Seeing that the Imperial Guard did not speak, Xue Xingyue said coldly, "Speak."
"His Majesty did not issue an order to kill without mercy." The Imperial Guard finally spoke under Xue Xingyue's pressure.
Hearing this, Xue Xingyue said coldly, "So there wasn't. Then you injured the heir of the Duke of Ning's mansion, how will you account for yourself?"
The Imperial Guard who had injured Meng Jiangming's heart sank, and said word by word, "This subordinate has offended the heir and is willing to accept punishment."
Xue Xingyue looked up at Meng Jiangming and said, "Heir, what do you think?"
Meng Jiangming was stunned. He hadn't expected Xue Xingyue to ask him. He glanced at the Imperial Guard who had injured him and said after a while, "Princess Xingyue, I wish to ask for a favor from you."
"Heir, please speak." Xue Xingyue said.
Meng Jiangming, supported by Feng Wu, stood up. He walked step by step to the Imperial Guard who had injured him and said, "Sun Mantang, you were disloyal to me, but I cannot be disloyal to you. You once saved my father's life, risking your own. Today, I will repay this life-saving grace. From now on, I owe you nothing, and my Duke of Ning's mansion owes you nothing."
Sun Mantang trembled all over.
Meng Jiangming turned his gaze to Xue Xingyue and said, "Your Highness Princess, can you grant me this right?"
Xue Xingyue looked at him. His handsome face was now pale and bloodless. "Alright, this princess promises you."
"Thank you, Your Highness!" Meng Jiangming said.
Sun Mantang did not expect Meng Jiangming to let him off so easily. He lowered his head and said, "Thank you, Your Highness, thank you, Heir."
"Dismiss the Imperial Guards from here." Xue Xingyue said.
Sun Mantang and the Imperial Guards retreated.
Seeing this, Madam Jiang looked gratefully at Xue Xingyue and said, "Princess, thank you!"
Xue Xingyue said, "Madam, you are too kind. Something happened with my imperial brother, which led him to imprison you and the heir in anger."
Madam Jiang heard this and wanted to speak but hesitated. Xue Xingyue saw Madam Jiang's expression and asked, "Madam, please speak if you have anything to say. If I know, I will tell you. If I don't, then I am powerless."
Madam Jiang nodded. "Your Highness, for what reason did His Majesty fly into such a rage?"
Xue Xingyue's gaze paused. She glanced at Madam Jiang and said faintly, "Madam, if you are asking about this matter, I think it would be more appropriate for you to go back and ask the Duke of Ning."
Madam Jiang was stunned. At this moment, Meng Jiangming said, "Mother, do not trouble Your Highness. When we return to the Duke of Ning's mansion, you can ask Father."
Hearing Meng Jiangming's words, Madam Jiang felt they were reasonable. She said, "Your Highness, you and the heir must have more to say. This humble wife will leave first."
With that, Madam Jiang left.
Meng Jiangming subconsciously looked up and secretly glanced at Xue Xingyue. He was somewhat uneasy. After what had happened before, she still came back to help him out of trouble. This showed that what he had done was truly inhumane.
"Your Highness, I..."
Unfortunately, before he could finish speaking, Xue Xingyue interrupted him, "Heir, Madam is waiting for you outside."
Meng Jiangming was stunned. Even if he were stupid, he would have understood that Princess Xingyue did not wish to speak with him. He refused Feng Wu's support and stood up, holding onto the table. He bowed and said, "This subject takes his leave!"
Xue Xingyue nodded.
Meng Jiangming turned and walked towards the door. At this moment, his heart was filled with loneliness. He had a feeling that this time, he and Princess Xingyue had truly created a rift between them.
"Why did you come out so quickly?" Madam Jiang, waiting outside the door, saw him come out after spending less than half an incense stick's time inside. She couldn't help but feel that Meng Jiangming was making her too worried. He had been given such a good opportunity, yet he couldn't grasp it.
"Mother, let's go back!" Meng Jiangming did not answer Madam Jiang's question but walked directly towards the carriage.
Seeing this, Madam Jiang did not say anything further, as they were still in the palace.
"Your Highness, Heir Meng and Madam Jiang have already left the palace," Feng Wu said softly.
Xue Xingyue nodded and said coldly, "You may also withdraw. I wish to be alone."
After Feng Wu bowed in respect, she withdrew.
Xue Xingyue walked to the bed. The messy bedding told her that it was here that Meng Jiangming and his cousin Jiang Xiuyi had been intimate. She could even feel the lingering presence of the two of them.
"If you cannot forget, why force yourself?"
A voice came. Xue Xingyue turned around and saw that handsome face appear in her sight. She was somewhat surprised. Feng Wu was guarding outside; how did he get in? And why didn't she notice him entering?
"How dare you..." Feng Wu, who was outside the door, heard the voice and rushed in. Seeing the man, she was truly stunned. How did this person get in?
The man bowed slightly, and the moon-white brocade robe he wore drew a graceful arc in the air with his movement. "This subject, Ji Wu Ran, pays his respects to Princess Xingyue."
Xue Xingyue looked at him with clear, cold eyes and said coldly, "You still haven't told me how you got in?"
Hearing this, Ji Wu Ran raised his head. His handsome face had eyes as bright as the stars, clear and radiant. "Replying to Your Highness, this subject entered through the door openly. Guard Feng Wu simply did not see this subject."
"You let..."
Feng Wu stopped speaking halfway. Although he was a fourth-rank Imperial Guard with the authority to carry a sword, he could not speak disrespectfully to Marquis Ji Wu Ran. However, to be able to enter under his nose without being discovered, he really couldn't find many people in the world who could do that.
"Feng Wu, you cannot even detect such a living person entering. You have regressed," Xue Xingyue said coldly.
Feng Wu heard this and bowed. "Yes, Your Highness."
"Young Marquis Ji, do you have business with this princess?" Xue Xingyue raised her eyes and looked coldly at Ji Wu Ran.
Ji Wu Ran curled his lips into a smile. His handsome face became even more enchanting with this smile. "This subject comes from the Second Prince to deliver osmanthus wine to Princess Xingyue."
As he spoke, he took out a jar of wine from his sleeve. The jar was not large, only about the size of a palm.
Xue Xingyue glanced at Ji Wu Ran and said faintly, "When did this princess say she wanted to drink?"
Ji Wu Ran's gaze paused slightly and he said, "In front of the Second Prince's residence, this subject thought Your Highness was asking about wine because you wanted to drink, so..."
Hearing this, Xue Xingyue frowned slightly. She knew that Ji Wu Ran would not have come to deliver wine with such a simple reason.
She did not believe it.
"Then I thank Young Marquis Ji," Xue Xingyue said.
"This subject sees that Your Highness seems to be in a bad mood. May this subject accompany Your Highness for a drink?" Ji Wu Ran said.
Xue Xingyue looked up at Ji Wu Ran faintly. Her eyes were like a galaxy converging, brilliant and dazzling, without any concealment, and without any evasion.