“Your Highness, it is time to rise,” a strange voice whispered in her ear.
Xue Xingyue’s eyes snapped open. She looked at the unfamiliar maidservant before her and asked, “Did Feng Jiu send you to attend to me?”
The maidservant curtsied and replied, “This servant is indeed here to serve you.”
Xue Xingyue got out of bed and asked, “What is your name?”
“My name is Fu’er,” the maidservant replied.
Upon hearing this, Xue Xingyue said, “From now on, you shall be called Fu Bao. It sounds more auspicious.”
“Thank you, Your Highness, for the bestowed name,” Fu Bao said joyfully.
Xue Xingyue noticed the thick calluses on Fu Bao’s hand as she held the handkerchief. She inquired, “Have you practiced martial arts?”
Fu Bao answered, “My family is involved in the martial arts profession.”
“Did you learn martial arts from a young age?” Xue Xingyue asked.
Fu Bao nodded. “Yes, I have practiced martial arts since childhood.”
Xue Xingyue nodded slightly. “Good.” It was indeed fortunate that the people around her possessed martial skills; they could protect themselves when necessary. Feng Jiu’s judgment was sound.
Feng Jiu, who was walking in from outside, shivered unexpectedly. He looked up and saw his Highness staring at him, which inexplicably sent a chill down his spine. He became extremely cautious in his actions.
“Your Highness, you are awake?” Feng Jiu asked with a fawning smile, his voice laced with caution.
Xue Xingyue nodded and said to Fu Bao, “You may withdraw for now. I will call for you if I need anything later.”
Fu Bao curtsied and retreated.
Feng Jiu’s lips twitched inwardly. Had he offended His Highness? With that thought, he stepped forward and bowed. “Your Highness, what have I done wrong now?”
Xue Xingyue glanced at Feng Jiu and asked, “Why do you say you’ve done something wrong? Have you perhaps committed some mistake?”
Feng Jiu felt a chill run down his spine. He smiled subserviently. “How would this subordinate dare?”
Xue Xingyue eyed Feng Jiu coldly. Feng Jiu felt a cold wind blowing from behind him. After a pause, she said slowly, “I will ask Feng Tian later, and then I will know.”
Feng Jiu quickly stepped forward and knelt on one knee. “Your Highness, I drove away Young Master Meng.”
Xue Xingyue’s gaze turned cold. “Why?” she asked sternly.
Feng Jiu clenched his fists, his knuckles turning white. “He is utterly unworthy of Your Highness.” Even before they were married, he was already involved with his cousin and, what’s more, he openly engaged in such behavior at the palace banquet.
How could such a person be worthy of such a noble Highness? Although he did not speak of it, it did not mean he could overlook it. Therefore, seeing Young Master Meng arrive this morning, his temper flared, and he struck Meng with two punches without a second thought. He knew he could not hide it from His Highness, but he had no regrets even if he were to be punished.
With that in mind, he lowered his head. “This subordinate knows he has made a mistake and will not beg for leniency from Your Highness. I request Your Highness’s punishment.”
Xue Xingyue looked at Feng Jiu. How could she not know that Feng Jiu was unwilling? Whether it was Feng Ming or himself, they were all acting for her. How could she bear to punish them?
“This must not happen again,” Xue Xingyue suddenly stated.
Feng Jiu blinked, stunned, and remained still for a long moment. Then he asked, “Your Highness, you are not going to punish this subordinate?”
Xue Xingyue stood up and said coldly, “If you wish to end up like Feng Ming, in that place, I can fulfill your wish.”
“Your Highness, please don’t. One Feng Ming is enough. You have too few people around you now. If you must punish someone, at least wait until Feng Wu and the others return,” Feng Jiu quickly said ingratiatingly.
Xue Xingyue looked at Feng Jiu coldly. “Do you remember?”
Feng Jiu blinked. “Your Highness, remember what?”
“This must not happen again,” Xue Xingyue said, enunciating each word clearly.
Feng Jiu replied with a fawning smile, “As long as Young Master Meng does not do anything wrong again, this subordinate will naturally not act rashly.” However, if he continued, then do not blame him for being willing to be punished by Your Highness to defend your honor.
Xue Xingyue said indifferently, “Feng Jiu, by doing so, you are not defending my honor, but rather disgracing the royal family.”
Feng Jiu blinked. “Your Highness, how can that be?”
“How can it not be? You refused Young Master Meng entry at the mansion’s gate, but did anyone see that?”
Feng Jiu blinked and suddenly understood. “Your Highness, this subordinate was too rash. I will definitely not do this next time. I should at least wait for the Young Master to enter the mansion before taking action.”
Xue Xingyue snorted coldly and left.
Feng Jiu touched his head. Did His Highness also agree with his actions?
When Meng Jiangming returned to his manor, the Duke of Ning’s residence was in an uproar. Madam Jiang saw the redness and swelling on her son’s left cheek and her anger surged. “Jiangming, didn’t I tell you to go to the Princess’s mansion? Where have you been fooling around now?”
Meng Jiangming felt a deep bitterness. “Mother, I really did go to the Princess’s mansion, but I didn’t expect that Princess Xingyue’s subordinate wouldn’t let me in and even hit me.”
“Then why didn’t you fight back?” Madam Jiang asked angrily.
“How could I possibly win? That person has been on the battlefield,” Meng Jiangming muttered quietly.
Madam Jiang chuckled humorously, then snorted coldly. “To be honest, you deserved it. Even I cannot overlook what you did at the palace banquet. How could the people at the Princess’s mansion swallow their anger? This is considered a light punishment.”
“Mother, why are you speaking like this to me? You seem to have vented your anger by seeing me get beaten?” Meng Jiangming said with slight dissatisfaction.
“Did I say something wrong? If not for this incident, I would have visited my future daughter-in-law at the Princess’s mansion long ago. I wouldn’t be in this situation where I want to go but cannot. I say, your beating was too light.”
“Mother,” Meng Jiangming was truly angered. What kind of mother speaks about her own child like this?
However, despite her words, Madam Jiang still felt sympathetic seeing Meng Jiangming beaten like this. She pulled Meng Jiangming to a chair and instructed Shao Yao, who was by her side, “Shao Yao, quickly fetch a basin of cold water and bring some medicinal ointment for bruises and sprains.”
Shao Yao received the order and withdrew.
Madam Jiang said, “Let’s see if you will act rashly next time?”
“Mother, I truly know I was wrong.” Although Meng Jiangming was angry that Feng Jiu had hit him, he also knew that what he and his cousin did at the palace banquet not only harmed the royal family’s reputation but also embarrassed Princess Xingyue. He had heard the rumors outside that Princess Xingyue was too plain-looking, which was why he wanted someone else.
“Madam, a servant from the Princess’s mansion claims to be at the door and has brought some medicinal ointment for bruises,” maidservant Zhu’er reported as she entered.
Madam Jiang heard this and said, “See him off properly and bring the medicine here.”
Meng Jiangming asked, “Mother, do you think this is Princess Xingyue’s intention?”
Madam Jiang snorted, “What do you think? Otherwise, do you believe anyone else would have such good intentions to send you medicine? Who do you think you are?”
Meng Jiangming’s lips twitched. “Mother, why do you speak like this…”
“What about my speech? Did I say anything wrong? If you were not my son, I…”
“You what?” Meng Jiangming asked.
Madam Jiang snorted coldly, “Apply your medicine!”
Seeing this, Meng Jiangming tugged at Madam Jiang’s sleeve and said with a fawning smile, “Mother, I won’t do it again next time.”