The Double
Chapter 145 - 145 84 Chaos_2

145: Chapter 84 Chaos_2 145: Chapter 84 Chaos_2 Jih Heng and Jiang Li walked at the very back.

Jiang Li’s steps quickened, deliberately trying to put some distance between herself and Jih Heng, her head bent as she hurried along.

However, Jih Heng, tall and long-legged, walked at an easy pace, yet always remained side by side with Jiang Li, neither falling behind nor pulling ahead.

He said languidly, “Miss Jiang the Second’s acting skills outshine even those of Liu Sheng from the Lovesick Class.”

Jiang Li felt a chill in her heart.

After all, that Liu Sheng from the Lovesick Class was not someone who had tried to climb into bed only to have his leg broken and be thrown out by the very man walking beside her.

Could it be that Jih Heng was hinting at something?

While Jiang Li racked her brains, she was not idle in conversation, “Duke, you misunderstand, I have no interest in acting.”

“One does not need to be interested in acting,” Jih Heng said with a smile, “they just need to do it well.”

Jiang Li truly did not understand what Duke Su meant, but she had to stay alert in dealing with Jih Heng.

After all, he certainly did not seem to be a kind person.

Who knew what he was scheming in his mind?

Even Emperor Hongxiao had been calculated against by him.

The thought that Jih Heng might have switched his allegiance to Prince Cheng sent shivers down Jiang Li’s spine.

Jih Heng, devoid of any allegiance to his sovereign, was not just ruthless; it was a kind of arrogance that saw nothing and nobody as worthy in his eyes.

Jiang Li thought that such a person, even if beautiful, was best kept at a distance.

Jih Heng fell silent, simply strolling leisurely alongside Jiang Li.

Their silhouettes, one slender and delicate, the other radiantly enchanting, were as disparate as heaven and earth, yet their shadows cast on the ground by the lanterns intertwined excessively close, creating an overly intimate tableau.

Having traversed the water gallery, they now headed in the direction of the palace exit to wait for their respective masters.

As the group of ladies walked, they suddenly heard the voice of a woman: “Mother!”

The voice was piercingly shrill.

Everyone looked and saw a woman in a disheveled state, stumbling as she ran towards Mother Shen, Shen Yurong’s mother.

That woman was Shen Ruyun.

Even Jiang Li was startled.

Her original intention had been merely to ensure Shen Ruyun witnessed Jiang Yue and Zhou Yanbang’s illicit affair, resulting in jealousy and attracting others.

But now, with Shen Ruyun’s clothes disheveled and hair in disarray, it was unclear what exactly had happened to her.

Could there have been an unexpected turn of events?

Madam Liu, holding Liu Xu’s hand, displayed a fleeting smile on her face.

Just now, while everyone’s attention was on the servant girl who came to deliver the message to Madam Ningyuan, she heard the servant girl mention Yuxiu Pavilion.

Knowing the exit path would pass by Yuxiu Pavilion, she suggested they leave the palace immediately.

Madam Ningyuan, frantic with concern, paid no mind to the subtleties.

Even Consort Li and others familiar with the palace path, harboring an indifferent attitude, did not offer a reminder.

Madam Liu bore no grudge against Marquis Ningyuan’s Mansion, her actions were merely out of indignation for Jiang Li.

Her good friend Ye Zhenzhen’s daughter was clearly a sensible and well-behaved girl, yet she suffered many injustices for no reason.

Marquis Ningyuan’s Mansion had also shown bad faith, how could they change the marriage arrangement midway?

Now that she heard Zhou Yanbang had encountered trouble, Madam Liu felt no sympathy but rather a sense of schadenfreude, thinking that justice had been served.

With this in mind, how could she not lead everyone to see firsthand how Zhou Yanbang had “met with trouble?” To do otherwise would be to waste heaven’s good intentions.

She certainly wasn’t going to help Marquis Ningyuan’s Mansion climb down gracefully!

Shen Ruyun suddenly threw herself in front of Mother Shen, nearly passing out.

It was then that everyone saw clearly, her face streaked with tears, a pitiable sight.

“Mother, mother…”

“Ruyun, what has happened to you?” Mother Shen asked urgently.

“Mother, the Princely Heir of Marquis Ningyuan…

he…

he took liberties with me!”

A “pfft” of laughter escaped, as a young lady from an official family couldn’t help but laugh out loud.

When women are subjected to such improprieties, although they may be angry, they usually do not speak up about it.

It isn’t a matter of a woman’s thin skin; to publicly discuss such matters in front of a large audience always seemed unseemly.

Yet Shen Ruyun declared it quite loudly, as if afraid no one would hear her.

Or perhaps, being from a humble family, she did not know better?

Mother Shen’s face darkened as she glanced at the laughing maiden, who then fell silent, frightened and huddling against her own mother.

Shen Ruyun continued to sob breathlessly.

Jiang Li, however, found this turn of events unexpected.

It was beyond her calculations; although she considered Zhou Yanbang a hypocrite, he would not likely assault Shen Ruyun, who was a stranger to him.

Besides, Jiang Yue was there at the time.

How could Zhou Yanbang have any opportunity?

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