“A Li?”

Ashun’s whole body jolted. He looked at the man in surprise. How could this County Magistrate Xue know the visitor was the young miss? And call her so intimately?

Jiang Li also froze. She slowly lowered her head, even her breathing became faint as she looked at the person she embraced. Father… hadn’t lost his sanity? Wild joy suddenly surged through her heart.

But that joy quickly dimmed.

Xue Huaiyuan opened his eyes, yet didn’t look at her. He looked at the stone wall, or perhaps at the stains splattered on it. He struggled free from Jiang Li’s hands and quickly shrank back to his previous corner. He picked up a handful of straw from the ground and clutched it tightly to his chest, as if afraid someone would snatch it away. He murmured: “A Li… A Li…”

Jiang Li’s nose stung and tears threatened to fall again. Father hadn’t regained consciousness. The reason he was calling the name “A Li” was only because this name occupied a very important part of his life. Even after going mad, his mouth still chewed on it.

Of course, she thought self-mockingly. Even if Father hadn’t lost his sanity now, when she stood before him, he might not necessarily recognize her. She wasn’t “A Li” anymore—she had become “Jiang Li.”

“Young Miss?” Ashun was somewhat worried.

Jiang Li turned back: “I’m fine.” Looking at Xue Huaiyuan shrinking in the corner muttering to himself, her heart ached again. She knew she shouldn’t be so greedy. At least Father was still alive. In this lifetime, they could still see each other again—this was already fortunate amidst misfortune. But seeing Father like this, Jiang Li’s heart wished she could dismember Shen Yurong and Princess Yongning into a thousand pieces. Even that wouldn’t be enough to ease the pain in her heart.

She said: “I’ll bring County Magistrate Xue out. His body is too weak. Uncle Zhang, please trouble you to find the best physician in Tong County to examine County Magistrate Xue for now.”

Seeing his lifesaving benefactor like this, Butcher Zhang also hated Feng Yutang to the extreme. Hearing Jiang Li’s instruction, he said nothing and immediately went out to find a physician.

Ashun had originally wanted to help support Xue Huaiyuan, but Jiang Li had already supported him herself. She didn’t mind the filth and stench on Xue Huaiyuan’s body at all, carefully supporting his shoulders and holding his arms. The current Xue Huaiyuan was like a two or three-year-old child, flailing his limbs. A carelessly waving hand slapped Jiang Li’s face, and dirty handprints immediately appeared on her fair face.

Ashun couldn’t bear to watch: “Young Miss, let me do it instead.”

“I’ll do it.” Jiang Li said only two words, yet in an unquestionable tone. Ashun’s outstretched hand withdrew. This young miss had always been very patient, gentle and soft toward the Ye family and strangers alike. But this was the first time Ashun had seen Jiang Li so patient, as if Xue Huaiyuan was the most precious person in the world to her, and she was willing to devote all her care to looking after him.

Jiang Li supported Xue Huaiyuan as they walked out of the dungeon.

Ashun asked: “Young Miss, the rest of these people…”

Feng Yutang was unable to distinguish good from evil and was purely profit-driven. Among those imprisoned in these cells, there were surely good people who, like Xue Huaiyuan, had been wrongly imprisoned and made scapegoats. Xue Huaiyuan had been released—what about the rest?

“It’s alright,” Jiang Li said. “Later, have someone bring the case files. I’ll pick out those with doubts. Feng Yutang’s tenure as Tong County Magistrate is over. After this case, the court will soon send a new county magistrate. At that time, these cases can all be retried. No one will be wronged.”

Ashun felt relieved.

When they reached the county office entrance, Xue Huaiyuan seemed to see something terrifying. He suddenly refused to walk forward and began shouting and struggling. Jiang Li’s heart ached watching this. Ashun quickly had people restrain Xue Huaiyuan, but they didn’t dare use too much force—Xue Huaiyuan was truly too thin. They feared too heavy a movement would break his bones.

Ye Mingyu saw Jiang Li from afar and walked over: “A Li, you’re back so soon? Feng Yutang was beaten half to death. If I hadn’t had people stop them because he’s still useful, he would have died here today for sure. Hey, you brought County Magistrate Xue back…” Ye Mingyu suddenly stopped. He too saw Xue Huaiyuan’s wretched appearance.

Anyone who had known Xue Huaiyuan before would be speechless seeing him like this. That man who was always upright with clean sleeves, the good official, had now fallen to such a state.

Ye Mingyu was stunned for a while before saying: “County Magistrate Xue is too pitiful…”

Jiang Li said: “Uncle, I had Uncle Zhang fetch a physician to examine County Magistrate Xue first. His body is probably extremely weak now. We still have to return to Xiangyang and go to the capital. Without proper care, it will be very difficult.” She glanced toward the other end: “There are many prisoner carts in the dungeon. Find one and load Magistrate Feng into it. No need to wait for Tong Zhiyang’s order from Xiangyang—we’ll return to Xiangyang directly.”

Ye Mingyu nodded instinctively and asked: “What about those bailiffs on the eastern mountain? Can we let them out now? With Feng Yutang’s people either captured or fled, they’re no longer in danger.”

Jiang Li nodded: “Thank you, Uncle.”

Ye Mingyu sensed that Jiang Li’s mood seemed very poor. Thinking about it, he understood. Since Jiang Li had gone to such lengths to rescue Xue Huaiyuan from prison, she naturally had ties with him. Now that Xue Huaiyuan had become like this, even he, an outsider, felt deeply moved—let alone Jiang Li.

Alas, in this world, why were good people especially prone to misfortune?

…

Doctor Zhong, who had treated Peng Xiao and the others, was called again to treat Xue Huaiyuan.

Now that Feng Yutang had become a “prisoner,” Doctor Zhong no longer feared retaliation. He didn’t need to take silver and flee his homeland anymore. He examined Xue Huaiyuan very carefully.

When finished, he walked out of the room. Jiang Li asked: “Doctor Zhong, how is it?”

“Miss,” Doctor Zhong shook his head. “As for the wounds on his body, this old one has written a prescription. Have someone fill it. Master Xue has suffered greatly this time. That he could endure until now is already a miracle. But after all, he’s advanced in years and his body is weak. Fortunately, I don’t know if that beast Feng Yutang deliberately wanted to keep Master Xue alive—he didn’t inflict fatal injuries. Though the torture was severe, with proper care and given time, he may not be unable to recover.”

Jiang Li hesitated, then asked: “May I ask Doctor Zhong, Master Xue has now lost his sanity and cannot recognize people. One day, might he be able to regain consciousness?”

“This old one dares not guarantee that,” Doctor Zhong waved his hands repeatedly. “This old one is just a small clinic doctor in Tong County. I truly cannot guarantee it. Forgive this old one’s incompetence. I hear the young miss will take Master Xue to the capital. The capital has many capable people and extraordinary talents. Perhaps there you can find a miraculous physician who can restore Master Xue’s former reason.”

Jiang Li fell silent.

Doctor Zhong wasn’t the first physician to say this. In fact, she had already asked many Tong County physicians. Not one could make Xue Huaiyuan regain consciousness.

She desperately hoped Father could wake up and call her “A Li” once more. For this, she could pay any price.

“I understand,” Jiang Li said. “Thank you, Doctor Zhong.” Since Doctor Zhong was powerless, she couldn’t force the impossible. Though disappointed in her heart, she had to gather her spirits to face what came next.

Outside the room, it was already crowded with Tong County people who had come to visit Xue Huaiyuan. Aunt Chunfang wiped her tears: “How did the master become like this…”

“If only we had stood up earlier. It’s all my fault…” Dai Yun, holding Ping’an’s hand, was filled with regret. “I didn’t know the master had suffered such torture.”

“Feng Yutang isn’t human!” Butcher Zhang said. “If he weren’t still useful now, I’d have cleaved him in two with one stroke!”

Jiang Li passed through the crowd and walked inside. Xue Huaiyuan sat on the bed, playing with a wooden figure in his hands like a child, giggling and laughing. Around him, Peng Xiao, He Jun, and the two brothers Gu Da and Gu Er wore expressions of deep sorrow.

Seeing Jiang Li enter, Peng Xiao looked at her and asked: “What did the physician say?”

Jiang Li shook her head.

Everyone’s eyes immediately filled with disappointment.

“It’s alright. We’ll reach the capital soon,” Jiang Li said. “Once in the capital, I’ll seek out miraculous physicians to treat Master Xue.”

“That the master has become like this is all that bastard Feng Yutang’s fault!” Gu Da said through gritted teeth. “I must tear him limb from limb!”

“Feng Yutang is at most a dog. The real person is still behind him,” Jiang Li said slowly. “Whoever made Master Xue suffer this torture must be prepared to face retribution.”

“We brothers have guessed that Feng Yutang was acting on someone’s orders, but we don’t know who the person behind him is or why they were so ruthless to the master. Please, Miss, enlighten us,” He Jun said.

“Once in the capital, you’ll naturally know who the person behind this is. Actually, this case may not be able to truly harm her, but even if we can’t take her life, peeling off a layer of her skin would be good. You four are witnesses to this case. To silence you, the other party will stop at nothing. You may face enemies a hundred, a thousand times more sinister and terrifying than Feng Yutang. You must think carefully…”

“We’ve already thought it through,” Peng Xiao interrupted Jiang Li. “We want to avenge the master, whether we succeed or not.”

Jiang Li slowly smiled: “Good. Then we’ll rely on you all.”

“It’s we who rely on Second Miss Jiang.”

…

Deciding not to wait for Tong Zhiyang’s order and to bring these Tong County people back to Xiangyang the next day, heading directly to the capital, was decided in just a moment.

Once decided, Ye Mingyu sent people to pack. The witnesses related to Xue Huaiyuan’s case, the case files, and important evidence from the county office were all collected to take along. Since they were departing the next day, everyone slept early.

The mentally unsound Xue Huaiyuan was like a child, requiring considerable effort to coax to sleep. Jiang Li did this personally. Ye Mingyu and the others wanted Jiang Li to rest, but Xue Huaiyuan would only be coaxed by Jiang Li. With others, he became very frightened. Only with Jiang Li before his eyes would he quiet down.

Jiang Li was extremely patient with him, without the slightest complaint. Watching and watching, Baixue and Tong’er developed an illusion—when Jiang Yuanbai grew old, Jiang Li probably wouldn’t be this patient with him. Toward the Jiang family, though Jiang Li was gentle, she carried a kind of polite distance. The two maids could sense she hadn’t invested much genuine feeling.

But toward Xue Huaiyuan, she was truly, sincerely gentle from the bottom of her heart.

After coaxing Xue Huaiyuan to sleep, Tong’er asked Jiang Li: “Miss, shall we go rest?”

Even Ye Mingyu had gone to sleep.

Jiang Li looked outside. How strange—during these few days she’d been in Tong County, in this county that hadn’t seen snow in decades, it had snowed twice, including tonight.

Wind blew in from outside, mixed with snowflakes. Jiang Li put on her cloak: “No, I’m going to see Feng Yutang.”

Feng Yutang? Tong’er and Baixue looked at each other, but Jiang Li had already walked out of the room.

The snow-white rabbit fur cloak draped over her body, she pulled down the hood, leaving only her palm-sized face visible. Under the lantern light, her small face appeared even paler, almost the same color as jade. She walked at an unhurried pace and soon reached the corner of the courtyard.

In the prisoner cart, Feng Yutang was curled into a ball.

It was snowing outside, and the prisoner cart hadn’t been moved indoors. No matter how hoarse Feng Yutang shouted, no one came to look at him. Unable to help it, he was very cold and could only curl into a ball, rather like Xue Huaiyuan shrinking in the dungeon back then.

At night, the courtyard was exceptionally quiet. Jiang Li’s footsteps on the snowy ground made rustling sounds. Feng Yutang, like a startled rabbit, suddenly raised his head. The first moment he saw Jiang Li, he instinctively wanted to call for help, but the next moment, he stopped.

He knew that even if he called out, this seemingly gentle and pure young miss before him wouldn’t give him a blanket. In fact, it could be said that his current predicament, being left in a prisoner cart to fend for himself, was all thanks to the girl before him.

She was a demon, yet wore the face of an angel.

Jiang Li stopped in front of the prisoner cart, quietly watching Feng Yutang. This time, she didn’t smile. As if shedding her gentle disguise, in the night, she revealed her true, other self.

Feng Yutang asked hoarsely: “What has Second Miss Jiang come to do?”

“To see you,” Jiang Li said.

“See me?” Feng Yutang laughed. He said: “Second Miss Jiang, do you know what crime it is to incite common people to imprison a court-appointed official? Even your father cannot save you.” The more fearful he felt inside, the more he had to say these things, as if these words could convince himself not to be afraid. But he knew in his heart—he feared Jiang Li, feared her from the bottom of his heart.

“You won’t be a court-appointed official much longer,” Jiang Li said lightly. “The order from Xiangyang will come down soon. The Xue family case will be retried. We’ll go to the capital together. Of course, not solely to vindicate County Magistrate Xue, but for you.” Jiang Li said: “What Magistrate Feng did in Tong County, even in the capital, isn’t some insignificant small matter. As for whether we imprisoned Magistrate Feng before the order or arrested him after—no one knows anyway, right?”

She didn’t smile at all. When she spoke so calmly, it made people feel the ferocity covered beneath her composure all the more.

A flash of weakness crossed Feng Yutang’s eyes. He couldn’t intimidate Jiang Li; instead, he would be intimidated by her. But why could a fifteen or sixteen-year-old girl seem to consider every minute detail? If she plotted against someone, she would never miss anything. From the ends of the earth to all four directions, everywhere was her trap. Step in, die, and that’s that. She would also wipe away the grass and dust on the trap so no one could ever see the traces.

Feng Yutang gathered his courage: “Second Miss, I know you’re Lord Jiang’s daughter and fear nothing. But for some matters, why must you make such a big fuss for such a small person? Though I’m a small person, my master…”

“Princess Yongning, your master,” Jiang Li interrupted him.

Feng Yutang was stunned.

He had thought no outsiders knew that his master was Princess Yongning. How could Jiang Li possibly know? And knowing this, she still dared to act? Dared to ruin Princess Yongning’s plans?

“Magistrate Feng, there’s something you must know,” Jiang Li stared at him, slowly speaking. “For you, someone who tortured County Magistrate Xue, I treat you this way. Princess Yongning is the mastermind behind it—what do you think I’ll do to her?”

“I’m dealing with you in order to deal with her.”

“She’s Princess Yongning…” Feng Yutang said tremblingly. “She’s Prince Cheng’s sister.”

“She’s Prince Cheng’s sister?” Jiang Li mocked. “Then I’ll deal with Prince Cheng too. You say Prince Cheng is Consort Liu’s son—then I’ll deal with Consort Liu as well. Meeting demons, slay demons; meeting gods, slay gods. Whoever touched Xue Huaiyuan, I’ll make them pay blood for blood! So,” Jiang Li said contemptuously, “don’t mention Princess Yongning anymore. Those four words ‘Princess Yongning’ are precisely the reason I act. Those four words are the beginning of the death knell!”

Feng Yutang felt his hands and feet go weak.

Under the night, Jiang Li’s eyes were extremely bright. He had no doubt that within them, he saw bone-deep hatred. Like wild grass growing madly and ferociously, usually hidden beneath a gentle exterior, in this moment, all exposed.

She unhesitatingly exposed her other side, which could only mean one thing—he was going to die. For a person who must die, she had no need to hide her secrets.

“Don’t worry, Magistrate Feng. Before things end, I won’t let you die,” she said. “I’ll keep you alive and well, just as you did to Master Xue.”

She looked at him coldly, picked up her lantern, turned, and left.

In the snow, that silver-white cloak almost merged with the snow color. Only deep and shallow footprints remained to remind one that someone had passed by.

Feng Yutang only felt that compared to just now, he was even colder. Whether because of the snow or because of her, he didn’t know.

…

Leaving Feng Yutang’s prisoner cart, Jiang Li didn’t return to her room either.

Inexplicably, she had no desire to sleep. Her mood wasn’t as calm as it appeared on the surface either.

Father had become like this—she didn’t know how he could regain consciousness. Taking people back to the capital to confront Princess Yongning, the struggle with her would officially begin. This wasn’t a simple matter. After Jiang Yuanbai learned of all she had done in Tong County, and Ji Shuran seized the opportunity to whisper pillow talk, what obstacles she would encounter in the Jiang family—she couldn’t fully estimate.

Completing one path, embarking on another—new thorns again.

She sat on a large rock by the pond, slowly thinking, until Tong’er beside her exclaimed in surprise. Looking up, she saw someone approaching with an umbrella through the snowy night.

Ji Heng wore a crimson cloak embroidered with black peonies, perfectly balancing boldness and refinement. Today he had finally not brought that gold-threaded folding fan—perhaps he had put it away. He only held a plain white silk umbrella, walking from the snowy distance.

In the deep night’s heavy dew, he was like a splash of brilliant color, lighting up the cold world.

“Your Grace,” Jiang Li didn’t stand up, didn’t bow. Today, she was truly too tired.

Ji Heng walked before Jiang Li, paused, and held the umbrella over her head.

His movements could be considered gentle and affectionate. The girl was elegant and refined, the man bewitching. Together they were unusually well-matched and harmonious. Tong’er and Baixue watched, stunned, even forgetting to stop him.

“So sad?” He smiled. “That’s not like you.”

“So gentle?” Jiang Li looked at him. “That’s not like you either.”

Ji Heng laughed heartily: “You say this about me—I’m very hurt. I showed you mercy, yet you say I’m not gentle.”

“I’m just flattered beyond measure.”

Ji Heng asked: “Now can you tell me why you must save Xue Huaiyuan, even making an enemy of Princess Yongning?” He said: “You and the Xue family should have no connection whatsoever.”

“Your Grace,” Jiang Li said, “I don’t intend to hide anything from you, because even if I don’t say it, you’ll eventually investigate it yourself. So the reason for this matter—I’ll tell you. When the day comes that I hand my life over to you, I’ll tell you everything. That will complete the circle. You won’t force me, will you?”

She raised her head, her eyes purer than snow.

“Why do you always show weakness to me?” Ji Heng was puzzled. “Do I look like someone who cherishes and pities the fairer sex? Even if I were…” He looked Jiang Li up and down. “Are you a delicate flower?”

Jiang Li asked: “Am I not?”

“You’re a man-eating flower,” Ji Heng said.

Jiang Li smiled.

When they first met, they were suspicious of each other, guarding against one another. Later, when Jiang Li suddenly revealed Ji Heng’s plans and placed her life before him, it was like exchanging a secret, creating a sense of kindred-spirit alliance.

Of course, this might also be Jiang Li’s illusion. But whether Ji Heng was acting or sincere, this was still the first time the two of them could sit together and converse so peacefully.

“Tomorrow we return to Xiangyang and head to the capital,” Jiang Li said. “On this journey, Princess Yongning may learn the news and send assassins. Ji Shuran’s forces may not give up their evil intentions. The obstacles along the way—I’ll have to trouble Your Grace to help clear them.”

“You’re treating me as your guard?” Ji Heng was amused. “Aren’t you afraid I’ll kill you?”

“This life of mine is yours—it’s your possession,” Jiang Li played shamelessly. “To protect your own possessions by killing a few bandits—isn’t that very normal?”

The hidden guards lurking in the shadows were all dumbfounded. Though Jiang Li’s words made no logical sense, hearing them this way, they actually felt she made perfect sense and there was no reason to refute her.

“I seem to have acquired not your life,” Ji Heng said, “but a burden.”

“Perhaps the burden will help you one day,” Jiang Li smiled.

She spoke very seriously, not at all like she was joking. Ji Heng said: “If you knew what I was doing, you wouldn’t say this. Right now,” he chuckled softly, “childish innocence.”

Jiang Li was now at the best age of a young maiden, yet in Ji Heng’s eyes, she was still just a “child.”

Jiang Li looked at Ji Heng. Counting it, if she added her previous life’s age, Ji Heng and she were actually similar in years. But this person, at such a young age, didn’t seem simply like a young person. He seemed to have countless secrets, each one very heavy. When he himself had grown accustomed to these kinds of secrets, when looking at others, many facts that the world couldn’t accept—to him, they didn’t matter much.

Everyone had their own secrets.

Jiang Li said: “Who knows? Perhaps. When that day comes, perhaps my decision will also surprise Your Grace, no? But first I must live to that day.”

Speaking of life and death, the girl didn’t seem to mind at all. But this lack of concern wasn’t indifference born from great distance, but rather the indifference that came after understanding, seeing through, and comprehending everything. She didn’t think she would live very long, but she also wasn’t afraid of not living long.

Ji Heng watched her with interest. Jiang Li was a girl with secrets. Watching what she did, she didn’t seem like someone who would give up lightly. Like wild grass desperately surviving in cracks, fierce and full of vitality. Yet when she spoke of giving up her life, she was carefree and nonchalant. As if her entire life, coming to this world, was only to accomplish one thing. For this thing, she strove to live. Once this thing was done, she didn’t care about anything anymore, including her own life.

“This play is very long,” Ji Heng said with a light laugh. “If you’re not here, I’ll find it quite regrettable.”

“Is that so?” Jiang Li tilted her head to look at him. Her two feet swayed lightly beneath her skirt, like a carefree maiden. She also smiled: “To make Your Grace feel regret is also my honor. If Your Grace could enter the play, if you and I sang the same play together, perhaps this play’s ending could be even happier for all.”

Ji Heng’s beautiful long eyes narrowed: “Little thing, why do you always want to pull me into the game? I’ve told you, I don’t enter plays.”

Yes, he didn’t enter plays, because the greatest play under heaven was the one he manipulated from behind. Even the sovereign on the golden throne was toyed with in his palm. The situation was treacherous, various forces rising and falling, scrambling for power and profit. But in the end, who knew for whom they were making wedding clothes?

“I want to stand on Your Grace’s side. At least not be Your Grace’s enemy.” She rarely showed such docility.

Being in the Jiang family, the leader of Northern Yan’s civil officials—in this court upheaval, the Jiang family had to choose sides. It had always been thus since ancient times. Choose correctly and naturally one could rise to great heights, blessing descendants. Choose wrongly, and no one could predict the consequences. Victors became kings, losers became bandits—nothing to regret. All were one’s own chosen path.

Setting aside that Prince Cheng was Princess Yongning’s brother, just from probability alone, Jiang Li was willing to choose someone who looked like they wouldn’t lose. Ji Heng’s ruthlessness was understated, making people feel afraid.

Such a person had a high probability of being the final winner.

She had long since changed her strategy. She wouldn’t clash head-on. Since peaceful coexistence was impossible, then state her position and start choosing sides early.

Whether or not Ji Heng agreed, being able to bluff the opponents was also a good thing.

Ji Heng smiled at her warmly, as if seeing through all her intentions. He brushed away a snowflake that had fallen on his sleeve: “Actually, you needn’t pretend to be docile, A Li.”

The Duke secretly flirts~