"Your Highness, please slow down."
Hearing the voice, Xue Xingyue hurried forward, hiding behind a tree. She saw Meng Jiangming striding towards Madam Jiang's courtyard, followed by Wu Yi.
Only after Meng Jiangming entered Madam Jiang's courtyard did she emerge.
Madam Jiang felt a surge of joy upon hearing Meng Jiangming had arrived. Wasn't her son still worried about her?
Outside the door, Shaoyao saw Meng Jiangming and bowed, "Your Highness."
Meng Jiangming walked past Shaoyao without a glance. Shaoyao was startled. Wu Yi behind her gave Shaoyao a look. Shaoyao stood up, realizing that their master's affairs were no longer something they, as servants, could interfere with.
Thus, Shaoyao and Wu Yi guarded the door.
Madam Jiang looked up at Meng Jiangming, her heart filled with excitement, "Jiang Ming..."
Unfortunately, Meng Jiangming did not let Madam Jiang's excitement linger. He glanced towards Madam Jiang's inner chambers. Madam Jiang was taken aback, and just as she was about to speak, Meng Jiangming spoke, "Where is Xiao Yue?"
Madam Jiang froze, the joy on her face gradually fading. "Jiang Ming, are you here for a mere servant?"
Meng Jiangming glanced at Madam Jiang and sneered, "Otherwise? Did you think I came specifically to see you?"
Madam Jiang trembled all over.
Meng Jiangming let out a cold laugh, "Mother, I hope you can tell me, where is Xiao Yue?"
Madam Jiang looked up, her eyes filled with mockery. "Jiang Ming, do you think Mother has done anything to Xiao Yue?"
Meng Jiangming said coldly, "Isn't that one of your usual tricks?"
"Meng Jiangming." Madam Jiang said angrily.
Meng Jiangming stated, "Mother, Xiao Yue was lent to me by General Xie. She is not my person. I request that you return her. Otherwise, it will be difficult to handle if this escalates."
Madam Jiang looked at the somewhat unfamiliar Meng Jiangming before her, feeling a pang of heartache. "In your eyes, am I someone who disregards human life?"
"Disregards human life?" Meng Jiangming savored the words, then said, "Mother, you certainly don't disregard human life, but isn't adding insult to injury something you did?"
"Meng Jiangming, you cannot speak to me like this. I did that entirely for the Duke of Ning's estate," Madam Jiang said angrily.
Meng Jiangming let out a few cold laughs. "Yes, you did it for your Duke of Ning's estate. I am a sinner, alright?"
"Jiang Ming, you..."
"Since Mother refuses to release the person, then don't blame your son for searching," Meng Jiangming said.
"You dare..."
Meng Jiangming looked at Madam Jiang and said, "Mother, you should know that once I get serious, I will dare to do anything. Meng Lie, Meng Zhan, search for me."
Madam Jiang's face turned ashen with anger. "You... you treat your mother like this for a servant, Meng Jiangming, you..."
Meng Jiangming sneered, "Mother, back then, for your own selfish reasons, you sold..."
Before he could finish, Madam Jiang slapped him fiercely. Madam Jiang pointed to the door and yelled, "Get out, get out of here..."
Meng Jiangming touched his cheek and looked at Madam Jiang, "Mother, it's best if you release Xiao Yue, otherwise, your son won't mind searching again. Let's go."
Madam Jiang collapsed onto the ground. How had she and her son come to this point? How had they reached this point? She covered her face and burst into tears.
Meng Jiangming walked out of Madam Jiang's courtyard and asked, "Is Xiao Yue inside?"
Meng Lie replied, "Reporting to my lord, she is not."
Just as Meng Jiangming was about to instruct Meng Lie to search, Meng Bei hurried over, "My lord, Xiao Yue has already returned to her room."
Meng Jiangming heard this and sighed in relief. "That's good."
Meng Lie and the others exchanged glances. Was their master perhaps too concerned about this Xiao Yue?
Xue Xingyue was unaware of the exchange between Madam Jiang and Meng Jiangming. She was alone here, with information blocked. However, she assumed it likely had nothing to do with her, given her current status as a mere servant.
But her assumption only lasted until evening. Someone from the Duke of Ning's retinue summoned her to see the Duke, stating that the Duke wished to see her.
Xue Xingyue took this seriously this time. How could a servant like herself be summoned by both the Duchess and the Duke of Ning simultaneously? Had she revealed any flaws?
It was futile to stay here. It was better to meet the Duke of Ning. It had been over two months since she had last seen him. Would the Duke of Ning still recognize her?
However, before she entered the Duke of Ning's courtyard, she heard the sound of whipping. Xue Xingyue couldn't help but twitch her lips. Could it be that Meng Jiangming was being punished?
As she walked further in, she saw Meng Jiangming kneeling in the courtyard. He was wearing a white inner garment, gritting his teeth, and remaining silent. For some reason, it reminded her of the past.
Meng Jiangming's face was somewhat pale, and cold sweat dripped from his forehead.
The Duke of Ning roared, "Do you know where you went wrong?"
"I did nothing wrong, nor will I admit to it," Meng Jiangming said word by word.
"You..."
"Your Highness, I have brought the person," Wu Yi stepped forward and said.
The Duke of Ning stopped his whip, raised his head, and looked at the person who had caused such chaos in the Duke of Ning's estate since their appearance.
Xue Xingyue lowered her gaze, bowed, and said, "Your Highness, this servant pays his respects to the Duke."
The Duke of Ning narrowed his eyes and suddenly said coldly, "Seize him."
Xue Xingyue made no move, allowing the people who suddenly appeared to pin her down. Someone kicked her, and she fell to her knees unexpectedly.
This was the first time she had knelt. She raised her head and looked at the Duke of Ning, "I do not know what crime this servant has committed. I request that the Duke of Ning provide an explanation."
"Explanation?" The Duke of Ning laughed angrily. "You are merely a humble servant. It is as easy as breathing for this Duke to kill you."
With that, the Duke of Ning swung his whip towards Xue Xingyue. Xue Xingyue narrowed her eyes, but she still did not move, prepared to endure the whip. After all, this was the Duke of Ning, and escaping from here was incredibly difficult.
Moreover, having finally arrived in the capital, she had to establish herself openly.
The sound of the whip's wind approached. Xue Xingyue stared at the whip, wanting to see exactly where it would strike her.
Suddenly, a figure lunged towards her. The whip landed on flesh, the sound piercingly sharp, yet Xue Xingyue felt no pain because Meng Jiangming was shielding her.
"Your Highness, you..."
Meng Jiangming looked up, a faint smile appearing on his pale face. "You are General Xie's man. How could I let General Xie mock me for not even being able to protect his people? This time, I..."
Meng Jiangming swayed and fell backward.
Xue Xingyue trembled all over. Meng Jiangming took the whip for her? Why?