Jin Ning did not speak, but instead got out of bed in a panic, haphazardly put on her clothes, and picked up the scattered things from the ground.
With a bang, she pushed open the palace door and ran out quickly.
Throughout the entire process, she did not look at Xiao Yi again.
Rather than staying here and waiting for the Emperor to investigate her identity and make a decision, it was better to retreat to advance.
Wei Mang, who was standing like a pillar at the door, didn't even get a clear look at Jin Ning's appearance. By the time he came to his senses, Jin Ning had already run far away.
...
Xiao Yi returned to the Que Mountain Imperial Palace one step ahead.
At the foot of the mountain.
He saw the coachman leading two carriages away.
Upon closer inspection, one of them was the Crown Prince's imperial carriage.
Wei Mang walked over and asked a few questions, then returned to report.
"His Highness the Crown Prince went to Golden Wind Terrace with Miss Pei from the Yong'an Marquis Manor today. They have just gone up the mountain. Should I have my subordinates call out to His Highness the Crown Prince?" Wei Mang asked.
Upon hearing this, Xiao Yi said, "No need."
"That Pei girl just returned from Huaiyang. The two of them are reunited after a long separation, and they probably have a lot to say. I won't disturb them," Xiao Yi said gently.
Before it was completely dark, Jin Ning finally dragged her heavy body back to the Que Mountain Imperial Palace.
She was too tired.
The matters of her past and present lives weighed on her heart, making it difficult for her to breathe. Not to mention... she had already been drained of all her strength in that abandoned palace just now.
At this moment, she just wanted to return to her bedroom and lie down.
Passing through the outer courtyard of Fang Mei Palace was Jin Ning's temporary residence.
As soon as she stepped through the moon gate, she heard a young girl's crisp laughter.
Accompanied by this laughter, a snowball flew towards her, hitting Jin Ning's face.
The icy sensation made Jin Ning, who had no strength left, perk up and look forward.
In her sight, there was first a tall and straight young man with his back to her, and then a charming young girl facing her.
That was... the true legitimate daughter of the Yong'an Marquis Manor—Pei Mingyue.
In her previous life, she had not yet met Pei Mingyue at this time.
It was only when her leg was broken and she was carried back to the Que Mountain Imperial Palace that she met Pei Mingyue for the first time.
At that time, she realized that she was not the legitimate daughter of the marquis's manor, but a concubine-born daughter of a maidservant.
Pei Mingyue was the biological daughter of her father and mother who had been lost. When she was observing mourning for her grandfather, the Yong'an Marquis Manor found their true legitimate daughter.
It wasn't some melodramatic plot of a maidservant swapping daughters. It was said that the former Marchioness of Yong'an had just given birth to her daughter when she lost her daughter due to an attack by bandits.
She was heartbroken and missed her daughter every day, grieving too much.
Therefore, she took the concubine-born daughter (herself) to her side to console her grief of losing a daughter.
Over the years, the Marchioness of Yong'an had indeed treated Jin Ning as her own daughter and treated her well.
However, all the good things stopped when Pei Mingyue returned.
Jin Ning actually didn't mind her father and mother doting on their biological daughter more. She was even willing to dote on and make up for her younger sister together.
She just... she just couldn't understand, after the marquis's manor had raised her for so many years, did they really have no feelings for her? Did they really not want to leave her any way out?
The moment Pei Mingyue saw Jin Ning, she paused slightly, seemingly surprised that Jin Ning would appear here.
Jin Ning looked at the figure with his back to her and bowed: "Jin Ning greets His Highness the Crown Prince."
The young man turned around. He was a young man with a distinguished bearing, possessing a composure rarely seen in young men.
This was the Crown Prince of the Great Liang Dynasty, His Majesty's eldest legitimate son, Xiao Chen.
At this moment, Pei Mingyue also walked over slowly. She seemed a little nervous and hid behind Xiao Chen, only peeking her head out, looking at Jin Ning with curious eyes.
The last time Jin Ning met the Crown Prince was a year ago. The Crown Prince was on a southern tour by order and had specifically detoured to Huaiyang just to bring her a pastry from the palace.
After a while, Xiao Chen finally spoke, "Ning... Eldest Miss Pei, you may dispense with the formalities."
This slightly distant address of "Eldest Miss Pei" made Jin Ning's heart clench.
"Mingyue, this is your Eldest Sister," Xiao Chen said, glancing sideways at the slightly nervous girl beside him.
Pei Mingyue walked out from behind Xiao Chen and said to Jin Ning, "Mingyue greets Sister Jin Ning."
Jin Ning looked deeply at Xiao Chen and asked with a voice that was difficult and obscure, "Why didn't Your Highness go to Snow Forest for your appointment today?"
She actually no longer cared about Xiao Chen.
But there was something she couldn't figure out until she died in her previous life. Now she wanted to know the answer; this was her obsession.
Was it that someone had falsely relayed Xiao Chen's words, or had he made an appointment with her and then not shown up?
Xiao Chen looked at Jin Ning and began to explain, "Eldest Miss Pei, I..."
Before Xiao Chen could finish speaking, Pei Mingyue interjected, "Sister Jin Ning, don't blame His Highness the Crown Prince. I didn't know His Highness the Crown Prince had an appointment to meet you, and I pestered him to accompany me to Golden Wind Terrace for tea..."
Golden Wind Terrace was a place near the Que Mountain Imperial Palace for enjoying the snow and brewing tea.
As the saying goes, "When two souls meet like the golden wind and jade dew, they surpass countless earthly encounters."
Golden Wind Terrace was a common place for couples to pledge their love.
Jin Ning knew what Pei Mingyue meant by mentioning Golden Wind Terrace, but she didn't even look at Pei Mingyue. Instead, she looked seriously at Xiao Chen and asked, "So, you did indeed arrange to meet me at Snow Forest, but you broke the appointment."
Pei Mingyue wanted to say something else, "Sister Jin Ning... I said, it was me..."
Jin Ning looked at Xiao Chen seriously and asked, "Your Highness, I want to hear your answer."
Xiao Chen looked at Jin Ning, who was exhausted but had unusually cold eyes. He felt a sense of unease and, uncharacteristically, offered an apology, "It was my fault today. You should go back and rest first. Tomorrow, I will take you out hunting."
So, the Crown Prince's appointment to meet her was true, he just didn't keep it.
Jin Ning gave Xiao Chen a deep look, her eyes carrying a coldness that a young girl would not possess.
She heard herself say coldly, "No need."
She paused slightly and added, "Your Highness need not make appointments to see this subject again in the future."
She would also no longer meet the Crown Prince alone.
After speaking, Jin Ning dragged her heavy body forward, intending to pass by this place and return to her bedroom.
As Jin Ning walked past Xiao Chen, he suddenly reached out and grabbed her wrist.
"Eldest Miss Pei..."
Jin Ning's indifferent and distant gaze fell on her captured wrist, then she looked up at Xiao Chen and said in a deep voice, "Your Highness, please conduct yourself with propriety."
Saying this, Jin Ning forcefully pulled her hand back. This time, she didn't look at anyone but strode forward.
Facing the wind and snow, a drop of water trickled down the corner of her eye.
It was unclear whether it was melting snow or something else.
In her white snow and red dress, she receded into the distance, her solitary beauty striking. This scene caused Xiao Chen to be momentarily lost in thought. He had a feeling that at this moment, something extremely precious was vanishing along with the falling snow.
Pei Mingyue saw this scene and uneasily clutched Xiao Chen's hem.
"Brother Chen, is Eldest Sister angry with me?" Pei Mingyue asked softly.
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