The deep autumn night was like cold water, biting to the bone.
Xue Xingyue felt she was frozen awake. After waking, she called out for Feng Wu a few times, but received no answer. She had no choice but to get out of bed, open the door, and discover that the Jiang manor was brightly lit everywhere.
"Feng Wu," Xue Xingyue called out.
This time, Feng Wu finally appeared. "Your Highness, you are looking for your subordinate?"
"Did something happen?" Xue Xingyue asked.
Feng Wu replied, "Someone attempted to assassinate Old Master Jiang. He was captured by Old Master Jiang. Your subordinate was just about to go see if that person is Jin Qing's elder brother."
Xue Xingyue narrowed her eyes. Yu Ze had told her that the assassination of Old Master Jiang was to happen tonight. Could it be that he was captured by Old Master Jiang?
Thinking this, Xue Xingyue said, "Feng Wu, I'll go with you."
Feng Wu said, "Your Highness, please wait here for your subordinate to bring back news!"
"I'll go with you," Xue Xingyue insisted.
Feng Wu replied, "Yes, Your Highness."
Leaving the courtyard, Xue Xingyue realized that many more people had appeared in the Jiang manor at some point.
"Feng Wu, have you found anything unusual?" Xue Xingyue asked.
Feng Wu nodded. "Your Highness, these people are skilled. Not inferior to your subordinate."
Xue Xingyue's gaze deepened. It seemed Old Master Jiang had already begun his actions.
"Let's go," Xue Xingyue said.
Feng Wu followed closely. They arrived at the main hall of the Jiang family. The doors were not closed. Xue Xingyue saw Old Master Jiang seated at the head seat, with Jiang Xifeng beside him. On the ground knelt a person. Xue Xingyue's heart skipped a beat. As she stepped forward, someone outside the door bowed and said, "Greetings, Princess Xingyue."
Just as Xue Xingyue was about to enter, she was stopped by a servant of the manor. Xue Xingyue glanced at the servant, who said, "Princess Xingyue, Old Master is interrogating the prisoner. Please do not disturb him."
"You know this Princess is Princess Xingyue?" Xue Xingyue asked.
The servant faltered, not understanding why Xue Xingyue asked this, but still replied, "Princess, you jest. This humble one naturally knows you are Princess Xingyue."
Upon hearing this, Xue Xingyue sneered. "Very well. Since you know this Princess is Princess Xingyue, do you know that arbitrarily intercepting me is punishable?"
The servant trembled all over. Xue Xingyue ignored the servant and was about to walk in. The servant attempted to stop her again, but was pushed aside by Feng Wu.
The servant retreated several steps. By the time he caught up, Princess Xingyue had already entered the hall.
The doors were not closed. What happened outside would not be unheard. Xue Xingyue walked in.
Jiang Xifeng stepped forward and bowed. "This commoner pays his respects to Princess Xingyue. I did not know Princess Xingyue would be visiting, and thus I failed to welcome you properly. I beg Princess Xingyue to forgive my oversight!"
Xue Xingyue glanced at Jiang Xifeng and said coldly, "Jiang Xifeng, the doors were not closed, and the distance is so near. If you could not hear, I believe you truly need to see a doctor to check if there is any problem with your ears?"
Jiang Xifeng was taken aback. He had not expected Xue Xingyue to say such a thing.
"Your Highness, please forgive me. I believe Your Highness also knows that at this hour, Xifeng was merely startled and is thus unsettled. I beg Your Highness to be more understanding!" Old Master Jiang suddenly spoke.
Xue Xingyue looked up at Old Master Jiang and curved her lips. "Since Old Master Jiang is pleading, and I am not one who enjoys punishing others, this matter will be dropped. However, if there is a next time, do not blame me for showing no mercy."
Upon hearing this, Old Master Jiang, with the help of a young attendant beside him, stood up and bowed. "Thank you, Your Highness, for your forgiveness!"
"Old Master Jiang, please rise!" Xue Xingyue said, then sat down. She did not tell Jiang Xifeng to rise, so Jiang Xifeng remained kneeling on the ground.
The corner where Xue Xingyue sat allowed her to see the face of the person kneeling on the ground. However, it was unfortunate that the kneeling person's hair was dishevelled, perfectly blocking half of his profile, preventing Xue Xingyue from seeing his face.
"Your Highness, it is so late, is there something?" Old Master Jiang asked.
Xue Xingyue replied, "I heard that an assassin had entered the manor. I have come about this matter."
Old Master Jiang said, "The person kneeling before you is the assassin."
Xue Xingyue asked, "Since he is an assassin, why does Old Master Jiang not quickly escort the assassin to the authorities?"
"Your Highness speaks wisely. This old man had forgotten. Guards, escort the assassin to the yamen." Old Master Jiang commanded.
Two servants entered from outside and dragged the assassin out of the door.
Seeing this, Xue Xingyue said, "It is late, I shall return to rest. Old Master Jiang should also rest early."
With that, without waiting for Old Master Jiang's reply, Xue Xingyue left the place.
After Xue Xingyue left, Jiang Xifeng stood up from the ground, a hint of gloom flashing across his eyes. He said, "Father, why did you listen to Princess Xingyue? The assassin we finally captured, did you not even interrogate him?"
Old Master Jiang replied, "Since Princess Xingyue spoke, this old man could only comply."
"Father, wouldn't this let that assassin off easily?" Jiang Xifeng said with dissatisfaction.
Old Master Jiang said, "Xifeng, this temper of yours will not do. When undertaking great matters, one must be patient. However, do you think I just listened to Princess Xingyue like that? Did she tell me to do anything, and I just did it?"
Jiang Xifeng was somewhat confused and looked at Old Master Jiang, asking, "Could it be that Father has other arrangements?"
Old Master Jiang smiled, his smile somewhat cold. "Don't forget, even the prefect has to give me face."
Jiang Xifeng was taken aback, then said, "It is still Father who thinks things through. It was my son's rashness."
Old Master Jiang said, "If one can achieve their goals without offending others, why not? It is not the time to clash with Princess Xingyue. Xifeng, don't forget, the great matters we are undertaking now make everything else trivial and not worth mentioning."
Jiang Xifeng replied, "Your son remembers."
Leaving Old Master Jiang's courtyard, Feng Wu, who had been following behind, said, "Your Highness, did you see the assassin's face?"
Xue Xingyue shook her head. "I did not."
Feng Wu was startled and said, "Since you did not, why did Your Highness not intervene to save him? What if it was Jin Qing's elder brother?"
"Feng Wu, you also said it was a 'what if'. Therefore, I have decided to bet that the person was not Yu Ze," Xue Xingyue said.
Feng Wu was slightly taken aback. "Your Highness..."
"However, since the person is in the custody of the authorities, it should be safer when he wakes up. After all, Old Master Jiang would not go to prison to kill someone. Moreover, I do not think Yu Ze is such an impulsive person." She had not even managed to kill Old Master Jiang before being captured. She always felt Yu Ze would not be so foolish.
Returning to her own courtyard, Xue Xingyue said, "You may also go and rest!"
Feng Wu heard this and said, "Your subordinate takes leave!"
Pushing open the door, Xue Xingyue narrowed her eyes. After closing the door, she said coldly, "Come out!"