"What was said to make Duke Ning so furious that he grievously injured the驸马 in a fit of anger? Duke Ning, don't you find this reason somewhat far-fetched?" Xue Xingyue said coldly.
Duke Ning remained silent. Seeing this, Xue Xingyue continued coldly, "Duke Ning, if you do not speak the truth, perhaps you would prefer to explain yourself to my imperial brother?"
"Your... Your Highness, it is my fault, it has nothing to do with Duke Ning." A weak voice sounded. Xue Xingyue looked up and saw Meng Jiangming, who was supposed to be lying in bed, being supported as he walked towards her.
Meng Jiangming suddenly knelt on the ground. Xue Xingyue frowned slightly, "Young Master Meng, what is the meaning of this? You are still injured..."
"Your Highness, every mistake is mine. It was my words that angered Duke Ning, causing him to order me beaten in his anger. I beg Your Highness not to hold Duke Ning accountable. It is I who have erred." Meng Jiangming suddenly broke free from the servants' grasp and kowtowed fiercely to the ground.
Xue Xingyue was startled. She narrowed her eyes as she looked at Meng Jiangming, and after a long pause, said, "What do you wish to say to me?"
"Yes." After a while, Meng Jiangming, who was kneeling on the ground, replied weakly yet with immense resolve.
"Speak," Xue Xingyue said.
Duke Ning suddenly shouted, "Meng Jiangming, you cannot say it."
Xue Xingyue raised her eyes and looked coldly at Duke Ning, asking indifferently, "Why can you not say it?"
Duke Ning's hands, hidden in his sleeves, clenched tightly.
"Young Master Meng, you may speak," Xue Xingyue prompted.
Meng Jiangming nodded and said, word by word, "Your Highness, I wish to cancel the engagement with Your Highness."
"Meng Jiangming..." Duke Ning exclaimed in anger.
Xue Xingyue was slightly taken aback and said, "Young Master Meng, are you serious?"
Meng Jiangming raised his head, his gaze unwavering, "I am well aware that Your Highness does not favor me. In that case, it would be better to cancel..."
"You beast, I will kill you first today, and then commit suicide to atone to His Majesty." With that, Duke Ning stepped forward and was about to kick Meng Jiangming away.
Seeing this, Xue Xingyue quickly moved forward and stopped Duke Ning, "Duke Ning, desist."
"Your Highness, this minister..."
"Duke Ning, let Young Master Meng finish speaking," Xue Xingyue said coldly.
Upon hearing this, Duke Ning dared not act rashly. He could only glare fiercely at Meng Jiangming, his heart filled with rage. How could he have spawned such a scoundrel?
"Young Master Meng, do you know that speaking such words is equivalent to the crime of deceiving the emperor?" Xue Xingyue said coldly.
Meng Jiangming kowtowed, "I know. I will bear all the blame. I implore Your Highness to plead with His Majesty for my father's exoneration. This is entirely my intention and has nothing to do with my father."
"If you bear this responsibility, you are likely to anger my imperial brother, and it will be a dead end," Xue Xingyue said coldly.
Meng Jiangming heard this, raised his eyes, his gaze clearer than ever, "I have done too many wrong things, I am ashamed before His Majesty, before Your Highness, and also before my mother and father."
"But you must understand that if you die, it will be but a fleeting moment for anyone else, a person who will soon be forgotten after a brief pause. However, for Madam Meng and Duke Ning, it will be a lifelong pain. So, would you rather find solace for yourself at the cost of them enduring separation by death?"
Meng Jiangming trembled, "I..."
"Your Highness, the imperial physician has arrived," Feng Tian hurried back.
Xue Xingyue looked at Meng Jiangming and said, "We will speak further after your wounds have been treated. During this time, think carefully whether this is worth it."
Meng Jiangming was stunned. He looked at her profile; though only half of it was visible, it was still so noble and radiant, like the moon in the sky, untouchable.
"I..."
With a glance from Xue Xingyue, Feng Tian delivered a chop to Meng Jiangming's neck, incapacitating him. He then carried Meng Jiangming and asked, "Where is the room?"
Meng Jiangming's servant blinked in surprise and quickly said, "My lord, please follow me."
Xue Xingyue withdrew her gaze and turned to Duke Ning, "Duke Ning, what is your view on this matter?"
Duke Ning knelt on the ground and said, "Your Highness, it is all this minister's fault. Tomorrow morning, I will confess all responsibility to His Majesty. I implore Your Highness, in consideration of the Duke Ning's mansion's years of unwavering loyalty to His Majesty, this minister presumes to beg Your Highness to protect Madam and Jiangming. I am eternally grateful." After speaking, Duke Ning kowtowed on the ground.
"Does Duke Ning insist on seeking death?" Xue Xingyue asked calmly.
Duke Ning was startled and said, "This minister does not understand Your Highness's meaning. I beg Your Highness to clarify."
"I have never considered breaking off the engagement. Today's events, I shall consider as a joke. However, should there be a next time, Duke Ning, you know that I am not one to be trifled with," Xue Xingyue said coldly.
Duke Ning was overjoyed, "Thank you, Your Highness, thank you, Your Highness."
"As for the驸马, please advise him. I do not wish for any more trouble," Xue Xingyue said coldly.
Duke Ning quickly replied, "Your Highness, please rest assured, this minister will not allow this to happen again."
"I hope Duke Ning will keep his word." With that, Xue Xingyue left the Duke Ning's mansion.
Upon exiting the Duke Ning's mansion, Xue Xingyue let out a slight sigh of relief. She looked up at the bright moon in the sky and sighed softly.
"Your Highness, why do you sigh so?"
Hearing the voice, Xue Xingyue turned around and saw a man in white walking towards her from not far away.
Moonlight poured down, illuminating him. At this moment, he seemed to have arrived enveloped in light and moonlight.
His handsome face bore eyes that rivaled the stars, brilliantly radiant.
"Ji Wu Ran, why are you here?" Xue Xingyue withdrew her gaze and asked indifferently.
Ji Wu Ran smiled slightly upon hearing this, a smile of breathtaking beauty, like shimmering waves.
"Why Your Highness is here, is why I am here," Ji Wu Ran replied.
"Meng Jiangming?" Xue Xingyue inquired.
Ji Wu Ran said, "Precisely."
Xue Xingyue suddenly remembered the three most notorious noble youths of the capital, led by Meng Jiangming, followed by Ji Wu Ran, and then Zhao Yan Luo.
However, when it came to notoriety, she couldn't quite place Ji Wu Ran. She always felt he was very mysterious.
"Since that is the case, young Marquis Ji, please enter," Xue Xingyue said.
Ji Wu Ran bowed slightly, "I shall take my leave first!"
Afterward, Ji Wu Ran entered the Duke Ning's mansion. At this moment, Feng Tian also emerged. He stepped forward and said in a low voice, "Your Highness, Young Master Meng is no longer in danger."
Xue Xingyue nodded, "Let us return to the mansion!"
After the sound of hooves faded away, a figure appeared before the gates of the Duke Ning's mansion. Under the moonlight, his white brocade robe stood out particularly. He gazed at Xue Xingyue, who had already disappeared, his eyes deepening.
Meng Jiangming was awakened by the sound of crying. But seeing Jiang Shi's swollen eyes and pale face, he felt even more ashamed. If he had truly died, his mother would have been devastated.