The Double
Chapter 273 - 110: Rescue

Chapter 273: Chapter 110: Rescue

"Feng Yutang, are you a deity or a demon?" she asked, "You should be well aware of your own place."

As soon as Jiang Li finished speaking, Feng Yutang’s face had already turned quite ugly. He could naturally understand the implied meaning behind her words. Jiang Li was the Grand Secretary’s daughter, and her master was Princess Yongning. When Jiang Li confronted Yongning, both sides had powerful families to back them up, while he was just a lowly County Magistrate. That was an unchangeable fact. No matter what, if he were to be sacrificed, it would just be an insignificant matter.

Feng Yutang felt extremely troubled. Jiang Li’s arrival was sudden, giving him no time to prepare. Yet, after a brief conversation, it was clear that Jiang Li was not someone who could be easily dismissed. She had her own strong opinions and did not have the naivety typically found in a fifteen- or sixteen-year-old girl.

She even seemed somewhat frightening.

"Miss Jiang the Second, this official," Feng Yutang started with a forced smile, "this official is merely acting on orders, please do not make things difficult for me."

"Acting on orders?" Jiang Li laughed, "Lord Feng, in Tongxiang your word is law, and no one dares disobey your commands. The case of County Magistrate Xue was also judged by your hand. You are the heaven of Tongxiang. Whose orders are you following? Speak them so I might hear. Perhaps I am acquainted with them back in Yanjing City."

Feng Yutang was sweating profusely; he certainly couldn’t disclose Princess Yongning’s name. He said with a bitter smile, "This official has always conducted affairs according to the regulations. Second Miss Jiang, I don’t understand what exactly you want to do. If you wish to inquire about the Xue Family’s affairs, I have truthfully told you everything. What more do you want now?"

Feng Yutang was essentially a thug, and at that moment, he took on the brazen attitude of one. No one could do anything to him. Yes, there were many people here, and Jiang Li had no support. She obviously couldn’t just stage a jailbreak. Even if she did, it would implicate both the Ye Family and the Jiang Family. Feng Yutang made it clear that he recognized her status, respected her, but had to act on orders. What could she do to him?

Ye Mingyu frowned. He had never before seen a County Magistrate who behaved so shamelessly. Wasn’t he afraid that Jiang Yuan Bai would seek retribution after the fact?

Only Jiang Li understood why Feng Yutang dared to act so brazenly; he relied on Princess Yongning’s support in the background, needing only to accomplish the tasks she assigned.

Although she came here wishing to see her father in jail, Jiang Li guessed before arriving at the county government office that it wouldn’t be so easy. No matter, at least she had seen the newly appointed Feng Yutang. Having dealt with him before, she knew what kind of person he was. Knowing your enemies and yourself will ensure victory in a hundred battles, so it was not entirely without gain.

Feng Yutang watched Jiang Li leisurely, feeling confident again. He believed that Jiang Li couldn’t do anything to him. She wouldn’t really have people seize him, the County Magistrate, would she? If the Grand Secretary’s daughter acted this way, it would be strange if the Imperial Censors didn’t take this opportunity to criticize Jiang Yuan Bai.

"I don’t want to do much," Jiang Li said with a slight smile, speaking amicably, "As I said, I’m here just to inquire why the Xue Family was sealed. The case file is something that can be examined with a higher-up’s order. Tongxiang is under the jurisdiction of Xiangyang, and I have already filed a lawsuit with the authorities there; I can view the Xue Family’s case file." Jiang Li took out an official order from her sleeve, gestured for Tonger to hand it over, and said with a smile, "Lord Feng, the order is here, may I now see the Xue Family’s case files?"

Feng Yutang was stunned.

Being a County Magistrate in Tongxiang was a position given to him by Princess Yongning, and he was as delighted as having found great fortune even if it was just a minor county. Being in this position, he could amass a considerable wealth. He wouldn’t be as foolish as Xue Huaiyuan, actually serving the people. And since he was appointed by Yongning, he never experienced any official assessments, so he was completely ignorant about the importance of official orders. He had no clue about what an official order was; instinctively taking the order from Tonger and seeing the Magistrate of Xiangyang’s official seal on it, he hesitated for a moment then nodded, instructing someone to find the case file and hand it over to Jiang Li.

Ye Mingyu couldn’t remember when Jiang Li had gone to ask Tong Zhiyang for such an item, and given the conflict between Tong Zhiyang and the Ye Family, it seemed inconceivable that he would give Jiang Li an order so easily.

Jiang Li’s lips curved into a smile. The order, referred to as such, was not really an order. It wasn’t personally authorized by Tong Zhiyang. Instead, she used Tang Fan’s hand, exploiting the authority of the Head of the Weaving Department in Yanjing to investigate cases, to obtain Feng Yutang’s official seal. Tang Fan still wanted to rely on Jiang Yuan Bai’s connections in Yanjing, so he would of course help her. Jiang Li fully understood the shortcomings of the Northern Yan bureaucracy and exploited this loophole to achieve her goal of inspecting the files of the Xue Family case.