The Double-Chapter 476 - 150 Joy Together_6

"Everyone?" Jiang Li latched onto the crux of Zhao Ke’s words.

"Young Master Wen Ren, Miss Situ, Lord Lu, Lord Kong, the old general..." Zhao Ke said, "You’ve met them all last time."

Indeed, she had met them all before, and last time it was this very group who had taken it upon themselves to declare that she had agreed to help them roast venison, a declaration now made reality.

"The Duke said, if Miss Jiang the Second wants to repay him, now is the chance," Zhao Ke added with a final note.

Jiang Li: "...I’ll go."

...

Escaping from the Jiang Residence wasn’t easy without Jih Heng by her side.

Although Zhao Ke had arranged everything in advance, Jiang Li still felt somewhat apprehensive as she left through the back door. Fortunately, Jih Heng’s black sedan chair was already waiting outside. Seeing no one around, she got in. But after sitting down, she felt a bit uneasy. This was Jih Heng’s sedan, usually for his use alone, and now, as she sat in it, she couldn’t help but feel an inexplicable romantic air.

If someone were to see her, she feared she wouldn’t be able to clear her name even if she jumped into the Yellow River.

But now that she was out, there was no need to dwell on that. After all, no one knew, and after this night, no one would. Since Jih Heng had sent the sedan, he obviously didn’t mind. freēwēbηovel.c૦m

With that thought, Jiang Li was once again at ease.

However... she still found herself speechless—on such an important New Year’s Eve, to be taken away in a sedan to roast venison at someone else’s residence was truly outlandish. Although she was not truly the Chief Minister’s Daughter and lacked the haughty spirit of an aristocratic woman, even for an ordinary girl, this was no common affair.

What was the reason for all this? Or perhaps, were all those who followed Jih Heng—whether it be Wen Renyao, Lu Jiu, or Old General Jih Situ Jiuyue—all as headstrong and capricious as Jih Heng himself, set on doing whatever they desired? After all, birds of a feather flock together, and she should have understood this by now.

With neither Tonger nor Bai Xue by her side, Jiang Li could only sit in the sedan, lost in chaotic thoughts. Inside the sedan, thoughtful preparations of hot tea and snacks were made, just as if Jih Heng were present, but currently, Jiang Li had no appetite to touch any of it.

It was with such a perplexed heart that the sedan finally arrived at the gates of the Duke Residence.

Since today was New Year’s Eve, the streets were mostly deserted. Like tired birds returning to their nests, people preferred the annual reunion to stay with their families and welcome the New Year.

The Duke Residence was no different, with red lanterns hanging from the eaves, which had unknowingly doubled in number since her last visit. Additionally, due to Jih Heng’s penchant for luxury, the lanterns were made of the finest red-dyed silk, shimmering slightly under the flickering candlelight. The fringes hanging below the lanterns were made of yellow crystal stones, creating a row of resplendent lanterns under the snowy night that no one could help but stop to admire.

Zhao Ke said, "Miss Jiang the Second, please."

Jiang Li then shifted her gaze and stepped through the great doors of the Duke Residence.

The servants of the Duke Residence were, it seemed, quite peculiar. Unlike those at the Jiang Residence, where servants were omnipresent and seemed highly courteous and meticulous in their duties, the Duke’s servants were each busy with their own tasks and did not offer greetings upon meeting others. Jiang Li guessed that this was because the masters of the Duke Residence were Jih Heng and the old General Jih, so the servants only offered salutations to them. As for anyone else, they didn’t warrant a second thought from these servants.

The servants were as proud as their masters, Jiang Li thought to herself.

The vast Duke Residence seemed much warmer inside than outside, perhaps due to the use of an underground heating system. Or maybe it was the vivid and vibrant decorations that gave rise to a sense of spring in the eyes and a warmth in the heart. Zhao Ke led Jiang Li past the main hall, through the corridor, and into the backyard, stopping at the courtyard entrance and saying, "Here we are."

Jiang Li looked up.

Throughout the Duke Residence, except for the lanterns hanging, there were no indoor lights to be seen. Aside from the dim lanterns, it was silent, as if everyone had gone to sleep. However, upon entering this courtyard, it felt like stepping into a new world, and suddenly the view before her was ablaze with light.

In the snow, a clear space had been swept for the firewood, with flames burning brightly, reflecting red on the entire snowy courtyard. Some sparks scattered about, like stars falling to the ground only to disappear in an instant, leaving their warmth behind.