Xiao Chen came back to his senses, looked at the timid Pei Mingyue before him, and asked gently, "No."
"That means she... doesn't like me?" Pei Mingyue's eyes were already filled with tears. She was exceptionally pretty and cute, and her tearful appearance made her even more pitiable.
Xiao Chen shook his head slightly and said, "No, Jin Ning has always been dignified and proper. She's a bit aloof, perhaps you misunderstood. Moreover, Mingyue, you are so lovely, who wouldn't like you?"
Hearing this, Pei Mingyue's tears turned into a smile. "Really? Will everyone like me?"
Xiao Chen nodded.
Pei Mingyue then asked, "Then, Crown Prince Brother... do you like me?"
Hearing this, Xiao Chen did not answer Pei Mingyue directly. Instead, he reached out and brushed the snowflakes from Pei Mingyue's ink-black hair.
Pei Mingyue bit her lip slightly, lowered her eyes, and wondered what she was thinking.
...
When Jin Ning reached the bedroom, she saw the maidservant Haitang anxiously standing at the door, looking around.
Seeing Jin Ning approaching, Haitang hurried over. "Young Lady! You're finally back!"
As Haitang spoke, she couldn't help but glance towards the bedroom, then lowered her voice and said, "The Marquis and Madam are here, and they don't seem to be in a good mood."
Hearing this, Jin Ning's steps paused slightly, and her expression became complicated.
Jin Ning hadn't expected to meet her "family" so soon.
"Eldest Daughter? What's wrong?" Haitang asked curiously.
Jin Ning came back to her senses and smiled slightly. "Nothing."
With that, Jin Ning walked forward and pushed open the door.
It was already dark, and bright candlelight burned inside the room.
Marquis Yong'an and Madam Song were sitting on the Baxian chairs inside the room.
Marquis Yong'an was about forty-something years old and looked stern. Madam Song was only two years younger than him but was well-preserved, clearly a dignified noblewoman accustomed to wealth.
Jin Ning put away her myriad thoughts and bowed. "Greetings, Father and Mother."
"You still know to come back?" Before Jin Ning could say anything else, Marquis Yong'an's stern scolding came down on her.
Madam Song looked at the unusually angry Marquis Yong'an and said softly, "Marquis, Ning Ning has always followed the rules. There must be some misunderstanding this time. Please don't be angry with her."
"Follows the rules? If she truly followed the rules, how could a young lady go out to meet an unrelated man and only return now!" Marquis Yong'an's face darkened further.
In the past, if her father and mother had scolded her, she would have obediently listened.
But now, Jin Ning only found it amusing.
Instead of kneeling, she looked up at Marquis Yong'an and said, "Didn't Father say before that I should interact more with the Crown Prince? Don't let your relationship grow distant. The Crown Prince asked to meet me today. I know it's inappropriate, but remembering Father's teachings, I really couldn't disobey your orders, so I went."
Marquis Yong'an was about to raise his teacup to drink when he heard Jin Ning's words. He heavily placed the teacup in his hand on the Eight Immortals Table beside him.
With a crisp "snap," the tea spilled onto the table.
Seeing this, Jin Ning thought to herself, he's angry.
In the past, she was very afraid of her father and mother getting angry, not out of fear, but because she didn't want them to worry about her, so she always had to do her best.
She studied the best, played the zither the best, and every action had to be the most virtuous and dignified, to be the most well-behaved and filial noble daughter of a prominent family, bringing honor to the Marquis's Manor and giving her parents peace of mind.
Having died once, she saw many things clearly and felt she no longer cared.
"I haven't had you by my side to teach you for these three years, and I see your temperament has become wild. You dare to talk back to your father! Today, I will properly teach you some rules!" Marquis Yong'an's voice was grim.
Jin Ning stood straight, looking directly at Marquis Yong'an, her voice exceptionally clear. "Am I wrong, Father?"
For the first time, Marquis Yong'an saw defiance in his daughter's eyes and was slightly taken aback.
How could this be? Wasn't Jin Ning always knowledgeable and polite before?
Or did Jin Ning already know her true identity, which is why she's acting like this?
Thinking of this, Marquis Yong'an became even angrier.
Regardless of who Jin Ning was born to, she was his daughter. The Marquis's Manor had raised and educated her for so many years. If she dared to be resentful because of Mingyue's matter, she deserved to be punished even more!
"Kneel!"
When Jin Ning heard this voice, she was still slightly taken aback.
"Kneel down for me!" Marquis Yong'an glared at Jin Ning and scolded.
"Ning Ning, why don't you quickly kneel and admit your mistake to your father? You've just returned home, don't anger your father." Madam Song looked at Jin Ning, her tone somewhat urgent, appearing to be very concerned for Jin Ning.
Jin Ning said faintly, "I did nothing wrong, why should I admit my mistake?"
"Ning Ning, your father is also doing this for your own good. You and the Crown Prince are not yet married. Meeting privately now will damage your reputation. Moreover, that Snow Forest is outside the Imperial Palace, desolate and remote. What if you encountered danger there?" Madam Song's voice was gentle, her face full of affection.
"Don't try to persuade me further. Today, I must teach her a good lesson and let her know the duties of a young lady! Guards! Bring the family law!" Marquis Yong'an roared.
As he spoke, two mamas entered from outside, one carrying a long stool, the other holding a slender plank.
This was the family law of the Yong'an Marquis Manor.
After the two mamas placed the items, they looked at Marquis Yong'an's expression and walked towards Jin Ning.
Jin Ning looked at Marquis Yong'an and asked meaningfully, "So, Father thinks that a secret meeting with the Crown Prince is such a grave mistake that it warrants the family law?"
"Don't think that just because you mention the Crown Prince, I, your father, won't dare to punish you! Even if it's the Crown Prince, as long as you are not married, you are still a daughter of my Yong'an Marquis Manor. Your actions disgrace the upright reputation of the Yong'an Marquis Manor!" Marquis Yong'an said coldly.
"What are you standing around for? Get to it!" Marquis Yong'an urged.
The hands of the two women were placed on Jin Ning's shoulders. One of them said in a low voice, "Eldest Daughter, please forgive me."
Jin Ning's lips curved up, and just as she was about to speak.
She heard a woman's cheerful voice from outside the door. "Father! Mother!"
With that, the person entered.
"What's going on?" Pei Mingyue saw Jin Ning being held by two mamas and the family law plank in the room, looking confused.
As she spoke, Pei Mingyue did not remove her hand from Xiao Chen's arm.
Pei Mingyue continued, "Sister just returned home, why is Father about to punish her?"
Madam Song quickly introduced, "Jin Ning, you must have heard about what happened in the manor. This is your Sister Mingyue."
Jin Ning chuckled. "We've already met."
"No matter what mistake Sister made to anger Father, Mingyue dares to ask Father to spare Sister this once, for Mingyue's sake." Pei Mingyue continued.
Hearing this, Marquis Yong'an picked up his teacup again and said with great satisfaction, "After all the Yong'an Marquis Manor's careful upbringing for over ten years, you are not even half as sensible as your sister! However, today, no one's face matters! I must teach this unfilial daughter who disgraces our family a good lesson!"
Pei Mingyue then turned her gaze to Jin Ning and continued to persuade, "Sister, you should still apologize to Father."
Jin Ning patiently waited for Pei Mingyue to finish speaking before slowly opening her mouth. "Father says I am not as sensible as Sister, and Sister wants me to apologize to Father. Then, does Sister know why Father wants to punish me?"
"Why?" Pei Mingyue was also a little curious.
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