“Xingyue, I’m not asking if it’s suitable, I’m concerned about you,” Xue Xingchen said.
“Imperial Brother, this is a very good opportunity to retake Jiangnan in one fell swoop,” Xue Xingyue said.
Xue Xingchen’s gaze turned cold. “Xingyue, did you hear what I said?”
“Imperial Brother, I did,” Xue Xingyue replied.
“I have not agreed,” Xue Xingchen said, looking at her and speaking word by word.
Xue Xingyue was taken aback and asked Xue Xingchen, “Imperial Brother, why? Retaking Jiangnan has always been your wish. Why don’t you agree?”
Xue Xingchen didn’t even look at her, saying coldly, “Yes, retaking Jiangnan is my wish, but I don’t want this wish to come at the expense of Xingyue.”
“Imperial Brother, I am not wronged,” Xue Xingyue said.
“But I feel wronged,” Xue Xingchen said, looking at her with sadness in his eyes.
Xue Xingyue shivered and sighed, “Imperial Brother, unless you are always here to control the驸马 and ensure he never takes concubines, but if you cannot always be here, then it is very likely that the 驸马 will take concubines. Rather than that, wouldn’t it be better to find someone with benefits?”
“You…” Xue Xingchen coughed in anger.
Xue Xingyue, startled, quickly stepped forward to pat Xue Xingchen’s back. Xue Xingchen pushed her away with one hand and said coldly, “I will not agree.”
“Imperial Brother, the empire has never been obtained without sacrifice. You know this better than I do. Why are you retreating at this point?”
“Xingyue, because you are Xingyue. Imperial Brother has always given you the best, so he will not allow anything to ruin your beauty. Xingyue, Imperial Brother promised Mother Emperor and Father that he would take good care of you. How could Imperial Brother go back on his word?” Xue Xingchen said.
“Imperial Brother, you have not gone back on your word, never. Even if Mother Emperor and Father were here today, they would support my approach.”
Xue Xingchen shook his head, “They wouldn’t. They would absolutely not exchange matters concerning their most beloved Xingyue. They wouldn’t.”
“Imperial Brother, we are not ordinary people. We are royalty. You are the most noble king of Xingchen Kingdom, and I am a beloved daughter of heaven, the esteemed Princess Xingyue. Since we possess such identities, we must naturally pay more than ordinary people. Otherwise, how can we live up to this identity?”
Xue Xingchen was stunned and lowered his head, saying, “But…”
“Imperial Brother, moreover, if she wants to be a favored concubine, she can’t possibly reach my level. What are you afraid of? Or do you think I cannot handle a defenseless woman? Don’t forget, I am a female general who once commanded an army of one hundred thousand.”
Hearing this, Xue Xingchen shook his head, “Xingyue, I cannot argue with you. If you were a man, you would surely do better than Imperial Brother.”
Xue Xingyue smiled, “Don’t say that. I still like this life and don’t want to be bound by responsibility. Imperial Brother, you should keep this position for yourself!”
Xue Xingchen said, “Xingyue, what are your thoughts on this matter?”
Xue Xingyue said, “Imperial Brother, although Jiang Xifeng will support you with the Jiang family’s wealth, you also know that Old Master Jiang is not to be underestimated. Coincidentally, the Jiang clan is about to return for ancestral worship. I wish to accompany them.”
Xue Xingchen directly refused, “No. I cannot let you go to Jiangnan for such a dangerous matter.”
“Imperial Brother, they dare not do anything. After all, I am going openly. If something happens to me, wouldn’t that confirm Jiang Xifeng’s wolfish ambition?”
Xue Xingchen shook his head, “No, I am not at ease.”
“Imperial Brother, I promise you I will return safely. Moreover, I am not at ease if I don’t go and see,” Xue Xingyue said.
Xue Xingchen sighed, “Fine, you may go. But you cannot refuse Imperial Brother sending people to protect you.”
Xue Xingyue nodded, “Imperial Brother had best send me more people.”
Xue Xingchen smiled, “Rest assured, Imperial Brother will definitely send more men.”
The next day, Xue Xingchen summoned Jiang Xifeng to the palace.
An agreement was reached.
The Jiang clan would worship their ancestors, and Princess Xingyue would accompany them. Upon their return, Jiang Xiuyi would become the favored concubine.
Jiang Xifeng was very satisfied with this arrangement, so whether Princess Xingyue accompanied them or not was of no consequence to him.
However, for the Jiang clan, a stone of worry was lifted from their hearts. After all, the ancestral worship every three years was not easy for her.
Now that Princess Xingyue would accompany her, everyone would be watching Princess Xingyue’s face, and she would feel more at ease.
After preparations were complete, they would depart for the ancestral worship in three days.
Today was the day the Second Prince was to leave.
Xue Xingyue was ordered to see the Second Prince off.
Upon reaching the outskirts of the city, the Second Prince rode his horse and said, “Thank you, Princess Xingyue, for your trouble these days in Xingchen Kingdom. If you have the opportunity, Princess Xingyue can visit Qi Kingdom.”
Xue Xingyue replied, “I will definitely go if I have the chance.”
The Second Prince said, “It would be good if Princess Xingyue were not married.”
Xue Xingyue’s expression turned slightly cold. The Second Prince laughed heartily and left.
Returning to the Ningguo Gong Mansion, she saw Meng Jiangming. She turned to leave, but Meng Jiangming hesitated, unable to speak. Wu Yi, standing beside him, said, “驸马, if you continue like this, I fear the rift between you and Princess Xingyue will only grow wider.”
Meng Jiangming sighed. He did not want a rift with Princess Xingyue, but how could he mend the situation as it stood now?
It was difficult to mend it, wasn’t it?
Thinking of this, Meng Jiangming shook his head and said, “Let’s go!”
Feng Jiu saw Meng Jiangming leave and then said, “Your Highness, the 驸马 has left.”
Xue Xingyue nodded. Previously, she had thought that although Meng Jiangming was a bit of a profligate, he was at least a good person. But after experiencing those events, she realized her thinking was wrong. Meng Jiangming was an irredeemable good-for-nothing.
Therefore, she didn’t need to show him any pleasantries. There was no need. After all, upon her return from the ancestral worship, Jiang Xiuyi would be his favored concubine. With mutual affection, she would have fulfilled a pair, wouldn’t she?
Jiang Xiuyi heard that she could become her cousin’s woman, and even a favored concubine, and she was very pleased. As long as the main wife died, she might be promoted to the main wife. Most importantly, the children of a favored concubine could also be considered legitimate children.
Jiang Xifeng looked at his daughter, so happy, and said coldly, “If you had told your father earlier that you admired Jiang Ming, you wouldn’t even need to be a favored concubine; you would have been the main wife directly.”
Jiang Xiuyi was taken aback and looked at Jiang Xifeng, saying, “Is that possible? Even if Father wanted to, he would have to see if Aunt agreed.” Although she knew the Jiang family was the wealthiest in Jiangnan, the Jiang family had no officials, only merchants. Even if you were the wealthiest in Jiangnan, the fact that you were a merchant meant you couldn't be the main wife of the Ningguo Gong Mansion. This was a very realistic matter.
Jiang Xifeng heard this and said coldly, “That’s what you think, but your father can do it. You ruined a perfectly good hand.”