The Double-Chapter 501 - 154 Looking for Medicine_4

He walked to the window, and the next moment, he was inside the room. Jiang Li hadn’t even been able to see his movements clearly, only perceiving a flash of red before her eyes. She instinctively closed the window tightly, afraid that others might see or hear the commotion inside and arouse suspicion.

The young man sat down at the small table in the room as if he were quite familiar with it, poured himself tea, and drank it, casually asking, "I heard that your maid has been searching all over Yanjing City today for a drug that could induce false pregnancy. Who do you plan to use it on?" He examined Jiang Li with a teasing tone, "You obviously have no use for it yourself."

Jiang Li paused, thinking to herself how quick that was. It had only been a few shichen since Bai Xue returned, and Jih Heng’s people immediately knew about it. In this world, it was clearly simplest to use Jih Heng’s power, so why should she bother doing it herself? But she had no other choice; she still wanted to save face and was embarrassed to ask Jih Heng for help time and time again.

"It is to be used on Princess Yongning," Jiang Li finally said after a pause.

Jih Heng stopped his tea-drinking action and looked at her, "Do you even know what you are doing?"

"I know." Jiang Li smiled, "I am clearer about it than anyone else. I think the time has come. If this continues, I can’t wait any longer. I really want to resolve this matter soon. Princess Yongning deeply loves Shen Yurong, and even if she feels dissatisfied, she will ultimately back down for Shen Yurong, or rather, Shen Yurong has been able to coax her to this point. If this goes on, who knows how many more years it will take."

"This won’t do; I have to give them a push." Her voice was calm and gentle.

Jih Heng watched her, she used to keep many secrets, but now, she didn’t seem to conceal much from him anymore. Aside from the deep secret in her heart, she almost told him everything, as if she trusted him very much.

"Oh, have you found the medicine you were looking for?" Jih Heng asked.

Jiang Li shook her head: "No, this matter is not easy."

"Even if you find it, it won’t be easy to get close to Yongning and have her take the medicine."

Jiang Li smiled, "I am aware, which is why I’m still considering my options."

"You should know," he said with a playful, smiling expression while twirling his folding fan: "I can help you."

Jiang Li gasped lightly and then laughed, shaking her head: "The Duke has already helped me a great deal, and this matter also involves risks. Behind Princess Yongning is Prince Cheng. If someone were to push the investigation towards the Duke... "

"Then you underestimate me," he said with a hint of mockery in his tone, "If I do it, no one will find out."

"What kind of price would I have to pay?" Jiang Li’s smile was sincere, "I’ve thought it over, and I really have nothing of value to offer the Duke. This transaction doesn’t seem profitable for you. If the Duke helps me, the cost will outweigh the benefits. I really can’t bear to take advantage of you again."

Her words were so righteously grand that even Jih Heng found it hard to refute. He stared into Jiang Li’s eyes, those beautiful orbs narrowed slightly, "I have come to realize that you are unsuitable for being a cunning merchant. Your conscience, truly, is quite useless."

"Does the Duke see me as a heartless person?" Jiang Li also smiled.

"At first, I thought so. But now, it seems I was mistaken," Jih Heng spoke leisurely, "You might just be considered a good person."

When he first met her, it had been at the Nunnery on Green City Mountain, where he saw her meticulously deceive everyone. With an innocent face, she spoke softly and weakly, a few tears shed, and achieved her goals. A teenage girl with the strategic mind and tactics of someone who had battled through bloodshed and sword fights—at that time, he knew Jiang Li was no saint.

She had navigated through successive mishaps, returned to Yanjing City, and watched as she dealt with her stepmother, her half-sister, and her scheming fiancé without fear, always with a slight smile that disarrayed her opponents’ plans. She went back to Tongxiang, juggling the handling of the Xue Family’s case, facing the pressing questions of Feng Yutang, the pursuit of Princess Yongning, and luring others into traps.

He could see the cold heart beneath her soft exterior, but sometimes Jih Heng thought that Jiang Li was not an unfeeling, unprincipled girl. She could stand up for Xue Huaiyuan, argue on behalf of others, her soft blessings and protection on New Year’s Eve, and now her concessions out of guilt, unwilling to let others sacrifice for her unchecked.

At times, Jih Heng could sense her kindness. Her tenderness combined with her coldness made her contradictory yet alluring, drawing attention irresistibly. She seemed to be trying hard to shake off certain things, to grow into someone else, yet the deep imprint in her bones remained engraved.