Xue Xingyue frowned slightly upon hearing this, not having expected this reason would ensure her safety.
"Do you truly not know where my mistress is?" Xue Xingyue stepped forward and questioned the attendant.
The attendant shook his head, "Miss, this junior truly doesn't know. If I did, I would certainly tell you. You know I am just a waiter; the shopkeeper never tells me many things."
Xue Xingyue believed the waiter was likely not lying.
"Mistress," Feng Wu's voice called from outside.
Xue Xingyue walked out, and Feng Wu quickly stepped forward, saying, "Mistress, your subordinate has summoned the prefect."
Xue Xingyue nodded and stepped out of the inn. She saw a man approaching. His corpulent frame strained the official robes he wore, which were about to split. His already small eyes were almost completely hidden by the flesh on his face.
As he walked, he called out, "Who is impersonating Princess Xingyue?"
Feng Wu was about to retort, but Xue Xingyue stopped her. Xue Xingyue looked at the man and asked coldly, "May I ask, sir, are you the magistrate of Ming County?"
"Precisely, this official is."
"If that is the case, then perhaps the magistrate should recognize this?" Xue Xingyue took a token from her waist and handed it to Feng Wu. Feng Wu stepped forward, took it, and presented it to the magistrate of Ming County.
The magistrate said without even looking, "How would this official know if this is real or fake? Moreover, this county has just received an order from Princess Xingyue, who resides in the Jiang family's residence. It states that someone in Ming County is impersonating Princess Xingyue, and that person is you."
Xue Xingyue let out a cold laugh. She hadn't expected the Jiang family to have such a contingency plan for her. No wonder she felt something was amiss, and no wonder leaving the Jiang family felt so easy.
Upon hearing this, Feng Wu was furious. She glared at the magistrate of Ming County and roared, "You dog official, open your eyes properly and look! This is the token of Princess Xingyue!"
The magistrate of Ming County completely ignored Feng Wu's words. He waved his hand grandly and commanded, "Guards, apprehend the person impersonating Princess Xingyue!"
"Wait," Xue Xingyue said.
The magistrate of Ming County narrowed his eyes and said, "No matter what you say, I will not believe it."
"Magistrate, I have nothing to say. I merely wish to inquire about the well-being of your esteemed Old Madam Ming?" Xue Xingyue said calmly.
The magistrate of Ming County paused slightly before shouting, "Still not apprehending them?"
"Your Highness, you go first. Feng Wu will cover your retreat," Feng Wu said.
Xue Xingyue shook her head, "No need."
Feng Wu was stunned. Seeing someone about to touch her Princess, she kicked the person away and roared, "We will leave, but do not touch us, or I will kill you."
Feng Wu held her long sword. Although there were no bloodstains on it, its cold gleam was chilling. Even standing still, she inspired awe.
The remaining soldiers did not advance. One stepped forward and said, "In that case, we ask the two ladies not to make things difficult for us."
Feng Wu looked at Xue Xingyue, who nodded. Feng Wu then said, "Fine."
Ming County was the smallest county in Jiangnan, but its wealth was undeniable.
Upon entering the Ming County jail, Feng Wu remarked, "Your Highness, this is your first time in jail."
Xue Xingyue smiled upon hearing this, "So what? Everyone must experience it at least once, right?"
Feng Wu said, "But if His Majesty found out, he would surely be heartbroken."
Xue Xingyue paused slightly and looked at Feng Wu, saying, "After we return, you must not let my Imperial Brother know about this matter."
Feng Wu nodded, "Your Highness, rest assured, His Majesty will not find out."
Xue Xingyue leaned against the wall and closed her eyes slightly. Her experiences in Jiangnan these days had exceeded her expectations, but they had also strengthened her resolve: the Jiang family must be eliminated.
"The magistrate wishes to see you. Come out quickly," the jailer shouted from outside the door.
Feng Wu was about to say something when Xue Xingyue stopped her, "Don't stir up more trouble."
Feng Wu suppressed her words. If it weren't for her Princess, she would have made sure this jailer knew the consequences of speaking that way.
The person leading them did not take them to the yamen, but into the Ming Residence.
Finally arriving at a room, the guide said, "Please wait here, ladies. The magistrate will be here shortly."
Xue Xingyue nodded, and the guide left.
Feng Wu whispered, "Your Highness, what is the magistrate of Ming County up to?"
"Whatever it is, we'll find out soon enough," Xue Xingyue replied.
Before her words could even fade, footsteps sounded from outside, followed by a portly figure rushing in. He fell to his knees with a thud and said, "Magistrate of Ming County, Ming Chaotang, pays his respects to Your Highness. I have offended you greatly just now; I beg Your Highness for forgiveness."
"How is Old Madam Ming?" Xue Xingyue asked.
Ming Chaotang's body stiffened upon hearing this. After a long pause, he said, "My mother passed away three months ago."
Xue Xingyue's body froze, "Old Madam Ming, she… passed away?"
Ming Chaotang nodded, "Yes. Before she passed, Mother Jia still mentioned Your Highness to me, saying that Your Highness is a heroine."
Seeing this, Xue Xingyue said, "You may rise!"
Ming Chaotang refused to stand, saying, "This official offended Your Highness just now; I beg Your Highness..."
"This Princess forgives your offense. Rise now!" Xue Xingyue commanded.
Only then did Ming Chaotang get up. His earlier kneeling and kowtowing were simple gestures, yet they had made his forehead slick with sweat. He quickly said, "This official was uncivil."
Xue Xingyue recalled that years ago, when she and her Imperial Brother visited Jiangnan and came to Ming County, they had met Ming Chaotang, a dashing and spirited young man. After only a few years apart, he had become a greasy middle-aged man. Truly, time was merciless, and years were relentless.
"Ming Chaotang, what you said earlier, is it true? The Jiang family, they..."
Ming Chaotang replied, "This official only received the order this morning. Your Highness, what is going on? How did you become entangled with the Jiang family?"
Xue Xingyue said, "It seems the Jiang family does not intend to let you go."
Ming Chaotang was startled and looked at Xue Xingyue, "What does Your Highness mean?"
"The Jiang family knows I am real, yet they insist I am fake. Ming Chaotang, don't you understand what's happening?" Xue Xingyue raised an eyebrow at Ming Chaotang.
Ming Chaotang's body stiffened, and he took a step back, "The Jiang family… they are..."
"The Jiang family wants to use you, Ming Chaotang, to eliminate me. If you succeed in eliminating me, then everything can be pushed onto you. If not, then the Jiang family will likely not spare you, because you are an official of the court," Xue Xingyue stated word by word.
In fact, many years ago, her Imperial Brother had already been wary of the Jiang family, which was why he had assigned Ming Chaotang to this position. In these years, Ming Chaotang had reported everything, otherwise, he wouldn't have known that the Jiang family harbored rebellious intentions.
And this time, her visit to Jiangnan was to ascertain whether the Jiang family harbored such intentions. She hadn't expected that the Jiang family indeed had rebellious ambitions.