“Young Lady, it was my fault. I got lost in the snow forest and couldn’t find you, leaving you to return alone… Fortunately, you returned safely. Otherwise, even if I died ten thousand times, it wouldn’t be enough to atone,” Shiliu said rapidly, as if she had rehearsed these words countless times in her heart.
Today, Jin Ning had deliberately avoided the coachman and Shiliu, who were waiting outside the snow forest, and returned alone.
Jin Ning had two maidservants. One was Haitang, who had been serving her for a long time. As for the other, it was Shiliu, who had just been assigned to her yesterday.
Today, Shiliu was supposed to accompany her to the snow forest to fetch her clothes, but they got separated along the way.
Even that bowl of ginger wine, bestowed by the Empress, was brought by Shiliu.
It was just that she didn’t know who had mixed the aphrodisiac potion into it.
This led to her being surrounded by mountain bandits later.
The matter of the aphrodisiac potion had now subsided. The person who had drugged her hadn’t found any fault with her, so they naturally wouldn’t bring up the aphrodisiac potion publicly… Jin Ning wasn’t foolish enough to make a fuss about it either, as she had indeed lost her purity.
However, she could no longer trust this maidservant, Shiliu, nor could she keep her by her side.
But she couldn’t simply dismiss this maidservant.
Thinking this.
Jin Ning took off the jade bracelet she was wearing and placed it directly on Shiliu’s hand.
Shiliu hadn’t expected things to turn out this way.
“Young… Young Lady, what is this you are doing…” Shiliu asked uneasily.
She had made a mistake, and not only was the Young Lady not punishing her, but she was also rewarding her?
Jin Ning hid the darkness in her eyes. If Shiliu was truly someone sent by others to harm her.
She had returned unharmed and had rewarded Shiliu like this.
Naturally, someone would make Shiliu pay the price she deserved.
Jin Ning said gently, “This is a reward for you, so please accept it. Alright, you may go now.”
Shiliu was sent away, and Haitang walked in from outside.
Jin Ning sized up Haitang before her and suddenly asked, “Haitang, how long have you been serving by my side?”
“It’s… it’s been three years, Young Lady, what is this…” Haitang replied.
Jin Ning nodded, remaining silent.
Shiliu’s fault was obvious, but what about Haitang? Could she truly be trusted? In her previous life, after she had met with misfortune, Madam Song had taken it upon herself to arrange for Haitang to become a concubine in Eldest Brother’s courtyard.
Haitang became increasingly uneasy.
Jin Ning didn’t want to be overly suspicious, seeing enemies everywhere.
But for her, even her closest family members could not be trusted, so who else could she trust?
Having died once, she could no longer be as pure-hearted as in her previous life.
After a long while, Jin Ning finally spoke, “You may go. I want to be alone for a while.”
Haitang breathed a sigh of relief and then retreated.
Jin Ning lay on the bed, slowly regaining her strength, feeling the tangible sensation of being alive.
When she was a ghost, she didn’t need to sleep.
Now that she was human, although her heart was troubled by many things, Jin Ning still fell into a deep sleep.
Late at night.
Xiao Yi was staying alone in the main hall of the Que Mountain Imperial Palace.
As soon as he closed his eyes, a crimson figure couldn’t help but appear in his mind.
When Wei Mang entered from outside.
The Emperor opened his eyes and looked over, casually asking, “Has anyone come looking for her?”
Wei Mang shook his head, “Not yet.”
Xiao Yi frowned slightly, a hint of confusion in his eyes.
It wasn’t just Xiao Yi who was confused; Wei Mang also couldn’t figure it out. Normally, a woman favored by His Majesty would immediately seek him out. But this woman… had simply vanished without a trace? It was truly strange.
“Your Majesty, do you require your subordinate to investigate thoroughly?” Wei Mang asked.
Xiao Yi said in a deep voice, “No need.”
Wei Mang walked towards the exit. Before he could reach the door, Xiao Yi’s voice rang out again.
“Instruct the Imperial Household Department that if anyone comes looking for her, just grant them any title!” Xiao Yi said indifferently.
After all, he couldn’t bring himself to favor a woman and not grant her a title.
However, such a loveless and absurd situation was not enough to warrant his much concern.
Jin Ning was unaware of the Emperor’s thoughts. If she had known… she certainly wouldn’t regret her decision to temporarily flee.
Xiao Yi didn’t care at all about the person from that night of fleeting pleasure. If he knew she was the betrothed Crown Princess, he might not even grant her such a casual title!
……
In the early morning, Jin Ning had not yet woken from her sleep.
“Clang!” A loud noise.
It startled Jin Ning awake.
Then, Haitang’s anxious voice came from outside the door: “Second Young Master! Second Young Master! The Young Lady is still sleeping, it’s inappropriate for you to enter now…”
By the time Jin Ning sat up in bed, Pei Jingchuan, the Second Young Master of Yong’an Marquis Manor, had already appeared before her.
“Pei Jinning! I never expected you to have become like this!” Pei Jingchuan’s accusatory voice rained down on her.
Just woken up, Jin Ning’s dark hair cascaded down, her delicate face still bearing a trace of sleepy languor. At this moment, she looked at Pei Jingchuan blankly and called out, “Second Brother?”
Pei Jingchuan said coldly, “Don’t call me Second Brother. I don’t have a sister like you! Can’t you stand Mingyue at all?”
If Jin Ning had been groggy just moments ago, she was now fully awake.
He had come to defend Pei Mingyue.
Jin Ning didn’t need Pei Jingchuan to explain; she already knew what was going on.
Yesterday, Pei Mingyue had been at her place and was punished by Father to copy books. Now, Pei Jingchuan was most likely here about that matter.
Having figured this out, Jin Ning stared at Pei Jingchuan and said coldly, “The Yong’an Marquis Manor upholds strict moral codes and family traditions. It is highly inappropriate for an elder brother to barge into my bedroom unannounced.”
“If Father were to witness this scene, he would likely resort to family law again,” Jin Ning said coldly, looking directly at Pei Jingchuan.
Seeing Jin Ning’s attitude towards him, Pei Jingchuan was amused to the point of anger. “Three years no see, I didn’t expect Eldest Sister to have become so sharp-tongued! You even use Father to pressure your elder brother!”
Hearing this, Jin Ning also found it amusing. “It’s been three years, and I didn’t expect Second Brother to have become like this either!”
Three years ago, when she left the capital to observe mourning for her father, Pei Jingchuan’s eyes had been red with reluctance.
He had even given her his favorite cricket, General Mighty, to accompany her to Huaiyang to observe mourning in his stead.
In the past, when she was frightened by the Heir of Prince Rui’s Manor, he had led men to beat the Heir of Prince Rui’s Manor severely. Afterward, he was punished by Father to kneel in the study but refused to admit his mistake.
He had also said that as long as he was there, no one would dare bully his sister!
Three years later, the first words he spoke upon their reunion were to scold her for Pei Mingyue’s sake.
Jin Ning’s eyes reddened.
In her previous life, when she was forced to her death, Second Brother was not at home. She had thought, she had truly thought… that Second Brother would be her only warmth in this household.
She never expected…
Jin Ning held back her tears, raised her head, and looked at Pei Jingchuan with cold eyes. “If Brother does not wish for gossip, then leave my boudoir first. We can talk after I change my clothes.”
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