“Xue Fangfei.”

His motion of pouring tea paused slightly as he looked toward Jiang Li. Jiang Li responded calmly. She answered so readily because she had no other excuse with which to prevaricate. How else could she explain Princess Yongning calling her “Xue Fangfei” in the dungeon?

Jiang Li thought that actually, Ji Heng already had the answer in his heart. Her excessive attention to the Xue family, her familiarity with Xiangyang’s Tongxiang, and all the unreasonable things happening to Second Miss Jiang—but if she were Xue Fangfei, everything became reasonable. Ji Heng couldn’t possibly not have thought of this. Deceiving Ji Heng would also be an unwise act, because he was very clearheaded and wouldn’t be deceived by anyone.

So she wouldn’t waste her effort.

Ji Heng continued pouring tea. The clear tea water filled the snow-white cup, presenting a spring-like color. He asked, “Where is Second Miss Jiang?”

Jiang Li said, “I am Second Miss Jiang.”

This time, Ji Heng smiled. He said, “What do you mean?”

“I am Xue Fangfei, and I am also Second Miss Jiang. After being strangled to death by Princess Yongning’s servant at the Shen residence, when I woke up, I was already at Mount Qingcheng. The people around me told me I was Second Miss Jiang. Only then did I learn I was the daughter of Yanjing’s Chief Minister, sent to Mount Qingcheng to reflect on my sins for killing my mother and younger brother.”

Ji Heng raised an eyebrow: “Are you saying you didn’t change your appearance?”

Jiang Li smiled slightly: “That would be quite difficult. If you don’t believe it, the Duke can have someone examine me. Miss Jiuyue can verify it.”

Her face was pure white and lovely under the lamplight, her skin so delicate it seemed it would break at a touch—it didn’t look fake. If it were such a face, having someone’s hands pinch and examine it would likely make one feel reluctant and regretful.

“Are you suggesting this is a tale of supernatural forces and strange spirits?”

Jiang Li lowered her head and said softly, “I already warned the Duke that if I spoke, the Duke very likely wouldn’t believe me and would think I was lying.”

After a moment of silence, Ji Heng’s voice sounded. He said noncommittally, “I don’t think you’re lying.”

Jiang Li raised her head. He was still smiling. Jiang Li couldn’t help but say, “Doesn’t the Duke find what I’m saying utterly absurd?”

Even Jiang Li herself, when she was first at Mount Qingcheng, constantly questioned whether this might be an illusion. Perhaps Xue Fangfei’s entire life was just an overly realistic dream. If she hadn’t later returned to Yanjing City and confirmed that Shen Yurun and Xue Fangfei truly existed there, she would probably have often fallen into the confusion of doubting herself. Who could believe that a dead person would one day wake up and become another person?

She didn’t even dare to think about whether, even if she told Xue Huaiyuan she was Xue Fangfei, he would believe her or think she was speaking nonsense.

“Absurd is absurd, but many truths in this world are inherently absurd.” Ji Heng spoke casually.

He wasn’t shocked by this matter, nor did he look at Jiang Li with strange eyes. His attitude toward Jiang Li was almost no different from before.

“So after you became Jiang Li, you went straight after Shen Yurun and Princess Yongning for revenge, a fight to the death?”

Jiang Li smiled bitterly: “What else could I do? What happened in the past has already occurred. I couldn’t let the Xue family suffer in vain. Since heaven showed mercy and gave me another chance at life, naturally I had to seek revenge.”

Ji Heng nodded: “That makes sense.”

“What about the Duke then?” Jiang Li couldn’t help but ask. “After knowing this, won’t you think I’m an inauspicious person, something frightening?”

“Inauspicious person?” Ji Heng raised an eyebrow, as if finding her words quite interesting. He said, “You died once and could still come back to life. This is called a fortunate person. The truly inauspicious people are those who don’t even have the chance for rebirth.”

Hearing this, Jiang Li was stunned. She felt that Ji Heng’s words seemed to be referring to someone else as well. She was silent for a moment, then said, “The Duke now knows the truth. Everything I’ve done is because I am Xue Fangfei. I had to do these things. If the Duke believes what I’m saying is true, can we no longer pursue that agreement between us?”

Ji Heng looked at her with a half-smile: “Are you trying to cross the river and demolish the bridge, being ungrateful?”

Jiang Li blushed with shame. In this matter, she indeed wasn’t acting properly. Ji Heng had helped her too many times, yet she only told him one truth and wanted to go separate ways, as if she were an ungrateful person.

“If there’s anything I can help with, I will certainly repay you with all my effort,” Jiang Li said earnestly.

“You’ve said that many times already,” Ji Heng waved his hand. “But it’s of no use.”

“Not necessarily.” Jiang Li smiled. “If the Prince of Xia returns to the capital, perhaps the Jiang family can also contribute to the Duke’s plans.”

Ji Heng’s smile gradually faded. He turned to look at Jiang Li. “Little one, do you know what you’re saying?”

“Prince Cheng will soon rise in rebellion. The two generals of Yanjing are currently guarding the borders, and their forces are not connected. General Zhaode will certainly return to the capital for rescue.” Jiang Li said, “Duke, isn’t this the moment you’ve been waiting for?”

After much thought, she felt that everything Ji Heng was doing, including previously stabilizing the situation and then actively breaking it, forcing Prince Cheng to rebel prematurely, was all to draw out this Prince of Xia. But Old General Ji’s extreme secrecy about the Prince of Xia made Jiang Li even more certain there must be some problem here.

Ji Heng laughed softly, looking at Jiang Li: “I heard Xue Fangfei had an embroidered heart, was ice-snow clever. Originally I didn’t believe it, but now it seems it’s true.”

In his gaze was undisguised admiration. Jiang Li smiled: “I know—the Duke used to think I was a wooden beauty.”

“Xue Fangfei certainly isn’t a wooden beauty. It’s just that Shen Yurun turned her into one.” Ji Heng said with a light smile, “So Shen Yurun’s ability only extends this far. He lacked vision.”

“I don’t think so. He just had vision that was a bit too far-reaching, so much that he stumbled.” When Jiang Li spoke of Shen Yurun now, she no longer had a trace of conflict or unwillingness. Strangely, without realizing it, her feelings for Shen Yurun had, after she became Jiang Li, slowly worn away completely on this path of revenge. To her, Shen Yurun was just a superfluous passerby in her life. Now that he was gone, it was best if he never returned.

“You don’t hate him anymore?” Ji Heng asked.

“What if I hate him? What if I love him? What he owes me can at most be repaid up to this point—paying with his life. There’s nothing more beyond that.” Jiang Li said.

Ji Heng said, “That makes sense.” He held up his tea cup. “Shall we drink?”

Jiang Li smiled. She also raised her tea cup. Using tea as wine, the rain outside continued pattering incessantly. Spring rain like wine, emotions like wine—the two tea cups clinked in the air with a crisp sound.

She tilted her head back and drank the tea in one gulp, as if drinking down all the bitterness belonging to Xue Fangfei. Ji Heng drank slowly, with elegant posture, as if it truly contained fine nectar.

“The previous agreement is void.” Ji Heng’s voice was lazy and light, like the intoxicating spring breeze at night, reaching Jiang Li’s ears. He said, “From now on, Second Miss Jiang, you are free.”

Jiang Li knew what he meant. The Xue family’s case was settled. From now on, Xue Fangfei’s past truly ended completely. She would become the true Second Miss Jiang and continue living in this world. This play had also completely concluded. As a spectator, when the song ended and people dispersed, Ji Heng naturally wouldn’t remain in place. Their previous interactions would probably end here. It was over.

In Jiang Li’s heart flashed an extremely light sense of loss. Although at first she had been guarded and suspicious of Ji Heng, carefully interacting or making transactions, in fact, she had also placed a certain amount of trust in Ji Heng. In some ways, after coming to Yanjing City, her trust in the various Jiang family members seemed inferior to her belief in Ji Heng. This was based on her recognition of Ji Heng’s capability, as well as recognition of his character.

When a person is powerful enough, they disdain using schemes. For Ji Heng toward her, there was no need for such things.

Like a friend who together weathered stormy seas, when the time came to part midway, there was always some inexplicable sadness.

Jiang Li looked at him: “During this time, the Duke has taken great care of me. Thank you.”

Ji Heng smiled: “No need to be polite. Your performance was excellent.”

Jiang Li also smiled.

When she left Ji Heng’s study, he didn’t rise to see her off. Jiang Li walked to the doorway. The rain still hadn’t stopped. Bai Xue opened the umbrella. Jiang Li looked back at the room. Ji Heng sat at the desk, his silhouette under the lamplight displaying a kind of stunning loneliness.

She turned her head and walked into the rain.

Zhao Ke sent them off. As they were leaving, Jiang Li saw Situ Jiuyue hurrying through the courtyard. She must have been very busy—she didn’t even notice Jiang Li and the others. Jiang Li asked Zhao Ke, “What is Miss Jiuyue doing?”

“Recently a patient came to the manor,” Zhao Ke said. “Miss Situ is treating his injuries.”

A patient who could receive treatment from Situ Jiuyue must not be an ordinary patient. The Duke’s Manor had many secrets, so it wasn’t convenient for Jiang Li to ask more. So she didn’t look back and left directly.

Situ Jiuyue hurried back into the room. The young man called Ah Zhao lay on the bed. He still couldn’t get out of bed yet and needed Situ Jiuyue to administer acupuncture daily. The people he could see every day, besides the servants who brought him meals and attended to him, were only Situ Jiuyue.

Over time, he and Situ Jiuyue had become acquainted. Situ Jiuyue was also willing to exchange a few words with this young man. His voice had gradually lost its hoarseness, revealing his original tone, which was as bright and sunny as his appearance.

“Doctor Situ,” Ah Zhao asked, “just now I heard voices talking outside. Who was it?”

“Was there?” Situ Jiuyue frowned. “I didn’t notice. Probably Ji Heng’s guest. Don’t move yet—I’ll administer the acupuncture.”

On the other end, Wen Ji entered the study. Ji Heng was still sitting looking out the window. The window had already been opened. The wind blew the lamplight, making it flicker precariously. Shadows were pulled and stumbled about. Fine rain mist drifted onto the desk, some splashing into the tea cups, stirring up delicate ripples like a blooming flower.

“My lord, Second Miss Jiang has left,” Wen Ji said.

Ji Heng made a sound of acknowledgment before withdrawing his gaze.

He lowered his eyes to look across from him. On the stool opposite, the soft young woman was long gone. Only her remaining tea cup reminded him that someone had been there.

From Xue Fangfei to Second Miss Jiang—an incredible experience, yet it seemed only this could explain everything. What was rare was that after dying once, she still had such clear eyes, still could so naively and sincerely trust a person.

Should it be called foolish, or precious?

And when he pressed the fan handle against her throat, in that instant of softening, a trace of reluctance and pity had actually grown. This startled him, made him examine himself, forced him to draw clear boundaries with the girl and cease all further contact.

A spectator cannot enter the play. Once you enter the play, you lose your sense of proportion, lose your clarity, and sink into the joys and sorrows within the drama—that is what’s most frightening.

He could not have any weaknesses.