But soon, Jin Ning reached up and adjusted the thin veil on her face, and her heart settled.
"Why are you stopping me?" Jin Ning asked calmly.
Jin Ning's voice, carrying the inherent nobility of a daughter from a noble family, made Wei Mang subconsciously more polite.
"A banquet is being held today. To ensure His Majesty's safety, everyone ascending the mountain must be inspected. Please remove your veil," Wei Mang said, cupping his hands.
Upon hearing this, Jin Ning couldn't help but raise an eyebrow.
Could seeing the woman's face guarantee His Majesty's safety?
This Wei Mang, could he possibly... have ulterior motives?
But no matter why Wei Mang was guarding here, Jin Ning dared not let him see her face. Who knew if Wei Mang had gotten a clear look at her when she ran off that day?
Haitang did not know who Wei Mang was.
At this moment, she softly scolded, "How dare you! Is our young lady's appearance something you are fit to see?"
Wei Mang was not angered. He simply cupped his hands and said, "This subordinate is merely following orders."
"Following orders? Whose orders?" Haitang continued.
The Yong'an Marquis's Manor had trained Haitang when they trained Jin Ning.
If Jin Ning was to become the Crown Princess, how could the people around her be useless pushovers?
This bearing was naturally not something an ordinary maidservant could possess.
Wei Mang glanced in the direction of the mountaintop and said, "Naturally, I am following the orders of..."
Before he could finish speaking.
A sharp cry came from behind Jin Ning: "Pei Jin Ning!"
If there was anyone in Bianjing who understood Jin Ning the most, to the point of recognizing her from just her back.
It would undoubtedly be Liu Zhenzhen.
Before Jin Ning could react, Liu Zhenzhen had already arrived and proceeded to size Jin Ning up.
"It really is you!" Liu Zhenzhen scoffed.
Jin Ning was also looking at Liu Zhenzhen. Just as Haitang had said, Liu Zhenzhen was dressed in colorful attire today, her face covered by a colorful veil adorned with gold leaves.
In the past, Jin Ning had thought Liu Zhenzhen was unruly and lawless, and she always provoked her, making her extremely disliked.
However, now, she actually felt that the Liu Zhenzhen before her was not only not annoying but also exceptionally forthright and charming.
Liu Zhenzhen looked at the veil on Jin Ning's face and rolled her eyes. "I say, Pei Jin Ning, what's the point? If you hate me, just come at me head-on! Who are you trying to disgust by wearing a veil?"
Jin Ning: "..."
Liu Zhenzhen seemed to have other matters and didn't want to get entangled with Jin Ning here, so she strode inside.
Wei Mang was about to stop her.
Liu Zhenzhen raised her eyebrows and impatiently cursed, "Are you an idiot? Can't you tell who I am?"
Wei Mang was rebuffed. "Miss Liu, please proceed inside."
This young lady, without even seeing her face, just by hearing her arrogant voice, he knew... she was the only daughter of the Changping County Princess.
Who was the Changping County Princess? She was the orphan of the Pingxi General, a county princess personally enfeoffed by the former emperor, who grew up in the palace from childhood. The former emperor treated the county princess like his own daughter.
In short, the daughter of this county princess was not to be trifled with!
Liu Zhenzhen went in.
Wei Mang looked awkwardly at Jin Ning. "Eldest Miss Pei, please."
Jin Ning raised an eyebrow. "Aren't you going to inspect what's under my veil anymore?"
Wei Mang quickly said, "This subordinate dares not."
He had clearly heard what Liu Zhenzhen had just said! The person before him was no other than Pei Jin Ning of the Yong'an Marquis's Manor! The future Crown Princess!
It was true that he was ordered to investigate that person, but if His Majesty found out that he had investigated this person and linked her to the future Crown Princess.
Wei Mang couldn't help but shrink his head.
His head, even if he didn't have to move, would be heavily punished.
Moreover, that person couldn't possibly be Eldest Miss Pei. After all, she was with the Crown Prince that day.
"This subordinate apologizes for disturbing Eldest Miss Pei. Please forgive this subordinate," Wei Mang continued.
He absolutely had no reason to bow to a daughter of a noble family, but towards Pei Jin Ning, he had to be polite.
Jin Ning spoke calmly, "It's alright. You are also following orders."
After speaking, Jin Ning, with dignified grace, walked past Wei Mang.
Wei Mang watched Jin Ning leave, and couldn't help but sigh inwardly, "As expected of the future Crown Princess! Such bearing, such demeanor, not something an ordinary young lady can compare to."
As Jin Ning walked, she pondered the recent events. Wei Mang, as His Majesty's most trusted subordinate, why was he guarding the entrance, inspecting the appearances of daughters from noble families?
Thinking this, Jin Ning became increasingly uneasy.
So she instructed Haitang, "If anyone asks, say that I was with the Crown Prince yesterday."
She would fool them for as long as she could.
Haitang looked at Jin Ning with heartache, not thinking of anything else, and said, "You've truly been wronged, Miss."
Eldest Miss was stood up by the Crown Prince, yet she still had to maintain appearances... wasn't that being wronged?
Jin Ning was not afraid of Pei Mingyue revealing this.
Because she had already been punished for this matter, and... both morally and logically, Pei Mingyue's going to the Golden Wind Terrace with the Crown Prince was not an honorable affair.
Pei Mingyue should be more afraid than herself of others knowing about this matter!
Perhaps Pei Mingyue was already regretting showing off about it to her yesterday.
The banquet was held at the Listening Snow Pavilion atop Mount Que.
When Jin Ning arrived, the people from the Yong'an Marquis's Manor had already been there for a long time.
At this moment, the Yong'an Marquis, Madam Song, the Marchioness of Yong'an, and the Second Young Master Pei Jingchuan were all gathered around Pei Mingyue, discussing something.
Pei Jingchuan was the first to see Jin Ning there. He snorted and showed no intention of acknowledging Jin Ning, instead turning in another direction.
As for the Yong'an Marquis and Madam Song, it was unclear whether they had seen Jin Ning.
Having experienced the events of her previous life, it was very difficult for Jin Ning... or rather, it was completely impossible for her to feel close to the Yong'an Marquis's family anymore!
Even close contact would remind her of the heart-piercing pain of her previous life.
With no one to greet her, Jin Ning didn't rush to the front.
At this moment.
Accompanied by the eunuch's announcement: "His Majesty has arrived!"
A figure in imperial yellow strode through the snow from outside the Listening Snow Pavilion.
The figure entered the pavilion in a few steps and arrived beside Jin Ning. Jin Ning caught the familiar scent of pine wood and was momentarily lost in thought.
By the time Jin Ning came to her senses.
Everyone else had already knelt on the ground, leaving her the only one still standing.
That stern gaze fell upon Jin Ning. At this moment, the Yong'an Marquis reprimanded Jin Ning, "How can you be so ill-mannered, not bowing when you see His Majesty!"
Jin Ning quickly knelt down. "I pay my respects to Your Majesty."
Xiao Yi looked at the Yong'an Marquis who had just spoken, then at Jin Ning, and asked, "This is..."
"This is my daughter," the Yong'an Marquis said nervously.
Xiao Yi frowned slightly. "Pei Jin Ning?"
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