"Your Highness, this subject does not care."
As Ji Wuran spoke, Xue Xingyue knitted her brows, drawing her sword and pressing it against Ji Wuran's throat.
"I am already a married woman. Young Marquis Ji, please mind your words," Xue Xingyue said coldly.
Hearing this, Ji Wuran replied, "Your Highness, it is your affair if you do not like this subject. But it is this subject's affair that I like you. You cannot ask this subject to stop liking you. Although you are a princess, you do not have that right."
Xue Xingyue looked at Ji Wuran with cold eyes. Ji Wuran's gaze was calm, showing no hint of evasion. He merely looked at her and said, "Please, Your Highness, do not refuse my affections in the future. I promise not to disturb your life. But you cannot make me stop liking you, because that is this subject's right."
"As you wish." Xue Xingyue withdrew her gaze and walked directly into the room.
Ji Wuran's eyes flickered slightly. He gazed at the slender retreating figure, lost in thought.
Turning back, he saw the person behind him and was startled, for it was Meng Jiangming.
Meng Jiangming could never have imagined he would hear these words, let alone that they would be spoken by someone he considered a good friend.
His hand clenched tightly within his sleeve. He raised his head to look at Ji Wuran and asked coldly, "Young Marquis Ji, do you not know a saying?"
Ji Wuran remained silent. Meng Jiangming clenched his fists and said coldly, "A friend's wife must not be harassed. Have you never heard of it, Young Marquis Ji?"
Ji Wuran looked at him with a calm gaze, showing none of the guilt or shyness Meng Jiangming expected, which only made Meng Jiangming more furious.
"Ji Wuran, do you not think you are despicable and shameless?" Meng Jiangming roared.
Ji Wuran looked at him and said calmly, "My Lord Consort, a beautiful woman is pursued by a gentleman. I am no exception."
"She is my wife, Ji Wuran, you are truly the epitome of baseness." Meng Jiangming said indignantly.
Ji Wuran looked at Meng Jiangming, his eyes turning cold, as if the air around them had frozen over.
"My Lord Consort, speaking of baseness, it is likely not this subject. It was you who made the Princess spend her wedding night alone, you who made her a laughingstock. Just now, while you were engaged in lewd acts with your concubine-to-be, did you think of Princess Xingyue?"
Meng Jiangming froze upon hearing this.
Ji Wuran sneered, "Given this, who is truly more shameless? My Lord Consort?"
"I... I did not do it on purpose," Meng Jiangming stammered.
"Since My Lord Consort did not do it on purpose, then this subject also acted out of necessity. After all, this subject has seen the Princess's virtues with his own eyes. This subject did not do it on purpose either," Ji Wuran said calmly.
Meng Jiangming was speechless now, unable to refute Ji Wuran's words, for they were true.
It was he who had made the Princess spend her wedding night alone, he who had made her a laughingstock. Just now, while he was engaged with his cousin, it was the Princess who was pleading for him. What had he truly done?
"My Lord Consort, if you cannot be devoted to the Princess, this subject believes you can let go. For what My Lord Consort cannot give the Princess, this subject can," Ji Wuran said after casting a cold glance at Meng Jiangming, then turned and left.
Meng Jiangming stood there, stunned, for a long time.
Feng Wu relayed the events in the courtyard to Xue Xingyue. Upon hearing this, Xue Xingyue simply said, "In the future, you do not need to report such matters to me."
Feng Wu blinked slightly. "Your Highness, truthfully, this subordinate feels that Young Marquis Ji spoke correctly. My Lord Consort's treatment of you is truly..."
"Feng Wu..." Xue Xingyue interrupted Feng Wu's words and said, "I am already a married woman. Regardless of whether Young Marquis Ji is good or bad, it is of no consequence to me anymore, because my current Lord Consort is Meng Jiangming. Unless Meng Jiangming commits a grave error, it is certain that I will spend my life with him. Therefore, do not give anyone hope anymore, including myself."
Hearing this, Feng Wu said, "Yes, Your Highness. This subordinate has overstepped."
"You may withdraw!" Xue Xingyue waved her hand and said faintly.
Feng Wu retreated.
In truth, she understood and knew everything Feng Wu had said. However, she was now married, and there were some things she could no longer dwell on.
Although she had to admit that she did not dislike Ji Wuran, it was an impossible situation. Thus, it could only be buried in her heart.
After resting in Ming County for a few days, they prepared to set off for the capital.
Leaving Ming County, Xue Xingyue sat in the carriage, gazing out at the scenery, a sense of indescribable feeling welling up within her.
Jin Xuan and Jin Qing had been left behind at the Ming manor. Ming Chaotang had assured her that Jin Qing would be allowed to participate in the imperial examinations once he recovered.
She and Jin Qing had made a pact to meet again in the capital next year.
These past days in Jiangnan felt like a dream. As she was truly leaving, she felt a pang of reluctance.
She wondered how her imperial brother's health was. Her imperial brother's health was now her greatest concern.
"Assassins! Protect Your Highness!" A voice suddenly rang out from outside the carriage.
Xue Xingyue frowned. Feng Wu, who was beside her, said, "Your Highness, this subordinate will go and see."
Xue Xingyue nodded, "Go ahead!"
Feng Wu exited the carriage, and soon the sounds of clashing weapons erupted outside. Xue Xingyue lifted a corner of the carriage curtain and saw a group of men in black, with Ji Wuran surrounded by them.
Meanwhile, Duke Ning was protecting Jiang shi and the others.
Seeing this, Xue Xingyue leaped out and moved towards Ji Wuran, her jade whip lashing out, dispersing the men in black who were trying to surround him.
She then noticed that Ji Wuran's back had been cut at some point.
"How are you feeling?" She stepped forward to check Ji Wuran's pulse.
Ji Wuran quickly pulled his hand away. "This subject is unharmed. Your Highness, please return to the carriage and wait. This subject will resolve these individuals shortly."
Xue Xingyue looked at Ji Wuran's pale face and suddenly grabbed his wrist, discovering that his pulse was chaotic. She looked up at Ji Wuran and said coldly, "You have been poisoned."
Ji Wuran gave a wry smile. "You discovered it after all."
"When were you poisoned?" Xue Xingyue asked.
Ji Wuran replied, "I was inadvertently caught in their trap just now."
Xue Xingyue looked up to see more and more men in black closing in on her and Ji Wuran. Looking further away, Duke Ning was already struggling to protect Jiang shi and the others alone. Thus, they had to split into two groups.
With this thought, she shouted to Duke Ning, "Duke Ning, split into two groups! I'll see you in the capital!"
Saying this, Xue Xingyue grabbed Ji Wuran's wrist with one hand and leaped away.
As Xue Xingyue and Ji Wuran departed, many of the men in black pursued them.
The pressure on Duke Ning's side lessened considerably. He led his guards and quickly subdued the attackers. Meng Jiangming said anxiously, "Father, I will take men to find Princess Xingyue."