Early the next morning, Jiang Li rose and dressed herself.

The entire Jiang household now knew she was returning to Xiangyang. Ji Shuran had initially objected in front of Ye Mingxuan, but later somehow changed her mind. She put on the appearance of a loving mother, asking Jiang Li if she lacked anything.

When Jiang Jingrui learned that Jiang Li was returning to Xiangyang, he sat in Fangfei Court for quite a while. It was nothing more than complaining that Jiang Li was inconsiderate for going to Xiangyang to have fun without taking him along. He actually wanted to go to Xiangyang with Jiang Li.

Jiang Li was both exasperated and amused. Jiang Jingrui didn’t even know what kind of place Xiangyang was, yet truly thought it was some fun destination. Moreover, she wasn’t going to Xiangyang for pleasure, and she didn’t even know if the Ye family would welcome her. Her living there as an external granddaughter would be unnatural enough—for Jiang Jingrui, a relative in name only, to have the nerve to go as well.

Most importantly, even if all this were resolved, Jiang Jingrui’s mother, Lady Lu, would never allow Jiang Jingrui to cause such trouble.

After much persuasion, she finally got Jiang Jingrui to abandon this notion. Jiang Li sighed inwardly. It seemed everyone in the Jiang household thought she would have a pleasant time at the Ye family, not knowing that the road ahead was long and uncertain, and might not be as carefree as they imagined.

Yesterday had been a bright sunny day, but today a gentle drizzle began to fall.

The autumn days in the capital seemed very brief. It felt as though summer’s heat was still before their eyes, and in the blink of an eye came the bleak cold wind. Looking at the withered branches and fallen leaves on the ground, it was truly hard to imagine yesterday’s lively prosperity.

Tong’er reached her hand outside to test the rain, then turned back to Jiang Li and said, “Miss, the rain isn’t light. Why don’t we not go out? We can go another day.”

“It’s fine.” Jiang Li was fastening her cloak and said, “We’ll be in the carriage most of the way. We won’t have to walk much.”

Tong’er had no choice but to give up.

Jiang Li had agreed with them to go out today, shopping and also buying gifts to give the Ye family. After Old Madam Jiang learned of this matter, she even specially had Zhenzhu bring over some silver, letting Jiang Li choose carefully for herself.

She hadn’t expected it would rain today. Tong’er thought there was no rush—after all, Ye Mingxuan would still be staying in the capital for about ten days. Finding a day with nice weather to go would also be good. Who knew that the usually agreeable Jiang Li would be so stubborn today.

Jiang Li fastened her cloak and stood before the mirror.

Second Miss Jiang’s appearance wasn’t as striking as Xue Fangfei’s. But her foundation was quite good—excessively delicate and elegant. These days Jiang Li had been well-nourished at the Jiang family, eating much better than at Qingcheng Mountain. That bit of haggardness and weakness had completely disappeared. At first glance, she was dewy and pretty.

“Miss is truly beautiful,” Baixue stood to the side, sincerely praising. “Like someone who walked out of a painting.”

“Exactly, exactly,” Tong’er nodded. “When we were at Qingcheng Mountain, we could only wear monastic robes that didn’t show off our Miss’s beauty. Looking now, in all of the capital, I don’t see anyone more beautiful than our Miss. If those nuns at Qingcheng Mountain saw this, they definitely wouldn’t recognize her.”

Jiang Li looked at herself in the mirror. The expression on this face was familiar, but the features were so strange. When she stood before Xue Zhao, would Xue Zhao still recognize her?

Father… probably wouldn’t recognize her either.

A wave of sadness welled up in her heart. She turned her head away from the mirror and only said, “Let’s go.”

“Alright!” Tong’er pushed open the door.

…

Because of the rain, there weren’t many people walking about in the capital. Even the vendors selling candied hawthorns on the street were scarce today. Jiang Li, Tong’er, and Baixue could only browse jewelry shops or fabric stores. The peddlers who usually carried baskets selling small items had probably all stayed home today.

However, she had heard that although the Ye family had three sons, there weren’t many grandchildren. Aside from Ye Shijie, only Ye Mingxuan had one son and one daughter. Fourth Master Ye was still unmarried, let alone having children. So buying things for the younger generation wouldn’t be too difficult.

Before long, Jiang Li had selected all the gifts she wanted to give.

Gift-giving was not a simple matter. Many mothers in prominent households would specifically teach their legitimate daughters about reciprocal gift-giving. If a legitimate daughter later married into an official family, with her husband’s social obligations and interactions, giving return gifts would be unavoidable. If the gift was too valuable, it seemed overly solemn; if too light, it seemed neglectful. It was truly difficult.

However, after following Shen Yurun when he became the top scholar and began social engagements, Jiang Li had already learned how to give return gifts. In Tongxiang, Xue Huaiyuan was incorruptible and wouldn’t accept gifts from people. In the capital it was different—sometimes return gifts couldn’t be too simple, but if they were too expensive, Madam Shen would criticize her, so she could only secretly take out a portion from her dowry to supplement.

Thinking about it, Shen Yurun probably didn’t have this worry now. Princess Yongning wasn’t short of money. No matter how expensive the return gift, it wouldn’t strain her finances, so naturally there was no need to use her own dowry.

Jiang Li prepared different items for her three uncles, two aunts, Old Madam Ye, and her cousins. For this, she had specifically asked Ye Mingxuan about their respective personalities and was quite satisfied with what she bought.

By afternoon, they casually ate something at a restaurant in the capital. Seeing the rain hadn’t stopped, Tong’er said, “This rain doesn’t look like it will stop anytime soon. Miss, after we eat, let’s go back. There’s nothing fun outside anyway.”

Jiang Li thought for a moment and said, “We’re not going back. We’re going to Misty Rain Pavilion.”

“Misty Rain Pavilion?” Tong’er and Baixue asked in unison with surprise, “What kind of place is that?”

“It’s a pavilion near Egret Bay. I heard that watching the rain scenery there is very beautiful. I’ve been back in the capital for so long and have only heard its name but never been to see it. Today’s rain is quite good, and it’s just the right opportunity to appreciate its charm. There’s no better time than the present—let’s go after this.”

Baixue always listened to Jiang Li and had no objections at all. Seeing this, Tong’er could only agree, though she looked at Jiang Li and said, “Miss, where did you hear about Misty Rain Pavilion? This servant has never heard of it even once.”

“I once happened to overhear others talking about it,” Jiang Li said indifferently. “It’s not a famous place, so few people know about it. Isn’t there a saying? The most magnificent scenery is often hidden in corners where no one goes.”

Tong’er nodded thoughtfully.

Jiang Li drank the tea before her, her thoughts flying far away.

Back then, after she miscarried due to the birthday banquet incident, her vitality was severely damaged and she was bedridden. Upon learning of Xue Zhao’s death, she struggled to get up. But Tongxiang was too far from the capital—she couldn’t transport Xue Zhao’s remains back to Tongxiang while dragging her seriously ill body. Madam Shen wouldn’t allow her to do so either. She was treated as the Shen family’s disgrace and couldn’t go out to embarrass them. Even collecting Xue Zhao’s body was due to Shen Yurun’s magnanimity.

Shen Yurun had told her that Misty Rain Pavilion had beautiful scenery and few visitors—it was a good place. If Xue Zhao were buried there, it wouldn’t be bad. In the future when she had the chance, after she recovered, she could let Xue Zhao return to his hometown.

At that time she was overwhelmed and vulnerable, deeply grateful to Shen Yurun. After her own disgraceful incident, Shen Yurun could still think of her for the sake of their past friendship—it was truly kind.

But she only learned later that her troubles had been orchestrated by Shen Yurun himself. Princess Yongning had colluded with corrupt officials to kill Xue Zhao—how could Shen Yurun not know? They were the murderers, yet still had to put on a sympathetic and sorrowful appearance. It was truly nauseating.

Thinking of this, Jiang Li furrowed her brows tightly, only feeling that no matter how beautiful Misty Rain Pavilion was, it was suggested by Shen Yurun and might not lack Princess Yongning’s influence. She didn’t want Xue Zhao to be manipulated by these two even after death. Right now she had no choice, but one day, the sooner the better, she would take Xue Zhao away from Misty Rain Pavilion, away from the capital.

Jiang Li set down her teacup and said, “I’m finished eating. Let’s go.”

Tong’er and Baixue vaguely sensed that Jiang Li seemed somewhat melancholy. They exchanged glances, both confused, and could only follow Jiang Li as she left.

Egret Bay was by a lake on the edge of the capital. Earlier, during the previous dynasty, a scholar had lived there and raised a flock of egrets. Later the scholar passed away and the egrets flew away, but the name Egret Bay was preserved. Misty Rain Pavilion was located not far from Egret Bay.

Xue Zhao’s grave mound was under a peach tree behind Misty Rain Pavilion.

It was Tong’er and Baixue’s first time at Egret Bay. They saw the lake water was a deep bluish-green. Misty Rain Pavilion had six stories in total. Standing on the pavilion and looking down, the entire structure was shrouded in misty rain. The lake water rippled with fine, dense waves. Water and sky met, becoming one color.

Tong’er was very excited and said, “It’s truly beautiful! Miss, the misty rain at Misty Rain Pavilion is really very pretty!”

Jiang Li smiled and said, “You two sit for a while. I’m going to look at that peach tree.”

Baixue hurriedly said, “This servant will go too.”

“No need.” Jiang Li stopped her. “There’s no one here. I’ll just take a look and come right back. It’s fine.”

Without allowing further discussion, she left the pavilion first.

Not far away, the peach tree stood quietly in its place as it had in the past. The flowers on the tree had long since withered completely. Without the embellishment of peach blossoms, the large tree appeared desolate and bleak.

Under the tree sat a small grave mound.

Jiang Li held an umbrella, standing before the grave mound.

Xue Zhao had been killed by bandits on the road to the capital and his body abandoned in the river. That was what people said at the time, so when she saw Xue Zhao for the last time, he was already unrecognizable. If not for the birthmark on Xue Zhao’s body, Jiang Li simply couldn’t believe that spirited youth was this cold corpse.

He had suffered inhuman torture before death. The knife wounds on his body made Jiang Li’s heart tremble even now when she thought of them. At that time she hadn’t suspected anything, until before her own death when she learned it was all Princess Yongning’s doing. So those knife wounds weren’t made by bandits, but by Princess Yongning’s people.

He had thought he found an official who could help him, never expecting to fall into another trap instead. Jiang Li found it hard to imagine the despair and grief in Xue Zhao’s heart in his final moments.

And after his death, he only had this place where no one came. When it rained, there wasn’t even a place to shelter from the rain.

Jiang Li gently set down her umbrella, placing it over the grave mound. As if this way, she could shield Xue Zhao from the wind and rain overhead. As if the grave mound before her was a cheerfully laughing youth.

She closed her eyes and silently said in her heart, “Ah Zhao, Sister has come.”

“Ah Zhao, I’m your sister. You probably can’t recognize me anymore. I’m now the legitimate daughter of the Jiang family, Jiang Yuanbai’s daughter. You must find it very incredible. I felt the same way at first, but thinking about it now, perhaps the heavens gave me another chance.”

“In about ten days, I’ll be going to Xiangyang. I’ll find a way to figure out what happened with Father. What happened back then—I implicated you all. I know who killed you, and I know who to seek revenge from. Shen Yurun is rising steadily now, and Princess Yongning has Prince Cheng behind her. For now I can’t do anything to them, but I’m not without recourse.”

“I will use the identity of Second Miss Jiang to find a way to voice the Xue family’s grievances, expose the true faces of Princess Yongning and Shen Yurun, and clear your unjust deaths.”

“Ah Zhao,” she said silently in her heart, “forgive me for taking so long to come see you. You must blame Sister terribly. But not a single day has passed that I’ve forgotten the Xue family’s blood debt. Please wait patiently and watch as I avenge you step by step.”

“Ah Zhao… I’m sorry…”

She silently repeated in her heart, as if she could once again see that youth wielding swords and spears, turning his head to smile foolishly at her. She didn’t know how long had passed before Jiang Li finally opened her eyes.

The rain seemed to have lessened somewhat. The grave mound before her was still quiet. A red bird flew from somewhere and perched on a branch, tilting its head to look at her. Its feathers were covered with many water droplets, so it suddenly flapped its wings vigorously, shaking the water drops from its wings clean. Then seeing the umbrella Jiang Li had placed over the grave mound, it immediately swooped down and stood on the grave, using the umbrella’s shelter, chirping incessantly.

Jiang Li smiled faintly and said in a low voice, “You heard it too, didn’t you?”

She turned and slowly walked back toward Misty Rain Pavilion.

When she returned to Misty Rain Pavilion, Tong’er and Baixue were startled to see her drenched appearance. Tong’er said, “Miss, where’s your umbrella? How did your clothes get all wet?”

“I saw a red bird that got wet from the rain. I felt sorry for it momentarily, so I used my umbrella to shelter it and left it under that peach tree behind.”

Hearing this, Tong’er said, “Miss, I know you have a kind heart, but you could have told us. There are other umbrellas here—we could have brought one over. Why get yourself wet? What if you catch a chill?”

Jiang Li smiled apologetically. “I didn’t think that far in the moment.”

“Miss is good in every way,” Baixue said softly. “It’s just that she’s a bit too softhearted.”

Softhearted? Jiang Li laughed inwardly.

Perhaps so. Xue Fangfei was softhearted, but the current Jiang Li’s heart was hard as iron.

…

In the capital’s Wangxian Tower, Lu Ji was talking with Ji Heng.

Before long, Wen Ji, who was by Ji Heng’s side, walked over.

Wen Ji’s face showed some hesitation. “My lord…”

Ji Heng glanced at his expression and said, “Speak.”

“Yes.” Wen Ji immediately replied, “Second Miss Jiang went out today with two maids. She first bought some things at various shops in the capital. After eating, she went to Misty Rain Pavilion at Egret Bay.”

“Misty Rain Pavilion?” Ji Heng raised his eyelids and laughed. “She certainly knows about all sorts of remote places.”

“What?” Lu Ji on the side picked up on something, stroked his beard, and said, “My lord still has people monitoring Second Miss Jiang?”

Ji Heng waved his hand. “It’s not monitoring. Her behavior is strange—it’s hard not to notice.” He casually asked Wen Ji, “What did she go to see at Misty Rain Pavilion?”

“I heard that Misty Rain Pavilion has the most beautiful view of misty rain,” Lu Ji suddenly remembered something and smiled. “Perhaps Second Miss Jiang went to see the misty rain. That’s truly elegant.”

“No.” Wen Ji said, “Second Miss Jiang first sat in Misty Rain Pavilion with her two maids for a while, then went to a peach tree behind Misty Rain Pavilion. There’s a grave mound there. Second Miss Jiang left her own umbrella on the grave mound to shelter it from the rain.”

Ji Heng and Lu Ji’s movements simultaneously paused.

Ji Heng raised an eyebrow, his beautiful eyes showing some interest. He asked, “Oh? She went to pay respects?”

“She didn’t bring offerings, but Second Miss Jiang looked as if she knew the deceased. She stood before the grave mound for a very long time and appeared very sad.” Wen Ji’s answer could be considered extremely thorough.

“Then it was to pay respects.” Ji Heng said.

Lu Ji asked, “Why does my lord say so?”

“This Second Miss Jiang always acts flawlessly and is accustomed to creating cover for herself.” Ji Heng said with a half-smile. “Going out to shop today, going to Misty Rain Pavilion to see the misty rain—these were all pretenses. Her purpose was to stand before that grave mound for a moment.”

“The person in the grave must be someone she values.” He drew this conclusion directly.

If one said Jiang Li acted flawlessly with very thorough pretenses, Ji Heng looked at matters and easily got straight to the heart. He saw the truth of the matter at a glance.

“Who is the person in the grave?” Ji Heng asked.

“A person called Xue Zhao.” Wen Ji answered. “A year ago he was killed by bandits and his body abandoned in the river. However, our people investigated and there may be more to it. Xue Zhao’s death may have some connection to the current Prefect of the Capital.”

Even under the bright heavens there were places the light couldn’t reach. At the emperor’s feet in the capital, there were still many people who died unclear deaths every day. Those with some family background were better off, but those without power or influence mostly disappeared into the sea like weeds, not even stirring a single wave before sinking down, never to be seen again.

“What’s this Xue Zhao’s background?” Lu Ji asked doubtfully. “Among the official households in the capital, I’ve never heard this name.”

Wen Ji paused before saying, “Speaking of this Xue Zhao, he wasn’t really from the capital. He was the brother-in-law of the current Secretariat Drafter Shen Yurun. The biological younger brother of Shen Yurun’s first wife, Xue Fangfei. After Xue Fangfei’s incident, Xue Zhao probably heard of it and came to the capital, but unexpectedly lost his life right after arriving in the capital.”

“Xue Fangfei’s younger brother?” Lu Ji was startled, then shook his head. “This is unexpected.”

Speaking of Xue Fangfei, everyone in the capital knew of her. But the matter of Xue Fangfei’s younger brother—indeed few people knew about it. It seemed this matter had been handled very quickly at the time and hadn’t stirred up any waves.

“But what connection does Xue Zhao have with Jiang Li?” Lu Ji was even more puzzled. “The Xue and Jiang families can’t be connected by any stretch of the imagination. Jiang Li stayed at Qingcheng Mountain for eight years. During that time she shouldn’t have had any connection with Xue Zhao. Moreover, Xue Zhao died last year and Jiang Li only returned this year, so they couldn’t have known each other after Jiang Li came back either.” He hesitated and asked, “Did Xue Zhao ever go to the capital? Or to Qingcheng Mountain?”

Wen Ji shook his head. “Apparently not. Xue Zhao grew up in Tongxiang, Xiangyang, and never left Tongxiang. His first time coming to the capital was last year, and he died before even seeing Xue Fangfei.”

Lu Ji looked toward Ji Heng and said, “This is strange indeed.”

Two people who couldn’t be connected by any means—how could they have a relationship? And according to what Wen Ji said, Jiang Li would be saddened by mourning Xue Zhao. Wen Ji wasn’t someone who would exaggerate. If he said Jiang Li appeared somewhat sad, then Jiang Li was truly somewhat sad.

No matter how kind Second Miss Jiang might be, she wouldn’t show a sorrowful expression for an unrelated person. Not to mention what Ji Heng said—that Jiang Li had gone through such a roundabout way today just to see Xue Zhao’s grave mound. If they weren’t close, would it be necessary?

But no matter how much Lu Ji racked his brains, he couldn’t think of any other reason.

“Perhaps…” Wen Ji deliberated for a moment, then cautiously proposed a conjecture. “This Xue Zhao and Second Miss Jiang once had something, and Second Miss Jiang fancied Xue Zhao?”

“Didn’t you say it was impossible for the two of them to have met in the past?” Lu Ji said. “If they never met, how could there be any fancy?”

That was true. Wen Ji fell silent.

Ji Heng narrowed his eyes and suddenly said, “Xue Zhao was from Tongxiang, Xiangyang?”

Wen Ji: “That’s correct.”

“Jiang Li’s biological mother Ye Zhenzhen is from Xiangyang, and Xue Zhao is also from Xiangyang…” Ji Heng said, “Don’t investigate the relationship between Jiang Li and Xue Zhao. Start investigating from the Xue family.”

“The Xue family?” Lu Ji asked doubtfully. “The top scholar’s wife Xue Fangfei—her father seems to be just a minor clerk. The family is small with nothing special about them.”

Back then, Xue Fangfei’s beauty had captivated the capital, but it was also lamentable. Some said if Xue Fangfei’s birth had been better, with her looks and talents, she would be more than qualified to be a prince’s consort, and entering the palace as a consort wouldn’t be reaching too high. Unfortunately, her father was merely a minor clerk, which meant she could only marry a commoner scholar. Although Shen Yurun later passed the top scholar examination and became an official, precisely because of this, people would say Xue Fangfei wasn’t worthy of Shen Yurun.

Just imagine—if Xue Fangfei had been an official’s daughter, as long as the position wasn’t too low, how could there be talk of being unworthy?

Such an ordinary Xue family—what was worth paying special attention to? Lu Ji didn’t understand. Even if Second Miss Jiang was suspicious, and because she had repeatedly ruined Ji Heng’s plans, it