"Madam." Xue Xingyue had not expected Madam Jiang to be in such a state, her face ashen and her expression utterly despairing.
Seeing Xue Xingyue, Madam Jiang’s lips curved into a faint smile, her expression a mixture of self-mockery and sarcasm. "Your Highness, have you come to witness my fate? You see how miserable I am."
Xue Xingyue’s gaze paused slightly as she looked at Madam Jiang and asked, "How did he die?"
Madam Jiang looked at her and suddenly let out a piercing laugh, her eyes as if poisoned. "How did he die? Your Highness, don't you know better than I?"
Xue Xingyue furrowed her brows, looking at Madam Jiang's near-manic expression, and asked, "I understand? I do not understand."
Madam Jiang turned her head away, no longer looking at Xue Xingyue, and said coldly, "Your Highness, you have seen my fate. Therefore, please leave!"
Xue Xingyue looked at Madam Jiang, no longer pressing further. She stood up and walked towards the exit. As she reached the doorway, she suddenly turned back, looking at Madam Jiang, and said coldly, "If I wanted to harm your child, why would I wait until now?"
With that, she left.
Behind her, heart-wrenching cries could be heard.
Madam Liu stood outside the door and saw Xue Xingyue emerge. She quickly stepped forward and said, "Your Highness, Madam Jiang might be speaking out of turn due to her miscarriage. I beg Your Highness to spare her, considering she has lost her child."
Xue Xingyue turned to look at Madam Liu and said, "I entrust Madam Jiang to your care. Take good care of her."
Madam Liu quickly knelt and replied, "This... this subject obeys!"
Upon exiting Madam Jiang's courtyard, Feng Wu, who was behind her, asked, "Your Highness, what exactly happened? How did Madam Jiang miscarry?"
She had been keeping a close watch on Madam Jiang.
Xue Xingyue heard her and said, "In aristocratic households like this, such occurrences are not uncommon. However, I am curious how someone managed to cause Madam Jiang's miscarriage right under Feng Wu's nose. That is indeed a skillful hand."
"Your Highness, it is my subordinate's failing. I beg Your Highness to punish me." Feng Wu felt utterly disgraced that she couldn't even keep an eye on one person.
"This is not your fault. Moreover, Madam Jiang losing her child is a good thing." Otherwise, giving birth to a child in these circumstances might not have been a good thing.
"Your Highness, your subordinate will investigate who has been approaching Madam Jiang recently," Feng Wu said.
Xue Xingyue shook her head. "There's no need. Since they could act under your nose, they naturally wouldn't let you find them easily. It's better to save your energy!"
The news of Madam Jiang's miscarriage did not spread. Firstly, Xue Xingyue made some efforts to prevent it. Secondly, the Jiang family also truly wished to keep the matter quiet. Otherwise, if the Duke of Ning's estate came to demand accountability, the Jiang family would not be able to bear the consequences.
Due to Madam Jiang's miscarriage, Xue Xingyue delayed her return to the capital by a few days.
This also provided an opportunity to bid farewell to Jin Qing and Jin Xuan.
At this moment, Jin Xuan was reluctantly holding Xue Xingyue's hand, unwilling to part. "Sister, will I have another chance to see you?"
Looking at Jin Xuan's bright, dark eyes gazing at her, she felt a pang of reluctance. She picked up Jin Xuan and said, "Tell your brother to study hard. If you have the chance to visit the capital, you will be able to see sister."
Jin Xuan's eyes lit up instantly. "Really? As long as I go to the capital, I can see sister?"
Xue Xingyue nodded. "Yes."
"Then I will definitely urge my brother to study hard, and then I can see sister," Jin Xuan said happily, clapping his hands. Xue Xingyue said, "Yes, sister will be waiting for you in the capital, alright?"
"Okay," Jin Xuan said joyfully.
Xue Xingyue looked at Jin Xuan dotingly. "So, little Jin Xuan, you must take good care of yourself. Sister will be waiting for you." Jin Xuan nodded. "Sister, don't worry, I definitely will."
"Jin Xuan, stop clinging to Miss Xiao. We should be leaving." Jin Qing said, placing the last bundle into the carriage, addressing Jin Xuan who was still clinging to Xue Xingyue.
Jin Xuan was somewhat reluctant, but he also knew it was time to say goodbye. He tightly clutched Xue Xingyue's clothes with his small hands and said, "Fairy Sister, please don't forget me."
Xue Xingyue heard this and smiled. "I won't forget you. I'm still waiting for you to find me in the capital."
Jin Xuan nodded. "I will definitely go to the capital with my brother."
Jin Qing walked over at this moment and said, "Miss Xiao, please let me carry him!"
Xue Xingyue nodded. Jin Xuan looked at his fairy sister's embrace as he was taken away, his eyes slightly moist. Until he was in the carriage, his small hand was still waving, "Fairy Sister, please don't forget me."
"Your Highness, since you are reluctant, why not bring them back to the capital?" Feng Wu asked. Even if Your Highness was married, she could still keep them at the Princess's Mansion.
Xue Xingyue shook her head. "They will cherish what they earn for themselves. Moreover, Jin Qing is not someone who only seeks immediate comfort. He will definitely participate in the imperial examinations."
"Your Highness." Just as Xue Xingyue was about to return to the Jiang residence, Feng Jiu rode up.
"Feng Jiu, why are you only returning now?" Feng Wu asked.
Feng Jiu dismounted and came before Xue Xingyue, saying, "Your Highness, your subordinate investigated Jin Qing's distant uncle, but there is no such person."
Xue Xingyue was startled, her gaze darkening. She looked at Feng Jiu and said, "Tell me in detail." Da Feng Novel Network
Feng Jiu said, "Your subordinate sent people to Jiang Yu County, which Jin Qing mentioned, but there is no one named Lin Nan there."
Xue Xingyue's gaze paused slightly. Feng Wu beside her said, "There is no such person? But Jin Qing and the others have already been picked up by their uncle's people?"
"Pursue." Xue Xingyue grabbed the horse Feng Jiu was riding, mounted it, and galloped in the direction Jin Qing had left.
Feng Wu and Feng Jiu exchanged a glance, then untied the two horses in front of the carriage, mounted them, and followed in Xue Xingyue's direction.
A carriage stopped in front of a courtyard. The coachman said to the people inside the carriage, "Two young masters, we have arrived."
The carriage curtain was lifted, and a pair of long, slender hands emerged, followed by a slender figure walking out. His face was refined and fair, and his beautiful eyes looked slightly at the courtyard before them, his eyes upturned. "Is this the place Uncle prepared for us?"
"Yes, Young Master," the coachman replied.
"But I remember Uncle saying he had no property here. So how did this house appear?" Jin Qing coldly asked the coachman.
The coachman was startled, his gaze evasive. "It... it was bought specifically for the two young masters by the master."
"You are lying! I said he is just an ordinary merchant. Where would he get the money to buy such a large house? Who are you?" Jin Qing shouted coldly.
"My little darling, I have missed you dearly since our parting!" a voice called out. Jin Qing trembled all over and turned to look at the speaker.