Jiang Xiu Yi did not get to see Meng Jiang Ming, and seeing Wu Yi, she became visibly unhappy. "Where is my cousin?"
Wu Yi said, "Miss Jiang, you have truly put me in a difficult position today."
Jiang Xiu Yi heard this and asked, "What do you mean by that?"
Wu Yi repeated what Meng Jiang Ming had said, then continued, "Miss Jiang, please do not do this again. The驸马 (Fuma) did indeed have feelings for you in the past, but now he is the 驸马 (Fuma) of Princess Xing Yue. Please distinguish between what is primary and secondary."
Jiang Xiu Yi looked at Wu Yi and asked, "Wu Yi, are you saying I am a thing of the past?"
Wu Yi bowed and said, "I have done enough for Miss Jiang. From now on, I will no longer do anything for you. Please think carefully. I bid you farewell."
After saying this, Wu Yi left.
Jiang Xiu Yi tightly clenched the quilt covering her body. Princess Xing Yue, are you doing this deliberately? Are you deliberately opposing me?
Princess Xing Yue, I, Jiang Xiu Yi, am your sworn enemy.
Do you think this will make me back down? What a joke.
At dinner that evening, Princess Xing Yue sat at the head of the table, followed by Duke Ning Guo, Madam Jiang, Ji Wu Ran, Ming Zhao Tang, but Meng Jiang Ming, who should have been present, was absent.
"Why has the Fuma not come? Making Princess Xing Yue wait like this is quite improper," Ji Wu Ran said lightly.
Although Ming Zhao Tang did not dare to speak as directly as Ji Wu Ran, he also felt it was inappropriate.
Duke Ning Guo, suppressing his anger, sent for a servant to summon the Fuma.
A moment later, the servant returned and whispered a few words into Duke Ning Guo's ear. Duke Ning Guo's face immediately turned as dark as the bottom of a pot.
"Princess, the Fuma is feeling unwell. I will go and check on him," Duke Ning Guo said.
As Duke Ning Guo rose to leave, a voice called out to him, "Since the Fuma is unwell, I should go and see him as well. After all, I am on good terms with the Fuma." Ji Wu Ran stood up.
Duke Ning Guo dared not let Ji Wu Ran accompany him. He quickly said, "Young Marquis Ji, you stay here to accompany the Princess. I will go alone." Without waiting for Ji Wu Ran to reply, he practically slipped away.
Seeing this, Ji Wu Ran's lips curved into a cold smile. He looked at Princess Xing Yue and said, "The Fuma is not feeling well. Your Highness, won't you go and check on him?"
As for Meng Jiang Ming, Madam Jiang understood him best. She was sure it was not a matter of physical discomfort, and therefore, Princess Xing Yue absolutely must not be allowed to see Meng Jiang Ming, otherwise something would surely happen. Madam Jiang thought to herself, "Your Highness, the Fuma is unwell, and Duke Ning Guo has already gone to see him. This humble wife feels it would be best not to wait for the Fuma. Let us dine!"
Xue Xing Yue nodded. "Very well, Madam. Your words are most fitting."
What happened to Meng Jiang Ming was, in fact, not very important to her.
Just as Xue Xing Yue was about to pick up her chopsticks, a person rushed in from outside. Everyone recognized this person as Feng Wu, a fifth-rank imperial guard with a saber, who served Princess Xing Yue.
Feng Wu bowed and whispered a few words into Xue Xing Yue's ear.
Xue Xing Yue paused her hand holding the chopsticks and said, "I understand."
Feng Wu retreated.
Xue Xing Yue clearly no longer had the mood to continue eating.
Meng Jiang Ming was discovered engaging in illicit activities with Jiang Xiu Yi, and Duke Ning Guo was furious and wanted to kill Meng Jiang Ming.
In fact, Xue Xing Yue did not wish to interfere in this matter. However, she knew Duke Ning Guo's temper. Killing him was unlikely, but if the matter escalated, it would bring shame upon Duke Ning Guo's mansion and the royal family alike.
"I am feeling a bit tired. I shall take my leave!" Xue Xing Yue stood up from her chair and walked out.
Feng Wu followed closely behind, and after walking a considerable distance, she said indignantly, "Your Highness, this Fuma is truly..."
Xue Xing Yue said faintly, "Watch your words. This is Ming County now, not Duke Ning Guo's mansion nor the Princess's mansion."
Feng Wu closed her mouth, but she was still very upset in her heart. Did the Fuma consider Your Highness's feelings when he acted like this?
Before they even reached their destination, they could hear Duke Ning Guo's roaring voice, and also the sound of a woman weeping.
Xue Xing Yue felt a headache coming on. She held her forehead. Although this was not the first time she had encountered such a scene, she still felt a sense of annoyance.
Feng Wu saw that her Highness was impatient and said, "Your Highness, perhaps I should go and dissuade Duke Ning Guo?"
Xue Xing Yue heard this and said, "No need. Feng Wu, you guard this place. Do not let anyone enter."
"Feng Wu obeys!" Feng Wu said.
Xue Xing Yue raised her head and looked into the distance, then withdrew her gaze and walked inside. Upon entering, she saw Duke Ning Guo holding a sword and thrusting it towards Meng Jiang Ming's chest, shouting angrily, "Today I will kill you, or else you will ruin the reputation of Duke Ning Guo's mansion!"
Meng Jiang Ming looked at Duke Ning Guo with no hesitation whatsoever, his entire being stunned. Jiang Xiu Yi beside him also had not expected things to turn out this way. If Meng Jiang Ming died, would she still have a path to redemption?
At the critical moment, a stone suddenly struck Duke Ning Guo's wrist. This single stone caused Duke Ning Guo's hand to deviate.
The sword grazed Meng Jiang Ming's cheek. Although it missed his vital points, it still wounded his cheek, and blood dripped down his face.
Meng Jiang Ming stood there in a daze, as he could never have imagined that Duke Ning Guo would truly try to kill him.
Jiang Xiu Yi rushed over, "Cousin, are you alright? What exactly..."
Meng Jiang Ming pushed Jiang Xiu Yi away with one hand, stood up, looked at Duke Ning Guo, and raised his head, his eyes filled with complex emotions. "You really intend to kill me?"
"To defile the reputation of Duke Ning Guo's mansion like this, Meng Jiang Ming, today I will punish you, lest Duke Ning Guo's mansion be shamed by you in the future," Duke Ning Guo said angrily.
"Fine, then come!" Meng Jiang Ming shouted.
"Uncle, no, it's all Xiu Yi's fault. It's Xiu Yi..."
Meng Jiang Ming pushed Jiang Xiu Yi away and said, "You don't need to take the blame. You are my person, and I will naturally protect you. Even if you are at fault, it is I who will bear it, because..."
As he said this, he suddenly saw a woman in a white dress standing at the doorway. She simply stood there, yet she seemed like she was from another world.
On her pure and elegant face, her clear eyes were as cold as frost, looking at him indifferently.
His heart ached inexplicably. She must have heard everything he just said, right?
Duke Ning Guo also sensed Meng Jiang Ming's strangeness. He turned around and saw the person behind him. His heart sank. It was not a feeling of relief, but rather one of heavier burden.
He stepped forward and bowed slightly. "Princess, it is this subject's failing in upbringing. I beg your forgiveness!"
"Duke Ning Guo is joking. The Fuma is correct. Miss Jiang is the Fuma's person, and it is understandable for the Fuma to be with her, but..."