Jin Ning fell into thought upon hearing this.
Does he like her very much?
She just didn't know if Xiao Yi would still be able to say he liked her very much after he found out that she was the woman from the Weaving Snow Palace on that snowy night.
If he could still like her then, it would be true love.
Seeing Jin Ning's fragile appearance and recalling the Imperial Physician's words about her dangerous illness, Xiao Chen's heart softened, and he couldn't help but add, "Ning Ning, it's not just Father Emperor and Mother Empress who are worried about you; I am too."
Jin Ning snapped back to reality and looked at Xiao Chen with a serious expression, "Your Highness the Crown Prince should still call me Eldest Miss Pei."
In front of Pei Mingyue, he called her Eldest Miss Pei, but now he was calling her Ning Ning?
Since she had decided to rely on Xiao Yi, that great tree, to enter the palace, she could no longer have any involvement with the Crown Prince.
Xiao Chen took Jin Ning's words as her being temperamental and didn't take them to heart. He continued, "Ning Ning, are you still angry with me for breaking our appointment in the Snow Forest that day?"
Before.
When Jin Ning saw Xiao Chen, her heart was filled with joy.
But now, Jin Ning spoke with a blank expression, "Your Highness misunderstands. As a humble concubine-born daughter, how could I dare to be angry with Your Highness?"
Xiao Chen frowned, "By saying that, aren't you still angry with me?"
At this point, Xiao Chen paused slightly and said helplessly, "I know you're just throwing a tantrum because I've been good to Mingyue."
"Ning Ning, as the future Crown Princess, you must not be petty or jealous," Xiao Chen continued.
It was better not to mention it.
Mentioning her becoming the Crown Princess struck a nerve with Jin Ning.
Jin Ning's blood rushed to her head, and she retorted sarcastically, "Future Crown Princess? Does Your Highness still intend for me to be the Crown Princess?"
Xiao Chen frowned upon hearing this and looked at Jin Ning before him, "Ning Ning... when did I ever say I didn't intend for you to be the future Crown Princess?"
That's right.
Xiao Chen hadn't said it, but a month after she died for her principles, he married Pei Mingyue and doted on her so much that she couldn't get out of bed daily.
Pei Mingyue, standing outside the door, froze upon hearing Xiao Chen's words from inside the room.
Perhaps to avoid suspicion, Xiao Chen hadn't closed the door completely when he entered. Through the half-open door, Jin Ning could see Pei Mingyue outside.
Jin Ning's gaze flickered slightly as she looked at Xiao Chen and asked, "If I were to become the Crown Princess, what about Sister Mingyue?"
Xiao Chen frowned, "What does this have to do with Mingyue!"
"It has nothing to do with her? So Your Highness doesn't like Mingyue and doesn't want her to be the Crown Princess?" Jin Ning asked.
"Nonsense! The choice of Crown Princess was decided by Father Emperor; how could it be changed so casually?" Xiao Chen scolded.
A smile began to spread across Jin Ning's face, growing more pronounced.
"Sister Mingyue, did you hear that?" Jin Ning asked towards the door with a half-smile.
After asking, Jin Ning looked at the two of them with a rather malicious expression, waiting to watch the show.
She didn't want to be the Crown Princess anymore, but that didn't mean she would miss the opportunity to cause trouble for the two of them.
Didn't Pei Mingyue like to disgust her? She had even instigated that idiot Pei Jingchuan to cause trouble for her more than once.
Now, she was merely returning the favor.
Pei Mingyue, called out by Jin Ning, clenched her fists, took a deep breath, and walked into the room.
"Greetings, Your Highness the Crown Prince, greetings, Eldest Sister," Pei Mingyue said softly as she bowed.
When Xiao Chen saw Pei Mingyue, his expression was filled with undisguised panic.
Soon, his gaze fell on Jin Ning, his eyes full of questioning: You did this on purpose, didn't you?
Jin Ning's expression was calm, without a trace of unease.
On the other hand, Pei Mingyue's eyes turned red, her watery eyes filled with unspeakable sadness and grievance.
But at this moment, Pei Mingyue took a breath and said softly, "Mingyue was very worried when she heard Eldest Sister was ill and wanted to visit specifically this morning..."
She paused slightly and looked at Xiao Chen beside her, "I didn't expect to see Brother Chen here."
The intimate address slipped out of her mouth.
Pei Mingyue claimed that meeting Xiao Chen here was a coincidence.
But that was not the case.
She had just heard a servant report that Xiao Chen had come to visit Jin Ning.
So she had rushed over.
She was afraid that if the two of them had enough time together, Xiao Chen might feel pity for the bedridden Jin Ning, and they would reconcile.
Xiao Chen looked at Pei Mingyue beside him and frowned with concern, "It snowed all night; it's especially cold after the new snow. Why are you dressed so thinly?"
Pei Mingyue whispered, "Thank you for your concern, Brother Chen."
"Brother Chen and Eldest Sister must have a lot to talk about, right? Min... Mingyue won't disturb you here." After speaking, Pei Mingyue turned to leave.
As she walked, she raised her sleeve and wiped her eyes.
Seeing this, Jin Ning couldn't help but click her tongue. With that wronged, pitiful look, even if she were a man, she would have felt pity.
In fact.
At this moment, Xiao Chen was looking at Pei Mingyue's retreating back, his eyes filled with anxiety.
He took a step to chase after her, but after just one step, he seemed rooted to the spot, turning back to look at Jin Ning.
Father Emperor had sent him to see Jin Ning today. If he chased after Mingyue, and Jin Ning complained to Father Emperor later...
He wasn't afraid of anything himself, but he was afraid Mingyue would be implicated.
Seeing Xiao Chen's inner struggle, Jin Ning couldn't help but chuckle.
Xiao Chen stared intently at Jin Ning, his earlier good temper gone. He asked coldly, "Are you satisfied now?"
Jin Ning leaned on the bed, her face pale and weak, but her eyes were exceptionally clear. Her tone carried a hint of mockery, "Your Highness is blaming me? But you were the one who said all those things just now."
Xiao Chen looked at Jin Ning and said in a deep voice, "I didn't expect you to have become so scheming! I really don't know where the simple and kind Ning Ning from before has gone!"
Jin Ning smiled.
She was already considered scheming?
She was very much looking forward to seeing what Xiao Chen would think when he discovered her relationship with Xiao Yi one day.
As for that simple and kind Pei Jin Ning.
She was dead.
Long dead!
The one inside this body now was nothing more than a vengeful spirit!
"If Your Highness has time to say these things to me, you might as well... hurry out and see if Sister Mingyue truly gets upset and stops talking to you later," Jin Ning added.
Xiao Chen was already anxious to chase after Pei Mingyue. Provoked by Jin Ning, he flicked his sleeve and walked out without looking back.
Jin Ning's voice came from behind, "If Your Highness is a man and truly cares about Sister Mingyue, then you should break off the engagement early."
Xiao Chen, about to step out the door, paused slightly.
Break off the engagement?
✦✦✦