In the Jiang residence, Jiang Li stared at Zhao Ke, her gaze unwavering.

At first Zhao Ke said nothing, but in the end, he finally conceded defeat and said, “When this subordinate came to the Jiang residence, eldest Miss Jiang had already passed away. Master had this subordinate guard the Jiang residence, so this subordinate inquired about everything in the Jiang residence that could be discovered. However, inner courtyard conflicts weren’t within this subordinate’s scope of inquiry, so I only gained a rough understanding.”

“Speak,” Jiang Li said.

“Regarding eldest Miss Jiang’s early death, although this subordinate didn’t witness it personally, the first branch of the Jiang family was deeply secretive about it. From that point on, eldest Miss Jiang’s birth mother, Concubine Hu, moved into a side courtyard, and several times she nearly lost her life as well.”

Jiang Li’s gaze sharpened. “What do you mean by that?”

“They were all accidents, but Concubine Hu’s luck was quite good—each time she managed to escape by chance. Later, Old Madam Jiang took pity on her and helped her from time to time. Plus, Concubine Hu occasionally had episodes, so gradually the residence lost track of her presence.”

Jiang Li thought for a moment, then simply asked, “Zhao Ke, just tell me—was eldest Miss Jiang’s death related to Ji Shuran or not?”

Zhao Ke was clearly unaccustomed to discussing such matters with people. He hesitated before saying, “Eight or nine chances out of ten.”

“As I thought…” Jiang Li murmured. She then turned to look at Zhao Ke, her questions becoming increasingly sharp. “Then what about my matter—how much do you know?”

Zhao Ke asked, “What?”

“Back then, my reputation for killing my mother and younger brother spread throughout all of Yanjing City, creating quite an uproar. For the Jiang family, this was also a notable incident. Since you came to the Jiang family as an informant, you couldn’t have overlooked this. Regarding my matter, how much do you know? For instance, why did I push Ji Shuran to miscarry when before that, Ji Shuran and I supposedly had quite a good relationship? I was so young at the time, yet somehow capable of doing such things—perhaps there are some hidden circumstances within all this?”

The events of those years were too distant. Tong’er knew nothing at all, and as for Baixue, she only entered later. It was said that the maids and servants present when the incident occurred had all been driven from the residence for inadequate care. Now, trying to find someone who knew the truth was simply impossible. The only thing left from that incident, besides a thoroughly wicked reputation, was nothing. But Jiang Li herself wasn’t the real Second Miss Jiang and had no memory of that event, so she didn’t know what the truth was at all.

Zhao Ke said, “Second Miss, although this was a major incident for the Jiang family, back then when you went to Qingcheng Mountain, in the eyes of Yanjing people, you were no different from an abandoned child of the Jiang family. Master had this subordinate infiltrate the Jiang family, but wouldn’t expend effort investigating an abandoned child’s affairs.”

Jiang Li fell silent.

Ji Heng’s subordinate truly had the same temperament as Ji Heng—these words were quite impolite indeed. Of course, what he said wasn’t wrong either. A Chief Minister’s daughter, exiled to a nunnery thousands of miles away for spiritual cultivation—no matter how you looked at it, this young miss would likely never return to Yanjing for the rest of her life. For a young miss forgotten by everyone, it would truly be strange to expend too much thought on her.

“Moreover,” Zhao Ke continued, “why is Second Miss Jiang asking this subordinate about these matters? Second Miss herself should know the truth best, shouldn’t she?”

He actually turned it back on her. Ji Heng’s subordinates were apparently all like him—with sharp eyes and an ability to grasp the key points. Jiang Li smiled. “But what I saw back then was also one-sided. I only saw part of the face Ji Shuran was hiding. What I saw wasn’t necessarily the truth—perhaps there are even deeper things behind the truth, isn’t that so?”

Zhao Ke said, “Yes.”

“Zhao Ke, do you truly know nothing at all about Ji Shuran’s miscarriage back then?”

Zhao Ke answered, “This subordinate doesn’t know.”

Jiang Li studied his expression and confirmed he wasn’t lying. Understanding this in her heart, she thought for a moment, then said, “Fine, don’t mention Ji Shuran’s matter anymore. In the next few days, I need you to handle three things for me. First, help me investigate as much as possible about the reasons behind eldest Miss Jiang’s early death back then. If you can’t find out, any trivial matters concerning eldest Miss Jiang should also be made known to me as much as possible. Second, pay more attention recently to whether any extraordinary figures have appeared in Yanjing City. I think Daoist Master Chongxu should have arrived. Third,” she paused, “I need a ventriloquist expert. Your Duke’s residence has many talented individuals from all walks of life. I think you should know quite a few such people.”

After stating these three matters, Zhao Ke’s expression became extremely unpleasant. He didn’t ask Jiang Li why she wanted these things done, but said with obvious reluctance, “Second Miss Jiang, you are not this subordinate’s master.”

“I’m not your master, but your master lent you to me, so I can use you as I please.” Jiang Li smiled. “Otherwise, go back and protest to your master, or leave the Jiang family and have someone else come in your place?”

Zhao Ke felt extremely depressed. He was one of the top talents in the Duke’s residence—whether in martial arts, disguise, or intelligence, everything he possessed was praised by everyone. That was why Master had entrusted him with the dangerous task of infiltrating the Jiang family. Yet now Second Miss Jiang was using him not only without the slightest embarrassment, but quite smoothly at that. Those who didn’t know might think he was her personal servant and she was his proper master.

Using a sledgehammer to crack a nut, using an ox-cleaver to kill a chicken—this was truly outrageous!

But he still didn’t dare tell Ji Heng to send someone else in his place.

Fine, just this once. Moreover, when Master learned he was being ordered about like this, he would surely remind Second Miss Jiang not to go too far, and would surely show consideration for him. Zhao Ke could only helplessly respond, “Fine. If there’s nothing else, this subordinate will take his leave.”

Jiang Li called him back and asked, “What you and I discuss—will you relay it word for word to your master?”

“Second Miss Jiang,” Zhao Ke said solemnly, “Master is this subordinate’s true master.”

“Good.” Jiang Li said, “Then you might as well add one more thing—for matters you cannot investigate, if your master is able to find out, I wonder if he could help handle them?”

Zhao Ke stared at Jiang Li dumbfounded. This person was actually pushing her luck—not only daring to order him around, but even daring to make such unreasonable demands of Master?!

Because the shock he received internally was truly too great, his face couldn’t manage any expression at all. He simply maintained a wooden expression and disappeared from the window.

Jiang Li closed the window and returned to sit on the bed, thinking about what Zhao Ke had said. The events of those years were so difficult to uncover—it seemed to increasingly confirm that Ji Shuran had done quite a few secretive things.

Although she wasn’t the real Second Miss Jiang, it was precisely because of Second Miss Jiang that she had survived. In a certain sense, she could understand Second Miss Jiang’s feelings. She herself couldn’t do anything, but now, perhaps the only thing she could do for Second Miss Jiang was help her find the truth and not bear crimes that didn’t belong to her.

Meanwhile, at the Duke’s residence, when he heard the news Zhao Ke brought back, Lu Ji couldn’t sit still.

“She she she…” The scholar in green robes, who was usually composed and unruffled, now didn’t bother maintaining his calm and composed demeanor, saying urgently, “How can she be so bold?”

Not just bold—she simply didn’t know the immensity of heaven and earth! Look at this—what kind of words were these? Not only making the Duke’s residence’s experts do things for her, she even dared to order Ji Heng around. Had this girl grown up eating the heart and gall of a bear and leopard? Was she born not knowing how to write the word “fear”?

Ji Heng, however, seemed not to take the matter to heart, only musing to himself, “She’s asking about Ji Shuran’s miscarriage?”

“Yes.” Wen Ji answered, “Zhao Ke said Second Miss Jiang asked exactly that.”

“Of the three things she asked Zhao Ke to do, the first two are still conceivable, but the third—finding someone with outstanding ventriloquism skills… what does this mean?” Lu Ji shook his head. “Is she planning to perform magic tricks?”

“The residence has many guests. Lu Ji, go find one,” Ji Heng said.

Lu Ji agreed, but felt puzzled in his heart. Why was it that whatever Jiang Li wanted to do, Ji Heng would grant her every request? At the beginning, Ji Heng hadn’t even cared about Jiang Li’s death. Lu Ji suspected there were other secrets between the two of them. Of course, he wouldn’t pry. But to make Ji Heng show such a great change, Second Miss Jiang was quite remarkable indeed.

“Second Miss Jiang seems to be investigating matters concerning the Ji clan lately,” Lu Ji said. “Could it be she’s planning to move against the Ji clan? Behind the Ji clan is the Ji family, and within the Ji family there’s Noble Consort Li. If Second Miss Jiang moves against the Ji clan, it means moving against Noble Consort Li. Right now Princess Yongning has also come to hate Second Miss Jiang. If Yongning and Noble Consort Li join forces, Second Miss Jiang’s days won’t be easy.” Lu Ji shook his head. “She’s always been shrewd—why would she do such a thing at this critical juncture?”

“She’s been holding it in too long,” Ji Heng said. “By now, she can’t endure it anymore. But that’s fine too—enemies aren’t defeated by patience and tolerance. For her to be like this is actually quite refreshing.”

“Jiang Yuanbai is clever in political affairs, but in family matters, he’s not as good as this daughter of his,” Lu Ji sighed. “Now there’s quite a show to watch.”

Ji Heng stared at the flickering candlelight on the table, a smile playing at his lips, yet his gaze was deep and profound.

Indeed, there was quite a show to watch—because he himself had also begun to grow curious.

…

During Yanjing City’s winter days, sunlight was always precious. Yesterday the sun had come out, but today it seemed as if the good weather was being taken back—early in the morning, cold wind mixed with rain and snow, blowing so hard that the flower branches in the garden couldn’t bear the weight of the accumulated snow, and quite a few broke.

Mingyue and Qingfeng, wearing thick padded jackets, were helping to sweep the broken flower branches in the courtyard into one place. Jiang Li looked out the window. Tong’er said, “Miss, today’s wind and snow are so heavy, let’s not go to the Ye residence, shall we?”

With such heavy wind and snow, apart from common people who had to rush about desperately, anyone from a slightly wealthy household didn’t even need to leave their rooms—it was truly too cold. The charcoal fire inside burned vigorously, and Jiang Li still held a hand warmer, but standing at the courtyard entrance, she still felt the whooshing cold.

“I can’t not go,” Jiang Li looked at the sky. “However, going out right now is indeed inconvenient. I’ll go this afternoon when the snow lightens a bit.”

Tong’er resignedly lowered her head. Jiang Li’s answer was completely within her expectations. Regarding Xue Huaiyuan, regardless of wind or rain, Jiang Li would go visit him. Sometimes she truly didn’t understand—even if her miss was kind-hearted, there were people taking care of County Magistrate Xue. Why couldn’t she let it go?

Just as she was thinking this, Baixue came in from outside and said, “Miss, Concubine Hu is here.”

“Concubine Hu?” Tong’er was startled.

But Jiang Li didn’t seem very surprised. She smiled slightly. “Faster than I expected. Tong’er, go pour tea. Baixue, please invite Concubine Hu in.”

When Concubine Hu arrived, she was still accompanied by the same maid from the other day. She seemed to have only this one maid. After all, although she was a concubine, in truth, hardly anyone in the residence remembered her existence. She only had the title of concubine on the surface.

Concubine Hu and her maid entered Jiang Li’s room together.

Inside and outside the room seemed like two different worlds. Concubine Hu and her maid probably hadn’t felt such warmth in a long time. Jiang Li clearly saw the maid involuntarily move a bit closer to the charcoal fire, greedily absorbing the little bit of warmth in the room.

Jiang Li sighed inwardly. In the depths of winter, this master and servant pair wore only thin cotton garments. It was hard to imagine that in a great family like the Jiang residence, even servants had winter clothing, yet these two lived in such destitution. Although Old Madam Jiang intended to help Concubine Hu, the household authority was ultimately in Ji Shuran’s hands. Old Madam Jiang couldn’t possibly attend to every detail. For Concubine Hu and her servant to fall to such a state—if it wasn’t with Ji Shuran’s tacit approval, Jiang Li wouldn’t believe it.

“It’s cold outside. Concubine Hu, please have some hot tea.” Jiang Li pushed the teacup a bit closer to Concubine Hu.

Concubine Hu took the teacup and drank a mouthful. Only then did she seem to gain some warmth, and her pale complexion showed a bit of color. She said, “Second Miss, this concubine has come today to answer the question Second Miss asked yesterday.”

Jiang Li smiled. Concubine Hu was a clever person. Her failure to answer immediately yesterday was nothing more than weighing the pros and cons. But by today, she had already made her decision. She was also a smart person, it seemed.

“No rush,” Jiang Li smiled. “I said before, whenever Concubine Hu wishes to speak, she may speak. There’s no hurry. I won’t force you.”

“Second Miss has a compassionate heart and naturally wouldn’t force this concubine. However, from what this concubine can see, the fierce battle between Second Miss and the Ji clan will soon begin. This concubine has an irreconcilable enmity with the Ji clan, so naturally I side with Second Miss. Therefore, I’ve come today to express my loyalty to Second Miss.” She said, “This concubine is willing to lend Second Miss a helping hand.”

“Lend me a helping hand?” Jiang Li smiled. “Concubine Hu needn’t speak of it so righteously. Whether it’s lending me a helping hand or using a borrowed knife to kill—it’s just a different way of saying the same thing. Moreover, helping me is the same as helping yourself, isn’t it?”

Concubine Hu looked at Jiang Li for a long moment, then suddenly smiled. When she smiled, she showed a graceful and gentle demeanor. She said, “Second Miss and Madam are truly different.”

The “Madam” she spoke of naturally referred to Ye Zhenzhen.

Jiang Li smiled indifferently. “I didn’t spend much time with my mother. I only know what kind of person she was from what others say. I’ve heard that you and my mother were once close. You probably know.”

“Madam was a good person,” Concubine Hu said softly.

“Because my mother could tolerate your eldest daughter’s existence, but Ji Shi couldn’t, right?”

At these words, everyone in the room fell silent. Tong’er and Baixue didn’t even dare breathe loudly, standing quietly behind Jiang Li.

“Second Miss is too bold,” Concubine Hu said. “Aren’t you afraid Master will hear such words?”

“You think too highly of my father’s hearing and sight,” Jiang Li said indifferently. “If he could truly see and hear everything, so many foolish things wouldn’t have happened in this residence.”

“Second Miss is a person of understanding.” Ji Shi lowered her head and slowly said, “Yue’er falling from the decorative rocks was indeed not an accident.”

“Yue’er” was eldest Miss Jiang’s baby name. In truth, whether it was eldest Miss Jiang’s baby name or formal name, no one in the entire Jiang family seemed to remember anymore. This was merely an illegitimate daughter. Originally, if not for Ye Zhenzhen’s soft heart, she shouldn’t have existed in this world at all. Therefore, when Yue’er finally died, everyone also thought it was fate—a destiny that shouldn’t have allowed her birth. No matter how she struggled, she couldn’t break free from fate.

But whether it was fate or conspiracy, no one continued to care, except for her birth mother.

“Take your time telling me.”

“After I gave birth to Yue’er, Madam later also had Second Miss. Madam treated Yue’er very well. Whatever good things there were, she would give Yue’er a share. Although Yue’er was an illegitimate daughter, actually her treatment wasn’t much different from Second Miss’s. Back then, this concubine felt very fortunate to have met such a good person as Madam. I only wished for Yue’er to grow up safe and sound, marry into an honest family, and live an ordinary life—that would have been good enough.”

“I just didn’t expect Madam to pass away so early. Later, Ji Shi entered the household.” She looked at Jiang Li and smiled self-mockingly. “Although on the surface Ji Shi also appeared extremely gentle and magnanimous, and was also very good to Yue’er, women have a kind of intuition. The way she looked at Yue’er always carried a sense of obstruction.”

“I wanted Yue’er to stay away from her, not to get close to her, but I didn’t expect something would still happen.”

“They made Yue’er into a playmate to accompany Jiang Youyao, but how would ordinary people treat their playmates like that? That day…”

That day, eldest Miss Jiang was playing in the residence with Jiang Youyao. Jiang Youyao was barely two years old, a child who understood nothing. Eldest Miss Jiang didn’t know what she did—in any case, she touched Jiang Youyao somewhere. Ji Shuran flew into a rage and kicked Jiang Yue’er. Eldest Miss Jiang was only four years old. That kick showed no mercy and directly kicked Jiang Yue’er backward. The back of her head struck the threshold, and she died on the spot.

Ji Shuran was only flustered for a moment before immediately making a decision. She only had servants take Jiang Yue’er to the decorative rocks and make it appear as if Jiang Yue’er had carelessly fallen from the decorative rocks, thus losing her life.

“They never thought about it—Yue’er was only four years old. How could she have climbed such tall decorative rocks?” Although Concubine Hu tried her best to speak calmly about the past, her body still couldn’t help trembling slightly. She curled her fingers, grasping randomly as if trying to grasp her daughter who had already disappeared. She said, “My Yue’er died at Ji Shuran’s hands.”

“How did you know?” Jiang Li asked.

“My maid—her name is Baoqin.” She raised her head, indicating the maid standing beside her. “Her twin sister was called Siqi. That day, she was the one following by Yue’er’s side. She was outside and happened to see Ji Shi ordering others to stage the scene. She immediately took advantage of when people weren’t paying attention, ran back to the courtyard, and told me.”

“What about that maid?” Jiang Li asked.

“She’s dead.” Concubine Hu lowered her head. “Everyone in the courtyard that day became scapegoats. Siqi was beaten to death for failing to protect the young miss. I couldn’t save her.”

“You knew about this matter—why didn’t you tell Father?” Jiang Li asked.

“Second Miss, do you think I didn’t tell Master?” Concubine Hu said mockingly. “But no one believed my words. They all said I had gone mad with dementia from losing Yue’er, that I was slandering and framing Ji Shi. They even wanted to send me to a temple. If not for Old Madam remembering our mistress-servant affection and speaking up for me, I’m afraid I would have met with an accident and died an unnatural death on the way to some temple.”

Jiang Li fell silent. After a while, she said, “No one in the residence believed what you said?”

“How could they believe?” Concubine Hu said. “She’s a young miss of the Ji family, now the legitimate wife, gentle and magnanimous, virtuous and kind. No one would believe she would harm an illegitimate miss who didn’t obstruct her at all. Perhaps… maybe some people sensed something unnatural about it, but at that time, the Ji family was rising rapidly. Who would offend the Ji family marriage alliance over someone already dead? Second Miss, you also live in the Jiang family. You should understand personal relationships and interests even more clearly than I do. They also have familial affection, but even that bit of affection must consider advantages and disadvantages. In the face of interests, it’s very fragile.”

She spoke as if crying and laughing. Yet Jiang Li seemed able to see through this woman whose youth had passed, glimpsing the full measure of resentment and sorrow on her face.

Concubine Hu calmed herself for a while before saying softly, “In this residence, there should have been one person who would believe me—Madam. Unfortunately, she had already died. This might be my karmic retribution.”

“What do you mean?” Jiang Li sensitively detected another meaning in her words.

“Second Miss, I’ve kept this matter buried in my heart for many years.” Concubine Hu smiled bitterly. “In this residence, everyone avoids me like the plague. I haven’t been able to tell this secret to anyone else. But now that you’ve come, I think you should also know about this matter. Actually, Madam’s death back then was not accidental.”

Upon hearing this, Jiang Li felt as if a basin of cold water had been poured over her head. In the already cold weather, it was even more bone-chillingly cold. Her smile disappeared completely. She only asked, “Concubine Hu, you must speak clearly.”

Concubine Hu seemed not to notice the change in Jiang Li’s expression and continued on her own, “Back then, when Ji Shi had just entered the household, at first I thought that as long as I behaved gently and submissively, Ji Shi would spare us mother and daughter and not trouble us. At that time, I often tried to please Ji Shi, giving her food I had made, embroidery, and such. One day, I overheard Ji Shi speaking with her old nanny. What they discussed was the physician who had treated Madam originally—he had now returned to Yanjing City, and they needed to find someone to silence him.”

“What did you say?” Jiang Li frowned. “Wasn’t my mother’s death due to her body being weak from giving birth to me?” It was said that the original Second Miss Jiang felt extremely guilty precisely because of this. If not for desperately giving birth to herself, Ye Zhenzhen wouldn’t have passed away so early.

“A weak body can be slowly nursed back to health with care,” Concubine Hu said. “But Madam’s health during that half year declined day by day. At the time, we didn’t think much of it, but that day, I suddenly sensed something was wrong. After Madam died, several of Madam’s personal maids also left the Jiang residence for various reasons—either needing to return home to care for seriously ill mothers, or leaving the residence to marry. Within half a year, there was no further news of any of them. Even the maids by your side, Second Miss, that Madam left for you—there aren’t any left now.”

“Thinking about it now, it must have been Ji Shi who bribed those maids and the treating physician, tampering with Madam’s medicinal meals to cause Madam’s death.”

Jiang Li shook her head. “But there was no need for that. Father only took an interest in Ji Shi after my mother passed away. At that time, Ji Shi was still unmarried. Throughout all of Yanjing City, given the Ji family’s status, although they couldn’t find a family as distinguished as the Jiang family, ordinary officials’ sons would still be more than sufficient. There was no need to become a second wife here.”

“This is also what this concubine doesn’t understand.” Confusion also showed on Concubine Hu’s face. “If we say Ji Shi had admired Master before and thus used such vicious methods, it still doesn’t make sense. Ji Shi and Master had never met before.”

Jiang Li said nothing.

“After learning of this matter, this concubine didn’t dare make it public, only fearing that the more secrets I knew, the faster I would die.” Concubine Hu said, “I thought, as long as I could protect Yue’er until she grew up, I would pretend not to know these things and let them rot in my belly—that would be best. I never thought…” She smiled bitterly. “This is Heaven’s punishment for me. Madam treated me so well ordinarily, yet I couldn’t seek justice for her. So I deserved to lose Yue’er. This is my own fault, the consequences of my own actions.”

Jiang Li looked at her. She knew Concubine Hu was heartbroken, but she couldn’t continue sympathizing with Concubine Hu anymore. If Concubine Hu had revealed even a little bit of these matters back then, if the real Second Miss Jiang had developed a guard against Ji Shuran, the final tragedy wouldn’t have occurred. Although in everyone’s eyes now, this Second Miss Jiang had everything except a bad reputation from the past, only Jiang Li knew that the real Second Miss Jiang no longer existed in this world.

The daughter Ye Zhenzhen wanted to protect hadn’t survived in the Jiang family.

“Second Miss, I know you resent me. I don’t expect you to forgive me either. However, I will naturally bear my own sins, but Ji Shi has two lives on her conscience yet still lives like a fish in water. I’m not willing to accept this.” This time, she didn’t even call herself “this concubine” anymore. She said, “I’ve endured for so many years. I’ve thought about dying together with her, but I can’t even get close to her. I have no silver and can’t command servants. To put it bluntly, even if I wanted to poison her, I don’t have money to buy arsenic. I also feel that letting Ji Shi die like this would be too easy for her. Even if I killed her, others would only say I was vicious and ruthless, killing the household’s mistress, so my Yue’er deserved not to live long. But what about Ji Shi? She would still have a virtuous reputation, dying gloriously even in death. That’s not what I want.”

Jiang Li looked at her and said, “What are you trying to say by telling me all this?”

“Second Miss, I know you led the people of Tong County to beat the drum at Chang’an Gate, seeking redress for a complete stranger. You were able to clear his name. Setting aside Yue’er, Madam was your birth mother. You must have a way to prove Madam’s death was innocent, don’t you?”

“What about you then?” Jiang Li asked. “Concubine Hu, what can you do?”

“I can… give everything.” In the eyes of that woman who was like stagnant water, the flames of revenge gradually burst forth. Like a lioness whose cub had been taken by hunters, she blazed with the madness of mutual destruction. She said, “Including my life.”

She suddenly stood up, faced Jiang Li, and knelt down.

“This concubine begs Second Miss.”

Looking at her, Jiang Li didn’t know why, but she thought of herself in the Shen residence back then, locked up and with nowhere to turn.

Unable even to achieve mutual destruction.

She said, “Concubine Hu, rise. I agree to help you—not for your sake. But because Ji Shi must die.”

She should pay the price.