The Double
Chapter 253 - 106: In Prison

Chapter 253: Chapter 106: In Prison

The back door of Cherish Flower Tower greeted by the same girl Jiang Li had seen last time. Seeing Jiang Li, she, too, was taken aback for a moment, but then she smiled and said, "Miss, have you come to see Qiongzhi again?"

Jiang Li replied, "Indeed." She handed over a silver note from her sleeve.

The girl didn’t refuse, gracefully accepting the silver note, and told Jiang Li, "Please follow me." She then personally led Jiang Li to Qiongzhi’s room.

The girls at Cherish Flower Tower were all astute, knowing what should and shouldn’t be asked. Although they didn’t understand the relationship between Jiang Li and Qiongzhi, they hadn’t seen any trouble during the last visit, and Jiang Li had been generous, so they wouldn’t actively refuse to lend a helping hand.

Jiang Li was thus led to the door of Qiongzhi’s room.

The girl smiled and said, "Qiongzhi has been waiting for you here. If you need anything else, just call for me." She then withdrew.

Jiang Li pushed open the door and entered Qiongzhi’s room.

Whether it was just Jiang Li’s imagination or not, Qiongzhi seemed much thinner than she had been in the days they had not seen each other. Yet a beauty would always remain a beauty; even in her frail state, she only seemed more sorrowfully enchanting—a kind of beauty not seen before. It was as if a flower nearing the end of its bloom became even more eye-catching.

Jiang Li assumed that perhaps Qiongzhi had learned of Xue Zhao’s death, which was why she seemed so thin these past days.

"You’ve come." Qiongzhi sat at a table, idly arranging a chaotic chess set. Hearing movement, she did not get up but looked towards Jiang Li.

Jiang Li closed the door behind her and said, "Yes."

Qiongzhi stared at her steadily for a while, then suddenly burst into laughter and said, "They always said Xue Zhao was bold, but now I see there’s someone even bolder here. I wonder what Prime Minister Jiang Yuanbai from Yanjing City would think if he knew his daughter was visiting a brothel in Xiangyang."

She knew Jiang Li’s identity.

Jiang Li remained silent for a moment, walked forward, and took a seat opposite Qiongzhi, saying, "You know."

"The passionate speech of Miss Jiang the Second in front of Lizheng Hall has now spread throughout Xiangyang City. It would be difficult not to know." Qiongzhi sighed, "I just didn’t expect that you, the one seeking me, would be the Second Miss of the Jiang Family."

"Not sure whether it’s a good or bad thing," Jiang Li said with a wry smile. By leveraging the reputation of the Jiang Family to help the Ye Family against Tong Zhiyang, she had also exposed her own identity. It would be inevitable for her to be recognized in future undertakings. Perhaps it would be better to be like Jih Heng, whose identity no one knew. Those who did know wouldn’t trouble her, nor would they speak of it on their own accord.

"There is just one thing I would like to ask you," Qiongzhi said, playing with the bracelet on her wrist. The silver bracelet adorned with delicate bells tinkled as she moved it, endearingly intricate. She asked, "How did you come to know the people of the Xue Family? The past deeds of Miss Jiang the Second are known to me, and from what I see, you shouldn’t have had anything to do with the Xue Family."

Qiongzhi was a capable woman; among her patrons were swordsmen as well as officials. She was not someone to be underestimated, which is why Jiang Li had asked Qiongzhi to inquire about Tongxiang. Given that Miss Jiang the Second was no ordinary person—whose deeds were known not just in Yanjing but also in other parts of Northern Yan, where her "grand achievements" were a mere investigation away—it was not unreasonable for Qiongzhi to doubt their connection. In Qiongzhi’s view, Miss Jiang the Second and the Xue Family were worlds apart, their paths unlikely to cross, which understandably sparked her suspicions.

Jiang Li was silent for a long while, then said, "I am acquainted with Xue Zhao’s sister." Before Qiongzhi could voice her doubts, Jiang Li continued, "You need not question how I became acquainted with Xue Fangfei; indeed, I want to avenge her. I cannot tell you more, but for now, you can only believe in me."

Qiongzhi was taken aback, seriously lifting her gaze to meet Jiang Li’s.

"As I said, I am aware of your affection for Xue Zhao, but now Xue Zhao is dead, you must want to avenge him, yet you can do nothing. I can," Jiang Li said, revealing a faint smile. "I am the daughter of Prime Minister Jiang Yuan Bai, the legitimate daughter of the Grand Secretary. If the adversary has power and influence, I am not afraid. Only I can avenge Xue Zhao, you can only trust me."

Qiongzhi’s lips twitched, as if intending to reveal a mocking smile, but in the end, she let out a soft sigh, half in resignation and half in reluctance, and said, "You already knew I could only trust you."

Jiang Li’s heart settled at those words, but her expression remained unchanged as she smiled and said, "You needn’t worry too much. Telling me about Tongxiang won’t affect you in any way."