The Double Episode 22 Recap
> The Double Recap
In Dingzhou, Liu Yuanfeng diligently comforted the disaster victims, while Liu Xu efficiently distributed essential grain. Jiang Jingrui meticulously registered the victims' information. Jiang Li, observing the influx of refugees, studied a map and realized a significant number of troublemakers were deliberately directed to Dingzhou. She noted that her rapid journey from Huaixiang to Dingzhou on fast horses meant her reputation as a "savior" should have spread slower than her arrival.
Yet, upon their very first night in Dingzhou, large groups of refugees, many from as far as Ningzhou and traveling on foot, were already looking for her. This suggested a coordinated effort to send them to Dingzhou. She suspected Wei County, as it was strategically located at the crossroads of other disaster-stricken regions. Jiang Li consulted Liu Yuanfeng, who confirmed her suspicions. Their household registrations showed refugees from Shangdu, Ningzhou, and notably, nearly half from Wei County.
He believed Wei County's magistrate, Lu Ziyun, was hoarding relief grain, creating famine, and that malicious individuals were exploiting Jiang Li's reputation to redirect the starving population. Jiang Li proposed setting a trap to identify the instigators, declaring, "If we don't enter the tiger's den, how do we catch the cub?" Despite Third Uncle's and Liu Yuanfeng's concerns about the danger, Jiang Li was resolute. She initiated her plan, riding in a carriage out of the city with Third Uncle.
As expected, a crowd of instigated refugees blocked their path, shouting that Jiang Li was trying to escape and demanding her abduction for food. Third Uncle confronted them, but troublemakers tried to breach the carriage to attack Jiang Li. Unexpectedly, Xiao Heng emerged from the carriage, swiftly fending them off. His guards quickly arrested the agitators, proclaiming that spreading rumors and disrupting disaster relief efforts constituted acts of treason.
Afterwards, Xiao Heng urged Jiang Li to pack up and leave for the capital safely with Xue Huaiyuan. Jiang Li refused, stating she could have left earlier if she wished. She explained that Dingzhou's predicament was intertwined with her, and she couldn't abandon the people. She reiterated that simply clearing the Xue family's name was insufficient; she needed to expose the true masterminds to prevent future tragedies.
Seeing her determination, Xiao Heng offered to go to Wei County in her stead. Lu Ji, one of Xiao Heng's aides, later confirmed that the crisis in Dingzhou was orchestrated by Lu Ziyun, the Wei County magistrate, who embezzled state relief grain and directed the refugees. Xiao Heng instructed Liu Yuanfeng to manage the Dingzhou refugees while he personally handled Wei County.
Before departing, Xiao Heng reminded Jiang Li to control her emotions, noting she had been quite intense since finding Xue Huaiyuan. Jiang Li, in turn, advised him to be careful on his journey. Meanwhile, Jiang Jingrui helped Liu Xu stack grain, hopeful that Liu Xu was about to confess her feelings after complimenting his newfound reliability. Instead, Liu Xu pushed him aside, remarking on his lack of strength, and effortlessly lifted two bags of grain herself.
Back in the capital, Jiang Yuanbai was distraught, skipping meals and worrying over Jiang Li. He knew Li Zhongnan was deliberately withholding grain, trapping Jiang Li in Dingzhou. He also feared that if Jiang Li returned with Xue Huaiyuan, she would face charges for freeing a prisoner, and Li Zhongnan would use this to implicate him through collective punishment. Xiao Heng, arriving at the Wei County granary, found the embezzled grain but Lu Ziyun had already fled.
Xiao Heng calmly concluded it was a diversion. Concurrently, Ye Shijie found it impossible to purchase grain in Luyang, as all stores had been designated for imperial relief. Escort agencies refused transport, citing new checkpoints specifically targeting "illegal grain selling." Ye Mingxuan, seeing the predicament, offered to use their family's transport carts.
Li Zhongnan, receiving reports of Jiang Yuanbai's inaction, Xiao Heng falling for the Wei County trap, and Ye Shijie's futile search for grain in Luyang, was pleased, believing Jiang Li to be isolated and vulnerable in Dingzhou. The situation in Dingzhou escalated. Refugees, agitated by unseen instigators, claimed starvation and demanded more food, even accusing the current distribution efforts of causing deaths. They clamored for Jiang Li to appear.
As guards struggled to control the mob, they began closing the city gates. Jiang Jingrui pushed Liu Xu inside to safety but was trapped outside himself. Upon hearing of Jiang Jingrui's peril, Jiang Li, despite Third Uncle's warnings to take shelter, declared she must confront the instigators directly. She ascended the city wall to address the crowd. She acknowledged the severe famine but urged patience, promising that relief grain would arrive in two days.
She explained that the local grain reserves, sufficient for Dingzhou's original population, were overwhelmed by the sudden influx of refugees. She directly questioned the refugees, particularly those from Wei County, about their missing relief grain and who coerced them to leave their homes. She vowed to stay and face the famine with them. However, the troublemakers remained unconvinced, demanding immediate food. Liu Xu and the guards managed to open the gates with reinforcements.
In the ensuing chaos, two instigators were arrested, but another one stabbed a refugee and blamed the guards for the murder. The enraged crowd turned hostile, demanding Jiang Li's capture. Just as the situation grew dire, Ye Shijie arrived with a massive convoy of grain carts, calming the panicked refugees as food was distributed and the remaining instigators were apprehended.
Ye Shijie revealed he had sent a secret letter to his sister, Ye Jia'er, instructing her to discreetly procure grain from Cangzhou because he anticipated the blockade of Luyang roads. Ye Jia'er confirmed they mortgaged Lizheng Hall and even used her personal jewelry to fund the relief effort, keeping their activities a secret. Lu Ji, with Xiao Heng, later revealed that Xiao Heng had sent secret letters to both Ye Shijie and Jiang Yuanbai.
Li Zhongnan's checkpoints had sealed off all routes to Dingzhou except Cangzhou, whose governor was loyal to them. Jiang Yuanbai was instructed to feign helplessness to divert Li Zhongnan's attention, and Xiao Heng's trip to Wei County was also a deliberate diversion to prevent the enemy from suspecting the Ye family's true plan. Xiao Heng hinted at a tacit understanding with Jiang Li about this elaborate scheme.
Meanwhile, Princess Wanning, learning that Xue Huaiyuan was alive, confronted Shen Yurong, suggesting his concern for Jiang Li resembled his feelings for Xue Fangfei. Shen Yurong vehemently stated he himself had killed Xue Fangfei and demanded an explanation from Wanning regarding Xue Huaiyuan's survival, fearing the exposure of their past schemes. Enraged by his audacity, Wanning slapped him, asserting her authority.
In the imperial court, the Emperor received memorials from the Chief Minister of the Court of Judicial Review and Li Zhongnan, both calling for Jiang Li's punishment. Li Zhongnan's memorial was more aggressive, also aiming to implicate Jiang Yuanbai. Xiao Heng advised the Emperor to approve the Chief Minister's memorial, acknowledging that it would lead to Jiang Li's imprisonment.
The Emperor noted Xiao Heng's calmness, to which Xiao Heng subtly responded by reminding the Emperor of the principle of "valuing the people." Jiang Li and Xue Huaiyuan arrived at Chang'an Gate in the capital. The Chief Minister of the Court of Judicial Review announced Jiang Li's crime of freeing a death row inmate and intended to take both her and Xue Huaiyuan into custody. Jiang Li, addressing the assembled crowd, admitted her crime but expressed no regrets.
She declared that she had brought the people to the capital not for her own pardon, but so their grievances could reach the benevolent Emperor. She promised that Xue Huaiyuan's and their collective injustices would be redressed. She then requested permission to strike the Dengwen Drum. Onlookers recalled that the drum had not been struck for over a decade, with the last instance being when a young Xiao Heng sought justice for his father, General Xiao.
Jiang Li stood before the Dengwen Drum on the platform, proclaiming Xue Huaiyuan's innocence, his selfless dedication to the people, and his unjust framing. As a woman, she could not bear to see a loyal official wronged and condemned, so she struck the drum to seek justice for him.
Inspired by her courage, and despite a poignant interruption from a young boy attempting to strike the drum for his general father who died in battle, the Huaixiang villagers came forward one by one. They declared their support for Xue Huaiyuan, echoing Jiang Li's powerful plea: "May the clear wind carry the drum's sound! May the heavens judge between good and evil!"
The Emperor, whose private moment was interrupted by Eunuch Su with news of the Dengwen Drum, quickly dismissed his consort's apologies for Jiang Li's "unruly" behavior and went to investigate. He conferred with Xiao Heng, asking how to "activate" his pawn. Xiao Heng explained Jiang Li's shrewd strategy: to have her case of freeing a prisoner and Xue Huaiyuan's embezzlement case tried together.
If Xue Huaiyuan's case was overturned, proving him innocent, then the charge of "freeing a prisoner" would become invalid. The Emperor found Jiang Li's intelligence intriguing, and Xiao Heng explained that she "came to him on her own." Recognizing her as a valuable asset, the Emperor, who had long awaited such an opportunity, resolved to use this "pawn" to thoroughly purge the corruption within the Great Yan officialdom, and issued his decree.
