone could see that her second cousin Ye Rufeng's words, though harsh, were undeniably true. Old Madam Ye was in poor health, and suddenly meeting this granddaughter would undoubtedly stir complex emotions. After all, even the rest of the Ye family had been startled today.

"Miss, if it really doesn't work out, let's return to Yanjing City after meeting Old Madam Ye," Bai Xue added. "If the Ye family continues to act like this, staying here would feel too awkward."

The Ye family had good upbringing, which was why they hadn't driven her out but instead provided good food and accommodations with proper courtesy. Yet, it was precisely this excessive politeness that made one feel even more uncomfortable, as if being a guest in a stranger's home.

"It's fine. We've just arrived, and we all need time to get accustomed to each other," Jiang Li said with a light laugh. "Besides, I was at fault in the past. The Ye family's attitude is already much better than I expected. Let's wait a few more days until I've met the Old Madam."

Her visit to Xiangyang was merely a pretext—neither family reunion nor meeting Old Madam Ye was her true goal. Investigating Xue Huaiyuan's matter was what really mattered. However, she couldn't rashly start asking around now, lest it arouse suspicion. Even if she did gather information, clearing Xue Zhao's name would require considerable effort. The Ye family was a strong backing for her, but for now, the priority was to mend relations with them and resolve past grievances.

This required careful consideration.

...

Meanwhile, in Ye Mingxuan's room, Zhuo Shi was interrogating him.

"Out of the blue, why did Jiang Li come? How did you handle this? You didn't even give us a heads-up—even your elder brother was caught off guard." Zhuo Shi paced back and forth. "What do we do now? With her staying in our residence, outsiders are bound to gossip. This... you're really something!"

Ye Mingxuan was caught between laughter and frustration. "How can you blame me? She proposed returning to Xiangyang to see Mother herself. Even Old Madam Jiang and Jiang Yuanbai gave their approval—what could I do? Could I stop my own niece from coming back? How would that look to outsiders?""Hmph, it's simply because Cousin has now become the Vice Director of the Revenue Bureau," Ye Rufeng sneered. "They say merchants are profit-driven, but I see the Jiang family is just as opportunistic—even the Grand Secretary himself. Back when the Ye family had no one in official positions, they couldn't distance themselves fast enough. Now that the Ye family has connections, they come crawling back."

"Don't talk nonsense," Ye Jia'er cut him off. "Even if Cousin became the Vice Director, the Jiang family wouldn't need to curry favor with our Ye family. Yanjing City is full of powerful people—many still cling to Uncle's coattails. Why would Uncle send Jiang Li to Xiangyang just because of Cousin's connections?"

"Calling him 'Uncle' over and over—have you forgotten, Sister?" Ye Rufeng retorted. "Our uncle has long since remarried someone else. He looks down on our Ye family now. Are you being so affectionate because you want to ride the coattails of the Grand Secretary's household and become a young lady of Yanjing City?"

"You!" Ye Jia'er was too furious to speak.

"Alright, alright, stop arguing," Mrs. Zhuo said with a headache. "Things are chaotic enough as it is. If you two want to fight, take it outside."

Just then, there was a knock at the door. Ye Minghui entered with Guan Shi. Perfect—now, aside from Ye Mingyu who hadn't returned to the residence yet, both branches of the Ye family were gathered in this room.

"Second Brother, what is the meaning of this?" Ye Minghui demanded as soon as he stepped inside.

Ye Mingxuan was rarely seen his elder brother so agitated. He paused for a moment before replying, "Meaning of what?"

"Why did you bring her back?" Ye Minghui frowned. "And without giving us any notice? What are you up to?"

"Elder Brother, don't scold me like you do Third Brother," Ye Mingxuan said defensively. "Bringing Jiang Li back wasn't my idea—it was her own suggestion."

"She suggested it herself?" Guan Shi asked, puzzled.

"Yes," Ye Mingxuan replied, sitting down and recounting the events in detail: how he reunited with Ye Shijie in Yanjing City, how Ye Shijie mentioned Jiang Li, his visit to the Jiang residence to see her, and how Jiang Li proposed returning to Xiangyang with him. Finally, he spread his hands and said, "That's how it happened. Listen to this—can any of you figure out what our niece is thinking?"

No one had expected Ye Mingxuan's trip to Yanjing City to involve so many incidents. They were even more surprised that Jiang Li, who had only returned to Yanjing half a year ago, had repeatedly become a topic of discussion.

"She really became the top scholar in the Six Arts at Mingyi Hall and received honors from the Emperor?" Ye Jia'er asked in astonishment. "Didn't our cousin spend eight years in a nunnery? With no one to teach her there, how did she achieve first place?"

"Exactly," Ye Minghui mused. "Could she be a genius?"

"There aren't that many geniuses in the world," Ye Mingxuan chuckled, shaking his head. "I suspect Jiang Li is hiding many secrets. When I visited the Jiang residence, I initially thought that since she had just returned to Yanjing and with Ji Shuran around, she would be living cautiously. But it was completely different—her status in the Jiang family seems higher than I imagined. Think about it: achieving so much in just half a year isn't something an ordinary person could do."

Everyone in the room fell silent, digesting Ye Mingxuan's words.

"She helped Shijie at the palace banquet and previously warned him about Li Lian. Whether she's using the Ye family or has other plans, she won't harm Shijie for now. I went to the Jiang residence hoping to see Jiang Li for myself. After all, I know Shijie well—if he says Jiang Li has changed dramatically, then she truly has. But after meeting her, I realized it wasn't just a change—it was like she's a completely different person."

"When she proposed returning to Xiangyang, I initially thought it was the Jiang family's idea. But judging by Jiang Yuanbai and Old Madam Jiang's reactions, they seemed unaware of it. I wanted to figure out what she's really up to, so I agreed to her suggestion. As for not informing you all beforehand—we left in such a hurry that it slipped my mind."

After a moment of silence, Ye Minghui said, "You did the right thing. Since we don't know her intentions, let's observe and see how things unfold."

His tone, however, didn't treat Jiang Li as family but rather as a stranger with unknown motives."But Second Brother," Guan Shi said anxiously, "you brought her back, and she said she wanted to come see Mother. But Mother's health can't handle any disturbance now. If she finds out Jiang Li has returned, who knows what might happen? So... what do you all think? Should we let her see Mother or not?"

Ye Mingxuan was stumped by the question and instinctively looked toward Ye Minghui.

Ye Minghui said gravely, "Let her see Mother, but before that, we must prepare Mother first so as not to startle the elderly lady."

(End of Chapter)