Xue Xingyue entered the secret passage and found that the items inside were also gone, and Old Master Jiang did not seem to be there at all. After searching around, she found nothing unusual and retreated.
The great fire had reduced the Jiang family to almost nothing.
Looking at the sky-high flames before her, Xue Xingyue felt a sense of unspeakable emotion. She had not expected that the grand Jiang Manor would turn to ashes like this.
"Your Highness." Feng Wu came to her side.
"Where is Ming Chaotang?" Xue Xingyue asked.
Feng Wu replied, "He has been sent to the inn, Your Highness. And this place?"
"Old Master Jiang has already fled, and this place no longer exists," Xue Xingyue said.
"Fled? Your Highness need not worry. Lord Ming's men have already surrounded the entire area. I fear that even if Old Master Jiang wanted to escape, he would find it impossible," Feng Wu said.
Xue Xingyue heard this and said, "He has already escaped."
Feng Wu was startled and exclaimed, "How is that possible? The security here is so tight, how did he escape?"
Xue Xingyue said, "He escaped long ago."
Feng Wu was stunned and asked, "Your Highness, are you saying that while we were at the Jiang Manor, Old Master Jiang and Jiang Xifeng had already left?"
Xue Xingyue shook her head, "No, they had already left before we arrived."
"Then why did you still let Your Highness come to the Jiang Manor?" Feng Wu asked, not quite understanding.
Xue Xingyue said, "The Jiang family probably knew long ago that Ming Chaotang was a court official, and they also knew I would have Ming Chaotang set up a net. He merely played along, making them believe they had fallen into the trap, and used this opportunity to escape."
Feng Wu suddenly understood and said, "I didn't expect that old fellow to be so clever."
Xue Xingyue said, "Not necessarily. Perhaps someone behind him is strategizing for him."
Feng Wu nodded, "That's certainly true."
Otherwise, why hadn't he seemed so clever before?
"Your Highness, who is that person who is helping Old Master Jiang?"
"Someone from the state of Qi," Xue Xingyue replied.
Feng Wu nodded, "Your Highness is right. The Jiang family has always been suspected of colluding with the enemy and treason. It is likely only the state of Qi that would go to such lengths to help the Jiang family. But what does the state of Qi intend to do?"
Xue Xingyue sneered upon hearing this and took out a token from her waist, saying, "Of course, they are coveting this token."
Feng Wu gritted his teeth, "That old scoundrel is truly restless. But what is the state of Qi trying to achieve by doing this?"
Xue Xingyue did not answer, but looked into the distance and said faintly, "The heavens are about to change."
On a tree-lined path in Jiangnan, a carriage sped along, finally stopping in a dense forest. The person inside the carriage anxiously urged, "Why have we stopped? Hurry, hurry."
"Jiang Shiming, where are you going?" A voice suddenly sounded from outside the carriage.
Jiang Shiming trembled all over, opened the carriage curtain, and saw a man standing not far away.
"You... Who are you?" Jiang Shiming asked warily.
Jiang Xifeng, who was beside him, whispered, "Father, this is the person who contacted us."
Jiang Shiming heard this and quickly said, "So, you are from the First Prince. Is the First Prince here to take us to Qi?"
The man slowly turned around, but his face was covered by a mask, so his appearance was unclear. However, his eyes were exceptionally cold, like a blade, piercing directly into Jiang Shiming.
Jiang Shiming trembled all over and said to Jiang Xifeng behind him, "Are you sure?"
Jiang Xifeng replied, "I received a letter from the First Prince yesterday. The First Prince said he would be waiting for us here."
Suddenly, the man let out a cold laugh and said, "The First Prince said that perhaps it will be unlikely to meet you two face-to-face in Qi. How about we meet in the afterlife? "
Jiang Shiming was greatly alarmed and asked, "You... What do you mean?"
The man sneered, "What do I mean?" As he spoke, he drew his long sword from an unknown place and continued, "The First Prince has asked me to give you two a quick end. If you behave, I will be more accurate with my strike. Otherwise, if it goes awry, it will be painful. Last time, the person I wanted to leave behind struggled, and my hand slipped. That person suffered for a whole day before he could breathe his last."
Jiang Shiming was enraged, "The First Prince, how could he go back on his word? He clearly promised me that he would find a place for me in Qi."
The man sneered, "You two are truly naive. Can you believe the words of those in power? I have never believed what he promised me, because I only believe in myself. Therefore, when it comes to killing, I must do it myself and watch you breathe your last. Do you two have any last words? If you don't speak now, you will never have the chance again. Don't blame me for not reminding you."
Jiang Xifeng cried out, "I want to see the First Prince! Let me see the First Prince."
The man tutted twice and said, "Who do you think the First Prince is? Someone you can see whenever you want? Stop dreaming. The First Prince is such a busy person, how could he possibly meet two insignificant pawns like you? Ridiculous?"
Jiang Xifeng was enraged, "The First Prince took my things, and now he won't admit it?"
Jiang Shiming, seeing this, grabbed Jiang Xifeng's arm and said, "What did you give the First Prince?"
Jiang Xifeng was stunned. At this critical juncture, there was no point in hiding anything. He said, "It's... it's the Jiang family's pass."
Jiang Shiming was furious upon hearing this, and he cursed, "You... you... you truly have the brains of a pig. You gave him that, how could he possibly care about your life or death?"
Jiang Xifeng also knew it was too late to regret and said anxiously, "Father, what do we do now? I don't want to die, I don't want to die."
Jiang Shiming looked up at the man not far away, clasped his hands into fists, bowed, and said, "Young hero, can you spare my son and me? I will repay you handsomely in the future."
The man sighed and shook his head, "This is not something I can decide. It is the First Prince who wants you to die, and I must obey orders, right?"
Jiang Shiming's eyes flickered slightly, and he said, "But even if you don't kill us, he won't know, will he?" The man heard this and said, "That seems to be the case. But why shouldn't I kill you?"
Jiang Shiming took out a large amount of silver notes from his怀 and said, "Young hero, I have money, I have a lot of money..."
The man shook his head, "What do I need so much money for? I'll have money to spend after I kill you."
Jiang Shiming said, "But if the First Prince can betray us, won't he do the same to you?"
The man said, "That's impossible, because the First Prince cannot kill me. He is too weak."
Jiang Shiming and Jiang Xifeng exchanged glances. Jiang Shiming said, "Young hero, then what do you need? As long as I can do it, I will do it, as long as you spare my son and me."