The Double

"Since there is the official seal, it must be true. How is that tampering with evidence? If it were someone else, they would have been convicted already. It’s only because she’s a Princess that others are trying every possible way to exonerate her," Xiao Deyin said.

Jiang Li looked at her in surprise, seemingly very astonished at Xiao Deyin’s words. She replied, "But the most important thing is, Princess Yongning has no reason to do such things! County Magistrate Xue is a mere official in Tongxiang, far away from Yanjing City. I’m afraid he might not have even met Princess Yongning in his entire life. Why would the Princess go through so much trouble to make life difficult for a small county magistrate?"

"No reason?" A meaningful smile spread across Xiao Deyin’s face as she said, "How can there not be?"

Jiang Li’s eyes widened.

Xiao Deyin leaned in closer, almost whispering in Jiang Li’s ear, "This Princess, she is quite fond of Top Scholar Shen, you see, and Madam Shen’s father is none other than County Magistrate Xue."

Jiang Li frowned, "I don’t understand." Her act as a bright yet naive young lady who knew nothing of romantic affairs was played to the full, and Xiao Deyin had no cause to doubt her, so she explained, "Princess Yongning likes Top Scholar Shen but thinks Madam Shen is in the way. Jealousy drives the Princess to trouble County Magistrate Xue, who is thousands of miles away, just to satisfy her own thirst for revenge."

Jiang Li was startled, looking at Xiao Deyin with anxious eyes, "Sir! These words mustn’t be carelessly spoken!"

"Why would I deceive you?" Xiao Deyin sighed lightly, "The truth is, the affair of Xue Fangfei, Madam Shen is quite complicated. Think about it, how coincidental it is. Before Shen became Top Scholar, no one knew he was in harmony with his wife through the zither. Yet after he became Top Scholar, and Princess Yongning saw and took a fancy to him, was it not just so that Madam Shen happened to engage in an affair, and soon after fell ill and died? And all three of a family were gone, leaving nothing behind? Jiang Li, your mind is pure, unaware of the dangers of the world, but you must understand, if people choose to be evil, there is nothing they would not do."

Jiang Li wanted to laugh upon hearing this. Xiao Deyin’s words held a profound meaning, but wasn’t he essentially talking about himself?

Jiang Li seemed petrified by these words, whispering softly, "Sir, such words must not be spread around. How do you know that Princess Yongning has her sights set on Top Scholar Shen?"