The Double
Chapter 178 - 178 90 Uncle_5

178: Chapter 90 Uncle_5 178: Chapter 90 Uncle_5 Jiang Li noticed the unusual expression on Ye Mingxuan’s face and said, “This was the courtyard where my mother recovered from her illness.

After I returned to Yanjing City, the lady gave it to me.

At that time, all the flowers and plants in the courtyard had died.

It took Tonger, Bai Xue, and the others a lot of effort to make it look like what it does today.”

She referred to Ji Shuran as “the lady.”

Ye Mingxuan’s gaze flickered slightly as he asked, “How does Madam Ji treat you?”

Jiang Li looked at Ye Mingxuan, smiled faintly, and instead of answering his question, she said, “The tea is ready, Uncle Ming Xuan, let’s go inside to talk.”

She had avoided Ye Mingxuan’s question.

Ye Mingxuan and Ye Shijie exchanged glances, thought for a moment, and then shook their heads and followed Jiang Li.

Tonger stood upright to the side, pouring tea for Ye Mingxuan and Ye Shijie in turn.

“I didn’t expect Uncle Ming Xuan to suddenly return to Yanjing,” said Jiang Li.

“It was a bit surprising to me.

What made you think of visiting the Jiang Family?”

Ye Shijie coughed lightly and said, “I mentioned you to my second uncle.”

Jiang Li was noncommittal; she had known all along that after so much had happened, Ye Shijie would sooner or later tell the members of the Ye Family about her situation.

It was just that she didn’t expect them to come to Yanjing City in person.

Yet Jiang Li also believed that Ye Mingxuan’s visit to Yanjing City was certainly not just for her sake, seeing her must have been incidental.

“Indeed, Shijie mentioned you to me, and I realized it had been quite a while since I last saw you,” Ye Mingxuan sighed.

“It must have been ten years.

Ah Li, you seem well.

I’ve heard everything from Shijie.

You’ve helped Shijie several times, and I thank you on his behalf.”

Jiang Li chuckled: “We are all family, Uncle Ming Xuan, there’s no need for such formality.”

Her words were sincere and gentle, her eyes clear as spring water, compelling belief in the truth of her words at that moment.

Suddenly, Ye Mingxuan also felt somewhat at a loss for words.

In the past, it was Jiang Li who had looked down upon the Ye Family for being merchants, but now it was she who naturally said “We are all family.” It was clearly contradictory, yet there was no real reason to doubt her sincerity.

“How is grandmother and the others?” asked Jiang Li.

“Their health is not great,” said Ye Mingxuan.

“Such is the way with old age.

They originally wanted to come to Yanjing City to see Shijie as well, but their health didn’t allow it.”

Jiang Li furrowed her brow slightly; the Old Madam Ye’s poor health was not a good sign.

Ye Shijie felt somewhat awkward.

Old Madam Ye’s health had declined after the incident sparked by Jiang Li’s insult to the Ye Family.

At that time, Old Madam Ye had fallen gravely ill, which had damaged her constitution, leaving her not as healthy as before.

Her health had been deteriorating year after year.

“If grandmother couldn’t come, why didn’t the other few uncles come as well?” Jiang Li asked.

She had inquired before; Miss Jiang the Second had three uncles in total.

Ye Mingxuan was second in line, Ye Shijie’s father was the eldest, and there was also a youngest uncle.

“There’s some business trouble in Xiangyang,” Ye Mingxuan said with a smile.

“They have been quite busy lately.”

Though Ye Mingxuan was smiling, Jiang Li could distinctly see a hint of worry in his eyes.

The so-called “business trouble” was clearly not as lightly regarded as Ye Mingxuan made it seem.

If the Ye Family was in trouble, it was not good news.

On one hand, Miss Jiang the Second needed the Ye Family’s support to solidify her position within the Jiang Family; on the other hand, the Ye Family in Xiangyang and Xue Huaiyuan in Tongxiang of Xiangyang were both reliant on the Ye Family’s influence to investigate matters in Tongxiang.

Jiang Li thought for a moment and asked, “How long do you plan to stay in Yanjing City, Uncle Ming Xuan, and when will you return to Xiangyang?”

“This trip is mainly to see Shijie and to settle some business matters in Yanjing City.

I’ll return to Xiangyang after these issues are resolved,” Ye Mingxuan pondered, then added, “It shouldn’t take long, at most about ten days.

I cannot be away from Xiangyang for too long.”

Even ten days seemed like a delay to him, suggesting the urgency of the situation in Xiangyang.

Hearing Ye Mingxuan say this further confirmed Jiang Li’s suspicions.

She glanced at Ye Shijie, noticing that he too appeared to be preoccupied.

Seeing Jiang Li fall silent, Ye Mingxuan laughed and said, “Although this trip to Yanjing was to see Shijie, encountering Ah Li was an unexpected pleasure.

I heard you became the top scholar at Mingyi Hall and even received an award from the emperor.

If your grandmother knew about this, she would certainly be very happy.

Speaking of which, there are no precedents for women being directly appointed to official positions, but you and Shijie are equally accomplished.

Since Shijie has become an official, it seems right that you should also receive a title.”

That uncle sure had a way of thinking, Jiang Li laughed and said, “It’s a pity I wasn’t born as a man.”

Ye Shijie glanced at Jiang Li, knowing well that although she was not a man, some of the things she dared to do would make even men hesitate.

Who else could enter and exit the palace with a dagger?

If anything went wrong, she could be arrested on charges of attempted assassination and potentially implicate her entire family.

Yet she seemed unafraid, treating it as a trivial matter, which was truly impressive.

Luckily, she wasn’t a man, for if she were, she might reach the heavens.

“Speaking of which, it has also been a long while since I’ve seen grandmother and the uncles,” Jiang Li said.

“Seeing Uncle Ming Xuan this time is like not recognizing each other.

I almost failed to recognize you yourself, Uncle Ming Xuan.”

Ye Mingxuan laughed heartily, “No worries, when you have the chance, you and Shijie can come back to Xiangyang together.

Then you can meet grandmother and your uncles.

They will surely be delighted.”

Jiang Li had been waiting for this very opportunity.

With her eyes sparkling, she smiled and said, “Why wait?

This is an opportunity right now.

After Uncle Ming Xuan, you finish your business, let’s return to Xiangyang together.”

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