"I want nothing; I only want your dog lives." As the man spoke, he suddenly attacked. Before Jiang Shiming and Jiang Xifeng could utter a sound, both were dead.
After cleaning up the bodies, the man wiped the blood from his sword and said, "You will get what you deserve."
He placed a letter in Jiang Shiming's embrace. He searched the bodies of Jiang Shiming and Jiang Xifeng, as well as their carriage. When he searched Jiang Xifeng, he found a golden plaque granting immunity from death. He tucked the plaque into his own embrace and quietly departed.
Meanwhile, Xue Xingyue was at the Ming Chaotang residence in Ming County. She heard from her Ming Chaotang subordinates that Jiang Shiming and Jiang Xifeng had been ambushed and killed on the road. They had been carrying letters with correspondence from Qi's First Prince, and the seals on them were undeniable.
Xue Xingyue tucked the letters into her embrace. This was the evidence of the Jiang family's treason. Jiang Shi and Jiang Xiuyi were also found in the Jiang family's cellar, though they had fainted from hunger.
Ming Chaotang immediately dispatched people to treat Jiang Shi and Jiang Xiuyi.
After all, Jiang Shi was still the wife of the Duke of Ning. Even if Jiang Shi committed treason, as a married daughter, the impact on her would not be significant. Furthermore, Princess Xingyue was Jiang Shi's daughter-in-law. Therefore, Ming Chaotang dared not show any negligence. However, Jiang Xiuyi was different. Although she was a favored concubine of the Duke of Ning's son-in-law, with Princess Xingyue present, her status was far below that.
Consequently, Jiang Xiuyi's treatment was not good. She was eating cold food and swallowing tears. She knew that no matter what, she had to see Meng Jiangming. Now that the Jiang family had evidence of treason, if no one was willing to protect her, she would not be able to survive. Therefore, she had to make Meng Jiangming save her.
With this thought, she secretly wrote a letter, took out all her silver, bribed a minor figure in the Ming residence, and handed the letter to the servant.
Feng Wu reported Jiang Xiuyi's actions to Xue Xingyue.
Xue Xingyue felt that it was Jiang Xiuyi's freedom to write to Meng Jiangming and told Feng Wu to stop concerning herself with these matters. Seeing that her Highness did not care at all, Feng Wu stopped paying attention to Jiang Xiuyi.
In the capital, Meng Jiangming received this letter. He had already been concerned about Jiangnan, and upon hearing the news of the Jiang family's treason reaching the capital, he worried about his mother and Princess Xingyue. Although he knew that Princess Xingyue's intelligence would keep her safe, at that moment, he also wished he could be by Princess Xingyue's side.
After all, he was now the son-in-law, Princess Xingyue's rightful husband.
With this thought, he requested permission from the Duke of Ning to go to Jiangnan to personally escort his mother and Princess Xingyue back to the capital.
The Duke of Ning naturally agreed, as he was also very concerned about Jiang Shi.
Over the years, Jiang Shi's actions had always pleased him, and their relationship was harmonious.
Therefore, there were no other women in the Duke of Ning's residence; only Jiang Shi.
On the same day, during the imperial court, the Duke of Ning personally petitioned to accompany the son-in-law to welcome Princess Xingyue.
Xue Xingchen readily agreed; he was also very concerned about Princess Xingyue's safety.
"Your Majesty, this minister begs to accompany you." A person stepped forward.
All the loyal ministers were surprised because the speaker was the young marquis of Marquis Ji'an's mansion, Ji Wuran, the newly appointed Assistant Minister of the Ministry of War.
Xue Xingchen gladly agreed. He had observed Ji Wuran's actions since his appointment as Assistant Minister of the Ministry of War. This Ji Wuran was a talent worth nurturing.
After the court session, Marquis Ji'an returned to his mansion and summoned Ji Wuran.
Marquis Ji'an's wife, Lady Li, was chatting with Lady Ming from Marquis Changsheng's mansion. Upon seeing a servant rushing in, she stood up from her chair and said, "I may have to return."
Lady Ming heard this and said enviously, "Everyone says Marquis Ji'an and his wife are very much in love. It is truly enviable."
Lady Li's face beamed with happiness. In truth, the Marquis was not afraid of her; he doted on her. She knew this, so most of the time, she had to consider things from the Marquis's perspective. A marriage was never about one party yielding, but about caring for each other and considering things from each other's standpoint; only then could it last.
"The Marquis treats you very well too," Lady Li said, offering pleasantries.
Lady Ming's expression stiffened slightly, but Lady Li did not notice. She merely wanted to return to her mansion quickly. After exchanging a few polite words, she left Marquis Changsheng's residence with her entourage.
As she stepped out of Marquis Changsheng's mansion, Lady Li asked the servant, "Has the Marquis quarreled with the young marquis again?"
The servant nodded. "Yes, the Marquis was very angry after coming down from the imperial court. Upon returning to the mansion, he immediately summoned the young marquis to the study."
"Did the young marquis say something to anger the old marquis?" Lady Li asked.
The servant replied, "This servant does not know, but I heard from Xiao Weizi, who is close to the Marquis, that the young marquis volunteered to go to Jiangnan."
Lady Li was startled. Jiangnan?
Suddenly, she remembered the news from Jiangnan yesterday: the Jiang family's treason and Princess Xingyue's near-fatal incident.
Lady Li shivered all over. Could it be that Wuran was worried about Princess Xingyue? This was not good. The Master...
Lady Li quickly got into the carriage with the help of her maidservant and said, "Hurry back to the mansion, hurry back."
The servant quickly urged the horses, and upon reaching the Marquis's mansion, Lady Li, disregarding whether the maidservant was assisting her, quickly alighted from the carriage and hurried into the mansion.
She called out to a servant and asked if the Marquis was still in the study. Receiving an affirmative answer, Lady Li became even more anxious. The Marquis and Wuran had been talking for so long, and it must be a significant matter; she feared he had already begun to rage.
Indeed, as she approached the study, she heard Ji Yunxiang's angry voice: "Ji Wuran, are you trying to anger me to death?"
Lady Li quickly stepped forward and saw a straight, unyielding back standing there, like a sturdy pine.
"What have I done wrong?" Ji Wuran looked up and asked Marquis Ji'an calmly.
"You..." Marquis Ji'an pointed at Ji Wuran, unable to speak for a moment.
Ji Wuran continued, "His Majesty and Princess Xingyue have a deep sibling affection. As a subject, I naturally share His Majesty's worries and alleviate his concerns. Do you mean that it is wrong for a subject to share His Majesty's worries?"
"When did I say that?" Marquis Ji'an retorted angrily.
"Since you did not, why are you so angry?" Ji Wuran asked placidly.
Marquis Ji'an took a deep breath, looked at Ji Wuran, and said coldly, "Good. You say you share His Majesty's worries, and I admit that. But I want to ask you, do you have any selfish motives?"
Ji Wuran slowly raised his head and looked at Marquis Ji'an, asking, "What selfish motives?"
"Ji Wuran, do not think I am unaware of what you have been doing. You... you covet Princess Xingyue." Marquis Ji'an said angrily.
This was the true cause of his anger. If Princess Xingyue were unmarried, Ji Wuran's actions would be understandable. But now that Princess Xingyue was married, Ji Wuran doing this, was it not making his selfish desires known to everyone?