Yu Ze looked up at her, a faint trace of sadness flashing in his eyes. "This humble one has known for a long time that Jin Qing will not live past tomorrow night."
Xue Xingyue was slightly taken aback. She had expected this outcome, yet she still felt an indescribable sadness. After all, she had developed some emotional connection with Jin Qing. Facing the possibility of Jin Qing disappearing at any moment, she felt a vague, inexpressible emotion.
"If I were to assassinate Old Master Jiang tonight, would you stop me?" Yu Ze suddenly asked her.
Xue Xingyue was slightly stunned. She looked at Yu Ze. His gaze was dark and deep, like a vast abyss, threatening to draw her in.
"I don't know." She truly didn't know. Even if Old Master Jiang could die, it certainly shouldn't be now. Yet, she couldn't find a way to refuse Yu Ze.
She acted for her imperial brother, while Yu Ze acted for his younger sibling.
Who could say who was right and who was wrong?
"Then if this humble one goes, will Your Highness stop me?" Yu Ze asked again.
"I don't know." She didn't know.
"Your Highness, may this humble one understand that you will not stop me?" Yu Ze asked.
Xue Xingyue subconsciously looked up, her gaze falling into his dark, deep eyes. They were so dark that she couldn't see their end or their other side.
"Your Highness, Old Master Jiang has already begun his moves. Do you have any plans?" Yu Ze suddenly asked.
Xue Xingyue replied, "I am still thinking of a way."
"Your Highness, you must hurry. Otherwise, once Old Master Jiang's men reach Jiangnan, it will be very difficult for you to get out," Yu Ze said.
Xue Xingyue's gaze turned slightly cold. "Young Master Yu, you only need to worry about Jin Qing's matters. I will naturally find a way to handle the rest."
Yu Ze was slightly taken aback. He quickly stood up and said, "Your Highness, forgive me, this humble one has overstepped."
Xue Xingyue glanced at Yu Ze. He was also gazing at her without any concealment, not the slightest bit of covering. "Yu Ze, this princess does not know what you intend to do, but I hope that when you act, you will consider Jin Qing and Jin Xuan."
Yu Ze paused, then smiled and said, "Yes, this humble one accepts Your Highness's teachings."
After speaking, Xue Xingyue turned and left.
Yu Ze watched Xue Xingyue's retreating figure, his gaze growing much deeper.
"Come out!" Yu Ze turned to the person behind him.
The person stepped forward and said, "Master, everything is ready. When do we begin?"
"Obey my command," Yu Ze said.
"Master, this subordinate has found the correspondence between the First Prince and Old Master Jiang."
Yu Ze nodded. "Keep it safe."
"Yes."
Yu Ze waved his hand. "You may withdraw!"
The man disappeared.
He walked to the table and looked at the half-eaten bowl of noodles. He picked up his chopsticks, flipped through the noodles, and found a fried egg beneath. He shook his head, a slight, wry smile appearing on his lips, and then poured away the noodles.
Xue Xingyue returned to the Jiang residence. She did not go directly back but instead went to Madam Jiang's courtyard.
Madam Jiang was sitting in a chair, gazing at the flowers in the courtyard. Seeing her arrival, her gaze flickered slightly. Then, with the help of a maid beside her, she was about to curtsy.
Xue Xingyue stepped forward to stop her. "Madam, there is no need for such ceremony."
"Thank you, Your Highness. Little Peach, fetch a chair for Your Highness," Madam Jiang instructed.
Little Peach quickly went into the room to get a chair.
"Madam, what are you looking at?" Xue Xingyue asked.
Madam Jiang said, "Your Highness, look how beautiful these flowers bloom."
Xue Xingyue looked at the flowers pointed to by Madam Jiang and nodded. "They are indeed very beautiful, but even the most beautiful will eventually wither."
Hearing this, Madam Jiang looked up at her and said, "Your Highness, you seem to have something on your mind?"
Xue Xingyue nodded. "There are some things I cannot figure out."
"What is it that you cannot figure out? Your Highness, you are still young and have not experienced many things," Madam Jiang said slowly.
"Many things are troubling me," Xue Xingyue said.
Madam Jiang sighed and said, "Your Highness, if you cannot understand something, do not dwell on it. Some things cannot be understood just by thinking about them. Like this humble subject, I used to wonder why I was abandoned by my own parents. If they had not abandoned me, I would not have ended up in the Jiang family through various turns. This place is a nightmare for me. But even so, I still have to face it. Your Highness, I now understand that living is too difficult."
Xue Xingyue stepped forward, picked up the fallen cloak of Madam Jiang, and draped it back over her. "Madam, it is getting cold. You must not catch a chill."
"Your Highness, when can I leave this place? I do not wish to stay here anymore," Madam Jiang said.
Xue Xingyue was slightly taken aback. "Madam, once your health improves, you will leave."
Madam Jiang grasped her hand and said, "Your Highness, the people here all wear masks; none of them are real. The only one I can trust is Your Highness; only Your Highness is truly genuine."
"Madam, no one will harm you. I will send people to protect you," Xue Xingyue comforted Madam Jiang.
Madam Jiang suddenly leaned forward and said cautiously, "Your Highness, do you know? Actually..."
"Madam, it is time for your medicine," Little Peach said, entering from outside with a bowl of medicine.
Xue Xingyue stepped forward, took the bowl, smelled it, and seeing nothing unusual, handed it to Madam Jiang. "Madam, you will be well after taking this medicine."
Madam Jiang looked at her and said, "Your Highness, you will protect the Ningguo Duke's manor, won't you?"
Xue Xingyue was slightly stunned. Madam Jiang smiled. She had always known Madam Jiang was beautiful, even now, the haggard Madam Jiang was still beautiful. "Madam, the Duke and the驸马 are still waiting for you to return."
Hearing this, Madam Jiang smiled, her smile somewhat bleak. "Yes, the master and Jiang Ming are still waiting for me."
Leaving Madam Jiang's courtyard, Xue Xingyue returned to her own courtyard. Feng Wu was already waiting there. Seeing her return, she let out a sigh of relief. "Your Highness, you are finally back. Your subordinate was really worried seeing you gone for so long."
"I went to find Yu Ze," Xue Xingyue said.
Feng Wu was taken aback, then asked, "Is there an antidote for Young Master Jin?"
Xue Xingyue shook her head. "No, there is only..."
She did not finish, but Feng Wu already understood.
"Then, Your Highness, you..."
"Yu Ze, he will do it."
Feng Wu was stunned. "Your Highness will not stop him? After all, if Old Master Jiang dies, the court officials will surely believe Your Highness ordered it."
"Feng Wu, even if I do nothing now, the Jiang family might not let me off. Besides, can Yu Ze even kill Old Master Jiang?" Xue Xingyue said, word by word.
Feng Wu heard this and asked, "Your Highness, do you mean that Old Master Jiang might be prepared?"
Xue Xingyue nodded, looking at Feng Wu. "Has Feng Jiu sent any news?"
Feng Wu shook her head. "No, but it should be soon. Feng Jiu's lightness skill is very impressive. From here to Zhen Wu Guan is only a day and a night's journey."