As Granny Li’s words fell, two people immediately flanked Yun Mu Jing, dragging her toward the main hall.
Zhu Ye stood there in shock. He never imagined that Miss Jing, the esteemed eldest daughter of the Yun household, lived such a life within the mansion.
He pursed his lips and immediately used his qinggong to report to Mo Han Zhao.
Mo Han Zhao was now seated in the highest position in the main hall. He had just been strolling in the garden with Yun Si Yu when General Yun and Madam Yun personally came over, saying that tea had been prepared in the main hall and inviting him for a chat.
Earlier, when he wanted to talk, General Yun and Madam Yun had complained of various discomforts, but now they were perfectly fine.
He wanted to see what scheme the two of them were plotting.
At that time, General Yun sat beside Mo Han Zhao, while Yun Si Yu and Madam Yun, being female family members, sat in the two adjacent seats.
General Yun smiled as he offered tea. “This is a top-grade Longjing tea that I have treasured. Please try it, Crown Prince.”
“You are too kind, General.” Given Mo Han Zhao’s status, whether he accepted General Yun’s tea or not depended entirely on his mood.
However, Mo Han Zhao and Yun Si Yu were in love, and General Yun could be considered his future father-in-law. Even though General Yun’s actions today displeased him, he still had to give him this face.
Thus, he picked up the teacup and took a small sip.
“Your Highness has been busy with political affairs lately. This tea has a refreshing effect and can relieve fatigue. Please have some more,” Yun Si Yu said softly with a smile.
“You,” Madam Yun teased from across the room, “aren’t even married yet, and you’re already starting to worry about your husband?”
“Mother…”
Yun Si Yu’s shy demeanor made Mo Han Zhao’s gaze soften. Just as he was about to speak, a light, slow sound of footsteps suddenly came from outside.
Yun Mu Jing, dressed in a light blue brocade, walked with lotus steps as she slowly entered the main hall.
Every time Mo Han Zhao saw Yun Mu Jing, she was always in extremely simple cotton clothes. This was the first time he had seen her dressed like this.
Although the clothing was not of the highest quality, it still highlighted her stunning beauty, truly breathtaking.
However, Mo Han Zhao noticed that Yun Mu Jing’s delicate and captivating face was even paler than yesterday.
For a moment, he couldn’t help but frown.
Yun Mu Jing had just finished copying sutras all night without eating or drinking. At this moment, she felt as if her entire body were floating, her legs trembling uncontrollably, so weak that it seemed she might collapse at any second.
This appearance made her seem even more pitiful, evoking a sense of compassion.
“Your humble daughter greets the Crown Prince, Father, and Mother,” Yun Mu Jing immediately bowed and paid her respects in turn.
Yun Si Yu noticed that Mo Han Zhao’s gaze remained fixed on Yun Mu Jing. She twisted the handkerchief in her hands incessantly, her eyes filled with resentment.
Didn’t she tell Granny Li to find some ugly clothes for Yun Mu Jing to wear? How could she still look like this!
The Crown Prince’s sudden visit to the General’s Mansion today, bringing gifts—even preparing a share for Yun Mu Jing—was indeed unexpected.
Previously, she had been secretly trying to prevent the Crown Prince from meeting Yun Mu Jing. But now, with His Highness presenting gifts, it would be improper for Yun Mu Jing, who was clearly in the mansion, to delay expressing gratitude.
His Highness’s expression had already darkened earlier. Although he refrained from showing it out of consideration for her, he must have been displeased.
If Yun Mu Jing did not appear today, His Highness might think that the General’s Mansion was arrogant and spoiled, leading him to distance himself from her parents.
So, no matter how unwilling Yun Si Yu was now, she could only allow Yun Mu Jing to appear.
“Good daughter, today’s actions were truly unavoidable.” Knowing her daughter best, Madam Yun naturally understood what Yun Si Yu was worried about and lowered her voice to say, “Once we see off the Crown Prince, I will immediately go to Yuwang Mansion and invite Prince Yu to meet your sister. Once she is betrothed to His Highness, she won’t be able to take yours away.”
Yun Si Yu understood Madam Yun’s meaning, and her anxious heart finally settled a little. With reddened eyes, she said, “Mother, it’s still you who care for me the most.”
“You silly child, you are our precious daughter. If we don’t care for you, who else would we care for?” Madam Yun chided affectionately.
Yun Si Yu broke into a smile.
Their conversation was barely audible, and Mo Han Zhao had no intention of eavesdropping, so he didn’t hear it. He gazed at Yun Mu Jing in the center of the main hall, his handsome brows tightly furrowed.
“I have brought gifts for everyone in the General’s Mansion, including a share for Eldest Miss Yun. Since Eldest Miss is in the mansion, why has she only just arrived?”
Moreover, why were Yun Mu Jing’s eyes so red? As if she had just been crying.
Faced with Mo Han Zhao’s questioning, Yun Mu Jing felt wronged, and tears instantly welled up in her eyes.
But remembering Granny Li’s words earlier, she forced herself not to let the tears fall and answered honestly, “I… I was copying texts in the Ancestral Hall all night.”
Mo Han Zhao’s expression instantly darkened.
Upon hearing this, General Yun also felt ashamed, silently cursing this unfilial daughter of his!
However, on the surface, he still smiled kindly and said, “Jing’er probably just woke up and isn’t speaking clearly. Jing’er, think carefully again—what were you doing just now?”
His words carried a warning tone.
Yun Mu Jing trembled in fear, her shoulders shaking, and she directly knelt with a thump before Mo Han Zhao. Choking back sobs, she whispered, “This humble daughter was somewhat tired and fell asleep in my room. I overslept and missed the ceremony of gratitude. I beg Your Highness to punish me.”
Mo Han Zhao’s handsome brows furrowed, feeling that something was amiss.
Zhu Ye arrived in the main hall just in time, quietly slipping inside and leaning close to Mo Han Zhao’s ear to whisper a few words.
The atmosphere around Mo Han Zhao instantly turned as dark as an abyss. His ink-black eyes swept over Yun Mu Jing, and sure enough, he noticed faint red marks where her sleeve had slipped slightly.
At that moment, anger surged in Mo Han Zhao’s chest. He coldly glanced at General Yun beside him, his eyes barely suppressing his rage.
What a ruthless old man! To treat his own flesh and blood so cruelly!
So this was how Yun Mu Jing had always been treated in the General’s Mansion!
If not for Si Yu still being present, he truly wished to… Mo Han Zhao took a deep breath and said to Yun Mu Jing, “I am not a petty person. Take a seat.”
Yun Mu Jing seemed surprised that Mo Han Zhao hadn’t punished her. She was stunned for a moment before rising from the floor with reddened eyes. “Thank… thank you, Your Highness.”
But even this simple action seemed to drain all her strength.
As Yun Mu Jing passed by Mo Han Zhao’s side, intending to walk toward a nearby seat, she suddenly stumbled and fell toward him.
“Ah!”
Mo Han Zhao’s expression also changed. His palm swiftly caught her by the waist, and he reached out to steady her in time.
Mo Han Zhao had initially been worried about whether Yun Mu Jing was hurt, but at that moment, with her warm, fragrant softness in his arms and that gentle scent wafting over, his mind flashed back to the chaotic scenes of that night. His ink-black eyes couldn’t help but darken with intensity.
“Kneel down!” General Yun was startled and slammed the table, roaring angrily, “Unfilial daughter! How dare you offend His Highness the Crown Prince!”
Upon hearing this, Yun Mu Jing jolted as if struck by electricity, hurriedly rising to her feet only to kneel down again. “Your Highness, please forgive me!”
She shrank like a child who had done something wrong, bowing her head low, not daring to look at anyone.
Seeing this, Mo Han Zhao felt a pang of pity in his heart. He turned to General Yun and said calmly, “I recall that General Yun has always doted on his daughter. Yet when Yun Mu Jing makes a mistake, not only does the general fail to defend her, but he also blames her repeatedly. This truly surprises me.”
“Besides, why must General Yun be so angry? Since Yun Mu Jing did not act intentionally, how could I possibly hold it against her?”