Pei Jingchuan was very dissatisfied with Jin Ning's attitude.
However, the Yong'an Marquis Manor indeed had strict rules.
So no matter how dissatisfied Pei Jingchuan was, he had to snort coldly at this moment and turn to walk out.
Haitang closed the door and walked to Jin Ning's side, ready to help Jin Ning change clothes.
But how could Jin Ning dare to let Haitang help her change? She said faintly, "You can go out first, I'll do it myself."
Haitang hesitated for a moment. She always felt that the young lady had been acting strangely since she returned from the Snow Forest yesterday.
At this moment, she could only place the prepared clothes by Jin Ning's bedside and retreat.
When no one else was in the room, Jin Ning slowly took off her clothes.
Her snow-white skin was covered in mottled bruises of blue and purple.
Seeing this scene, her face felt a little hot... Regardless of her previous life or this one, she was still a young girl, and this was the first time she had experienced such a thing.
She also did not expect that the person who seemed so aloof and stern would be so... so...
But it couldn't all be blamed on him.
Yesterday, she had lost her senses due to that potent medicine and had been clinging to him, more than once.
Jin Ning dared not think further and quickly changed her clothes, covering all the bruises on her body.
She walked to the bronze mirror. Her hair, like black satin, cascaded onto her water-blue dress. The woman in the mirror was refined and dignified, and she seemed to have returned to being that virtuous and well-behaved noble daughter of a noble family.
Only she herself knew.
The Pei Jin Ning of the previous life, who abided by the rules and valued chastity and etiquette more than her own life, was already dead.
The Pei Jin Ning who was alive now did not care about chastity, reputation, or rules; she only cared about whether she could survive!
Those people should not think of trapping her to death with chastity and reputation!
Jin Ning sat in front of the mirror for a long time.
Until Haitang's urging voice came from outside: "Young lady, are you ready?"
Jin Ning examined the golden phoenix hairpin in her hand, pondered for a long time, and finally put the hairpin on her head.
She did not want to be the Crown Princess anymore.
But... others should not expect to have it so easily!
She knew what those people cared about, and she would deliberately stab them in the heart.
Moreover, even if she didn't fight for it, she would still be targeted. It was better to let people know that she was not a soft persimmon that could be manipulated.
Jin Ning, still inside the room, could still hear the sound of the harsh wind and snow outside.
After drinking another cup of tea, she put on a rabbit fur cloak and slowly walked out.
The moment she pushed open the door.
She saw Pei Jingchuan, who was standing outside, already shifting his feet from the cold.
The moment Pei Jingchuan saw Pei Jin Ning, his face instantly darkened, and he could no longer suppress the anger in his heart: "Pei Jin Ning, come with me right now to apologize to Sister Mingyue!"
When Pei Jingchuan reached out to grab Jin Ning's wrist, Jin Ning took half a step back and said coldly, "What you're saying is unclear. Why should I apologize to her?"
Pei Jingchuan said coldly, "If you hadn't betrayed Mingyue, why would Father punish her for the matter of the Golden Wind Terrace?"
"Mingyue told you about this because she treated you as a sister and was willing to share her matters with you. She just didn't expect that you, as an older sister, would so maliciously betray her!" Pei Jingchuan glared, his words scolding.
"Maliciously?"
Hearing this, Jin Ning couldn't help but want to laugh.
This is considered malicious?
Then in her previous life, what were the things these so-called family members did to her?
Pei Jingchuan saw that although Jin Ning was smiling, her expression was desolate, as if she had suffered some great harm, and he felt a little regretful.
He suppressed the anger in his heart and then said, "Enough, it was my fault for speaking to you like that."
"But you really shouldn't have told Father about Second Sister meeting the Crown Prince! Do you know that Second Sister was copying books last night, knocked over a candle, and burned her hand!" Pei Jingchuan's eyes were filled with heartache when he mentioned this.
Jin Ning had seen such heartache from Pei Jingchuan before.
However... these no longer belonged to her now.
Pei Jingchuan's voice softened a bit, and he said in a pleading tone, "Come with me now to visit Second Sister and apologize to her. Mingyue has a pure heart and will definitely forgive you."
Cold wind mixed with snowflakes drifted down.
It landed on Jin Ning's clear eyes and melted, cool and slightly moist.
She took a long breath. The cold wind went straight into her lungs, chilling her burning heart.
Her voice was exceptionally clear and cold: "I didn't do anything, why should I apologize to her?"
Pei Jingchuan did not expect that even though he had lowered his stance to this point, Jin Ning was still so stubborn.
He suppressed the dissatisfaction in his heart as much as possible and patiently said, "Jin Ning, I know Mingyue's return has made you uncomfortable, but you have already enjoyed so many years of good fortune in Mingyue's place... Now, you really shouldn't be angry with Mingyue! Or make things difficult for Mingyue!"
Jin Ning said, "If Second Brother feels that I have made things difficult for her, then so be it."
In this life, she had only returned yesterday. She really didn't know what Pei Mingyue had said to Pei Jingchuan to make him think that she was deliberately making things difficult and looking for trouble.
However, she didn't want to know anymore. She didn't care at all what these people thought of her.
"You! You are simply incorrigible!" Pei Jingchuan said angrily.
Jin Ning's attitude had completely worn out Pei Jingchuan's patience. He was not a good-tempered person to begin with.
Now, his chest was filled with rage.
He grabbed Jin Ning's wrist and forcefully pulled her forward: "Whether you are willing or not, you must come with me to apologize to Sister Mingyue today!"
Pei Jingchuan had practiced martial arts since he was young and had extraordinary strength. How could Jin Ning break free?
Thus, she was dragged out of the courtyard by Pei Jingchuan and walked towards Pei Mingyue's residence against the wind and snow.
Jin Ning was thus dragged to Pei Mingyue's residence.
The moment she arrived.
She saw Pei Mingyue sitting at the table, with Crown Prince Xiao Yu beside her, holding Pei Mingyue's hand with one hand and applying medicine to Pei Mingyue with the other.
Pei Jingchuan did not expect the Crown Prince to be there. Seeing this scene, he cast a complicated glance at Jin Ning beside him.
Although everyone knew that Mingyue was the true legitimate daughter of the Marquis's Manor, Jin Ning's status as Crown Princess was personally requested by her grandfather and decreed by imperial decree.
Now, regardless of Jin Ning's identity, the imperial decree could not be changed.
Jin Ning targeted Mingyue precisely because of the Crown Prince, right? Seeing Mingyue and the Crown Prince meeting here today, she would probably complain to Father again.
Mingyue's closeness to the Crown Prince was somewhat improper.
But upon careful consideration, if Mingyue had not been lost outside, this position of Crown Princess should have belonged to Mingyue!
Pei Mingyue had already seen Pei Jingchuan and Jin Ning at this moment.
She quickly withdrew her hand, then stood up and bowed to Pei Jingchuan: "Greetings, Second Brother, and also... Eldest Sister."
Her gaze finally fell on the phoenix hairpin on Jin Ning's head, unable to move away for a long time.
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