The Double

Jiang Li said, "There is no rush. Slapping faces should, of course, be done in front of a big crowd. But you are right, Chongxu Daoist Master was indeed a charlatan from the martial arts world."

Zhao Ke was quick and efficient in gathering information. Although Chongxu Daoist Master had some fame in Yanjing City, years ago, he actually came to Yanjing because of a murder charge he was fleeing from. Back in his hometown, he was involved with a married woman, and when her husband discovered them, a dispute arose during which he killed the man. He and the woman buried the husband and fled overnight. He changed his name and laid low on the road until he came across the wandering Daoist Chongxu, under whose tutelage he pretended to pursue the way of Daoism.

The Daoist eventually died in a skirmish, and Chongxu Daoist Master took up his master’s name, adopted the identity of Chongxu, and arrived at Yanjing City, where he began to swindle and strut about. He was quite convincing, seeming every inch the embodiment of an immortal with his Daoist charm, and many people truly believed he was an eminent figure. After gaining some notoriety, he then became entangled in the matter involving Consort Li.

Although the affair with Consort Li is now difficult to investigate, Jiang Li speculated that perhaps Consort Li was pulling the strings behind it. At that time, the concubine who plotted against Consort Li was fiercely competing with her and enjoyed considerable imperial favor. Had it not been due to the Warding Technique incident, it’s uncertain how far she could have climbed by now. But because of Chongxu Daoist Master’s appearance, Consort Li’s greatest enemy in the harem just disappeared.

This could very well be a scheme carried out in silent agreement between Chongxu Daoist Master and Consort Li, yet even involving himself in palace intrigues, Chongxu Daoist Master’s audacity was indeed too great.

"Since Consort Li places such trust in Chongxu Daoist Master, having twice owed her life to him, everyone in the palace knows it. Thus, when Chongxu Daoist Master’s identity is discovered, Consort Li will be even more humiliated. She will also need to explain to the Emperor – why is this?"

"The most important thing is that I need to make Ji Shuran regret," Jiang Li said gently, "Ji Shuran didn’t just ask for help, but invited the wolf into her house. I want her to get burned by playing with fire, to reveal her true colors because of this ’eminent figure’, and then, let her find out that this ’eminent figure’ is a fake."

Zhao Ke felt a chill in his heart, realizing that Miss Jiang the Second, despite her seemingly gentle and harmless appearance, had a way of tormenting people that was not as kind-hearted as she looked.