The Double-Chapter 664 - 206: Return to the Mansion

Jih Heng’s carriage went directly to the Duke Residence, and upon arrival, Jih Heng, Lu Jiu, and Wen Renyao all alighted. Lin Yao was also taken away by Wen Renyao, whereas Wen Ji and Zhao Ke continued driving the carriage towards the Jiang Residence.

This did indeed relieve Jiang Li, as it would at least make facing Jiang Yuanbai a bit easier.

When the carriage reached the entrance of the Jiang Residence, Jiang Li stepped down. The gatekeeper at first looked somewhat confused, but as he recognized Jiang Li’s face, he stuttered in surprise, "Mi-Miss the Second!"

Jiang Li nodded at him with a smile, "Yes, I’ve returned."

The news of Jiang Li’s return spread immediately throughout the Jiang Residence. In Night Wind Hall, Madam Jiang the Elder along with people from the second branch had all gathered. As soon as Lady Lu saw Jiang Li, she took her hand and said, "Jiang Li, you’re finally back. These past days, your second aunt has been so worried she couldn’t sleep peacefully!"

Her words were indeed dramatized, but they carried a grain of truth. Jiang Li patted her hand with a smile, "I’m fine, Second Aunt."

Jiang Jingrui asked, "I heard you went to Huangzhou, how did you get to Huangzhou? Who saved you? I asked Father and Uncle, but they wouldn’t tell me. Jiang Li, what exactly happened?"

Jiang Li knew well enough that Jiang Yuanbai and Jiang Yuanping really hadn’t told anyone else. However, Madam Jiang the Elder probably knew the inside story, for she did not show the same curiosity as Jiang Jingrui, but only asked, "Huangzhou City is amidst war chaos; Second Miss, were you injured? Did those bandits hurt you?"

"No," Jiang Li said. "The City Defense Army of Huangzhou has been confronting Prince Cheng’s troops. The soldiers couldn’t enter the city, so it was actually quite safe."

"But I heard," this time it was Jiang Jingyou speaking, he looked at Jiang Li, "Prince Cheng’s men set fire to and looted inside Huangzhou City, and many people died."

That was something that couldn’t be concealed, so Jiang Li said, "Indeed, there were such people, but I guess I was lucky and didn’t encounter them. I managed to hide and stay safe."

"You were protected by someone, right?" Jiang Jingrui leaned in and said, "So you came out unscathed. Who was it? Someone who could save you from Prince Cheng’s hands must be capable. Tell us his name, so Uncle can visit and express thanks."

Jiang Li inwardly smiled wryly. If Jiang Yuanbai knew it was Jih Heng who had saved her, his first reaction would likely not be one of gratitude but suspicion of Jih Heng’s motives. The Duke Residence had no real dealings with the Jiang Family. Not to mention, Jih Heng had been drawing ever closer to Emperor Hongxiao in place of Jiang Yuanbai, and Jiang Yuanbai would probably suspect that Jih Heng had been stirring discord.

While they were talking, a voice suddenly rang from outside, "Jiang Li."

Turning her head, she saw that it was Jiang Yuanbai hurrying back. He had not appeared in Night Wind Hall just before, and must have been outside. After receiving the news of Jiang Li’s return to the residence, he had hurried over. Jiang Li called out "Father," and he looked at Jiang Li, then glanced at those around before saying, "Come with me to the study."

Madam Jiang the Elder nodded to Jiang Li, who then followed Jiang Yuanbai to the study. Once they arrived and the door was closed behind them, Jiang Yuanbai looked Jiang Li over and asked, "How are you? Are you hurt?"

Jiang Li shook her head.

After ensuring for a while that Jiang Li truly bore no signs of injury, Jiang Yuanbai breathed a slight sigh of relief. Then he asked, "What exactly happened? How did those people take you out of Yanjing and bring you to Huangzhou? And how did Duke Su come to know you’d been kidnapped to Huangzhou, and save you?"

Wen Renyao, when writing to Jiang Yuanbai and the Ye Family, had been quite vague. As for the specifics of Jiang Li’s situation, he had not been very detailed, and seeing the bewildered expression on Jiang Yuanbai’s face, it was clear he didn’t have a clue what had really happened. Jiang Li sat down and recounted how she got separated from Bai Xue in the street that day, and how those people had disguised her and smuggled her out of Yanjing.

"They clearly came prepared, planning to take me to Huangzhou from the start, which is why they acted so swiftly and caught me off guard. By the time it was discovered I was missing, I had already been taken out of the city. By then, it was too late to chase after them."

She then spoke of how those people had taken her all the way to Huangzhou. Jiang Li omitted the part where she had seen Jih Heng’s sedan outside the tavern and sought help from him. That would have raised Jiang Yuanbai’s suspicions, firstly as to how Jiang Li recognized Jih Heng’s sedan so familiarly, and secondly because everyone knew Jih Heng was the kind of person who rarely meddled in others’ affairs and was even less likely to show mercy to women. If Jiang Li sought help, why would Jih Heng offer it?

"Later, at the inn, that woman was about to be rough with me, and I struggled desperately. Perhaps I was seen struggling by Duke Su’s guards who happened to be passing by. Those two guards had seen me before at the palace banquet and knew who I was. Presumably, they told Duke Su, who then came and rescued me." She looked up at Jiang Yuanbai with a smile, "Father, Duke Su is a good man; he saved my life, and we should be thankful to him."

"A good man?" Jiang Yuanbai laughed shortly, looking at Jiang Li, "You are naive, not understanding the ways of the world. Jih Heng is not a kind person. I’m afraid he has other schemes in mind, using you merely as a front."

Jiang Li listened quietly; Jiang Yuanbai’s reaction was within her expectations. If it were not for Jih Heng’s repeated help and their frequent interactions, Jiang Li would also see Jih Heng as a cunning, ruthless, and unfeeling person.

"However," Jiang Yuanbai changed the subject, "he did save your life, and gratitude is indeed due. Just don’t you go; let your father offer thanks on your behalf."

He was still afraid of any unnecessary contact between Jiang Li and Jih Heng. This might be partly due to Jiang Yuanbai protecting the interests of the Jiang Family, but also due to his concern for his daughter. Although he was not a good father to the real Second Miss, he was not completely indifferent and heartless.

Jiang Li nodded.

Jiang Yuanbai looked at Jiang Li, her youthful appearance fresh and lovely, becoming increasingly refined and beautiful. It was the prime of a young lady’s life. So much had happened in this past half year, yet Jiang Li’s status in the Jiang Family had changed drastically. It was certainly because they had discovered the truth, but also because this daughter was unlike herself and Ye Zhenzhen; she was perceptive, knew when to advance or retreat, and didn’t have a hint of arrogance. Yet when she went out, she took care of everything properly, never losing sight of etiquette.

He recalled some colleagues who had indirectly inquired about this daughter, though the inquiries had ceased temporarily due to the issues with Ji Shuran and Jiang Youyao. But a fair lady is a gentleman’s delight, and if this fair lady is also the daughter of the Chief Minister’s Family, naturally, more people would favor her.

He thought of the gentle and handsome man he had met a few days ago; his conversation was appropriate, and there was a hint of nobility in his eyes and brows. His company had been extremely pleasant, and he would indeed make a good match. Jiang Yuanbai himself liked him very much. But with the current troubled times, and with Prince Cheng stirring up trouble, the Jiang Family was already struggling to cope with their own affairs, and the future was unclear. Therefore, Jiang Yuanbai did not dare make any hasty decisions.

But that man... was certainly much better than Duke Su, who was capricious and unfathomable.

"Jiang Li..." Jiang Yuanbai couldn’t help but speak up, "Duke Su may be handsome and powerful, but he is not a suitable match... Do not... harbor any thoughts about him."

This was a warning; coming from him, a father, these words made Jiang Yuanbai himself feel deeply moved and uncomfortable. But now in the main house of the Jiang Residence, there was no matriarch to talk to Jiang Li about these matters. Lady Lu was indiscreet, Madam Jiang the Elder was getting on in years, so Jiang Yuanbai had no choice but to speak himself.

Jiang Li’s heart tightened, but a faint smile surfaced on her face. She said, "Father, there’s no need for you to say it, I understand."

Jiang Yuanbai sized up Jiang Li’s expression and saw that her gaze was frank when she said this. It didn’t seem like a lie, so he was relieved.

Jiang Li asked, "Father, today in Night Wind Hall, I didn’t see uncle and auntie, nor did I see my fourth sister?"

In Night Wind Hall, almost everyone had arrived except for the people from the third branch. That was strange; even if the third branch didn’t have a close relationship with the main and second branches on a daily basis, they had to be present for such an occasion. But not a single person from the third branch was seen, and both Lady Lu and Madam Jiang the Elder seemed to take it as nothing out of the ordinary, which puzzled Jiang Li.

Jiang Yuanbai paused, then said, "They have separated from the family."

"Separated from the family?" Jiang Li was surprised, "Why would they suddenly separate?"

Jiang Yuanbai let out a cold laugh, "Your sudden abduction was likely orchestrated by the third branch. They found a way to inform Prince Cheng of your movements, allowing him to capture you en route to the Ye Family. The third branch harbored ill intentions; keeping them would have been a disaster. So, your grandmother allowed them to separate from the family."

"Has it been settled so quickly, in such a short time?" Jiang Li asked.

"It’s just a matter of an illegitimate son; why make a fuss? There is no need to invite the extended family to preside over it. Without the Jiang Family, they won’t be able to do anything for years, and naturally, they can’t take much with them."

Jiang Yuanbai’s attitude was firmer than ever. Jiang Li remembered that when she first joined the Jiang Residence, Jiang Yuanbai, while not as close to Jiang Yuanxing as he was to Jiang Yuanping, had been courteous to the third branch. Now, this enmity was clear, a sign of how angry he was with Jiang Yuanxing’s actions.

Jiang Li thought for a moment and then said, "It’s for the best. Uncle and his branch had ties with Prince Cheng; they can be said to have sided with him. With the current pivotal situation, if we did not separate from them, any future investigations would inevitably implicate us too. Separating cleanly also shows the Emperor that the Jiang Family has no divided loyalties and would not collude with Prince Cheng."

Jiang Yuanbai sighed, "That’s what I was thinking."

"Speaking of which," Jiang Li remembered something and said, "My uncle at the Ye Residence still doesn’t know that I have returned. Later, I would like to visit the Ye Residence to see my uncle and cousin, to tell them I’m back." freeweɓnovel.cѳm

"No."