Jiang Xiuyi was startled, bit her lower lip, and said, "Father, it was my fault, but I thought Aunt would fulfill my wish to be with my cousin."
She never imagined that after meeting Princess Xingyue a few times, Jiang Shi's attitude towards her would improve. This was beyond her expectations. She thought that no matter how good Princess Xingyue was, she would still have the temper of a princess, being a pampered daughter of heaven. She never expected to be so wrong.
This caused her to lose the initiative from the beginning, and with the involvement of Noble Consort An, she grew further and further away from her cousin, eventually having no choice but to take a risk and spend a night with him. To her surprise, Princess Xingyue was not angry, which left her bewildered.
"However, Princess Xingyue is indeed extraordinary," Jiang Xifeng said. Normally, anyone encountering such a situation would absolutely not accept it, especially since she was the Emperor's only sister. He remembered that when he proposed this to the Emperor, the Emperor had sternly refused him, his eyes filled with genuine anger.
Yet, after just one night, her attitude changed. He assumed it must be Princess Xingyue's doing.
But by doing so, wasn't Princess Xingyue pushing Meng Jiangming towards Xiuyi? What was her motive?
She was also going to accompany them for the ancestral rites. It all seemed suspicious. What exactly did she intend to do?
Such a woman truly piqued a man's interest. Jiang Xifeng recalled the one time he met Princess Xingyue. Her refined face was noble and radiant, a countenance that all men admired. Furthermore, her entire demeanor was beyond that of ordinary women.
Jiang Xifeng was momentarily lost in thought by such a woman.
Watching Jiang Xifeng's gaze, Jiang Xiuyi seemed to have an idea. She knew her father was quite lecherous, especially with Princess Xingyue being so unique. She assumed he had taken a liking to Princess Xingyue. Princess Xingyue? The corners of her lips curved slightly. Let the journey to Jiangnan become her nightmare!
The three days finally arrived.
Outside the Ningguo Duke's mansion, there were two carriages. Jiang Shi and Jiang Xiuyi shared one carriage, and Princess Xingyue had her own. Jiang Xifeng rode a horse, followed by a team of people behind the carriages. Besides the Emperor's envoy, there were also people Jiang Xifeng had brought from Jiangnan himself.
Meng Jiangming looked at the carriage, and although he couldn't see the person inside, he knew Princess Xingyue was there. He thought for a moment, then walked forward and stood beneath the carriage, saying, "Your Highness."
"What is it?" a clear, cool voice replied.
Meng Jiangming couldn't control the joy in his heart and said, "Your Highness, the journey to Jiangnan is perilous. I have some items here that can be used for self-defense. I hope Your Highness will accept them."
Xue Xingyue lifted the carriage curtain. Meng Jiangming was stunned. Seeing the face he had thought of daily recently, he became somewhat agitated. It was only when Wu Yi, standing beside him, reminded him that he quickly handed over a bundle.
"The驸马 (Fùmǎ - Emperor's son-in-law) is thoughtful," Xue Xingyue said.
"Your Highness, I await your safe return," Meng Jiangming said.
Xue Xingyue said nothing further, but Meng Jiangming felt that this was enough.
Watching the carriage depart, a hint of disappointment flickered in Meng Jiangming's eyes.
Inside the carriage, Xue Xingyue tossed the bundle aside. Feng Jiu, however, opened it with some interest. She saw that it contained clothes, gold and silver, and various small medicine bottles.
Feng Jiu said, "Your Highness, the驸马 prepared everything quite thoroughly, even more so than what I prepared."
"Since it's so complete, you may have it!" Xue Xingyue said.
Feng Jiu nodded.
Xue Xingyue closed her eyes. Only when the carriage stopped did she open them. Feng Jiu said, "We've arrived at the inn."
Xue Xingyue nodded and got out of the carriage. Jiang Xifeng was walking towards her. Jiang Xifeng bowed slightly and said, "Your Highness, it is a humble establishment as we are traveling. Please forgive any lack of courtesy."
"It's fine. Since we are traveling, you need not address me as Your Highness," Xue Xingyue said.
Jiang Xifeng replied, "Very well, then I shall presume to call you Miss Xue."
Xue Xingyue frowned slightly, glanced at Jiang Xifeng, and said coldly, "As you wish."
She felt something was amiss, but she couldn't quite pinpoint it, so she decided to say nothing further.
Upon arriving in their rooms, Feng Jiu said, "Your Highness, you should be very careful with this Jiang Xifeng."
Hearing Feng Jiu say this, Xue Xingyue asked, "What is it? Is there anything unusual about him?"
Feng Jiu replied, "The way he looks at Your Highness is somewhat improper, a bit..."
"A bit what?" Xue Xingyue asked.
Feng Jiu said, "I can't quite recall for a moment. Your Highness, just be cautious. It will be better once Feng Wu returns. He has more experience and more tricks up his sleeve."
Hearing Feng Jiu mention Feng Wu, Xue Xingyue then asked, "Feng Wu should be arriving soon, shouldn't he?"
Feng Jiu nodded, "I received word from Feng Wu yesterday. He will catch up to Your Highness in one more day."
Xue Xingyue nodded, "Good."
Jiang Shi and Jiang Xiuyi shared a room. In the middle of the night, Jiang Shi felt very hot, extremely hot. She opened her eyes and felt the room was stuffy. She quickly roused Jiang Xiuyi beside her. Jiang Xiuyi rubbed her eyes and asked, "Aunt, what's wrong?"
"Someone set a fire," Jiang Shi said.
Jiang Xiuyi then smelled the smoke filling the room. She screamed in fear, "Help! Help!"
Xue Xingyue, who had already come out, heard the cries for help. She then remembered that Jiang Shi and Jiang Xiuyi had not yet emerged. She asked, "Feng Jiu, where are Jiang Shi and Jiang Xiuyi? Have they come out?"
Feng Jiu glanced at the people outside and shook her head, "No."
Xue Xingyue cursed under her breath and grabbed a bucket of water, drenching herself thoroughly. Feng Jiu, seeing this, exclaimed, "Mistress, what are you doing?"
Xue Xingyue said, "I'm afraid Jiang Shi and Jiang Xiuyi are trapped in their room. I must go save them."
Feng Jiu heard this and said, "I'll go." As she spoke, Feng Jiu was about to wet herself, but Xue Xingyue stopped her and said, "No, they are all ladies. It's not appropriate for you to go in. I'll go."
Without waiting for Feng Jiu's reply, she leaped onto the second floor. She remembered that Jiang Shi and Jiang Xiuyi's room was on the second floor. The fire had already engulfed the entire second floor. Xue Xingyue threw her clothes over her head, found Jiang Shi and Jiang Xiuyi's room, and kicked the door open. She saw Jiang Shi and Jiang Xiuyi lying on the ground.
Jiang Xiuyi, who had not lost consciousness, saw someone arrive and quickly called out, "Save..."
However, upon seeing the person coming through the flames, she swallowed her words because she hadn't expected it to be Princess Xingyue.
Xue Xingyue pulled up Jiang Shi with one hand and reached for Jiang Xiuyi with the other. Jiang Xiuyi hesitated for a moment. Without further hesitation, she pulled Jiang Xiuyi, and they leaped out of the second floor.
Finally landing on the ground, she saw Jiang Shi and Jiang Xiuyi still wearing their undergarments. She draped her clothes over them.
At this moment, Xue Xingyue was soaked. Her clothes clung to her body, outlining her beautiful figure. Everyone's gaze fell upon Xue Xingyue. Feng Jiu, rushing over, quickly took off her outer robe and draped it over Xue Xingyue, saying, "Mistress, forgive me."