The Double-Chapter 596 - 173: Gentle_5

After a moment of silence, Jih Heng asked, "How did you get here?"

"Hmm?" Jiang Li remembered her purpose for coming and said, "Princess Yongning and Shen Yurong are now commoners, and Prince Cheng and the Li Family have also developed a rift. I didn’t expect to succeed so quickly, and I am very grateful to the Duke."

Her eyes were clear and sincere; when she looked at someone, it swept away the gloom in their heart. Jih Heng glanced at her, suddenly opened his folding fan, and placed it between Jiang Li and himself.

Jiang Li was startled.

Then, she saw that a fan pendant had been added to Jih Heng’s fan. It was the very one she had given him before, a blood-colored butterfly following the golden peonies on the fan seemed to flutter vividly almost to the point of intoxication. Such a deadly weapon now appeared even more hauntingly beautiful and captivating.

Jiang Li then chuckled and said, "The Duke has started using the fan pendant, I see. It suits you well."

Jih Heng retracted his folding fan and looked at the fan pendant, praising it, "Your craftsmanship is very good."

"Thank you," Jiang Li smiled and said, "To receive a compliment from the Duke feels very worthwhile."

Jih Heng smiled. In the twilight, the sunset was blurred, and the lights were bright, making his face seem at once near and far, and the cold depth of his eyes seemed to warm up and soften.

"What do you plan to do next?" Jih Heng asked, "About Yongning and Yurong."

"After becoming commoners, the privileges of princely nobles they once possessed should crumble," said Jiang Li. "County Magistrate Xue has regained consciousness, and I think it’s time for Xue Fangfei and Xue Zhao’s case to be brought to light again."

"Are you going to start your counterattack?" Jih Heng asked with interest, "In what capacity?"

"There’s no need for my own identity. Just the fact that County Magistrate Xue is Xue Fangfei’s father is enough to draw the attention of all Yanjing people. What I should do is merely to help him out, which is only right, given that the Tongxiang case was brought out by me. With Hai Tang and Xiao Deyin as witnesses, there you have it. Xue Zhao’s case will be much more difficult to handle because the people from back then are no longer around, but if there’s no evidence, then I’ll have to create some. When other evidence is irrefutable, nobody will check each new piece of evidence, will they?"

Her eyes, reflecting the light, should have been bright, yet they seemed to darken, like a secret hidden deep in her heart, unfathomable.

Jih Heng said, "You’ve thought this through quite comprehensively."

"One more thing, about Jiang Youyao." Jiang Li asked, "Could the Duke tell me where Princess Yongning has hidden Jiang Youyao? When the time is right, Youyao’s existence could add another level to Yongning’s crimes."

Jih Heng said, "In her private prison, it won’t be easy for you to get in. If Yongning gets into trouble, Prince Cheng will be the first to torch her private prison. There are too many key figures inside; they must be completely eradicated."

Jiang Li said, "Duke..."

"You want my help again?" His lips curved up slightly, the previous gentleness instantly turning into a seductive charm. He moved closer, and Jiang Li could clearly see the red mole at the corner of his eye. He said, "Last time it was the fan pendant, what do you plan to use in exchange this time?"

"What does the Duke want?" Jiang Li asked, "If it is within my power, I will surely do it."

"I don’t like to ask for things," Jih Heng raised an eyebrow, "I prefer when others offer them willingly. Since you want my help, how to please me is for you to consider." His tone was full of arrogance, making it hard to refuse.

"Let me think about it." Jiang Li understood him well; she no longer thought Jih Heng was capricious, but he did seem to have his own cruel tastes.

Jih Heng supported his cheek with his hand as he looked at her, then suddenly said, "You’ve really gone to great lengths for the Xue Family."

Jiang Li was taken aback and said, "Doesn’t the Duke think the Xue Family is rather pitiful?"

"Pitiful?"

"The Xue Family has ended up in such a state, and Xue Fangfei is indeed pitiful, but if not for her foolish inability to discern character, she wouldn’t have let the wolf into the house, failed to realize the malicious intent of the person by her side, and even harmed her own family." Jiang Li lowered her head, "Shen Yurong and Princess Yongning are guilty, but perhaps Xue Fangfei is not entirely blameless, is she?"

Jih Heng looked at her with profound meaning, "You’ve never been so harsh toward the deceased before, why single out Xue Fangfei like this?"

Jiang Li asked, "Does the Duke think what I said is incorrect?"

Jiang Li and Jih Heng had talked about Xue Fangfei before, but at that time, their relationship was not as amicable as it was now. Jiang Li had been intent on hiding her true thoughts, while Jih Heng had been trying to probe. Neither knew whether the other’s words were true or false. Their discussions at that time naturally could not be taken seriously.

But today, as Xue Fangfei suddenly came up in conversation, Jiang Li suddenly wanted to know what Xue Fangfei had been like in Jih Heng’s eyes in the past. She knew he had once said of her "Beautiful, indeed, but soulless." What else was there? Was there more?

Jih Heng said, "What does it matter whether it is correct or not?"

"The Duke must have seen Xue Fangfei," Jiang Li persisted in seeking the answer, "What kind of person was she in the Duke’s eyes?"

What kind of person? Jiang Li thought that he might say a fool, an idiot, someone with a bad mind. Even a dull person; with Jih Heng’s inherent pride, looking down on everyone, Xue Fangfei in his eyes must surely have been inconsequential. freёnovelkiss.com

To her persistent questioning, Jih Heng seemed a bit surprised. His long fingers caressed the fan handle, and his amber eyes deepened. After a moment of thought, he finally said, "A beauty."