Chapter 115: Mine

"My Lord Duke, having watched the play for so long, would you care to join me?"

A clear, resonant voice echoed through the forest in the dead of night. The moon hung low, nearly resting against the treetops, illuminating Jiang Li’s delicate face. Her eyes were bright and clear; far from the panic of one driven into a corner, she appeared composed and insightful, as if everything were well within her grasp.

The men in black stared at her. Their leader chuckled, "Second Miss, there is no need to put on such an empty show—"

Before he could finish, a soft laugh drifted from the depths of the woods. A crimson silhouette gradually emerged from the darkness. Under the moonlight, the deeper the shadows, the more magnificent his red robes appeared. The moonlight fell upon the black-gold butterflies embroidered on his hem, making them seem as though they were about to take flight, appearing mesmerizingly exquisite in that moment.

Ji Heng stepped out of the night with unhurried grace, holding a golden-threaded folding fan. With a smile curling his lips, he remarked, "Nothing escapes your notice."

Jiang Li looked at him, feeling a slight sense of relief. Ji Heng was fond of having people watch her; there was little in Tongxiang that escaped his knowledge. She had been certain that the men sent by Feng Yutang and Ji Shuran to hunt her down were well within Ji Heng's awareness. He loved a good show, and he would never miss one as spectacular as this.

Whether it was Ji Heng himself watching her or his subordinates, Jiang Li knew they would never let her out of their sight. When Ji Shuran’s men suddenly intercepted her and she realized she had nowhere left to run, she had hoped that the person following her in silence might save her life. If he could not, his presence alone would serve to distract the enemy.

Fortunately, someone was indeed following her. More fortunately, it was Ji Heng himself.

With Ji Heng present, Jiang Li felt much more at ease. It was a strange thought; Ji Heng could hardly be called a friend. To this day, he remained a mysterious and unfathomable man. Yet, having dealt with him several times, Jiang Li knew he had no intention of harming her. She certainly did not flatter herself by thinking it was out of chivalry; perhaps she still held some value that Ji Heng could exploit.

Being useful was better than being useless. As long as Ji Heng was here, she was certain she would not be the one to die today. Aside from his highly skilled guards, she had already witnessed the lethality of the beautiful golden-threaded fan he held. He was not a man to sit and wait for death; rather, he was a master of lethal strikes. Anyone who underestimated him because of his beauty would soon be met with a harsh, dangerous reality.

Ji Heng’s appearance immediately drew the attention of the assassins. Several of them turned their blades toward him.

The assassins had not missed Jiang Li’s address of "My Lord Duke." Ji Heng possessed an overwhelming, almost bewitching beauty. Appearing alone in the pitch-black forest, he looked like a woodland spirit, dangerously alluring. Perhaps it was the instinct of a killer to sense danger, for the leader of the black-clad men asked, "Who are you?"

Ji Heng ignored them, looking instead at Jiang Li with a smile. "Second Miss, your acting skills are becoming increasingly impressive."

"If the play weren't exciting, how could I attract you to watch, My Lord?" Jiang Li glanced at the leader and her smile deepened. "My Lord, they are pointing their swords at you."

A man like Ji Heng, who wore a constant smile while being ruthless, arrogant, and vicious, would surely find being pointed at by a sword an insult. The leader caught Ji Heng’s gaze and felt a strange urge to retreat; his fingers tightened on his sword hilt, sensing that something was terribly wrong.

Ji Heng paid no heed, only watching Jiang Li with amusement. "Second Miss, why try to shift the trouble onto me? I told you, I am not part of the play."

"Has Your Grace watched so many of my plays for nothing? If I were to die here today, and you could no longer see my performances, would you not feel even a shred of regret?" she asked, looking up at him.

The young girl’s face was clean and fair, her bright, beautiful eyes filled with infinite supplication. When she spoke in that soft, pitiable tone, even a god might find it hard not to feel compassion.

Yet, Ji Heng was no god; he was a demon more cold-blooded than any deity. He simply looked at her with a smile and said, "Regret, perhaps. But I am not in the play."

Jiang Li’s expression of supplication vanished instantly. It was hard to imagine how she could detach herself from such a moving performance so quickly.

Looking at Ji Heng, she felt a flicker of annoyance. In her past life, as Xue Fangfei, she had possessed a peerless beauty. While she had never thought much of it, most of her life had been smooth sailing because of that appearance. When conflicts arose, people were rarely relentless when faced with such a face. A beauty only needed to act a little spoiled, and everything would fall into place. She hadn't liked using such methods, which was why Xue Zhao had often teased her for wasting such a gift, failing to gain the reputation of a femme fatale.

Now, forced to act under someone else’s roof, she had to perform, feigning pity and cuteness. Yet, whether it was because the man’s heart was too hard or because the Second Miss’s appearance was not quite world-toppling, she hadn't moved him at all. Instead, she had received such a cold, sober response.

It was truly disheartening.

Ji Heng continued to look at her with that faint, mocking smile. He spoke nonchalantly, as if he saw nothing wrong with his refusal to intervene. Beneath his narrow, phoenix-like eyes, the vibrant red tear-mole held infinite charm, smoldering with a seductive allure in the night.

The leader of the assassins seemed to have finally regained his senses. He said to Ji Heng, "Since you have no conflict with us, then things are simple." He turned to Jiang Li. "Second Miss, your reinforcements do not seem inclined to help you. We won't waste any more time—come!"

With that, perhaps fearing that Ji Heng’s presence would lead to further complications, he lunged straight at Jiang Li. The silver-tipped sword brought with it a murderous chill, causing leaves to flutter down from the trees!

Seeing that there was no turning back and that her companion was still watching with detached indifference, Jiang Li hardened her heart and spoke loudly and without hesitation, "My Lord Duke, I know why you chose to involve yourself with the Right Prime Minister and Prince Cheng. The court is currently divided into three factions. His Majesty, though weakened, is no mere pond fish; he is suspicious by nature. If you want him to trust you above all others, you must prop up Prince Cheng. With wolves in front and tigers behind, His Majesty will inevitably rely heavily on you in his desperation. You will become the foremost minister of the court, and this tripartite balance is entirely of your own making!"

Jiang Li’s words were fast and sharp. The assassins were stunned—what Prince Cheng? What Right Prime Minister? What was all this about?

The smile on Ji Heng’s lips seemed to freeze into ice.

As soon as Jiang Li finished speaking, a sword tip appeared before her eyes, while another came at her from behind. Death awaited her either way!

Just then, a slender hand reached out, gripped her shoulder, and pulled her aside. The next moment, a peony bloomed in vibrant color—Ji Heng had opened his fan.

The edge of the fan suddenly became as sharp as a blade. Jiang Li only saw the fan sweep back and forth; between its opening and closing, the golden threads of the peony petals shimmered with a faint, cold light. In an instant, with a heavy thud, the two assassins who had been closing in on her collapsed to the ground, their faces still wearing expressions of astonishment, as if, in their final moments, they were still confused about the cause of their death.

The remaining assassins were momentarily stunned by the display.

No one had even clearly seen how Ji Heng moved; he was far too fast. Jiang Li stared fixedly at his fan. She had witnessed its power once again—or perhaps it was not the fan that was terrifying, but the man himself.

"Brothers, forget it! All together now!" The leader gritted his teeth and signaled for the others to charge!

Jiang Li had barely escaped one catastrophe when she felt murderous intent surging from all directions. Without thinking, she grabbed the edge of Ji Heng’s robe. He was dangerous, but the enemy of her enemy was her friend. At this moment, only Ji Heng could protect her!

Ji Heng glanced at her coldly but said nothing as the assassins swarmed forward. A cold sneer played on his lips. He fully unfurled his fan, grabbed Jiang Li by the back of her collar, and retreated with lightning speed. His movements were so fluid and rapid that it was impossible to track him; one could only see the black butterflies on his hem dancing in the air, carrying a heavy, eerie, and bewitching aura.

Under the cover of night, his movements were swift. The fan in his hand acted like a lethal weapon; with every flick and turn, blood bloomed like peach blossoms in May. The faint, shimmering light on the fan sent shivers down one's spine.

Cries of agony rose and fell in the forest. In that moment, it was a living hell.

Jiang Li instinctively pressed against Ji Heng, but his robes felt ice-cold, as if he were not of this world, devoid of any warmth.

After a long while, the screams ceased. Ji Heng stopped his movements.

Above her, Ji Heng’s mocking voice rang out: "Second Miss, the field has been cleared."

Jiang Li slowly loosened her grip and looked around. In the moonlight, the bodies of the black-clad men lay strewn about, the ground drenched in blood, resembling a scene of purgatory from a temple mural.

Ji Heng had killed over a dozen men alone, and it seemed only a quarter of an hour had passed.

Jiang Li turned to look at him.

The moon climbed higher, as if unsatisfied with the horror below, casting a brilliant, pure light upon the blood-stained earth, making it difficult to distinguish nightmare from reality.

Ji Heng stood amidst the gore, his long robes a vivid, vibrant red that made one wonder if it had been dyed in the blood on the ground. Yet, holding his folding fan, he seemed entirely unaffected, merely looking at Jiang Li. "Second Miss, shouldn't you thank me?"

Jiang Li remained silent.

The next moment, that fan pressed against her throat. Ji Heng did not lean in—he even maintained a distance—yet his expression was chillingly cold. Since she had met him, he had always been smiling and languid, even if she knew it was a facade. But when a venomous beast finally bared its fangs, anyone would feel a chill in their heart.

Jiang Li felt the terror.

"Second Miss, I said I do not like being in the play. Why did you insist on pulling me into the game?" His voice was light, like a lover’s whisper, yet it carried an inexplicable coldness that crawled up one’s spine.

"I had no choice," Jiang Li looked him straight in the eyes, her voice softening, as if truly apologetic. "I do not want to die."

Earlier, she had clearly felt that Ji Heng had no intention of acting, intending only to watch from the sidelines. But she could not let that happen. If he did not intervene, she would die there. Her father was still in prison, the truth of Xue Zhao’s death had yet to be revealed—she could not die, at least not now. She had to force his hand.

So, she had been forced to reveal the secret she had long since glimpsed.

She couldn't recall when it had started, but one day, while pondering the relationship between Ji Heng, Prince Cheng, the Emperor, and Jiang Yuanbai, she had suddenly realized it. The current court was divided into three: Prince Cheng, the Jiang Yuanbai faction, and the Emperor Hongxiao faction. But before Prince Cheng joined forces with the Right Prime Minister, he had not been as stable as he was now. At that time, the court was essentially two factions—Jiang Yuanbai and the Emperor. If Jiang Yuanbai had no desire for treason, the Emperor would not have been so wary.

But when Prince Cheng joined the Right Prime Minister, the balance was broken. Prince Cheng’s influence sowed discord between Jiang Yuanbai and the Emperor; the bond of teacher and student remained, but the trust was gone. Jiang Li was certain that if evidence of treason ever appeared against the Jiang family, the Emperor would throw Jiang Yuanbai into prison without hesitation.

The Emperor could no longer work with Jiang Yuanbai, but the Emperor’s power was waning. Yet, Jiang Li had felt since the last time that this Emperor, whose mother, Imperial Consort Xia, had died early, was not as easily manipulated as he appeared. Perhaps Ji Heng had seen the Emperor’s ambition and decided to side with him.

There were people in this world who did everything to the best of their ability. Merely being a minister to the Emperor was clearly not what Ji Heng wanted. The situation Ji Heng desired was to become the Emperor’s confidant, the person he trusted most. She didn't know why, but she was certain that this was his goal, and that he had propped up Prince Cheng to achieve it.

In other words, from the very beginning, Ji Heng had manipulated Prince Cheng into joining forces with the Right Prime Minister, creating a threat to the Jiang family. Prince Cheng’s provocations distanced the Emperor from Jiang Yuanbai, and thus, the court became the tripartite division Ji Heng desired. An isolated Emperor would then choose to trust Ji Heng, making him his confidant.

Thinking of this, Jiang Li felt a shiver of dread. Ji Heng’s schemes were so grand that no one would believe it—it required long-term vision, precise planning, and the courage to fear nothing. Yet, he had done it, and he had succeeded.

When she had first glimpsed this secret, she knew she had to bury it forever. She knew what Ji Heng was after, and she had never mentioned it during their encounters, knowing that if he realized she knew, the first thing he would do was silence her.

"Loose lips sink ships," as they say. But man proposes and God disposes; she had never expected to be driven to such a desperate end tonight. Ji Heng was there, but he had no intention of acting. She had been forced to borrow his blade to kill her enemies.

By revealing his secret in front of the assassins, she had ensured that Ji Heng would never allow these people to live. They were destined to be silenced.

"Second Miss, you should know," he said slowly, "when one silences witnesses, no one is left alive."

He could kill the assassins, and he could kill her. Firstly, she knew his secret; secondly, she had used his secret to manipulate him. These two charges were reason enough for her to have no grounds to live.

The fan was cold against her fragile throat. His gaze lingered there, seemingly with a touch of lingering desire, but upon closer inspection, it was nothing but detached cruelty. The fan pressed in, inch by inch. The sensation of death was so clear. Jiang Li heard the sound of her own heartbeat, but her voice remained calm.

"My Lord Duke, I do not want to die; otherwise, I would not have said those things," she said.

"Give me a reason why you should not die," Ji Heng looked at her.

"If you want His Majesty’s trust, you must keep Prince Cheng and the Jiang family at odds. Propping up Prince Cheng is not the goal; it is a means to an end," Jiang Li said. "I can ensure that the Jiang family and Prince Cheng can never reconcile, and I can erode Prince Cheng’s power."

Ji Heng chuckled. "How will you do that?"

"In the Xue family case, Feng Yutang was merely a puppet; the person behind it is Yongning," Jiang Li lowered her eyes. Ji Heng likely already knew the case involved Yongning, so she didn't need to hide it. She continued, "I am going to take up the Xue case. Sooner or later, I will clash with Yongning, which means a life-or-death struggle with Prince Cheng. No matter how my father views me, I bear the surname Jiang. Prince Cheng will pin this account on the Jiang family. Since they are to be rivals, as a member of the Jiang family, I will help them deal with Prince Cheng."

"How will you deal with Prince Cheng?" Ji Heng asked. "You are only fifteen."

Jiang Li said only four words: "By any means necessary."

Ji Heng was silent for a while before saying, "Whether it is the Jiang family or Prince Cheng, neither will remain in the end."

This was something Jiang Li had already guessed. Ji Heng’s support of Prince Cheng and his provocation of the Jiang family were meant to force them into mutual destruction, thereby increasing the Emperor’s power. She was focused on dealing with Prince Cheng, but the Jiang family was also in precarious straits.

To be fair, although she was not the real Second Miss Jiang, she had accomplished much using Jiang Yuanbai’s name. Apart from Ji Shuran, her daughter, and Jiang Yu'e, the others in the Jiang family had not been overly warm, but they hadn't harmed her either. If the Jiang family truly collapsed, she would have no sanctuary. She had to protect the Jiang family while seeking revenge against Yongning and Shen Yulong.

"My Lord, I do not know what your ultimate goal is, but if the Jiang family falls, another will eventually take its place," Jiang Li said softly. "By keeping the Jiang family, should they one day become your allies—what of your reinforcements?"

Her earnestness did not move him. Ji Heng smiled. "I have no need for allies, nor for reinforcements."

Jiang Li: "..."

She found this normal; it was hard to imagine Ji Heng having friends or sharing warm moments with family. A venomous snake living with a flock of sheep was a scene difficult to fathom.

"You have yet to convince me," Ji Heng reminded her. "Why I should not kill you."

"I cannot find a reason," Jiang Li looked at him candidly. "Because even I cannot convince myself with these reasons. But I have things left undone, and I do not want to die yet. If you must refuse, I hope you will give me some time. Keep my life here; once I have finished what I must do, I will bring it to you myself, and I hope you will accept it with a smile."

Ji Heng looked at her and laughed. "And if I say no?"

Jiang Li fell silent once more.

After a while, she said, "If it must be so, then do it. I have already gained much. Had you not appeared today, I would have died at the hands of these people, perhaps in a very unseemly manner. To die at your hands would be my honor, and with so many to accompany me, it would not be a loss. Thank you for your care these past days. If there is a next life, I shall repay you." With that, Jiang Li closed her eyes, tilted her head slightly, and waited for him to strike.

The fan moved against her white, jade-like neck, a cold instrument of death. Her features were well-defined, clean and delicate like a mountain spirit; her small, red lips were pursed in stubbornness, and her long eyelashes, damp with dew, trembled slightly—a pitiable sight.

Ji Heng’s fan pressed deeper. It was not merely a decorative accessory; it was more ferocious than a blade.

The serpent coiled around its prey, baring its fangs, venom dripping down. The rabbit huddled in a ball, pitiful and cautious, hoping for a glimmer of life.

He moved closer, his gaze cold, his presence chilling. A single bite was all it would take to end the rabbit's movement forever.

But suddenly, he flicked his tail, turned his head, and slithered away.

Jiang Li felt the pressure on her throat vanish. She opened her eyes to see Ji Heng’s indifferent profile.

"You are the first person to thank me for killing them," Ji Heng said.

"Is that so? Then it is my honor."

"Your tongue is truly sweet," Ji Heng curled his lips. "Are you always like this?"

"No, only with you, My Lord." Jiang Li bowed her head, feeling a long sigh of relief. She had won the gamble. Ji Heng was a man who yielded to neither soft nor hard tactics, but he was not a lunatic who killed indiscriminately. While others called him temperamental, in truth, he only took lives when provoked.

Once she showed she was completely harmless, docile, and posed no threat to his plans, he couldn't be bothered to finish her off.

"I know you are not as harmless and docile as you appear," Ji Heng said, as if reading her thoughts. "You have inadvertently disrupted many of my plans, and I do not like to show mercy. However," he looked at her, his eyes deep and clear, "you have pulled me into the play."

"I want to see this play to the end, to its most exciting moment. You cannot die yet," Ji Heng said. "So your life is yours for now. When you have finished your business, I will come to collect it."

Jiang Li asked, "And if what I must do takes a very, very long time?"

"Then I shall wait," Ji Heng said. "I have patience, as you know."

Jiang Li was silent. Ji Heng was indeed patient. Long ago, before Prince Cheng had risen to prominence, Ji Heng had begun his preparations. At the time, no one paid it any mind, yet he had stepped by step propelled Prince Cheng to a point where no one dared to look down on him. The current restraint of the Jiang family was due entirely to this man.

He had more patience than anyone. There was likely nothing he could not achieve if he set his mind to it.

But Jiang Li was satisfied. Whether she lived a little longer or he came to claim her life one day, she did not have to die today. She had to live—live to rescue Xue Huaiyuan from prison, live to expose the true faces of Yongning and Shen Yulong, and live to avenge Xue Zhao.

Everything depended on her survival. Since Ji Heng had saved her from Ji Shuran’s assassins and given her this life to seek vengeance, she had no reason to hate him.

The road ahead was long, but as long as she lived, she would find a way out.

"These people..." Jiang Li looked at the corpses on the ground.

"Leave them," Ji Heng looked at her. "Or do you hope to pack them up and send them back to Ji Shuran in Yanjing?"

Jiang Li thought seriously. "No need. If I send them back, she will know the attempt failed and will surely find other ways. I am truly too occupied to deal with that. It is better to let her think she succeeded; when I return to Yanjing, her surprise will be a delight in itself."

Ji Heng nodded with pleasure. "That makes sense."

"What does Your Grace intend to do now?" Jiang Li asked. "I must return. I do not know how my uncle is faring. Feng Yutang’s men were intent on killing me, and I fear for his safety."

"Ye Mingyu is fine," Ji Heng said. "The men Feng Yutang sent—Yongning’s three best assassins—pursued you and were trapped by you in the swamp." He gave her a meaningful look before adding, "The rest are of no consequence; Ye Mingyu can handle them."

Hearing this, Jiang Li felt a wave of relief. If anything had happened to Ye Mingyu because of her, she would have been consumed by guilt. Ji Heng had no reason to lie about this, and she trusted him on this count.

"Let’s go," Ji Heng said, gesturing for her to mount her horse.

Jiang Li hesitated. When she had fled in haste, she had twisted her ankle and walking was difficult. She had intended to endure it, not expecting him to notice. But now was not the time for pretense, so she didn't overthink it, braced herself, and mounted.

Ji Heng walked unhurriedly beside her, and Jiang Li sat on the horse, holding the reins. The two of them were more harmonious than they had ever been.

"My Lord, one thing I wish to ask," Jiang Li said softly. "This life is on loan to me, but what if I were to die before I could return it to you?"

"That is impossible," Ji Heng said without looking back, his red robes cutting a magnificent streak through the night. "What belongs to me, no one else can take away. Not even your life."