Meng Jiang Ming was startled. "What do you mean? My mother, she..."
"The Madam is currently at the Princess's manor, seeking justice for the young prince," Feng Wu stated, word by word.
Meng Jiang Ming quickly summoned a servant from the manor and asked where Madam Jiang had gone. The servant replied that his mistress, angered, had taken a carriage to the Princess's manor.
Hearing this, Meng Jiang Ming's brows furrowed. "Regarding this matter, this young lord was indeed unaware. I will go to the Princess's manor immediately to explain the situation."
Feng Wu said, "Your Highness, there is no need. I, your subordinate, acted alone and will bear responsibility. It was I who struck the young prince, and I..."
"So what if you struck him? Yesterday, I spoke a bit too excessively..." Meng Jiang Ming blushed at this point, his expression flustered. He stood up, saying with a touch of annoyance, "You go back first. This young lord will be at the Princess's manor shortly."
Feng Wu's gaze shifted slightly. "Your Highness..."
"Why are you so long-winded? Be careful you won't find a husband if you keep this up," Meng Jiang Ming said.
Feng Wu gritted her teeth. As expected, she still wanted to beat him again.
Meng Jiang Ming remained unperturbed. He suddenly noticed the soup on the table and asked, "Is this truly what the Princess made?"
Feng Wu nodded. "Yes."
Upon hearing this, Meng Jiang Ming felt a swell of happiness. It was his first time drinking soup personally brewed by Princess Xing Yue.
He quickly picked up the bowl and took a sip. The taste was rather strange, but he was too embarrassed to spit it out in front of Feng Wu, so he forced himself to swallow it.
He thought to himself that Princess Xing Yue's culinary skills were indeed extraordinary. But then again, it was already a great feat for the pampered Princess Xing Yue to make soup for him.
"Why haven't you left yet?" Meng Jiang Ming wanted to put down the bowl, but when he looked up and saw Feng Wu still standing there, he was unsure whether to place it down or not.
"Perhaps Your Highness could accompany me?" Feng Wu asked.
She couldn't wait for Meng Jiang Ming to go on his own any longer. The sooner they reached the Princess's manor, the sooner the Princess would be spared from bearing consequences for her actions.
Meng Jiang Ming seized this as an opportunity to avoid drinking further. He set down the bowl and said, "Alright, there's no time to lose. This young lord will prepare the carriage..."
Feng Wu stepped forward and grabbed his collar. "Prepare what carriage? We'll ride horses."
With the neighing of a horse, Feng Wu dismounted and said to Meng Jiang Ming, who was still on the horse, "Your Highness, we have arrived."
Meng Jiang Ming tumbled off the horse, nearly falling to the ground. Suddenly, a hand steadied him, but the rough texture of the palm made him instinctively withdraw his own hand.
Feng Wu paused, her gaze flickering slightly. She placed her hands behind her back. "Your Highness, are you alright?"
"I'm fine," Meng Jiang Ming replied, standing up. He looked at Feng Wu's hands behind her back and suddenly recalled that the hand that had steadied him was hers.
He wondered why a woman's hand would be so rough.
However, such thoughts were quickly dismissed as he stepped into the Princess's manor.
Xue Xing Yue, upon hearing Wu Yi's words, knew very well that if Feng Wu had attacked Meng Jiang Ming without reason, as Wu Yi claimed, she wouldn't believe it.
There must have been a cause. However, the only witness at the scene was the young attendant by Meng Jiang Ming's side. And the attendant's words would undoubtedly favor Meng Jiang Ming, making the matter difficult.
"Princess, that is how it is. This humble wife is heartbroken to hear of this. Although the young prince can be somewhat unruly, he would not engage in any base actions. Moreover, any reprimand should be the responsibility of this humble wife or the Ningguo Gong manor. This humble wife does not know by what reason Your Highness's subordinate struck the young prince?" Madam Jiang said coldly.
Xue Xing Yue looked up, her gaze indifferent. She stood and bowed slightly. "The fault of the father lies in the failure to teach the son. My guidance has been insufficient, and it is my duty to have allowed the young prince to suffer such grievances..."
"Madam, one person's actions are their own to bear. It was I, your subordinate, who struck the young prince. This crime should rightfully be borne by me."
A voice rang out. Madam Jiang looked towards the entrance and saw a tall figure walk in.
She was dressed in a light blue robe, her hair held in place by a jade hairpin. Though her appearance was delicate, her attire was that of a man. If not for the absence of a Adam's apple, Madam Jiang would have truly believed her to be a man.
Madam Jiang was taken aback. Recalling her son's description of someone tall and imposing, her heart sank slightly. Was this the person who had attacked her Ming'er?
"Feng Wu..." Xue Xing Yue frowned, her expression turning cold.
Feng Wu lowered her head and bowed, whispering, "Your Highness, I have completed what you instructed your subordinate to do."
Xue Xing Yue looked up, her gaze clear and cold. "Feng Wu, do you know your crime?"
Feng Wu knelt on one knee. "Your subordinate knows her crime. I beg Your Highness to mete out punishment."
Madam Jiang said, "Princess, you have seen it yourself; she has admitted her guilt."
Xue Xing Yue nodded. "Feng Wu has shown disrespect to the young prince. I shall have you given twenty planks. Do you have any objections?"
Feng Wu replied, "None."
"Guards, carry out the punishment!" Xue Xing Yue commanded coldly.
"Princess, I have something to say," a voice declared.
Xue Xing Yue looked up, observing the man at the doorway. The corners of her mouth curved upward slightly, but the expression quickly vanished.
Madam Jiang, however, was surprised. "Ming'er, why are you here?"
Meng Jiang Ming approached Madam Jiang and asked, "Mother, why have you come to the Princess's manor?"
Madam Jiang replied, "Look at you, being beaten and you didn't even tell your mother. Today, this mother is here to seek justice for you."
"Mother, what justice? It was I who spoke disrespectfully first," Meng Jiang Ming said.
Madam Jiang was stunned. "Ming'er, you..."
Meng Jiang Ming whispered a few words in Madam Jiang's ear. Her expression changed. "You..."
Meng Jiang Ming spoke softly, "Mother, you are truly confused. Do you think that with my temper, if I had truly been beaten, I wouldn't have come here to confront them? I truly spoke wildly yesterday."
"You..." Madam Jiang looked at Meng Jiang Ming and shook her head.
Meng Jiang Ming said, "Mother, let this matter go. If we pursue it further, it might..."
Madam Jiang nodded and looked up, bowing slightly. "Princess, let this matter be dropped. There is no need for punishment."
"Madam, that is not acceptable. My subordinate has committed a crime, and I cannot show leniency just because she is one of my own. Madam is kind-hearted, I know, but my punishment of my subordinate is decided. Madam need not plead further. Guards, take her out for punishment." Xue Xing Yue turned her face away and waved her hand. Feng Wu was already being led away.
Soon, the sound of planks striking flesh could be heard from outside.
Madam Jiang felt a sense of shame. If she hadn't clarified the situation before coming to the Princess's manor to question things, this wouldn't have happened.
However, fortunately, it was only twenty planks. The person seemed to be sturdy and tough, so she should be fine.
"Mother, let's go back!" Meng Jiang Ming said.
Madam Jiang nodded. There was no longer any point in staying there.
He handed Madam Jiang over to Shao Yao and said softly, "Mother, I need to speak with the Princess for a moment."
Madam Jiang nodded. "Go ahead!"
Meng Jiang Ming approached Xue Xing Yue and bowed slightly. "Thank you for the soup, Your Highness. I liked it very much."
Soup? "It's good that Your Highness liked it," Xue Xing Yue replied.
When had she made soup?
"Princess, you..."
"Princess, the execution is complete," Feng Ming reported.
Meng Jiang Ming's words were cut off. Xue Xing Yue asked, "Your Highness, what were you saying just now?"
Meng Jiang Ming shook his head. "Nothing. This humble official will take his leave!"
"No need, I haven't done anything," Meng Jiang Ming turned and left.
He dared not linger for another moment, as Feng Ming's gaze was as if he wanted to kill him.