The Double-Chapter 364 - 128 Discovery_2

"How dare you!" Li Zhongnan was furious, "Jiang Li, you dare to question His Majesty!"

"Lord Li," said Jiang Yuanbai with displeasure, "His Majesty has not spoken; from where do you draw such words?"

Jiang Li’s words were quite disrespectful. Prince Cheng sneered, "It seems Lord Jiang has his own unique way of teaching his daughter. For Miss Jiang the Second to say such things, isn’t it a bit unbecoming for a young lady?"

Jiang Yuanbai dared to openly confront Li Zhongnan but he couldn’t afford to lose face in front of Prince Cheng. As he hesitated, wondering what to say, the usually reticent Duke Su spoke up.

Jih Heng shook his fan, chuckled lightly, and said, "Coincidentally, Miss Jiang the Second’s opinion happens to coincide with my own."

With just one sentence, all the courtiers were taken aback. Jih Heng had spoken up, and was he supporting Jiang Li?

Although Duke Su was known for his love of beauty, he was certainly not one to pity or spare women, much less save damsels from distress. And yet, at this moment, Duke Su had taken a stand against Prince Cheng, uttering words with significant meaning.

Jih Heng seemed oblivious to the fact that his words had already been pondered over a thousand times in the hearts of those present, and spoke indifferently, "Bitter medicine cures sickness, harsh advice points out faults. Although Second Miss Jiang’s words are indeed unorthodox, they do hold some truth. Otherwise, if our dynasty’s loyal ministers are cast aside and the treacherous are employed, I’m afraid the state will no longer be a state."

The young man, handsome and almost otherworldly, said these mildly threatening words with a smile, and it immediately had an effect. At least Emperor Hongxiao seemed to have taken it to heart. Emperor Hongxiao said, "Duke Su speaks truly. I am not one who cannot hear the truth. Honorable Jiang," he addressed Jiang Yuanbai, "you have raised your daughter well."

Jiang Yuanbai quickly expressed his thanks, yet he was puzzled. Their Jiang Family had no connections with Duke Su, and Jiang Li had no interactions with Jih Heng. Why then had the capricious Duke Su suddenly spoken in defense of Jiang Li?

Could it be...? As he looked at Jiang Li’s pure face, he realized that she was no longer the spoiled and wilful girl sent to Green City Mountain; she had grown up, acquired the delicate grace of a young lady. Beautiful and lovely as a pear blossom of early spring, she was pure and endearing.

No, no, no, Jiang Yuanbai immediately dismissed this absurd thought in his mind. Duke Su was renowned for his own stunning beauty; what kind of beauty hadn’t he seen? Jiang Li was at best a small beauty, hardly likely to catch Jih Heng’s eye. Moreover, Jih Heng was a cunning and ruthless man, not a good match at all. Although he wasn’t particularly close to Jiang Li, she was, after all, his own flesh and blood, and he didn’t wish for her to endure a wretched end, be manipulated by others, ultimately bringing trouble upon the Jiang Family.

As he was lost in his wild thoughts, someone among the courtiers suddenly spoke up, "Xue Lingyun, isn’t this Xue Lingyun?"

Xue Lingyun? The crowd was puzzled.

Emperor Hongxiao inquired, "What about Xue Lingyun?"

The courtier bowed and said, "Back when the previous emperor was alive, Xue Lingyun had been responsible for improving the canal waterworks in Yanjing. The previous emperor saw his competence and promoted him to Minister of Works. However, Xue Lingyun only served as Minister of Works for one year before he resigned and left. Today, upon seeing Xue Huaiyuan, this official realized that he is the spitting image of Xue Lingyun, just much older. This official dares to speculate that Xue Huaiyuan is Xue Lingyun."

Xue Lingyun? This name was unfamiliar to all those in the hall. However, the improvement of the capital’s canal waterworks was well known to everyone. A person capable of leading such a project must have been talented. Why would he leave the prestigious position of Minister of Works to serve as a mere county magistrate?

But Jiang Li understood. No wonder the loyal servant who had followed her father for many years had said that her father possessed the talent to contribute to the world, yet chose to stay in the confinement of Tongxiang. If not for his disgust with the political atmosphere, he might have reached great heights by now. She had always found it strange; her father had such ability and was clear about the bigger and smaller aspects of the imperial court affairs, yet he only served as a county magistrate.

It turned out not to be a matter of opportunity, but that her father had already reached a high office but believed his temperament unsuited for such political games. The cutthroat or collusive nature of the Northern Yan Dynasty court was not to his taste. He preferred to be a humble county magistrate and benefit the local people.

So he even changed his name, from the aspirational "Xue Lingyun" to the far-sighted "Xue Huaiyuan."

When Jiang Li and Xue Zhao were born, Xue Huaiyuan had already stopped being the Minister of Works, and had changed his name. Therefore, Jiang Li was unaware of this part of his past, which only came to light when an old acquaintance of his, a former minister, revealed the truth. fɾeeweɓnѳveɭ.com