In the following days, after finding Haitang’s whereabouts, Jiang Li actually calmed down.
Just as she’d told Ji Heng, among the living witnesses left in this world, aside from Haitang, Xiao Deyin counted as one. However, how to make Xiao Deyin speak the truth was also a troublesome matter. How Xiao Deyin had originally drugged her, or rather, how Xiao Deyin reached a unified purpose with Princess Yongning, remained unknown. Presumably this wasn’t just Xiao Deyin’s own idea. If Princess Yongning hadn’t been backing her up, Xiao Deyin wouldn’t have dared make moves at the Shen mansion for the time being—she was someone who cared about her reputation. Once exposed, her pure and innocent reputation would no longer be preserved.
She had to start with Xiao Deyin.
Getting up in the morning, for once it wasn’t snowing, though mist hung thick everywhere. Mingyue came in from outside, smiling. “Miss, Sister Zhenzhu from Old Madam’s side came by earlier. She said in another two days, the new clothes the tailor made will be finished. She asked if Miss wants any jewelry—you can go to the jewelry building to have some made.”
Jiang Li smiled. “That won’t be necessary. So many things have already been sent over this period.”
Perhaps now she was the young lady in the Jiang mansion’s main branch who received the most guilt-driven attention. For a time she lacked nothing, with everyone running over to care for her. Even Lu Shi from the second branch, whenever she saw her, would invite her into the courtyard to sit and have some snacks. Probably thinking that no matter what, Jiang Li had brought down Ji Shuran, whom she looked down upon most, so had helped her after all. Now wasn’t the household management power in Lu Shi’s hands?
Jiang Li had no ill feelings toward the second branch and politely accepted everything from Lu Shi. In comparison, she was more wary of the third branch. Currently, Jiang Yuanxing and Yang Shi both showed indifference toward both the main and second branches. Jiang Yuanxing had become increasingly silent, and Jiang Yuyan hadn’t been seen many times either. Calculating the time, Jiang Li figured that after New Year passed, it wouldn’t be long before Shen Ruyun married into Marquis Ningyuan’s mansion. In other words, Jiang Yu’e’s good days were probably coming to an end.
Regardless of how things were now between Jiang Yu’e and Zhou Yanbang—whether passionately in love or coldly respectful—Shen Ruyun would absolutely not allow Jiang Yu’e to be wedged between them. She would certainly find ways to torment Jiang Yu’e, and Jiang Yu’e was no pushover either. In terms of pleasing and ingratiating herself, she was probably a bit stronger than Shen Ruyun.
Evil people had their own evil to grind them down. It seemed Marquis Ningyuan’s mansion would have quite a period of unrest ahead.
Putting on her outer robe, Jiang Li glanced at herself in the mirror, felt satisfied, and said, “Let’s go.”
Mingyue asked curiously, “Miss is going out this early?”
Jiang Li smiled. “To see Uncle.”
Knowing that Jiang Li had a very good relationship with her uncle Ye Mingyu, the maids understood. Every few days Jiang Li would make a trip to the Ye mansion, and the Jiang family no longer stopped her now. Though Ji Shuran’s scandalous deeds had spread, somehow the true cause of Ye Zhenzhen’s death hadn’t become known. Therefore, the Ye family still didn’t know there were other suspicious circumstances surrounding Ye Zhenzhen’s death. Probably feeling guilty toward the Ye family, Jiang Yuanbai sometimes even went so far as to tell Jiang Li that if the Ye family needed anything, or if Ye Shijie needed help with something, they could come find him.
He should be wanting to compensate the Ye family, so Jiang Li’s frequent visits to the Ye family had instead become even more natural and proper.
Jiang Li left the house. The carriage went straight to the Ye mansion gates. The young servant at the entrance saw the Jiang family carriage and without a word first opened the main gate to welcome them, coming forward with a beaming smile. “Cousin Miss has arrived!”
Just like family. Jiang Li also felt very warmly toward them. Today was the day Situ Jiuyue would treat Xue Huaiyuan, and also the day Haitang would come see Xue Huaiyuan. Previously Jiang Li had promised Haitang she would let her see Xue Huaiyuan. After speaking with Ji Heng about it, the day was set for today.
Ye Mingyu had just returned from practicing martial arts, dripping with sweat. Seeing Jiang Li, he said, “Ah Li, the kitchen has beef bone soup simmering. Want some?”
“I’ve already eaten, Uncle.” Jiang Li glanced around and asked, “Has Cousin Ye not returned from court yet?”
“No,” Ye Mingyu scratched his head. “He’s quite busy—won’t be back until evening. Miss Jiuyue is coming today to treat County Magistrate Xue. You’re also here to see County Magistrate Xue, right?”
“To see him in passing—I came specifically to deliver New Year gifts to Uncle.” Jiang Li smiled. Bai Xue was directing the Ye mansion’s young servants to unload goods from the carriage.
“New Year gifts?” Ye Mingyu was startled.
“Father and Grandmother had me deliver them,” Jiang Li explained.
Ye Mingyu snorted. In earlier years they didn’t send New Year gifts, and the two families were like strangers. Now they suddenly remembered to send New Year gifts—truly baffling. However, one doesn’t hit a smiling face. When people proactively came to deliver gifts, one couldn’t be rude about it, especially since the person delivering them was Jiang Li, his own niece. Ye Mingyu said stiffly, “Fine. Please thank your father and Old Madam for me. In a few days I’ll buy New Year gifts and send them back to the Jiang mansion.”
Jiang Li knew about Ye Mingyu’s knot regarding the Jiang family, so she smiled and changed the subject. The two walked to Xue Huaiyuan’s courtyard.
Xue Huaiyuan sat in the courtyard wearing a thick fur coat, reading a book. The fur coat was made from tiger skin Ye Mingyu had hunted in the past. Seeing it draped on Xue Huaiyuan, Jiang Li didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. Xue Huaiyuan was such a refined and elegant person—wearing such an imposingly majestic garment looked thoroughly incongruous. Yet Ye Mingyu thought it excellent: “This tiger fur coat is very warm! Wearing the skin of the king of beasts gives one strength and vigor, gaining the beast king’s fierceness. Look—isn’t County Magistrate Xue’s health getting better day by day?”
Seeing his high spirits, Jiang Li couldn’t bear to dampen them and could only go along with his words. Seeing Xue Huaiyuan’s reading posture, her gaze grew sorrowful again. “He still can’t understand it?”
“Can’t understand it. All day staring at that one page. If I didn’t pay attention, I’d really think he was reading and had already recovered his wits.” He sighed again. “Scholars are scholars. Even after losing his wits, he still knows to hold a book and won’t let go. Shows he has great character.”
Jiang Li looked at Xue Huaiyuan’s figure. Aside from that fur coat that was thoroughly unsuited to Xue Huaiyuan, his current silhouette almost overlapped with his past silhouette. Jiang Li seemed to see her former father, sitting just like this in the courtyard, holding a book, concentrating on reading. She’d call out “Father,” and he’d turn his head, smiling and asking, “What is it, Little Fox?”
Past and present met again, but neither she nor Father remained as they’d been before.
As she fell silent, Ah Shun suddenly came over. “Master, Cousin Miss, Miss Jiuyue has arrived.”
Ye Mingyu laughed heartily. “Perfect timing—you can meet face to face.”
Situ Jiuyue quickly arrived. This time she didn’t come alone—beside her was a veiled woman. Ye Mingyu found this strange for a moment. Looking at the woman, she didn’t seem like a maid, so he asked, “This is…”
“This servant was once a servant of the Xue family,” Haitang spoke. “Later I followed Miss when she married and then became separated from Miss for various reasons. Hearing that Master is at the mansion, this servant came specifically to see Master.”
“A Xue family maid?” Ye Mingyu was startled and looked at Jiang Li. Jiang Li nodded at him, and Ye Mingyu said nothing more. He wasn’t as familiar with Xue family matters as Jiang Li. Since Jiang Li thought there was no problem, naturally there was no problem.
Ye Mingyu glanced at Situ Jiuyue, then at Jiang Li, and very sensibly said, “You talk—I’ll go outside to drink soup.”
Jiang Li nodded with a smile, and Ye Mingyu left the courtyard.
Situ Jiuyue took silver needles from a wooden box. Haitang had already walked before Xue Huaiyuan. Xue Huaiyuan was concentrating on “reading” his book when he suddenly sensed someone had walked before him. He immediately raised his head and looked at Haitang.
Haitang’s eyes reddened. “Master!”
Xue Huaiyuan only examined her with strange curiosity, not saying anything. Haitang’s tears couldn’t be held back and flowed out all at once. She’d long since learned from the Duke’s mansion servants everything that had happened to Xue Huaiyuan, including how Xue Huaiyuan had been tortured by Feng Yutang. If not for Jiang Li, Xue Huaiyuan would probably have already been killed by Feng Yutang in Tongxiang.
In just a few short years, the original upright Xue family no longer existed. A perfectly good family—the dead were dead, the mad were mad. An enormous grief arose in Haitang’s heart. Unable to restrain herself, she sobbed aloud.
Jiang Li sighed and walked to Haitang’s side. Xue Huaiyuan recognized Jiang Li. Seeing her appear, he immediately moved closer with a silly smile. Jiang Li smiled. “County Magistrate Xue.” She also took Haitang’s hand, pulled out a handkerchief from her bosom, tucked it into Haitang’s hand, and said softly, “Don’t cry anymore. Wipe your tears.”
Haitang held back and held back, finally suppressing her sobs. She took Jiang Li’s handkerchief to wipe her tears and said to Jiang Li, “Thank you, Second Miss Jiang.”
“You see, County Magistrate Xue is currently like this. Miss Jiuyue has been treating him continuously. Perhaps one day he can recover his wits, or perhaps…” She didn’t continue. Everyone understood.
Haitang choked out, “I’m just too heartbroken. Seeing Master suffer, I’m heartbroken to the extreme. If Miss and Young Master were still here and saw this scene, who knows how tormented their hearts would be. Now that Miss and Young Master have both passed, perhaps this is actually a good thing.” She laughed self-deprecatingly. “Why do good people never receive good rewards?”
“Because the justice of this world is still currently the justice of bad people.” Jiang Li’s voice was gentle, as if it could smooth over all the pain in one’s heart. She said unhurriedly, “It’s alright. You see, at least County Magistrate Xue is still alive now. At first, County Magistrate Xue nearly got killed. As long as one lives, there’s hope. Everything will get better. You must believe this. I think your Miss and Young Master also believed this.”
Haitang nodded.
Seeing the two had finished talking, Situ Jiuyue didn’t delay. She immediately came to apply needles to Xue Huaiyuan. Xue Huaiyuan had grown accustomed to this happening every few days and wasn’t as resistant as at first. He obediently let Situ Jiuyue work on him.
As Situ Jiuyue applied needles, she spoke with Jiang Li. Jiang Li asked, “Miss Jiuyue, has County Magistrate Xue improved somewhat compared to before?”
“Indeed so,” Situ Jiuyue said. “He’s now begun to consciously do things he habitually did before, such as reading books. Though he’s not truly reading, his actions already show that the memories within his body are slowly being awakened. This is a lengthy process, but as long as there’s this sign, from now on he’ll gradually remember more and more, until he remembers who he is. Then his missing memories and wits can be recovered.”
Both Jiang Li and Haitang were delighted beyond measure.
As long as Xue Huaiyuan still had hope of recovery, one day Jiang Li would acknowledge him. However… her gaze caught sight of Haitang beside her. Jiang Li thought for a moment and asked, “Miss Jiuyue, may I ask if the injuries on Haitang’s face can still be treated?”
“I asked her. She said it’s not necessary,” Situ Jiuyue said.
Jiang Li asked with surprise, “Why not necessary?”
Haitang’s expression dimmed. She said, “Second Miss Jiang needn’t waste your thoughts on me. The scars on my face are so severe—they certainly can’t be healed. At most the scars might fade slightly. Rather than feeling hopeful then disappointed, better not to hope from the start. Moreover,” she smiled faintly, “my only wish now is for County Magistrate Xue to recover, and to avenge my Miss. Appearance has no other use for me.”
Though Haitang spoke lightly, Jiang Li still heard disappointment in her tone. Calculating, Haitang was now at the age perfect for marrying and bearing children. Though a person’s feelings didn’t lie in appearance, such looks would make whatever Haitang did in the future much more difficult. It would also make her bear much pain she shouldn’t have to bear.
“Miss Jiuyue is a divine physician,” Jiang Li said. “You haven’t even tried—why give up? When County Magistrate Xue was just rescued, everyone thought he wouldn’t live many more days. But look now—isn’t he gradually getting better? Compared to County Magistrate Xue, your hope of healing the scars on your face is much greater.”
Haitang stared blankly at Jiang Li. Jiang Li’s tone was gentle yet firm, making people involuntarily want to believe her, believe they could get better.
“I’m no divine physician. I’ve said long ago—I’m not good at saving people. What I’m good at is making poison,” Situ Jiuyue said without looking up as she inserted the last needle. “However, the injuries on her face aren’t entirely without remedy. I have a way to restore her to her former appearance.”
Hearing this, Jiang Li immediately asked, “Is this true?”
Haitang’s eyes also brightened. What girl in this world didn’t love beauty? Especially those originally beautiful who suddenly encountered catastrophe and became ugly—they’d use every means possible wanting to recover their former beauty.
“I never speak falsely.” Situ Jiuyue looked at Haitang, a smile suddenly appearing on her face. Though she looked sweet, her attitude was always somewhat cold. When she smiled, it always held a trace of cunning, as if hiding some wicked thoughts. She said, “Only my method isn’t that of ordinary physicians.”
Jiang Li asked, “What method?”
“I’m skilled in making poison. For the injuries on her face, poison can indeed fight poison. In Molan there’s a type of poison spider. When it bites people, the saliva it secretes can heal external injuries and restore skin to its original appearance. This poison spider is extremely hard to find—one might not see even one in ten years. I happen to be raising one.”
Having a poison spider apply poison to someone—hearing this sounded truly hair-raising. But as if this weren’t enough, Situ Jiuyue continued, “When this poison spider bites people, it hurts terribly. As for how much? Probably feels like a hundred needles stabbing you simultaneously. Not only does it hurt, it also itches—itches unbearably. You can’t scratch with your hands, or all will be for naught. Not only won’t it heal, it’ll cause your skin to fester and you’ll die. But as long as you endure without scratching and get through this ordeal, you can return to your former appearance.” Speaking to this point, a trace of pride appeared on her face. “The Molan royal family raises these spiders. If female family members have their appearances destroyed by accident, they can use the poison spider to restore their looks. Only under the pain and itching, very few ultimately succeed in restoring their appearance. Most die because they can’t endure the suffering midway and scratch with their hands.”
After this speech from Situ Jiuyue, Jiang Li wondered if this young lady was deliberately scaring Haitang, but looking at her expression, it didn’t seem like a joke.
Situ Jiuyue looked at Haitang and asked, “Well, have you decided?”
Through the veil, Jiang Li could sense Haitang’s suddenly pale expression. Yet she only fell silent for a moment before saying, “Yes.”
Situ Jiuyue’s gaze flashed. “You’re not afraid? That process is very agonizing. If you can’t endure it, you might die. I heard you still need to vindicate your Miss. For the sake of restoring your own appearance, you’re willing to gamble with your life, not caring whether you can preserve your life to testify for your Miss?”
Jiang Li thought to herself that Situ Jiuyue’s words were truly too heart-piercing. This was undoubtedly making Haitang feel even worse. However, Haitang wasn’t rendered speechless by Situ Jiuyue’s words. Instead, she said calmly, “No. Precisely because I must vindicate Miss, if I can heal my scars and restore my appearance, then others will recognize that I’m truly a Xue family maid. Otherwise, even if one day Miss’s case comes to light and I come forward to testify, with my appearance destroyed, perhaps they won’t acknowledge my identity and will say I’m impersonating a Xue family maid. Then what I say won’t be believed.”
Situ Jiuyue looked at Haitang and snorted lightly, showing an indeterminate expression.
“Moreover,” Haitang smiled, “I will endure. Since I could endure the pain of losing my appearance, now that I can restore my appearance, what does this pain matter? I can bear it. Only, Miss Jiuyue,” she asked, “can I truly completely return to my former appearance?”
Situ Jiuyue said, “Of course. My poison spider—in all of Northern Yan another would be hard to find. If you can endure, within one month you’ll certainly return to your former appearance.”
“In that case,” Haitang bowed deeply in thanks, “many thanks to Miss Jiuyue.”
“No need to thank me,” Situ Jiuyue put away the wooden box and walked out, tossing back a sentence. “Wait until you’ve endured before saying so!”
Left in the courtyard, Jiang Li worriedly said to Haitang, “Are you… truly decided?”
“I’ve decided, Second Miss Jiang,” Haitang instead smiled. “You needn’t worry for me. What I said is all truth. I endured the pain of personally taking a knife to scar my face—this truly isn’t anything compared to that. Moreover, after I restore my appearance, not only will no one be able to say I’m not Haitang in the future, but for me, isn’t this also a good thing? Earlier Second Miss Jiang said you hoped I could restore my appearance and even encouraged me to seek treatment. How is it that now you’re hesitating instead?”
“That was…” That was because she didn’t know restoring appearance carried such great risk, even endangering life.
“It’s fine.” Haitang looked at Xue Huaiyuan sitting in the courtyard. “I believe Heaven won’t remain blind forever. Master endured—I can endure too. Really.”
Jiang Li looked at her for a long time before finally nodding. “Alright. You must… be very careful.”
After returning from the Ye mansion, Jiang Li seemed somewhat gloomy.
Both Bai Xue and Tong’er noticed but didn’t dare disturb her. In her room, Jiang Li thought about everything that had happened at the Ye mansion during the day—truly mixed joy and sorrow.
The joy was that Xue Huaiyuan was gradually recovering, and Haitang might restore her appearance. The sorrow was that in the process of restoring her appearance, Haitang might lose her life. This made Jiang Li somewhat restless. Haitang had endured tremendous hardship to survive and had reached this state because of herself. No matter what, Jiang Li hoped she could live. If something happened because of herself again, Jiang Li would truly feel guilty for a lifetime.
Speaking of which, that Haitang would be so determined was ultimately because she desperately wanted to vindicate Xue Fangfei and expose Yongning’s true face to the world. She herself and those around her had been displaced and driven mad because of Yongning. As the chief culprit, Yongning was absolutely unforgivable.
She must be punished.
At this moment in the Princess’s mansion, lamplight flickered anxiously everywhere.
In winter, the Princess’s mansion remained warm as spring. The melons and fruits displayed on the tables were actually products not of this season. Such precious things could only be afforded at the Princess’s mansion. Even the agarwood burning on the table was an extremely luxurious thing.
Princess Yongning reclined languidly on the couch. The silk gauze gown she wore flashed tiny glints of light under the lamplight. This was beauty only she could exclusively enjoy, yet now Yanjing City had inexplicably produced a type of “rippling water pattern.” Though not as expensive as her silk gauze and affordable even for ordinary wealthy families, it was more shimmering and dazzling than her silk gauze garments—truly stunning.
She’d always loved things she alone could enjoy and was unwilling to wear the lowly rippling water pattern together with these commoners of Yanjing City, these merchants inferior to her. But the former silk gauze no longer captured eyes as before. Her heart also felt somewhat depressed.
Only Shen Yurun could improve her mood slightly.
“Shen Lang,” she called, while gently resting her head on Shen Yurun’s shoulder, the very picture of a young woman in love. Those familiar with her would certainly be greatly shocked to see this—Princess Yongning could show such tender affection.
Shen Yurun stroked her long hair, gazing at the dancing candlelight before him, not knowing what he was thinking.
But Princess Yongning felt somewhat unhappy. Ever since Xue Huaiyuan’s case reached Yanjing City, at court deliberations that bitch Jiang Li had dared involve even her. Though it was later proven false, with everyone gossiping, she didn’t dare associate too closely with Shen Yurun anymore.
To be precise, it was Shen Yurun who’d personally told her they must temporarily keep their distance and couldn’t be as before, lest others catch hold of evidence.
Princess Yongning was both angry and aggrieved. Previously Shen Yurun had clearly promised her he’d become her prince consort—even Consort Liu had approved. If not for the Tongxiang case emerging, they’d now already be betrothed, perhaps even already husband and wife.
Why must it be like now—hiding and concealing, as if unable to face the light!
The more Princess Yongning thought about it, the more unpleasant she felt. She turned sideways to nestle in Shen Yurun’s embrace. “Shen Lang, when will you marry me?”
Shen Yurun’s movement stroking her long hair paused slightly. After a moment, he said gently, “Didn’t we discuss this? For now, we cannot. The Tongxiang case just passed not long ago. You were implicated in it—inevitably it becomes fodder for gossip.”
“But that’s already been proven false! Besides, no one dares gossip about me behind my back!” Princess Yongning said impatiently.
Her patience was truly running out. Every time they were about to succeed, something would emerge midway to disrupt matters. Even the best patience was nearly worn flat.
Shen Yurun looked at her without speaking.
Under his indifferent gaze, Princess Yongning felt inexplicably guilty. Though Jiang Li saying at court deliberations that Feng Yutang’s backer was Princess Yongning was utter nonsense, Princess Yongning herself knew she had done those things. Torturing Xue Huaiyuan, killing Xue Zhao, framing Xue Fangfei—she’d done it all. Shen Yurun also knew. She couldn’t act perfectly justified.
But she was just unwilling to accept it.
Xue Huaiyuan in the Tongxiang case implicated Xue Fangfei, which implicated her. As long as she and Shen Yurun were together in the future, people would inevitably think of this episode, think of Xue Fangfei’s death, Xue Huaiyuan’s imprisonment, and her relationship with them. They’d easily think of her reason for doing this.
This was an unavoidable fact. As long as she married Shen Yurun, she would certainly encounter this point. But she couldn’t possibly not marry Shen Yurun.
For Princess Yongning, others’ gossip wasn’t important. She could even privately find people to utterly eliminate those gossiping behind her back, or pull out their tongues so they could never speak again. She’d always been like this. No one could stop her from doing what she wanted. If anyone tried to stop her, just eliminate them.
But not Shen Yurun. Shen Yurun couldn’t tolerate others’ gossip and speculation, suspicion of him. His official career also had to be spotlessly clean without the slightest flaw, let alone possible crimes.
This was the contradiction between her and Shen Yurun. To resolve this contradiction, one of them necessarily had to compromise to the other. Princess Yongning was unwilling to compromise to Shen Yurun because she didn’t want to keep waiting like this. But Shen Yurun was also very stubborn—he couldn’t possibly compromise to her now.
Finally, Princess Yongning looked away, extended both arms, wrapped them around Shen Yurun’s neck, and said coquettishly, “Fine, I understand. You needn’t look at me with a long face. Delay a bit, delay a bit—I’ll wait for you. But you mustn’t go back on your word.”
“Naturally not.”
Shen Yurun smiled and tapped her nose, as if very indulgently, only a trace of obscure restlessness flashed through his eyes.
Therefore, naturally he didn’t notice that the woman nestled in his embrace—her smile wasn’t truly radiant, but harbored other thoughts, continuously taking root and sprouting.
Both harboring hidden agendas.