The Double
Chapter 275 - 110 Rescue_3

Chapter 275: Chapter 110 Rescue_3

Jiang Li said to Ye Mingyu, "Uncle Mingyu, you go back first. I have something to do and will be back soon."

"What are you going to do?" Ye Mingyu objected. "It’s too dangerous for you to go alone, I will go with you."

"It’s not dangerous," Jiang Li replied. "Uncle Mingyu, please go back first, I know the way and will come back later with Tonger and the others."

Seeing Jiang Li’s determined face, Ye Mingyu felt quite helpless and said, "Well then, I won’t go back. I will just stay here, you were looking at that tavern nearby, right? Are you going to meet someone? Don’t worry, I won’t follow. I’ll wait for you outside and won’t come in."

Having said that much, Jiang Li had no choice but to agree. Besides, since Ye Mingyu was only going to be outside, Jih Heng probably wouldn’t mind. She then said, "Alright, uncle, wait here for me for a bit, I will be back soon."

Ye Mingyu indeed waited on the street corner with his men for Jiang Li, who walked toward the tavern with Tonger and Bai Xue, her mind filled with doubts.

Why would Jih Heng be here too? Now, no one would believe he wasn’t following her.

When faced with soldiers, use a general to block them; when flooded with water, use earth to contain it. She could only take it one step at a time.

She entered the tavern.

The entire tavern was empty. The previous tavern keeper had left a waiter to mind the shop, but this one didn’t even have a waiter. The guard named Wen Ji stood at the door, watching Jiang Li go in.

It seemed that this tavern had been temporarily "taken over" by the Duke. He was quite presumptuous, taking over the entire tavern and driving everyone out, quite domineering indeed.

Jiang Li went upstairs.

At the window on the second floor, a young man in red was pouring tea with practiced ease, not at all awkward. His movements were smooth and flowing as if watching him was a pleasure in itself.

He poured two cups of tea.

As Jiang Li approached him, Jih Heng pushed one of the freshly poured cups of tea towards her, making a gesture of invitation.

Jiang Li took a seat opposite him, not touching the tea.

"Bai Hao Yin Zhen Tea. Miss Jiang the Second, please try some," he said with a smile, as if they were warm old friends.

"Thank you, my lord, I’m not thirsty," replied Jiang Li.

"Is the Second Miss afraid that I have poisoned the tea?" Jih Heng asked with a smile.

Jiang Li responded with a smile, "How could that be? If the Duke truly wanted my life, it would be over in an instant. There would be no need to go through such trouble, wasting good tea."

Jih Heng chuckled, "You do understand me."

Jiang Li replied, "I wouldn’t dare."

Jih Heng’s thoughts were too profound and inscrutable. Who would dare say they understood him? The words capricious and unpredictable were not without reason. And just a few days earlier, amidst the play, with laughter, he resolved an assassination attempt and dealt with a group of assassins in such a cool and ruthless manner. Having seen this, how could Jiang Li take him lightly?

But in the end, Jih Heng had noticed her and had followed her to Tongxiang.

Unwilling to beat around the bush with Jih Heng, Jiang Li was running out of time. Every moment wasted diminished Xue Huaiyuan’s chances of survival. She said, "Has the Duke come to Tongxiang this time to watch a play?"

"No," Jih Heng replied softly, "I came to see you."

His eyes glistened and his lips were red, looking very affectionate, as if he truly was a charming young man. However, Jiang Li didn’t believe such empty words. She laughed and said, "So you came to watch my play."

"Couldn’t help it, Miss Jiang the Second is too exceptional, it’s difficult not to notice you," Jih Heng said casually, holding a teacup and gently blowing on a leaf floating on the surface, "Did Miss go down to Xiangyang solely for this trip to Tongxiang? And was this trip all about the Xue Family case?"

Jiang Li paused and looked up at him, smiling, "The Duke already knows everything, why bother asking me?" She couldn’t avoid such things happening so quickly.

"I don’t understand, that’s why I’m asking the Second Miss." Jih Heng’s mouth quirked up. "What exactly is the relation between the Second Miss and the Xue Family?"

In his amber eyes, there was a moment of serious curiosity, as if he truly awaited an answer from Jiang Li, appearing like a wicked youth with malicious innocence.

"The Duke has vast powers, if you really wanted to know, you would find out without me saying anything," said Jiang Li.

"It seems the Second Miss is not willing to talk."

"Didn’t the Duke already have a guess?"

The two of them were at a stand-off, all smiles and soft words, yet it was as if sparks were flying, and blood was being drawn with every strike. Bai Xue and Tonger were standing to the side, not even daring to breathe, fraught with tension.

Jih Heng drank his tea leisurely and said, "The Second Miss has always been invincible, but this time, things are not so simple."