The Double

Chapter 98: Resolution

Jiang Li stood composedly at the entrance of Lizheng Hall.

The moment the words "legitimate daughter of Grand Secretary Jiang" were uttered, the crowd instantly fell silent.

After all, Xiangyang was far from Yanjing City. Those living in distant Xiangyang already held officials serving in the capital in high esteem, let alone the Grand Secretary who stood at the pinnacle of scholarly officials. Only then did people recall that the Ye family's youngest daughter, Ye Zhenzhen, had indeed married Jiang Yuanbai, who now served as Grand Secretary. But after Ye Zhenzhen's death, the Ye and Jiang families had had no contact for over a decade, and people in Xiangyang had gradually forgotten this connection.

Now that Jiang Li had voluntarily revealed her identity, coupled with Ye Jia'er earlier addressing her as "cousin," and considering Jiang Li's demeanor, attire, and speech that clearly distinguished her from ordinary families, the protesters were seventy percent convinced.

"But you can't abuse your power just because you're from the Jiang family!" shouted a narrow-faced man from the crowd. After speaking, he hid behind a burly man in front, as if trying to conceal his face.

"That's right! How can you bully others with your influence!"

"The Jiang family is protecting their in-laws, the Ye family! Officials and merchants colluding, birds of a feather flock together!"

The narrow-faced man's words instantly reignited the crowd's anger. Ye Jia'er looked at Jiang Li with concern. If the Ye family faced trouble alone, that would be one thing, but now people were linking the Ye and Jiang families together, tarnishing the Jiang family's reputation. Jiang Yuanbai held a high position in Yanjing City—what if this brought him trouble?

Ye Rufeng also frowned deeply.

Jiang Li remained unmoved, standing calmly with a faint smile. She neither refuted the accusations in a fluster nor panicked as if admitting guilt. Her smile was as placid as water, her gaze gentle yet carrying an invisible authority that made people unconsciously quiet down when meeting her eyes.

Gradually, the crowd settled.

Only then did Jiang Li speak. "Our Jiang family shows no leniency even toward its own daughters. My father values justice and integrity above all—how could there be any talk of shielding wrongdoers?"

This reminded everyone that this young lady had been sent to a nunnery years ago for the alleged crimes of matricide and killing her younger brother. So, Jiang Yuanbai truly wasn't someone who would protect his relatives at the cost of principle.

But was it really appropriate for her to remind others of her dark past?

Ye Jia'er and Ye Rufeng exchanged glances, both somewhat puzzled.

Jiang Li couldn't care less about how others viewed her. She simply asked, "Might I ask where everyone learned about the issues with Ancient Fragrance Satin?"

"All the clothing stores are talking about it!" a woman at the front replied. "Everyone in Xiangyang knows by now! Prefect Tong has even taken the Ye family master to the magistrate for investigation!"

Investigation?

Jiang Li sneered inwardly. So that was their plan. The clearer things became in her mind, the more sincere her smile appeared. She merely said, "I wasn't aware that weaving affairs had fallen under the magistrate's jurisdiction."

This seemingly random remark prompted someone to ask, "What do you mean by that?"

Jiang Li smiled as she responded, "The highest-ranking official in Xiangyang is probably Prefect Tong Zhiyang. It seems to me that Tong Zhiyang has grown so accustomed to his power that he's forgotten what he should and shouldn't meddle in."She addressed Tong Zhiyang directly by his name, startling the common folk around her. They hadn't expected a young woman to be so bold and audacious. But upon second thought, there was nothing she wouldn't dare to do, even calling him by his name to his face, since she had the backing of her Grand Secretary father.

"It's true that deaths should be handled by Tong Zhiyang, but I've never heard that issues with textiles should fall under the jurisdiction of a prefect. If it were only within Xiangyang, that would be one thing, but the Ye family's Ancient Fragrance Satin isn't sold only to Xiangyang residents—many nobles and officials in Yanjing wear it too. As you say, if the Ancient Fragrance Satin has caused deaths, and it's not an isolated incident, then I suspect the problem isn't limited to Xiangyang's supply; other regions' Ancient Fragrance Satin may also be affected."

"If the ladies and young misses of Yanjing City were also harmed by Ancient Fragrance Satin, the resulting uproar would be immense. Such a major matter, concerning the lives of all the people of Northern Yan, rests in the hands of a mere minor official like Tong Zhiyang. I'd say he has quite the nerve!"

Her last words were emphasized, spoken with such severity that it sent a chill down people's spines.

Upon hearing this, A Shun nearly applauded this cousin-in-law. What was originally the Ye family's trouble had been reframed by Second Miss Jiang in just a few words as if it were a good thing. Even more impressively, Jiang Li had turned the tables on Tong Zhiyang, now berating him as if he were a dog. It pleased A Shun immensely.

Both A Shun and Ye Mingyu were like people of the jianghu, disdainful of Tong Zhiyang's bureaucratic posturing and affectations. Yet the Ye family couldn't afford to offend Tong Zhiyang—after all, he was the highest-ranking official in Xiangyang. But Jiang Li dared to speak out, to criticize, to challenge!

They could only wonder how Tong Zhiyang would react when these words reached his ears.

Jiang Li's speech indeed stunned many. One person cautiously asked, "Second Miss Jiang, if this matter shouldn't be handled by Prefect Tong, then who should handle it?"

"Of course, it should be the Weaving Office Order in Yanjing City. All textile issues across the nation fall under the jurisdiction of the Weaving Office Order. As you've said, if the Ye family's Ancient Fragrance Satin has problems, the issues should be documented and sent by the prefect to the Weaving Office Order in Yanjing. The Weaving Office Order will then dispatch officials to Xiangyang to thoroughly investigate the matter." Jiang Li continued, "But what has Tong Zhiyang done? He directly arrests people and holds trials without even mentioning reporting to the Weaving Office Order. What is he trying to do? It seems to me he's the one trying to shield the Ye family!"

Lu Ji, watching from the opposite side, marveled at the scene and remarked, "This Second Miss Jiang's ability to twist the truth is truly astonishing!"

"Not just twisting the truth—look at how skillfully she wields her influence to bully others," Ji Heng added.

After Jiang Li finished speaking, some in the crowd were bewildered, while others had a sudden realization. They were all commoners, and even if any officials were present, they were only minor ones. How would they know what duties these positions in Yanjing entailed? They were even less familiar with matters of textiles. Jiang Li spoke with such authority that it didn't seem like she was lying.

Someone asked, "Second Miss Jiang, can the Weaving Office Order really handle such matters?"

"The land beneath your feet belongs to Northern Yan. These people are all subjects of the Son of Heaven. Officials exist to serve the people. The Weaving Office Order was established precisely to address issues in the textile sector—of course, it will take action. What's strange is that Tong Zhiyang not only fails to report this matter but also wants to handle it himself. How can he resolve such a major issue on his own?" Jiang Li's tone carried just the right amount of disdain."Why didn't Prefect Tong report this matter?"

"That's unclear," Jiang Li said meaningfully. "Perhaps Prefect Tong has served in Xiangyang for so long that he's forgotten even basic official procedures. With such concern for the world, he wants to handle everything personally." Jiang Li smiled sincerely. "Such a good official—when I return to Yanjing, I must tell my father about him. He should know there's such a person being wasted as a mere prefect in Xiangyang."

The crowd burst into laughter.

Everyone could hear the sarcasm in Jiang Li's words. Even a fool would know that this Prefect Tong was likely in trouble. Second Miss Jiang clearly wasn't someone to be trifled with. If she reported this to Jiang Yuanbai, he would certainly understand that Tong Zhiyang had overstepped his authority.

"Prefect Tong worries about the nation and its people, wanting to handle cases personally, but we shouldn't let him overwork himself," Jiang Li teased. "I've already written to Xiangyang about this matter. After my father receives the letter, he will personally contact the Weaving Office Order. I believe officials from the Weaving Office will soon come to Xiangyang."

"Really?"

"I swear to you as a daughter of the Jiang family," Jiang Li smiled.

Her eyes curved with her smile, like spring flowers blooming, subtly softening the previously tense atmosphere.

"I believe you all came here not to destroy Lizheng Hall, but to seek a resolution to this matter. Everything should follow proper procedures. If it's the Ye family's fault, of course we will take responsibility. But before the Weaving Office Order arrives, the Ye family shouldn't bear responsibility for trumped-up charges. To all who came today—it's getting late, and you've worked hard. We'll do everything we can. Tong'er," she instructed her maid, "bring out the silver notes."

Jiang Li said, "I'd like to ask for your help. To preserve evidence, we hope to retrieve the Ancient Fragrance Satin you purchased. Of course, we will compensate you with silver—not only the original purchase price but additional compensation as well. We're all striving for a satisfactory resolution. Please give the Ye family more time and trust us. After all, over the past decades, the Ye family has never had any problems." She added, "Asking for your trust now, based on our past relationship, isn't too much to ask, is it?"

She spoke very seriously.

A serious young woman is beautiful, and her proposed solution was beautiful—the silver even more so. Ultimately, these people had come today seeking compensation. If there were real problems, the Ye family weren't doctors and couldn't cure their rashes—at most, they could get silver to find a doctor for treatment.

Jiang Li employed both soft and hard tactics. These people couldn't take advantage and still act unreasonable. Most importantly, facing the Grand Secretary's daughter, they couldn't do much anyway.

Moreover, Jiang Li had shifted the blame to Tong Zhiyang. If he had reported to the Weaving Office Order earlier, the Ye family's issues would have been resolved long ago, without dragging on until now.

Someone said, "Then let's do it this way. Second Miss Jiang, you must make sure the Weaving Office officials come to Xiangyang soon."

"Yes, this can't be delayed."

Jiang Li said, "Don't worry, everyone. Please give us the Ancient Fragrance Satin you've worn. These need to be given to the Weaving Office Order too. I'm afraid if we don't give them to the Weaving Office, Prefect Tong will want to handle everything personally again."

The common people laughed heartily. Now completely without their earlier hostility, they readily went to find their used Ancient Fragrance Satin for Jiang Li.Jiang Li shot Ye Jia'er a meaningful look, and Ye Jia'er immediately instructed the servants to prepare silver and manpower, feeling a wave of relief wash over her. Matters that could be resolved with money were no trouble at all—it was simply a case of spending to avert disaster. If not for Jiang Li stepping in to control the situation today, who knew how much chaos would have ensued? Before leaving, Ye Minghui had specifically entrusted Lizheng Hall to her and her siblings. If Ye Minghui and Ye Mingxuan returned to the Jiang family only to find Lizheng Hall in complete disarray, she and Ye Rufeng would be too ashamed to face anyone.

At this thought, Ye Jia'er felt immense gratitude toward Jiang Li.

Ye Rufeng watched Jiang Li with a complicated expression. Ever since learning of Jiang Li's harsh words against the Ye family and her notorious reputation for "matricide and fratricide," Ye Rufeng had detested her and refused to associate with her. Yet today, it was Jiang Li who had resolved the Ye family's predicament. Although she had invoked Jiang Yuanbai's name, essentially relying on his influence to intimidate others, her composure and calmness were qualities he himself lacked.

This person... was truly impossible to like, yet hard to despise. Ye Rufeng wrestled with his conflicted feelings.

In the teahouse across the street, Ji Heng gazed out the window and asked, "What did you think of that performance?"

Lu Ji clapped slowly, "pa, pa, pa," and said, "Only today did I realize a fifteen-year-old girl could possess such capability. If I hadn't witnessed it myself, I'd have thought it was a fabricated tale."

"Indeed," Ji Heng exhaled softly. "Fifteen years old, and already taking center stage in a major drama."

"Her handling of the situation was skillful, but isn't she afraid Grand Secretary Jiang in the capital will blame her for this?" Lu Ji remarked. "Jiang Yuanbai is a cunning old fox, slippery as they come. He'd avoid such trouble at all costs, yet his daughter seems all too willing to wield power."

"Didn't you notice?" Ji Heng tapped the window with his fan. "She deliberately invoked Jiang Yuanbai."

"Hmm? Because Jiang Yuanbai is the Grand Secretary, so Tong Zhiyang would be wary? But Tong Zhiyang has the Li family backing him..."

"Exactly," Ji Heng replied with an amused smile. "Second Miss Jiang wants the Jiang and Li families to clash, escalating their conflict beyond reconciliation."

Lu Ji was taken aback. "Why?"

"That depends on what she's after."

As they spoke, Lu Ji suddenly exclaimed, "Ah!"

Not far down the street, a young girl stood under the eaves, her gaze piercing through the crowd and landing precisely on the teahouse window.

"We've been spotted," Ji Heng chuckled, fanning himself. "How unfortunate."

Jiang Li was just leaving with Tong'er.

Having temporarily resolved the trouble at Lizheng Hall, Jiang Li intended to send guards to inquire about Ye Mingyu's situation. This Tong Zhiyang seemed emboldened, but as Jiang Yuanbai's daughter, she could at least expect some courtesy from him out of respect for her father.

But the moment she stepped out of Lizheng Hall, Jiang Li sensed eyes on her. Following her intuition, she looked up and spotted a familiar crimson robe and the gently waving golden silk folding fan.

Ji Heng?

What was he doing here?!

Her heart skipped a beat, and she instinctively wondered if Ji Heng had followed her to Xiangyang. But that seemed unlikely. Not only was her visit to Xiangyang officially to see Old Madam Ye, but even if her actions seemed suspicious, someone of Duke Su's stature wouldn't spend his days monitoring her. This Duke Su was unfathomable, a man of grand ambitions—hardly one for such trivial pursuits.However... Jiang Li glanced at the teahouse's small window, from which everything in Lizheng Hall was clearly visible. This Duke Su loved watching dramas the most, so he had likely witnessed this entire performance from start to finish. Or perhaps he had arrived even before Jiang Li, already knowing Lizheng Hall would be smashed, and came specifically to watch the spectacle.

How irritating.

Jiang Li took a deep breath. Regardless of Duke Su's intentions, she had to go up and meet him. She needed to sound him out—to determine his purpose. If their paths didn't cross, he could simply watch the show without interfering. But if conflicts arose... she would weigh her options and act accordingly.

After instructing Tong'er and Bai Xue, Jiang Li walked alone toward the teahouse.

"She's here." Lu Ji stroked his beard. "My lord, to be frank, I'm still somewhat afraid of this Second Miss Jiang."

"Afraid of what?" Ji Heng played with his folding fan. "She's just a young girl."

"Second Miss Jiang is no ordinary young girl," Lu Ji chuckled. "She expertly employs both kindness and authority—the very tactics of officialdom. She's mastered Jiang Yuanbai's methods perfectly. What I don't understand is, having spent eight years in the nunnery away from Jiang Yuanbai, how did she become so proficient in bureaucratic rules? It's as if Jiang Yuanbai personally taught her. Could it be that blood relatives naturally inherit such traits?"

Ji Heng glanced at him. "Not just anyone can inherit such skills."

To outsiders, Jiang Li's methods seemed truly incredible. Though she hadn't been by Jiang Yuanbai's side for eight years, she had genuinely spent over a decade with Xue Huaiyuan. Xue Huaiyuan was an honest, good official, but Tongxiang wasn't without corrupt officials who flattered and toadied. Xue Fangfei and Xue Zhao had witnessed more political maneuvers than ordinary people, and because their official positions were modest, their insights cut deeper.

As they spoke, the guiding servant boy knocked outside, and Jiang Li entered.

Upon stepping in, Jiang Li saw Ji Heng and the blue-robed scholar she'd encountered at Jin Mantang's gathering.

"What a coincidence," Ji Heng spoke with feigned surprise. "To meet Second Miss Jiang here."

The man deliberately acted astonished at this moment, which Jiang Li found unconvincing. Given Ji Heng's practice of planting informants throughout the imperial palace, he had probably discerned all of Xiangyang's movements from his very first day there. Her every action was likely under the watchful eye of this venomous beauty.

But since he insisted on performing, she could only play along pretending ignorance, smiling as she said, "I'm equally surprised to encounter the Duke here." She inquired curiously, "Might I ask what brings the Duke to Xiangyang?"

Ji Heng gazed at her with a smiling expression, then after a long pause uttered two words: "Official business."

He had said nothing, yet revealed everything—at least he hadn't come for her. Ji Heng had a peculiar trait: he never spoke truthfully, his words resembling his captivating eyes, containing little sincerity. But he never spoke falsehoods either—at most, he simply remained silent.

Jiang Li's heart settled. She didn't want this Duke's attention fixed on her. What she needed to do must not be known by outsiders, nor did she wish them to know. Especially since this Duke might have significant connections with Prince Cheng. The Prince Cheng siblings were her enemies, and she would never align herself with foes.I could only patiently navigate this situation.

"The Ye family seems to be in trouble." Ji Heng looked toward Lizheng Hall not far outside the window. "If not for you, Lizheng Hall would have been reduced to ruins."

Though he said this, his tone carried a hint of regret. Jiang Li couldn't help blurting out, "Why does the Duke seem to wish for Lizheng Hall to become ruins?"

"Can't be helped," Ji Heng replied with apparent vexation, "I enjoy watching dramas."

Such words were truly infuriating. Jiang Li responded with a strained smile, "The Duke certainly has refined tastes, finding entertainment in everything."

"But rarely do we encounter someone as remarkable as Second Miss Jiang," Ji Heng answered with complete seriousness.

"I share the Duke's sentiment," Jiang Li said through gritted teeth, "but I'm no actress."

"What a pity," Ji Heng lamented. "I thought meeting you here in Xiangyang would provide more good drama."

"What?" Jiang Li looked at him.

His beautiful eyes shimmered like swirling vortexes that could lure one into obsession. With a teasing smile, he said, "I have a premonition that Second Miss Jiang will perform many interesting plays here in Xiangyang."

"Didn't the Duke come here on official business?" Jiang Li countered with a smile. "How can you neglect your duties for mere amusement?"

"The drama is too captivating to miss," he stared unblinkingly at Jiang Li, his words carrying a flirtatious undertone.

Jiang Li inwardly cursed Ji Heng for his shamelessness. Though Ji Heng was in his twenties, Second Miss Jiang was just an inexperienced young girl. Yet he didn't hesitate to use his charms to seduce her. When Xue Fangfei had her incident, everyone in Yanjing condemned her for relying on her beauty to act wantonly. Why did no one criticize Ji Heng for using his beauty to commit misdeeds?

After staring at Ji Heng for a moment, Jiang Li suddenly said, "The Duke must have heard me scolding Tong Zhiyang at the entrance of Lizheng Hall earlier."

"I heard," Ji Heng nodded.

"Does the Duke think my scolding was justified?" Jiang Li wanted to probe Ji Heng's stance. She currently suspected Tong Zhiyang was acting under the Li family's instructions. Since Ji Heng knew the Li family's young master Li Lian, Jiang Li wanted to know if Ji Heng was aware this matter involved the Li family, and whether his coming to Xiangyang meant he would intervene. If Ji Heng got involved, things would become much more complicated.

"Second Miss Jiang asked me to watch the play without commenting," Ji Heng said with a smile. "I don't know."

This man was impervious to both soft and hard approaches, completely watertight. Truly frustrating.

Jiang Li said, "I wish the Duke could always watch plays without commenting."

Ji Heng merely smiled without responding.

So Jiang Li continued on her own: "Tong Zhiyang has a brother-in-law who serves as Zhong Guanling. This Zhong Guanling is under Li Lian, the youngest son of the Right Prime Minister. So actually, this Tong Zhiyang belongs to the Right Prime Minister's faction. Quite impressive indeed."

Ji Heng's hand holding the fan paused slightly, and his gaze toward Jiang Li carried deeper contemplation.

Lu Ji, however, was startled. How did Jiang Li even know this? These intricate connections were something even Jiang Li's father Jiang Yuanbai might not clearly remember. Jiang Li couldn't have learned this information beforehand, nor could she have accessed the official records that only Jiang Yuanbai possessed. How did she know?

Ji Heng remarked, "It seems Second Miss Jiang has thorough understanding of these matters."

"Because my father is the Grand Secretary," Jiang Li said softly. "Our Jiang family has many enemies. One careless move and we might fall into others' traps. The Right Prime Minister's Li family are my father's sworn rivals. We must remember all the pieces on our rival's chessboard, otherwise being calculated against by insignificant pawns would be an unexpected disaster."Ji Heng smiled: "With Second Miss Jiang here, I don't think the Jiang family will be schemed against. In fact, it will prosper for a hundred years."

"You flatter me, Duke," Jiang Li replied. "The forces behind the Right Prime Minister are formidable. We wouldn't dare to pit an egg against a rock."

There was a lively cunning in her brows and eyes. Though her tone was gentle and polite, every step was a test. In her verbal sparring with Ji Heng, she didn’t yield an inch. Lu Ji was somewhat astonished. Had the person sitting here been a middle-aged man or a young man, he wouldn’t have been so surprised. But it was precisely a girl in her teens, and a young lady from a boudoir at that.

She was clever, skilled in maneuvering, and spoke with righteous conviction, yet she possessed the slickness of an official. She valued loyalty, was cunning, and showed no fear of Ji Heng.

Truly a remarkable young lady, nothing like Jiang Yuanbai at all.

"Oh?" Ji Heng raised an eyebrow. "Just now, when you scolded Tong Zhiyang at the door, you showed no fear."

Jiang Li smiled radiantly. "That was for the sake of the people. For the people, even if it were the Right Prime Minister Li Zhongnan himself, I wouldn’t be afraid."

Lu Ji nearly slapped the table in admiration!

When it came to official rhetoric, he considered himself well-versed, but this young lady had a whole arsenal of it—speaking human language to humans and ghost language to ghosts—without a blush or a racing heart. Her candid and upright demeanor left one speechless.

Ji Heng was also left speechless.

After an unknown length of time, he let out a soft, derisive laugh—whether in mockery or genuine amusement at Jiang Li’s words—and said, "Second Miss Jiang is truly admirable."

"However, this matter will likely draw the Right Prime Minister’s ire," Jiang Li sighed. "It’s an unavoidable situation."

"The Right Prime Minister won’t direct his anger at you," Ji Heng chuckled. "For the sake of the people."

Jiang Li replied, "That would be for the best." She stood up, brushing off the dust on her sleeves that she hadn’t had time to remove earlier—stained during the commotion caused by the people in Lizheng Hall—and said to Ji Heng, "I only came up to greet you because I saw the Duke here earlier. Now that I’ve paid my respects, my cousin and elder brother are still busy, so I must go and help. I won’t keep the Duke company for idle chatter." She curtsied politely to Ji Heng. "Farewell."

Ji Heng made no move to see her off, replying with a faint smile, "Take care, Second Miss Jiang."

Jiang Li smiled slightly and calmly exited the tearoom. Though she remained cautious each time she faced Ji Heng, it was clear that she was growing more and more composed in her interactions with him.

This young lady was maturing rapidly.

As Jiang Li left the tearoom and descended the stairs, her heart raced.

Her earlier remark, "This matter will likely draw the Right Prime Minister’s ire," had been a test. The result of that test was that Tong Zhiyang’s targeting of the Ye family was indeed connected to the Right Prime Minister. Ji Heng’s response, "The Right Prime Minister won’t direct his anger at you," implicitly acknowledged Li Zhongnan’s involvement.

Jiang Li lowered her gaze. With Li Zhongnan involved, no wonder Tong Zhiyang had been so bold. But so what? This was the perfect opportunity to escalate the situation, leveraging the Jiang family’s influence to shatter the delicate balance between the Right Prime Minister and the Jiang family, and to eliminate any possibility of Prince Cheng attempting to win over Jiang Yuanbai.

Let Prince Cheng and the Jiang family become sworn enemies, locked in a life-or-death struggle. Only then would Jiang Yuanbai burn his bridges, enabling him to launch an open, justified, and resolute attack against Prince Cheng without hesitation.

That was her goal.

Inside the room, Lu Ji watched Jiang Li’s receding figure downstairs and sighed deeply. "Truly, the waves of the Yangtze River push the waves ahead—the younger generation is formidable, truly formidable."

Jiang Li had taught him a profound lesson. At just fifteen, she possessed such cunning and strategy. Who could say to what awe-inspiring heights she would grow in a few more years?

"We’ve been fooled," Ji Heng suddenly spoke.

"What?" Lu Ji was taken aback.

"She was just fishing for information from me," Ji Heng said, as if realizing something, and suddenly laughed. "Tong Zhiyang is no match for her."

He remarked, "That young lady is quite shrewd."

A Li’s public relations skills are flawless~

Every time she meets the Duke, she turns into a savage critic （：зゝ∠）

(End of Chapter)