When Jiang Li and Ji Heng went out of the woods, Ye Ming Yu and his subordinates were already coming over to look for them. Two of his subordinates were seriously injured while the rest had minor injuries. Ye Ming Yu's arm had an open wound, and blood was dripping onto the ground. However, he did not pay much attention and just carelessly tore a piece of clothes to bind it.
They could not find the whereabouts of Jiang Li and just as Ye Ming Yu was about to despair, he saw Jiang Li appear on a horse at one end of Qingshi Lane. Beside her, there's a youngster in a red robe. Ye Ming Yu recognized him as a man who once appeared in front of the Ye residence in Xiangyang. Jiang Li once said that this man was the duke.
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Although he did not understand how the duke also came to Tongxiang, Ye Ming Yu was still overjoyed upon seeing Jiang Li. He hurriedly brought his horse to step forward to meet with her while calling out, "Ah Li!"
"Uncle!" Jiang Li was also surprised upon seeing Ye Ming Yu and immediately pulled the reins and got off the horse. The uncle and niece met again, rejoicing after having escaped a disaster. Jiang Li looked behind Ye Ming Yu and asked, "Is uncle okay? What about those assassins?"
"They were just some disorderly gang. The three most skilled ones went after you. After we solved those, your shadow could no longer be seen. We didn't recognize the roads in Tongxiang and went in all directions looking for you, but no matter how, we couldn't find you, really making me worried to death. Thankfully you're okay." He sized Jiang Li up and down and relaxed after seeing that Jiang Li wasn't hurt in the slightest.
But Jiang Li caught sight of the cloth binding Ye Ming Yu's arm that still had blood seeping out from it and was frightened. She said, "Uncle, you are hurt!"
"It's nothing," Ye Ming Yu waved his hand, not in the least concerned. He said, "those were just small injuries, not even worth mentioning. Ah Li, I'm telling you, thankfully I'm here on this trip. If you only brought your own bodyguards, the safety won't be guaranteed. But even so, those three had good skills..... I also find them hard to deal with. Talking about it, what happened to those three people? I saw them chasing after you and was extremely worried. But I was held back by the other people and couldn't get away from them for a while. How did you escape their grasp?"
Jiang Li thought, if she said that she used the swamp in the woods to trap those assassins to death, for Ye Ming Yu, it might be too scary. Though she had revealed too many doubtful points, this uncle always believed her whole heartedly. It's better to keep him from thinking too much, she did not wish for Ye Ming Yu to look at her like a monster.
She said, "I rode my horse and accidentally entered the woods. Those people also followed me into the woods. Perhaps it was also the first time for them to go into the woods, thus they lost their way. I followed the stars in the sky to guide the way for me and walked out ahead of them."
She was talking nonsense, unexpectedly, Ye Ming Yu did not doubt her and said, "that's dangerous."
Ji Heng who had been standing at the side without saying any words, heard her words and shot a glance at her. The corner of his lips raised, as if laughing at her continuous lies.
Ye Ming Yu noticed Ji Heng's expression, hesitated for a while and asked, "Ah Li, this is....."
"I ran into the Duke when I came out from the woods just now." Jiang Li smiled and said, "If it weren't for the duke's help, I'm afraid it would not be so easy for me to return."
Since Ji Heng had decided to spare her life for the time being, he naturally would not go back on his words. Even, in order to uphold his dignity of "not letting others take his stuff away", he would help Jiang Li so she would not die under someone else's knife. As such, Ji Heng became a natural barrier. Jiang Li believed, as long as she's in danger, even though Ji Heng would not take the initiative to help, as long as she seeked help from Ji Heng, he would take action.
She didn't know if this was a good thing or a bad thing.
Regardless whether it was a good thing or a bad thing, at least before Ji Heng intended to take her life, they could be said to be in temporary alliance. Therefore, Jiang Li did not hide as far as Ye Ming Yu was concerned.
Sure enough, hearing this, Ye Ming Yu immediately cupped his fists towards Ji Heng and said gratefully, "Is it? Many thanks to the duke for your help! Ye third can't thank you enough. If there's any need in the future, Ye third will definitely repay sincerely!"
Ji Heng looked at Jiang Li and said with a smile, "Your family members, everybody likes to repay kindness?"
Jiang Li's cheeks turned slightly red. When Ji Heng pressed his fan against her neck, in order to soften Ji Heng's heart, she declared to "repay in the next life". These words, although she knew that Ji Heng might have seen her plan, Ji Heng still let her go in the end. It's hard to tell whether it was due to her words.
If you are a human, there would be a weakness, it's nothing but a matter of big and small. For the time being, it's not clear what Ji Heng's weak point was. But Jiang Li knew that he certainly had one, as long as he still had the four human emotions, happiness, anger, sorrow and joy.
"It's not fond of repaying a debt of gratitude," Jiang Li smiled, "we are just very clear on gratitudes and grudges, that's all." Taking revenge when there's hatred, and repaying debts when there's grace; it's always been like that since ancient times. There's no such thing as repaying kindness with enmity, or being ungrateful. If there is, a person must seek fairness and justice on their own.
"Okay, no need to talk more."Ji Heng said, "I'm going back. In these seven days, Feng Yu Tang's people will not make a move on you." He said, "I'm staying at the tavern across from the county office, come look for me if there's anything."
Ye Ming Yu was somewhat overwhelmed by the favor. Actually, someone like him who walked in the rivers and lakes all year long did not have much concept of how big an official's rank or power was. As a result, he didn't feel anything wrong with him cupping his fists to thank Ji Heng. However, deep inside his heart, Ye Ming Yu did not believe that Ji Heng would provide much help to Jiang Li. When he looked at this beautiful man, he had an intuition that this man's heart was as cold as steel, no one could easily walk inside. Whatever affection, whatever benevolence was just complete nonsense. Though he did not know why Jiang Li and Ji Heng were together, it might just be an impromptu play.
But listening to Ji Heng's words at this moment, it clearly conveyed the willingness to help Jiang Li. Moreover, what was the meaning of Feng Yu Tang's people not making a move on them in these seven days? It meant that Ji Heng would cleanly sweep away all obstructions from Feng Yu Tang to protect Jiang Li in sailing ahead?
Is this person so kind? Isn't he a duke? Can he condescend and do these things? Could it be that the position of a duke is lower than that of a chief assistant, so he has to curry favor with Jiang Yuan Bai to get promoted? Perhaps he simply wants to fawn over Jiang Li? Jiang Li is now at an age where she can start looking at other people, and in a few years, she can get married already. Not that he, Ye Ming Yu, is boasting, but Jiang Li's appearance and temperament are top notch, she's also bright, courageous and has foresight. In the world, people who could match up with Jiang Li are few and far between. Don't tell me this man has a disease..... Swan wanting to eat swan meat? But then again, how big of a position is a duke?
Jiang Li didn't know that at this moment, her uncle's train of thought had flown far away. Ji Heng could say such words, regardless of his purpose, Jiang Li was currently grateful. She gave a courtesy to Ji Heng and said, "Jiang Li cannot think of how to repay the duke's great favor. There's a day in the future that is sure to pay back."
Ye Ming Yu heard this and the hair on his whole body was erected. He vigilantly looked at Ji Heng. According to the people who walk in the rivers and lakes, whenever they passed by a wine shop and heard the scholar talking about playbook, there's a sentence that a young man would say, "then you should devote your life"!
He must not let this lecher succeed! He has to protect this simple niece!
Ye Ming Yu was about to say something but Ji Heng already opened his mouth. He said, "No need to thank. Since I'm already involved in the play, I don't like to see miscellaneous people."
As far as Ji Heng was concerned, the assassins dispatched by Feng Yu Tang were really just "miscellaneous people". If these "miscellaneous people" had killed Jiang Li, the following play would not need to be sung.
Jiang Li did not understand why Ji Heng would turn such a good thing into an awkward speech. However, with him saying this, she also would not continue to stick to it to be snubbed. So she smiled at Ji Heng and said, "No matter what, still, many thanks to the duke."
Ji Heng lazily glanced at her. Without turning his head back, he slowly walked to the other side of the road. Under the moonlight, Qingzhi Lane looked especially long. The view of his back was gorgeous and lonesome, the corner of his gown was flying, looking like a lonely but powerful demon who was gracefully walking back home.
Jiang Li felt that Ji Heng was somewhat different from before.
She didn't know if it was because she was aware of Ji Heng's secret and said it out loud, so Ji Heng no longer needed to pretend in front of her, his always lingering smiling expression suddenly became casual and indifferent. Indolent, bored, but sober, looking ready at all times.
He was a contradictory person. But still, he wasn't "impersonal" like before.
Ye Ming Yu watched Jiang Li stare at Ji Heng's rear view and his heart secretly shouted "not good!". This niece of his, though she was both brave and wise, she was, after all, still young. Towards an evildoer like this man, as long as that man enticed her a little, it's hard for a young girl not to be tempted. Now, looking spellbound at his retreating back, could she have fallen? Ptooey! The way of the world is precisely this unfair, a good looking man says a few sentences at random and they will seem to be true.
He hurriedly pulled Jiang Li, wishing his niece could go back to the right path. He said, "Ah Li, how? Let's go back?"
Jiang Li turned around, looked at Ye Ming Yu's arm and said, "Ok, uncle, let's go back first, look for a physician to dispense medicine, it won't do to just wrap the wound like this. Everyone can sleep steadily tonight." Since Ji Heng said that Feng Yu Tang's people wouldn't come to look for trouble, it meant that there would be people protecting Ye Ming Yu's group of people from danger. At least, in these seven days, in Tongxiang, Jiang Li wouldn't be suddenly assassinated when she walked on the street.
Initially, Ye Ming Yu did not pay attention to his own injury, but seeing Jiang Li concerned about him, his heart moved and immediately shouted, "Aiyoo". He exaggeratedly said, "It hurts so much, must look for a physician to bandage properly. Go, Ah Li, let's go back." He thought, as long as Jiang Li was distracted by him, she naturally would not think of that annoying duke. That's right, tomorrow he still has to inquire how big of an official a duke is.
Jiang Li felt strange as to why Ye Ming Yu suddenly became squeamish, but she thought that he was truly in pain. Thus, without saying much, she supported Ye Ming Yu to first return to the courtyard in Qingzhi Lane.
Bai Xue and Tong'er guarded the door to the point of their necks being broken from stretching out. The whole day, from morning till night, they did not see either Jiang Li or Ye Ming Yu returning. The two servant girls were so anxious they were unable to eat or sleep. They almost cried tears of joy when the group of people suddenly returned safe and sound. Jiang Li instructed them to prepare food and hot water and sent an uninjured person to invite a physician, then first arrange Ye Ming Yu's horse to settle down.
When Bai Xue was cleaning Ye Ming Yu's wound, Ye Ming Yu asked Jiang Li, "Ah Li, now that Peng Xiao and them are saved and we already got a hold of the file, what should we do next? You mentioned going to the houses of the people in Tongxiang?"
"Yes." Jiang Li nodded, "uncle, take a good rest tonight. Tomorrow morning, we will go from door to door to ask. However, there are 568 households, though we don't know whether we can finish asking all of them, if we can ask one more household then we will ask one more household."
"So we will do this in the next five days?" Ye Ming Yu asked.
"As long as one family is willing to come out, we can present a petition to the Imperial Court of Judicial Review. The Imperial Court will immediately stop County Deputy Xue's beheading and take Feng Yu Tang to the capital. There's no way for other people to change this because the Imperial Court's cases have to pass the emperor's hand. As long as there's a mention of an important official in the capital inside, His Majesty will not take it lightly." There's something that Jiang Li did not tell Ye Ming Yu, that she would not just write about an important official in the capital, but would directly write Princess Yongning's name.
Firstly was to establish enmity with Princess Yongning in the open. But there's nothing to be afraid of . Even if she seemed to be in harmony with Princess Yongning on the surface, Princess Yongning could dispatch assassins in Tongxiang to eliminate her. Once Emperor Hong Xiao saw Princess Yongning's name, this case in Tongxiang would certainly become a huge case and Princess Yongning would no longer be able to tamper with it.
This was something that she wanted. The file and the official were already here, the only thing lacking was just the people of Tongxiang. As long as some of the people of Tongxiang could be persuaded to go to the capital, the day when the case would be revealed was not far.
"Okay!" Ye Ming Yu patted his thigh, "We have done so many things, soon victory will be in sight. As long as we can move the people of Tongxiang, the Xue family's case can be reversed. Feng Yu Tang, that scoundrel, can also be brought to justice. This old man already found him displeasing the first time seeing him. He's such a bastard, but can be a county deputy, damn it!"
Ye Ming Yu's angry and vulgar words all came out, but Jiang Li did not mind. She sighed softly, there's a layer of worry between her brows. "Actually, the last step is the most difficult."
Since ancient times, kings knew the principle of obtaining the people's hearts is equal to obtaining the world. Regardless of whom, wanting to win over the public sentiment was not an easy matter. Especially if this public sentiment was under life threats.
In fact, she also wasn't certain, she was the least sure when it came to public sentiment.
But she still had to try.
...... This night seemed to pass especially long. Many people in this small county had a sleepless night. When it was very late at night, the moon quietly disappeared, the wind blew, swirling the leaves on the street with a rustling sound, the red lanterns hung under the eaves of the houses swayed violently. The calmer the town, the more it seemed that an unavoidable storm was brewing.
In the early morning, Tongxiang, which had not had snow for over ten years, suddenly began to snow outside.
The snow was not as rough as Yanjing, falling gently, as big as a small granule, carrying a sparkling light. Some hung on the branches, covering layer by layer, forming a crystal like curtain. It's obvious that this small town was not bustling, but the gentleness made people intoxicated.
Jiang Li was woken up by Tong'er.
Tong'er's pained voice was on her ear, "Why is Miss sleeping on the table? Did you not go to bed last night?
Jiang Li stretched and said, "It's okay."
She sent Tong'er and Bai Xue away last night and kept writing throughout the night. The 568 households in Tongxiang, each household had received Xue Huai Yuan's grace. There's not enough time for her to make a house visit to each household herself. She could only share the task with Ye Ming Yu's people. With this 'book of favor', it would be more vigorous when Ye Ming Yu persuaded those people. Hopefully it would also make it easier.
She was writing and writing, unconsciously, she leaned over and fell asleep on the table. The weird thing was, when she woke up, she didn't feel that much exhaustion. Jiang Li stood up, pushed the windows open and a snowflake floated inside. She stared in a daze and said, "It's snowing."
"Yes, it's snowing." Tong'er also looked outside.
She had lived in Tongxiang for ten years, but this was the first time she saw snow in Tongxiang. She didn't know what it signified, perhaps it was the start of a new beginning.
Jiang Li's eyes were slowly filled with a trace of a smile. She said, "Very good."
On the other side, Feng Yu Tang arrived at the county yamen early in the morning and put on his official uniform.
First snow in Tongxiang after more than 10 years, it was also cold, and he sneezed again and again. He wiped his nose. and the servant boy sent a cup of warm tea. Feng Yu Tang reclined on a chair while grumbling, "It's so cold today."
"Yes," The servant boy said, "the lanterns by the gate were all blown away by the wind."
Feng Yu Tang looked outside and asked, "the people who went out last night have not returned?"
The servant boy said, "Not yet."
"No rules!" Feng Yu Tang said angrily. The three assassins from Princess Yongning did not put him in their eyes and ordered his people around sometimes. Feng Yu Tang did not dare to say anything. There's no way, who made them Princess Yongning's subordinates? Moreover, he still had to rely on those people if something came up on his side. Therefore, although he was dissatisfied, Feng Yu Tang could only complain behind their backs.
Presumably, after the three people finished their work last night, they brought his people to do something, Feng Yu Tang thought resentfully. It never occurred to him that the matter of assassinating Jiang Li would not be completed. In his view, Princess Yongning's subordinates were extremely skillful. Jiang Li, just a little girl, Ye Ming Yu's group of people, though they could fight, in the end, they were not killers. Jiang Li being killed under the hands of those people was a fact that could not be doubted.
Feng Yu Tang smacked his lips when thinking of Jiang Li's tender and pretty face and felt unfortunate. If it were not for Jiang Li's identity, he definitely would not easily let such a little beauty die. Let's talk about it again later after he finished playing with her. Speaking of which, Jiang Li was not bad, plus she was Jiang Yuan Bai's daughter. Dead just like that in Tongxiang, her fate could be considered bad. But then again, if it wasn't due to her courting disaster onto herself and insisted on transferring the investigation of Xue Huai Yuan's case file, it wouldn't go as far as this. So, her death was deserved.
But Jiang Li, a little girl, should not have any intersection with the Xue family. Without rhyme or reason, why did she want to transfer the investigation of the Xue family's case? Could it be her father's intention? He could not block Jiang Li and still took Jiang Li's life. If Jiang Yuan Bai knew, wouldn't he be starting a feud with the Jiang family? Feng Yu Tang felt anxious. He did work on behalf of someone else and started ruthlessly. But with regards to Jiang Yuan Bai, he always felt three parts afraid. After all, Jiang Yuan Bai was not an ordinary official, but the chief scholar.
Thinking of this, he unconsciously felt jittery. At first, he waited early in the morning for someone to announce Jiang Li's death, as a result, there wasn't any movement till now. Feng Yu Tang felt vaguely uneasy. He endured his utmost and urged the servant boy beside him, "Send someone to see if they are in the Flower Tavern?"
Right at that time, someone suddenly ran staggeringly from outside. Once he entered, he stumbled from running in haste and his nose fell onto Feng Yu Tang's shoes. He shouted, "Master! Master! It's not good!"
Feng Yu Tang was already irritable. Hearing the words, he kicked him and said, "What are you shouting about? What's not good?"
"Master..... It, it's better for you to go to the back of the yamen and personally take a look!" The subordinate's face showed a frightened look.
Feng Yu Tang saw the situation and his heart knew that it's not good. Without saying much, he went to the backyard in two and three steps.
Before he reached the backyard, a thick bloody smell could be perceived in the air. Feng Yu Tang held back his nausea and walked inside. Before he reached the middle of the garden, he saw twenty corpses arranged neatly on the ground.
To say that they were corpses, Feng Yu Tang had not seen clearly, but there was no need to. Due to the snow during the night the bodies were covered by a layer of snow, ice cold and hard, long since without any breath. The bloodstain had solidified. Feng Yu Tang took a step back, supported himself on the pillar in front of him to prevent himself from falling.
He counted three times in his heart, exactly twenty people.
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Twenty people, he dispatched a total of 20 of his people, there's also three people from Princess Yongning. Now there are 20 people here, where are the other three?
Feng Yu Tang asked, "What about the other people?"
The subordinate who ran to him earlier stepped forward, with a restrained panic in his tone, he said, "Master, altogether, there are 20 people. There's no trace of the other three people, unable to find them."
Unable to find, it's not certain that they are still alive. That's right, Princess Yongning's people are outstanding, they won't die so easily. In Feng Yu Tang's heart, a bit of hope rose. He asked, "Did you find their tracks?"
The subordinate shook his head, "Cannot find their shadows, but beside the swamp in the woods, their weapons were found..... Master, it's very likely that they..... Everything points to a disaster."
Feng Yu Tang felt blackness in front of his eyes, nearly fainting. When his consciousness returned, he immediately scolded. "There were 20 of them, went to kill seven people! They could still be completely wiped out! Were they raised by dogs? What a waste!" He scolded anxiously, Feng Yu Tang's chest rapidly went up and down, as if he couldn't catch his breath. Even so, his subordinates could hear the ire and panic in his voice.
Feng Yu Tang was scared.
That's 20 people, all were his subordinates. Now, his subordinates who had the best martial arts were reduced to 20 names all at once. The remaining ones wouldn't do. Without Princess Yongning's assassins, he couldn't do anything. Let alone moving his hand on Jiang Li, if Ye Ming Yu were to come over and kill him, his current subordinates were unable to protect his life.
That's right, Jiang Li, Ye Ming Yu, it's unknown what their condition is now! For the time being, no need to be concerned about Ye Ming Yu, how about Jiang Li? If the people had already taken Jiang Li's life before they died, it wouldn't be so bad. At least he did not mess up Princess Yongning's assignment and she would not blame him. She might even help him to hide everything. Everything is okay as long as Jiang Li dies!
"What about Jiang Li?" Feng Yu Tang grabbed the subordinate who informed him just now. He asked, "What about Jiang Li? Did she die? Did she die?"
His eyes were bloodshot, his appearance terrifying, really frightening. The subordinate who was grabbed took a step back and slowly shook his head.
Feng Yu Tang's heart gradually sank.
"Miss Jiang second and the tall man came out of the house in Qingzhi Lane early in the morning and walked around everywhere, they were safe and sound."
Feng Yu Tang lost his power and released his hands.
The assassination failed, he lost 23 people while Jiang Li was unscathed. She even dared to wander about in the county on the second day. This was provocation, or perhaps confidence.
Thinking about it, the 20 corpses in the back garden of the county yamen was a return gift from Jiang Li. It seemed that she was aware that the people who came to assassinate her were Feng Yu Tang's people. After she harvested all his people, she calmly and unhurriedly sent the dead bodies back to let him see clearly and thoroughly that this was the end.
She was really truly fearless.
However, he had no other way out. He was clear that Jiang Li and her entourage were just as dangerous but he knew better that Jiang Li must not stay. Not just because he could not disobey Princess Yongning's command, but rather, because Jiang Li knew that he had acted on her. If he could not kill her, when Jiang Li and Jiang Yuan Bai met, perhaps no need to wait until that day, he would die in Jiang Li's hands. She definitely would not let him off.
This was a war between two people, either Jiang Li died or he died. He must fight till the end.
"Keep sending people, chase and kill Jiang Li." Feng Yu Tang said with hatred.
"Master....." His subordinate looked at him in astonishment, as if he did not understand this decision, "I'm afraid....."
"Afraid of fart!" Feng Yu Tang scolded him, "What do you know, still not going yet! If you go too late, we will lose our lives!"
This road was really going to go dark.
......
In the wine shop across the yamen, We nJi said, "Master, Feg Yu Tang once again dispatched a group of people to kill Jiang second miss."
Ji Heng sat on a chair, looking inside his tea cup. He looked a lot gentler than usual, gazing out of the window, no one knew what he was thinking about. In the world of ice and snow, his red clothes looked even brighter, his lips were also as attractive as petals.
After a long time, he said, "Find someone to make arrangements."
Wen Ji accepted the order and left.
Lu Ji, who was sitting beside him, looked at Ji Heng thoughtfully. Without speaking, since he became aware that last night, Jiang second miss was chased by Ji Shuran's and Feng Yu Tang's groups of people, a stone was suspended in Lu Ji's heart. Such combination, even if Jiang second miss had great ability, it's difficult for her to escape. But he did not expect that the one following Jiang second miss last night was not Wen Ji, but Ji Heng. Moreover, Ji Heng, who had never gotten involved in other people's domestic affairs all along, suddenly moved his hands to help. This really made people flabbergasted.
Ji Heng was not someone with a gentle and tolerant heart. It was even more unlikely for him to be benevolent and draw his sword to help. But after all was said and done, he still moved his hands. In addition, afterwards, towards Miss Jiang second, he surprisingly still demonstrated a kind of protective stance. Regardless of the purpose, whether it was to make use of or for other intentions, Miss Jiang second had unexpectedly succeeded.
Using an unimaginable way, the master was pulled into this marvelous play and the master entered.
There's no way to know what the master's thoughts were, but Lu Ji felt that Miss Jiang second was truly awesome.