The Double
Chapter 306 - 116 Protection_4

Chapter 306: Chapter 116 Protection_4

The snow didn’t have the roughness of Yanjing, but fell in gentle, tiny grains, bringing with them a sparkling brightness. Some hung on the branches, gradually layering up to form curtains of crystal. It made this otherwise unremarkable town seem so tender that one could become intoxicated.

Jiang Li was awakened by Tonger.

The pained voice of Tonger still echoed in her ears, "How can you sleep on the desk, Miss? Didn’t you go to bed last night?"

Jiang Li stretched lazily and said, "It’s nothing."

Last night, after she sent Tonger and Bai Xue away, she had been writing all night. Tongxiang had five hundred sixty-eight households, and every one of them had received favors from Xue Huaiyuan. It was impossible for her to visit more than five hundred households by herself in time. Therefore, she had to let some of Ye Mingyu’s people take part of the burden. With these "Books of Favors," Ye Mingyu would be more convincing and perhaps it would be easier to persuade those people.

But as she was writing, she fell asleep on the desk without realizing it. However, it was strange that upon waking up, she didn’t feel too exhausted. Jiang Li stood up, pushed open the window, and a snowflake fluttered in. She gazed at it and said, "It’s snowing, huh."

"Yes, it’s snowing." Tonger also looked outside.

Having lived in Tongxiang for more than a decade, this was the first time she had seen it snow. She didn’t know what it might mean, but perhaps it signified a new beginning.

A smile slowly appeared in Jiang Li’s eyes as she said, "That’s nice."

On the other hand, Feng Yutang arrived at the county government office early in the morning and put on his official uniform.

The first snowfall in Tongxiang in many years had also brought with it the cold that made him sneeze incessantly. After wiping his nose, a servant brought him a cup of hot tea. Feng Yutang lay back in his chair and complained, "It’s really cold."

"Yes," the servant said with a forced smile, "the lanterns at the gate were even blown down by the wind."

Feng Yutang glanced outside and asked, "The people who went out last night haven’t come back?"

"No," replied the servant.

"No discipline!" Feng Yutang fumed. The three assassins of Princess Yongning didn’t even take him seriously, and sometimes when his own people were ordered around, Feng Yutang didn’t dare to say a word. There was no helping it; after all, they were Princess Yongning’s men. Moreover, sometimes when he encountered problems, he had to rely on those people. So even though he was dissatisfied, Feng Yutang only dared to grumble behind their backs.

He presumed that last night those three had finished their job and took his men somewhere for some unknown reason. Feng Yutang felt aggrieved but had never considered the possibility that the attempt to assassinate Jiang Li had failed. In his view, because they were Princess Yongning’s people, with their exceptional skills, Jiang Li, a young girl, and Ye Mingyu’s party, with only Ye Mingyu being a capable fighter, were not real assassins. It was an indisputable fact that Jiang Li would die at their hands.

Remembering Jiang Li’s soft and delicate face, Feng Yutang smacked his lips and even felt it was a pity. If it were not for Jiang Li’s status, he would never have allowed such a beautiful girl to die so easily, at least not before he had had his way with her. Considering her decent looks and being the daughter of Jiang Yuanbai, it was simply bad luck for her to die in Tongxiang. But on the other hand, had she not rashly investigated the case of Xue Huaiyuan, she wouldn’t have met this fate. Therefore, her death was deserved.

But Jiang Li, a young girl, shouldn’t have had any dealings with the Xue Family; what would prompt her to investigate the case of Xue Huaiyuan? Could it be that her father, Jiang Yuanbai, had instructed her? Now that he had not only hindered Jiang Li but had also taken her life, if Jiang Yuanbai were to find out, wouldn’t he become enemies with the Jiang Family? Feng Yutang’s heart became restless with anxiety. Although he was ruthless on behalf of others, he always harbored a certain degree of fear towards Jiang Yuanbai, who was not just any minister, but a leader among scholars.

As he thought this, he grew increasingly irritable. He had been expecting news of Jiang Li’s death first thing in the morning, but there had been no movement until now. Feng Yutang felt a vague unease, but he suppressed it, urging his servant, "Send someone to check again, see if there is anyone from their side in the Flower Tavern."

Just as he was speaking, someone suddenly stumbled and rushed in. As soon as the person entered, they tripped over and fell, with their nose pointing at Feng Yutang’s shoe sole, crying out, "My lord! My lord, there is terrible news!"

Feng Yutang was already anxious and impatient. Upon hearing this, he kicked out and said, "What are you shouting about? What terrible news?"

"My lord... you should see for yourself. Please go to the back courtyard of the county government office!" said the subordinate, with a look of horror on his face.

Upon seeing this, Feng Yutang sensed something was amiss. Without another word, he hastened to the back courtyard.