The Double
Chapter 359 - 127: Retrial_2

Chapter 359: Chapter 127: Retrial_2

Jih Heng made a "please" gesture.

Jiang Li and Ye Shijie walked towards the hall together.

Even though Ye Shijie’s mind was filled with questions, now was not the time to ask them. He just needed to hold back his thoughts and enter the hall first.

Inside the hall were already many ministers who had come for today’s "court debate." Many years ago, when the previous emperor was alive, whenever there were major cases in the imperial court that were difficult to resolve, ministers would be summoned for a "court debate." At that time, the debates were mostly dominated by royal relatives. In the later years of the previous emperor’s reign, as the influence of the royal relatives diminished, the "court debates" became more open and common ministers could also participate.

Today was supposed to just be a trial, which wouldn’t usually necessitate such a significant summoning, but Emperor Hongxiao, after reading the memorial, decided to opt for a "court debate" and let Jiang Li preside over it. The implications behind his decision made it worth deep reflection. It was just a case involving a county official, nowhere near what one would call "major." Turning it into such a spectacle made some clever individuals begin to speculate whether there were other hidden reasons behind it.

Ye Mingyu breathed a sigh of relief when he saw Jiang Li and Ye Shijie come in together. He had been worried that Prince Cheng would cause trouble for Jiang Li, and seeing Jiang Li safe and sound, he felt at ease.

Jiang Yuanbai also spotted Jiang Li and gave her a slight nod. He himself was in no position to relax. The case had been stirred up by his own legitimate daughter, and many of his colleagues looked at him with meaningful glances, and then at Jiang Li, their expressions suggesting deeper implications.

Prince Cheng stood to one side, watching Jiang Li’s group with a cold and cruel gaze that was bone-chilling, and he didn’t bother to conceal it, despite the presence of Jiang Yuanbai and Ye Mingyu.

There were also many acquaintances, such as Liu Xu’s father, Lord Liu Yuanfeng, Ji Shuran’s father, Ji Yanlin, and Jiang Li also saw Shen Yurong.

Shen Yurong arrived a bit late, but as soon as he entered the hall, many imperial court officials crowded around him, eagerly greeting him with a hint of sycophancy in their efforts to please him. Shen Yurong’s smile was amiable; his handsome features and gentle demeanor made him stand out like a refreshing stream in the imperial court, attracting attention.

Ye Mingyu was also staring, remarking, "Who is that young man? He looks so young, but I imagine he holds a high position? He’s also quite handsome. Jiang Li, if you were with him..." Ye Mingyu caught Ye Shijie’s glance and abruptly swallowed the words "together."

Despite this, Jiang Li could guess what Ye Mingyu had been about to say, and she sneered inwardly.

With just his appearance, Shen Yurong indeed had a deceiving effect. Even when he was only a scholar, many wealthy young ladies were eager to marry him. Now that he had become an official, dressed lavishly and with an even more outstanding demeanor, he was even more sought after than before. It was no wonder that Princess Yongning, upon seeing him, was willing to harm her own legitimate wife to marry into the Shen family. But to Jiang Li, this Shen Yurong was only more of a stranger, someone she loathed even more, and looked down upon all the more.

Shen Yurong sensed someone looking at him and followed the gaze to see, not far off, a petite girl standing beside a man with a scarred face.

The girl had a clear and beautiful complexion and a slender figure, in the prime of her youth at fifteen or sixteen, like fresh pear blossoms on a tree, refreshing and lovely. Although not as breathtaking as a stunning beauty, there was an innate elegance and openness to her features, and for a moment, one couldn’t help but be captivated by her eyes, which felt strangely familiar, as if seen somewhere before.

Shen Yurong was entranced while looking at Jiang Li.

Ye Shijie frowned. He was familiar with Shen Yurong, the Deputy Imperial Censor. They had occasionally seen each other at court, and Shen Yurong had always been amiable towards him, a man with a good nature, well-liked by everyone at court. But for some reason, Ye Shijie didn’t like this Lord Xiao Shen very much, always feeling that he was too smooth and eloquent. Having climbed to the position of Deputy Imperial Censor in such a short time without making any enemies seemed impossible.

After becoming an official himself, Ye Shijie realized how dark the bureaucratic world could be. Someone like Shen Yurong, who navigated it so smoothly, couldn’t possibly be clean. Pretending to be noble while being corrupt was akin to fishing for fame, in Ye Shijie’s view.

Ye Shijie stepped in front of Jiang Li and gave Shen Yurong a salute, saying, "Lord Shen."

Shen Yurong came back to his senses and returned the salute to Ye Shijie, his gaze still fixed on Jiang Li.

He had seen Jiang Li before, at the Mingyi Hall examination when Princess Yongning was injured. He faintly remembered Jiang Li playing the zither beautifully, comparable to Fangfei. She was Jiang Yuanbai’s legitimate eldest daughter. He was also somewhat aware of her past: she had been sent to a temple for attempting to harm her stepmother and, after coming back, was able to secure her standing in the Chief Minister’s Residence within a few short months, indicating she was no simple-minded person.