The Double
Chapter 339 - 123 The Cry of Injustice_2

Chapter 339: Chapter 123 The Cry of Injustice_2

The streets of Yanjing City were much wider than those in Tongxiang, bustling with people and horses. Taverns were built tall and grand, and street performers and sugar-coated hawthorn vendors could be seen everywhere. For the people of Tongxiang visiting the capital for the first time, it was almost too much to take in. The elderly still managed to keep their composure despite the novelty, but the younger ones couldn’t help but become dizzy with excitement, almost tripping over as they walked.

While the people of Tongxiang marveled at the sights, the Yanjing people were also curious about this conspicuous group from out of town. A group so obviously not local, appearing in Yanjing, was bound to attract attention. However, the attire of the accompanying members was quite ordinary, and even somewhat simple, so they were clearly not imperial kinsfolk and nobility on an outing.

Some recognized the escorts traveling with the caravan and whispered to the person next to them, "Hey, aren’t those guards from the Chief Minister’s Residence?"

"The Chief Minister’s Residence? No one from there left the capital recently. Could it be Miss Jiang the Second? Wasn’t it said that she brought a group of villagers to the capital to petition for a wrongfully condemned official? Now that she’s back in Yanjing City, the timing is about right."

"Miss Jiang the Second has returned with the Tongxiang County Citizens," the news spread through Yanjing City like a tide. It reached every alley and street, and those eager to watch the spectacle came out of their houses.

Someone asked, "Is Miss Jiang the Second planning to bring all these people back to the Jiang Residence? The Chief Minister’s Family may be prominent, but housing so many people would surely be difficult. And would the Chief Minister allow these people to stay? Even with the best of intentions... It could lead to trouble!"

"I don’t know, but if it were me, I definitely wouldn’t do it."

"Ah, this daughter of Jiang family, she’s really going too far. Having such a daughter brings nothing but unrest to the household, unrest indeed!"

Inside the Chief Minister’s Residence, Jiang Yuanbai had just left the imperial audience hall. He had hardly removed his outer robe and taken a sip of the hot tea Ji Shuran had brought him when someone came to report, "My lord, Miss Jiang the Second has returned to the capital!"

"What?" Jiang Yuanbai paused in his tea-drinking, "When?"

"Just now. The messenger is currently in Night Wind Hall, informing Madam Jiang the Elder about it. They say Miss Jiang the Second has returned with more than a hundred people. The streets of Yanjing City are half submerged by the crowd, and everyone’s gawking at Miss Jiang the Second."

Jiang Yuanbai’s face alternated between red and white. He had always been smooth in his dealings, both as an official and in social situations. Although vain, he avoided the limelight. Not to mention that in the imperial audience hall, countless eyes were watching; the more one stood out, the more one invited gossip. Jiang Li, on the other hand, had created such a spectacle upon her return that now it seemed the entire Yanjing City was aware of the Jiang Family. If Jiang Li did something inappropriate, outsiders could chew over Jiang Yuanbai’s name for a lifetime!

"I’ll go and see what’s happening at Night Wind Hall," Jiang Yuanbai said, picking up his robe and heading out. Ji Shuran replied, "I’ll go too," a hint of a smile flickering across her face.

Jiang Li was heading down a road of self-destruction without any help. It was common knowledge among the womenfolk that a woman should not involve herself in court affairs. At only fifteen years old, Jiang Li had turned things upside down. Without mentioning anything else, which respectable family would dare to take in such a restless matriarch? Jiang Li was slowly shattering any chance she might have had for a favorable marriage.

Of course, Ji Shuran hoped she would make as much of a fuss as possible, preferably stirring up a scandal so big that it couldn’t be contained, and even implicating herself in the process.

The best victory is the one that comes without a battle.

Upon arriving at Night Wind Hall, Madam Jiang the Elder was talking to Jiang Yuanping.

Jiang Yuanping’s usual genial expression was gone, replaced by a certain sternness. Ever since Jiang Yue had married into the Zhou Family as a concubine, Jiang Yuanxing had become much more reticent. He and Jiang Yuanbai used to exchange a few words as brothers, but now their interactions were limited to brief greetings with no further exchange.

But neither Jiang Yuanbai nor his brother cared much about that; after all, they were not full siblings.

Upon seeing Jiang Yuanbai, Madam Jiang the Elder said, "Elder son, you’ve heard then."

"Mother," Jiang Yuanbai replied, "Your son is ashamed for not having raised Jiang Li better."

Madam Jiang the Elder sighed. She actually thought Jiang Li was quite intelligent. Ever since Jiang Li returned to the Jiang Residence from Green City Mountain, she had observed every word and action, every move of Jiang Li’s and felt that Jiang Li might be the smartest and most insightful of the younger generation in the household. But she didn’t particularly like Jiang Li, not for any particular reason, perhaps because of the polite distance that Jiang Li always maintained.

It was as if Jiang Li respected her but did not feel close to her.