The Duke of Ning did not visit Madam Jiang until evening. Seeing her pale face, he was somewhat surprised.
He had not expected Madam Jiang to be so seriously ill.
However, even if he had known, he might not have come again.
Upon seeing him, Madam Jiang no longer felt the same way; her obsession seemed to have vanished like smoke.
She felt that looking at the Duke of Ning now, she could do so as if he were an ordinary person.
"Since you are so gravely ill, do not trouble yourself with other matters. Focus on recovering," the Duke of Ning said.
Madam Jiang said nothing, merely gazing at the Duke of Ning. Years of marriage seemed to make him reacquaint himself with her at this moment.
Madam Jiang simply smiled, "Are you still afraid I will trouble Jiang Xiu Yi? Are you happy to see me like this?"
The Duke of Ning frowned and said, "You are overthinking."
Madam Jiang gave a faint smile, "Whether I am overthinking, you know better than anyone."
The Duke of Ning did not answer, merely looking at Madam Jiang and saying, "You should focus on your recovery."
After speaking, the Duke of Ning left.
Madam Jiang propped herself up with her hands and said from behind him, "I will absolutely not let you take Xiu Yi as a concubine."
The Duke of Ning, who was at the doorway, suddenly stopped. Without turning his head, his voice was as cold as frost, "Madam Jiang, is this meaningful?"
Two clear tears traced paths down Madam Jiang's pale cheeks, "I am not reconciled."
She truly felt unreconciled, having been in the Duke of Ning's residence for decades.
She had borne and enjoyed the Duke of Ning's glory, and in return, she had lost more for this glory, such as her youth and freedom.
She felt her sacrifices were not small, yet no one saw this.
The Duke of Ning left without looking back, leaving only Madam Jiang's hysterical cries.
Xue Xing Yue was awakened by a knock on the door.
She walked to the door and opened it. She smelled alcohol and saw a handsome face. That face, at this moment, lacked its usual gentle demeanor.
Instead, it carried an aggressive aura.
"Your Highness, the驸马, do you need something?"
Meng Jiang Ming looked at the eyes that were exactly like Princess Xing Yue's, and it was as if he had returned to the past.
In the past, Princess Xing Yue looked at him like this. This gaze was something he would never forget.
"Your Highness, the 驸马..." Xue Xing Yue felt Meng Jiang Ming's gaze was a little frightening. It was the look of a beast stalking its prey.
She instinctively took a step back. Meng Jiang Ming took a step forward. She quickly said, "Your Highness, the 驸马, are you drunk?"
"I am not drunk."
Meng Jiang Ming suddenly grabbed Xue Xing Yue's shoulder, "You are Princess Xing Yue, aren't you?"
Xue Yue trembled all over and lowered her eyelids, "Your Highness, the 驸马, you have mistaken me. I am Xiao Yue."
Meng Jiang Ming shook his head, "No, I wouldn't mistake you. These eyes are exactly like Princess Xing Yue's. How could I mistake you? I won't mistake you. It's you, isn't it? Princess Xing Yue is you, isn't she? Why are you hiding from me? Why?"
Xue Xing Yue took a few steps back, looking at Meng Jiang Ming and said, "Your Highness, the 驸马, are you really drunk? I am truly not Princess Xing Yue.
I am called Xiao Yue, have you forgotten? I was brought by you from General Xie's side. How could I be Princess Xing Yue?"
Meng Jiang Ming was slightly startled. He reached out and covered his eyes, his voice somewhat heavy and indistinct, "I mistook you."
After speaking, he stumbled away.
Xue Xin Yue breathed a sigh of relief. Just now, she thought Meng Jiang Ming had discovered her and intended to expose her identity.
Fortunately, it was a false alarm. This meant she needed to be even more cautious.
Madam Jiang's illness finally recovered. At the same time, the Duke of Ning took Jiang Xiu Yi as a concubine.
This time, Madam Jiang did not object and did not see Jiang Xiu Yi again.
Since the Duke of Ning took Jiang Xiu Yi as a concubine.
The Duke of Ning never visited Madam Jiang's room again. Madam Jiang seemed to have given up hope.
It was not until the current Empress Dowager prepared to celebrate her birthday that Xue Xing Yue accompanied Meng Jiang Ming to the imperial palace.
As soon as they entered the palace, Meng Jiang Ming was summoned by the Empress Dowager. Xue Xing Yue naturally followed Meng Jiang Ming to the Empress Dowager's sleeping quarters.
"Nephew greets Her Imperial Majesty the Empress Dowager." Meng Jiang Ming bowed.
The Empress Dowager looked at Meng Jiang Ming for a long time and said with a smile, "You impudent monkey finally decided to enter the palace."
"Where is Madam Jiang? She didn't come with you?"
Upon mentioning Madam Jiang, Meng Jiang Ming's expression showed a hint of dejection. "Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty. My mother is unwell and may not be able to offer her birthday wishes to the Empress Dowager."
The Empress Dowager looked at Meng Jiang Ming for a long time before saying, "Regarding the events that transpired in the residence, this lonely one is already aware. Your father's actions were indeed somewhat unsavory.
However, rest assured, Jiang Xiu Yi is, after all, merely a concubine.
She cannot, and this lonely one will not allow her to, step over your mother. For so many years, your father never took a concubine. This time, he was determined to take Jiang Xiu Yi as a concubine, and this lonely one cannot say much more."
Meng Jiang Ming lowered his eyelids, "Your Majesty speaks wisely. It is normal for my father to take a concubine. However, Jiang Xiu Yi and I have been intimate. Once Jiang Xiu Yi becomes my father's concubine, if it is spread outside, what will the world think of me and my father?"
The Empress Dowager sighed and said, "You need not worry too much. Since your father dared to do this, he has made thorough preparations. Such rumors will not spread outside."
Meng Jiang Ming was slightly stunned. He bowed and said, "Nephew thanks Your Majesty."
"As for your father, I have no need to worry. However, what about your marriage? I know you are fond of Princess Xing Yue.
But now, Princess Xing Yue is no more, and you cannot live alone like this forever. I have recently reviewed the portraits of several noble ladies and found them to be quite suitable. Jiang Ming, take a look and see if any catch your eye?"
Meng Jiang Ming trembled all over, "Thank you for your kind intentions, Your Majesty, but Jiang Ming is not yet ready to marry."
"Nonsense, you are already twenty-one. If you don't marry now, when will you? Jiang Ming, you have grown up and have your own ideas, but you must also remember that marriage is something you cannot avoid no matter what."