Chapter 120 Tenderness
"Ahri?"

Ah Shun was shocked and looked at the man in surprise. How come County Magistrate Xue knew that the person coming was my cousin? And he called her so intimately?

Jiang Li was also startled. She slowly lowered her head, breathing slowly, and looked at the person she was holding. Father...didn't he lose his mind? A burst of ecstasy suddenly surged in her heart.

But the ecstasy soon faded.

Xue Huaiyuan opened his eyes, but did not look at her. He looked at the stone wall, or the stains splashed on the stone wall. He struggled to free Jiang Li's hand, and quickly shrank back to the corner. He picked up a handful of straw on the ground and held it tightly in his arms, as if he was afraid that someone would snatch it away. He murmured, "Ali...Ali..."

Jiang Li's nose was sore and she was about to cry again. Her father was not awake, and the reason he kept calling "Ali" was because this name occupied a very important part in his life. Even after he went crazy, he kept chewing on it.

That's right, she thought to herself with self-mockery. Even if her father hadn't lost his mind, he might not recognize her when he stood in front of her. She was no longer "Ali", but "Jiang Li".

"Cousin?" Ah Shun was a little worried.

Jiang Li turned around and said, "I'm fine." Looking at Xue Huaiyuan who was huddled in the corner and muttering to himself, her heart ached again. She knew she shouldn't ask for so much. At least her father was still alive. They had the chance to see each other again in their lifetime. This was a blessing in disguise. But seeing her father like this, Jiang Li wanted to cut Shen Yurong and Yongning into pieces. Even so, it was hard to relieve the pain in her heart.

She said, "I will take County Magistrate Xue out. He is too weak. Uncle Zhang, please go find the best doctor in Tongxiang to see him for the time being."

Butcher Zhang hated Feng Yutang very much when he saw his lifesaver like this. After hearing Jiang Li's order, he went out to find a doctor without saying anything.

Ah Shun wanted to help support Xue Huaiyuan, but Jiang Li had already helped Xue Huaiyuan up. She didn't mind Xue Huaiyuan's dirtiness at all, and carefully supported his shoulders and held his arms. Xue Huaiyuan was now like a two or three-year-old child, dancing and waving his hands. He accidentally slapped Jiang Li's face, and a dirty handprint appeared on her fair face.

Ah Shun couldn't bear to watch it anymore and said, "Miss cousin, let me do it."

"I'll do it." Jiang Li only said two words, but her tone was unquestionable, and Ah Shun retracted his outstretched hand. This cousin was always very patient, and was always gentle and kind to the Ye family and strangers. But it was the first time Ah Shun saw Jiang Li so patient, as if Xue Huaiyuan was the most precious person in the world to her, and she was willing to devote all her efforts to take care of him.

Jiang Li helped Xue Huaiyuan out of the dungeon.

Ah Shun asked: "Cousin, the remaining people..."

Feng Yutang could not distinguish between good and evil, and was only interested in profit. The people imprisoned in this cell might be good people who were wrongly imprisoned and used as scapegoats like Xue Huaiyuan. Xue Huaiyuan was released, but what about the rest?
"Nothing." Jiang Li said, "I'll have someone send the files over later. If there are any suspicious points, I'll pick them out. Feng Yutang's tenure as Tongxiang County Magistrate has come to an end. After this case, the court will soon send a new County Magistrate. At that time, these cases will be re-examined and no one will be wronged."

Ah Shun felt relieved.

When they reached the gate of the county government office, Xue Huaiyuan seemed to have seen something terrible, and suddenly he was unwilling to move forward, and he even screamed and struggled to get up. Jiang Li was very sad to see this, and Ah Shun quickly asked someone to pull Xue Huaiyuan, but they didn't dare to use too much force - Xue Huaiyuan was too thin, and they were afraid that if they moved too hard, Xue Huaiyuan's bones would be broken.

Ye Mingyu saw Jiang Li from afar, walked over and said, "A Li, you came back so soon? Feng Yutang was beaten half to death. If I hadn't asked someone to stop him, he would have died here today. Hey, you brought back County Magistrate Xue..." Ye Mingyu suddenly stopped talking. He also saw Xue Huaiyuan's embarrassed appearance.

Anyone who knew Xue Huaiyuan in the past would be speechless when seeing him in this state. The good official who was always upright and incorruptible had now fallen into such a state.

Ye Mingyu was stunned for a while before he said, "Xue County Magistrate is so pitiful..."

Jiang Li said, "Uncle, I asked Uncle Zhang to invite a doctor to see County Magistrate Xue first. I'm afraid that County Magistrate Xue is very weak now. He has to go back to Xiangyang and go to Yanjing. If he doesn't recuperate, it will be difficult." He glanced at the other side and said, "There are many prisoner carts in the dungeon. Find one and load it for Lord Feng. There is no need to wait for the transfer order from Tong Zhiyang in Xiangyang. Just go back to Xiangyang directly."

Ye Mingyu nodded subconsciously and asked, "Those officials on Dongshan Mountain can be released now, right? Feng Yutang's people are now being arrested or running away, so they are not in any danger anymore."

Jiang Li nodded: "Thank you, uncle."

Ye Mingyu noticed that Jiang Li seemed to be in a very bad mood, and he felt relieved after thinking about it. Since Jiang Li had taken so much trouble to rescue Xue Huaiyuan from prison, she must have a friendship with Xue Huaiyuan. Now that Xue Huaiyuan has become like this, he, an outsider, can't help but sigh, let alone Jiang Li.

Hey, why are good people so unlucky in this world?

……

Doctor Zhong, who treated Peng Xiao and others, was invited this time to treat Xue Huaiyuan.

Feng Yutang had already become a "prisoner", and Doctor Zhong was not afraid of retaliation. This time he did not have to leave his hometown with money. He treated Xue Huaiyuan very carefully.

That's all. After walking out of the room, Jiang Li asked, "Doctor Zhong, how is it?"

"Young lady," Doctor Zhong shook his head and said, "I have already written to the pharmacy and asked someone to get medicine for the wounds on your body. Master Xue has suffered a lot this time. It is a miracle that he can survive until now. But after all, he is old and weak. Fortunately, I don't know if that beast Feng Yutang deliberately wanted to save Master Xue's life and didn't let Master Xue suffer a fatal injury. Although it is torturous, if you take good care of yourself, you may get better in time."

Jiang Li hesitated for a moment and asked, "May I ask Doctor Zhong, Lord Xue has lost his mind and cannot recognize people. Will he be able to wake up one day?"

"I can't guarantee that," Doctor Zhong waved his hands repeatedly. "I'm just a small doctor in Tongxiang. I really can't guarantee it. Please forgive my incompetence. I heard that the young lady is going to take Master Xue to Yanjing. There are many talented people in Yanjing City. Maybe we can find a miracle doctor there to help Master Xue regain his former sanity."

Jiang Li was silent.

Doctor Zhong was not the first doctor to say this. In fact, she had asked many doctors in Tongxiang, but none of them could make Xue Huaiyuan sober.

She really hoped that her father would wake up and call her "Ali" again. For this, she would pay any price.

"I understand." Jiang Li said, "Thank you, Doctor Zhong." Doctor Zhong was powerless, and she couldn't force him. Although she was disappointed, she had to cheer up and face what she had to do next.

Outside the house, the people of Tongxiang who had come to visit Xue Huaiyuan were already crowded. Aunt Chunfang wiped her tears and said, "How did you become like this, sir..."

"If only we had stood up earlier, it's all my fault..." Dai Yun held Ping An's hand, regretting, "I didn't know that the adults had suffered such torture."

"Feng Yutang is not a human being!" Butcher Zhang said, "If there were no use keeping him now, I would chop him to death with one blow!"

Jiang Li walked past the crowd and inside. Xue Huaiyuan was sitting on the bed, fiddling with the wooden man in his hand like a child, laughing. Around them, Peng Xiao, He Jun, and the two brothers Gu Da and Gu Er had sad eyes.

Seeing Jiang Li come in, Peng Xiao looked at her and asked, "What did the doctor say?"

Jiang Li shook her head.

Several people's eyes immediately turned disappointed.

"Nothing, we will be in Yanjing soon." Jiang Li said, "Once we are in Yanjing, I will find another miracle doctor to treat Master Xue."

"It's all the fault of that bastard Feng Yutang that you are in such a state!" Gu Da gritted his teeth and said, "I will tear him into pieces!"

"Feng Yutang is at most a dog, the real person is still behind him." Jiang Li said slowly: "Whoever makes Lord Xue suffer this torture must be prepared to pay the price of revenge."

"We brothers have guessed that Feng Yutang was instructed by someone, but we don't know who the person behind the scenes is and why he wanted to be so cruel to you. Miss, please tell me clearly." He Jun said.

"Once you're in Beijing, you'll naturally know who's behind this. In fact, this case may not hurt her, but even if her life isn't taken, it's good to skin her alive. The four of you are witnesses in this case. The other party will do whatever it takes to silence you. You may be facing an enemy who is a hundred or a thousand times more sinister and terrifying than Feng Yutang. You have to think clearly..."

"We have thought it through," Peng Xiao interrupted Jiang Li, "We want to avenge you, no matter if we succeed or not."

Jiang Li smiled slowly: "Okay, then I'll rely on you guys."

"We are the ones who rely on Second Miss Jiang."

……

He decided not to wait for Tong Zhiyang's transfer order and took the people of Tongxiang back to Xiangyang the next day. It only took a quarter of an hour to go directly to Yanjing.

After making the decision, Ye Mingyu sent people to clean up. All the witnesses, files and important evidence in the county government related to Xue Huaiyuan's case were collected and taken away. Because they were leaving the next day, everyone went to bed early.

Xue Huaiyuan, who had lost his mind, was like a child. It took a lot of effort to coax him to sleep, which was done by Jiang Li herself. Ye Mingyu and the others wanted to let Jiang Li rest, but Xue Huaiyuan was very frightened when Jiang Li coaxed him or anyone else. Only when Jiang Li was in front of him could he calm down.

Jiang Li was also very patient with him, without even a single complaint. Bai Xue and Tong Er watched and had an illusion that Jiang Li would not be so patient with Jiang Yuanbai when he was old. Although Jiang Li was gentle to the Jiang family, she was polite and distant, and the two maids could feel that she did not put too much heart into it.

But towards Xue Huaiyuan, she was genuinely gentle from the bottom of her heart.

After coaxing Xue Huaiyuan to sleep, Tong'er asked Jiang Li: "Miss, have you gone back to rest?"

Even Ye Mingyu went to sleep.

Jiang Li looked outside and found it very strange. In the few days since she came to Tongxiang, it had snowed twice, including tonight, even though it had not snowed in decades.

The wind blew in from outside, mixed with snowflakes. Jiang Li put on her cloak and said, "No, I'll go see Feng Yutang."

Feng Yutang? Tong'er and Bai Xue looked at each other. Jiang Li had already walked out of the room.

She was wearing a snow-white rabbit fur cape and had taken off her hat, leaving only her palm-sized face. Under the lantern, her face looked even paler, almost the same color as jade. She walked slowly and soon reached the corner of the yard.

In the prison van, Feng Yutang curled up into a ball.

It was snowing outside, and the prison cart was not brought into the house. No one came to see Feng Yutang even though he had shouted until his voice was hoarse. He had no choice but to curl up in the cold, just like Xue Huaiyuan who had curled up in the dungeon.

At night, the yard was extremely quiet. Jiang Li's footsteps made a rustling sound in the snow. Feng Yutang looked up suddenly like a frightened rabbit. When he saw Jiang Li for the first time, he subconsciously wanted to call for help, but the next moment, he stopped.

He knew that even if he told her, the seemingly gentle and kind young lady in front of him would not give him a quilt. It could even be said that the reason why he had fallen to this point and was left to fend for himself in the prison van was all because of the girl in front of him.

She is a devil, but she has a fairy-like face.

Jiang Li stopped in front of the prison van and looked at Feng Yutang quietly. This time, she didn't smile, as if she had taken off her soft disguise and revealed her true self in the night. Feng Yutang asked hoarsely, "What are you doing here, Miss Jiang Er?"

"Come and see you." Jiang Li said.

"Look at me?" Feng Yutang laughed. He said, "Second Miss Jiang, do you know what crime it is to instigate the people to imprison an official appointed by the imperial court? Even your father can't save you." The more frightened he was, the more he wanted to say these words, as if he could use these words to convince himself that he didn't need to be afraid. But he knew in his heart that he was afraid of Jiang Li, from the bottom of his heart.

"Soon you won't be an official appointed by the court anymore." Jiang Li said calmly, "The transfer order from Xiangyang will come soon, and the Xue family case will be retried. We will go to Yanjing together, of course not just to vindicate County Magistrate Xue, but for you." Jiang Li said, "What Lord Feng did in Tongxiang is not an ordinary matter in Yanjing. As for whether we imprisoned Lord Feng before the transfer order or arrested him after the transfer order, no one knows anyway, right?"

She neither smiled nor said it, and when she spoke so calmly, it made people feel more fierce beneath her calmness.

Feng Yutang's eyes flashed with weakness. He couldn't intimidate Jiang Li, but Jiang Li would intimidate him. But why a girl of fifteen or sixteen seemed to be able to consider all the details of everything? If she wanted to plot against someone, she would never miss any of them. Everywhere in the world was her trap. If someone stepped into it and died, that was it. She would wipe the grass ash on the trap so that no one could see any traces.

Feng Yutang mustered up his courage and said, "Second Miss, I know you are the daughter of Lord Jiang and you are not afraid of anything. But there are some things. Why do you have to make such a fuss for a small person? Although I am a small person, my master..."

"Princess Yongning, your master." Jiang Li interrupted him.

Feng Yutang was stunned.

He thought no one knew that his master was Princess Yongning. How could Jiang Li know that? And even if she knew that, she still dared to do this? And she still dared to ruin Princess Yongning's business?
"Sir Feng, there is something you need to know," Jiang Li stared at him and spoke slowly, "I treat you like this, a person who tortured County Magistrate Xue. Princess Yongning is the one behind the scenes, how do you think I will treat her?"

"I deal with you just to deal with her."

"She is Princess Yongning..." Feng Yutang said tremblingly, "She is the sister of King Cheng?"

"She's Prince Cheng's sister?" Jiang Li sneered, "Then I'll deal with Prince Cheng as well. If you say Prince Cheng is Concubine Liu's son, I'll deal with Prince Cheng as well. Kill ghosts if you see ghosts, kill gods if you see gods. Whoever touches Xue Huaiyuan, I'll make him pay with blood! So," Jiang Li said contemptuously, "don't talk about Princess Yongning anymore. The four words Princess Yongning are the reason for me to take action. The four words Princess Yongning are the beginning of the death knell!"

Feng Yutang just felt his hands and feet go weak.

In the night, Jiang Li's eyes were extremely bright, and he had no doubt that he saw deep hatred in them. The ferocity that grew wildly like weeds, usually hidden under a gentle appearance, was fully exposed at this moment.

She revealed another side of herself without hesitation, which could only mean one thing: he was about to die, a mortal man, and there was no need for her to hide her secrets.

"Don't worry, Lord Feng. I won't let you die before this is over." She said, "I will let you live well, just like you did to Lord Xue."

She gave him a cold look, picked up the lantern, and turned away.

In the snow, the silver-white cloak almost blended into the snow, leaving only deep and shallow footprints to remind people that someone passed by.

Feng Yutang felt even colder than before, and he didn't know if it was because of the snow or because of her.

……

After leaving Feng Yutang's prison van, Jiang Li did not return to the house.

Inexplicably, she didn't feel sleepy at all, and her mood was not as calm as it seemed.

My father has become like this, and I don't know how he will wake up. Bringing people back to Yanjing, facing Princess Yongning, and the fight with Princess Yongning officially kicked off. This is not a simple matter, and after Jiang Yuanbai knew what she did in Tongxiang, Ji Shuran took the opportunity to blow some pillow talk, and she couldn't fully estimate what kind of obstacles she would encounter in the Jiang family.

After clearing one path, you take another path, which is full of new thorns.

She sat on a big rock by the pond, thinking slowly, until Tong'er beside her exclaimed. She looked up and saw a beauty coming with an umbrella in the snowy night.

Ji Heng wore a scarlet cloak embroidered with black peonies, which perfectly balanced the roughness and refinement. He finally didn't bring the golden folding fan today, perhaps he put it away. He only brought a plain white silk umbrella and walked from a distance in the snow.

In the deep dew, he was like a touch of bright color, lighting up the cold world.

"Duke." Jiang Li did not stand up or salute. She was too tired today.

Ji Heng walked in front of Jiang Li, paused, and placed the umbrella over her head.

His actions were gentle and affectionate, and the girl was beautiful and the man was charming, which made them an unusually harmonious match. Tong'er and Baixue were so stunned that they even forgot to stop him.

"So sad?" He smiled and said, "It's not like you."

"So gentle?" Jiang Li looked at him: "This is not like your personality."

Ji Heng laughed: "I am very sad when you say that to me. I was merciful to you, but you said I was not gentle."

"I'm just flattered."

Ji Heng asked: "Can you tell me now why you want to save Xue Huaiyuan, even if it means you are an enemy of Princess Yongning?" He said: "You and the Xue family should have no connection at all."

"Duke," Jiang Li said, "I don't intend to hide anything from you, because even if I don't tell you, you will find out sooner or later. So I will tell you the reason for this matter. When the day comes when I hand my life over to you, I will tell you everything, so that there will be a beginning and an end. You won't force me, right?"

She raised her head, her eyes were purer than snow.

"Why do you always show weakness to me?" Ji Heng was puzzled. "Do I look like someone who would cherish women? Even if I am..." He looked Jiang Li up and down and said, "Are you a delicate flower?"

Jiang Li asked: "Isn't it me?"

"You are a carnivorous plant." Ji Heng said.

Jiang Li laughed.

When they first met, they were suspicious of each other and wary of each other. Later, when Jiang Li suddenly told Ji Heng about her plan and put her life in front of Ji Heng, it was as if they had exchanged a secret and had a sense of alliance.

Of course, this might just be Jiang Li's illusion, but whether Ji Heng was acting or being sincere, the two of them were able to sit together and talk so peacefully for the first time.

"We will be returning to Xiangyang and going to Yanjing tomorrow." Jiang Li said, "On the way, Princess Yongning may get the news and come after us, or Ji Shuran's men may still be determined to kill us. We will trouble you, the Duke, to help us clear all the obstacles along the way."

"You think of me as your bodyguard?" Ji Heng laughed, "Aren't you afraid that I will kill you?"

"My life is yours, it's yours." Jiang Li said, "Isn't it normal to kill some bandits to protect your own things?"

Ji Heng's secret guards hiding in the dark were all stunned. Although Jiang Li's words made no sense at all, after listening to them, they felt that what she said made sense and there was no reason to refute it.

"I don't think I took your life," Ji Heng said, "I am a burden."

"Maybe this burden will be helpful to you one day." Jiang Li smiled.

She said it very seriously, not joking at all. Ji Heng said, "If you knew what I do, you wouldn't say that. Now," he chuckled, "Children's words are innocent."

Jiang Li is now at the best age for a girl, but in Ji Heng's eyes, she is still just a "child".

Jiang Li looked at Ji Heng. If the age of the previous life was added, Ji Heng and she were about the same age. But when this man was so young, he was not just like a young man. He seemed to have countless secrets, and each secret was very heavy. When he got used to such secrets, when he looked at others, many facts that seemed unacceptable to others in the world were not that important to him.

Everyone has their own secrets.

Jiang Li said: "Who knows? Maybe, when that day comes, maybe my decision will also be beyond the Duke's expectations, right? But I have to live to that day first."

When it comes to life and death, the girl doesn't seem to mind at all, but this kind of indifference is not caused by being too far away, but it is the indifference after understanding, seeing through, and seeing. She doesn't think she will live long, but she is not afraid that she will not live long.

Ji Heng looked at her with interest. Jiang Li was a girl with secrets. From what she did, she didn't seem like someone who would give up easily. She was like a weed madly trying to survive in the cracks, fierce and full of vitality. But when she said she wanted to give up her life, she was also free and easy. Just like her whole life, she came into this world just to do one thing. For this thing, she worked hard to live, and once this thing was done, she didn't care about anything, including her own life.

"This play is very long," Ji Heng chuckled and said, "I would be very sorry if you were gone."

"Really?" Jiang Li turned her head to look at her, her two feet swaying gently under her skirt, like a carefree girl. She also smiled and said, "It's my honor to make the Duke feel sorry for you. If the Duke can get into the play, you and I can sing the same play, maybe the ending of this play can be happier for everyone."

Ji Heng narrowed her beautiful eyes: "Why do you always want to drag me into the game? I've said before, I don't want to get involved."

Yes, he was not into the drama, because the biggest drama in the world was manipulated by him behind the scenes. Even the emperor in the throne room was manipulated by him. The situation was treacherous, and the forces of all parties were up and down, fighting for power and profit, but in the end, after going around in circles, no one knew who they were working for.
"I want to stand on the side of the Duke. At least not to be his enemy." She rarely behaved well.

Being in the Jiang family, the head of the civil officials of Northern Yan, the Jiang family must take sides in this court turmoil. It has been like this since ancient times. If you take the right side, you will naturally rise to prominence and protect your descendants. If you take the wrong side, no one can predict what the consequences will be. Whether you win or lose, there is nothing to regret. It is the path you choose.

Not to mention that King Cheng is Yongning's sister, just from the possibility point of view, Jiang Li is willing to choose someone who doesn't look like he will lose. Ji Heng's cruelty, without any expression, makes people feel terrible.

Such a person is likely to be the final winner.

She has already changed her strategy and will not confront head-on. Since peace cannot be achieved, she will make her attitude clear and start taking sides early.

Regardless of whether Ji Heng agrees or not, being able to scare the opponents is a good thing.

Ji Heng looked at her with a smile, as if he knew all her intentions. He brushed off a snowflake that fell on his sleeve and said, "You don't have to pretend to be well-behaved, Ahri."

　The Duke secretly flirts with a girl~
　　
　
(End of this chapter)