The next day
Princess Xing Yue brought Qi Yu Ming to the palace to meet the Emperor.
Afterward, they attended the palace banquet.
Xue Xing Yue found a secluded corner and sat down.
Meng Jiang Ming, sitting beside Madam Jiang, looked at Xue Xing Yue, who appeared somewhat lonely, and felt a pang of inexplicable heartache.
Madam Jiang, noticing her son's gaze fixed on Princess Xing Yue in the distance, couldn't help but remind him, "Stop looking. There will be plenty of opportunities later. Don't disgrace the Ningguo Duke's manor here, or your father will have your hide when he gets home."
Meng Jiang Ming replied, "Mother, don't worry. Who here could possibly look at me?"
Although Madam Jiang knew Meng Jiang Ming was speaking the truth, she still cautioned, "Even so, you are not allowed to disgrace the Ningguo Duke's manor."
"Alright, alright, I know, Mother," Meng Jiang Ming said.
"Madam, my madam wishes to invite you over for a chat."
Madam Jiang saw the Madam of Ji'an Marquis's manor, Madam Li, looking in their direction from afar. She smiled and said, "Tell your madam I'll be right over."
After the maid from Ji'an Marquis's manor left, Madam Jiang said, "I'm going to the Ji'an Marquis's Madam's side. You stay here and behave, understand?"
Meng Jiang Ming replied, "Mother, you go ahead. Are you still worried about me?"
Madam Jiang smiled, "Yes, I truly am worried about you."
"Don't worry, Mother, Wu Yi is with me," Meng Jiang Ming said.
Madam Jiang glanced at Wu Yi and said, "Wu Yi, keep a close eye on your young master. If I find out the young master has done anything, you won't escape unscathed."
Wu Yi quickly replied, "Madam, rest assured, I will keep a close eye on the young master."
Only then did Madam Jiang feel at ease and walk towards the Madam of Ji'an Marquis's manor.
"Wu Yi, pour the wine," Meng Jiang Ming instructed.
After a while, seeing Wu Yi hadn't poured him wine, he turned his head to see Wu Yi seemingly engaged in conversation with a young palace maid.
When Wu Yi returned, Meng Jiang Ming mockingly said, "You can't even stay out of trouble when you're in the palace. Aren't you afraid I'll tell Shao Yao?"
Upon hearing this, Wu Yi quickly pleaded, "Young master, please don't. Don't tell Shao Yao."
"It's fine if you don't tell me, but tell me, which little palace maid have you hooked up with this time?" Meng Jiang Ming asked with interest.
Wu Yi hesitated, wanting to speak but stopping himself. Seeing Wu Yi's stammering, Meng Jiang Ming said, "What's wrong? Is it so difficult to say? Do you really want me to tell Shao Yao?"
"No... Young master, please don't. I'm afraid you'll be angry if I say it," Wu Yi said fearfully.
"Me angry? Why would I be angry? Did you do something to betray me?" Meng Jiang Ming frowned and asked.
Wu Yi quickly shook his head, "Young master, no."
"Then hurry up and tell me. I'm warning you, my patience is limited."
"Young master, Miss Jiang just found me. I couldn't refuse," Wu Yi said cautiously.
Meng Jiang Ming was taken aback and looked at Wu Yi, saying, "Cousin?"
Wu Yi nodded, "It's cousin."
"She's here?" Meng Jiang Ming asked doubtfully.
Wu Yi nodded and said, "Cousin doesn't seem to be doing well. I saw fresh scars on her wrists, like they were recent."
Meng Jiang Ming fell silent. To be honest, he felt a sense of pity for his cousin, Jiang Xiu Yi. After all, it was Jiang Xiu Yi who had accompanied him through his youth, showing him the tenderness and affection of a young girl.
Even though his feelings for his cousin were not as strong as before, he still felt pity for her, as she had sacrificed a lot for him while he gave very little. Except for not crossing the final boundary, they had done everything else, whether appropriate or not.
Thinking that if it weren't for her, he would still be at the Ningguo Duke's manor, he felt a sense of guilt. He looked up at Wu Yi and asked, "Where is my cousin?"
Wu Yi hesitated and said, "Outside..."
"Take me to see her," Meng Jiang Ming said.
Wu Yi was startled and quickly replied, "Young master, Madam specifically instructed you not to move around freely. I..."
"If something happens, I will take responsibility. It won't fall on you. Take me to see my cousin," Meng Jiang Ming said.
Wu Yi nodded, "Young master, please follow me."
Leaving the banquet, Meng Jiang Ming followed Wu Yi to a room.
Wu Yi stopped outside the room and said, "Young master, cousin is waiting inside."
Meng Jiang Ming nodded, "You wait here. If anything happens, notify me promptly."
Wu Yi said, "Young master, please be quick. This is the palace, not our manor."
"I know," Meng Jiang Ming said, then pushed open the door. Not seeing his cousin, he called out, "Cousin, it's me."
"Cousin?" A voice filled with surprise echoed.
Meng Jiang Ming walked closer and saw Jiang Xiu Yi emerge from inside. "Cousin, is it really you? Am I dreaming?"
Meng Jiang Ming saw Jiang Xiu Yi's thin figure, appearing even more frail. Her cheeks had become gaunt, revealing a sharp jawline. He remembered that when she was at the Ningguo Duke's manor, Jiang Xiu Yi was quite plump.
Now, it was evident that Jiang Xiu Yi was not living well in the palace.
"Cousin, you've lost so much weight," Meng Jiang Ming said with some concern.
Jiang Xiu Yi was startled, "Cousin, isn't being thinner good?"
Meng Jiang Ming didn't respond. Jiang Xiu Yi said, "Cousin, please sit down. I'll pour you some tea."
Meng Jiang Ming saw Jiang Xiu Yi tugging at his hand and didn't refuse, sitting down. As Jiang Xiu Yi reached for the teapot, Meng Jiang Ming immediately noticed the scars on her wrist. He reached out and grabbed Jiang Xiu Yi's hand as she was pouring the tea. Jiang Xiu Yi trembled, "Cousin, you..."
"Tell me, what happened to this injury?"
Jiang Xiu Yi quickly pulled her hand back, hiding it behind her back. "Cousin, it's nothing. Xiu Yi just fell accidentally."
"You're lying. Those are clearly whip marks. Cousin, do you think I can't tell the difference between falling and being whipped?" Meng Jiang Ming said, his heart aching.
Jiang Xiu Yi trembled all over. She stood there, her slender body seeming loose in the palace maid's attire. She looked at Meng Jiang Ming with pitiful eyes.
"Cousin, please don't ask," she bit her lower lip tightly.
"Cousin, tell me, who hit you?" Meng Jiang Ming stepped forward and grabbed Jiang Xiu Yi, asking.
Jiang Xiu Yi's face was filled with pain. Seeing this, Meng Jiang Ming pulled Jiang Xiu Yi's arm and rolled up her sleeve. Scars, both new and old, were crisscrossed, indicating she had been beaten frequently.
"This..."
Jiang Xiu Yi pulled her sleeve down, turned around, and choked out, "Cousin, please don't bother with this."
"Cousin, tell me who it was?" Meng Jiang Ming said angrily. He knew his mother had never hit his cousin, so who dared to be so audacious?
Suddenly, he remembered someone and stepped forward to ask, "Is it Aunt?"
Jiang Xiu Yi trembled, "Cousin, please don't ask anymore."
Meng Jiang Ming turned Jiang Xiu Yi around and asked, "Was it her?"
Jiang Xiu Yi remained silent, neither confirming nor denying. Meng Jiang Ming's anger flared. He grabbed Jiang Xiu Yi's hand and said furiously, "Let's go, I'll take you to demand justice from Aunt."
"Cousin, no, please don't," Jiang Xiu Yi shook her head, her eyes brimming with tears, looking pitiful.
Meng Jiang Ming looked at Jiang Xiu Yi and said, "Cousin, don't be afraid. With me here, I won't let anyone bully you again."
Jiang Xiu Yi shook her head, looking at Meng Jiang Ming, and asked word by word, "Cousin, you can save me for a moment, but can you save me for a lifetime?"