“My brother,” Jiang Shi replied, “I know this, which is precisely why we cannot rush. If we anger His Majesty, then wouldn’t that…”
Jiang Xifeng coldly interrupted, “You are still thinking of the Duke of Ning’s manor, of the Meng family. Jiang Shi, have you forgotten? Without the Jiang family’s support, how could you have stabilized your position in the Duke of Ning’s manor? Don’t you remember how that concubine of Meng Lian died back then?”
Jiang Shi trembled, “Brother, you…”
“Sister, if you have forgotten, I don’t mind helping you remember,” Jiang Xifeng said with a slight chill in his gaze.
“Brother…” Jiang Shi’s voice began to tremble.
Seeing this, Jiang Xifeng stood up and walked to Jiang Shi. “Sister, there’s no need to be so anxious. Regardless, your brother is not someone who would disrupt your life. Otherwise, wouldn’t I have spoken up sooner?”
“Brother, what exactly do you want?” Jiang Shi watched Jiang Xifeng warily.
Jiang Xifeng replied, “Sister, you’ve truly grown up and have your own ideas. But that’s right, after all, in this Duke of Ning’s manor, how can one survive without their own methods?”
Saying this, Jiang Xifeng took a few steps back, preparing to leave.
Jiang Shi quickly asked, “Brother, where are you going?”
Jiang Xifeng replied, “Sister, there’s no need to be nervous. Your brother naturally knows these matters are not for you to decide, so your brother must go speak with someone who can decide. Sister, rest assured, your brother will be back shortly.”
After Jiang Xifeng left, Jiang Shi slumped onto the chair. Jiang Xiuyi, standing nearby, although unaware of the full extent of the connections between her father and aunt, knew that her aunt feared her father and that he likely held some leverage over her.
“Aunt, please don’t worry. Father’s actions are all for the good of the Jiang family. If the Jiang family prospers, then you will also prosper, won’t you?” Jiang Xiuyi said.
Jiang Shi nodded and replied, “Xiuyi, your aunt is a little tired. You should go back and rest.”
Jiang Xiuyi understood that Jiang Shi was indirectly asking her to leave. However, she wasn’t angry. After all, with her father’s arrival, she now had a powerful ally. Anything Jiang Shi might want to do to her would be impossible. Therefore, she didn’t insist on staying. She curtsied and said, “Aunt, Xiuyi will take her leave now.”
After Jiang Xiuyi departed, Jiang Shi finally breathed a sigh of relief. She had never imagined that one day she would also harbor fear towards the Jiang family.
“Your Highness,” Feng Jiu reported, “Jiang Xifeng’s subordinates are skilled in martial arts, so your subordinate was unable to overhear any specific details.”
“It’s fine. It would truly surprise me if you could hear anything,” Xue Xingyue said. “Who is Jiang Xifeng? He is no simple man, so it is entirely normal that Feng Jiu could not hear anything.”
“Were there any abnormalities with the Jiang family?” Xue Xingyue inquired.
Feng Jiu replied, “Madam seemed somewhat distracted.”
“If she can be distracted even by the joyous occasion of seeing her brother, it seems Jiang Xifeng’s arrival has not brought any good news to Madam,” Xue Xingyue remarked.
Feng Jiu nodded in agreement. “Yes, your subordinate also finds it peculiar. The Jiang family is small, with only Madam and Jiang Xifeng. Logically, after such a long time apart, they should be very happy.”
Xue Xingyue stated, “It seems some matters require investigation. Feng Jiu, send someone to Jiangnan.”
Feng Jiu was taken aback. “Your Highness, why Jiangnan?”
Xue Xingyue gazed into the distance and said, “Perhaps I will be going there soon.”
Feng Jiu paused, feeling a sense of confusion, but he did not ask further. He knew that if His Highness said so, there must be a reason.
In the evening, a message arrived from the palace, summoning Xue Xingyue to the palace immediately.
As Xue Xingyue exited the Duke of Ning’s manor, she happened to encounter Jiang Xifeng alighting from his carriage. This was the first time she had formally met Jiang Xifeng.
Jiang Xifeng stepped forward and bowed, saying, “This humble subject pays his respects to Princess Xingyue.”
Xue Xingyue glanced at Jiang Xifeng, said nothing, and proceeded directly to her carriage.
Inside the carriage, Feng Jiu looked at Xue Xingyue with a mix of amusement and helplessness. “Your Highness, you have never been so willful.”
Xue Xingyue smiled and replied, “Yes, I have never been this willful. Therefore, I want to be willful for once. After all, I am Princess Xingyue, the noble princess of the Xingchen Kingdom. Even if he is displeased in his heart, what can he do?”
Feng Jiu smiled. “Your Highness, you should indeed be like this.”
“Is that so?” Xue Xingyue asked.
Feng Jiu nodded. “You are a favored daughter of heaven. Is there anything in this world you cannot do?”
Xue Xingyue looked up and smiled. “Yes, but even knowing this, I cannot live as I please.”
Feng Jiu paused. For some reason, although he should have been happy for His Highness, as she was acting on her own for the first time, he felt an inexplicable sorrow for her.
The carriage stopped, and Xue Xingyue jumped out. “Feng Jiu, wait for me here. I want to walk the rest of the way alone.”
Feng Jiu did not refuse. Since this was the imperial palace, and given His Highness’s status, no one would dare to attack her. Therefore, he felt at ease. Xue Xingyue did not immediately proceed to the Imperial Study to see her imperial brother but instead went to Jiahe Palace.
As if expecting her arrival, Consort An stood at the entrance of the sleeping quarters.
Xue Xingyue smiled. “Consort An, are you welcoming me?”
Consort An also smiled faintly. “Whether it is or it isn’t, it is no longer important, is it? What is important is that Princess Xingyue is here now.”
Xue Xingyue nodded. “Indeed.”
“Come in!” Consort An said.
Xue Xingyue entered Jiahe Palace. Although the furnishings were the same as before, she felt a sense of desolation. “Why are there so few palace attendants?”
Consort An sneered, “I am currently confined by His Majesty. Which of these palace attendants are not ones to kowtow to the powerful and step on the weak?”
Xue Xingyue smiled and said, “They are truly foolish, aren’t they? Do they not know that confinement might be followed by great fortune?”
Consort An smiled. “Some people only see what is in front of them and never look ahead. So let them be. After all, I do not want those who are not loyal. Loyalty is hard to come by in this palace. Only those who remain are those I need.”
“Consort An sees things very clearly,” Xue Xingyue remarked.
Consort An replied, “If we speak of clarity, I cannot compare to Princess Xingyue. At least I cannot make sacrifices as Princess Xingyue does.”
Xue Xingyue looked up at Consort Jia. “You can do so as well, it simply depends on whom you are doing it for. My imperial brother is my family, just as Tian Yue is your inverse scale, is that not so?”