Concubine Jiang saw that Meng Jiangming had even found her residence, knowing her whereabouts had likely been leaked.
She did not get angry. Seeing Meng Jiangming approach, he grabbed her chin and asked coldly, "Were you the one who placed the treasonous letters to Qi in Father's study?"
Concubine Jiang chuckled alluringly at his words, "Esteemed Son, you can accuse me of anything, but you cannot falsely accuse me of the capital crime of treason."
"If not you, then who?" Meng Jiangming grabbed her collar, his gaze chilling.
Concubine Jiang sneered, "Esteemed Son Meng, you speak wrongly. There are many who hold grudges against your Meng family. You cannot blame everything that goes wrong on me."
"Jiang Xiu Yi..." Meng Jiangming spoke her full name.
Jiang Xiu Yi let out a soft laugh, "Esteemed Son, your concubine is Concubine Jiang, not some Jiang Xiu Yi."
Meng Jiangming stared at her for a long moment before releasing her and saying coldly, "It's good that you know your place. Don't think of doing anything else, or I won't let you off."
Jiang Xiu Yi curled her lips into a smile, "Won't let me off? How won't you let me off? In bed?"
Jiang Xiu Yi's smile was exceedingly charming.
Meng Jiangming, hearing this, flicked his sleeve and left.
Jiang Xiu Yi breathed a sigh of relief and stood up, but her legs suddenly weakened, and she sat back down on the ground.
After a long while, she began to laugh softly, but her laughter eventually turned into sobs.
Meng Jiangming heard from Meng Ying that after he left, Jiang Xiu Yi had cried for quite some time, her expression unreadable.
"Esteemed Son, what are your next steps?" Meng Ying suddenly asked.
Meng Jiangming sighed, "I plan to visit the palace again."
Meng Ying was startled. "Esteemed Son, you..."
"This esteemed son is not that foolish. I'm going to seek the Empress Dowager's help."
Meng Ying asked, "Esteemed Son, do you have confidence?"
Meng Jiangming shook his head. "None whatsoever."
The Empress Dowager looked at the kneeling Meng Jiangming and sighed, "In the past, when you caused trouble as a child, you would come to me in the palace, and I would always help you resolve it."
Meng Jiangming looked up, his face streaked with tears. "This time, Imperial Aunt, will you also help Jiang Ming?"
The Empress Dowager was silent for a long time before rising from her chaise lounge. A nearby palace maid attempted to assist her, but she pushed the maid away, saying, "I am not so old that I cannot walk."
She walked step by step towards Meng Jiangming and slowly bent down, reaching out to help him up. Meng Jiangming quickly placed his hand in hers. "Imperial Aunt..."
"Jiang Ming, it's not that I won't help you, but I truly cannot."
"How can you not help? No matter how difficult the situation, it was always easily resolved before you, Imperial Aunt. Imperial Aunt, please help me. Father is also your brother!"
The Empress Dowager’s tears flowed freely. "Jiang Ming, when one is in a high position, one has no choice!"
"Even family?" Meng Jiangming asked, looking at the Empress Dowager, word by word.
The Empress Dowager turned her head away and, after a long moment, replied with a single word, "Yes."
Meng Jiangming slumped to the ground, tears streaming down his face. "Imperial Aunt, is there truly no other way?"
The Empress Dowager shook her head. "I am powerless."
"Imperial Aunt..." Meng Jiangming buried his head in the Empress Dowager's embrace and wept bitterly.
After Meng Jiangming left, the Empress Dowager remained dispirited. She rubbed her forehead and, looking into the distance, said, "Summon the Emperor. Tell him the Empress Dowager wishes to see him."
Soon, Xue Tianyue arrived at the Empress Dowager's chambers. Upon seeing her, he hurried forward and helped her up. "Mother, I heard the Esteemed Son came to beg for your favor?"
The Empress Dowager nodded. "Nothing escapes Your Majesty's notice. I did not agree to his request."
"It is difficult for you, Mother," Xue Tianyue said with guilt.
After all, he was her relative, and it was not easy for her to refuse Meng Jiangming to this extent.
The Empress Dowager patted Xue Tianyue's hand. "I know what is more important and what is less. Although you are not flesh and blood born from me, after so many years, in my heart, you are my own kin. You are my support, and I am yours. Emperor, do you not agree?"
Xue Tianyue nodded. "Mother speaks nothing but the truth. It is just difficult that Mother could refuse Meng Jiangming so impassively."
The Empress Dowager sighed. "Impassively? My heart is also filled with sorrow. After all, he is my own brother, born of the same mother. My current position is also greatly related to my brother. Emperor, will you treat the only bloodline left by my brother kindly in the future?"
"Mother, rest assured. I am not heartless. This time, others simply took advantage of the situation, and my uncle was lost. But rest assured, such a thing will not happen again."
The Empress Dowager nodded, then suddenly remembered something and asked, "Emperor, do you think Princess Xing Yue is truly dead?"
Xue Tianyue paused slightly and, after a long moment, replied, "Even if she is not dead, she cannot stir up any significant trouble."
The Empress Dowager nodded. "That is good. I don't know why, but these past few days I keep recalling past events, thinking of many people, your father, and Princess Xing Yue."
"Mother, they are no longer with us. Do not punish yourself with those who are gone."
The Empress Dowager smiled. "The Emperor is right. I have been too indecisive."
If she had to do it again, she would still make the same choice.
"Mother, if there is nothing else, I will go and review the memorials."
The Empress Dowager nodded. "Go. I have nothing else. Handle it yourself!"
Xue Tianyue bowed and then left the Empress Dowager's chambers.
"Someone," the Empress Dowager called out towards the outside.
No one entered. The Empress Dowager was startled and a little flustered. Just as she was about to step out of her chambers, a cold sword was suddenly placed at her throat. She was shocked. "Who are you? How dare you trespass into my chambers?"
"Consort An, I trust you are well!"
The Empress Dowager trembled. Only someone from her past would call her Consort An. And among those from her past, few were alive, and fewer still were able to stand before her. Who could this be?