The Double-Chapter 455 - 146: Shocking Sight_5

What brings joy is that Hai Tang still exists, and now she was about to suddenly see an old acquaintance. What brings sorrow is that times have changed, things are no longer the same; Hai Tang could not recognize her, and she couldn’t rashly reveal herself to Hai Tang either. Both had suffered immense blow, they were no longer the carefree young girls of the past.

Tonger stood beside Jiang Li, asking in a low voice, "Miss, are you going to the Duke Residence tonight?"

Jiang Li looked at Tonger and said, "I am going to the Duke Residence, which means I will be closely involved with Jih Heng. What do you think? Or rather," she turned toward Bai Xue, "what do you all think?"

This was the first time she spoke so seriously with the two maidservants. For Tonger and Bai Xue, they often did not understand why Jiang Li did what she did. Even Tonger, who had grown up with Jiang Li since childhood, was befuddled by the sudden emergence of many people related to Jiang Li.

Tonger stammered, "What, what do you mean? Miss, you aren’t going to dismiss us, are you?" Her eyes reddened as if she were about to cry at any moment.

Jiang Li was startled and couldn’t help but feel amused and touched by Tonger’s reaction. She closed the window as Qingfeng and Ming Yue stood guard outside. Sitting down in a chair, she sighed and said, "I think you have also noticed that ever since you have been with me, my surroundings have been far from peaceful, and even fraught with danger. What I am going to do may offend the powerful in Yanjing City, and I might not even be able to protect myself." She paused and continued, "You are the closest people to me, and I do not wish to deceive you. I can only tell you that what I will do in the future may be even more shocking. Compared to that, going to the Duke Residence late at night is a trivial matter. Can you accept that?"

Bai Xue pondered for a moment before asking earnestly, "If we don’t accept it, what then?"

Tonger hurriedly pulled Bai Xue’s sleeve, but Bai Xue remained unmoved. She was always straightforward and direct, speaking frankly what was on her mind. It seemed she really wanted to know Jiang Li’s answer.

"If you cannot accept it, you cannot stay by my side. Not only because I fear involving you, but also because you would not be able to help. I am very honest about this." Jiang Li’s candidness did not make her appear inappropriate or selfish. On the contrary, it seemed she was speaking heartfelt truths. She continued, "I hope those around me can be of help, even if it’s just in small ways. After all, I will face many dangers in the future, and I do not wish to fall now. As for what I can give back to you..." She thought for a moment and added, "Silver and wealth are naturally no issue, but what’s important is that I will truly care for you."

The most precious thing in the world is sincerity.

Tonger bit her lip, her voice quivering as if she were about to cry, and she stepped forward, "Miss, no matter what you plan to do, I have been with you since childhood. If you dismiss me, I have nowhere else to go. If you are in danger one day, Tonger will risk her life to save you. It’s the servant’s duty... I will always follow you!"

Before Jiang Li could respond, Bai Xue also said, "I will too." She was not good with words and spoke seldom, but her four words were spoken with conviction and determination.

Jiang Li looked at the two maidservants, her heart touched with a tinge of distress and emotion. The matter with Hai Tang reminded her of the danger posed by her actions, which could implicate those around her. Uninformed, they could become targets, just like how many years ago, Princess Yongning seized the opportunity to harm Xue Zhao and Xue Huaiyuan. Although Tonger and Bai Xue could not understand why she did what she did, they needed to know what they were facing.

If they couldn’t bear the consequences, they should leave early and not get involved in this turmoil.

But they had both chosen to stay.

"Miss, no matter what you face, you are never alone," Bai Xue said.

Jiang Li smiled slightly, "Indeed." She had two faithful maidservants, the protection of the Ye Family, and despite their selfishness, Jiang Yuanbai and Madam Jiang the Elder felt a sense of guilt towards her. The traces that once belonged to Xue Fangfei had been erased, but what belonged to Jiang Li was now being reclaimed, one piece at a time.

After speaking with Tonger and Bai Xue, she finally calmed Tonger down. Afterward, Jiang Li didn’t do much, just idled as usual in the courtyard, reading and writing, or listening to the maidservants’ chatter over tea, attentively waiting for nightfall.

During the night, when Yanjing City was no longer filled with the clamor of voices and even the wind had quieted down, a single lamp still burned feebly in Jiang Li’s courtyard. After being urged to sleep several times by her maidservants, the light in the courtyard went out, presumably indicating the lady of the house had gone to bed.

But in reality, Jiang Li had not fallen asleep. She sat upright at her desk. There were no moon, only thick clouds above, the only brightness was a lantern hanging in the tree in the courtyard. The lantern’s light shone on the snow-covered ground, casting a snowy, bright reflection. Everything was silent and tranquil, and there was no more noise throughout the Jiang Family’s residence.

After an indefinite period, when Jiang Li was nearly dozing off, there came a sound of someone tapping gently at the window.

There was someone knocking lightly on the window.

Jiang Li was startled, thinking it must be Zhao Ke coming, and she subconsciously went to open the window. Not expecting the visitor to be looking her way as well, she leaned over the desk to open the window, only to see a breathtakingly beautiful face.

It was Jih Heng.