“Master, that General Xie did it on purpose,” Meng Bei, the close attendant of Meng Jiangming, said indignantly.
Since the Duke of Ning had given him the dark guards, these people had followed him.
Meng Jiangming kicked up his robes and sat on the cushion. Meng Ying, standing by his side, poured him a cup of tea and asked, “Master, are we just going to let that Xie Yunliu be so arrogant?”
“Meng Ying, Meng Bei is young and foolish, joining in the ruckus. Are you going to do the same?” Meng Lie glanced at Meng Ying and said coldly.
Meng Ying obediently shut his mouth and returned to his position. It was Meng Bei who then said, “Meng Lie, Meng Ying is right. That Xie Yunliu is indeed being too arrogant.”
Meng Jiangming picked up the tea poured by Meng Ying and said, “Xie Yunliu is doing it on purpose.”
Meng Lie and the others were slightly stunned. Zhan Ying, who had been reprimanded by Meng Lie, said, “What I and Meng Bei said is very true. That Xie Yunliu is deliberately making things difficult for Master. Isn't it because Master is just a consort? Lacking any real power?”
“Meng Ying,” Meng Lie reprimanded coldly.
After Meng Ying finished speaking, he realized that he had spoken about the matter that pained his master the most. He quickly knelt on one knee, “Master, please forgive me. Your subordinate meant no offense.”
Meng Jiangming waved his hand and said, “All of you may withdraw!”
Meng Lie glared at Meng Ying, and Meng Ying obediently accepted it and quickly retreated.
The tent suddenly became much quieter. Meng Jiangming looked at the teacup in his hand. It contained a pale green liquid with a few tea leaves floating on top.
No real power? Meng Jiangming knew this was his sore spot. He was merely a consort, a consort who could only exert himself through Princess Xing Yue.
But besides his master, he also had the Duke of Ning’s mansion behind him. Meng Jiangming stood up, walked slowly to the front of the tent, lifted the tent flap, and saw a vast expanse of white snow. “Master, it’s very cold outside,”
Meng Lie, who was standing guard at the front of the tent, said as he watched Meng Jiangming walk out.
“It’s nothing,” Meng Jiangming stepped out of the tent, his feet crunching on the thick snow.
He raised his head. A bright moon hung high in the sky. Under the moonlight, the accumulated snow emitted a silvery glow.
Occasionally, a cold wind would blow, and even though he was wearing a white fox fur, he still felt the chill.
“Master, where are you going?” Meng Lie asked, seeing that Meng Jiangming seemed dissatisfied with staying put at the front of the tent.
He knew that this was Zhen Wuguan, not the capital. His duty was to protect the master’s safety.
“You go back and rest. I’m just going for a walk,” Meng Jiangming said.
“Allow your subordinate to accompany Master,” Meng Lie said.
“No need.” Meng Jiangming threw out this sentence and left the front of the tent.
Meng Lie stood in place, sighed, and returned to his post at the front of the tent.
Meng Jiangming did not know that the snow-covered place was so beautiful. This was something he couldn't see in the capital.
He raised his head. The moon was still shining brightly, but the woman he longed for had yet to send any news.
Princess Xing Yue had been missing for more than two months. During these two months, he had searched desperately, but there had been no trace. His Majesty was furious about this matter. Later, he remembered Ji Wuran’s words. Ji Wuran had said that before Princess Xing Yue went missing, she had said she wanted to rendezvous with Xie Yunliu. Since that was the case, he had come to Zhen Wuguan, thinking that he would eventually meet Princess Xing Yue, but it was still in vain.
Suddenly, a clear laughter echoed. Meng Jiangming followed the sound and arrived at an open clearing.
On the vast expanse of white snow, a figure in white was dancing gracefully. Her svelte figure was bare-footed as she stepped on the snow, laughing merrily.
She suddenly crouched down, her white robe falling onto the snow. A pair of slender hands scooped up a handful of snow, drawing all the surrounding flying snow. Suddenly, she blew away the snow in her hands.
Like a celestial maiden offering flowers, the sky was filled with dancing snow in the biting wind. Her white dress fluttered in the wind. She stood there, like a sculpture of snow.
The clear voice echoed in his ears, and before his eyes, the snow-white dress danced.
“Cousin,” the clear voice drifted into his ears.
Meng Jiangming was slightly stunned. He saw that under the moonlight and silver snow, a woman as beautiful as an immortal stood before him. Her white clothes were as white as snow. Under the moonlight and silver snow, she was that aloof and proud snow goddess, who seemed not to belong to this world.
She stood on the snow with her bare feet, looking at him with a gaze that was both noble and distant. Her face, touched by the silver snow, held a faint expression of aloof pride. Her clear eyes, containing the color of snow, looked at him.
It was as if she were the woman he longed for, with those clear and pure eyes.
“Your Highness… is it you?” He heard his voice scatter in the cold wind.
She reached out and gently caressed his face. Her hands were exceptionally cold, like the snow. He tightly grasped her slender fingers, and the cold penetrated his body.
“Is it?”
“Cousin, I… I am Jiang Xiu Yi.”
Jiang Xiu Yi, Jiang Xiu Yi. Meng Jiangming, still in a daze, finally sobered up. He came back to his senses. Although the woman before him was as beautiful as a flower, he felt a trace of disgust.
He looked at the slender, jade-like hand he was still holding, and shook it away.
Jiang Xiu Yi stiffened all over, her body swaying. She looked at Meng Jiangming. Just moments ago, he had called her name with such affection, but why had he suddenly changed like this?
“Cousin, it’s so late, why aren’t you resting?” Meng Jiangming said coldly.
That white dress, in his eyes, was so glaring. She had worn it before, but why did it look so ill-fitting on Jiang Xiu Yi?
“I…” Jiang Xiu Yi bit her lower lip, her body swaying uncontrollably.
“Hurry back! If anything else happens, I might not be able to protect you,” his voice was colder than the snow under his feet.
Jiang Xiu Yi’s pale face looked even paler under the moonlight and silver snow, but Meng Jiangming had no intention of noticing this.
“Yes, cousin.” Jiang Xiu Yi clenched her fists tightly, her nails digging deep into her flesh, yet she felt no pain.
Jiang Xiu Yi turned and walked towards her tent. Her entire body was frozen, and her feet felt as if they were being bitten by thousands of ants. She bit her lower lip until it was broken, but it did not hurt as much as the pain in her heart.
“And one more thing,” Meng Jiangming suddenly spoke.
Jiang Xiu Yi stood in place, listening to the words that made her entire being tremble. “From now on, don’t wear white. It doesn’t suit you.”
Meng Jiangming flicked his sleeve and left.
His tall figure gradually faded under the moonlight and silver snow, eventually disappearing.
Overwhelmed, Jiang Xiu Yi fell onto the snow. She fiercely grabbed a handful of snow and roared loudly.
The cold wind turned her roar into a faint whistle, spreading outwards in circles around her.
She lay on the snow, letting the wind bury her in it. Meng Jiangming’s words echoed in her mind: “From now on, don’t wear white. It doesn’t suit you.”
Did one phrase, “doesn’t suit you,” intend to erase her?
Meng Jiangming, why are you so cruel? Why? Why won’t you linger on me for even a moment, even a little bit?
“Ah…” Jiang Xiu Yi raised her head. The wind and snow pierced her body, submerging her beneath them.
What was that sound? Xue Xing Yue, woken from her dream, sat up. She thought she had heard a roar just now.
“You’re awake?” A clear voice came from inside the tent.
Inside the tent, the candlelight cast a long shadow of Xie Yunliu. He sat on the table, reading a book. His face was as beautiful as jade, and his star-like eyes looked at her, emitting wisps of flowing light.