The Double
Chapter 265 - 108 Tyranny_3

Chapter 265: Chapter 108 Tyranny_3

Upon further thought, Jiang Li, a young girl, understood the principle of "knowingly pursuing the impossible." He, who always fancied himself a hero, was actually less brave than a little girl, hesitating at every turn. Suddenly filled with a sense of solitary courage, he declared, "Whether it’s scaling mountains of swords or plunging into seas of flames, I’m in it to the end!" He patted Jiang Li on the head affectionately and asked, "Am I your dear uncle when you go to sleep?"

Jiang Li: "..."

"Then, Uncle," Jiang Li said, "once we settle down, there’s something I’d like your help with."

"Speak!" Ye Mingyu agreed cheerfully.

"Please have these guards, your men, go to the busiest places in Tongxiang, like taverns and teahouses, and loudly inquire about the sealing of the Xue Family. The more attention-grabbing, the better, so that everyone can hear."

"Young Miss?" Tonger said softly, "Didn’t that auntie just say not to talk about the Xue Family’s matters in front of outsiders, to avoid trouble? Why... why openly let others know?"

Jiang Li smiled and said, "Because I want to startle the snake in the grass."

Ye Mingyu didn’t understand.

"If I can’t find the snake, I’ll make the snake come to me." She smiled faintly.

The people of Yongning framed Xue Huaiyuan, leading to his imprisonment, yet the townsfolk clearly saw everything, and no one knew what kind of man Xue Huaiyuan is better than the people of Tongxiang. To prevent rumors and unrest among them, measures were taken to forbid the discussion of this matter.

It goes without saying that when a group of people would suddenly start inquiring about Xue Huaiyuan, it would naturally draw the other party’s attention. Before long, the other party would come to them.

She couldn’t be bothered to inquire about individual opponents; she’d rather sit here, waiting for them to fall into her trap.

As for her, she’d settle scores one by one, making sure everyone had their turn, without hurry.

...

The peaceful lives of the Tongxiang townsfolk were utterly disrupted that afternoon.

During the afternoon, a group of strangers arrived, wandering through teahouses, taverns, and even the streets, asking passersby loudly about the sealed County Magistrate Xue’s family.

Jiang Li and Ye Mingyu sat inside a tavern, the most bustling one in Tongxiang. In the past, whenever there was fresh gossip, people liked to discuss it in this little tavern. Xue Zhao liked to bring her here to eavesdrop, and sometimes they heard many interesting stories.

But today was very different.

At first, the townsfolk were interested in these newcomers as if they were unfamiliar faces from out of town. However, when Ye Mingyu’s guards brought up the Xue Family, the townsfolk immediately showed panic on their faces and fled in all directions, as if avoiding something frightening. Or they would just keep silent and shake their heads vehemently.

Having stayed in Tongxiang for many years, Jiang Li knew the townspeople were usually warm and hospitable. However, clearly, Ye Mingyu’s men had frightened them, and no one dared to approach them. It was as if they were plague-bearers; in just half an afternoon, when the people on the streets saw them, they would take a detour or whisper something to one another.

When they sat down in this tavern, there were no customers left.

The tavern keeper reacted the same way, probably wanting to close the shop when he saw Jiang Li and the others but afraid of provoking Ye Mingyu with the sword at his waist. He simply handed the shop over to the waiter and thought it best to leave. The waiter was even more amusing, serving tea with trembling hands. When Ye Mingyu wanted him to bring some fruits over to moisten Jiang Li’s throat and had barely opened his mouth to speak, the waiter ran away as fast as light as if he feared Ye Mingyu would spit out some horrifying words.

"Hey, I’m really puzzled," Ye Mingyu said, both irritated and amused, "What have we done? These people are scattering like mice that have seen a cat. Could they possibly run any faster? Even when I was a bearded man wandering the martial arts world, I never saw people this scared."

Jiang Li smiled slightly: "Because you mentioned the ’Xue’ character."

"’Xue’ isn’t some taboo word, is it? Can it not even be said now?" Ye Mingyu retorted, full of indignation, "Jiang Li, I think you’re right. There’s something odd about Tongxiang, and its people are strange. If Xue Huaiyuan really did nothing wrong, why be so secretive? It’s clearly a cover-up! I bet Xue Huaiyuan has been falsely accused. Who the hell is plotting against the Xue Family in the background?"

No sooner had he finished speaking than a "clang" noise came from downstairs, like a waiter who dropped an abacus by accident. Jiang Li glanced down; the waiter was sitting by the entrance of the tavern, looking like he was trying his best to keep his distance from her.