The Double
Chapter 559 - 166 Awakening_2

Chapter 559: Chapter 166 Awakening_2

A Chief Minister’s Daughter actually giving such a grand salute to a woman of the martial arts world who has no status, is already quite out of the ordinary. However, no one in the room felt that this was inappropriate. Situ Jiuyue stepped aside, frowning and said, "Every one of you, why do you all like to perform grand salutes so much? What’s the point of saying thank you? Gratitude can’t be exchanged for silver. I’ve said it before, Jih Heng has already paid her dues; let’s just consider it a fair exchange of needed services, without any emotional entanglement." Having said that, she strode out of the room without looking back.

"This girl is really..." Ye Mingyu, sitting by the door, smacked his lips and it took a long while before he uttered a word, "unconventional. But that’s how we, people of the martial arts world, are. Ah Li, you mustn’t take it to heart."

"Ah Li?" A faint voice came from inside the room. Jiang Li was jolted and looked up.

Xue Huaiyuan was seated on the side, looking at her with a dazed gaze, slowly repeating, "Ah Li?"

Jiang Li’s hand hung by her side, gripping into a fist, barely able to hold back her sobs.

"Yes, Ah Li," Ye Mingyu looked at Xue Huaiyuan and asked, "How is it, Old Master, do you know our Jiang Li?"

In the room full of people, only Jiang Li knew that what Xue Huaiyuan had said was "Ah Li" and not "Jiang Li." Perhaps it was Ye Mingyu’s words that made Xue Huaiyuan think of his daughter.

Jiang Li took two steps forward to allow Xue Huaiyuan to see her face clearly and also to get a good look at Xue Huaiyuan.

The man who used to be tall and lean now looked indistinguishable from an old man, with silvery hair and a face full of aging marks. His eyes slowly swept over Jiang Li’s face, and the light in his pupils dimmed bit by bit, like a fire pile with dying embers, still sparking in its last moments, but ultimately destined to fade into darkness.

He smiled and shook his head, "I do not know the lady, it turns out the lady is the one who saved my Second Miss from prison. I must thank Miss Jiang the Second for her kindness in saving me from prison." He bowed.

He called her: Miss Jiang the Second.

In that instant, Jiang Li’s complexion fiercely changed, almost bursting into tears. Since becoming Miss Jiang the Second, she had never felt anything wrong with this identity. She even thought it was a gift from heaven. It was easier for her to take revenge with the identity of Miss Jiang the Second than with that of Xue Fangfei. She used to console herself, as it was beyond her control; it was better to accept it.

But now, standing in front of her father, being called someone else, treated as a stranger, Jiang Li felt aggrieved. She wanted to rush into her father’s arms and say as she did when she was little, "I am Ah Li, how can you not recognize me?"

But she couldn’t. She could only restrain herself and, with a smile akin to Xue Huaiyuan’s, stepped aside and said, "There’s no need for such formalities from County Magistrate Xue, besides, County Magistrate Xue is my elder, Jiang Li truly cannot accept such a grand gesture."

Xue Huaiyuan said, "I’ve heard about the events that transpired from Hai Tang. I know that in Tongxiang, it was Miss Jiang the Second who did not turn a blind eye to injustice. I also want to thank Miss Jiang the Second on behalf of the people of Tongxiang for the matter of Feng Yutang."

Jiang Li said, "It was but a small effort."

Bearing the guise of a stranger, her relationship with Xue Huaiyuan suddenly became uncomfortably distant. She didn’t know what to say, and Xue Huaiyuan did not show any particular closeness toward her. In fact, Jiang Li was somewhat surprised by Xue Huaiyuan’s reaction upon seeing her.

He was neither overwhelmed with pain nor disillusioned, at least he seemed completely calm on the surface. It was as if he hadn’t lived through those painful events at all. He was polite, restrained, and courteous, treating everyone with a certain detachment.

This was not what Xue Huaiyuan used to be like; others might not know, but Jiang Li did, and so the affairs of Xue Fangfei and Xue Zhao ultimately did change her father.

Jiang Li asked, "What does County Magistrate Xue plan to do in the future?"

Xue Huaiyuan fell silent.

After a while, Xue Huaiyuan said, "My name used to be Xue Lingyun."

The few people in the room were taken aback, even Ye Shijie who had just walked in from outside looked towards Xue Huaiyuan. Only to hear Xue Huaiyuan continue, "It’s been nearly twenty years, I think it’s time to revert to my original name."

"Are you planning to return to court service?" Ye Shijie asked, furrowing his brow.

Xue Lingyun said, "Just trying."

"How could that be possible?" Ye Mingyu exclaimed. He did not understand the intricacies of the officialdom, but he too thought it was an unbelievable notion, he said, "Old Master Xue, how old are you now, how could you serve as an official? Moreover, becoming an official is not an easy task these days; you either need connections or you must honestly pass the civil examinations. Which route do you intend to take, Old Master?"