The Double-Chapter 683 - 210: Goodbye_4

"You..." Jiang Li had barely spoken when the person shivered, turned their head, and startled her as she exclaimed, "Zhao Ke?"

"Ah? Second Miss," Zhao Ke responded, "It’s been a long time."

"How come you’re here?" Jiang Li wondered in her heart. Zhao Ke had left the Jiang Family a long time ago, perhaps because whatever task Jih Heng had entrusted him with at the Jiang Family was completed, or maybe the Jiang Family had lost its usefulness to Jih Heng, and there was no longer a need to have someone keep watch. Thus, suddenly seeing Zhao Ke before her was surprising. Jiang Li asked, "What are you doing here in the dead of night? Surely, you’re not here just to pick weeds."

Zhao Ke coughed lightly, stood up, and said, "Second Miss, my lord sent me to see if anything has happened at the Chief Minister’s Residence."

"Something has happened?" Jiang Li puzzled, not understanding, "What thing?"

Zhao Ke scratched his head, "I don’t know either, maybe he just wanted me to see if Second Miss has run into any trouble."

Jiang Li was taken aback and then smiled: "Thanks for his kindness." What was this? Secretive concern? Jiang Li couldn’t quite make sense of it. She replied, "But nothing special has happened, I’m also doing very well."

Zhao Ke looked at Jiang Li with a strange expression, as if wanting to say something but hesitating to speak, and eventually let out an abrupt sigh, saying, "By the way, my lord also said, if Miss Jiang the Second isn’t asleep, she can visit the Duke Residence."

Jiang Li was taken aback.

"Second Miss doesn’t seem to be asleep right now, so do you want to visit the Duke Residence?"

Jiang Li found it funny yet annoying that he mentioned it so casually, as if it were a stroll in her own garden—only someone from the Duke Residence could do this. Indeed, she had some questions to ask Jih Heng about the Yin Household. However, it was precisely because of the Yin family that she felt a bit apprehensive. Jiang Li said to Zhao Ke: "It’s possible, but you should know, with the Zhaode General having returned to Yanjing today and even visiting the Jiang Family, I’m not sure about the relationship between Zhaode General and your lord, but it’s always good to be more cautious. If we leave now, won’t people from the Yin Household discover us?"

Zhao Ke: "Second Miss need not worry about that. Yin Zhan has not returned to Yanjing for many years, and he may not be familiar with all the small paths here. The path we take will be sufficient to shield Second Miss so that no one will discover us. However, your caution is indeed prudent. With the Yin family, it’s better to be extra vigilant."

Zhao Ke normally spoke and acted according to Jih Heng’s instructions and rarely expressed his own opinions. It was the first time he had personally advised Jiang Li, which she found very unusual. She became almost certain that Jih Heng’s target was probably Yin Zhan, since even his subordinate was aware of it.

Jih Heng and Yin Zhan would inevitably come into conflict one day, and Jiang Li felt confused. She couldn’t immerse herself in bygone times and knew too little about the Zhaode General, hence she couldn’t guess what past grievances existed between the Duke Residence and the Zhaode General.

Perhaps tonight she could uncover some clues.

With that thought, Jiang Li nodded and said, "In that case, I would like to visit the Duke Residence, thank you for your trouble."

Zhao Ke said, "Don’t worry, Second Miss, follow me."

...

Thinking about it, Jiang Li might not have set foot in the Duke Residence for a long time. Before being taken to Huangzhou and for some time thereafter, she hadn’t visited voluntarily, and Jih Heng had not invited her either. Reflecting on it, the last time she joined Old General Jih and Wen Renyao grilling venison in the courtyard of the Duke Residence felt like a situation from a previous life.

Zhao Ke drove the carriage through the night, and even though the hooves might have been wrapped in cloth, no sound was to be heard. Jiang Li guessed it was to prevent someone from coming out to inspect at night, though this had not been done before. The only difference between now and the past was the presence of the Zhaode General.

Jiang Li grew increasingly curious about what grudge the Zhaode General might hold against the Duke Residence. When Yin Zhan went to the Northwest, Jih Minghan might not yet have been born or was just a babbling toddler, so it couldn’t have been a personal dispute with Jih Minghan. Continuing this line of thought, it likely involved Jih Minghan’s father, the Jinwu General, and his generation.

But weren’t Jih Minghan and Yin Zhan rumored to have a good relationship?

Carrying these questions in her mind, Jiang Li arrived at the gate of the Duke Residence. When the gate guard saw her, his eyes lit up, and he grinned at her.

The guards of the Duke Residence were all very handsome, even though they didn’t speak much. When this guard grinned, he seemed a bit foolish. Zhao Ke, who did not think much of it, said, "Stop laughing."