The Double
Chapter 376 - 130 Sage_4

Chapter 376: Chapter 130 Sage_4

"I’m afraid they’ll resort to underhanded tactics," Tonger said sternly.

"No worries," Jiang Li thought of the small, delicate porcelain whistle in her sleeve; she now had an extra card to play. Jih Heng had said that if anything came up, she could blow the whistle, and the person he had arranged to be in the Jiang Residence would show up. This person was, in effect, on loan to her from Jih Heng, and she supposed she had the final say on how to use him.

Perhaps it was because she thought of having someone at her disposal, or perhaps it was the pleasure of just seeing Xue Huaiyuan, but Jiang Li couldn’t help smiling.

Tonger looked at Jiang Li with curiosity, unable to understand how she could be so cheerful knowing that Ji Shuran was secretly scheming.

"Oh, there’s also an invitation from Marquis Ningyuan’s Mansion," Ming Yue said, pulling out a folded card from her sleeve and handing it to Jiang Li.

"Marquis Ningyuan’s Mansion?" Bai Xue exclaimed, "The Heir of Marquis Ningyuan is already betrothed. Why would they send an invitation to a young lady?"

"Not the Princely Heir," Qingfeng explained, "It’s from the fifth young lady."

"Jiang Yue?" Jiang Li paused as she opened the invitation and saw that it was indeed from Jiang Yue. The message read that Jiang Yue hadn’t seen her in a long time and invited Jiang Li to a small gathering at the Zhou Family residence.

Jiang Li glanced at the invitation and then tossed it aside.

"Miss?" Tonger asked, puzzled.

"I don’t know what she’s plotting, but I really don’t have the patience to deal with her," Jiang Li replied. The invitation from Jiang Yue all but had "ill intentions" inscribed on it. In the Jiang Residence, Jiang Li and Jiang Yue had never gotten along, with Jiang Yue siding with Jiang Youyao. After the incident at the palace banquet, Jiang Yue and Jiang Youyao fell out, and Jiang Yue got disfigured in the process, but that didn’t mean she had reconciled with Jiang Li.

Moreover, Jiang Li thought a person’s character wouldn’t change drastically in such a short period. The tone and wording of Jiang Yue’s invitation were unusually gentle, as if she had become a different person. If it weren’t for Qingfeng and Ming Yue presenting it, Jiang Li would doubt the invitation was even written by Jiang Yue.

Jiang Yue would not lower herself just to have her over for a casual visit. Jiang Li believed there must be more to it. Zhou Yanbang might have realized that she had outsmarted him at the palace banquet and would hardly be content with that. He might want to use Jiang Yue to stir up some trouble, and Jiang Li had no intention of playing along with their drama.

"So you’re just going to ignore it?" Tonger asked, "Should I burn it, or should we keep it? You should at least reply with a rejection."

After thinking it over, Jiang Li said, "Don’t throw it away. Find a way to drop it on the path where Youyao’s servant usually passes. Let Youyao see it."

"Why’s that?" Bai Xue asked, confused, "Wouldn’t the third young lady be even more upset after seeing it?"

"Exactly, her mind isn’t good, and she tends to do outrageous things when she’s upset. I think with her causing a scene, Ji Shuran will be too busy to deal with me, giving me some peace for a few days. Even if it means she temporarily leaves me alone, it will give me time to figure out what they’re really up to. It’s better to fight a battle well-prepared, isn’t it? A well-prepared battle is much more exciting," Jiang Li said.

The servants discussed amongst themselves and agreed that the plan was feasible and began plotting how to naturally bring the invitation to the attention of Jiang Youyao.

Jiang Li sent them away, saying she wanted to read, but when she sat at the desk, she touched the silver whistle in her sleeve.

The silver whistle felt ice cold. It was hard to believe that someone from Jih Heng could be hidden within the residence. Jiang Li thought about it and then put it back.

It wasn’t safe at the moment. She would have to give it a try later, when it was darker.

...

As night fell, the entire Jiang Residence sank into silence.

Jiang Li told Tonger and Bai Xue to go to sleep, claiming she still had some reading to do. Once the two servants left, Jiang Li stood by the window, took out the whistle from her sleeve, and gently blew it.

Unsure whether Jih Heng’s person would hear her or what manner of person would appear, Jiang Li stood silently, waiting patiently.

After a moment, a figure flickered under the tree in front of the window; it seemed someone was standing there.

"Come in," Jiang Li said softly.

The next moment, the person leapt quietly through the window and stopped in front of Jiang Li.

Jiang Li closed the window and turned to see who it was. She was momentarily stunned. It was not a stranger but the Jiang Family’s Gardener, who tended the gardens every day. She couldn’t remember his name but knew of him. It was said that he was hired at a high price by Ji Shuran for his exceptional gardening skills.