"Xie Yunliu, thank you."
Xie Yunliu paused at the door before leaving.
Xue Xingyue knew Xie Yunliu meant well, but she couldn't stay here forever, forever protected. She needed to become strong. She wouldn't let go of those who harmed her brother, nor those she needed to protect.
Before Zhen Wuguan, Xie Yunliu, mounted on his horse, looked at the驸马 (fù mǎ - imperial son-in-law) by the carriage and said, "驸马, have a safe journey."
Meng Jiangming nodded and turned back into the carriage.
Xue Xingyue nodded at Xie Yunliu in front of the carriage. Xie Yunliu tightened the reins and uttered two words, "Take care!"
For some reason, Xue Xingyue felt a pang of sadness, but it was overshadowed by inner anticipation. Two months later, she was once again on her way to the capital.
This time, due to her humble status, she couldn't travel in the same carriage as the 驸马. She was assigned to Jiang Xiuyi's carriage to look after her. Upon entering Jiang Xiuyi's carriage, she saw that Jiang Xiuyi was bound. It was understandable; she had gone mad and would be uncontrollable if not restrained.
Jiang Xiuyi looked at her with terror, curling herself into a ball.
Besides herself, the only other person guarding Jiang Xiuyi was the maidservant Yu Yan, who attended to her. Xue Xingyue was familiar with Yu Yan, a hereditary servant of the Duke of Ning's estate, whose parents were old retainers. When Jiang Xiuyi entered the Duke of Ning's estate, fearing she might do something to tarnish its reputation, Madam Jiang assigned Yu Yan to attend her, but more for supervision.
After all, Jiang Xiuyi was prone to erratic behavior.
Xue Xingyue rested her head against the corner of the carriage. Returning to the capital and seeing familiar faces, she wondered if her heart would remain as calm as it was now.
Jiang Xiuyi remained quiet throughout the journey, either sleeping, eating, or staring at Xue Xingyue with terrified eyes.
To be honest, Xue Xingyue felt pity for Jiang Xiuyi, as she genuinely loved Meng Jiangming and had ended up in such a state. It was truly pitiful.
However, as the saying goes, pitiable people have their hateful aspects. Therefore, she didn't need to pity others, as she herself might be viewed as pitiable by some.
At this moment, Meng Jiangming sat on a rock, listening to Meng Lie analyze the path ahead.
Ahead lay a swamp, and the carriage wouldn't be able to pass. They would have to walk, but how would such a large group cross the swamp?
There had been no swamp when they came. In less than a month, a swamp had appeared. Perhaps due to the rainy season and constant downpours, it had gradually formed.
"Meng Zhan, order the horses to be abandoned. We walk," Meng Jiangming commanded.
Meng Zhan received the order and went to make arrangements.
Xue Xingyue also heard that they had to abandon the horses. She dismounted and saw Meng Jiangming sitting on a rock. Meng Jiangming seemed to sense someone watching him and looked up, spotting the slender and frail youth, Xiao Yue.
Xue Xingyue bowed slightly. Meng Jiangming merely nodded indifferently and then withdrew his gaze.
Yu Yan looked at Jiang Xiuyi with a worried expression. How would she look after Jiang Xiuyi?
Jiang Xiuyi was a woman, and men couldn't handle her. So, it was ultimately Yu Yan who helped Jiang Xiuyi forward.
After about the time it takes an incense stick to burn, they reached a patch of dense grass that was as tall as a person. Meng Jiangming first had Meng Zhan and others cross.
Once across, they found sturdy trees to secure ropes to. Then, one person sent the rope back across, found a tree, and tied it.
"Master, it's done," Meng Lie said, firmly securing the rope to the tree.
Meng Jiangming nodded, then gripped the rope and slowly made his way across. Meng Zhan had already cut down trees to create a path, so as long as one held the rope, they could safely reach the other side.
Finally, only Yu Yan, Jiang Xiuyi, Xue Xingyue, and Meng Lie remained.
Yu Yan trembled slightly as she looked at the rope. She grabbed it and slowly moved forward. Xue Xingyue followed behind. In fact, if no one else were present, crossing this swamp would be effortless for her.
But now, although she had revealed her skills in Ye Cheng, she hadn't shown too much and didn't intend to. The more she revealed, the more likely Meng Jiangming was to find her weaknesses.
"Miss Jiang, you must hold onto this rope," Meng Lie said, loosening Jiang Xiuyi's restraints. Jiang Xiuyi looked at Meng Lie and then nodded.
Jiang Xiuyi seemed to have regained some lucidity. She grabbed the rope and began to walk.
Midway, Yu Yan's body swayed. Although she was a servant, she had only encountered such a situation once in her life. Moreover, after days of travel, she looked at Jiang Xiuyi, dared not rest, and was completely exhausted.
Suddenly, her foot slipped, and she lunged towards the swamp. Terrified, she thought she was going to fall in when a hand grabbed her shoulder. She felt a strong force pull her back.
When her hands regained their grip on the rope, she looked back and saw the slender, frail youth. She was filled with gratitude, for even if she had fallen, no one would have cared for her; she was merely a servant.
"Thank you," Yu Yan said gratefully.
"Be careful of your footing," Xue Xingyue advised.
Yu Yan nodded, her vigilance heightened this time.
"Miss Jiang, be careful..." a voice called from behind.
"Ah..."
Xue Xingyue turned to see Jiang Xiuyi falling into the swamp. Jiang Xiuyi flailed her arms, but the swamp swallowed her body with alarming speed.
"Save... save me..."
Meng Lie frowned, about to act, but stopped as he looked at Jiang Xiuyi, who was submerged up to her chin.
"Aren't you going to save her?" Xue Xingyue asked.
Meng Lie glanced at Xue Xingyue upon hearing this. He knew this youth was someone Princess Consort had specifically requested from General Xie. "It's too late to save her." If he tried to save her, he doubted he could escape unscathed.
"So you're not going to save her?" Xue Xingyue pressed.
Meng Lie was taken aback. For some reason, he felt an intangible pressure from the youth before him, making it difficult to meet his gaze.
"Save me, please..." Jiang Xiuyi looked fearfully at the swamp engulfing her, but her remaining words were swallowed. Only her terrified eyes, eyes begging for survival, remained.
Xue Xingyue squeezed the whip coiled around her waist. At that moment, she saw Meng Lie's sword and said, "Give me your sword."
Meng Lie was startled. Xue Xingyue's voice was cold and commanding, "Give it to me."
Meng Lie subconsciously unbuckled his sword and tossed it. Xue Xingyue caught it steadily. Seeing Yu Yan had already reached safety, she slashed the rope with her sword. The rope broke. She leaped into the air, heading back the way they came, and sliced the rope tied to the tree. The only part of the rope left dangling outside the swamp was a single hand, which firmly gripped it.
With a mighty pull, Xue Xingyue dragged a figure out of the swamp – Jiang Xiuyi, covered in mud.