The next day, Xue Xing Yue rode her horse, while Feng Jiu drove the carriage to the Duke Ning’s mansion. At the mansion, Madam Jiang was constantly giving instructions and admonishing, fearing that Meng Jiang Ming would once again disregard propriety and speak carelessly.
Meng Jiang Ming’s ears were ringing from the lecture. He said, “Mother, please rest assured, your son will not be that foolish.”
Upon hearing this, Madam Jiang sighed and said, “I hope you will do as you say. Do not act foolishly again, especially with the wedding so near. We cannot afford any incidents that might escalate beyond control.”
Meng Jiang Ming assured her, “Mother, please don’t worry, I understand.”
Madam Jiang nodded, “I have said all that needs to be said and instructed you on everything. Whether you heed it or not is up to you.”
“Mother, please rest assured!” It was only after Meng Jiang Ming’s repeated assurances that Madam Jiang allowed him to leave.
Upon exiting the mansion, Meng Jiang Ming immediately spotted the person sitting high on horseback. She was dressed in a pale purple gown, with gold thread patterns on the collar accentuating her noble status. Her beauty was unparalleled, her figure slender and elegant, radiating an air of nobility and radiance.
She captivated the gaze of onlookers, leaving them in awe.
Wu Yi, standing beside him, suddenly whispered, “Young master.”
Meng Jiang Ming snapped back to attention and quickly bowed, “Greetings, Your Highness the Princess.”
Xue Xing Yue dismounted and approached Meng Jiang Ming, asking, “Can you walk?”
“Yes,” Meng Jiang Ming nodded.
Hearing this, Xue Xing Yue instructed Wu Yi, who was behind Meng Jiang Ming, “Help your young master onto the carriage.”
Wu Yi quickly responded, “Your servant obeys!”
Once inside the carriage, Meng Jiang Ming realized that Princess Xing Yue’s carriage seemed different. He felt a noticeable change from before. The observant Wu Yi immediately spotted the difference and whispered, “Young master, the Princess’s carriage has been specially thickened. Please sit down and feel it.”
Meng Jiang Ming sat down and discovered that, just as Wu Yi had said, the carriage was lined with a soft, yielding padding. Sitting on it, he could barely feel the pain in his bruised backside.
“Young master, it seems Princess Xing Yue cares a great deal for you,” Wu Yi remarked.
Meng Jiang Ming, though outwardly composed, was inwardly overjoyed. Did this mean Princess Xing Yue was indeed concerned about him?
Thinking this, Meng Jiang Ming felt a surge of happiness.
The carriage stopped, and soon a voice called out, “Young Master Meng, we have arrived.”
With Wu Yi’s assistance, Meng Jiang Ming alighted from the carriage. He saw Princess Xing Yue dismount and thought her posture was very stylish.
At that moment, a beam of morning sunlight fell upon her, as if bathing her in a golden glow, making her instantly radiant and captivating.
Xue Xing Yue waited for Meng Jiang Ming to reach the Second Prince’s gates. Xue Xing Yue presented the invitation, and the guards at the entrance quickly bowed, saying, “Greetings, Your Highness the Princess, Young Master Meng.”
“Lead the way!” Xue Xing Yue said coolly.
The guard replied, “Your Highness, Young Master Meng, please follow me.”
After entering the Second Prince’s residence, Meng Jiang Ming no longer relied on Wu Yi for support. Although he was no longer the heir, he was, after all, the future imperial son-in-law, and he absolutely could not embarrass Princess Xing Yue.
Xue Xing Yue also noticed Meng Jiang Ming walking on his own. She slowed her pace, walking alongside him.
Meng Jiang Ming’s heart fluttered with excitement and touched emotion.
“Princess Xing Yue, your gracious presence truly brings radiance to my humble abode,” the Second Prince, Qi Yu Ming, said, rising from his seat. The others also stood up.
Xue Xing Yue gave a brief glance and replied, “Your Highness the Second Prince is too kind. How could this princess not grant your earnest invitation some favor?”
The Second Prince smiled and, upon seeing Meng Jiang Ming beside her, remarked, “Is this not Young Master Meng? Indeed, Princess Xing Yue and Young Master Meng are a match made in heaven.”
Xue Xing Yue did not respond to the Second Prince, instead moving towards the seating area. Meng Jiang Ming quickly followed. However, the Second Prince blocked Meng Jiang Ming’s path. The Second Prince suddenly placed a hand on Meng Jiang Ming’s shoulder and said, “I have heard, Young Master Meng, that you angered Duke Ning yesterday, causing him great displeasure?”
Meng Jiang Ming chuckled at this, “Your Highness the Second Prince, you must have misheard. Although I am a rake, my father has always understood my personality. Therefore, he has never been angry about my actions, otherwise, I wouldn’t be alive today, would I?”
The Second Prince heard this and moved his hand as if to pat Meng Jiang Ming’s back. Just then, a pair of hands grasped Meng Jiang Ming and pulled him sharply, causing the Second Prince’s hand to miss.
Meng Jiang Ming lost his balance and was falling towards the ground. Normally, he could have reacted, but he had been beaten quite severely yesterday. Although he had applied a good ointment, he was still a bit uncomfortable. He foresaw himself falling to the ground, but instead of hitting the ground, he stumbled into a soft, yielding embrace, even catching a faint, fragrant scent.
He stiffened, and a clear voice sounded in his ear, “Young Master Meng, be careful.”
Meng Jiang Ming looked up, meeting a pair of eyes as clear as a pristine pool, sparkling with light.
His heart began to race. He quickly got up and bowed, “Thank you, Your Highness.”
Xue Xing Yue nodded and said, “Sit down!”
Meng Jiang Ming nodded, his mind in a pleasant daze, as the sweet fragrance continued to tease his senses.
The Second Prince observed this and stated, “It is rumored that Princess Xing Yue and Young Master Meng do not get along. I believe these are all rumors. Princess Xing Yue and Young Master Meng are in perfect harmony, a match made in heaven.”
“Thank you for your praise, Your Highness the Second Prince,” Xue Xing Yue replied coldly.
She had clearly seen that Qi Yu Ming had acted intentionally.
Qi Yu Ming raised his wine cup and said, “Tomorrow is the grand wedding day of Princess Xing Yue and Young Master Meng. I offer my congratulations here…”
“Your Highness, Young Marquis Ji, Princess Jing An have arrived,” a guard whispered to Qi Yu Ming.
Qi Yu Ming put down his wine cup and said, “Princess Xing Yue, two more guests have arrived. I ask for your understanding!”
“It is nothing,” Xue Xing Yue replied.
“Young Marquis Ji arrives, Princess Jing An arrives!” came the shouts from the guards outside the door.
Xue Xing Yue’s gaze gradually turned cold.
Meng Jiang Ming looked towards the entrance and saw a man in splendid brocade robes walk in. His handsome, untroubled face and exceptional stature were striking.
The woman behind him was gentle and serene, soft and radiant. One had to admit, they were a well-matched pair.
Princess Jing An saw the flash of purple and the familiar face, her heart startled. Why was Princess Xing Yue here?
“Your humble servant Ji Wu Ran pays his respects to the Princess,” Ji Wu Ran bowed slightly.
Although Princess Jing An was deeply unwilling, she still had to bow. She stepped forward and curtsied, “Jing An greets Princess Xing Yue.”