The Double
Chapter 350 - 125: Trembling with Anger_3

Chapter 350: Chapter 125: Trembling with Anger_3

She had become even less like the previous "Miss Jiang the Second," not to mention the gentle and magnanimous Jiang Li. She began to reveal some aggressive sharpness.

What had changed her?

As she pondered, Jiang Li pointed ahead and said, "We’re here."

Tonger and Bai Xue went in first to announce their arrival.

Soon, Ye Mingyu’s loud voice came from inside, "Jiang Li, Shijie, you’ve arrived quite early!"

Jiang Li, accompanied by Ye Shijie, entered Ye Mingyu’s courtyard.

Upon entering the courtyard, they saw Ye Mingyu wiping Xue Huaiyuan’s mouth while two guards restrained the struggling Xue Huaiyuan, causing Ye Mingyu to also be in a fluster.

Jiang Li stepped forward and offered, "Let me do it." She took the towel, asked the guards to let go, and gently calmed Xue Huaiyuan down.

Xue Huaiyuan looked at her, gradually stopped struggling, and obediently sat down while Jiang Li carefully wiped his mouth with the towel.

Ye Mingyu breathed a sigh of relief and said, "You really have a way with him, Jiang Li. You’ve saved me a lot of trouble."

Ye Shijie, stunned by the scene, asked, "This is...?"

"This is the former Magistrate of Tongxiang, Xue Huaiyuan. He’s gone mad. Jiang Li was afraid he’d be silenced, so she brought him back to the mansion."

Ye Shijie then turned to look at Jiang Li, slightly startled.

Jiang Li liked to smile, always having a trace of gentle warmth at the corner of her lips, but whether that smile was sincere or not, others couldn’t discern. Ye Shijie sometimes felt puzzled by Jiang Li; every action she took seemed logical on its own, but pieced together, they didn’t make sense.

But the smile Jiang Li now showed in front of Xue Huaiyuan, Ye Shijie was certain, was genuine. After seeing the sincere Jiang Li, he understood how false her past smiles had been. As she took the towel and meticulously wiped the corners of Xue Huaiyuan’s mouth, the winter sunlight climbed upon her profile, revealing a purity and beauty she had never shown before.

"Kid," Ye Mingyu’s voice suddenly rang in his ear, startling Ye Shijie. Ye Mingyu whispered slyly, "How about it, isn’t your little cousin pretty? Are you smitten, thinking of making her your wife?"

"Uncle!" Ye Shijie’s face turned crimson as he exclaimed loudly. He knew all too well how unrestrained his uncle could be in his speech, yet he never expected such jokes would be spared.

"Alright, alright, I’ll stop," Ye Mingyu said, though his face bore a knowing smile, making Ye Shijie even more embarrassed.

After Jiang Li finished caring for Xue Huaiyuan, and had Tonger and Bai Xue accompany him to play, she came over and asked, "What are you two talking about?"

"Nothing much," Ye Shijie hurriedly replied.

"I was saying, it’s been a while since I’ve seen my nephew Shijie, and he’s grown so tall," Ye Mingyu stroked his chin and spoke earnestly, "Look at him now, a real gentleman. Young and capable, he’s become a Capital Official all on his own. Such a fine catch is hard to find, even with a lantern. It’s time to find him a good wife, but I wonder which family’s girl will be so fortunate to have my nephew Shijie. What do you think, Jiang Li?"

"Uncle!" Ye Shijie said, flustered.

"Yes," Jiang Li also smiled, "If I meet a suitable young lady from a good family, I will certainly keep an eye out for Cousin Ye."

Ye Shijie and Ye Mingyu were momentarily stunned. Ye Mingyu glanced at Ye Shijie and then suddenly burst into laughter, scratching his head and saying, "Well, there’s no rush. Settle down first, then build a career, no hurries, take it slow."

Ye Shijie remained silent.

"Uncle Mingyu, there weren’t any problems at the inn last night, were there?" Jiang Li asked. She was concerned that someone might target the people of Tongxiang. Though ordinary people would likely refrain from trouble during such a sensitive time—acting out would be like Three Hundred Taels under one’s arm—Princess Yongning was no ordinary person. She was arrogant, fearless, always thinking she was invincible with Empress Dowager Liu and Prince Cheng’s protection, and could do anything.

"No issues. The messenger who came today mentioned there was some commotion last night, but when they checked it out, there was nothing. I think you might be overthinking, Jiang Li. This is right under the emperor’s nose; who would dare kill people here, and so many at that? It would be such a commotion; they must have a death wish, right?"

"That’s good to hear," Jiang Li said, yet she couldn’t help pondering. It must have been Jih Heng’s people helping out outside, causing the commotion. She trusted Jih Heng’s people. Although dealing with Jih Heng was like bargaining with a tiger, being able to intimidate by association was still advantageous.