Xue Xingyue gazed into the distance with a clear, cold gaze. After sensing the faint sorrow emanating from afar, she slowly said, "Imperial Brother's time is running out."
Feng Wu started. She knew that for His Highness, the Emperor was everything.
"Your Highness, you..."
"Therefore, I had no choice but to agree, Feng Wu. I don't want Imperial Brother to have any regrets." Xue Xingyue lowered her gaze, her hands clenched tightly within her sleeves.
Her thoughts returned to the day Imperial Brother was shot, "Imperial Physician, how is Imperial Brother's injury?"
The imperial physician bowed upon hearing this. "Replying to Your Highness, His Majesty's injury is not serious. The arrow was not poisoned, but..."
"But what?" Xue Xingyue asked anxiously.
The imperial physician hesitated to speak. Seeing this, Xue Xingyue said, "Imperial Physician, please speak freely. It is only you and I here."
The imperial physician said, "His Majesty's body has reached its limit. I fear he cannot hold on for much longer."
Xue Xingyue trembled all over and took a few steps back uncontrollably, shaking her head. "How is that possible? Imperial Brother... he..."
"Your Highness, His Majesty's cold has been lingering in his body and has not improved. It is due to overwork and chronic illness."
"Is there no way? Ginseng, Lingzhi? Tell me of any other medicine, and I will do whatever it takes, as long as you say it."
The imperial physician bowed. "This minister is incapable."
"Your Highness..." Feng Wu's voice reached her ears, and Xue Xingyue snapped back to attention. "If my wedding can make Imperial Brother happier, I am willing to do it."
Feng Wu said no more. She knew that for His Majesty, His Highness would do anything, even sacrifice her life.
When the news reached the Ningguo Duke's manor, Madam Jiang was beaming. She thought that after the incident at the hunting ground, His Majesty would have no mind for his son's marriage. Now, it seemed that was not the case.
Thinking that she would soon hold her grandchild after her son's wedding, how could she not be happy?
With this thought, she quickly called for the stewards to organize the household's storerooms. Princess Shang Xingyue was not someone who could be settled with just a few loads of dowry, but she was willing.
"Wan'er, go get the key to my private treasury," Madam Jiang said excitedly.
When Meng Jiangming came to Madam Jiang, he saw her excitedly ordering Wan'er to fetch her private treasury key.
Others might not know, but Meng Jiangming knew how many good things his mother's private treasury held. His maternal grandfather was a famous wealthy merchant from Jiangnan. It was said that when his mother married his father, his grandfather provided a dowry of one hundred and eight dan, which not only caused a stir in the capital but also made many envious.
What had happened now to make his doting mother bring out her private treasury?
"Mother, is the manor so poor that it can't even afford a meal? That you need to take out your private treasury?" Meng Jiangming asked.
Madam Jiang looked up at Meng Jiangming and smiled so broadly that her eyes were almost closed. "You foolish child, what nonsense are you talking about? Your father is the prestigious First-Rank Duke of Ningguo. How could we be so poor that we can't afford a meal?"
"Then why are you taking out your private treasury?" Meng Jiangming asked, confused.
Madam Jiang's eyes lit up with joy. Seeing this, Meng Jiangming realized that his earlier suspicion of the manor being too poor to afford a meal was incorrect. If the manor were indeed that poor, why would his mother show no sign of worry?
Madam Jiang beckoned Meng Jiangming forward. Meng Jiangming walked up and sat beside Madam Jiang, asking, "Mother, do you need something?"
Madam Jiang took Meng Jiangming's hand, her expression soft and kind. "My son is finally getting married."
Married? Meng Jiangming started. He looked at Madam Jiang and asked, "Mother, what do you mean by that? Married? To whom?"
Madam Jiang poked Meng Jiangming's forehead with her finger and said casually, "Who else could it be? Of course, it's Princess Xingyue."
Meng Jiangming exclaimed in surprise, "Mother, you... you mean I am to marry Princess Xingyue?"
Madam Jiang smiled. "Indeed. Your father brought back the news from the palace this morning."
"Is it true? Did Father hear correctly?" Meng Jiangming found it somewhat unbelievable. He hadn't understood before, but recently he had seen clearly that Princess Xingyue actually didn't want to marry him. Otherwise, how would Princess Xingyue's guards dare to treat him like this, as her future consort?
"Silly child, could your father's news be wrong?" Madam Jiang thought Meng Jiangming was so happy that he had lost his senses.
"I'll go ask the Princess," Meng Jiangming said, preparing to get up and leave.
Madam Jiang grabbed Meng Jiangming's sleeve and asked, "Ask what?"
"I'll go ask Princess Xingyue if she really agreed," Meng Jiangming said truthfully.
Madam Jiang said angrily, "You foolish child, why would you ask that? If she disagreed, do you think His Majesty would issue an imperial decree?"
Meng Jiangming found that his mother's words held some truth.
Seeing that Meng Jiangming no longer insisted on asking Princess Xingyue, Madam Jiang pulled him down to sit and said, "Mother knows that you are unwilling in your heart to marry Princess Xingyue."
Meng Jiangming started, "Mother, I..."
"Don't say anymore. Mother knows everything, but an imperial decree cannot be defied. Moreover, Mother does not believe Princess Xingyue to be a person of great jealousy. Otherwise, with your matter concerning Xiuyi, do you think Princess Xingyue is unaware?"
Meng Jiangming felt a bitter smile forming in his heart. Princess Xingyue was not devoid of jealousy, perhaps she simply didn't care about him!
Because she didn't care, she wasn't jealous. But he couldn't say this out loud. The imperial decree had already been issued, and this marriage was a foregone conclusion. He didn't want his mother to have any dissatisfaction with Princess Xingyue because of this.
He could only say, "Mother, I understand."
Madam Jiang nodded. "Jiangming, Mother knows that although you are usually a bit frivolous, you are never careless when it comes to important matters. Tell Mother, what stage have you and Xiuyi reached? Have you..."
"Mother, your son is not an utterly wicked person. I will not touch Xiuyi before I can give her a proper place to belong, but apart from that, everything that should be done has been done." Da Feng Novel Network
Meng Jiangming lowered his head. Every time he went to Xiuyi's place, he couldn't control himself. Fortunately, he always managed to control himself at the crucial moment. His reason had won over his desires.
Madam Jiang sighed upon hearing this and said, "A few days ago, Mother received a letter from your uncle, wanting Mother to find a good match for Xiuyi."
"Mother, Xiuyi is currently with Aunt. I'm afraid you can't make the decision anymore," Meng Jiangming said.
Madam Jiang's heart felt constricted at this thought. When Meng Jia was at home, she was always trying to trip her up. Now that she had left Xiuyi there, she didn't know what malicious plans she was brewing.
"Let's not worry about Xiuyi for now. The crucial matter is your marriage. I think the more gifts we give Princess Xingyue, the better," Madam Jiang said, quickly forgetting about Jiang Xiuyi when the topic of marriage came up.
"Mother can discuss it with Father," Meng Jiangming said.
"You foolish child, you can't just wash your hands of it. Think about whether there is anything Princess Xingyue might like?" Madam Jiang asked.