Xue Xingyue sighed, her heart heavy. She wished Xue Tianyue would never hear such things, hoping he would forever retain his pure, childlike heart.
Yet, she knew it was impossible. Even if Xue Tianyue maintained his innocence now, the moment he ascended to that position, he would inevitably change.
"Aunt, are you angry? Please don't be angry. I didn't mean to eavesdrop; I was just passing by. Aunt, please don't be angry, okay?" Xue Tianyue's voice grew anxious as he watched Xue Xingyue remain silent.
Xue Xingyue snapped back to reality, looking at Xue Tianyue's worried expression. She reached out and gently patted his shoulder. "Aunt isn't angry, just feels these matters shouldn't be known by you."
"Aunt, I'll forget about it, alright? As long as Aunt isn't angry," Xue Tianyue said obediently.
Xue Xingyue shook her head. "No need. You'll know sooner or later."
Xue Tianyue paused slightly. "Aunt, you..."
"Tianyue, what are your thoughts on this matter?" Xue Xingyue asked.
Xue Tianyue blinked, then lowered his gaze. After a long pause, he finally spoke, "Aunt, you shouldn't ask me, because I will definitely believe that Mother Consort did not do this."
Xue Xingyue paused, then smiled. "Yes, how could I think to ask you?"
"Aunt? Will you be angry?" Xue Tianyue looked up, gazing intently at her.
"How could I be angry with you? Your mother is Consort An, and it's only natural you believe in Consort An. Moreover, Aunt also believes Consort An would not do such a thing," Xue Xingyue said.
Xue Tianyue's eyes lit up. "Aunt, really?"
Xue Xingyue nodded. "Yes, because Consort An had no reason to do so. Just as you care about Consort An, Consort An also cares about you, so she wouldn't do anything to harm you."
"Aunt, then you must quickly catch the culprit."
"Don't worry, Tianyue, Aunt will," Xue Xingyue replied.
Xue Tianyue nodded, looking at Xue Xingyue with bright eyes. "Aunt, if one day you encounter a similar situation to Mother Consort, I will also believe in you without hesitation."
Xue Xingyue trembled, looking at Xue Tianyue with gratitude. "Tianyue, thank you."
"Aunt, you're busy. I'll go see Mother Consort."
Xue Xingyue nodded, watching Xue Tianyue's retreating figure with a thoughtful expression.
The matter of Consort An hiring assassins quickly faded into obscurity, lost to the vastness of the sea.
Xue Xingchen also gradually recovered, and Xue Xingyue was finally able to leave the palace.
Upon returning to her princess's mansion, Xue Xingyue finally felt able to relax and, without realizing it, fell asleep.
She awoke to darkness. "Feng Wu." she called out, getting up.
Feng Wu entered from outside. "Your Highness, you're awake?"
Xue Xingyue nodded. "How long have I slept?"
Feng Wu replied, "Your Highness, you have slept for six hours."
"Has anything happened?" Xue Xingyue inquired.
Feng Wu said, "Nothing of major importance."
"So, something has happened then?"
"Young Master Meng has arrived." Feng Wu stated.
Meng Jiangming? Xue Xingyue frowned slightly. Feng Wu, standing nearby, added, "If Your Highness does not wish to see him, this subordinate will refuse him."
"Let him in!" Xue Xingyue got out of bed, casually tying her hair with a ribbon, and walked outside.
Meng Jiangming looked at the tall and imposing guards before him and quietly swallowed. Honestly, seeing these two made him regret his decision. Why on earth had he come to see Princess Xingyue?
He didn't know what possessed him, but when he heard that Princess Xingyue and the Emperor had been attacked, his heart had been filled with anxiety. However, upon hearing that Princess Xingyue was not seriously injured, he truly felt relieved.
And so, as soon as he heard Princess Xingyue had left the palace, he hurried over.
For some reason, he just wanted to see Princess Xingyue, to look at her.
But gazing at the guards by Princess Xingyue's side, he felt an urge to flee.
"Young Master Meng, please have some tea." Feng Ming placed the tea on a table beside Meng Jiangming, speaking in a gruff tone.
Meng Jiangming swallowed, looking at the tea. He remembered the tea he drank the first time he met Princess Xingyue and resolutely decided he would not drink any tea in the princess's mansion from now on.
"Young Master Meng, why aren't you drinking tea? Do you dislike the tea in the princess's mansion?" Feng Ming looked coldly at Meng Jiangming, his eyes seeming to gleam with the sharpness of ice blades, as if he would shoot them towards Meng Jiangming if he said anything he didn't wish to hear.
"You misunderstand. This Young Master does not care for tea," Meng Jiangming said cautiously.
The more Meng Jiangming acted this way, the more Feng Ming felt he was unworthy of his Highness.
"Young Master, do you not know that upon arriving at the princess's mansion, one must drink tea?" Feng Ming said coldly.
Meng Jiangming blinked. "There is such a rule?"
"Yes. If you do not drink the tea, Young Master Meng, please leave," Feng Ming stated.
Let him leave? Meng Jiangming steeled himself and reached for the teacup, about to drink it. Just then, a voice from outside announced, "The Princess has arrived."
Meng Jiangming let out a sigh of relief. He set down the teacup and looked towards the entrance, where a slender and elegant figure appeared in his sight.
Dressed in a simple white gown, her already fair skin appeared even more radiant and translucent.
Her long hair was tied back with a ribbon, and as the breeze blew, she swayed gracefully.
Her face, unadorned by makeup, held eyes so clear and pure, they shone brightly.
For a moment, Meng Jiangming stood there, stunned. Feng Ming, seeing this, coughed heavily. Meng Jiangming turned, quickly stepping forward and bowing. "Greetings, Your Highness."
"Young Master Meng, please sit!" Xue Xingyue sat down on a chair.
Meng Jiangming returned to his seat and said, "Your Highness, you have worked hard recently."
Xue Xingyue blinked slightly. She looked at Meng Jiangming, finding him somewhat strange. Was Meng Jiangming concerned about her?
His bright eyes were clear and luminous. Meng Jiangming felt a leap in his heart, a sense of flusteredness. "Your... Your Highness, are you injured?"
"Thank you for your concern, Young Master. This Princess is not injured," Xue Xingyue replied.
"That's good, that's good." Meng Jiangming felt an inexplicable nervousness. He picked up the teacup from the table and drank it down in one gulp.
The bitter taste overwhelmed his palate. Meng Jiangming felt his stomach churn instantly. He quickly got up and said, "Your Highness, this subject will take his leave!"
Saying this, and without waiting for Xue Xingyue to reply, he hurried away.
Xue Xingyue looked at Feng Ming. Feng Ming grinned, but as he saw his Highness's questioning gaze, he composed himself.
"Let this not happen again," Xue Xingyue said softly.
Meng Jiangming ran out of the princess's mansion in one breath and found a secluded spot to vomit.
His attendant, following behind, asked, "Young Master, what is wrong?"
Meng Jiangming, feeling weak from vomiting, finally said, "Help... help me back to the mansion."