"This place is indeed good, but I should be returning," Xue Xingyue said.
After admiring the beautiful scenery, Xue Xingyue did not linger. She knew the important responsibility she bore. She was now the future wife of the Duke of Ning's heir, and she had to be clear about what she should and should not do.
Moreover, venturing out alone with Ji Wuran was already a breach of propriety.
She didn't know why she had agreed to accompany him earlier.
Now that she had regained her senses, she had to end it decisively.
"Your Highness, allow me to escort you," Ji Wuran stepped forward.
Xue Xingyue stopped him, "No need, I know the way."
With that, she mounted her horse and left.
Ji Wuran watched the slender figure on the horse, an indescribable feeling welling up within him.
He raised his head, letting the light filtering through the leaves fall on his face. He slowly closed his eyes, hearing the voice in his heart ask.
Ultimately, you cannot bear to part, can you?
His hand clenched tightly in his sleeve. He abruptly opened his eyes, knowing this feeling would become a stumbling block for him in the future. Suddenly, a rustling sound broke the silence, followed by someone landing before him. "Master."
"Is there something?" he asked coldly.
His gaze, icy and deep, fell upon the kneeling figure.
An Ying was slightly taken aback. Having followed his master for many years, he knew his master's temperament and disposition. He knew his master was in a very bad mood at the moment.
After some thought, he spoke, "Master, it's about..."
"Do not speak of what I do not wish to hear..."
An Ying froze. He knelt there, unsure whether to continue speaking, as he knew this was news his master would not want to hear.
Yet, he couldn't remain silent. Just as he was in a quandary, the sound of horse hooves came from behind.
He turned sharply and saw that his master had already ridden away.
An Ying felt like crying. He knew he would inevitably be punished by the county princess upon their return.
Xue Xingyue returned to her tent and saw a figure lurking suspiciously outside it. She stepped forward, standing behind the person, and said softly, "Do you need something from me?"
The person trembled all over. "I... I made a mistake."
Saying so, they quickly lowered their head and retreated.
Feng Tian, who had heard the voice, asked in a low tone, "Your Highness, do you require me to follow?"
"No, that is Meng Shizi's cousin," Xue Xingyue replied.
Feng Tian was stunned. "Your Highness, you know?"
Xue Xingyue nodded. "What? Surprised?"
Feng Tian chuckled a few times. "I thought Your Highness would take the opportunity to make things difficult for her."
He had heard Feng Wu say that it was this Meng Shizi's cousin who had made Meng Shizi disrespectful to Your Highness.
It was this cousin who had made Meng Shizi intend to leave the bridal chamber empty for Your Highness.
"Do I need to make things difficult for someone who is defenseless? Feng Tian, it seems you have nothing to do." Xue Xingyue's voice turned cold.
Feng Tian's back tensed. He quickly said, "Your Highness, I have other matters to attend to. I will take my leave!"
With that, Feng Tian left without any delay.
Jiang Xiuyi ran into the tent, her hand tightly gripping the packet of medicine. Approaching Princess Xingyue's tent had been incredibly difficult. Having finally gotten close, she was caught red-handed by Princess Xingyue. It seemed even more difficult from now on. What should she do?
"What's wrong?" Meng Jiangming asked with concern as he walked in and saw Jiang Xiuyi trembling all over.
"I... I'm fine." Jiang Xiuyi quickly stuffed the paper packet into her sleeve. However, she was too flustered, and the packet fell out.
Jiang Xiuyi trembled and quickly reached to pick it up, but a hand reached it before hers. "What is this?"
Jiang Xiuyi's small face turned ashen. "Cousin, give it to me." She stepped forward, attempting to snatch it.
Meng Jiangming watched the usually frail Jiang Xiuyi act like a madwoman trying to grab something from his hand, which only made him more curious about the contents of the paper packet.
Jiang Xiuyi watched as Meng Jiangming opened the packet, her heart skipping a beat.
A faint fragrance wafted out. Meng Jiangming immediately recognized it as the most popular face powder in the capital. He handed the packet back to Jiang Xiuyi. "Xiuyi, it's just face powder, you don't need to be so nervous."
Jiang Xiuyi quickly gathered the packet and tucked it back into her sleeve. "Cousin, these are a woman's belongings, why are you looking?"
Meng Jiangming smiled, stepped forward, and gently touched her cheek. After a long moment, he slowly said, "My cousin has grown up."
Jiang Xiuyi was stunned. Her cousin had not been this gentle with her in a long time. She shyly lowered her head. "Cousin..."
Meng Jiangming stiffened. Seeing his hand on Jiang Xiuyi's cheek, he quickly withdrew it. "I..."
"Cousin..." Jiang Xiuyi looked up at Meng Jiangming with affectionate eyes. Although they had been intimate before, her cousin had always stopped at the last moment. Others said he was a playboy, but only she knew that her cousin was actually the most upright.
She knew in her heart that as long as she gave herself to her cousin, he would not abandon her.
With this thought, she took Meng Jiangming's hand. Meng Jiangming did not resist. Boldly, she placed his hand on her chest and whispered softly, "Cousin..."
Jiang Xiuyi heard Meng Jiangming's heavy, ragged breathing. She moved closer even more boldly, the scent of a young girl filling Meng Jiangming's nostrils.
Meng Jiangming felt as if he was losing control of his body. He looked up and saw Jiang Xiuyi's affectionate, moist eyes.
"Cousin, I..."
"Jiang Ming..." A voice from outside the tent broke the enchantment.
Meng Jiangming seemed to regain some of his senses. He pushed Jiang Xiuyi away and rushed out of the tent.
Jiang Xiuyi was pushed to the ground by Meng Jiangming. She sat there, tears streaming down her face.
Even though she had humbled herself to this extent, her cousin still wouldn't have her?
Why? Why?
"Jiang... Jiang Ming, were you robbed?" Zhao Yanluo asked in surprise from outside the tent, seeing Meng Jiangming's somewhat disheveled appearance.
Meng Jiangming strode forward, grabbed Zhao Yanluo's collar, and growled, "Water, where is the water?"
Zhao Yanluo pointed to the distance. "There's a stream ahead..."
Before he could finish, Meng Jiangming pushed him away and ran off.
Zhao Yanluo watched Meng Jiangming flee, his gaze deepening. He tidied his clothes and also walked in the direction Meng Jiangming had gone.
Meng Jiangming saw the stream not far away and plunged into it. The cold water seeped into his body, and he felt the heat in his body subsiding significantly.
His mind also began to clear. What had happened to him?
It seemed that after touching his cousin's face powder, this situation had occurred.
Cousin?
He couldn't be bothered to eliminate the heat in his body and quickly emerged from the water.