The Double
Chapter 246 - 104 Play Mess_up_4

Chapter 246: Chapter 104 Play Mess_up_4

"Duke," Jiang Li bowed to Jih Heng along with Jiang Heng.

"Duke," Jiang Li saluted along with Jih Heng.

"It’s rare to see Miss Jiang the Second out in the sun," Jih Heng said with a smile, clutching his folding fan.

"It’s rare to see Miss Jiang the Second out in the sun," Jih Heng, clutching his folding fan with a beaming smile, said to her.

In the cold winter, the fan was no longer necessary, and if others held it, they might be accused of feigning sophistication, but in his hands, it seemed perfectly fitting. It was as if the golden silk folding fan was born to be held in the palm of such a beautiful person. Of course, Jiang Li was well aware that having seen the moment when the peony on the golden silk folding fan blocked the tip of a knife, Jiang Li knew that it was not just a folding fan but the most dangerous weapon, just concealed in such a casual manner.

Just like its owner.

Jiang Li said with a smile, "Duke, you also seem to be in good spirits."

To others, it would appear that the two were very familiar with each other, like old friends who hadn’t seen each other in a long time. But Jiang Li would never truly believe Jih Heng considered her a friend; beneath his gentle smile lay the coldest of hearts. As for his plans, Jiang Li didn’t understand, nor did she want to.

"What is the Second Miss waiting for?" Jih Heng asked. "Is it Tong Zhiyang’s betrayal?"

Jiang Li looked up at him. Sure enough, even the slightest movement on her side couldn’t escape Jih Heng’s eyes.

So she acknowledged it openly: "Nothing escapes your eyes."

"Xiangyang City is indeed so small," Jih Heng said modestly. "No secret can be kept."

"That is true."

Wen Ji stood to one side, his heart full of surprise at the casual conversation between the two, one tall and one short. Although Jih Heng appeared gentle and romantic, he was not an easy person to deal with and was particularly arrogant and cold towards strangers. It was rare for him to talk so much with someone. Miss Jiang the Second left Green City Mountain less than half a year ago, and in that time, aside from causing a stir in Yanjing City, she had also established quite a few connections with Jih Heng.

Wen Ji couldn’t tell what his master was thinking, whether Jiang Li would eventually become a sacrificial pawn. From the beginning to the end, Jih Heng had never touched her. To say that Jih Heng planned to support Jiang Li, but considering the conspiracies and dangers that arose targeting Jiang Li, Jih Heng had never lifted a finger to help.

He just watched the drama pleasantly from the sidelines, without intent to help or to kick someone who was down.

And Miss Jiang the Second was a clever person, facing the unpredictable and harsh Duke Su without a hint of fear. Not just because she was a young girl, but even someone older would not converse with Jih Heng so calmly and composedly.

"It seems the Second Miss has already guessed who it is," Jih Heng said with a smile, glancing at her.

"I guess it’s the Li Family," Jiang Li said directly.

Perhaps not expecting Jiang Li to blurt it out so suddenly without any attempt to conceal it, Jih Heng was slightly surprised and said nothing. The next moment, he heard Jiang Li say, "Duke, you knew already, right?"

She threw the question back at him again.

She was not afraid of him at all.

"Why ask me?" Jih Heng replied.

"Because Xiangyang is too small, nothing can be hidden from the Duke’s eyes," Jiang Li answered as if it were obvious. She had a smile in her eyes, looking innocent and adorable but was sharp with every word.

Jih Heng laughed as well, asking, "Want to know?"

Jiang Li just looked at him and smiled. Then Jih Heng shook his fan and said, "It cannot be said."

Saying it couldn’t be said was as good as saying it. Jiang Li nodded; the truth was, up to this point, she still could not see through which side Jih Heng was really on. Not to mention his relationship with Prince Cheng and Emperor Hongxiao, even his dealings with the Right Chancellor’s family were complicated and elusive. Observing his acquaintance with Li Jing, the eldest son of the Li Family, but as the Li Family’s plans fell apart, he also did not offer a helping hand. If he were an ally, he was indeed a very annoying one.

As they talked, a chestnut horse galloped from afar, the rider not pulling the reins, just whistling, and the horse stopped abruptly at the gate.

It was Ye Mingyu returning.

Ye Mingyu got off the horse, only to see Jiang Li standing with an exceedingly beautiful man. This man, dressed in red, was excessively handsome yet not at all effeminate. Although he was smiling, his long, narrow, phoenix eyes seemed devoid of any mirth. After days of living on the edge, tasting blood on the tip of a knife, Ye Mingyu instinctively sensed danger, his instinct telling him to pull Jiang Li behind him, away from this man.

"Uncle Mingyu," Jiang Li called out.

"A-Li, who is this..." Ye Mingyu looked towards Jih Heng, not recalling such a person arriving in Xiangyang City.

Jiang Li hesitated for a moment before saying, "He’s a gentleman who lives in the neighboring house, with whom I’ve had the acquaintance of a few encounters."