Xue Xingyue was taken aback.
Seeing that she didn't reply, Meng Jiangming asked coldly, "What? You don't want to serve this驸马?"
Xue Xingyue quickly replied, "This one dares not."
"You don't dare, you just don't want to," Meng Jiangming said to Xue Xingyue, word by word.
Xue Xingyue was slightly startled, "Your Highness the驸马 is joking. Serving Your Highness the驸马 is this one's utmost honor. How could this one be unwilling?"
"Is that so?" Meng Jiangming asked again.
"This one dares not have any unspoken thoughts," Xue Xingyue said.
She felt Meng Jiangming's gaze lingering on her. After a long while, she heard Meng Jiangming's voice, "You may withdraw!"
"This one takes leave!" Xue Xingyue retreated from Meng Jiangming's room.
She breathed a sigh of relief, but she knew that her future days might not be as comfortable.
Suddenly, footsteps were heard from outside. Xue Xingyue quickly lowered her head.
She heard a servant of the mansion say, "Young Marquis Ji, His Highness the驸马 is inside."
Ji Wuran? Xue Xingyue trembled all over, subconsciously raising her head. She saw that tall figure, just like before. Even just a back view couldn't hide his inherent elegance.
Suddenly, that figure paused slightly. She quickly lowered her head, feeling a scrutinizing gaze.
Unfortunately, as it swept past her, it didn't linger and retracted.
The footsteps gradually faded away. Xue Xingyue slightly clenched her fists within her sleeves.
She slowly raised her head, realizing that circumstances had changed.
"Your Highness the驸马, Young Marquis Ji is here to see you!" Wu Yi entered to report.
Meng Jiangming was startled and said, "Let the young marquis in!"
Wu Yi replied, "Yes."
After a moment, Ji Wuran walked in. Meng Jiangming looked up at Ji Wuran before him, stood up, and said faintly, "Young Marquis Ji, I trust you have been well!"
Ji Wuran nodded, "Is His Highness the驸马 well?"
Meng Jiangming's expression turned slightly cold, "Thanks to the young marquis's concern, this驸马 is very well and has returned safely."
"Then, have you found Princess Xingyue?"
Meng Jiangming's body stiffened. He looked up at Ji Wuran and said coldly, "Young Marquis Ji, what do you mean by that?"
Ji Wuran walked to a seat and sat down, pouring himself a cup of tea. After everything was ready, he slowly said, "What I mean, does Your Highness the驸马 not understand?"
"How would this驸马 understand the meaning of the young marquis's words? If the young marquis has something to say, please speak directly," Meng Jiangming said coldly.
Ji Wuran picked up the teacup, took a sip, and then looked up, "Why did Your Highness the驸马 request an imperial decree to go to Zhenguan? Others may not know, but I know it very clearly."
Meng Jiangming's gaze was clear and cold, "Young Marquis Ji, some things should not be said. This驸马 went to share the emperor's worries, not to sightsee. Young Marquis Ji should watch his words."
Ji Wuran suddenly chuckled lowly, his smile cold. He said coldly, "Your Highness the驸马, what did your Ningguo Duke's Mansion provide for the new emperor back then? Although I don't know the specifics, I do know a thing or two."
Meng Jiangming looked at Ji Wuran with cold eyes and said, "Young Marquis Ji, are you not afraid that this驸马 will report your words to His Majesty?" Ji Wuran chuckled lowly, "If Your Highness the驸马 wishes, you are welcome to report it."
Meng Jiangming looked at Ji Wuran. After a long time, he withdrew his gaze from Ji Wuran and said, "Ji Wuran, I don't know what you are thinking, nor do I wish to know. But I want to remind you, even as a friend of many years, that the new emperor is not as simple as you think."
Ji Wuran put down the teacup and looked at Meng Jiangming, "Of course, I know that. I just want to know what Your Highness the驸马 thinks about the current situation."
Meng Jiangming said self-deprecatingly, "What's the use of what I think? I'm just a pawn."
A useless pawn, a废棋 (discarded piece).
"Your Highness the驸马, you still have many uses. At least you are still the驸马," Ji Wuran said.
Meng Jiangming looked up at him, "What's the use of having an identity?"
"Your Highness the駙马, the world will eventually change. I only hope that Your Highness the驸马 can make the right choice," Ji Wuran said faintly.
Meng Jiangming was startled and looked at him, "Ji Wuran, what do you mean by that?"
Ji Wuran stood up and leaned over, "Your Highness the驸马, it's getting late. I will take my leave. Please think about it."
With that, Ji Wuran left.
Meng Jiangming watched Ji Wuran's departing back, lost in thought.
Ji Wuran emerged from the Ningguo Duke's Mansion and paused at the entrance for a moment before heading forward.
In the Wan Jun Wine House, Ji Wuran entered and then vanished.
Xue Xingyue looked at Ji Wuran, who was no longer in sight, and couldn't believe she had lost him.
Suddenly, a cold wind brushed past. Her heart lurched, and she dodged with a flash. A hand suddenly grabbed her and pulled her in a direction.
She seemed to be pulled into a room. The door was closed, and she was pressed down. She looked up at the person, her gaze clear, and said, "Young Marquis Ji, I trust you have been well!"
Ji Wuran's handsome face, those eyes as bright as stars, suddenly lit up. He released her and said, "Princess Xingyue, it's you."
Xue Xingyue felt the pressure on her disappear. She sat up, dusted herself off, and slowly said, "Are you surprised to see me?"
Ji Wuran smiled faintly, "Not surprised, just that it's a bit later than expected. Are you... alright?"
Xue Xingyue trembled all over. She lowered her gaze. After a long while, she said, "It's just like that."
Ji Wuran picked up the teapot, poured a cup of tea, and pushed it towards her, saying faintly, "Have some tea!"
Xue Xingyue looked at the teacup pushed towards her. Unconsciously, she recalled the past. She had sat here drinking tea before, but the times had changed. Now, what was different was not just their identities but also their state of mind.
She picked up the teacup and took a sip. The taste had a hint of bitterness.
"It still tastes so bad," she said, putting down the teacup.
Ji Wuran looked at her, his gaze too intense for her to meet directly.
"You've lost weight."
She was startled by this. Somehow, her nose felt a little sore. It had been a long time since anyone had said this to her.
Because her Imperial Brother, who used to say this, was no longer here.
Imperial Brother, she couldn't help but tremble slightly.
Seeing this, Ji Wuran reached out and stroked her head, saying, "You have suffered."