The Double
Chapter 349 - 125: Furious_2

Chapter 349: Chapter 125: Furious_2

Jiang Li was by nature a courteous but distant person who wouldn’t seek out trouble. Even toward her biological father, Jiang Yuanbai, she only maintained a superficial respect, let alone concerning a stranger. However, the news she had gathered suggested that Jiang Li seemed to have boundless patience for Xue Huaiyuan, attending to his needs personally, without entrusting others, with meticulous care that surpassed even that for her own father.

This was really too suspicious. Sadly, no matter how much Ji Shuran investigated, she couldn’t find the slightest reason for such behavior. But there was no rush, just this one point alone could give her ample material to work with. What if she were to inform Jiang Yuanbai about this matter? There, Jiang Yuanbai was now harboring suspicions, wasn’t he?

And recently, with Jiang Li preoccupied with the Tongxiang case, she definitely wouldn’t have time to deal with her. Being so intimate with Xue Huaiyuan, there certainly must be some hidden reasons, and she was determined to find them out.

When the time came, that would be Jiang Li’s downfall.

...

Early the next morning, Jiang Li got up at the crack of dawn.

After breakfast, she intended to visit Ye Mingyu’s courtyard to see Xue Huaiyuan but before she could leave, Bai Xue came in and said, "Miss, someone is here to report, Young Master Cousin Ye has come to see you."

Ye Shijie? Jiang Li hadn’t yet gone to see him, but he had come to the Jiang Residence first. Jiang Li said, "Alright. I will see him."

Upon reaching Night Wind Hall, only Madam Jiang the Elder was there talking to Ye Shijie. Jiang Yuanbai and Ji Shuran were absent. When Ye Shijie saw her, he called out, "Cousin."

Jiang Li responded with a greeting, "Cousin Ye."

Madam Jiang the Elder seemed to understand and said, "Second girl, your cousin has come to the Residence to speak with you. You siblings go ahead and have a chat; I am tired and will retire to my room now."

Perhaps due to the Xue Family case, Madam Jiang the Elder seemed to hold some resentment toward Jiang Li; her attitude toward Jiang Li was lukewarm. Ye Shijie observed this but said nothing.

Jiang Li didn’t mind and waited for Madam Jiang the Elder to leave before she said, "Cousin, Uncle Mingyu is also here at the Residence. I was just about to go there, but since you’ve come, let’s go see him together."

"Alright," Ye Shijie said.

They both headed toward Ye Mingyu’s courtyard together.

"I have heard about everything that happened in Xiangyang, the matter with Ancient Fragrance Satin, thank you for your help," Ye Shijie said as they walked.

"It’s nothing," Jiang Li smiled, "Though my surname is Jiang, my mother’s surname was Ye, helping the Ye Family is only natural. Moreover, without you going to the Head of the Weaving Department in Yanjing City, things would not have gone so smoothly. You shouldn’t thank me; you should thank yourself."

Ye Shijie shook his head: "Without Lord Jiang’s name, the Head of the Weaving Department would not have acted so quickly."

"Then you shouldn’t thank me," Jiang Li said: "At most, I was just borrowing power."

Ye Shijie turned to look at her. She seemed to have grown taller since he last saw her, more like a young lady now. Years ago, he could not have imagined that one day, he would be talking to Jiang Li so calmly and peacefully. It was as if all the past barriers and misunderstandings had disappeared.

Of course, now the barriers and misunderstandings between her and the Ye Family truly had disappeared, with the Ye Family fully accepting her, but whether she had fully accepted the Ye Family or not was another question.

"Cousin Ye, you will be present at the trial in two days, won’t you?" Jiang Li asked.

Ye Shijie nodded: "Yes." He paused, then added, "I don’t know what it will be like."

Jiang Li smiled at him: "How do you feel about being an official these days? Is it manageable?"

Ye Shijie gave a wry smile.

Being an official was like being in business, relying on social etiquette, but being an official was even harder than business. Not to mention the many truly good officials who didn’t get promoted, on the official scene, if you wanted to climb higher, you needed to flatter your superiors and get on good terms with them. The things others did, you had to do as well; if you didn’t, you were decisively sidelined to your own camp.

Over time, Ye Shijie had become a man without a camp; because he refused to engage in corruption, he could only look forward to a future without advancement. Did he have to be an Assistant Minister of Revenue for life? But to advance further, he would have to go against his own principles.

Ye Shijie felt very troubled.

Jiang Li patted his shoulder, as if hearing his thoughts, and spoke, "Cousin, you don’t need to worry. If you’re unwilling to compromise your principles for some gain, then simply stick to what’s yours. One day someone will notice you, just like when you topped the Imperial College exam; what you need is just one opportunity. If you don’t have that opportunity, then we create one."

Ye Shijie was taken aback and couldn’t help but look at Jiang Li, whose smile still lingered on her lips, but Ye Shijie felt it was different from before. After returning from Xiangyang, Jiang Li seemed to have let go of something and appeared more composed, as if the mask she used to wear had been gently peeled back a layer, and her reservations had lessened.