The Double-Chapter 572 - 168 Joyful News_5

Jiang Li placed the butterfly fan pendant into a small box and instructed Bai Xue to hold onto it carefully, but her heart was filled with uncertainty. She wondered whether Jih Heng would actually use the fan pendant. Perhaps he wouldn’t use it, but in any case, it represented her sentiments. Otherwise, she couldn’t bear to always have Jih Heng helping her without giving anything in return.

The route pointed out by Zhao Ke wasn’t the main road usually taken, but a less traveled one. Jiang Li hadn’t taken the Jiang Family’s carriage, instead, she found another carriage outside. No one noticed her along the way. By the time she got to the Duke Residence, Jiang Li and her maids jumped out of the carriage, and the gatekeeper opened the large gate for them. ƒrēewebnoѵёl.cσm

He really was quite familiar with the place.

As she walked through the main gate of the Duke Residence and into the garden, she heard a noisy "stinky horse, stinky horse" among the neighing of horses. Approaching closer, Jiang Li saw Xiao Hong land on Xiao Lan’s back, pecking happily at Xiao Lan’s mane. Upon seeing Jiang Li, the dark mass flapped its wings and flew straight toward her, scaring Tonger into screaming. Xiao Hong landed on Tonger’s head, tilting its head and calling out to Jiang Li: "Fangfei, Fangfei!"

Jiang Li: "...shut up."

This myna was quite a blabbermouth. Fortunately, she had never kept the bird in her room while she was at the Shen family’s house, otherwise, wouldn’t it have known all her secrets? Jiang Li then thought if the bird hadn’t been caged at the Shen family’s house, it might have witnessed the secret affair between Princess Yongning and Shen Yurong and blurted it out. She found that truly regrettable.

While lost in wild thoughts, Jiang Li suddenly came to her senses. What was she doing, relying on a bird for hope? Even feeling regret over it? Jiang Li shook her head; it seemed that she had put too much of herself into making the fan pendant that her mind wasn’t quite clear.

"You’re here." As she was thinking, she heard someone speak. Jiang Li looked in the direction of the voice. Jih Heng had approached at some point and was now petting Xiao Lan’s head. Xiao Lan meekly let him do so, but Jiang Li suspected it was just her misperception—was Xiao Lan actually shivering?

She looked at Jih Heng suspiciously. Was it possible that he had been mistreating Xiao Lan behind the scenes? Or had she been mistaken from the start, and this was not a Sweat-Blood Precious Horse but just an ordinary, timid young horse that was easily frightened?

Jih Heng finished petting the horse’s head and took out a handkerchief to meticulously clean his hands, then handed the handkerchief to Wen Ji and walked over to Jiang Li.

"Duke."

"What is it this time?" he asked.

Jiang Li had Bai Xue bring out the small box and handed it to Jih Heng, saying, "I saw a beautiful piece of jade that I thought would be perfect for a fan pendant. The Duke’s golden silk folding fan is very pretty, and I thought perhaps it could use a little addition. So I made this, and I hope you won’t find it too shoddy." She looked at Jih Heng with a smile.

Wen Ji and Zhao Ke stood behind Jih Heng like wooden figures, their faces betraying none of their inner thoughts.

Jih Heng took the box, opened it to glance inside, then closed it again and handed it to Wen Ji, who took care of it. He looked back at Jiang Li and said, "Thank you. So, what is it that you want?"

Jiang Li was deflated. The tone of Jih Heng’s words was as though she was the sort who would only visit the Duke Residence when she had some matter to attend to, always relying on Jih Heng to clean up her messes. All the things she had planned in her mind to request tactfully, suddenly she couldn’t bring herself to speak them out loud.

She looked downheartedly at Jih Heng, who, looking leisurely and composed, watched her with a slight smile on his lips, as if he was laughing.

A shiver ran through Jiang Li’s heart and she said, "Indeed, I have a matter I would like to ask the Duke to help with."

"Alright," Jih Heng said languidly: "Go ahead."

Suppressing the embarrassment in her heart and pretending to be calm, Jiang Li said, "The news of Princess Yongning’s pregnancy has spread throughout Yanjing City by now. I guess Li Xian has also suspected the child in Princess Yongning’s womb is not from the Li Family. Next, Li Xian will surely find a way to cause Princess Yongning to ’miscarry’ accidentally."

Jih Heng said, "So what if that happens?"

"If it really looks like an ’accidental’ miscarriage for Yongning, there would be nothing to resolve. I think, if Princess Yongning learns the truth about her miscarriage, that it was premeditated by the Li Family, matters will not end well. With Princess Yongning’s temperament, she will certainly fight to the death, seeking fierce revenge against the Li Family."

"The only thing worth avenging against the Li Family I can think of is Li Xian’s abhorrent and unique fetish. If Li Xian’s preferences became known, the Li Family would become the butt of the biggest joke. The Li Family is no shrinking violet, and even if Li Zhongnan shows allegiance to Prince Cheng, they would not rest, but rather reveal the truth about Princess Yongning’s pregnancy."

Jih Heng: "So?"

"So, of course, we need to find the child’s real father. Shen Yurong has been hiding behind the scenes for too long, it’s time for him to step forward."

"So, you want to use a fan pendant in exchange for the key to winning this grand play?" Jih Heng laughed. "You really know how to drive a hard bargain, Ah Li."

Jiang Li was startled by his call of "Ah Li". Jih Heng’s voice was naturally crisp and enchanting, intoxicating like fine wine—when he tenderly called your name, even the plainest of names seemed to come alive with vivid fragrance.

Jiang Li came back to her senses, her eyes gleaming as she smiled and said, "So does the Duke agree to this deal?"

"Very well." Jih Heng agreed readily, looking at Jiang Li, "I promise you."