"All right, I agree to your terms," Xue Xingyue said.
Jin Qing smiled faintly, "Thank you, Miss Xue."
Exiting Jin Qing's room, Xue Xingyue's heart was heavy. "Your Highness, Miss Jiang wishes to see you."
Xue Xingyue was startled and coldly replied, "I will not see her."
Feng Wu said, "Your Highness, Miss Jiang mentioned that you would be interested in what she has to say."
Xue Xingyue furrowed her brows slightly. "Let her in!"
Soon, Jiang Xiuyi entered. Perhaps it was because she was about to become a favored concubine, but Jiang Xiuyi's complexion was good, much better than when she was in the capital.
"This commoner pays her respects to Your Highness," Jiang Xiuyi said, curtsying.
"Rise," Xue Xingyue said.
Jiang Xiuyi stood. "May I ask what business Miss Jiang has with this consort?" Xue Xingyue asked coldly.
Jiang Xiuyi said, "This commoner heard Your Highness inquiring about an antidote for the Three-Day Death."
Xue Xingyue was startled, her gaze turning cold. "Where did you learn of this?"
Jiang Xiuyi replied, "When Your Highness was in Auntie's room, this commoner happened to be there as well. However, I was in the inner chamber, and Your Highness was unaware of my presence."
"You know of the antidote?" Xue Xingyue asked.
Jiang Xiuyi said, "This commoner has only heard that the antidote must be administered by the poisoner. However, there is another method of cure."
"What method?" Xue Xingyue asked.
Jiang Xiuyi looked up and said, "There is also the method of killing the person who concocted the poison."
"What do you mean?" Xue Xingyue asked.
"Your Highness, only by killing the creator of this poison can the victim be cured," Jiang Xiuyi said, word by word.
Xue Xingyue's gaze turned cold. She surveyed Jiang Xiuyi and said coldly, "Do you understand the implication of your words?"
Upon hearing this, Jiang Xiuyi smiled. "Your Highness, please do not misunderstand. This commoner is merely telling you the method of cure. As for how to proceed, that is for Your Highness to decide."
"You may withdraw," Xue Xingyue waved her hand.
After Jiang Xiuyi curtsied, she retreated.
"Your Highness, you..."
"Feng Wu, do you think Jiang Xiuyi deliberately revealed this now to make me kill Elder Master Jiang?" Xue Xingyue narrowed her eyes.
"Your Highness, you must not fall for it," Feng Wu said.
Xue Xingyue chuckled softly. "Jiang Xiuyi is truly audacious. She knows that even if I discern her intentions, I can do nothing, for I must save Jin Qing."
"Your Highness, there must be another way," Feng Wu said urgently.
"Feng Wu, what do you think my Imperial Brother would do if I were to kill Elder Master Jiang?" Xue Xingyue raised her head. She had just granted Elder Master Jiang an imperial pardon, and now she was to have him executed?
Jiang Xiuyi, you have truly presented me with a dilemma.
Seeing Xue Xingyue's worried expression, Feng Wu stepped forward and said, "Your Highness, why not let this subordinate do it? This subordinate will bear all the blame afterward."
Xue Xingyue looked at Feng Wu. "Feng Wu, what are you doing?"
Feng Wu replied, "Your Highness desperately wishes to save Young Master Jin, so this subordinate..."
"Feng Wu, you have been my loyal guard for many years. Jin Qing is merely someone I have met a few times. If I had to choose, I would choose you, not Jin Qing," Xue Xingyue said. She knew where her priorities lay.
She was not someone who acted selflessly. Moreover, there was no need to make such a choice. If a choice were to arise, she would choose to protect those she valued most.
Feng Wu's heart stirred slightly. "Your Highness, this subordinate was rash."
Xue Xingyue said, "However, your words have reminded me. We don't have to kill Elder Master Jiang ourselves, but we can't stop others from doing so, can we?"
Feng Wu was taken aback. "Your Highness, what do you mean by that?"
Xue Xingyue curved her lips into a smile. "Let others do the killing."
Her clear eyes shone brightly.
However, Xue Xingyue soon began to ponder. Who would be suitable to bear this responsibility?
"Your Highness, someone requests an audience!" Feng Jiu called from outside.
Xue Xingyue was startled. Someone wished to see her? Did she have acquaintances in Jiangnan?
"Let him in," Xue Xingyue said.
Shortly after, Feng Jiu entered with a young man in tow. The man appeared to be around twenty years old, with an ordinary face, but his eyes were exceptionally beautiful, as if a galaxy was gathered within them, lending an extraordinary air to his common features.
The man stepped forward and bowed. "This humble subject pays his respects to Princess Xingyue."
"Rise," Xue Xingyue said.
She was certain she had never met this man. The fact that a stranger would seek her out unexpectedly made her wary. "May I inquire what brings this young master to see me?"
The man said, "This humble subject knows what Your Highness is hesitating about. This humble subject can help Your Highness accomplish what you wish to achieve."
Xue Xingyue narrowed her eyes, her gaze turning cold. The man did not flinch, allowing her to examine him freely. "I have never met you, yet you have seen me?"
The man said, "This humble subject has never seen Your Highness, but your wisdom is widely renowned."
"Oh? Is that so? Then perhaps you could tell me what renowned deeds I have accomplished?" Xue Xingyue asked with interest.
The man said, "This humble subject is fully aware of Your Highness's affairs in Zhen Wuguan. It is also known that if not for Princess Xingyue, the Xingchen Kingdom might not be as peaceful as it is now."
"You are from Zhen Wuguan?" Xue Xingyue asked.
The man nodded. "This humble subject is indeed from Zhen Wuguan."
"Very well, then tell me what troubles you are concerned with," Xue Xingyue asked.
The man looked up at her. "Elder Master Jiang currently holds an imperial pardon, making him unassailable. If Your Highness wishes to eliminate him, you cannot use those close to you. Thus, this humble subject is the best choice."
Xue Xingyue looked at the man, her gaze as clear and cold as frost. "How do you know that I wish to kill Elder Master Jiang?"
Upon hearing this, the man smiled faintly, then knelt on the ground. "This humble subject thanks Your Highness for saving my younger brothers, Jin Qing and Jin Xuan."
Xue Xingyue was startled. "You are Jin Qing and Jin Xuan's family?"
The man nodded. "Yes, but this humble subject left home a long time ago. It is likely my younger brother would not recognize me now. However, if I give this to my younger brother, he will recognize me."
Saying this, the man took out a jade pendant from his embrace and handed it over. Feng Jiu accepted it.
Xue Xingyue observed that the jade pendant was quite ordinary.
"Jin Qing is not feeling well at the moment and likely cannot see you. Perhaps you could return tomorrow. I will arrange for you to meet," Xue Xingyue said.
The man was overjoyed and quickly bowed his thanks. "This humble subject expresses his gratitude to Your Highness here."
After the man left, Feng Jiu asked, "Your Highness, this jade pendant..."
"This evening, take it to Jin Qing and observe his reaction," Xue Xingyue instructed.
Feng Jiu heard this and asked, "Does Your Highness suspect this person?"
Xue Xingyue said, "A person suddenly appears, not only to solve my problem with the medicine but also to be Jin Qing's brother. Feng Jiu, do you think such coincidences exist in the world?"
Why did she feel something was amiss?