Concubine Hu sat for a while longer before leaving.

When she departed, Jiang Li had Tong’er send some charcoal blocks to Concubine Hu’s courtyard. Otherwise, before Jiang Li could expose Ji Shuran’s true face, Concubine Hu and her servant would probably freeze to death first.

Concubine Hu indicated that no matter what Jiang Li asked her to do, as long as it could avenge eldest Miss Jiang, she was willing to do anything.

After Concubine Hu left, Tong’er closed the room’s door and, confirming there was no one else in the room, said, “Miss, although what Concubine Hu said may not necessarily be true, this matter is extremely serious. Miss must investigate it thoroughly.”

“Yes,” Baixue also said. “If what Concubine Hu said is true, then the current Madam Ji bears the crime of murder. Before even marrying into the residence, she plotted to harm the residence’s madam. If taken to the Capital Magistrate’s Court, even as an official’s wife, she would have to pay with her life.”

Jiang Li waved her hand and said, “Concubine Hu’s words are only one side of the story. Until this matter has a conclusion, it must not be spread outside.”

Tong’er and Baixue understood the importance of the matter and immediately stated they wouldn’t reveal a single word to the outside.

Jiang Li’s gaze deepened.

At first, she had only suspected that eldest Miss Jiang’s death wasn’t accidental. More boldly, she suspected that Ji Shuran’s miscarriage back then wasn’t entirely as it appeared on the surface—her own actions likely had more hidden circumstances. But from Concubine Hu’s mouth, she learned of another shocking matter—even Ye Zhenzhen’s death was connected to Ji Shuran.

Although Jiang Li said this matter was only Concubine Hu’s one-sided account, Jiang Li’s intuition told her that what Concubine Hu said was likely true. But there was one thing Jiang Li didn’t understand—at that time, Ye Zhenzhen was still alive, and Ji Shuran hadn’t yet married. Why would she willingly scheme to become Jiang Yuanbai’s second wife, even going so far as to harm Ye Zhenzhen to death?

Before this, Jiang Yuanbai and Ji Shuran had never had contact. According to the information Jiang Li had gathered, Ji Shuran was selected by Jiang Yuanbai when Ye Zhenzhen passed away. It was impossible that they had developed an illicit relationship before then that led to harming his first wife.

If it were true… Jiang Li’s heart grew cold. Wouldn’t Ji Shuran and Jiang Yuanbai be just like Princess Yongning and Shen Yurun? Wouldn’t poor Ye Zhenzhen have walked the same path as she had?

Jiang Li’s thoughts were in chaos, unable to find any thread to follow. To learn exactly what had happened, she would still need to start with Ji Shuran. But she had no available people to send to the Ji family to inquire. Moreover, so much time had passed since those events. To investigate from the years before Ji Shuran’s marriage would be even more difficult than ascending to heaven.

Because her mind was preoccupied, for the first time ever, Jiang Li didn’t go to the Ye residence today. She shut herself in her room in the courtyard, pondering deeply through the night.

Tong’er and Baixue thought Jiang Li was suddenly learning that her mother’s death might have been murder, and was furious and grief-stricken, unable to control herself, which was why she locked herself in her room. The two took turns trying to comfort her. Jiang Li listened absentmindedly, only instructing them not to relax their watch on Ji Shuran and Jiang Youyao’s movements.

When night fell and darkness descended, Jiang Li dismissed Tong’er and Baixue as usual and stayed alone in the room.

She didn’t know how Zhao Ke was progressing with the matters she’d assigned him. But Jiang Li thought that starting today, she needed to add a fourth task—to investigate whether Ji Shuran had any contact with Jiang Yuanbai before her marriage. If there had been contact, whether there were any other entanglements between them in private.

Investigating her own father and stepmother’s past was truly somewhat unfilial. But Jiang Li didn’t have many scruples in her heart. First, she wasn’t the real Second Miss Jiang, so she found it difficult to develop a daughter’s dependence on Jiang Yuanbai. Second, Jiang Yuanbai might also possibly be a murderer. Since she occupied Second Miss Jiang’s body, she had to take responsibility for Second Miss Jiang’s life. She couldn’t do other things, but at least this—if Second Miss Jiang were still alive, she would also try to find out the true cause of her mother’s death.

Jiang Li gripped the whistle in her hand tightly, hesitated, then gently blew it.

The Jiang residence was completely quiet. It was already deep into the night, and everyone had gone to sleep. Outside, the wind and snow howled. Her courtyard was quite far from the main courtyard. Although it was called Fangfei Garden, at night there were only sparse tree shadows. Far from being fragrant and flourishing, it was instead quite desolate. She only felt the lonely night with its cold stars—there wasn’t even the sound of insects.

Zhao Ke didn’t come.

Jiang Li furrowed her brows, placed the white porcelain whistle to her lips, and gently blew it again. The whistle’s sound was clear but not loud, sounding like some kind of bird’s murmuring, not drawing attention in the night. She didn’t know how the people from the Duke’s residence distinguished it.

Still no sign of Zhao Ke.

Jiang Li was extremely puzzled. Logically, this shouldn’t be—Zhao Ke returned to the Jiang residence every night. At least the two times she’d blown the whistle, both times Zhao Ke had appeared quickly. Could it be he was truly so dissatisfied with how she ordered him around that he had Ji Heng send someone else? But at least the replacement should have appeared. Or perhaps he had a mission tonight and wasn’t at the residence?

Jiang Li waited for a while, but there was no movement. Looking outside, the wind and snow were extremely heavy, almost blinding. Confirming that Zhao Ke probably wouldn’t come, she sighed, reached out to close the window, and turned around.

With this turn, Jiang Li nearly cried out in alarm.

Under the flickering lamplight, before the small table, someone was already sitting there, though she didn’t know when he’d arrived. He was using the folding fan in his hand to brush away the snowflakes that had fallen on his robe. He must have just come in from outside, as his entire body carried the cold intent of wind and snow. Yet he wore a deep red robe, so the cold night seemed to take on color, and the room seemed to generate a charming fragrance.

He raised his head, revealing a devastatingly handsome face. His smile was subtle yet bewitching, his long eyes filled with the night, and he said, “What’s wrong?”

Jiang Li lowered the hand covering her mouth, took a step forward, and said, “Duke.”

Ji Heng propped his head up with his fan handle, smiling as he looked at her.

“Why have you come?”

“I saw you blew the whistle twice,” Ji Heng said. “What matter did you need to find Zhao Ke for?”

“It’s about some matters concerning the residence.” Jiang Li couldn’t quite figure out Ji Heng’s intentions for a moment and didn’t know how to conceal it. Thinking that Zhao Ke should have reported everything from her side, she didn’t hide anything.

“I heard you asked my subordinate about the hidden circumstances behind when you pushed Ji Shuran to miscarry?”

Jiang Li said, “That’s correct, but Zhao Ke didn’t know the hidden circumstances.”

“It’s natural that Zhao Ke doesn’t know,” he glanced at Jiang Li, his lips curving up. “I know.”

Jiang Li froze.

Ji Heng toyed with his folding fan, saying casually, “The major and minor matters in Yanjing City’s prominent households—whether I want to know them or not, I know almost all of them. The Jiang family’s affairs that year—I happen to know a bit about them too.”

“Duke,” Jiang Li said, “could you tell me?”

“I can.” Ji Heng answered very readily, but his next sentence made Jiang Li furrow her brows. She heard him say, “Little one, this is your own matter. Why are you asking me?”

His gaze was captivating, with varying depths of emotion. His amber eyes under the lamplight were like wine gently swirling in a cup—just one more glance would intoxicate. Yet this wine seemed mixed with delicious poison. It intoxicated others, but looking deeper, one could see a terrifying lucidity.

“I only know the result, not the reason,” Jiang Li said. “After all, I was still young back then. Regarding Ji Shuran, I knew far too little.”

“Is this the reason you’ve found for yourself?” Ji Heng asked.

“I suppose so,” Jiang Li said. “Is this reason sufficient to convince the Duke?”

Ji Heng shook his head regretfully. “Of course not.” But very quickly, he smiled again. “However, since you’ve blown the whistle, today I’ll tell you everything I know about your questions. So this doesn’t prevent me from telling you about Ji Shuran’s hidden circumstances. You may ask.”

Jiang Li looked at him. This man could bewitch souls with every gesture and movement. Even in this back-and-forth exchange, ordinary conversation could be stirred by him into something that made hearts flutter. Seeming near yet far, impossible to fathom—if it were someone else, they would probably have fallen for him already.

“Did Ji Shuran and my father have an illicit relationship before my mother died?” Jiang Li asked.

Ji Heng’s expression paused slightly. He looked at Jiang Li with interest and said, “It seems you’ve investigated quite a bit?”

“Just a little.”

Ji Heng said, “No.” Seeing Jiang Li staring at him, he added, “Before the Ji clan married Jiang Yuanbai, she had no dealings with Jiang Yuanbai.”

Jiang Li secretly breathed a sigh of relief. She didn’t want the truth to be like that. If Jiang Yuanbai had truly conspired with the Ji clan to harm his first wife to death, that would be too cruel to Ye Zhenzhen, and the real Second Miss Jiang would be truly pitiful. One Xue Fangfei in the world was already enough—there was no need for more tragic women.

“You seem pleased to see this,” Ji Heng said.

“At least it proves my father isn’t a murderer, and the Jiang family I’m in is somewhat safer. Isn’t that worth being happy about?”

Ji Heng was noncommittal. He said, “Jiang Yuanbai isn’t that bold. Ji Shuran had no illicit relationship with your father, because the person with whom she had an illicit relationship was someone else.”

Now Jiang Li was truly surprised.

She was always gentle and composed, rarely showing such an expression of shock. Looking at her like this, she seemed rather childlike, yet also less like herself. Ji Heng was amused by her expression. Propping up his chin, he said, “What? Don’t believe it?”

“I just… find it very peculiar,” Jiang Li said. “I observed that Madam Ji seems very attentive toward my father. Over these many years, she’s put quite a bit of effort into my father. That’s why in the first branch, apart from one concubine with dementia who’s almost forgotten by everyone, there are no other women. For her to be like this, I thought she had my father in her heart and thus possessed such possessiveness. I didn’t expect she had someone else in her heart.”

She was just a young maiden in her teens, yet when discussing such matters, she wasn’t embarrassed at all, speaking calmly and rationally as if she had already experienced the ups and downs of love and could see through it all so thoroughly. Ji Heng’s gaze flickered slightly, then quickly disappeared. He said, “Ji Shuran loves your father now. But back then… she and her cousin were deeply in love.”

Jiang Li’s eyes widened. “Cousin?”

She had never heard that the Ji clan had any cousin.

“This cousin of the Ji clan was called Liu Wencai. Well, he was more handsome than Jiang Yuanbai. Back then with the Ji clan, they could be considered quite romantically indulgent.”

It turned out that many years ago, Ji Shuran and Liu Wencai had once been in love. That Liu Wencai was extraordinarily handsome and quite understood a woman’s heart. How could Ji Shuran, just awakening to love, be Liu Wencai’s match? She actually got involved with Liu Wencai behind the Ji family’s back, almost to the point of a secret engagement. That Liu Wencai was originally a good match for Ji Shuran in terms of family status, but his family had already arranged another marriage for him. While the Ji clan was still dreaming beautifully of Liu Wencai coming to marry her, Liu Wencai had already married another.

The Ji clan was resentful in her heart and determined to take revenge on Liu Wencai. She would marry herself off as well. Not only that, she would marry a man better than Liu Wencai, with higher status. However, although there were many suitable young men in Yanjing City, she couldn’t find one right away. To find someone better than Liu Wencai was even more difficult. Ji Yanheng had planned to have Ji Shuran marry a colleague’s son to strengthen their relationship, but that colleague’s son was morbidly obese and had countless concubines in his residence. How could the Ji clan think highly of him? This made the Ji clan even more anxious.

At this time, by chance, the Ji clan saw Jiang Yuanbai at a banquet. Jiang Yuanbai at that time was younger. Though not as handsome as Liu Wencai, he had his own elegant bearing. Ji Shuran learned of Jiang Yuanbai’s position in the court. Weighing it, he ranked higher than the colleague Ji Yanheng wanted her to marry.

If she could marry Jiang Yuanbai, she could escape the nightmare of living daily with a morbidly obese man, and could also take revenge on Liu Wencai. Ji Shuran made up her mind that marrying Jiang Yuanbai was the best choice. But the only problem was that Jiang Yuanbai already had a wife.

At that time, Jiang Yuanbai had just had Jiang Li. It was said that Jiang Yuanbai’s wife Ye Zhenzhen had injured her foundation while giving birth. A bold idea arose in Ji Shuran’s heart—if Ye Zhenzhen became seriously ill and couldn’t be cured because of this, Jiang Yuanbai would need to take a second wife. Ji Shuran didn’t care about being a second wife. To her, even being a second wife to Jiang Yuanbai would be more glorious than being the legitimate wife to Ji Yanheng’s colleague’s son.

Ji Shuran then bribed the physician who examined Ye Zhenzhen’s pulse and promised heavy rewards to the maids by Ye Zhenzhen’s side. Because no one expected Ye Zhenzhen to have enemies, much less that someone would do such a conscienceless thing in order to marry into the Jiang family, Ji Shuran waited patiently, and she actually succeeded in accomplishing this deed. Ye Zhenzhen died.

After Ye Zhenzhen died, only then did Ji Shuran reveal to Madam Ji that rather than being the wife of a colleague’s son, she’d rather be Jiang Yuanbai’s second wife. The Jiang family’s position in the court was outstanding, and it could also strengthen the relationship with the Ji family. When Madam Ji mentioned this to Ji Yanheng, Ji Yanheng also thought it was good. Later they arranged the banquet where Jiang Yuanbai took notice of Ji Shuran.

At that banquet, Ji Shuran naturally put in full effort. She had long ago inquired about what music Jiang Yuanbai liked, what kind of dress he preferred, which led to Jiang Yuanbai’s love at first sight for Ji Shuran.

After Ji Shuran entered the Jiang family, those servants who had belonged to Ye Zhenzhen in the past—the dead died, the scattered scattered. Of course, they were all silenced by Ji Shuran one by one. Apart from Ji Shuran’s trusted confidants, no one knew about this matter. As Ji Shuran gave birth to two children in the Jiang family and secured her foothold, it became even less likely to be known.

Ji Heng said, “Before Zhao Ke came to the Jiang family, I had him inquire about everything that happened in the Jiang family. Wen Ji also investigated some things. The fact that Madam Jiang’s servants all met with accidents within half a year, with not one exception, was truly suspicious. I didn’t expect to uncover such a hidden matter.”

Jiang Li was too shocked to speak.

She didn’t doubt Ji Heng’s words. He was naturally proud and wouldn’t bother lying about such matters. But she was shocked by Ji Shuran’s shamelessness and audacity. If there was any difference between Ji Shuran and Princess Yongning, it was that Ji Shuran’s ruthlessness was hidden under a gentle exterior, while Princess Yongning wasn’t afraid to show it at all.

But what they did was the same—murdering wives and exterminating offspring.

“Liu Wencai…” Jiang Li murmured. “Where is that person now?”

“The Liu family later ran into trouble. Old Master Liu was demoted and left Yanjing City for Yuzhou. They couldn’t be compared with the Ji family. However…” Ji Heng looked at her. “Eight years ago, Liu Wencai came to Yanjing City.”

Eight years ago—that was the year Jiang Li pushed Ji Shuran to miscarry, the year she was sent to Qingcheng Mountain?

“He came to find Ji Shuran?” Jiang Li asked.

“Probably.” Ji Heng said casually, “Many people in this world quite enjoy the taste of reliving old dreams.”

Jiang Li only felt a wave of nausea, but she still had to continue asking what needed to be asked. She asked, “Did Ji Shuran relive old dreams with him?”

“More than that,” Ji Heng smiled. “There was even an illegitimate child.”

Jiang Li’s mind went blank. Immediately after, as if everything suddenly became clear, she understood everything. Her voice carried urgency. “This child of adultery—was it the one I pushed her and caused to miscarry?”

“Exactly,” Ji Heng sighed as if feeling great pity for her, his voice becoming gentle. “For a child of adultery, Jiang Yuanbai sent you to Qingcheng Mountain where you stayed for eight years. Very unjust, isn’t it?”

Jiang Li bit her lip. “No, if Ji Shuran had a child of adultery with Liu Wencai, no one has discovered it even now, so back then no one should have discovered it either. Since that’s the case, as long as she didn’t voluntarily reveal it, who would know this child wasn’t of the Jiang family? Ji Shuran would rather not have this child, would rather eliminate this child, yet still harm me into leaving home. Unless… she was afraid someone knew this child was Liu Wencai’s. Out of fear, she was willing to miscarry, but finding me… was she afraid I knew about this? What did I see?”

As if a ray of heavenly light suddenly appeared, all matters had a thread. Before Jiang Li could analyze further, she heard Ji Heng’s voice coming from nearby. He said, “I thought the same thing. But Ah Li, why are you using a bystander’s identity to discuss your own matters?”

Jiang Li gave a start and met Ji Heng’s half-smiling gaze.

Just now in her shock, she’d forgotten to disguise herself. The phrase “what did I know” revealed a discord. Her questioning herself like this—how would an ordinary person question themselves?

“I…” Jiang Li’s mind raced to think of a response. She said, “I don’t know these things. I don’t remember seeing anything about Liu Wencai and Ji Shuran’s relationship, which is why I’m questioning myself.”

After saying this, she herself became puzzled. If Second Miss Jiang had truly seen Liu Wencai and Ji Shuran’s adultery, why didn’t she say so at the time? Why didn’t she say anything all these years? Could it be that Second Miss Jiang actually hadn’t seen or heard anything, but Ji Shuran thought Second Miss Jiang knew the hidden circumstances, preferring to kill wrongly rather than let one escape the net? Was that why she used Jiang Li’s hand to eliminate the illegitimate child in her womb while also making the Jiang family detest Jiang Li—killing two birds with one stone?

She looked at Ji Heng. He clearly didn’t believe this answer. Because the way he nodded was very perfunctory. It was as if an adult had long seen through a child’s clumsy lie but wasn’t willing to investigate deeply with the child, so he pretended to nod, indicating belief.

But Jiang Li couldn’t worry about that much. Ji Heng seemed like an all-knowing treasure trove, while she knew nothing about the Jiang family. Her greatest deficiency could be precisely filled by Ji Heng, so she wished Ji Heng could tell her everything.

“Where is Liu Wencai now?” Jiang Li asked. If possible, finding Liu Wencai could also serve as evidence.

Ji Heng said, “Dead.”

“Dead?” Jiang Li was surprised.

“Ji Shuran personally ordered people to kill him.” Ji Heng spoke as casually as if discussing everyday matters, yet it made Jiang Li’s hair stand on end. He said, “Before the miscarriage, she had people kill him. Supposedly,” his smile contained mockery, “Liu Wencai was still dreaming of being able to rely on Ji Shuran to once again live the life of a wealthy young master in Yanjing. Ji Shuran promised him silver, to let him open a gambling house in Yanjing’s best district. The next day he died in his room. And it was from drinking himself to death.”

Jiang Li couldn’t speak.

Even between husband and wife for a single day, there’s affection for a hundred days. Liu Wencai and Ji Shuran had at least had years of feelings for each other. Even though Liu Wencai later married another, many years later when Liu Wencai returned to Yanjing and Ji Shuran conceived his child, it proved Ji Shuran probably still had lingering feelings for him.

With lingering feelings, she could still kill him without looking back?

Ji Heng seemed to see her difficulty understanding and said, “Ji Shuran didn’t love him.”

“Didn’t love him?”

“Liu Wencai had fallen on hard times.” Ji Heng said indifferently. “He had nothing. Ji Shuran was the Chief Minister’s wife. How could she still think highly of Liu Wencai? She got together with Liu Wencai to take revenge for Liu Wencai’s abandonment back then. From the beginning, she planned to abandon Liu Wencai. Not only that, she wanted his life as well. No wonder the world says,” he sighed, “the mouth of the green bamboo snake and the sting of the yellow wasp’s tail—neither is as poisonous as the heart of a malicious woman.”

He sighed, but his tone carried the particular indifference and mockery of a spectator.

“At first I didn’t think so,” Jiang Li said. “I didn’t think I obstructed Ji Shuran’s path. Even if I did obstruct it, she needn’t take my life. But hearing you say this, I understand. For someone like Ji Shuran, she’s vicious to the bone. Even if I didn’t provoke her, she would still eliminate me. Because she’s malicious.”

“Did you only just realize this?” Ji Heng said. “You’ve crossed hands with her. I thought you knew this long ago.”

His lips held a smile, his tone leisurely and indifferent, speaking as if he didn’t care at all. But Jiang Li understood that every sentence Ji Heng said was worth pondering. Today he took the initiative to visit and generously shared the secret information he knew with her. On the surface, he seemed to be at a disadvantage. But in reality, Ji Heng’s harvest from this trip was also considerable.

He had probably already suspected something was wrong with her, this Second Miss Jiang.

Jiang Li didn’t feel surprised. No matter what Ji Heng guessed, what she needed to do would never change.

Jiang Li looked at Ji Heng. “Regardless, thank you, Duke, for telling me these things.”

“Actually, I originally didn’t want to tell you these things.” Ji Heng stared at her, saying in a playful manner, “You look so kind and innocent. The truth is always cruel. But… Ah Li,” when he called “Ah Li,” those originally ordinary two syllables seemed to contain the brilliant spring, becoming tender and lingering. He said, “If you want to survive and go further, you must see the facts clearly sooner. Moreover, you can accept it, right?”

Jiang Li also smiled and said, “Good medicine tastes bitter, honest advice grates on the ear. What Your Majesty said to you applies equally to what you say to me. That the Duke tells me the facts—I can’t thank you enough.”

“But knowing the truth and living too clearly is a very exhausting thing.”

“Is that so?” Jiang Li stared into his eyes. “The Duke has also come through this way.”

For an instant, Jiang Li felt that even the teardrop mole beneath his eye had become more vivid. The smile at his lips froze, or rather disappeared. He just looked at Jiang Li. His expression held no teasing, no flirtation, no scrutiny, no probing—only something very complex passing through.

After a long while, he smiled again and said, “Being seen through by a little girl—saying this out loud seems quite embarrassing.”

“No one in the world would dare think you embarrassing,” Jiang Li smiled.

Ji Heng suddenly reached out and grasped her chin.

His fingertips were slightly cool. It was hard to imagine that someone with such deeply striking and gorgeous features would have fingertips without warmth, as if they too carried the cold dew from outside. He turned his body, leaned forward oppressively, stared down at Jiang Li from above, the smile at the corners of his mouth deepening, his tone murmuring, “This mouth of yours is truly too sweet. It makes one want to have a taste.”

Jiang Li’s body stiffened.

She wasn’t afraid of Ji Heng. Whether Ji Heng was capricious or had towering ambitions, what she glimpsed of Ji Heng’s inner self wasn’t without traces to follow. But when Ji Heng made ambiguous moves toward her, she felt somewhat at a loss. She couldn’t just push him away. In fact, she couldn’t do that either. She knew Ji Heng found it amusing, that it was teasing with malicious intent. But as the other person’s breath drew nearer and nearer, close enough to clearly see the shadow cast by his long eyelashes, close enough to see herself clearly reflected in his eyes, to see his interested gaze, to see his slightly upturned, rosy lips… Jiang Li suddenly lowered her eyes, avoiding Ji Heng’s meaningful gaze, refusing to show Ji Heng her vulnerability any longer.

His lips stopped just a hairsbreadth from hers.

In their place came his amused voice. He said, “So you still fear me. I thought you’d already reached the point of being completely unrestrained with me.”

Jiang Li gained some respite and breathed a huge sigh of relief in her heart.

The next moment, Ji Heng released his hand and sat back in his original position, smiling at her lazily.

Under the lamplight, his features couldn’t be faulted in the slightest. With his somewhat gorgeous smile, he looked like a life-threatening spirit.

Jiang Li averted her gaze again. Really… it was too dazzling.

“Already too afraid to even look at me? Your courage isn’t that great after all.” He put away his fan and stood up. “Let’s stop here for today. It’s getting late. If you have needs in the future, feel free to continue blowing your whistle. Zhao Ke will answer your questions. Sometimes,” he smiled broadly, “I’ll also come.”

Jiang Li said, “That won’t be necessary.”

“That’s not for you to decide.” He opened the window, left behind the words “Farewell, little one,” and the next moment, the person’s shadow was gone from the room.

Only the flickering lamplight remained, as if a lingering fragrance remained.