The Double
Chapter 347 - 124 Opponent_5

Chapter 347: Chapter 124 Opponent_5

Ji Shuran smiled and said, "What could possibly be so important that we cannot listen... Lili, you..."

"This matter is of great importance, I think it’s better if mother does not get involved." Jiang Li interrupted her.

Ji Shuran’s smile froze.

With this return to the household, Jiang Li had become increasingly fearless. Now, in the presence of the old madam and Jiang Yuanbai, she even dared to treat Ji Shuran this way, making Ji Shuran clench her teeth in anger.

Jiang Li looked at Jiang Yuanbai with a determined gaze; Jiang Yuanbai paused before suddenly saying, "Come with me."

Jiang Li broke into a smile, "All right, father."

She and Jiang Yuanbai went to Jiang Yuanbai’s study.

No one else was allowed into Jiang Yuanbai’s study, and this was already the second time Jiang Li had been there. As soon as they entered the room, Jiang Yuanbai closed the door and had guards outside to keep watch. He asked, "What exactly are you planning? Why do such an outrageous thing? What does this have to do with Ye Shijie?"

"Father, in the Ancient Fragrance Satin incident of the Ye Family of Xiangyang, Lord Tang, the Head of the Weaving Department from Yanjing, discovered that someone had framed the Ye Family. I think you are also aware of this from the letters. The suspected pharmacy was wiped out overnight, and the clues were cut off there. Despite this, we have found some traces. Father, the person who framed the Ye Family is eight or nine times out of ten the Right Chancellor Li’s Family."

"The Li Family?" Jiang Yuanbai frowned, "Li Zhongnan?"

"Exactly," Jiang Li said, "Moreover, the case involving the Xue Family of Tongxiang may also be connected to Li Zhongnan. Cousin Ye is only a newly appointed Assistant Minister of Revenue in the imperial court, not yet firmly established, yet the Li Family has started to target the Ye Family, which is, without a doubt, targeting Cousin Ye. Why would such a prominent chancellor expend so much effort on a minor Assistant Minister of Revenue? Father, the Right Chancellor is not targeting the Ye Family, but the Jiang Family."

Jiang Yuanbai said coldly, "Do you realize what you’re talking about?"

"The Li Family and our Jiang Family have never been on good terms. Ever since the Li Family grew closer to Prince Cheng, our Jiang Family has gradually declined from its former glory. This is something we have known early on, officials like father and uncle in the morning court. Even though we can hold our ground now, in the long run, our Jiang Family won’t be able to hold on. Now that the Right Chancellor has become impatient and restless, should we just ignore it?"

It was as if Jiang Yuanbai was seeing his daughter for the first time. He knew Jiang Li was intelligent, but her brilliance in academics and sharp-wittedness in household conflicts could not be compared with her sagacity while discussing court politics.

It required not just intelligence but also vision.

"Cousin Ye has also discovered this and asked me to rescue County Magistrate Xue from prison in Tongxiang. Being your daughter, acting in the name of the Jiang Family makes things more convenient. Since the Right Chancellor has already made a move against us, merely avoiding won’t solve anything; it might be better to strike back. And what better weapon for a counter-attack than the case of the Xue Family? By implicating the Right Chancellor through the Xue Family case, won’t we outmaneuver them?"

She spoke with utter calmness, seemingly unaware that this case could affect the interests of hundreds or even thousands of people. Jiang Yuanbai shook his head, "You speak too simply; there have been countless unjust cases through the ages, and very few have ever been overturned. Do you think you can reverse the case?"

"Father, you’re unaware; Feng Yutang in Tongxiang has committed countless acts of bullying and tyranny to the dismay of the people. This time coming to the capital, there are over a hundred people with him, the case files are full of holes, the evidence is solid, and most importantly, Feng Yutang dared to mine for gold privately in Tongxiang, which is a capital offense! He wouldn’t have dared to do this without someone backing him."

"You’ve been too rash; the Li Family isn’t so easily taken down. This time all you can do is hurt their spirit, but they’ll harbor a grudge against you, and the moment they find an opportunity, they’ll seek insane retribution against the Jiang Family..."

"If we don’t fight back, does that mean the Li Family won’t make a move against our household?" Jiang Li interrupted him, "Just like now, we’ve done nothing, yet the Li Family is already using the Ye Family to strike at us. Plus, father, have you forgotten what happened when I beat the Drum of Injustice at Changan Gate? The result was a judiciary review by the Ministry of Punishment three days later, with the emperor overseeing it personally. The emperor has taken notice of this matter."

Jiang Li said indifferently, "Over the years, the Right Chancellor and Prince Cheng have become increasingly close; do you think the emperor hasn’t noticed? The emperor is also wary. The case of the Xue Family involves the Right Chancellor, so the emperor is giving it attention and has demanded personal oversight. This time, the emperor is on our side. Father, if the Jiang Family and his Majesty hadn’t had a falling-out, you, as a minister today, would stand with the emperor, wouldn’t you?"

"Hold your tongue!" Jiang Yuanbai cut her off urgently, "Are you tired of living, saying such reckless things!"

Jiang Li quietly observed him.

Jiang Yuanbai, agitated, waved his hand, "Enough, go out for now. I’ve heard what you said. I need to think more about this matter."

Jiang Li nodded.

She had deliberately linked the Xue Family case to the Li Family. Knowing that the Right Chancellor Li Zhongnan was Jiang Yuanbai’s greatest concern, she muddled the waters to confuse him, obscuring her real purpose.

Because if Jiang Yuanbai were to find out that the case involved Prince Cheng and Yongning, he would have surely tried to stop it.

But with the opponent being Right Chancellor Li Zhongnan, his attitude might be different.