However, Jin Ning quickly realized that this was not the Snow Forest. Even if the Empress wanted to drug her, she wouldn't be foolish enough to do it in front of her.
Since the Empress dared to bring out this Ginger Wine, it meant that the matter of the aphrodisiac potion might indeed have nothing to do with the Empress.
That's true.
If the Empress wanted to kill her, she could have done so quietly; there would be no need to resort to such methods.
But even so, remembering the persecution in her previous life, Jin Ning knew the Empress's attitude towards her. Therefore, she was now on guard against the Empress with utmost vigilance.
Empress Xu saw this scene and said with a kind smile, "Alright, you must be tired. Go back and rest first."
Jin Ning replied softly, "Yes."
After Jin Ning left Qifeng Palace, she breathed a sigh of relief, feeling as if she had narrowly escaped death.
At this moment, inside the Empress's palace.
The Empress watched Jin Ning's departing back, her eyes softening. "This girl Jin Ning is a good girl, but it's a pity... she doesn't have much good fortune."
"I can't possibly let Chen'er marry a concubine-born daughter from a maidservant, can I?" the Empress continued.
Recently, Consort Xian was also planning to secure a daughter from the Yong'an Marquis Manor!
Regardless of whether the prophecy of the Heavenly Mandated Phoenix Girl was true or not, in terms of the status of a wife, how could she let her son be outshone by the Second Prince, who was born to Consort Xian?
"I also cannot bear the reputation of breaking off a marriage because of her poor background... so, I can only wrong this child," the Empress sighed, her eyes filled with pity.
Granny Zhao poured tea for the Empress and said, "Your Ladyship truly has a mother's heart."
...
After drinking the Ginger Wine, all the unhappy memories from her past and present life flooded Jin Ning.
If not for the Empress's test today.
She would not have been certain that the Empress was involved in the Ginger Wine!
Yes, Jin Ning was almost certain that the Empress was involved in the aphrodisiac potion matter. Otherwise, she wouldn't have specifically brought out the Ginger Wine today to test her reaction.
Jin Ning truly couldn't understand.
Actually, she didn't have to marry the Crown Prince. If the Empress disliked her, she would have told her, and Jin Ning wouldn't have pursued him so eagerly.
Why wouldn't they give her any way out?
There was no aphrodisiac potion in this Ginger Wine.
But it had a strong after-effect, enough to make Jin Ning a little tipsy.
When she came out, Haitang was nowhere to be found. She was wandering aimlessly on the mountaintop of Que Mountain Imperial Palace.
She was walking in the wind and snow and didn't notice that she almost bumped into someone.
By the time she reacted, the person was already in front of her.
Jin Ning subconsciously looked up. When she saw that stern and handsome face, she was stunned.
She had thought about finding an opportunity to attract His Majesty's attention, but she hadn't expected the opportunity to come so quickly!
Jin Ning's mind raced.
If she stopped directly now, it would seem too deliberate, as if she had intentionally come to find Xiao Yi to gain attention. For an Emperor like Xiao Yi, there were no shortage of women who threw themselves at him, and most of them were easily dismissed.
For her to attract this Emperor's attention, she needed to appear less deliberate.
Jin Ning had been educated as a Crown Princess, and the Yong'an Marquis Manor had also hired Mama from the palace to teach her. Although she had never personally used the methods of the palace, she was familiar with them.
She knew what she should do at this moment.
Thinking this, Jin Ning lowered her head, quickened her pace, and planned to walk past.
They had just brushed past each other.
That voice, filled with imperial authority, came from behind Jin Ning: "Stop."
Jin Ning's steps faltered slightly. Leaving behind a figure that looked slightly flustered and nervous, she stopped.
"Turn around," the slightly imposing voice came again.
Jin Ning was silent for a moment. Instead of turning around, she raised her leg and continued to run.
Seeing this, Xiao Yi was amused to the point of laughter.
This was not the first time Jin Ning had made this inscrutable Emperor laugh.
He had never encountered a woman like this girl in the Imperial Palace! She knew his identity, and now that she had been favored, she wasn't in a hurry to get a title, but she ran away when she saw him!
Before, Xiao Yi had thought that their encounter in Weaving Snow Palace was too coincidental and suspected that Jin Ning had deliberately appeared to climb the social ladder.
But now, with Jin Ning's attitude.
He suddenly realized that this girl seemed to have no intention of relying on him at all! She seemed to regard him as a snake or a scorpion, avoiding him as if he were poison!
After Jin Ning had left a distance, she could still feel his gaze on her. She knew that this time, her gamble had paid off.
Regardless of the reason, the Emperor's gaze had already lingered on her, hadn't it?
Xiao Yi watched Jin Ning disappear into the wind and snow.
Wei Mang, who arrived a step late, held Xiao Yi's dark cloak. "Your Majesty, your subordinate is here."
Wei Mang saw his master standing in the wind and snow, his expression one he had never seen before.
He couldn't help but ask, "Your Majesty?"
Xiao Yi withdrew his gaze and looked at Wei Mang, asking, "What kind of person do you think I am?"
So terrifying that the girl ran away without looking back as if she had seen a ghost, as if she didn't want any connection with him.
Wei Mang was silent for a moment, then quietly raised his eyes to look at the Emperor before him.
This Emperor was only thirty-six years old this year, but he had experienced much.
He entered the battlefield for training at the age of thirteen, achieved brilliant military merits at fifteen, and killed no small number of enemies.
He returned to court at sixteen and, in less than two years, defeated several princes and kings, and was made Crown Prince.
He ascended the throne as Emperor less than two months after becoming Crown Prince.
From a young Emperor to the current young man, more than ten years have passed.
This Emperor had accumulated immense prestige.
Even he, who had followed the Emperor for many years, dared not act recklessly.
He carefully chose his words and said, "Your Majesty is a benevolent Emperor."
"Benevolent? I thought I was terrifying." Xiao Yi thought of the girl who had fled like a rabbit just now and couldn't help but scoff.
Was she afraid of him to such an extent?
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