The Double

Jiang Li’s smile faded as she said evenly, "Lord Tong, human greed is endless as a snake trying to swallow an elephant. Besides, as an in-law to the Jiang Family, anyone who becomes the Magistrate of Xiangyang would look after the Ye Family, which hardly requires your concern, Lord Tong. Moreover, with your current situation, unable to protect even the mother and child within these walls, your own safety is at risk. My ensuring Lady He’s brother-in-law loses his position has at least spared you from having to hide and live in fear of Tong Yu being killed. It’s already a stroke of luck amidst misfortune. To want more would be excessive, don’t you think?"

Tong Zhiyang couldn’t help but shrink his neck as he looked at Jiang Li. Her words were not harsh, but the warning was unmistakable.

Of course, Jiang Li wasn’t deliberately trying to help Tong Zhiyang. To her, the Right Chancellor, who was allied with Prince Cheng, would sooner or later become her adversary. Dismissing Lady He’s brother-in-law, who was the man of the Right Chancellor, was merely a matter of convenience for her. As long as she returned to Yanjing and spread the word of the Ye Family’s affairs, Official Zhong would naturally find himself in trouble. Amongst the officials, Jiang Li didn’t believe that the wily Right Chancellor would act with integrity and go out of his way to defend an Official Zhong.

As for Tong Zhiyang, a magistrate who had once conspired against the Ye Family at someone else’s behest, she would never give him a second chance. Nowadays, the entire Xiangyang City was aware that the relationship between the Ye and Jiang Families was not as bad as rumored. No matter who the new Magistrate of Xiangyang was, they would inevitably treat the Ye Family with some courtesy, rendering Tong Zhiyang’s assurance unnecessary.

Knowingly at fault, Tong Zhiyang said nothing and said to Jiang Li, "Please wait a moment, Miss Jiang the Second." He then rose and went inside the house.

Within less than fifteen minutes, Tong Zhiyang returned with an official decree. This decree was written by following a template, and all Tong Zhiyang had to do was affix his seal. Fortunately, Lady He had not yet ordered him to bring out the official seal, so writing an official decree for Jiang Li was a simple matter for Tong Zhiyang.

Jiang Li, having received the official decree and seeing that it was usable, smiled at Tong Zhiyang and said, "In that case, thank you very much, Lord Tong." She then left with a carefree turn.

Tong Zhiyang hurriedly trotted out after her, ingratiatingly saying, "Miss Jiang the Second, please don’t forget about the matter of Official Zhong!"