The Double

Chapter 96: The Prefect

When Ye Minghui and Ye Mingxuan saw Ye Mingyu, they were both somewhat surprised. Ye Minghui said, "Why didn't you let us know in advance that you were returning?"

"I came back in a hurry," Ye Mingyu lied without batting an eye. "I rode hard and fast, barely stopping for water along the way. When would I have had time to inform you?"

If the two of them knew that Ye Mingyu had actually returned three days ago and had been fooling around at the Cherish Flower House all this time, one could only imagine their expressions.

"Why are you only returning now?" Ye Mingyu asked. "It's already dark, and there's no one in the mansion."

"We..." Ye Mingxuan was about to answer when he caught sight of Jiang Li sitting opposite Ye Mingyu and swallowed his words.

Jiang Li understood—they were once again guarding their words from her, an "outsider." But it didn't matter. She guessed they were going to discuss the Ye family's business affairs, and she already knew what the trouble was. So she gracefully stood up and said with a smile, "Uncle Mingyu, you can chat. I'll head back to my room."

Ye Mingyu smiled. "Alright."

Seeing how close Ye Mingyu and Jiang Li seemed, Ye Minghui and Ye Mingxuan exchanged strange looks.

After Jiang Li left, Ye Mingxuan and Ye Minghui sat down beside Ye Mingyu. Before they could speak, Ye Mingyu spoke first: "Elder Brother, Second Brother, you're really too harsh on that young girl. How could you treat her like this? She came back specifically to see Mother, yet you won't let her. And when discussing matters, you still guard against her. Even someone as rough as me can see how fragile she must feel inside. She's probably long noticed and is hurting, but she hides it from you and puts on a brave face. I mean, you're both grown men—why bully a young girl?"

Ye Mingxuan nearly choked on his anger at these words. "We're bullying her? Which eye of yours saw us bullying her?"

"Both of my eyes saw it!" Ye Mingyu pointed at his own eyes. "Didn't you see how A Li understood and voluntarily went back to her room? It's just that she's gentle-natured. If it were me, I'd have made a scene long ago."

"Make a scene, go ahead," Ye Mingxuan retorted. "Do you think you're still a young master in your teens? Look at your own age—that comment should apply to you!"

"Have you spoken with her?" Ye Minghui, being more steady, simply asked.

"Yes, I have," Ye Mingyu said. "Why?"

"What do you think of her?"

"Excellent!" Ye Mingyu slapped his thigh. "I think A Li is no ordinary official's daughter. Her insight, her way with words—you both could learn a thing or two from her. Take the kaleidoscope I brought back from the sea fleet—no offense, but neither of you would know what it is or how to use it. She knew! And she knew how to use it! And the peacock feathers I found—only she recognized their value. Most importantly, this girl is righteous! Unlike some women who, despite their age, are petty and narrow-minded."

"Righteous?" Ye Mingxuan asked. "Why do you say she's righteous? Did she help you hide something?"

Ye Mingyu cursed inwardly at how shrewd Ye Mingxuan was—he'd caught on. Ye Mingyu called Jiang Li righteous precisely because she hadn't revealed that he'd returned to Xiangyang three days early to fool around at the Cherish Flower House, nor did she show any intention of doing so. If that wasn't righteous, what was? It was the epitome of righteousness!Ye Mingyu cleared his throat twice, covering up as he said, "It's nothing. Speaking of which, you still haven't told me where you went. Why is there no one in the mansion?"

The two brothers exchanged a glance. Ye Minghui replied, "There was some trouble at Lizheng Hall, so we went there."

"I was just discussing this matter with A Li. Has it not been resolved yet?" Ye Mingyu asked.

"You told her?" Ye Mingxuan exclaimed loudly.

"Ah." Ye Mingyu nodded.

"You... you're really..." Ye Mingxuan struggled for a long time before finally uttering one word: "Reckless!"

...

Back in her courtyard, Jiang Li sat down at the table.

Tong'er and Bai Xue were busy moving that box of "peacock feathers" into the room. The box was quite heavy, but when opened, the tiny glimmers reflecting off the shells were dazzling. Though they were just shells, they possessed a beauty that rivaled pearls and jade.

Tong'er and Bai Xue marveled at the sight, but Jiang Li seemed somewhat distracted.

So this was the reason for the Ye family's business troubles. The Ye family had built their fortune on textiles. Over the years, their external business had gradually declined, and even their jewelry store, Hongxiang Tower, had closed. The Ye family's textiles were renowned throughout Northern Yan, and their Ancient Fragrance Satin was truly unique—only the Ye family could produce it.

If there really was a problem with the Ye family's fabrics, it would be a massive blow to their business, potentially causing them to never recover. Once their reputation was ruined, the Ye family's business would effectively be finished. Even with their immense wealth, they could end up losing everything and becoming impoverished.

She wondered what exactly was wrong with the fabrics. As Ye Mingyu had mentioned, the textile workshop was located in Xiangyang and was regularly supervised by Ye Minghui and Ye Mingxuan. There had been no issues for so many years—could this sudden problem be a coincidence?

But Jiang Li had a faint feeling that this was no accident. For one thing, it happened just as Ye Shijie had begun his official career, right at the start of his political path. If something went wrong with the Ye family, someone could use the family to manipulate Ye Shijie, effectively controlling his political future.

The thought struck Jiang Li abruptly: Could it be that the troubles in the Ye family's business were deliberately caused by someone, with the ultimate goal of using the Ye family to restrain Ye Shijie, or even to take control of the entire Ye family? After all, the Ye family's wealth was an enviable fortune. If someone could control the Ye family, many things would become effortless.

The Ye family could provide a continuous stream of wealth for bribes and connections.

Jiang Li's heart tightened suddenly. She wasn't the real Second Miss Jiang, so it wasn't as if she had deep emotional ties to the Ye family. But when the nest is overturned, no egg remains intact. Moreover, she hoped to leverage the Ye family's influence for her own purposes in the future. Even for her own sake, she needed to protect the Ye family.

The problem was that the enemy operated in the shadows while she was in the light, making it difficult to act comprehensively.

After pondering for a while, Jiang Li said, "Tong'er, tomorrow, go out of the mansion and inquire about several high-end tailor shops in Xiangyang City. Ask if they have recently made any clothing from Ancient Fragrance Satin."

"Alright," Tong'er replied, then asked Jiang Li, "Why is Miss asking about this?""The Ye family's business is facing trouble, and Ancient Fragrance Satin is the key. I don't know how many people are aware of the issues with Ancient Fragrance Satin now, or how serious the trouble is. But the better clothing shops in Xiangyang must have had dealings with the Ye family before regarding Ancient Fragrance Satin transactions. If these shops are now refusing to accept Ancient Fragrance Satin, the situation is grave."

There was one thing Jiang Li didn't mention: at least in Yanjing City, no one knew about the problems with Ancient Fragrance Satin, meaning the issue of defective fabric hadn't spread yet. If these clothing shops had all simultaneously stopped accepting Ancient Fragrance Satin long ago, there must be hidden reasons—most likely someone had already warned them beforehand.

"When you make inquiries, pay attention to the shopkeepers' attitudes. See whether they say they haven't had recent stock or directly tell you there are problems with Ancient Fragrance Satin," Jiang Li instructed.

Tong'er carefully noted this down.

In business, especially when dealing with the Ye family, transactions were never one-off deals but ongoing relationships built over time. Even Ye Mingyu couldn't confirm whether the fabric was truly problematic. Shopkeepers who still wanted future business with the Ye family would naturally cover for them. But if they immediately seemed eager to announce to the world that the fabric was defective, it would almost certainly mean these shops were acting under someone's instructions to deliberately harm the Ye family.

Had the Ye family offended someone? Jiang Li pondered.

After much thought, she still had no leads. With so few clues currently available, Jiang Li couldn't figure it out. Eventually, Bai Xue persuaded her to rest early, and Jiang Li reluctantly gave up for the night.

The next day, Tong'er indeed went out early to clothing shops to gather information as Jiang Li had suggested. Jiang Li asked Bai Xue to accompany her, since Bai Xue was strong and could ensure their safety on the road. With nothing to do in the courtyard herself, Jiang Li decided to find Ye Mingyu for conversation. Within the Ye family, Ye Mingyu was the only one who didn't keep his guard up around her. Having learned so much from him yesterday, Jiang Li thought she might gather more information from him today.

Not knowing which courtyard Ye Mingyu lived in, Jiang Li planned to go to the main hall first and have a servant summon him. Unexpectedly, when she arrived, she found Ye Jia'er and Ye Rufeng there as well.

Ye Jia'er was pacing back and forth, looking very worried, while Ye Rufeng frowned deeply, as if they had encountered some troublesome matter.

Jiang Li paused slightly before entering and called out, "Cousin, cousin."

Ye Rufeng ignored her, but Ye Jia'er managed a smile when she saw Jiang Li, though it carried a hint of melancholy. "Cousin, you're here," she said, then added apologetically, "I'm sorry we left you alone at Lizheng Hall yesterday when Uncle Zhao and Uncle Zhuang suddenly arrived."

"It's fine," Jiang Li replied with a smile. "You were attending to important matters, cousin. Besides, I actually wanted to walk around alone and ended up enjoying myself."

"That's good," Ye Jia'er said.

Silence fell over the hall. Ye Rufeng, who held a grudge against Jiang Li, naturally wouldn't initiate conversation with her. Under normal circumstances, Ye Jia'er would have chatted with Jiang Li, but today she seemed preoccupied with her own thoughts and didn't pay much attention to Jiang Li.

After a moment, Jiang Li asked softly, "Cousin, are you worried about matters at Lizheng Hall?"

Ye Jia'er looked startled, then forced a smile. "Yes, just some minor business troubles.""It's about the Ancient Fragrance Satin, isn't it?" Jiang Li looked at her. "Has the news about problems with the Ancient Fragrance Satin spread to many clothing shops by now?"

Ye Jia'er was startled. Ye Rufeng said, "How do you know? Were you eavesdropping on us?" His tone was unfriendly.

"Uncle Mingyu told me," Jiang Li looked at Ye Jia'er. "But he only mentioned that someone said there were problems with the Ancient Fragrance Satin related to clothing shops. I figured out the rest myself." She smiled. "There are so many clothing shops in Xiangyang, and quite a few source their Ancient Fragrance Satin from the Ye family. If the satin really has problems, these shops would naturally become cautious when purchasing the fabric."

"Cousin, you're truly clever to have guessed it right away," Ye Jia'er said. She thought since Ye Mingyu had already told Jiang Li, there was no point in hiding it anymore. After all, Jiang Li already knew, and continuing to conceal it would make the Ye family seem petty. Besides, even if they tried to hide it, could they really? The matter was escalating beyond control, and Jiang Li would eventually hear about it from outsiders sooner or later.

"The Ye family's transactions with clothing shops are substantial. Now, shops are halting their fabric orders from us—not just one or two, but all of them. In the past few days, managers from clothing shops have been coming to Lizheng Hall daily to cancel orders. As you saw yesterday, Uncle Zhuang and Uncle Zhao, who have done business with the Ye family for decades, came to Lizheng Hall to immediately stop their fabric purchases." Ye Jia'er sighed.

"After decades of business, they're old acquaintances. Are they kicking us while we're down?" Jiang Li asked.

"I wouldn't call it kicking us while we're down, just human nature," Ye Jia'er explained patiently without resentment. "It's just that the production cost of Ancient Fragrance Satin is already high. These managers didn't say anything before, but now that this batch has been woven, no one is buying it. Letting it sit idle is already a huge loss for the Ye family."

"Human nature? It's definitely kicking us while we're down," Ye Rufeng snorted coldly. "They used to beg us to supply them first. Now that there's a problem, without even investigating properly, they immediately cancel orders. Decades of friendship can't compare to profit!"

Ye Jia'er sighed and said nothing. Though Ye Rufeng's words were harsh, they weren't entirely unreasonable. Such opportunism was indeed despicable, especially from those who had done business with the Ye family for decades.

But Jiang Li's thoughts were elsewhere. These clothing shops sourced Ancient Fragrance Satin from the Ye family for profit. Having done business for decades showed that this trade was thriving. The purpose of merchants is to make money. Even if there were problems with the Ancient Fragrance Satin, before the truth came out, these shops wouldn't be so quick to terminate their transactions with the Ye family, because doing so would also cut off their future earnings.

What could make merchants willingly give up profit? Either greater benefits or a threat bigger than money.

"Actually, if we just lose money on this batch of Ancient Fragrance Satin, it's manageable. The Ye family has cut losses before. What I fear is that if the news about problems with Ye family's Ancient Fragrance Satin spreads, our reputation will be ruined. Once our reputation is tarnished, it will be hard for the Ye family to recover. Could our century-old foundation really collapse just like that?" Ye Jia'er was deeply distressed.The wealthier a family is, the more they value their commercial reputation. A thousand-mile dike can collapse due to an anthill, and a single misstep can lead to total loss. Thus, the Ye family had always been extremely cautious about their fabrics, never expecting such a major mishap to occur now.

"Cousin, don’t panic just yet," Jiang Li comforted her. "We can’t yet confirm that the rashes from wearing clothes made of Ancient Fragrance Satin are due to the fabric itself. It might just be rumors spreading. It’s not a hopeless situation—once we find the real cause, the Ye family’s name can be cleared, and their reputation restored."

"Easier said than done," Ye Jia'er shook her head. "We’ve tried everything to find the reason, but the Ancient Fragrance Satin produced by our workshop shows no issues. Yet, ready-made garments made from this fabric in all the clothing stores are causing problems."

"Maybe it’s not the Ancient Fragrance Satin’s fault," Jiang Li said. "Perhaps the issue lies with those clothing stores."

"If it were just one store, it might be plausible, but could every ready-made clothing shop in Xiangyang be at fault?" Ye Jia'er replied. "I know what you’re implying—that the Ye family is being framed. But although our family isn’t an official household in Xiangyang, no one usually dares to provoke us. Who would have the audacity to set us up? Anyone bold enough to do so must hold a high position, but what would they gain by harming us like this?"

"Aside from the Ye family, are there any other weaving workshops in Xiangyang?" Jiang Li asked.

Ye Jia'er shook her head.

Then it couldn’t be a business competitor.

Jiang Li sighed. As they were talking, the three Ye brothers—Ye Minghui, Ye Mingxuan, and Ye Mingyu—approached. Seeing Ye Jia'er and Jiang Li in conversation, Ye Mingyu greeted them, "Jia'er, A Li!"

"Uncle Mingyu." Jiang Li nodded to him.

Ye Minghui looked at Jiang Li, seeming hesitant, but finally spoke, "A Li, we didn’t let you see the Old Madam earlier because she was truly unwell. You’ve been in Xiangyang for over half a month now, and her health has gradually improved. Today, you can meet with the Old Madam."

Jiang Li was surprised. Noticing Ye Mingyu’s satisfied expression, she realized he must have advocated on her behalf, persuading the brothers to allow her to see Old Madam Ye now.

It was an unexpected move.

Truthfully, Jiang Li hadn’t been that eager to meet Old Madam Ye, but since the offer was made, she naturally accepted graciously. She promptly showed a hint of joy and said, "That’s wonderful."

Ye Mingxuan and Ye Mingyu observed Jiang Li; her happiness seemed genuine. Although they had been busy with the Lizheng Hall affairs lately, they hadn’t relaxed their surveillance of Jiang Li. According to the Ye family maids serving her, Jiang Li had been well-behaved all along—quiet and gentle in temperament. Gradually, the two Ye brothers felt reassured.

"Then let’s go now," Ye Mingxuan said.

Jiang Li nodded.

Just as the group was about to leave, Guan Shi and Zhuo Shi hurried in from outside. While they had little involvement in business matters, managing the vast Ye household kept them constantly occupied. The Ye family was unique in that household authority wasn’t centralized under one person but shared between Guan Shi and Zhuo Shi. Their sister-in-law relationship appeared quite harmonious; otherwise, power struggles would have erupted long ago. In contrast, if Ji Shuran and Lu Shi were to co-manage the Jiang family, the Jiang household would have been in turmoil long ago.Guan Shi said, "Master, Prefect Tong has sent someone over."

"Prefect Tong?" Ye Minghui was puzzled. "What does he want?"

"I don't know either." Guan Shi seemed anxious. Before she could finish speaking, a group of bailiffs strode boldly into the main hall, all wearing long swords at their waists. They asked, "Are Eldest Master Ye and Second Master Ye present?"

Ye Mingxuan replied, "We are here. What business do you have, officers?"

"The Prefect invites you to come with us," the lead bailiff said. "Both masters, please."

"Go? Where? What crime have we committed?" Ye Mingyu, unafraid of officials, immediately stepped forward. "Why only invite the two of them? What kind of play is this?"

The bailiff looked Ye Mingyu up and down. Dressed like a common peddler with a strong air of the martial world, it was unclear whether they recognized him as Third Master Ye or simply deemed him insignificant. The bailiff only said, "I'm just following orders. If you have questions, please take them up with Prefect Tong yourselves." His tone was somewhat arrogant.

Jiang Li found it strange. Given the Ye family's stature, while not universally feared, they were certainly not to be bullied at will. As the local official, Prefect Tong had no reason to be so discourteous to the Ye family. Bailiffs typically acted according to their superiors' attitudes—this behavior surely meant Prefect Tong had conveyed that the Ye family was not to be taken seriously.

Why would Prefect Tong act this way, as if he had nothing to fear?

Ye Mingyu was about to make a scene when Ye Minghui stopped him with a gesture. As the eldest son of the Ye family, Ye Minghui had always been more composed than others. He cupped his hands respectfully toward the bailiffs and said, "Since you are here on official business, we will accompany you. Please allow me to give some instructions to my family."

He first looked at Jiang Li and said, "I had intended to take you to see the Old Madam, but this matter has come up unexpectedly. A Li, you'll have to wait a little longer."

"It's fine," Jiang Li replied with a smile.

Then he turned to Ye Mingyu and said, "Mingyu, since you're not involved in the family business, your task is to protect the Ye household. If anything arises at Lizheng Hall, leave it to Jia'er and Rufeng to handle. This is a good opportunity for the siblings to gain experience. As for Mingxuan and me, do not tell the Old Madam that we've gone to see Prefect Tong. Remember this."

Zhuo Shi looked at the bailiffs and asked, "Officers... when will my elder brother and husband return?"

"How should I know?" the bailiff retorted, then turned to Ye Minghui. "Eldest Master Ye, are you finished? If so, let's go."

Ye Minghui said nothing more. After reassuring Guan Shi and Zhuo Shi that he and Ye Mingxuan would return soon, he left with the bailiffs.

After the bailiffs departed, the Ye family was at a loss.

The incident had come too suddenly; no one had expected it. Ye Jia'er murmured, "My father and uncle... will they be alright?"

"They'll be fine," Jiang Li comforted her. "Uncle Minghui said they would return soon."

"No," Ye Jia'er shook her head. "Uncle never says things like that, nor does he give instructions like today. Yet he specifically told us to manage Lizheng Hall... He must have sensed that he wouldn't return quickly... He had a premonition."

This was true. The arrangements in Ye Minghui's final words seemed to indicate he was certain he wouldn't be returning to the Ye family anytime soon."What on earth is going on?" Madam Zhuo said. "Out of the blue, why would Prefect Tong come looking for us?"

Though she didn't know exactly what had happened, having officers sent to escort someone from home certainly didn't seem like good news. It couldn't possibly be that Prefect Tong was inviting them over for tea and conversation.

"It must be about the Ancient Fragrance Satin," Ye Rufeng said through gritted teeth. "Previously, the clothing shops suppressed the matter, and few people wearing Ancient Fragrance Satin encountered issues. But now... other clothing shops have ceased dealings with Lizheng Hall. The Ancient Fragrance Satin affair will inevitably spread. Once the common people learn of this, they won't let it rest. To pacify the public, the prefect will surely make an example of the Ye family."

Jiang Li found herself viewing Ye Rufeng in a new light. She had thought him rather childish, impulsive, and transparent with his emotions—not as clever as Ye Shijie. But now it appeared Ye Rufeng also possessed a sharp mind, capable of grasping the situation at a glance.

The three grandchildren of the Ye family were no mediocrities. Ye Shijie was learned and talented, showing great promise as an official. Ye Jia'er was dignified and steady, capable of commanding respect. And Ye Rufeng still had some cleverness about him. With the Ye family like this, they wouldn't decline. Having the Ye family as backing wasn't a bad choice.

"Cousin is right," Jiang Li said. "I suspect it's also because of the Lizheng Hall matter."

Ye Rufeng snorted.

"But is this Prefect Tong named Tong Zhiyang?"

"How did you know?" Ye Mingyu asked. As a young lady from Yanjing who had never visited Xiangyang, it was surprising she knew the name of Xiangyang's prefect.

"He has a brother-in-law," Jiang Li smiled, "who serves as Zhong Guanling in Yanjing City."

"What does a Zhong Guanling do?" The Ye family were merchants and weren't very familiar with official positions and ranks.

"He oversees coin minting," Jiang Li explained.

The Ye family members finally understood. Ye Mingyu said, "I never expected you'd even know about his brother-in-law, A Li. Tong Zhiyang isn't that high-ranking an official, is he?"

"No," Jiang Li smiled. "While in the Jiang family, I inevitably hear some things."

She thought to herself: Tong Zhiyang has a brother-in-law serving as Zhong Guanling in Yanjing City. Most importantly, this brother-in-law is under the Right Prime Minister's faction and is quite close to Li Lian.

Ultimately, it could be said that Tong Zhiyang is also under the Right Prime Minister's command.

...

In a courtyard in Xiangyang, voices could be heard from a room.

"Sir, Tong Zhiyang has made his move," Lu Ji reported.

Ji Heng, seated in a chair reading a scroll, paused at these words and remarked, "A bit early."

"I also think it's somewhat early," Lu Ji stroked his beard. "They say he directly stormed into the main hall of the Ye residence to make arrests, and quite conspicuously too. Now the matter can't be concealed—all of Xiangyang knows."

"Expected," Ji Heng chuckled. "Making a show for Li Lian—it couldn't be subtle."

"I heard Second Miss Jiang was also present at the time," Lu Ji said. "But Second Miss Jiang didn't take action. She probably can't intervene in this plan and won't cause any trouble." Normally, Jiang Li certainly wouldn't be able to intervene or turn the tide, but after having their plans disrupted by her several times before, Lu Ji didn't dare be too certain. Second Miss Jiang couldn't be judged by ordinary standards.

"Not necessarily," Ji Heng smiled, his eyes sparkling clearly as he set aside the scroll in his hand. "We mustn't underestimate her.""I already dare not underestimate her," Lu Ji said with a laugh. "But regarding the Ye family matter, Li Lian has long begun planning. With Ye Minghui and Ye Mingxuan currently absent, the Ye family is like scattered sand—that Ye Mingyu won’t be of much use. Once the issue with the Ancient Fragrance Satin spreads, Lizheng Hall will be at risk. The next step will push the Ye family to the brink of collapse, and the Li family’s opportunity will arise."

"Lu Ji, don’t treat everyone as fools," Ji Heng said softly, gently swaying the folding fan in his hand. The golden-thread peonies bloomed and swirled with his movements, casting a vast, shimmering beauty.

"The Li family’s scheme is not flawless, and it’s not impossible for others to have thought of it."

"The play isn’t over until the final act—we can’t yet call it thrilling." He smiled gently.

(End of Chapter)