"Does Your Highness believe His Majesty would allow me to marry Princess Min Hui?" Ji Wuran said calmly.
Xue Xingyue was slightly taken aback. "What do you mean by that? Does he disagree?"
Ji Wuran did not answer immediately. He poured another cup of tea and said, "Marquis Ji An's estate has always maintained a neutral stance, both under the former Emperor and the current one. However, Marquis Chang Sheng's estate supports His Majesty."
"Isn't neutrality good? As long as young Marquis Ji marries Princess Min Hui, wouldn't that make him part of His Majesty's faction?" Xue Xingyue looked up at Ji Wuran and asked.
Ji Wuran's eyes flickered slightly. He suddenly walked closer, and his presence filled the air. Xue Xingyue instinctively took a step back. He stopped, still a step away from her. "Your Highness believes I should marry Princess Min Hui?"
"Shouldn't you?" Xue Xingyue looked at Ji Wuran, who was so close, and asked word by word.
"I should not," Ji Wuran said coldly.
Xue Xingyue frowned slightly. "Young Marquis Ji..."
Before she could finish speaking, Ji Wuran suddenly grabbed her hand. She was greatly surprised and trembled all over, wanting to pull away. However, she found Ji Wuran's strength immense, and she couldn't break free.
"Let go..." Xue Xingyue said.
Ji Wuran not only did not release her hand but gripped it tighter.
Xue Xingyue used her other hand to strike at Ji Wuran.
Ji Wuran dodged aside. "Your Highness, you actually made a move against me?"
"Let go," Xue Xingyue said again.
"If I don't let go, what will Your Highness do?" Ji Wuran looked up, his dark eyes shining with their unique brilliance like stars.
Hearing this, Xue Xingyue's expression turned cold. "In that case, do not blame me for being impolite."
She attacked instantly, and Ji Wuran dodged. In their back-and-forth, neither gained an advantage.
Xue Xingyue knew Ji Wuran had good martial arts skills, but she hadn't expected them to be so excellent.
After a few rounds, Ji Wuran suddenly withdrew his hand, and Xue Xingyue also stopped.
"Your Highness, I didn't expect that after a few months, your skills have not declined," Ji Wuran said.
"Young Marquis Ji and I are evenly matched."
"Young Marquis..." a voice was heard from outside the door.
Ji Wuran glanced at Xue Xingyue and said, "Speak..."
"The驸马 (Fù mǎ - Imperial Son-in-Law) has arrived."
Ji Wuran's gaze cooled. Seeing this, Xue Xingyue said, "I should leave."
Ji Wuran nodded. "I'll have someone escort Your Highness."
"No need, I can manage," Xue Xingyue replied and then leaped out of the window.
Ji Wuran walked forward, looking at the disappearing figure, deep in thought.
After leaving Wanjun Restaurant, Xue Xingyue did not rush back to Ningguo Manor. Instead, she detoured several times, bought some pastries, and then returned to Ningguo Duke's Manor.
Before reaching her room, she saw Wu Yi, the young attendant of Meng Jiangming, waiting there. Upon seeing her, he hurried forward and said, "Where have you been? The Fù mǎ has been waiting for you for a long time."
"Waiting for me?" Xue Xingyue asked with feigned surprise.
Wu Yi said, "Yes, he's been waiting for an hour. Why are you only returning now?"
Xue Xingyue said, "I... I had a craving, so I went out to buy some pastries."
As she spoke, she handed a bag of pastries to Wu Yi.
Wu Yi was stunned. Xue Xingyue smiled playfully. "Brother Wu, I brought this for you. Doesn't Sister Shaoyao like it the most?"
Wu Yi snorted upon hearing this. "Don't think that giving me pastries will make me take your side."
"Brother Wu, you misunderstand me. I just feel that you are the only one in the manor who treats me well, and I am very grateful," Xue Xingyue said.
Wu Yi nodded as if pleased. "It's good that I didn't dote on you in vain. The Fù mǎ is a little unhappy. Be careful when you go in."
With that, Wu Yi left with the pastries.
Xue Xingyue re-wrapped the pastries and went to Meng Jiangming's courtyard. As she stepped into the room, she could feel a stifling atmosphere. She stepped forward and bowed. "This servant pays respects to the Fù mǎ."
Meng Jiangming looked up and saw her. He asked, "Did you go out today?"
Xue Xingyue nodded. "Yes, this servant went out."
"Where did you go?" Meng Jiangming asked.
"This servant had a craving. I heard from people in the manor that the roasted duck at Wanjun Restaurant is delicious, and this servant wanted to try it."
"Did you try it?" Meng Jiangming asked.
Xue Xingyue shook her head. "No, this servant couldn't afford it."
Xue Xingyue put on a wronged expression.
Meng Jiangming, who had been full of anger, dissipated at this moment. He pointed to the paper bag in her arms and asked, "What is this?"
Xue Xingyue's eyes lit up. "Fù mǎ, this is what this servant bought from Fu Ji Pastries. Would you like to try some?"
Meng Jiangming looked at her. "Give it here."
Xue Xingyue was momentarily stunned but still offered the pastries.
Meng Jiangming looked at the pastries in the paper bag, took one out, and tasted it. "It is indeed delicious. Leave these here with me."
Xue Xingyue felt heartbroken for the pastries, but she was helpless. She bowed and left.
Meng Jiangming looked at the pastries. After a while, he said, "She is not Princess Xingyue. Princess Xingyue would never eat such things."
Xue Xingyue breathed a sigh of relief after leaving Meng Jiangming's courtyard. Fortunately, she had thought of buying these pastries, which had helped her escape danger.
She had bought flavors that she had never liked before, so even Meng Jiangming couldn't discover anything through the pastries.
However, the information Xue Xingyue received the next day was shocking.
Xue Tianyue was about to formally ascend the throne and grant a general amnesty.
Previously, Xue Tianyue had only been acting on state affairs. Although not formally enthroned, he had implicitly accepted the title from ministers. Others thought Xue Tianyue was observing the mourning period for the former Emperor, but only Xue Xingyue knew that Xue Tianyue had been reluctant to ascend the throne because he was waiting for the Imperial Seal.
But now, the Imperial Seal was still in her hands, so whose Imperial Seal was Xue Tianyue using?
Just as Xue Xingyue was pondering how to inquire about this news, she received a message that Meng Jiangming wanted her to accompany him to the palace.