Meng Jiangming developed a fever in the middle of the night, and the imperial physician rushed to the Ningguo Duke's mansion. It was said that His Majesty had made a special exception to procure a hundred-year-old ginseng for the驸马 to consume.
By the time Xue Xingyue heard the news, it was already morning.
To be honest, she still harbored some resentment towards Meng Jiangming. Yet, upon learning that he had taken a whip lash for her and nearly lost his life, she felt an indescribable emotion.
"Jiangming, do you want to frighten your mother to death?" Madam Jiang asked, looking at the pale Meng Jiangming on the bed with a pained expression.
Meng Jiangming glanced at Madam Jiang, then turned his head away and said indifferently, "Leave. I do not wish to see you right now."
Seeing this, Madam Jiang felt a pang of indescribable sadness. She walked forward, sat by Meng Jiangming's bedside, and sighed, "Jiangming, I know your resentment towards your mother has not yet dissipated. But even so, your mother hopes you can consider that I am genuinely concerned about your injuries and allow me to stay here, alright?"
Meng Jiangming let out a cold laugh. "Pretending to be merciful now? I don't need it."
"Jiangming, you..."
"Leave," Meng Jiangming said coldly.
Madam Jiang clutched her handkerchief and looked at Meng Jiangming. "Jiangming, so much time has passed. Can't you let it go? If your mother hadn't..."
"I don't want to listen. Please leave!" Meng Jiangming interrupted Madam Jiang coldly.
Madam Jiang was about to speak again, but seeing that Meng Jiangming wouldn't even glance at her, she said, "Since you don't wish to see your mother, I won't bother you. However, there is one more thing I need your agreement on."
Meng Jiangming remained silent.
Madam Jiang continued, "You have no one by your side now, and I am not at ease. The daughter of Wen Langping, the Minister of Revenue, is gentle and virtuous. I think she could be..."
"You really think of everything. Princess Xingyue is not dead yet, and you are already rushing to foist someone upon me?" Meng Jiangming turned his head and looked at Madam Jiang coldly.
Madam Jiang was taken aback. "Jiangming, why do you speak like that? I am doing this for your own good."
"For my own good? Then I don't need it. I don't need any woman. To ruin another man's daughter's innocence." Meng Jiangming said coldly.
"Jiangming, are you trying to pierce my heart?" Madam Jiang looked at Meng Jiangming, her heart bleeding.
"Wu Yi, escort the Duchess out. Without my permission, no one is allowed to enter, or I will hold you responsible." Meng Jiangming pulled the quilt over himself and lay down.
Madam Jiang stood there stiffly. Wu Yi was at a loss. To escort the Duchess out? Unless he truly had a death wish.
"Wu Yi, can't you hear what I, the驸马, am saying?" Meng Jiangming said coldly.
Either way, he would offend someone. If he offended the 驸马, he would truly have no way back. With this thought, he approached Madam Jiang and said obsequiously, "Madam, perhaps you could visit the 驸马 another day. The 驸马 is not in a good mood right now."
Madam Jiang tightly tore at her handkerchief, stood up, and said, "Very well. Jiangming, consider carefully what I have said."
Madam Jiang walked out of the room. Gazing at the morning light, she sighed inwardly. When did she and her child reach this point?
Subconsciously, she raised her head and suddenly saw a pair of clear, familiar eyes. Madam Jiang trembled and pointed at the approaching person, "You..."
"Your humble servant greets Madam," Xue Xingyue said, lowering her gaze.
Madam Jiang frowned and said coldly, "Lift your head."
Xue Xingyue took a deep breath and raised her head. Where were those familiar eyes?
Madam Jiang was slightly taken aback. Had she mistaken them? But those eyes resembled Princess Xingyue so much.
"Madam, is there anything else?" Xue Xingyue asked.
Madam Jiang stared for a long time, but could find no familiarity in those eyes. She sighed inwardly. She must have mistaken them.
"Since you are now the close attendant by the 驸马's side, remember to serve the 驸马 well. Otherwise, I will hold you responsible," Madam Jiang said coldly.
Xue Xingyue quickly replied, "Madam, please rest assured. Your humble servant will do their utmost to serve the 驸马."
Madam Jiang nodded and left.
Xue Xingyue relaxed her clenched fist. She had almost revealed herself just now. Fortunately, she had managed to conceal her aura in time.
Reaching the doorway, Wu Yi saw her and quickly stepped forward. "So it's Xiao Yue. Come in quickly!"
One couldn't blame Wu Yi for being so obsequious. If one were to say who was most favored in the Ningguo Duke's mansion now, it would be this attendant, Xiao Yue, who had returned with the 驸马. After all, it was this attendant who had caused the 驸马 to be whipped for him.
"How is the 驸马's health?" Xue Xingyue asked.
Wu Yi said, "Go in and take a look. Take good care of the 驸马."
Xue Xingyue nodded and walked in. Ever since Meng Jiangming had taken the whip lash for her, she had indeed felt a sense of self-reproach.
Wu Yi watched Xiao Yue enter and let out a sigh of relief. Ever since he had learned of the 驸马's peculiar preference, he had no longer dared to serve him directly. Although he was confident in his appearance, he still felt a bit uneasy.
In the future, he would definitely try to curry favor with this young attendant, Xiao Yue. That way, the 驸马's attention would not be focused on him.
As Xue Xingyue walked in, a voice soon emerged from within. "Wu Yi, didn't I tell you not to disturb me? How dare you disobey me?"
Meng Jiangming said coldly, turning over. When he saw the person standing there, he was slightly stunned. "You... you are Xiao Yue?"
"驸马, your humble servant is here to express gratitude to the 驸马," Xue Xingyue said.
Meng Jiangming looked at her and said, "There's no need to express gratitude. It's just that after taking this whip lash, I probably won't recover quickly. Since you're here, you'll take care of me from now on."
Xue Xingyue was taken aback. "驸马, this might not be appropriate."
"Why not?" Meng Jiangming looked up at Xue Xingyue and asked.
Xue Xingyue said, "Your humble servant is clumsy and might accidentally hurt the 驸马."
"Practice makes perfect. I don't mind. What are you worried about?" Meng Jiangming said.
"驸马..."
"Xiao Yue, I did save your life. Do you think you don't need to repay me?" Meng Jiangming looked up at her coldly.
Xue Xingyue was slightly stunned and quickly bowed. "Your humble servant dares not!"
"If that's the case, then taking care of me from now on will be your responsibility," Meng Jiangming said.