Jiang Feng refused to believe the fact that he was infertile. It was said that he grabbed the maids in the mansion and tested them one by one. As a result, he never succeeded. After some time, he gradually accepted the fact that he was infertile.
Ever since she had a falling out with the Jiang family that day, Madam Jiang had stayed in her room until the ancestral worship ceremony, when she finally appeared.
Jiang Family Ancestral Hall
Old Master Jiang led everyone to kneel before the ancestral tablets.
Xue Xingyue stood outside the door, gazing at the countless ancestral tablets, the resting place of the Jiang family's ancestors. When she was young, her Imperial Father often told her stories about Jiangnan, which included the Jiang family. It was said that Old Master Jiang's father, in a year of severe drought, had donated half of his family's wealth. Her Imperial Father, grateful for the Jiang family's actions, attempted to bestow an imperial decree of exemption from death upon them, but Old Master Jiang's father refused to accept the decree.
He said that if he accepted the decree, his descendants would become reckless and would not have a heart of repentance even if they made mistakes.
At that time, her Imperial Father said that Old Master Jiang's father was a wise man.
Thus, Old Master Jiang's father might not have imagined that one day, his descendant would still accept this golden medal of exemption from death.
Madam Liu walked out of the ancestral hall and curtsied to Xue Xingyue, "Your Highness."
Xue Xingyue nodded and said, "I shall also enter to offer a stick of incense to the ancestors of the Jiang family!"
Upon hearing this, Madam Liu quickly guided Xue Xingyue into the Jiang family's ancestral hall.
Xue Xingyue looked up. The ancestral tablet of Old Master Jiang's father stood prominently in the center. She took the incense stick handed to her by Madam Liu and placed it before the tablet.
The ancestral worship was completed.
Xue Xingyue went to Madam Jiang's courtyard. Madam Jiang probably did not expect Xue Xingyue to visit. She was eating the soup from her bowl. Upon seeing Xue Xingyue, she quickly finished the soup in her bowl.
Such a movement made Xue Xingyue somewhat curious.
"Your humble wife greets the Princess!" Madam Jiang stepped forward and curtsied.
"Madam is unwell, please rise quickly!" Xue Xingyue said.
Madam Jiang stood aside, and Xue Xingyue said, "Madam, please also be seated!"
"Thank you, Your Highness." Madam Jiang sat down.
Xue Xingyue said, "The ancestral worship has been completed. I wish to discuss with Madam when we should set off to return to the capital."
Madam Jiang said, "Your Highness decides."
Xue Xingyue nodded and said, "Then we shall set off for the capital in five days."
Madam Jiang said, "Yes, Your Highness."
Xue Xingyue stood up and said, "I shall take my leave. Madam, please do not see me out."
Leaving Madam Jiang's courtyard, she asked Feng Wu beside her, "Do you know what Madam Jiang was drinking?"
Feng Wu said, "It was a pregnancy-stabilizing medicine."
Xue Xingyue nodded, "That's good."
After all, it was an innocent life. She did not wish for Madam Jiang to extinguish the life of this small being.
"Your Highness, Jin Qing wishes to see you," Feng Jiu reported upon their return to the courtyard.
Xue Xingyue was startled and said, "Alright, prepare the carriage."
The carriage stopped. Xue Xingyue alighted from the carriage. Before she could reach the entrance, a small figure ran towards her. She caught the small figure and said, "Fairy Sister, you're here. I missed you so much."
Little Douya looked at her with two bewildered eyes. Xue Xingyue felt her heart melt. "Sister, I'm here now, aren't I?"
"Jin Xuan, hurry down," the young boy behind urged.
Jin Xuan hugged Xue Xingyue's neck and said, "No... I don't want to..."
"Jin Xuan, you are so heavy, you will tire Miss Xiao," Jin Qing said.
Jin Xuan opened his two dark eyes and asked Xue Xingyue, "Fairy Sister, am I heavy?"
Xue Xingyue was completely melted by Jin Xuan, shaking her head, "Not heavy, not heavy at all."
Jin Xuan rested his head on Xue Xingyue's shoulder and made a face at Jin Qing behind her, "Sister doesn't think I'm heavy, so I won't get down."
"Alright, you don't have to get down," Xue Xingyue said dotingly.
"Miss Xiao, please come in and sit," Jin Qing said with a slight bow.
Xue Xingyue sat down, holding Jin Xuan. Jin Xuan had already fallen asleep leaning on her shoulder. Jin Qing said, "Miss Xiao, let me hold Jin Xuan!"
Xue Xingyue said, "It's alright. I heard from Feng Jiu that you wanted to see me. Is there anything?"
Jin Qing said, "I recently contacted a distant uncle of mine, and he is willing to let me and Jin Xuan go to his place. So this time, I want to bid farewell to Miss Xiao."
Xue Xingyue heard this and said, "That's good news. When will you be leaving?"
Jin Qing said, "My uncle will arrive tomorrow, and we will leave here the day after tomorrow."
Xue Xingyue nodded and asked, "What are your plans for the future?"
Jin Qing said, "I want to study and then take the imperial examinations to become an official here."
As she said this, Jin Qing's eyes were bright.
"Very good, you will surely achieve your goal," Xue Xingyue said.
Jin Qing smiled. Her already elegant face became even more handsome. "Thank you, Miss Xiao, for your kind words. I only wonder if I will have the chance to repay you in the future."
"If you have the chance to go to the capital in the future, you can find me at Wanjun Restaurant," Xue Xingyue said, taking the money bag handed to her by Feng Wu. "Take this."
Jin Qing quickly refused, "Miss Xiao, this is absolutely not possible. Jin Xuan and I have already received a lot of care from you. I absolutely cannot take this."
Xue Xingyue placed the money bag into Jin Xuan's arms. Jin Qing could not take it back from Jin Xuan, so he could only bow and say, "Thank you, Miss Xiao. One day, I will surely repay you."
"Study hard, and pass the imperial examinations in the capital in the future, that will be the best repayment to me," Xue Xingyue said.
Jin Qing nodded and said with a determined gaze, "Miss Xiao, please rest assured. I will definitely not disappoint Miss Xiao."
Returning from Jin Qing's place, Xue Xingyue sat in the carriage and suddenly asked Feng Jiu, "Have you investigated the identity of Jin Qing's uncle?"
Feng Jiu said, "Your subordinate will investigate immediately."
Xue Xingyue nodded, "Go and investigate. Then I can also put my mind at ease."
Returning to the Jiang mansion, Xue Xingyue went back to her courtyard and felt somewhat tired. As soon as she lay on the bed, she fell asleep.
She was awakened by Feng Wu.
Opening her eyes and seeing Feng Wu, she couldn't help but ask, "What's wrong? Did something happen?"
Feng Wu said, "Madam Jiang has had a miscarriage."
Xue Xingyue was startled and quickly said, "Help me change. I'm going to see her."
Upon arriving at Madam Jiang's room, even before entering, she smelled the scent of blood. She could hear voices inside, presumably Madam Liu's, "My Lady, why didn't you say you were pregnant?"
Madam Jiang did not speak. Xue Xingyue walked in. Madam Liu saw her and quickly stepped forward to curtsy, "Greetings, Your Highness. It's very bloody here. Your Highness, please move."
Xue Xingyue heard this and said, "It's nothing. I wish to see Madam."
Madam Liu dared not say more and quickly moved aside. Xue Xingyue stepped forward and saw Madam Jiang, whose face was pale and bloodless. As if hearing her voice, Madam Jiang slowly opened her eyes, her gaze vacant, even somewhat despairing.