The Crown Prince’s dark eyes fixed on Xie Yunye.
This was the first time Xie Yunye had ever pleaded with him like this—and it might very well be the last.
Even though the Crown Prince intensely disliked this woman—disliked her glib tongue, disliked how she had bewitched Xie Yunye to such an extent—for the sake of their years of brotherhood, he still relented.
“Very well, I grant your request.”
On the day of Xie Yunye’s departure, Meng Jinyue went to see him off ahead of time.
She extended her snow-white palm, offering something to Xie Yunye.
“Yao Yao, is this a protective talisman?”
Delight flashed in Xie Yunye’s dark eyes as he carefully and tenderly cradled the object in his hands.
“Xie Yunye, I had this made for you. I hope it will keep you safe and bring you back unharmed.”
Since her rebirth, Meng Jinyue had been nothing but insincere, but in this moment, she was genuine.
She wanted Xie Yunye to live; she did not want him to die.
In her previous life, she had held grievances and reservations toward him.
Yet, regardless, to the people of the borderlands, Xie Yunye was a great hero.
Xie Yunye suddenly pulled her into a tight embrace, holding her so closely it felt as if he wanted to meld her into his very bones.
Only when Meng Jinyue began to struggle for breath did Xie Yunye release her.
Overcome with emotion, he leaned down and kissed her hair. “Yao Yao, I will return.”
Meng Jinyue nodded obediently.
“Yes, of course you will. You are a great hero; nothing will happen to you.”
In her past life, Xie Yunye had not died this time. Even though news had spread midway that he had fallen at the border, he was found again half a year later.
“Wait for me to marry you.”
Xie Yunye gently reached out and tucked the stray hairs framing her face behind her ear.
Meng Jinyue lifted her head and met his dark eyes, which were brimming with overwhelming affection.
“Alright.”
Meng Jinyue spoke the word.
But deep down, she knew very well that she would not marry Xie Yunye.
During this time, Xie Yunye had treated her exceptionally well, devoting himself entirely to her.
She was not entirely unmoved.
It was just that, in this lifetime, she would never again love anyone or accept anyone.
She only wanted to complete her mission, to earn a new life and survive.
This body of hers had only three years left to live; mere survival was already a challenge. How could she possibly spare any thought for anything beyond life itself?
Past and present intertwined. She thought, let all that has happened be considered a clean slate between her and Xie Yunye.
In the future… when he returned, if he wanted to resent or hate her, that was fine too.
But no matter what, she would not lose herself in love. She would only do what she must.
She wanted to live, to walk steadfastly toward her goal.
When the emperor saw Xie Yunye off, Meng Jinyue, due to her status, could not go to the front. She could only hide among the crowd.
Xie Yunye had anticipated this, so he had already bid her farewell in advance.
She had thought Xie Yunye would leave directly, but in the end, before the eyes of the public, Xie Yunye turned his horse back.
He swiftly dismounted from his tall steed and, clad in armor with a sword at his waist, strode toward Meng Jinyue in the crowd.
Xie Yunye stopped before her and extended his hand toward her.
The man was tall and imposing, the woman beautiful and delicate. Unaware onlookers would have called them a match made in heaven.
Meng Jinrong watched this scene with reddened eyes, her face contorted with hatred, her palms clenched so tightly they nearly drew blood.
If she were Xie Yunye’s fiancée, it would be her, not Meng Jinyue, basking in the envious gazes of those around her.
It was Meng Jinyue who had stolen what rightfully belonged to her!
Then, Meng Jinrong watched helplessly as Xie Yunye led the fox spirit to stand before the Crown Prince.
“Your Highness.”
The Crown Prince, sensing Xie Yunye’s intention, was momentarily stunned.
“Hmm.”
The Crown Prince understood that Xie Yunye did not distrust him but rather wanted to make things clear in front of everyone.
To tell all that the Crown Prince would protect his fiancée in his absence, thus avoiding some gossip.
“I entrust Yao Yao to Your Highness.”
The Crown Prince nodded solemnly. “I will take good care of her for you. With me here, she will be safe.”
“Thank you, Your Highness.”
Only after completing all this did Xie Yunye finally leave with peace of mind.
He cast one last reluctant glance at Meng Jinyue, gazing at her rosy cheeks. An impulse surged in his heart—he wanted to kiss her, to hold her.
But in the end, Xie Yunye restrained himself, only secretly squeezing her hand.
“Wait for me to return.”
“Alright.”
Meng Jinyue silently watched his gradually receding figure.
Compared to the Crown Prince’s melancholy and Meng Jinrong’s worry, Meng Jinyue was much calmer.
Because she knew that although Xie Yunye’s journey would be fraught with twists and turns, the outcome would be favorable.
Upon his return, a bright future would naturally await him.
And she too had her own path to walk.
Not long after Xie Yunye left, Meng Jinrong could no longer restrain herself and came directly for her.
This was also within Meng Jinyue’s expectations. After all, Meng Jinrong was not very bright, always like a firecracker ready to explode. To put it bluntly, she was a madwoman, a fool.
Innate intellectual deficiency—the intelligence of their legitimate mother must have all been inherited by Meng Jinhua.
However, a madwoman like Meng Jinrong was exactly what Meng Jinyue wanted.
“Kneel.”
“Second Sister?”
Meng Jinyue pretended to be innocent, continuously retreating. “What are you doing?”
Meng Jinrong sneered. “What are you hiding from? What are you retreating for? When Brother Xie was here, weren’t you quite arrogant? Back then, you even dared to smile at me, to provoke me. Why are you afraid now?”
“What are you standing around for? Stop her, press this wretch to the ground.”
Meng Jinyue couldn’t break free, and dust smeared her face.
Meng Jinrong crouched down, reached out to pinch Meng Jinyue’s face, and slapped her hard several times.
Still unsatisfied, she pressed Meng Jinyue’s head forcefully into the dirt on the ground.
Meng Jinyue pretended to struggle and cry, but in reality, she knew the Crown Prince’s people were hidden nearby.
“Wretch, now you know to cry.”
Meng Jinrong’s nails scraped across her face as if wanting to disfigure her.
“Second Sister, please don’t, I was wrong, please don’t.”
Her voice was full of sobs, which only excited Meng Jinrong more.
A flash of red skirt hidden in the dark corner of the wall also shifted slightly.
Meng Jinyue knew it was Meng Jinhua—she loved wearing red the most.
Today, the Crown Prince had promised to take care of her on Xie Yunye’s behalf, and Meng Jinhua must have sensed the threat.
So she let the fool Meng Jinrong charge ahead.
Someone like her would always prepare for the future. Today’s events were likely Meng Jinhua’s test, and also the beginning.
“Hmph.” Her pleas for mercy brought Meng Jinrong a rare sense of satisfaction.
“Wretch, I really want to ruin you, to gut you open.”
Gut her open. Meng Jinyue pretended to be afraid and closed her eyes, actually hiding the hatred in her heart.
Hadn’t her sisters done exactly that in her past life?
Not only that, they had also locked her newborn child and her mother in a dog cage, leaving them to be torn apart and devoured by wild dogs.
The child in her womb for eight months, who had never had the chance to open its eyes and see the world, died just like that.
She didn’t even know what he looked like, only that he was very small, and had died just like that under the claws of beasts.
Meng Jinyue clenched her fists, tears streaming down like a spring. How could she not hate?
Her own flesh and blood, the mother who gave birth to her and raised her…
And the mastermind behind it all was Meng Jinhua.
“Stop!”
Meng Jinrong was startled by this angry shout, and the flash of red skirt in the shadows quickly disappeared.
“Lin Daren!”
Meng Jinrong looked panicked. She had deliberately chosen this place to ensure no one was around.
She had also specifically picked this timing, thinking that the Crown Prince had not yet assigned anyone to Meng Jinyue’s side.
“What does Miss Meng intend to do?”
“Although General Xie is not here, the Crown Prince still is. Does Miss Meng wish to offend the Crown Prince?”
Each question made Meng Jinrong’s expression grow uglier.
In the end, she could only watch helplessly as the Crown Prince’s men took Meng Jinyue away.
“Miss Meng, the Crown Prince hopes this will be the last time.”
The warning was delivered in an extremely calm tone, yet it inexplicably made Meng Jinrong tremble, a surge of fear rising in her heart.
She thought of the Crown Prince… Although he usually appeared approachable, his methods were ruthless enough.
With the Crown Prince around, could she really deal with this wretch and take her life?
“Thank you, Your Highness.”
When Meng Jinyue was brought before the Crown Prince, she looked utterly disheveled.
The Crown Prince narrowed his long, narrow eyes, his brows tightly furrowed. “The person just left, and you’ve already turned into this sorry state?”
Meng Jinyue lowered her head even further, biting her lips tightly. Ignoring the Crown Prince’s disdain, she thanked him with a choked voice, “Thank you, Your Highness, for saving me.”
“No need for thanks. I don’t want to waste time on fools. Don’t come looking for me again in the future. Lin Shenghè will assign someone to stay by your side.”
Meng Jinyue timidly spoke up, “But… but Ah Ye told me to follow Your Highness and also to take care of you.”
“Are you taking care of me, or am I taking care of you?”
The Crown Prince sneered coldly.
His expression was impassive as he said sternly, “Forget everything Xie Yunye told you. Don’t think about getting close to me or trying to please me.”
“I don’t fall for your tricks, and I will never go easy on you.”
Little Xie is temporarily offline for now ^O^