The Double
Chapter 129 - 129 81 The Future

129: Chapter 81: The Future 129: Chapter 81: The Future After the lively imperial banquet, the Empress Dowager suggested going to the pond outside Yuming Hall to appreciate the lotuses.

The pond in the palace was dug by artisans, imitating the Yongning River of Yanjing City, and therefore was very spacious.

In the summer, for ten miles around the lotus pond, a sea of green stretched out, the bright moon overhead with stars sprinkling the sky, a truly magnificent sight.

The stifling heat of the past few days had been swept away, leaving a refreshing and invigorating atmosphere.

It seems that enjoying flowers after a banquet has always been a favorite pastime of the nobility.

Jiang Li also followed the Jiang family members to the pond.

Ji Shuran and Jiang Youyao were inseparable from her.

Jiang Li knew full well this was not Ji Shuran’s way of showing affection towards her stepdaughter, but she did not care about these formalities.

On the waterside corridor, the ladies sat down in succession, with fruits and pastries arranged on the tables.

As Jiang Li was walking towards the end, suddenly, she felt something being slipped into her palm.

Turning around, she saw an unfamiliar palace maid brushing past her.

She gripped the object in her hand, which seemed to be a slip of paper, and involuntarily glanced at Ji Shuran and Jiang Youyao, thinking it was Ji Shuran’s doing.

But seeing that Ji Shuran seemed unaffected, as if she had not noticed anything, she was slightly puzzled for a moment.

However, when she finally arrived at Lake Heart Pavilion, Jiang Li intentionally lagged behind.

Taking advantage of the absence of Ji Shuran and Jiang Youyao, she looked at the note in her hand.

Under the dim lantern light, she could make out a row of small characters.

Meet at the eastern gate behind the garden, Yuxiu Pavilion.

Signed: Zhou Yanbang.

Jiang Li was startled, Ji Shuran was already calling her, so she quickly crumpled the note into a ball, intending to throw it into the lake.

But then, thinking of something, she tucked it back into her sleeve.

Having just returned to Ji Shuran’s side, Ji Shuran said with a smile, “Lili, you’re walking a bit slow.”

Jiang Li responded with a smile, yet inside she was infuriated by Zhou Yanbang’s note to the point of amusement.

Zhou Yanbang was likely not one of Ji Shuran’s men; given how much Jiang Youyao valued Zhou Yanbang, she would never allow anything to involve him.

Zhou Yanbang must have acted on his own accord.

Jiang Li had never imagined that Zhou Yanbang would also interfere in these matters, wondering where the Heir of Marquis Ningyuan got the confidence that she would really meet him solely on the basis of a note.

Maybe Zhou Yanbang thought that Miss Jiang the Second still harbored feelings for him?

But Jiang Li reflected carefully on her few encounters with Zhou Yanbang since returning to Yanjing City and realized she had shown not the slightest interest in him.

It seems that those who are infatuated can find evidence of someone’s love for them, no matter how cold they are treated.

Jiang Li planned in her heart, today she and Ye Shijie would not fulfill Ji Shuran’s wishes, but simply doing that seemed too lenient for Ji Shuran.

Since arriving at the Jiang family, Jiang Li had always observed every member from the perspective of an outsider.

She sympathized with the real Second Miss, but before her family’s vengeance was avenged, she did not wish to be overly entangled in the Jiang family’s squabbles, so as to avoid unexpected troubles.

Therefore, with the mindset of “if others do not offend me, I will not offend them,” when Ji Shuran tried to harm her, Jiang Li retaliated, considering it not excessive.

But this time, Ji Shuran truly infuriated Jiang Li.

Ji Shuran’s methods were truly despicable, reminding her of her past self.

The unfolding of old events and the accumulation of new grudges made Jiang Li very willing to seek revenge at this moment.

People say, true vengeance is snatching away and thoroughly destroying what someone holds most dear.

Ji Shuran’s most cherished possessions were Jiang Youyao and Jiang Bingji.

Jiang Bingji was too young to lose much, but Jiang Youyao was different.

Jiang Youyao’s current obsession is none other than Zhou Yanbang, the Heir of Marquis Ningyuan.

Ji Shuran and her daughter had gone to great lengths to snatch this marriage from Miss Jiang the Second’s hands, constantly guarding against it being taken back.

Jiang Youyao had even developed hatred for Jiang Li because of Zhou Yanbang; he was Jiang Youyao’s weakness.

Jiang Li’s fingers caressed the short note hidden in her sleeve and suddenly smiled.

Since Zhou Yanbang himself wanted to wade into these muddy waters, she could not be blamed for leading trouble his way.

Jiang Youyao was constantly on guard against her, unaware that Zhou Yanbang was one of Yanjing City’s most eligible bachelors.

Many women other than her wanted to marry him, such as her younger aunt Shen Ruyun, and like Jiang Yue, born to the Jiang family’s third branch from an illegitimate son.

If Jiang Yue were given a chance to marry into the Marquis Ningyuan’s Mansion, what would she choose?

On one side were the sisters she affectionately called family on a daily basis, and on the other was the possibility of never encountering such a good match again.

Jiang Li looked forward to Jiang Yue’s choice.

Search the lightnovelworld.cc website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.