Jiang Xiu Yi's whole body trembled. Just as she was about to say something, Xue Xing Yue did not give her a chance. "First, from the moment I entered this place, I was completely clueless. Second, it was you, Miss Jiang, who did these things. What does it have to do with me? Third, it was the Madam who hit the young lord. Why is Miss Jiang begging for mercy from me?"
The three consecutive questions left Jiang Xiu Yi speechless.
Seeing this, Xue Xing Yue said coldly, "Regarding this matter, I was seeking an explanation. Yet, Miss Jiang is asking me for one. This is utterly laughable."
"I..."
"Madam, Young Lord, this matter will inevitably require an explanation. I shall take my leave first!" With that, Xue Xing Yue turned and left.
Her departing back, devoid of any lingering glance, was etched into Meng Jiang Ming's heart.
Meng Jiang Ming took a few steps back.
Madam Jiang, seeing this, quickly said indignantly, "Jiang Ming, what are you doing? Why are you still standing there? Shouldn't you be chasing after her?"
Meng Jiang Ming was taken aback. He looked at Madam Jiang and shook his head, "I'm afraid the Princess... simply doesn't care."
"Whether she cares or not, you must go explain. Nothing here will change for you right now," Madam Jiang said, filled with disappointment at her son's lack of ambition. She couldn't understand why she had given birth to such a stubborn son.
"But..."
"But what? Hurry up and go. If you don't go, don't call me mother anymore," Madam Jiang finally unleashed her ultimate move.
Looking at Madam Jiang's resentful expression, and recalling Princess Xing Yue's cold and indifferent demeanor, Meng Jiang Ming knew that if he didn't explain this clearly now, there might not be another chance.
"Mother, I'll go right now." Saying this, Meng Jiang Ming rushed out of the tent, chasing after Princess Xing Yue.
Jiang Xiu Yi reached out as if to stop him, but Madam Jiang looked at her with cold anger. In the end, the plea died on her lips, for she knew that if she spoke to stop him, Madam Jiang would show her no mercy. Moreover, Meng Jiang Ming might not stay for her sake.
In this situation, she still needed to decide whether to intervene.
She truly hadn't expected things to turn out this way. She had thought Princess Xing Yue would make a scene, but why had it become like this?
"Jiang Xiu Yi, kneel down for me," Madam Jiang said angrily.
Hearing this, Jiang Xiu Yi knew that whatever she said now was useless. She could only try her best to move Madam Jiang.
"Aunt," Jiang Xiu Yi knelt on the ground, looking at Madam Jiang with a pitiable expression.
"Don't call me aunt. I don't have a niece as shameless as you," Madam Jiang said angrily.
Hearing this, Jiang Xiu Yi bit her lower lip and choked out, "Aunt, Xiu Yi knows she has done things that made you unhappy. But Aunt, you can hit me, you can scold me, just don't send Xiu Yi away from cousin's side. Please."
Upon hearing Jiang Xiu Yi's words, Madam Jiang became even more furious. "Don't tell me these things. Others may not know you, but I do. You would go to any lengths to stay by Jiang Ming's side, but you don't need to tell me how much you like Jiang Ming. You don't like him because you truly love him, but because you don't want to leave the Ningguo Duke's manor."
Jiang Xiu Yi trembled. She looked up at Madam Jiang and said, "Aunt, why are you speaking about Xiu Yi like this? Xiu Yi truly..."
"Don't tell me you like Jiang Ming. Perhaps you do, but it's definitely not as much as your desire to remain in the Ningguo Duke's manor. So, don't mention it, because it makes me feel that your liking is too cheap."
Jiang Xiu Yi shook her head. "No... it's not like that, Aunt. You've misunderstood Xiu Yi."
"Misunderstood?" Madam Jiang sneered. "Others may not understand, but who knows you better than I do? Jiang Xiu Yi."
"Aunt, you..."
"Jiang Xiu Yi, don't try to play the emotional card. It might have worked before, but now I see through your true nature. Your words are completely useless. Let's talk about what Consort An promised you that made you willing to go through such trouble even if it meant ruining your reputation?"
"Aunt, I..."
Madam Jiang harshly interrupted Jiang Xiu Yi and said coldly, "Speak the truth. Perhaps I will still consider you my niece. Otherwise, don't blame me for not holding back."
Jiang Xiu Yi's body stiffened. "I..."
"Consort An arrives!" A voice coincidentally interrupted Jiang Xiu Yi's words.
Madam Jiang looked up at the figure appearing at the doorway, her gaze icy.
Consort An walked in and, seeing Jiang Xiu Yi kneeling on the ground, said, "Oh, what happened here? It seems I've arrived at an inopportune time."
Hearing this, Madam Jiang sneered, "What happened? Doesn't Consort An know the clearest?"
Consort An chuckled softly. "Sister-in-law, I'm not quite clear about your words. However, it's fine not to know now. I'll ask Xiu Yi personally later."
Madam Jiang raised her eyes and looked coldly at Consort An. Consort An met her gaze, then smiled and said, "If there's nothing else, I'll take Xiu Yi with me."
As she spoke, Consort An ordered her attendants to help Jiang Xiu Yi leave. However, before they had taken two steps, Madam Jiang called out coldly from behind, "Wait."
Hearing this, Consort An turned back and asked, "Sister-in-law, is there anything else?"
Madam Jiang walked forward, looking at Consort An coldly. "This matter, you arranged it, didn't you?"
Consort An waved her hand and said, "Retire."
The attendants took Jiang Xiu Yi out of the room.
Consort An looked at Madam Jiang and smiled slightly, "What benefit would arranging this matter bring me?"
"Since that's the case, then please let Consort An leave Jiang Xiu Yi here," Madam Jiang said coldly.
Seeing this, Consort An's smile faded, and she said, "Sister-in-law, are you confused?"
Madam Jiang frowned. Consort An continued, "Let her stay here. Or perhaps, Sister-in-law, you want everyone to know that before Jiang Ming married Princess Xing Yue, he was already secretly involved with his cousin?"
Madam Jiang trembled all over. Consort An said, "Sister-in-law, you may not care, but I cannot ignore it. If His Majesty finds out about this, I might at most be confined to my residence, but my elder brother may not be so lucky."
Madam Jiang looked at Consort An. "You... are truly doing this for the Ningguo Duke's manor?"
Consort An's gaze turned slightly cold, and her tone became icy. "Sister-in-law, you seem to have forgotten something."
"What?" Madam Jiang asked.
Consort An looked at Madam Jiang and said, word for word, "I also came from the Ningguo Duke's manor. I also bear the surname Meng. So, Sister-in-law, do you think I would lift a stone only to drop it on my own foot? Just to embarrass Jiang Ming? To disgrace the Ningguo Duke's manor?"
Hearing this, Madam Jiang said, "It really wasn't you?"
Consort An sighed. "Sister-in-law, it's true that we don't get along, and I've never liked you as a sister-in-law. But even for Tian Yue's future, how could I possibly tarnish his maternal family's reputation? What good would that do for me or for Tian Yue?"