Pei Jingchuan was slightly stunned by Jin Ning's question.
After a long while, Pei Jingchuan finally spoke as if guilty: "It's precisely because I consider you my sister that I don't want to see you become like this!"
Jin Ning chuckled lightly: "So, I should thank you then?"
"Of course you..." Pei Jingchuan was about to say, "Of course you should thank me," but as the words reached his lips, he realized Jin Ning's previous statement was not sincere, but rather filled with deep sarcasm.
Pei Jingchuan's expression darkened: "Pei Jin Ning, are you determined to oppose me? Can you not stand Mingyue at all?"
"Don't forget, without Mingyue, you would be a lowly concubine-born daughter. Everything you possess now should have belonged to Mingyue!" Seeing Jin Ning's unyielding demeanor, Pei Jingchuan spoke without restraint.
Upon hearing this, Jin Ning looked up and seriously at Pei Jingchuan, then walked past him with a desolate expression.
At this moment, she had lost the strength to argue with Pei Jingchuan.
Stung by Jin Ning's somewhat desolate gaze, Pei Jingchuan realized that what he had just said seemed too hurtful.
He regretted it slightly.
He really shouldn't have impulsively said those words just now.
But it wasn't entirely his fault!
Since Jin Ning's return, in just two days, she had openly and secretly targeted Mingyue. Clearly, Mingyue was the one who had suffered all the grievances! It was Jin Ning, Jin Ning who couldn't recognize her own status, and now wanted to ostracize Mingyue! Everything was Jin Ning's fault! She had gone too far!
Thinking this, Pei Jingchuan seemed to convince himself, and without forgetting, shouted at Jin Ning's retreating back: "In short, take care of yourself!"
Haitang quietly followed behind Jin Ning and after a while, said: "Eldest Daughter, please don't take the Second Young Master's words to heart, and don't be sad because of them."
Jin Ning looked at Haitang and smiled: "I'm not sad."
Really, not sad at all.
She should have realized this long ago!
If these people had truly cared about her even a little, they wouldn't have forced her to die for honor in her previous life.
Because only by her death could the Yong'an Marquis Manor's reputation for virtuous women be preserved, and it would be natural for Pei Mingyue to marry Xiao Chen.
Hadn't she already figured out these reasons long ago?
Why should she still hold expectations for these so-called family members now? Without expectations, there would be no sadness.
After changing her clothes, Jin Ning did not intend to return to the palace banquet.
So she asked Haitang to go back and tell Madam Song that she was feeling unwell and needed to return to rest.
This statement was half true and half false.
Her body was not unwell, but she truly did not want to return to the palace banquet.
The reason for not returning was twofold: firstly, she disliked interacting with Madam Song and Pei Mingyue; secondly, she saw Xiao Yi emerging from the Weaving Snow Palace, slowly strolling in the snow.
...
The charcoal fire in the Weaving Snow Palace burned too intensely, and the officials had relaxed considerably, their voices becoming noisy.
After drinking a couple of cups of wine, Xiao Yi felt a bit stuffy, so he left the banquet first, dismissed his attendants, and walked alone.
Compared to the lively Weaving Snow Palace.
The Que Mountain Imperial Palace, shrouded in vast white snow, was exceptionally quiet as the snow fell silently.
Unknowingly, he had walked quite far, reaching the vicinity of the west side hall.
Although this place was not completely abandoned like the Weaving Snow Palace, it was still rarely visited, even though it was within the imperial palace grounds.
Xiao Yi greatly enjoyed this feeling of being alone in a vast, empty world.
It allowed him to temporarily forget his identity and have some quiet time alone.
Everyone said that as the Emperor, the one who set the rules for the world, he must be the most unrestrained person in the world.
Only Xiao Yi knew.
Being the Emperor, bearing the weight of the nation's destiny, was not an easy task.
Even coming to the Que Mountain Imperial Palace was not entirely for enjoyment; he had other plans.
As Xiao Yi walked, he suddenly stopped and said coldly: "Who!"
Jin Ning hid behind the rockery, holding her breath, not daring to make a sound, seemingly not wanting to be discovered there.
Xiao Yi said with cold eyes: "Do you want me to personally invite you out?"
As he spoke, Xiao Yi's deep eyes were filled with coldness, and he strode over.
Just as Xiao Yi was about to kick aside the person hiding there, acting timidly.
Xiao Yi clearly saw the appearance of the person behind the rockery.
It was a young girl in a goose-yellow dress, with no hair ornaments on her bun, her hair like dark clouds, half-loose.
At this moment, she was sitting on the white snow, hugging her knees, sobbing softly, looking as if she had suffered great injustice.
Xiao Yi frowned slightly. He was not a man who pitied the weak, and seeing this woman crying there did not evoke much sympathy.
However, he also did not wish to trouble a delicate woman. Moreover, it was likely a coincidence that this woman appeared here; her shoulders were already covered in a lot of snow, meaning she had arrived much earlier than him.
But just as Xiao Yi was about to turn and leave.
The woman slowly raised her head and looked at him.
Then, as if greatly startled, she got up and tried to run.
With just one glance, Xiao Yi recognized who she was.
Last time, Xiao Yi hadn't expected the woman in front of him to run upon seeing him, so he let her escape.
But this time, Xiao Yi's actions were faster than his words.
He grabbed Jin Ning's wrist and pulled her back forcefully.
Jin Ning was instantly pulled back, her entire body falling once again into that broad and stern embrace.
Jin Ning struggled slightly.
Xiao Yi lowered his gaze, looking at the woman he held captive in his arms, and asked: "Why are you running? Do I scare you that much?"
Jin Ning fragilely looked up at Xiao Yi and said softly: "Your M-Majesty."
"Knowing I am the Emperor, you still dare to run? Why are you hiding from me?" Xiao Yi asked sternly.
Jin Ning was silent for a moment, then said softly: "This commoner woman, this commoner woman is not hiding from Your Majesty."
Upon hearing this, Xiao Yi said with a stern face: "Since you know my identity, you should also know the consequences of deceiving the ruler."
After saying this, Xiao Yi noticed that the woman in his arms, whether from fear or cold, was trembling uncontrollably.
Her pale little face had lips tinged red from the cold, her eyelashes like raven feathers trembled slightly, and her whole being looked fragile and pitiful.
Xiao Yi frowned, pulling Jin Ning forward.
Within a few steps, Xiao Yi pushed open the door of the side hall.
Although no one lived in the hall and few people came here, it had been meticulously cleaned.
Although there was no charcoal fire inside, it blocked out the wind and snow, making it feel much warmer.
The snow on Jin Ning's hair had begun to melt, and the misty vapor made her look like a water ghost.
Xiao Yi looked at Jin Ning in front of him and asked with a frown: "Tell me, why are you afraid of me?"
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