The Double
Chapter 283 - 112 East Mountain

Chapter 283: Chapter 112 East Mountain

Having learned from Mute Granny that Xue Huaiyuan’s former subordinates had been sent to East Mountain, Ye Mingyu had his men take Mute Granny back home. As Jiang Li had predicted, because Mute Granny was old and people thought her mute, Feng Yutang did not take her seriously. When Ye Mingyu’s men escorted her back, no one noticed anything amiss.

Inside the house, Jiang Li and Ye Mingyu were still sitting opposite each other. It was deep into the night, yet neither felt the slightest bit sleepy. Ye Mingyu looked at Jiang Li and said, "Jiang Li, this matter is not simple."

Although Ye Mingyu had known from the start that the case involving the Xue Family was no small matter—after all, it involved overturning a conviction—any act of exoneration that sought to clear one’s name inevitably impinged upon the interests of others. The current County Magistrate Xue of Tongxiang, Feng Yutang, was clearly not a good man. Naturally, what Jiang Li intended to do was not going to be simple.

But the words of Mute Granny had greatly surprised Ye Mingyu. Feng Yutang even dared to blatantly turn former government officers into slaves, and to arbitrarily control the life and death of others; this was extremely arrogant and cruel. Ye Mingyu did not believe for a second that Feng Yutang could act so brazenly without backing from some major power. Although Jiang Yuanbai was the Grand Secretary, he was not the sole power broker in Northern Yan.

Ye Mingyu thought he had already taken this matter very seriously, but he hadn’t realized that he still underestimated it.

Jiang Li, seeing the grave expression on Ye Mingyu’s face, knew what he was worried about and said, "I know, uncle, but I don’t intend to give up."

His niece’s resolve did not come as a surprise to Ye Mingyu. Jiang Li had gone to great lengths, even daring to confront Feng Yutang directly. If she were to back down so easily, it would not be in her character. Moreover, Ye Mingyu believed that Jiang Li probably knew much more about this matter than he did.

He was a rough man of the martial arts world, unlike Master Ye the First and Master Ye the Second, whose minds were sharp enough to come up with strategies to assist Jiang Li. All he could do was do as Jiang Li said and lend her all the support he could within his abilities.

So, after a brief moment of hesitation, Ye Mingyu readily said, "Since that’s the case, I won’t try to dissuade you, Jiang Li. Whatever needs to be done next, just tell me, and I’ll be with you every step of the way."

Jiang Li felt a warmth in her heart at these words and said, "Although Mute Granny mentioned that those people are now in East Mountain, so much time has passed, and we don’t know if Feng Yutang has moved them or if they are even still alive." Jiang Li paused before adding, "You’ve heard what Mute Granny said, uncle. Life in the mines is hard, and with Feng Yutang intent on tormenting them, it’s hard to say how long a regular person could last in there."

"You make a good point," Ye Mingyu said. "I will take some men and make a trip to East Mountain myself to see what the situation is with those people. Tongxiang isn’t large, and it shouldn’t be difficult to reach East Mountain in a single night’s journey."

Jiang Li continued, "Moreover, if they are indeed on East Mountain, Feng Yutang is sure to have arranged for overseers at the mines. Your men need to be clear about their numbers, to see if they can be avoided without raising alarm. In the event that they do need to be confronted, they must determine whether it is possible to overpower them all quickly, to prevent them from sending word to Feng Yutang and calling for reinforcements, which would make our move more difficult."

Ye Mingyu chuckled, "Don’t worry, this kind of threatening business, I’ve got down pat."

Jiang Li nodded: "Uncle, can you give me an answer by tomorrow?"

"That soon?" Ye Mingyu was surprised.

"I don’t mean to rush you, uncle," Jiang Li said apologetically. "It’s just that we don’t have much time left. In seven days, County Magistrate Xue is to be executed. If we cannot find sufficient evidence to raise doubts and halt the execution within seven days, all will be in vain."

Ye Mingyu sighed, realizing Jiang Li’s point made sense. If Xue Huaiyuan died, everything else would be meaningless. "Alright, I will do my utmost. Jiang Li, while I’m away, you stay at the residence and be safe," he said.

Jiang Li replied, "Alright." She took out a map of Tongxiang she had previously drawn from her sleeve and handed it to Ye Mingyu, saying, "This is a map of Tongxiang I drew based on what others have told me, uncle. Take it with you; you may need it when necessary. I can also draw a map of East Mountain, but I’ll need half an hour to do it."

Ye Mingyu took the map and saw that it was densely marked and meticulously annotated, which left him for a moment in stunned silence. Jiang Li said she drew it based on other people’s descriptions of Tongxiang, but Ye Mingyu, who had traveled with seafarers, knew that such a map could not be so precisely rendered unless the person was very familiar with the terrain.