Feng Ming watched Meng Jiang Ming's retreating back, thinking to himself that if he wanted to get close to the Princess, he'd have to see if she'd allow it.
"Feng Ming..." Xue Xing Yue suddenly spoke.
Feng Ming stiffened, looking at Xue Xing Yue as she leaned forward and asked, "Does Your Highness have something to ask your subordinate?"
Xue Xing Yue nodded, her gaze calm as she looked at Feng Ming and asked, "Regarding the soup, I want to know exactly what happened."
Feng Ming's gaze paused. He said with a grin, "Your Highness, your subordinate isn't very clear on this matter. Why don't I let Feng Wu explain it to you?"
As Xue Xing Yue watched Feng Ming about to leave, she said coldly, "If you leave this room today, you are not to return."
Feng Ming forcibly retracted his foot, inwardly calling out his misfortune. When he turned back, his expression was as usual, "Your Highness, if you have something to ask, your subordinate will tell you everything without reservation."
"The matter of the soup." Xue Xing Yue looked at Feng Ming and said, word by word.
Feng Ming twitched his lips and said, "Your Highness, no matter how it happened, the outcome was good in the end. Wouldn't it be better not to dwell on the process?"
Upon hearing this, Xue Xing Yue stood up from her chair. Her clear eyes were as cold as frost. She walked step by step towards Feng Ming.
In an instant, Feng Ming felt an immense pressure bearing down on him, making it impossible for him to look up.
A chill rose from the soles of his feet, and he shivered involuntarily, "Your Highness..."
"When did I personally cook soup for the Heir?" Xue Xing Yue stood before Feng Ming and said, her voice icy.
Feng Ming forced a few awkward laughs and said, "Your Highness, your subordinate was just trying to foster some affection between you and the Heir, wasn't that what I was doing?"
"Alright, then I ask you, who cooked the soup?" Xue Xing Yue asked.
Feng Ming twitched his lips. "Your Highness, the matter is in the past. Let's not dwell on this question, what do you say?"
"No. Feng Ming, I told you before that I forbid any more schemes against the Heir, and this is not to be repeated. Have my words become mere whispers in your ears?" Xue Xing Yue frowned and said coldly.
Feng Ming's body stiffened. He quickly knelt on one knee and said, "Your Highness, your subordinate merely..."
"No matter what you think, the Heir will eventually become the驸马 (imperial son-in-law), and what you did is not venting your anger, but disgracing me, Princess Xing Yue."
Feng Ming shivered all over and quickly said, "Your Highness, your subordinate absolutely had no such intention. I just felt, why should the Heir be able to marry Your Highness? Your subordinate..."
"Feng Ming, a nation has its laws, and a family has its rules. Feng Ming, if you don't obey my commands, I won't blame you. But from now on, you are not to stay by my side."
Feng Ming trembled all over. He could never have imagined that just because he was dissatisfied with the Heir and administered a small punishment, the Princess would no longer want him.
He knelt on the ground, kowtowing. "Your Highness, you can hit me, you can scold me, but please don't drive me away. Where can I go without you?"
Xue Xing Yue turned her face away and said, "That is not my concern. I only know that you disregarded my command. Today it is a small matter, but it will lead to bigger issues in the future. I cannot manage you; find another master!"
"Your Highness, please don't. Your subordinate knows his mistake and is willing to accept punishment. Your Highness, please don't send me away."
He had been placed by Xue Xing Chen's side when he was young, by Princess Xing Yue's side. For ten years, his life was all about Princess Xing Yue. Without the Princess, he truly didn't know what to do.
"Then you shall go to the Dark Camp!" Xue Xing Yue said coldly.
Feng Ming stiffened, then said, "Yes, your subordinate will go now."
Feng Ming got up and, as he reached the doorway, suddenly turned back and bowed. "I implore Your Highness to still accept your subordinate upon my return."
Xue Xing Yue's gaze flickered slightly, but in the end, she said nothing.
Feng Ming left with a hint of disappointment.
Xue Xing Yue sighed. Feng Wu walked in from outside. "Your Highness, Feng Ming, he..."
"There's no need to plead." Xue Xing Yue said.
Feng Wu knew that once the Princess made up her mind, she would not change it. Moreover, she wouldn't plead either. Everyone had to take responsibility for their actions, whether it was her or Feng Ming.
"Your Highness, your subordinate has caused you trouble. Twenty large planks weren't enough. Perhaps you should order another twenty?" Feng Wu said, her head bowed.
Xue Xing Yue glanced at Feng Wu and said faintly, "What? Did twenty planks not hurt enough? Do you want to be beaten again? I never knew Feng Wu that you have a fondness for receiving caning?"
Feng Wu smiled upon hearing this. "Your subordinate does not have that fondness. It's just that Your Highness is in a bad mood. If your subordinate being beaten can improve Your Highness's mood, your subordinate is very willing to be beaten."
Xue Xing Yue looked at Feng Wu, and after a pause, asked, "Does it hurt?"
Feng Wu shook her head. "It doesn't hurt, Your Highness, not at all."
She had been by the Princess's side for so many years and had never been beaten. But today, she knew the Princess had no other choice. If she didn't let her be punished, the news would likely reach Concubine An, and it wouldn't just be a matter of a few planks.
"Feng Wu, sometimes I wonder if returning here was the right decision."
Feng Wu stiffened. "Your Highness, you..."
Xue Xing Yue walked towards the door. The afternoon sun was strong at this time, but no matter how strong, it couldn't compare to the sun over the border sands.
"In Zhen Wu Guan, we drank together, ate meat together, and danced together. Every day was happy. Returning here, you don't say it, but I know you aren't happy here either. And for the future imperial son-in-law, you even have dissatisfaction. But Feng Wu, you must remember, I am Princess Xing Yue. This identity was determined from birth, and it also means I cannot act as whimsically as ordinary people."
"The days in Zhen Wu Guan were only temporary. The days here are for a lifetime."
Feng Wu stiffened all over. "Your Highness..."
"Alright, go back and rest. Even if you are in good health, receiving twenty planks will still have consequences." Xue Xing Yue waved her hand.
Feng Wu bowed. "Yes, your subordinate takes leave!"
"Tomorrow, see Feng Ming off." As Feng Wu was leaving, Xue Xing Yue's voice came from behind her.
Ning Guo Duke's Mansion
Meng Jiang Ming appeased Madam Jiang until she was quite happy, completely forgetting the day's events. Only then did he return to his Jiang Xi Xuan. Seeing Wu Yi kneeling on the ground, he walked up to Wu Yi and said, "Wu Yi, this young master believes he has not mistreated you, correct?"
Wu Yi trembled all over. "Young Master, what are you saying? How could you possibly mistreat your subordinate? Being able to follow by your side is something this subordinate has cherished for lifetimes..."
Meng Jiang Ming impatiently interrupted Wu Yi's words. "Enough, stop with the flowery nonsense. This young master just wants to ask you, were you instigated by someone?"
Wu Yi, terrified, quickly kowtowed. "Young Master, this subordinate is wrongly accused. When you didn't eat lunch or dinner, the Madam became somewhat suspicious and summoned me to interrogate me. This subordinate could not hide anything from the Madam, so I... I had to tell the truth."
Meng Jiang Ming let out a cold snort. "Yes, you told the truth, and you told so many things. Wu Yi, your mouth is truly unreliable."
"Young Master, spare me. This subordinate will guard his tongue carefully from now on."
Meng Jiang Ming snorted. "I'll give you one more chance. If I discover you doing anything that this young master doesn't permit again, Wu Yi, you know this young master will not be lenient."
"Young Master, rest assured, it won't happen again, it won't happen again." Wu Yi quickly kowtowed.
"Get out..." Meng Jiang Ming said angrily.