“Hush, don’t speak, it’s not good if others hear,” the two young maids opened the door.
Xue Xingyue walked out, and Feng Wu whispered behind her, “I never imagined the Jiang family had such a secret past?”
Xue Xingyue said, “Let’s go to Madam Jiang’s room to have a look.”
Feng Wu nodded.
They arrived at Madam Jiang’s room. There was no one outside the door. Xue Xingyue approached the window, poked a hole in the paper, and then, by the dim candlelight, saw Jiang Xifeng looking at Madam Jiang with a face full of terror.
“Brother, get out, get out immediately,” Madam Jiang said angrily.
Jiang Xifeng did not retreat. Instead, he stepped forward with a wicked smile. “Wan Yin, you and I were intimate eighteen years ago. How is it that after eighteen years, you don’t recognize your brother? Or do you think that becoming the wife of the Duke of Ning’s mansion makes you fearless?”
“Elder brother, it was my recklessness in the past. I will not let you manipulate me anymore. Please leave. Don’t forget, there is not only me in the Jiang manor, but also Princess Xingyue.” Madam Jiang said sternly.
Jiang Xifeng laughed heartily. “Even if Princess Xingyue is here, Madam Jiang, would you dare to say such things? Do you want everyone to know that eighteen years ago, you used your pregnancy to be intimate with me? To share the joys of marriage?”
“Shut up, you shut up,” Madam Jiang said angrily.
Jiang Xifeng walked to Madam Jiang’s front, looking at her face, which had not changed at all in the past eighteen years. If there was any change, it was that Madam Jiang had become even more charming and captivating.
Since that reckless night eighteen years ago, Jiang Xifeng had never forgotten. However, for the following eighteen years, no matter how he asked Madam Jiang to return, she refused.
He thought he would never have another chance. Who knew that a letter from Xiu Yi would reignite his desire?
“Wan Yin, I know you are pregnant again. Even if something happened between us, no one would find out. Just give in to me!” As he spoke, Jiang Xifeng picked up Madam Jiang. Madam Jiang struggled and was about to cry out, but Jiang Xifeng quickly covered her mouth.
Madam Jiang struggled in despair.
Just then, a voice suddenly sounded from outside the door. “Madam, are you asleep?”
Madam Jiang trembled all over, and Jiang Xifeng looked at her, whispering, “Let her leave.”
Seeing Madam Jiang not replying, Xue Xingyue said, “Madam, I saw you were distressed this afternoon, so I brought you some ginseng.”
Madam Jiang was startled. Jiang Xifeng saw the hesitation in Madam Jiang’s eyes and said coldly, “Wan Yin, do you want Princess Xingyue to know about you and me?”
Madam Jiang trembled all over. Jiang Xifeng continued in a low voice, “Even if she knows, I don’t care. But what about you, Wan Yin? Can you be sure Princess Xingyue won’t tell anyone? If the Duke of Ning finds out…”
Madam Jiang’s body stiffened.
Seeing this, Jiang Xifeng reached out and unbuttoned Madam Jiang’s clothes, whispering in her ear, “This is right. As long as you don’t say it, and I don’t say it, no one will know, will they?”
Madam Jiang slowly closed her eyes, tears streaming down her cheeks.
“Your Highness,” Feng Wu said to Xue Xingyue.
Xue Xingyue stood there, then turned and said, “Let’s go!” Since Madam Jiang didn’t need her help, it was meddling.
“Your Highness,” Feng Wu followed, whispering, “Aren’t we going to intervene?”
“She chose her path. What right do I have to change the path others choose?” Xue Xingyue said.
Feng Wu was startled and said, “But…”
“Enough, let’s not let anyone else know about this,” Xue Xingyue said.
Feng Wu nodded. “Your subordinate will naturally keep silent. But I never expected this Jiang manor to have so much filth.”
Xue Xingyue sneered, “There will be much more in the future. You can’t bear it now?”
Feng Wu sighed, “It’s better to be in Zhen Guan. There’s no filth at all.”
“Let’s go back!” Xue Xingyue said.
After that night, Xue Xingyue went to see Madam Jiang for two consecutive days, but Madam Jiang refused to see her with various excuses. On the third day, Xue Xingyue simply stopped going. Since she was being refused, she might as well not go.
Thinking of the little sprout and Jin Qing, Xue Xingyue decided to go and see them.
Before she reached the door, she heard voices from inside.
Xue Xingyue and Feng Wu exchanged glances and quickly went to the door. The door was unlocked. Pushing it open, Xue Xingyue saw Jin Qing kneeling on the ground, still bare-chested, while Xiao Douya lay near the base of a tree, watching Jin Qing kneel there with wide eyes.
Just as Xue Xingyue was about to step forward, she saw someone walk out of the room. She was startled. This person was none other than Jiang Xifeng. Jiang Xifeng was holding a whip and mercilessly striking Jin Qing’s back as he knelt there.
Jin Qing gritted his teeth and did not utter a sound of complaint.
Jiang Xifeng sneered, “So much backbone? But I remember last year you were begging me on the ground to let you go. What? Have you become bolder now? Have your wings grown hard? Or do you have a backer?”
Jin Qing remained silent.
Jiang Xifeng said coldly, “I’m not afraid of who your backer is. Here in Jiangnan, only I call the shots.”
“How can you let me and my brother go?” Jin Qing finally spoke.
Jiang Xifeng looked at Jin Qing, a cold smile curling his lips. “Serve me until I’m happy, and I’ll let you both go.”
Jin Qing gritted his teeth and said, “I won’t.”
“You won’t? I can teach you. A few days ago, your brother injured the old master. Now the old master is fully searching for you brothers. If your brother falls into the old master’s hands, you know the consequences,” Jiang Xifeng leaned down and said word by word to Jin Qing.
Jin Qing’s gaze was forbearing. He looked at Jiang Xifeng and said, “It wasn’t my brother.”
“It doesn’t matter whether it was you or not, don’t you know?” Jiang Xifeng laughed triumphantly.
“You…”
Jiang Xifeng sneered, “Jiangnan is in my hands. It’s a fool’s dream to escape from my grasp. However, if you serve me well, I will give you a much better life.”
“You wish…” Jin Qing said.
Jiang Xifeng’s gaze turned cold. “You refuse a toast only to be forced to drink a forfeit.” With that, he lashed Jin Qing severely.
Xue Xingyue tore off a piece of her robe, covered her face, and then leaped forward. Just as Jiang Xifeng’s whip was about to fall on Jin Qing, it suddenly struck him instead.
Jiang Xifeng was furious. “Who is it? Who dares to hit me?”
“It’s me who hit you,” Xue Xingyue said angrily.
She fiercely whipped Jiang Xifeng. Jiang Xifeng, startled, scrambled away with his head covered.
Xue Xingyue whipped Jiang Xifeng to the ground. She stepped on his chest and said coldly, “Weren’t you beaten enough that night? Haven’t you learned your lesson?”
Jiang Xifeng trembled all over and looked at the masked person stepping on his chest. “It… it’s you?”
“It’s me. What? You can’t catch me, so you’re taking it out on them?” Xue Xingyue asked.
Jiang Xifeng quickly said, “Heroine, spare me. I didn’t know it was you.”
“Do you know now?”
Jiang Xifeng nodded repeatedly. “I know, heroine, spare me, heroine, spare me!”
“Don’t let me find out you’re bullying them again, or I won’t mind killing you.”
Jiang Xifeng’s body stiffened. He begged for mercy. “I dare not, I will never dare again.”
“Get out…” Xue Xingyue kicked Jiang Xifeng to the door. Jiang Xifeng, supported by servants, scrambled away like a rolling gourd.
Xue Xingyue turned to Jin Qing and helped him up. “Do you need me to call a doctor?”
Jin Qing shook his head. “No need.”
Jin Qing went to Xiao Douya, picked him up, and said, “Brother, look, the fairy sister you’ve been longing for has come to save us.”
Xiao Douya turned his head. Xue Xingyue pulled down the cloth from her face and smiled, “I’m here.”
Xiao Douya cried out loudly. “Fairy sister, I’m scared, I’m so scared…”
Xue Xingyue was startled. She took Xiao Douya from Jin Qing’s arms and said, “Don’t be afraid, sister is here. From now on, they won’t dare to bully you again. If he comes, I’ll beat him every time.”
Xiao Douya nodded. “Fairy sister is so amazing. Fairy sister, can you teach me?”
“Yes, but you need to get better first,” Xue Xingyue said.
Xiao Douya also nodded. “I will get better very quickly.”
Soon, Xiao Douya fell asleep.
Jin Qing took Xiao Douya and said, “Thank you.”
“I’m sorry, I didn’t realize he could still find them,” Xue Xingyue said, not expecting Jiang Xifeng’s influence to be so great.