The Double-Chapter 465 - 148: True Heart_5

Jih Heng nodded, "That’s some good thinking. However, Yongning isn’t so easy to deal with."

"I know, but dealing with Yongning also serves as a strike against Prince Cheng, so I guess I’ve helped the Duke out anyway," Jiang Li said with a smile.

"Helped me?" Jih Heng sounded amused as if he’d heard something funny, "Why would I want to strike against Prince Cheng?"

"You’re not out to strike against Prince Cheng, of course. You don’t have to. You’ve already achieved the balance of power in the court. Now, you want His Majesty to disrupt this situation, and the endgame you expect is for Prince Cheng to lose and His Majesty to win, with Prince Cheng naturally becoming the sacrificial pawn. As for His Majesty winning this war with minimal losses, that too is something you’d like to see," Jiang Li said with a chuckle. "As long as it’s a goal you wish to achieve, I’m willing to help in any way I can. It’s just a pity that my influence is limited and all I can offer is a little help." She sighed with a tinge of regret.

Wen Ji and Zhao Ke couldn’t help but twitch the corners of their mouths simultaneously.

Those capable of guessing Jih Heng’s thoughts were few and far between in the world, and even if someone did guess them, they likely wouldn’t dare to articulate them so blatantly. How many people in the world can tolerate others who see through their intentions living among them? That’s why the world is full of people feigning confusion despite understanding the situation well. Yet, Jiang Li never concealed her shrewdness—whether that stemmed from fearless confidence or naiveté remained unclear.

Jih Heng’s smile faded as he quietly observed Jiang Li. He was a rare beauty in the world, and when he looked deeply at you, he would unwittingly captivate your soul. However, his gaze was very cold, as cold as a snowy winter night, devoid of warmth.

After a long while, he said softly, "You know everything, don’t you."

Jiang Li did not speak.

"Ah Li, you’re pledging allegiance to me," he said, his lips curling into a smile. "Are you offering yourself up to put my mind at ease?"

"It’s an exchange of sincerity," Jiang Li corrected him. She had no choice; she had to rely on Jih Heng’s power, even more critical than relying on the Jiang Family’s. But she had nothing with which to repay Jih Heng, and he didn’t need her to repay him—she could only share the little bit of information she had gleaned from the current situation as is.

Tell Jih Heng: Look, I have no ulterior motives; I’m on your side, so we are allies.

Jih Heng said, "I’ve accepted your sincerity. As for how you can repay me, just focus on accomplishing the task at hand."

He didn’t refuse.

Jiang Li said with a smile, "Good."

Once Jiang Li left the Duke Residence, Zhao Ke followed suit. Hai Tang stayed behind at the Duke Residence, for given her sensitive identity, even though she’d disfigured her own face, it was still safest at the Duke Residence to ensure that Yongning’s people wouldn’t spot her. After all, they wouldn’t dare to spy on the Duke Residence yet.

Jih Heng didn’t return inside but remained seated in the courtyard. The snow seemed to have lessened, and Wen Ji no longer held an umbrella. Into the vast white, came an even more forceful color of red, strikingly out of place.

He sat still, as if untouched by the cold. Snowflakes had lightly kissed his eyelashes, leaving a fluffy white trace that only made him more charming.

A cunning girl taking the initiative to pledge her loyalty had, in some way, bewildered him. Yes, Jiang Li couldn’t repay him with anything—if initially he had been merely looking to watch the spectacle, to see what would become of planting the Man-eating Flower in the gardens of Yanjing City after the struggle, he had since invested far more than just the attention required to enjoy a play.

Was he really the type to give without expecting anything in return? freewebnoveℓ.com

No, he would not waste any effort on a matter that brought no benefit.

So, what was the reason behind his actions? This wasn’t an especially thrilling play that one simply couldn’t miss without a lifetime of regret. In certain ways, it was irrelevant to his life. Yet, unconsciously, he’d invested too much, to the point that he frequently found himself paying attention without realizing it.

He had gone too far.

Jih Heng slightly furrowed his brow.

A beautiful person frowning should be a lovely sight, especially as a flicker of puzzlement surfaced in those amber eyes, looking both bewitching and naive, as if searching for an unknown answer.

Could it be that the return for all such actions was merely a verbal commitment of "sincerity"?

Sincerity is but an unnecessary trinket, lasting only for a while, like the flowers of spring—blooming briefly, never eternal. Once time passes, they wither rapidly, becoming ugly, odorous, rot into the earth, and leave no trace of their existence.

He didn’t need sincerity or companions.

He asked nothing of the world.