The temperature inside the room wasn’t much higher than outside. This room seemed to serve only as a windbreak.
Even so, the woman slumped on the floor by the table wasn’t wearing a particularly thick winter coat. When the door was pushed open, the wind that rushed in made her shiver violently.
Jiang Yingcheng hurriedly closed the door again.
Cheng Yunmeng, with her hands on the floor, tried to move toward the table leg. But before she could shift even an inch, rapid, light footsteps sounded behind her.
They were too light and urgent to belong to any of the habitually tormenting, snobbish palace servants in the courtyard.
Puzzled, she turned her head and came face to face with a round, pink, childish face that was almost pressed against hers.
Cheng Yunmeng’s initially tense mood relaxed slightly, though she remained cautious. “Who are you?”
Pinfang Yuan was located in a remote area—no child would come here out of boredom. Her and her son’s usual experiences of being bullied made her suspect the motive behind this child’s appearance.
Jiang Yingcheng grinned. “My name is Jiang Yingcheng. Auntie, why are you sitting on the floor?”
The little one’s innocent eyes made Cheng Yunmeng’s mind go blank for a moment.
She tightened her grip on her coat, inwardly scolding herself.
After staying in hell for too long, everyone starts to look like a demon. Now, she was even suspecting a child like this.
Cheng Yunmeng forced a faint smile, avoiding eye contact. “I fell. It’s nothing serious.”
She wanted to send the child away, but instead, the little one beamed an even brighter smile. “Then Chengcheng will help Auntie up!”
No sooner had Jiang Yingcheng spoken than she ignored Cheng Yunmeng’s protests, wrapped her arms around the woman’s upper body, and pulled with all her might—
She didn’t budge an inch.
The air was thick with awkwardness, and 007’s snicker was particularly clear.
Jiang Yingcheng, who had been about to go out and seek help, bristled at the mockery. She planted her feet and gathered her strength, determined to try again.
It must have been her technique last time!
This time, the laughter in her ears doubled.
Jiang Yingcheng froze, then turned her head in disbelief to look at Cheng Yunmeng.
Cheng Yunmeng had pulled away from Jiang Yingcheng and was now sitting on the floor, bent over with laughter.
Jiang Yingcheng’s little face puffed up like an angry blowfish. Unwilling to give up, she asked, [Tong Ge, what is Auntie laughing at?]
007 replied coldly, [She’s laughing at how adorable you are.]
Hearing the sarcasm in its tone, Jiang Yingcheng snorted heavily. [Of course I’m adorable!]
The laughter instantly turned into a fit of violent coughing.
Cheng Yunmeng, supporting herself with one hand on the floor, turned to stare at Jiang Yingcheng in shock.
She had been sure since the second voice spoke—the little one truly hadn’t opened her mouth.
Yet that soft, childish voice clearly belonged to this child.
What was this?
Was she still dreaming?
Suddenly, a roar filled with shock and suspicion snapped Cheng Yunmeng back to her senses—
“Jiang Yingcheng, what have you done to my mother?!”
Before Jiang Yingcheng could turn around, a powerful force yanked her backward. Then, with a thud, she landed flat on the floor.
Dazed, she looked up. The Jiang Xingran before her had finally dropped his cold expression, but not in the gentle way she had imagined.
Jiang Xingran glared at her with furious eyes, as if he wanted to tear her apart and devour her.
Jiang Yingcheng blinked her eyes, the stinging pain in her palm finally making her somewhat aware of her current situation. She sniffled, and tears began to patter down.
【Wuwuwu, Seventh Brother is so mean.】
Cheng Yunmeng’s cough was abruptly startled back by Jiang Xingran’s actions: “Xingran!”
The little one had been extremely polite since entering the room, even trying to help her up when she saw her on the floor. Such a well-behaved and adorable child shouldn’t be treated like this.
Moreover—
Although the material of the little one’s padded jacket wasn’t the finest, it was still much better than what she and her son had. It was likely that the child’s status in the palace was beyond what they could afford to provoke.
The fear in Cheng Yunmeng’s eyes seemed almost tangible, her voice trembling involuntarily: “Hurry up and help Chengcheng up!”
“Mother?” Jiang Xingran turned back, confused.
Cheng Yunmeng said anxiously, “It was Mother who fell to the ground herself! Chengcheng was just trying to help Mother up!”
Jiang Xingran froze in place. After a long moment, he turned back with a skeptical expression, staring directly at Jiang Yingcheng, who was stubbornly standing up while crying.
Jiang Yingcheng grabbed her sleeve and wiped her face haphazardly, but her tears kept flowing uncontrollably. No matter how many times she wiped, her vision remained blurry.
Finally, as if angry with herself, she stomped her foot fiercely and declared, “Chengcheng hates Seventh Brother the most!”
With that, she pushed the door open and ran out, limping—
She had stomped too hard, and her entire leg was cramping.
This scene was completely beyond Jiang Xingran’s expectations. He stood there in stunned silence, watching the small figure run farther and farther away across the snowy ground.
“What are you standing around for? Hurry and go after her!”
The Little Princess had no one following her. If something really happened, not only would their situation become increasingly difficult, but she herself would likely never feel at ease.
Suddenly, Jiang Xingran moved.
His movements were stiff, like rusty components, slow and unnatural.
Yet, he did not run out the door.
Jiang Xingran lowered his head, turned, and first helped his mother into a chair. His eyes scanned her up and down to confirm she had no injuries.
Cheng Yunmeng urged anxiously, “Go out and check on her!”
After a moment of silence, Jiang Xingran replied hoarsely, “No rush.”
When he had gone out earlier to find food, he had already heard that Father Emperor had taken Jiang Yingcheng to his own palace again today. Who knew how many hidden guards were following her at this moment, ensuring her safety at all times?
Unlike him and his mother, who had to go out personally just to find a decent meal.
Cheng Yunmeng, unaware of these intricacies, kept urging him repeatedly: “Mother is really fine, hurry and—”
“Chengcheng?” she suddenly raised her voice.
Jiang Xingran spun around.
At the doorway, Jiang Yingcheng peeked in like a thief, using a small twig to push a tiny oil-paper package toward them.
When she realized they had spotted her, she “whooshed” back behind the door. A moment later, a pair of large, round eyes peeked out again.
【Chengcheng is still angry! It’ll only get better if Seventh Brother cries and coaxes her!】
Cheng Yunmeng didn’t know whether to laugh or cry, but she pushed her son forward anyway.
He was indeed in the wrong in this matter, and an apology was warranted regardless.
Moreover, the sight of the little one stiffly delivering something through the doorway moments ago was utterly endearing—it melted her heart.
Jiang Xingran was thinking the same thing as his mother.
He had guessed what was inside that oil-paper package.
The intention behind this awkward peace offering was all too obvious, yet…
Yet this person’s past behavior had left him with such profound unease that he instinctively began wondering if there might be something about him worth scheming for.
As these thoughts crossed his mind, the courtyard gate creaked open again with a piercing screech, slowly pushed ajar by someone outside.