Jiang Xiuyi was initially pleased by Xue Xingyue’s first sentence, but her heart sank upon hearing the word “but.”
As expected, Xue Xingyue glanced at Jiang Xiuyi and continued, “However, Miss Jiang has not yet married into the family. To be so brazenly together now, do you think this Princess would not care? Of course, this Princess does not care, but the royal family’s reputation must be maintained. After all, if word gets out, it will not reflect well on the Duke of Ning’s manor either.”
Upon hearing this, Meng Jiangming’s face turned pale. The Duke of Ning stepped forward, bowed his head, and said guiltily, “It is all due to my failure as a father, causing Your Highness such worry. This is my crime.”
“Duke of Ning, this has nothing to do with you. You are merely the驸马’s father, and the驸马 is now an adult, not a child. If someone else has to bear responsibility for everything he does, he will continue to act this way. If this continues, the Duke of Ning’s manor will eventually fall,” Xue Xingyue said coldly.
The Duke of Ning felt his face flush with embarrassment. Xue Xingyue’s words were accurate, but no one had ever spoken of the pros and cons so directly. Xue Xingyue, however, had.
Meng Jiangming also felt ashamed. “Your Highness, I…”
“驸马, do you know where you went wrong?” Xue Xingyue interrupted Meng Jiangming directly.
Meng Jiangming lowered his head. “I know my mistake.”
“驸马, you have disregarded the royal family’s honor, the Duke of Ning’s manor’s reputation, and even this Princess’s reputation. Moreover, you do not care if Miss Jiang will be slandered in the future. Such actions are utterly wrong. As your wife, this Princess must now exercise her wifely authority. When the驸马 returns to the Duke of Ning’s manor, you will receive household punishment,” Xue Xingyue said coldly.
Meng Jiangming offered no objection this time. “I obey your command.”
Xue Xingyue walked over to Jiang Xiuyi, who trembled all over. She saw the coldness in Xue Xingyue’s eyes, like the biting chill of autumn wind, seeping into her body. “Your… Your Highness…”
“You have not yet married into the family and are already luring the驸马. Such behavior is utterly disgraceful to this Princess. However, considering the Jiang family’s current situation, I will temporarily withhold punishment for you. But if there is a next time, this Princess will show no mercy.”
Her icy voice was like a basin of cold water poured over Jiang Xiuyi.
For the first time, Jiang Xiuyi felt Xue Xingyue’s supreme authority, holding the power of life and death. She herself was like an ant, forced to prostrate herself on the ground, listening to Xue Xingyue’s chilling voice and merciless words.
Jiang Xiuyi clutched the ground, not caring that her fingers bled. The resentment in her heart had nowhere to vent.
Xue Xingyue glanced indifferently at the blood on Jiang Xiuyi’s fingers, withdrew her gaze, and turned to leave.
Just as she had arrived, she left without a sound, not even disturbing a single fallen leaf.
The Duke of Ning threw down his sword and looked at Meng Jiangming, saying, “Marrying the Princess is your fortune. If you still do not cherish it, Meng Jiangming, then you are truly beyond redemption.”
Meng Jiangming trembled and collapsed onto the ground.
Jiang Xiuyi stood up, walked to Meng Jiangming’s side, and cried, “Cousin, I’m sorry. It’s all my fault. I have implicated you…”
Hearing Jiang Xiuyi’s crying, Meng Jiangming felt a headache. He said coldly, “Cousin, you should go back. Do not come to see me again before you are married. Even if you come, I will not see you.”
Jiang Xiuyi trembled and said, “Cousin, please don’t treat me like this. The Jiang family is gone, and I only have you. If even you abandon me, then…”
“Cousin, it’s not that I am abandoning you, but you are not yet married into the family. It is improper for us to be together so openly. Princess Xingyue is correct; this not only disgraces the Duke of Ning’s manor but also the royal family,” Meng Jiangming said.
Jiang Xiuyi knew that whatever she said now was useless. Meng Jiangming was her pillar of support, and she absolutely could not lose him.
“Cousin, you are right. I was too hasty. I will wait for Cousin to return and marry me,” Jiang Xiuyi said. Meng Jiangming nodded, and Jiang Xiuyi left.
Meng Jiangming sat on the ground, unable to forget the look Xue Xingyue had given him earlier, so cold, as if she were looking at a stranger.
Had he truly disappointed her?
How had things come to this?
He had only wanted to see his cousin. His cousin must have been worried about the Jiang family’s affairs, but he hadn’t expected that his cousin’s proximity would make him lose control.
Lose control? Meng Jiangming frowned slightly. He stood up and walked into the room. He smelled nothing. He smiled bitterly at his own actions. What was he suspecting? Was he suspecting his cousin had drugged him?
How could that be? His cousin was not that kind of person. He had known her for so long; he understood what kind of person she was.
Feng Wu saw Xue Xingyue emerge and stepped forward. “Your Highness.”
Xue Xingyue’s brows relaxed slightly. “Feng Wu, is the saying ‘harmony between husband and wife’ a joke?”
Feng Wu was startled. “Your Highness, you…”
Xue Xingyue smiled. “What am I even thinking?”
Perhaps the moment she saw Meng Jiangming, her small expectation had turned to dust.
Harmony between husband and wife was her yearning.
She had also imagined being with the person she loved, living a simple life. But she knew this was just her foolish wish.
Let alone a lifetime with only one person.
Her Empress Mother and Father’s love was not something she could have.
Therefore, she had vowed at a young age that she would be like her Empress Mother and Father, a lifetime with only one person.
But ever since her Imperial Brother fell gravely ill and the court became unstable, she had long cast aside this thought. She raised her head, gazing at the fiery clouds. She was also a woman.
“Your Highness, what are you thinking about?” a deep voice sounded softly.
Xue Xingyue turned around. Behind her stood a man in a brocade robe, handsome and distinguished.
“Young Marquis Ji,” she said faintly.
“Your Highness seems unhappy,” Ji Wuran said as he walked closer.
“Even if I am unhappy, it has nothing to do with Young Marquis Ji,” Xue Xingyue said coldly.
“It does,” Ji Wuran said suddenly.
Xue Xingyue trembled. She looked at Ji Wuran, her eyes narrowing.
Ji Wuran smiled, a hint of a smile gracing his handsome face. At this moment, everything else lost its color. She knew Ji Wuran was handsome, but his smile was also so captivating.
“What has it to do with you?” she asked, turning her face away coldly.
“Your Highness is unhappy, and I am unhappy too,” Ji Wuran said in a low voice. Xue Xingyue’s body stiffened. She looked up at Ji Wuran. His eyes seemed to hold a galaxy, incredibly bright. “Young Marquis Ji, this Princess is already married. Your words are against propriety.”