Meng Jiangming closed his eyes upon hearing this. After a long moment, he looked up at the Empress Dowager and asked, "What about the candidates?"
The Empress Dowager immediately instructed the palace attendants to bring the portraits. Pointing at them, she said, "Take a look. I find all these noble ladies to be quite suitable."
Meng Jiangming glanced at them and replied, "If the Empress Dowager finds them suitable, then they truly are. Please make the decision, Your Majesty!"
The Empress Dowager nodded. "That is for the best. If I were to let you choose, you might never be able to make up your mind."
Meng Jiangming gave a wry smile.
After examining the portraits for a while, the Empress Dowager pointed to one of them and asked, "How about this one?"
Meng Jiangming could only step forward and look at the lady in the painting. He felt a strange sense of familiarity, as if he had seen this noble lady somewhere before.
Seeing that Meng Jiangming remained silent, the Empress Dowager asked, "This one, then?"
Thinking that the Empress Dowager might not let him leave if he didn't choose someone today, he nodded. "Yes, she will do."
The Empress Dowager smiled. "That's right. That Princess Xingyue has a weak fate; forget about her!"
Meng Jiangming nodded, but only he knew that he could not forget Princess Xingyue at all.
"This young servant behind you, why does he look so unfamiliar to me?" The Empress Dowager's gaze fell upon Xue Xingyue.
Xue Xingyue felt a prickle in her eyelids, sensing that something bad was about to happen.
Meng Jiangming glanced at Xue Xingyue and said, "Your Majesty, this is a young servant I brought back from Zhen Wuguan. He is quick and capable, just as I like."
"He looks like a clever child. Why don't you leave him with me for a while?" Da Feng Novel Network
Meng Jiangming froze and quickly said, "Your Majesty, though my servant is clever, he is undisciplined. I fear he might disturb Your Majesty."
The Empress Dowager chuckled softly. "Jiangming, what are you trying to hide?"
"Your Majesty, what are you talking about? Jiangming does not understand."
The Empress Dowager leaned back against the chair behind her, raised her eyelids, and said word by word, "Jiangming, I do not wish to know or inquire what you are thinking, but this young servant will stay. Looking at him, I am reminded of an old acquaintance."
Before Meng Jiangming could say more, the Empress Dowager interrupted, "Enough, I am tired. If you have nothing else, you may withdraw!"
Meng Jiangming, not wanting to defy the Empress Dowager, could only seek another way. As he left, he leaned close to Xue Xingyue's ear and whispered, "Wait for me..."
Xue Xingyue did not reply. Meng Jiangming looked back repeatedly, and finally, with a resolute heart, he left the Empress Dowager's chambers.
The hall fell silent. Xue Xingyue dared not act rashly, as her current identity was that of Meng Jiangming's servant.
After a long while, she saw the Empress Dowager finally lift her eyelids to look at her, her voice cold, "What is your name?"
"Replying to Your Majesty, this humble servant's name is Xiao Yue."
The Empress Dowager smiled coldly. "That name sounds too much like a woman's."
For some reason, Xue Xingyue felt an inexplicable sense of fear well up from the depths of her heart.
This was something she had never experienced before. Perhaps she had never truly understood this Empress Dowager. Or perhaps, in her presence, she had always reined in all her sharpness, making the Empress Dowager believe she was an insignificant person.
But she was mistaken. How many people who reached this position were truly simple-minded?
She had misjudged Meng Jia from the very beginning.
"You are actually a woman, why are you disguised as a man?" The Empress Dowager had come before her at some unknown time.
Xue Xingyue took a step back, looking at the Empress Dowager before her. In just a year, she found that Meng Jia was no longer the Meng Jia she knew; she was an unfamiliar Meng Jia.
The former Meng Jia was beautiful, poised, and her best companion.
But the current Meng Jia was a stranger to her.
One year could change a person, making them unrecognizable.
"I am asking you a question?" the Empress Dowager asked coldly.
Xue Xingyue lowered her eyes. "Your Majesty, what are you talking about? This junior does not understand."
Suddenly, her raised bun was undone. Her long hair cascaded down her back, and she trembled all over.
The Empress Dowager sneered. "What do you have to say now?"
Xue Xingyue narrowed her eyes and quickly knelt. "Your Majesty..."
The Empress Dowager sighed. "I know. Jiangming cannot forget Princess Xingyue. As long as someone resembles Princess Xingyue, he will find ways to bring them to his side. My dear girl, you are merely a substitute for Princess Xingyue."
Xue Xingyue: "..." It seemed the Empress Dowager had not investigated her background, which was for the best.
"Your Majesty is perceptive." Xue Xingyue had no intention of correcting the Empress Dowager.
"Until Jiangming marries, you will stay here with me. After his marriage, I will release you. Do you have any objections to this?" the Empress Dowager asked, raising an eyebrow.
"This servant has no objections," Xue Xingyue replied. She was eager to stay, as it would allow her to get closer to the truth behind her imperial brother's demise.
"I am tired. You may withdraw!" The Empress Dowager waved her hand, signaling Xue Xingyue to leave.
Xue Xingyue did not hesitate and quickly withdrew.
In the dead of night, Xue Xingyue sensed someone in the room. She opened her eyes and saw a figure. She watched the figure warily until it approached her. Only then did she suddenly rise, her dagger already pointed at the person.
"Your Highness, it is I, Ji Wuran."
Hearing that it was Ji Wuran, Xue Xingyue lowered her weapon and said coldly, "Why have you come so late at night?"
Ji Wuran whispered, "I saw Meng Jiangming leaving the Empress Dowager's chambers, but I did not see Your Highness, so I came to check."
"I am fine, I was merely detained by the Empress Dowager," Xue Xingyue explained.
"Your Highness, His Majesty suddenly summoned the Imperial Astronomical Bureau today."
Xue Xingyue heard this and asked, "What does that have to do with me?"
Ji Wuran said in a low voice, "I heard that His Majesty has been having nightmares every night recently, and this might be related."
Xue Xingyue sneered upon hearing this. "Those who do nothing wrong fear no ghosts knocking at their door in the middle of the night. It seems he has done too many wrong deeds."