The Double

He was no saint, and his hatred for Ji Shuran inevitably spilled over to Jiang Youyao. Yet, seeing Jiang Youyao’s terrified demeanor, he found it difficult to harden his heart. Jiang Youyao had grown up pampered in the Jiang Family, when had she ever become so timid and fearful? Were both his daughters destined to walk the same path, becoming disappointed with their father and growing disillusioned with the Jiang Family?

Madam Jiang the Elder had already learned the full story from her maids, and she looked at Jiang Youyao in anger, saying, "Third girl, you’ve gone too far. Is this how you’ve been taught to behave, scheming against your own sisters!"

"Grandmother," Jiang Youyao’s knees buckled, and she knelt down neatly, saying, "Youyao was also impulsive. But... now everywhere outside they’re talking about mother... my mother’s death, stirring up a huge fuss. As her daughter, Youyao knows that Mother made unforgivable mistakes, which is why I didn’t plead for her. But Mother has already passed away, having paid the price she owed. Why can’t they even spare someone who is already dead? How do you think this makes her children feel? Father, please try to empathize for once!"

Jiang Li looked at Jiang Youyao; it seemed that after Ji Shuran’s death, she had somewhat grown up, at least knowing how to stage self-inflicted wounds to garner the sympathies of others.

"Furthermore, with Mother’s affair being spread around, it’s the Jiang Family that gets hurt. How will others view the Jiang Family? Now, everyone outside is saying that Father is lax in his household management, that the Jiang Family is a mess. Second sister," she turned to Jiang Li, tears streaming down like rain, and kowtowed to Jiang Li several times, saying, "Youyao knows I can’t make up for the hurt I caused to Second Sister, but I beg of you to spare the Jiang Family from further disgrace. As long as you can let the Jiang Family go, Youyao is willing to do anything!"

Tonger listened to this and couldn’t help but be filled with indignation. She had originally thought that this Third Miss was rather thoughtless, but now she realized she should not be underestimated. At the very least, her skill in feigning innocence was on par with Ji Shuran’s. The apple didn’t fall far from the tree; her act of playing the victim was so convincing it almost made everyone admire her. Amidst the current scene, Jiang Li was made to look overbearing, while she appeared entirely innocent.

"Third Sister, this was not my doing," Jiang Li said.

"If it wasn’t you, then who else could it be?" Jiang Youyao choked out, "You’re the one who hates Mother most, you’re the one who wants to clear your own name, and lately you’re the only one who has been free to come and go from the house..."