The Double
Chapter 565 - 167 Encounter_3

Chapter 565: Chapter 167 Encounter_3

"Your Highness!" Mei Xiang cried out in alarm. Princess Yongning extended her hand: "The medicine!"

Mei Xiang fished out the medicine from her sleeve and administered it to Princess Yongning. Princess Yongning leaned against a tree to rest for a moment, then said, "This reaction is getting stronger by the day. In a few days, you should call the physician over and tell Li Xian that I am pregnant, not even a month along."

Mei Xiang nodded in agreement.

"These days, Mr. Shen has not come to see me..." Princess Yongning began, her tone turning sorrowful, "His own child, he does not care for, letting me marry into the Li Family. If this matter is revealed, he will be implicated as well."

Just as Mei Xiang was about to offer some comforting words, she suddenly heard a crisp sound from over the wall of something falling to the ground. Princess Yongning whipped her head around: "Who’s there?" Mei Xiang had rushed forward quickly, and the person hiding behind the wall, in a panic, had not managed to run far before falling over, and was swiftly caught by Mei Xiang and brought before Princess Yongning.

"Who are you, eavesdropping on my conversation!" Princess Yongning demanded furiously.

"Please spare my life, Your Highness," the woman pleaded, terrified, "I heard nothing! I didn’t mean to, I just came to the wall and twisted my ankle, that’s all!"

"Female servant?" Princess Yongning paused, sizing up the woman carefully. She wore clothes not befitting a lowly servant and her face seemed familiar, but Princess Yongning couldn’t place her. Mei Xiang, on the other hand, had a flash of recognition and said, "Your Highness, this is Miss Jiang the Third from the Chief Minister’s Residence!"

Miss Jiang the Third? Jiang Youyao!

Jiang Youyao was terrified. Having blurted out "female servant" in her panic, she was already vexed. Now that her identity had been exposed by Princess Yongning’s maid, she was at a loss for what to do.

"Jiang Youyao?" Princess Yongning recalled and questioned, "What are you doing at the Li residence?"

Mei Xiang leaned close to Princess Yongning and said, "A while ago, I heard the Prefect of Jingzhao mention that the Jiang Family’s third daughter had gone missing and Prime Minister Jiang was searching for her everywhere. But to protect Miss Jiang’s reputation, they did not make it widely known."

Princess Yongning realized, "Could it be you’ve been having a secret affair? Are you someone Li Xian is keeping in his residence?"

Jiang Youyao was startled. She knew that Princess Yongning and Li Xian were now married, and if she were mistaken as a temptress bewitching Li Xian, she would likely face severe punishment. Thus, she quickly denied it, saying, "I do not know the Eldest Young Master Li. I was harmed by someone while outside, and it was Young Master Li the Second who came to my aid. Young Master Li the Second took me back to his residence to recuperate."

"Back to his residence to recuperate?" Princess Yongning laughed, "Why didn’t you return to the Jiang Residence to recover? I fear you’re using recovery as a pretext for engaging in immoral acts."

Her words were so unpleasant, yet Jiang Youyao dared not retort. This was the Li residence, not the Jiang residence; no one here would protect her. And the person before her was Princess Yongning, that haughty and uncontrollable figure.

"Your Highness, we cannot keep this woman here," Mei Xiang whispered, "She heard what your servant and you were discussing..."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Youyao trembled in even greater fear: "I heard nothing! I heard nothing!" She was petrified, inwardly lamenting her luck. That day, after getting into an altercation with the maids in Li Lian’s courtyard, she had stormed out with the intention to stroll around Li Xian’s courtyard. She could never have imagined that she would come upon Princess Yongning and her maid leaving Li Xian’s study. Princess Yongning seemed very unwell, supporting herself against a tree and retching. Soon after, she overheard the conversation between Princess Yongning and her servant.

Learning this enormous secret filled her with fear, and she immediately thought of fleeing. But the more anxious she became, the more mistakes she made; she tripped over a stone, fell to the ground, and was discovered by Princess Yongning and Mei Xiang.

"I heard nothing... Mmm..." Jiang Youyao couldn’t continue speaking because Mei Xiang had gagged her mouth and also twisted her arm in the process.

Being Princess Yongning’s companion, Mei Xiang had some martial arts skills. Although not the best, it was more than enough to subdue a delicate daughter like Jiang Youyao who had no strength to resist. Jiang Youyao struggled desperately but couldn’t move, only managing to look pitifully at Princess Yongning with her eyes.

"Only the dead can keep secrets," Princess Yongning said, completely unmoved: "Who asked you to hear what you shouldn’t have? Miss Jiang, you might as well go first for my sake."

"Your Highness," Mei Xiang suggested, "This Jiang Youyao is, after all, the daughter of the Grand Secretary, not an ordinary maid. If something happens, it might be difficult to handle the aftermath."

Princess Yongning said with displeasure, "What do you mean? Are you saying that I don’t even have the ability to deal with a servant girl?"