Upon hearing this, Haitang did not try to dissuade Jin Ning from going. Instead, she was quite pleased.
Then, seeing Jin Ning's haggard appearance, she spoke, "Young Lady, perhaps this servant can re-do your hair and makeup? Applying some powder would also make you look more vibrant."
"Young Lady is naturally beautiful. If you dress up a little, you will surely outshine the Second Young Lady!" Haitang said with great confidence.
Jin Ning glanced at Haitang, "What? If I don't dress up, I can't compare to her?"
Upon hearing this, Haitang quickly said, "It was this servant's slip of the tongue. Young Lady, even without makeup, you are a peerless beauty."
"This servant just thought that if Young Lady dressed up a bit more, you would surely attract the Crown Prince's attention," Haitang continued.
Jin Ning said faintly, "There's no need to do that."
Saying this, Jin Ning ordered Haitang, "Pack up, and then we will depart."
Haitang quickly replied, "Yes."
As the two of them left, Shiliu saw them from afar.
She frowned slightly. Why didn't the Eldest Young Lady take her anywhere? Could it be that the Eldest Young Lady had discovered something?
But in the next moment.
Shiliu looked at the jade bracelet on her hand and thought to herself that she was probably overthinking it.
If the Eldest Young Lady had discovered something, why would she have allowed her to stay and even bestowed such a fine item upon her?
...
To go hunting, one must first select a horse.
When Jin Ning arrived at the horse farm, she happened to see Xiao Chen and Pei Jingchuan, one on each side, guarding Pei Mingyue.
Pei Mingyue was the first to see Jin Ning approaching. She bit her lip slightly, then said joyfully, "Eldest Sister!"
As she spoke, Pei Mingyue strode to Jin Ning's side, extended her hand, and linked her arm with Jin Ning's, saying intimately, "Eldest Sister, you were ill, I thought you wouldn't come to the hunting expedition!"
Jin Ning subtly withdrew her arm.
She did not like Pei Mingyue getting so close to her.
Even though Pei Mingyue's demeanor appeared so pure and harmless.
At this moment, Pei Jingchuan also walked over and looked at Jin Ning, scolding in a low voice, "Nonsense! What are you doing here?"
Jin Ning's tone was calm, "Whatever you are here for, I am here for."
Pei Jingchuan's face was stern, and he scolded in a commanding tone, "You shouldn't be here! Hurry back!"
Jin Ning glanced at Pei Jingchuan, "Shouldn't be here? His Majesty is hunting with everyone, and the officials and children of noble families in Que Mountain Imperial Palace can all participate. What reason do I have not to be here?"
"Pei Jin Ning, must you speak to me in such a manner?" Pei Jingchuan was somewhat annoyed.
He didn't want Jin Ning to come to the hunting expedition for her own good!
She was still ill; wasn't she afraid of catching a chill and becoming even more ill?
He hadn't expected her to not only be ungrateful but also to have such an attitude!
Jin Ning looked at Pei Jingchuan before her and said calmly, "If Brother finds my way of speaking unpleasant, perhaps you should first reflect on how you speak to me."
Seeing Jin Ning and Pei Jingchuan start to argue.
Pei Mingyue said softly, "Second Brother, Eldest Sister, please don't argue. Brother Chen is still here; don't let Brother Chen see a joke..."
Having said this, Pei Mingyue looked apologetically at Xiao Chen, "I ask Brother Chen not to take it to heart. Eldest Sister is just like this by nature; she doesn't intentionally pick fights with people..."
Jin Ning's gaze suddenly fell upon Pei Mingyue.
Under Jin Ning's sharp gaze, Pei Mingyue felt inexplicably guilty.
Jin Ning chuckled lightly, "Sister Mingyue, we've only known each other for a few days, and yet you already understand my nature?"
"Pei Jin Ning! If you have any anger, take it out on me. Why are you picking on Mingyue?" Pei Jingchuan couldn't stand it any longer and scolded.
A chill spread through Jin Ning's heart.
Indeed, the Pei Jingchuan who had been by her bedside speaking gently and with concern just now, as soon as matters involving Pei Mingyue were touched upon, immediately changed his demeanor.
"Second Brother, please don't scold Eldest Sister because of me..." Pei Mingyue spoke again.
Jin Ning looked coldly at Pei Mingyue. This statement sounded like a plea for mercy, but was it actually meant to show off to her?
The implication was clear: Look, Second Brother scolded you because of me!
What a truly pure, gentle, and weak little white lotus!
"Yue'er, you are too kind, that's why you get bullied," Pei Jingchuan continued.
Jin Ning had no mood to watch these two perform their sibling affection. Her purpose for coming out to hunt today was not to be entangled with these people.
A noble and stern figure couldn't help but appear in her mind.
With that thought, Jin Ning turned and left.
Xiao Chen's voice came from behind Jin Ning, "Pei Jin Ning!"
It wasn't "Eldest Miss Pei" or "Pei Jin Ning," but "Pei Jin Ning" with a hint of suppressed anger.
This shout made both Pei Jingchuan and Pei Mingyue look over.
It had been two days since Jin Ning had spoken to Xiao Chen about breaking off the engagement, and this was the first time they had met.
Xiao Chen had expected that yesterday Jin Ning would regret her words and come to apologize.
But he hadn't expected that until they met just now.
Jin Ning had argued with Pei Jingchuan for a while and spoken with Mingyue, but she hadn't even glanced at him...
It was as if he simply didn't exist!
Jin Ning stopped walking and asked without turning her head, "Your Highness called out to this subject. Is there something you need?"
Xiao Chen said coldly, "You don't know to bow when you see this Prince? Is that the etiquette of you, Eldest Miss Pei?"
Jin Ning turned around with a fake smile and bowed to Xiao Chen, "This subject greets the Crown Prince. May the Crown Prince live for ten thousand years, ten thousand years. This subject takes her leave."
Jin Ning finished in one smooth motion and then quickly walked forward again.
Xiao Chen was angered by Jin Ning's attitude.
He took two quick steps, then three, catching up to Jin Ning and grabbing her wrist.
Jin Ning was suddenly pulled, and her wrist throbbed with pain. She looked at her wrist, then incredulously at Xiao Chen, "Your Highness, why is this?"
Was it to vent anger on behalf of Pei Mingyue?
She had only just mocked Pei Mingyue once.
Pei Jingchuan was venting anger for Pei Mingyue, and now Xiao Chen was also venting anger for Pei Mingyue.
They truly held Pei Mingyue in such high regard, like a precious pearl in their hands.
However, Jin Ning had misunderstood. Xiao Chen spoke about something else.
Xiao Chen's tone was grim, "Have you forgotten what you said to this Prince that day?"
Xiao Chen had always given the impression of being amiable, especially when interacting with Jin Ning. He rarely put on airs as the Crown Prince and always referred to himself as "I." This time... he was putting on the airs of the Crown Prince.
If Xiao Chen had come up to vent his anger for Pei Mingyue, Jin Ning wouldn't have been surprised.
But Xiao Chen's words made it difficult for Jin Ning to figure out what he meant.
Jin Ning asked back, "Please enlighten this subject, Your Highness. What did this subject say to Your Highness?"
"Do you think you can pretend nothing was said just because you act like you've forgotten? This Prince will remind you: you said, you wanted this Prince to break off the engagement." Xiao Chen said sternly.
Upon hearing this, Jin Ning's eyes lit up. So it was about this matter?
She said with some joy, "So Your Highness has thought it through? Then when will Your Highness go to break off the engagement?"
Veins throbbed on Xiao Chen's forehead, "Pei Jin Ning! You!"
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