Jin Qing heard this and shook her head, "Escaping his clutches is not an easy feat. This is no one's fault, it's only because of our humble status."
Xue Xingyue was startled.
Jin Qing continued, "Unless he dies, as long as my brother and I are still here, he will be able to find us."
Xue Xingyue knew Jin Qing was right. Only when Jiang Xifeng died would this all end.
Upon returning to the Jiang manor, Xue Xingyue was somewhat subdued.
Feng Wu noticed Xue Xingyue's unease and asked, "Your Highness, what troubles you?"
"Feng Wu, if I were to kill Jiang Xifeng, would that disrupt my imperial brother's plans?" Xue Xingyue inquired.
Feng Wu was taken aback. "Your Highness, if you simply wish to prevent His Majesty's plan from failing, I might have a solution."
Xue Xingyue looked at Feng Wu. "What solution do you have?"
Feng Wu replied, "One doesn't necessarily have to kill him. Making him wish he were dead is the most cruel fate."
Upon hearing this, Xue Xingyue chuckled softly, "Feng Wu, you are right. One doesn't always have to kill them."
Jiang Xifeng was unaware that Xue Xingyue had already devised his demise so quickly.
Not long after returning to her room, a maid from the Jiang family arrived to summon her.
Xue Xingyue initially had no intention of going. After all, she had tried to see Madam Jiang before, but Madam Jiang had refused all visitors. Now, what made her think she was someone who could be summoned at will?
She was, after all, Princess Xingyue, of noble status. However, seeing the urgency on the maid's face, she couldn't bring herself to refuse.
Upon arriving at Madam Jiang's room, she smelled the strong scent of mugwort.
Xue Xingyue stepped forward. Madam Jiang on the bed looked even paler than before, completely drained of color, which was somewhat frightening. "Madam, why do you look so unwell?"
Madam Jiang slowly opened her eyes and seeing Xue Xingyue, said, "Your Highness, please forgive this humble subject for not being able to curtsy."
"Madam, there's no need for ceremony. What is wrong?" Xue Xingyue asked.
Madam Jiang replied, "These past few days, I've felt stomach pains. I had this same situation when I was carrying Jiang Ming. I remember the doctor told me to use mugwort fumigation, but these past few days, it hasn't helped at all."
"Madam, please extend your hand, let me take a look." Xue Xingyue said.
Madam Jiang extended her hand. Xue Xingyue took her pulse, then withdrew her hand. She stated, "Madam, your pulse is unstable, making miscarriage prone. You must be very careful and avoid strenuous activity."
Upon hearing this, Madam Jiang's face turned even paler, and her expression became flustered.
Xue Xingyue observed this and said, "Madam, there's no need to be nervous. By strenuous activity, I mean you should not get out of bed for the next few days and rest well in bed."
Madam Jiang looked at Xue Xingyue, her expression calm.
Madam Jiang visibly relaxed and said, "Thank you, Your Highness."
"Madam, remember to drink the ginseng decoction." Xue Xingyue reminded her.
Madam Jiang nodded, "This humble subject has been drinking it."
"Wanyin." Suddenly, a voice called from outside the door, and Madam Jiang startled like a frightened bird.
Xue Xingyue's gaze turned cold. She stood up and said, "Madam, since someone has arrived, I shall take my leave."
Madam Jiang wanted to stop her, but also didn't. Finally, she said, "Your Highness, travel safely!"
Xue Xingyue walked out the door and saw Jiang Xifeng. Jiang Xifeng was momentarily stunned, not expecting to see Princess Xingyue here.
These past few days, apart from lunch, Princess Xingyue had stayed quietly in her courtyard, and he hadn't been able to see her.
Now, seeing Princess Xingyue's face, he still found her breathtaking.
"This commoner greets the Princess." Jiang Xifeng stepped forward to bow.
Xue Xingyue nodded slightly and then left.
Jiang Xifeng watched Xue Xingyue's retreating figure, his gaze lingering, unwilling to move away.
"Your Highness, Jiang Xifeng's gaze is truly disgusting," Feng Wu said, wishing she could dig out Jiang Xifeng's eyes. To look at Your Highness like that was simply brazen.
Xue Xingyue replied, "Bear with it a little longer. He won't be able to cause trouble for much longer."
Xue Xingyue took her dinner in her room as well. Besides the fixed meal at lunch, Xue Xingyue rarely went out at other times. A significant reason was Jiang Xifeng, but more so, she found the inner workings and unpleasantness of the Jiang manor disgusting. Eventually, she stopped attending lunch with them as well.
After all, she was Princess Xingyue, and no one would dare to say anything even if she didn't attend.
In the evening, Madam Jiang's little maid came again. Xue Xingyue did not refuse and went to Madam Jiang's courtyard.
Upon entering the room, she noticed a peculiar scent in addition to the mugwort. She looked towards the window and saw a bunch of brightly blooming flowers; they hadn't been there a few days ago.
"What kind of flower is this? It's so beautiful," Xue Xingyue stepped forward to examine the flowers.
As she moved closer, she saw Madam Jiang looking somewhat nervous. However, upon seeing that Xue Xingyue was merely looking at the flowers, she visibly relaxed.
"This was sent by my sister-in-law. Your Highness can smell it; it's very fragrant," Madam Jiang said.
Xue Xingyue took a sniff. "It is indeed fragrant." This flower must be problematic.
"Your Highness, after taking the medicine you prescribed, this humble subject feels much better," Madam Jiang said.
Xue Xingyue replied, "That's good. Since Madam is well, this Princess shall take her leave!"
With that, she prepared to depart.
Madam Jiang said, "Your Highness, if you have nothing else, please stay. This humble subject wishes to speak with you."
Xue Xingyue turned back, looking at Madam Jiang. "Madam, do you truly wish to speak with this Princess?"
Madam Jiang hesitated, her gaze darting away, but she still nodded. "Yes."
Xue Xingyue remained silent. Just as Madam Jiang thought she would refuse, Xue Xingyue said, "Very well! I have nothing else to do anyway."
Madam Jiang breathed a sigh of relief. Though inwardly struggling, she forced herself to steel her resolve.
"Madam, what would you like to hear about?" Xue Xingyue asked.
Madam Jiang seemed somewhat distracted and said, "Tell me about Your Highness's childhood."
Xue Xingyue nodded. "When I was young, I was very playful. One snowy night, I snuck out of the palace and got lost. I didn't know how to get back, crying and calling out, but no one appeared. Just when I thought I would freeze to death, I saw my imperial brother.
It turned out my imperial brother had followed me out secretly. I was wearing very thin clothes then, and my imperial brother draped his cloak over me. He carried me on his back all night until we returned, but he fell ill because of the cold wind that seeped into his body all night. My greatest wish is for my imperial brother to live well, and I would do anything for him."
Madam Jiang was taken aback. "His Majesty truly has deep brotherly affection for the Princess."
Xue Xingyue nodded. "Yes, my imperial brother is very kind. Perhaps all older brothers are like this?"
Madam Jiang's body stiffened, her hands tightly clenching the handkerchief in her grasp.
Xue Xingyue noticed this and said, "Madam, what about you? Is it the same for you?"