"Don't... don't hit me anymore..." Jiang Xifeng wailed, covering his face.
"Feng Wu." Xue Xingyue called out, stopping her.
Feng Wu withdrew her hand.
Jiang Xifeng collapsed onto the ground, his face throbbing with pain. He was sure he was disfigured.
"Jiang Xifeng, are you going to withdraw your people now?" Xue Xingyue approached Jiang Xifeng, looking down at him.
Jiang Xifeng harbored resentment towards the person before him, but he said aloud, "This commoner will have his men leave immediately. However..."
"However what?" Xue Xingyue asked.
Jiang Xifeng's gaze flickered. A sinister smile crossed his bruised and swollen face. "Previously, this commoner felt this matter might tarnish Your Highness's reputation. But it seems, since Your Highness dislikes so many people watching outside, this commoner can no longer afford to consider other matters."
"What matter?" Xue Xingyue frowned slightly.
Jiang Xifeng said, "The servants reported that someone entered Your Highness's room. And it was a man."
Feng Wu, who was nearby, bristled with anger. "How dare you slander Your Highness?" As she spoke, Feng Wu prepared to strike Jiang Xifeng again.
Xue Xingyue stopped Feng Wu and looked at Jiang Xifeng, saying coldly, "Jiang Xifeng, one must have evidence when speaking."
Jiang Xifeng replied, "Yes, so this commoner believes Your Highness's reputation is important. After all, Your Highness has married into the Duke of Ning's household. Your Highness can no longer act as you please, can you?"
Xue Xingyue smiled coldly at this. "Jiang Xifeng, do you believe that because Elder Master Jiang possesses the death-exemption token I bestowed upon him, you can be so unscrupulous in slandering me?"
Jiang Xifeng met Xue Xingyue's gaze directly and asked, "Then Your Highness, do you dare?"
Xue Xingyue narrowed her eyes, her expression as clear and cold as frost. "Jiang Xifeng, you are targeting me."
Hearing this, Jiang Xifeng quickly bowed. "This commoner dares not. It is merely what the household servants have said."
"Who said it? Have him come out. How can I permit him to falsely accuse without discerning right from wrong?" Xue Xingyue said coldly.
Jiang Xifeng waved his hand, and a young servant walked forward. Upon seeing Xue Xingyue, he immediately knelt on the ground and kowtowed. "Your humble servant pays his respects to Princess Xingyue."
Xue Xingyue walked forward and said coldly, "Lift your head."
The servant raised his head. Xue Xingyue noticed his face was unfamiliar. Although she did not spend much time in the residence, she was well aware of everyone in it.
She said coldly, "You saw someone enter my room?"
The servant trembled all over. "Yes... yes..."
"What did that person look like? What were they wearing?" Xue Xingyue asked.
The servant replied, "It was too dark, this humble servant did not see clearly."
"You did not see clearly, or was there no one at all?" Xue Xingyue asked coldly.
The servant's body trembled. Just as he was about to speak, a voice suddenly echoed, "What has happened?"
Xue Xingyue slowly raised her head and saw Elder Master Jiang approaching in his wheelchair not far away, accompanied by Madam Jiang, Madam Liu, and Jiang Xiuyi.
A slight smile touched Xue Xingyue's lips. It seemed they were deliberately trying to embarrass her today.
Elder Master Jiang, assisted by Madam Jiang, performed a bow. He then noticed Jiang Xifeng's bruised and swollen face and quickly asked, "Xifeng, what is this..."
Jiang Xifeng gritted his teeth. Just as he was about to speak, Xue Xingyue interjected, "I hit him."
Jiang Xifeng had not expected Xue Xingyue to admit it so quickly. He gritted his teeth, filled with hatred.
"Xifeng, what did you do to make Her Highness angry again? You deserve this." Elder Master Jiang sternly reprimanded Jiang Xifeng.
Upon hearing this, Jiang Xifeng quickly said, "Father, you wrong me. It is merely that the servant said a man entered Your Highness's room. I thought Your Highness's reputation was important, and I wanted to have the room inspected to clear Your Highness's name. I never expected Your Highness to hear this and become angry, then order someone to beat me."
Elder Master Jiang was enraged. "Xifeng, do not spout nonsense. How can you speak so carelessly of Her Highness's reputation?"
Jiang Xifeng covered his face and said, "I am not speaking nonsense. Someone saw it."
"Beat him to death, then no one will know," Elder Master Jiang declared.
Jiang Xifeng was taken aback. He did not understand why Elder Master Jiang was acting this way. Elder Master Jiang gave a signal, and someone stepped forward, grabbed the servant, and dragged him away.
Jiang Xifeng immediately moved to stop them, but Elder Master Jiang berated him, "Xifeng, Her Highness's reputation is so important, how can you allow her reputation to be harmed? You truly deserve a beating."
Elder Master Jiang continued to scold Jiang Xifeng. Xue Xingyue stood there listening to it all, neither expressing her stance nor speaking.
Jiang Xifeng was confused. Why had Elder Master Jiang suddenly changed sides and sided with Princess Xingyue? This was not right.
Seeing Jiang Xifeng fall silent, Elder Master Jiang looked at Xue Xingyue and said, "Your Highness, my son is ignorant. Please do not take offense. If you feel you have not vented your anger, you may order them to beat him a few more times. However, you can rest assured that the witness has been silenced, and everyone here will keep their mouths shut."
After speaking, Elder Master Jiang glanced around. No one uttered another word.
Jiang Xifeng understood Elder Master Jiang's intentions. He stepped forward and knelt before Xue Xingyue. "Your Highness, this commoner was rash just now. Please do not blame me. No one will know of this matter."
Xue Xingyue chuckled softly, the smile not reaching her eyes. "Elder Master Jiang, what do you mean by that? You speak as if I have done something wrong, when I have not?"
Elder Master Jiang paused slightly, then replied, "You have not done anything wrong. No, no."
"You just want to come in and check? Check then?" Xue Xingyue waved her hand, and the door behind her opened.
Jiang Xifeng was the first to rush in. Inside, there was no one. Not a soul, not a trace of a presence.
His legs felt weak. He was certain of it. Had that person already escaped?
"How is it? Jiang Xifeng, is anyone there?" Xue Xingyue walked in, looking at Jiang Xifeng coldly.
Jiang Xifeng's smile was more bitter than crying. "No... no."
Xue Xingyue said, "I said there was no one, but you did not believe me. Now there truly is no one. Jiang Xifeng, what do you propose we do now?"
Jiang Xifeng trembled all over. "Your... Your Highness... you..."
Xue Xingyue's gaze suddenly turned sharp, like unsheathed swords, piercing directly at Jiang Xifeng. Jiang Xifeng felt his legs go weak, rooted to the spot, unable to move.
Suddenly, Jiang Xifeng felt a fierce kick to his abdomen, and he was sent flying out of the room.
He was stopped by a tree in the courtyard. Jiang Xifeng fell to the ground, spitting out a mouthful of blood.
Xue Xingyue walked out, exuding an icy aura. She said coldly, "Initially, I showed you some respect out of consideration for Madam. But it seems that is no longer necessary."