"My Lord..." Concubine Jiang looked up and saw Meng Jiangming, her gaze faltering slightly.
Meng Jiangming sneered, "Concubine Jiang, playing the cat crying for the mouse here, putting on a false show of compassion, isn't that a bit disingenuous?"
Concubine Jiang started, "My Lord, what are you talking about? I don't understand."
"Don't understand?" Meng Jiangming stepped forward, grabbed Concubine Jiang by the collar, and sneered, "Stop pretending. If you keep pretending, I'll find you very hypocritical."
Concubine Jiang shivered all over, "My Lord, what are you talking about? I really don't understand."
"Don't understand? I just learned what happened to my mother at the Jiang family. Concubine Jiang, your Jiang family truly makes me sick."
Concubine Jiang frowned, looking incredulous, "Aunt told you everything? How is that possible? Something so difficult to speak of, Aunt actually told you?"
"Mother didn't tell me. I found out myself. Concubine Jiang, you and your entire Jiang family are utterly disgusting."
Upon hearing this, Concubine Jiang lowered her gaze, "My Lord, I had no control over any of this. If I could choose, I would rather not have been born into the Jiang family. Now that the Jiang family is gone, I just want to stay properly in the Duke's mansion. Please don't turn me away, okay?"
"Concubine Jiang, I wish you would be law-abiding, but tell me, did you have a hand in my mother's death?"
Concubine Jiang faltered slightly, "My Lord, I know you don't believe me, but how could I do something like that? I am merely a woman, only seeking a place to settle."
"I hope you are as you say. Otherwise, I will not let you off." With that, Meng Jiangming flicked his sleeve and left.
Concubine Jiang looked at Meng Jiangming's retreating back, her eyes turning cold.
She stood up and said, "Go and invite Xiao Yue over."
Xue Xingyue, upon hearing that Concubine Jiang wished to see her, though surprised, still arrived as requested.
"Concubine Jiang wishes to see me?" Xue Xingyue bowed to Concubine Jiang.
Concubine Jiang stepped forward to help her up, but Xue Xingyue quickly stepped back, "Concubine Jiang, please mind your own dignity. I am deeply flattered."
Concubine Jiang chuckled softly, "Xiao Yue, why hide it? I know you are a woman. To appear in the Duke's mansion disguised as a man, I cannot help but suspect you have ulterior motives?"
"Concubine Jiang, what nonsense are you spouting? I don't understand."
"Don't understand? But I think Xiao Yue understands perfectly well."
Xue Xingyue frowned, "Concubine Jiang, what exactly do you want me to do?"
Concubine Jiang stepped closer and said word by word, "I have no other intentions. I only wish for the Duke's mansion to be utterly ruined."
Xue Xingyue's body trembled, and she looked into Concubine Jiang's eyes, seeing the hatred within.
She was slightly taken aback, realizing that Jiang Xiuyi's hatred had been hidden all along.
"Isn't Concubine Jiang afraid I'll tell the heir?"
Concubine Jiang chuckled softly, her smile cold, "Go ahead and tell him. I wonder who the heir will believe, you or the Duke?"
"So, I must agree then?"
"Yes, you have no choice," Concubine Jiang stated.
"May I ask what Concubine Jiang wants me to do?" Xue Xingyue inquired.
"As I said, I want the Duke's mansion to be utterly ruined."
"How does Concubine Jiang intend to do this?" Xue Xingyue asked.
Concubine Jiang took out a letter from her embrace and handed it to Xue Xingyue. "Put this in the heir's room."
"What is this?" Xue Xingyue asked coldly, looking at the letter in Concubine Jiang's hand.
"Evidence of colluding with the enemy and betraying the country!" Concubine Jiang stated without hesitation.
Xue Xingyue was stunned, "Concubine Jiang, you are truly intent on the Duke's mansion being destroyed beyond recognition."
"Yes, are you afraid?" Concubine Jiang asked.
"Do I have a choice?" Xue Xingyue asked.
Concubine Jiang shook her head, "No."
"If that's the case, Concubine Jiang's question is rather redundant," Xue Xingyue said coldly.
"Xiao Yue, I know you will help me, won't you?"
Xue Xingyue took the letter and left. Back in her room, she opened it and was surprised to find it was a letter from the Crown Prince of Qi.
This Concubine Jiang had indeed colluded with the enemy. But how did she establish contact with Qi?
Xue Xingyue frowned, it seemed the situation was becoming increasingly complex.
In the evening, a detachment of Imperial Guards surrounded the Ningguo Duke's mansion.
The Duke of Ning looked at Meng Jia, the leader of the Imperial Guards, and asked coldly, "Commander Meng, what is the meaning of this?"
Commander Meng said coldly, "Someone has reported that the Duke is colluding with the enemy and betraying the country. I am acting on His Majesty's decree to conduct a search. Any resistance will be met with immediate execution."
The Duke of Ning was slightly taken aback, "I wish to see His Majesty."
"This commander will escort the Duke to see His Majesty shortly. However, for now, no one in the Duke's mansion is allowed to enter or leave until this commander has concluded the search."
Meng Jiangming was awakened from his sleep and went to the center of the courtyard. Seeing the Duke of Ning and Commander Meng, his heart sank.
He stepped forward and asked in a low voice, "Father, what has happened?"
Just then, an Imperial Guard holding a letter approached Commander Meng and said, "Commander, a letter has been found."
Commander Meng took it, opened it, and a cold smile played on his lips. "Duke, please accompany this commander."
The Duke of Ning's heart sank. Meng Jiangming beside him spoke, "Commander Meng, why are you taking my father away without any evidence?"
Commander Meng glanced at Meng Jiangming and sneered, "My Lord, it would be best to discuss such matters with the Duke and His Majesty."
The Duke of Ning then said to Commander Meng, "Commander Meng, may I have the time it takes for an incense stick to burn to arrange the affairs of the mansion?" Commander Meng replied coldly, "Withdraw from the Duke's mansion."
At this moment, only the people of the Duke's mansion remained in the courtyard.
"Father, what exactly has happened?" Meng Jiangming pressed.
The Duke of Ning looked at Meng Jiangming for a long time before saying, "Jiangming, I entrust the Duke's mansion to you. If I do not return, remember not to save me. Sacrificing one person to preserve the Duke's mansion is worth it."
Meng Jiangming trembled, realizing that something catastrophic must have occurred. "Father, what exactly has happened?"
The Duke of Ning gazed into the distance and said slowly, "When the ruler demands his subject die, the subject must die."