The Double

Situ Jiuyue drove the carriage while she also took the opportunity to change her appearance into that of a hunchbacked girl. The junior guardsman on watch was surprised to see someone leaving the city at night, but Situ Jiuyue presented a travel permit, claiming that her mistress had become severely ill during the night and needed to leave the city to seek a famous doctor. The guardsman opened the carriage and saw Jiang Li atop it. Due to the night, his vision was blurry, but spotting that Jiang Li indeed looked like an ailing woman, he harbored no suspicion. Besides, the travel permit was also authentic, so he let them through.

Having exited the city gates, Jiang Li finally let go of the tension in her heart.

𝑓𝘳𝑒𝑒𝓌𝘦𝘣𝘯ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝑚

To travel twenty li east of the city gates would take roughly an hour. Jiang Li sat inside the carriage, and did not immediately tear off the mask altering her appearance. Instead, she meticulously recalled the use of the poisons and hidden weapons that Situ Jiuyue had taught her. Regardless of anything else, they were now just two women, and not to speak of whether they could reach the mentioned village safely, encountering bandits or thieves on the way would hardly be good.

Fortunately, their luck was not bad this time, and they did not encounter any thieves along the way. When Jiang Li and Situ Jiuyue reached the agreed-upon village entrance, they didn’t see a single soul.

Situ Jiuyue furrowed her brow and asked, "Why isn’t there anyone? Could it be that those people didn’t dare to come? Or was that letter completely fake?"

"It shouldn’t be fake," Jiang Li said, "They might have already arrived, and the reason they haven’t shown themselves could be that they’re watching to see if we have any tricks up our sleeves, or if we truly came alone."

Hearing this, Situ Jiuyue felt relieved, then scoffed, "They really are cautious."

"No matter what, we have arrived, so let’s just wait here quietly. I think it won’t be long before they show themselves."

"Alright, I’ll be outside, so if there’s any movement, you’ll be prepared," said Situ Jiuyue.

Jiang Li nodded in agreement. As it was deep into the night, darkness enveloped the outside, and even inside the carriage was pitch black. This village seemed deserted, without a trace of human activity or the sound of animals to be heard, creating a silence that was eerily quiet. It was as if in the whole world, only Jiang Li and Situ Jiuyue existed. Jiang Li could clearly hear her own heartbeat, thumping forcefully and steadily, but she did not know what might happen next. In at least this case, they were being passive, left with no choice.

Time passed, and Jiang Li felt as though a long period had elapsed, yet there was still no sound from outside. She asked Situ Jiuyue, "Jiuyue, do you notice anything wrong?"