The Double-Chapter 368 - 129: Possessed by Evil

"But you really surprised me, after going in such big circles, you finally brought up the matter of Xue Fangfei."

With just one sentence, Jiang Li couldn’t help but lift her head to look at Jih Heng. A moment later, she laughed and said, "What are you talking about, Duke? What does this have to do with Xue Fangfei?"

"Oh?" Jih Heng chuckled. "Aren’t you eagerly trying to exonerate Xue Fangfei, revealing her name during the court debate? Doing this will not please Princess Yongning."

He was extremely cunning, almost devilishly intelligent, and nothing could escape his eyes, but Jiang Li hadn’t expected that, even so, he would think of Xue Fangfei’s connection to the case of the Xue Family, and so quickly at that.

"Why exonerate Xue Fangfei?" Jiang Li asked impassively. "Isn’t she unchaste, involved in an affair? Assistant Head Writer Shen Yurong, out of old affection, couldn’t bear to divorce her. Who knew that heaven would have its eyes open and soon took her, a case of reaping what she sowed. Why should such a person be exonerated?" As she spoke about herself, her expression didn’t change, and ordinary people would never suspect that she could speak of herself in such a way.

Jih Heng laughed, his body suddenly leaning forward, his gaze meaningfully fixed on Jiang Li as he said in a low voice, "Why exonerate her, you would know best, wouldn’t you?"

Jiang Li was startled and said, "I do not understand what you mean, Duke."

"You’re someone with a clear sense of right and wrong," Jih Heng stated calmly. "Haven’t you noticed yourself, when you speak of Shen Yurong, you don’t even refer to him as ’Lord Shen’? He must have wronged you."

Jih Heng carelessly fiddled with his folding fan, "Princess Yongning has wronged you as well."

His tone was that of stating a fact, not a question; he had known already, and he trusted his judgment.

Jiang Li pondered for a moment and said, "Duke... "

"You know their relationship," Jih Heng said, looking at her.

Jiang Li took a deep breath, uncertain of how much Jih Heng knew, but one thing was certain: Jih Heng knew much more than she had imagined. Pretending to be oblivious would only alienate this ally; it was better to be truthful, keeping the ultimate secret, laying out truths and falsehoods—perhaps she would gain some unexpected benefits.

"Are you referring to something, Duke? Are you talking about Princess Yongning and Shen Yurong’s knees sticking together, their deep affection like the ocean?" she said, her tone mocking, making Jih Heng smile.

"Listening to your tone, it seems rather bitter. Could it be you also admire Lord Xiao Shen?" Jih Heng said. "That’s why there’s envy in your heart."

"Bitter? You must be joking, Duke. I do not regard Shen Yurong as worthy of admiration."

"How strange," Jih Heng said with interest, staring at her. "Lord Xiao Shen is handsome and refined, and in Yanjing City, countless noble ladies fancy him. At your tender age, you’re actually not fond of such a handsome man?"

He had the gall to discuss such trivial matters with Jiang Li at this time. She sneered, "At the end of the day, Shen Yurong is but an Assistant Head Writer, without family support, merely one of many who have clawed their way up from lowly commoners. I am the daughter of the Jiang Family, considering a match of equal status; he isn’t worthy of me."

Her words were deeply sarcastic, and even she hadn’t expected such bitter words to come from her mouth. If members of the Shen family were here, they would be driven to fury. But she wanted to say it, reminding of the time when Princess Yongning said she was of low birth, unworthy of the risen Shen Yurong. Now as the Chief Minister’s daughter, even the advanced Shen Yurong was insignificant in her eyes, just a man living off a woman.

"You advocate for the people of Tongxiang, eating and drinking with them, not minding their low status, but with Lord Xiao Shen, you scorn his poor background," he said with a laugh in his response, each sentence probing.

It seems you hold deep prejudices against Lord Xiao Shen. Could it be a vendetta as deep as the sea?"

Jiang Li laughed and said, "I’m merely speaking the truth. Moreover, even though you, Duke, praise Shen Yurong at every turn, in my eyes, he doesn’t compare to a single hair on your head. Whether it’s looks, family background, military strategy, or wisdom and cunning, Shen Yurong falls far short of the Duke. Rather than being charmed by an ordinary man like Shen Yurong, it’s better to be infatuated with a celestial being like the Duke, isn’t it?"

Jih Heng watched her quietly, and after a while, he suddenly laughed and said, "You sure have a way with words. Jiang Yuanbai prides himself on being a clean stream among civil officials, yet his daughter has a honeyed tongue. If I weren’t so hard-hearted, I might indeed find it difficult to part with you."