The Double
Chapter 367 - 128: Discovery_5

Chapter 367: Chapter 128: Discovery_5

The area around Caishikou was filled with onlookers, and the people from Tongxiang had not left yet; everyone had arrived. They threw stones and vegetable leaves at Feng Yutang’s face to express their inner indignation. Jiang Li stood far away in the crowd, wearing a conical bamboo hat to hide her face.

The number of guards Jiang Yuanbai had assigned to protect her had doubled. Her actions during the court debate had severely offended Prince Cheng, and he would surely seek opportunities for revenge. To be safe, Jiang Yuanbai had not let Jiang Li leave the house these days. Today, she had sneaked out.

After that day’s court debate, Jiang Yuanbai had asked her why Princess Yongning was the one implicated in the end of this case when she had told Jiang Yuanbai that morning it was the Right Chancellor Li Zhongnan, not Princess Yongning. It wasn’t until the court debate started and he heard the name of Princess Yongning that Jiang Yuanbai was flabbergasted. Had he known earlier that the case was related to Princess Yongning, he would never have allowed Jiang Li to take such actions.

Jiang Li simply said, "Father, this case indeed involves the Right Chancellor Li Zhongnan, but the letters from Princess Yongning are more incriminating. You saw what happened at the court debate, Li Zhongnan was helping Prince Cheng, he is one of Prince Cheng’s people. Whether it be Princess Yongning or Li Zhongnan, in the end, it’s all the same."

"But in the end, Princess Yongning was not convicted of any crime!" Jiang Yuanbai said.

"Is that so?" Jiang Li had only answered, "But Father, looking forward, the accusation will eventually be confirmed one day. For now, let’s just assume we’ve known the outcome in advance. As for the future, we’ll wait and see."

Jiang Yuanbai still did not believe it, but by now there was no turning back. Moreover, Jiang Yuanbai could clearly see Emperor Hongxiao’s attitude during the court debate that day; he obviously leaned towards Jiang Li. Perhaps he hoped to use the Xue Family case to suppress Prince Cheng. Regardless of the reason, Jiang Yuanbai couldn’t pretend to be ignorant of Emperor Hongxiao’s attitude. Thus, he could only let the matter go.

Yet deep down, he was not pleased with Jiang Li’s unilateral actions.

Jiang Li didn’t mind. Tonger and Bai Xue, who were usually quite bold, still covered their faces, unable to watch the execution. Jiang Li, on the other hand, watched Feng Yutang without blinking until he took his last breath.

Feng Yutang’s followers had been completely wiped out, and Emperor Hongxiao had appointed a new County Magistrate for Tongxiang of Xiangyang. Although Jiang Li did not know much about the New County Magistrate, given Feng Yutang’s precedent, he would dare not do anything too outrageous.

So, Xue Huaiyuan stayed in Yanjing City, as Jiang Li did not feel at ease letting him return to the capital alone. Besides, Emperor Hongxiao pledged to summon the world’s best physicians to treat Xue Huaiyuan. Jiang Li also planned to let Xue Huaiyuan stay in Yanjing to seek out famous doctors to see if one day he might recover his faculties.

But Jiang Yuanbai would not agree to letting him stay at the Jiang Family residence, and with Ji Shuran in the house, Jiang Li feared that in order to strike at her, she would instead target Xue Huaiyuan. After much thought, she decided to entrust Xue Huaiyuan to Ye Mingyu.

Ye Mingyu didn’t plan to return to Xiangyang for the time being. With Ye Shijie holding an official position in Yanjing City, a new idea sprouted in Ye Mingyu’s mind—to reestablish the Ye Family’s business in Yanjing City. With the connections provided by Ye Shijie and Jiang Li, the Ye Family’s business prospects should be better than before. With Ye Mingyu staying to live with Ye Shijie, Xue Huaiyuan was naturally entrusted to him. Firstly, Ye Mingyu’s martial arts were good, and his followers were all from the martial arts world, which should ensure Xue Huaiyuan’s safety to some extent. Secondly, over these days, Xue Huaiyuan had spent a lot of time with Ye Mingyu and, apart from Jiang Li, the person he was closest to was Ye Mingyu.

Ye Shijie had no objections, but Ye Mingyu complained non-stop. A figure of the martial arts world now had to stick by Xue Huaiyuan’s side all the time as his guard and maid, which was not an easy task. But faced with Jiang Li’s earnest request, Ye Mingyu, soft-hearted, eventually agreed.

After the execution, Jiang Li, Tonger, and Bai Xue walked toward the carriage. She pondered that the matter in Tongxiang had come to a temporary close for now. Next, she would be making definitive enemies of both Prince Cheng and Princess Yongning. Prince Cheng might not act right away, but Yongning would certainly come for her very soon.

Soon, she would have to confront the real culprits behind the Xue Family’s wrongful case—Yongning and Shen Yurong.

The carriage was parked at the corner of the alley on the street. Jiang Li approached the carriage and, with the assistance of Tonger, boarded it. Tonger and Bai Xue were about to climb up as well when they suddenly heard Jiang Li’s voice from inside: "Wait a moment."

Tonger and Bai Xue were puzzled.

Jiang Li looked up at the person in the carriage.

The young man in red not only showed no remorse for his intrusion, but he also sat there dignified and elegant, holding a folding fan, and greeted her with a smile, "Second Miss."

Jiang Li paused before sitting down opposite him, "Duke."

Jih Heng had brazenly entered his carriage; clearly, the coachman must have been replaced by him as well.

"Duke, what brings you here to find me?" Jiang Li asked.

He replied, "If you won’t come to me, I must come to you."

Jiang Li thought for a moment, "I owe you my gratitude for speaking up for me at the court debate, Duke."

"No need for thanks. Prince Cheng is simply too foolish, I couldn’t stand it," his attractive eyes clearly reflected Jiang Li’s figure, shimmering and vivid. Jih Heng said, "But you have surprised me. After going round in circles for so long, you finally brought to light Xue Fangfei’s affair."