As Mo Han Zhao’s words fell, a shadow quickly emerged from the darkness. He clasped his fists toward Mo Han Zhao, his eyes filled with a sigh.
He had previously been sent out by His Highness on an errand. By the time he returned, His Highness had already fallen unconscious due to the Charm Poison and was rescued by Yun Mu Jing.
Zhu Ye had witnessed with his own eyes how Yun Mu Jing, a woman so frail and delicate, had supported His Highness with her own body, walking such a long distance back to the courtyard to save him.
She had stumbled several times, her hands and feet scraped and bruised.
Such a kind-hearted girl, risking her life to save His Highness, yet His Highness… was now suspecting her of ulterior motives. It was somewhat disheartening.
However, he naturally would not defy Mo Han Zhao’s orders. He simply replied with a “yes” and quickly vanished into the night like a wisp of shadow.
Mo Han Zhao’s eyes flickered slightly as he decided to first seek out Yun Si Yu.
Having disappeared from the banquet hall for so long, given Si Yu’s temperament, she was likely worried sick.
But just as Mo Han Zhao turned around, he heard a familiar voice nearby.
“Yin Suo, are you sure someone saw Yun Mu Jing hugging and clinging to a man?” Yun Si Yu asked urgently, frowning at the maid carrying a lantern beside her.
“Second Miss, it’s absolutely true,” Yin Suo replied with a grim expression. “Xiao Jin has always been on good terms with me. He wouldn’t lie to me. He saw it with his own eyes.”
“However, the night was too dark, and he truly couldn’t make out the man’s face.”
Hearing this, Yun Si Yu’s expression changed, her fingers tightening in her sleeves.
She had gone to great lengths to interfere, all to prevent Mo Han Zhao and Yun Mu Jing from meeting.
Even for today’s birthday banquet, Yun Si Yu had secretly bribed someone to ensure Yun Mu Jing wouldn’t attend.
Could it be… that Yun Mu Jing had still managed to seize an opportunity?
Seeing Yun Si Yu’s anxious and agitated state, Yin Suo tried to comfort her. “Second Miss, your charm is second to none in the capital. Not to mention the Crown Prince, even Prince Yu usually goes to great lengths just to earn a smile from you.”
“How could that country-bumpkin eldest miss compare to you? In my opinion, you have nothing to worry about. Even if the Crown Prince and the eldest miss were to meet, what of it? Could she possibly steal him away from you?”
“Besides, with so many guests coming and going in the front courtyard today, the man with the eldest miss might not necessarily be the Crown Prince. Who knows? Maybe she was secretly meeting with some other man?”
This could be a great opportunity! The master and mistress despised improper behavior the most. They might just drive the eldest miss away!
Then the mansion would have only the second miss as their daughter again, showered with endless affection.
“Better safe than sorry. What do you know?” Yun Si Yu pursed her lips. “Hurry up!”
It was true that Jun Yan brother was devoted to her, but with Yun Mu Jing’s fox-like, seductive face, there was no guarantee she wouldn’t lure Jun Yan brother away.
As a woman herself, she understood men’s weaknesses all too well.
Since Yun Mu Jing’s return, although her parents still doted on her, she had gone from being the eldest miss to the second miss, her status already far from what it once was.
She absolutely could not let Yun Mu Jing steal Jun Yan brother away as well.
“Si…” Mo Han Zhao caught sight of Yun Si Yu about to enter Yun Mu Jing’s room and immediately paled.
He wanted to step forward and stop her, but if Yun Si Yu saw him here, it would likely be impossible to explain everything.
But would a woman like Yun Mu Jing, who harbors ulterior motives, truly keep her promise?
Mo Han Zhao narrowed his eyes, intending to first probe the situation. If Yun Mu Jing dared to reveal even a hint, he would rush in and kill her with his own hands.
Thus, after Yun Si Yu and her maid disappeared into the room, Mo Han Zhao also approached the door to listen to the commotion inside.
“Elder sister, I came to see you,” Yun Si Yu said, her peripheral gaze sweeping the surroundings as if searching for something in the room.
Yun Mu Jing had hurriedly dressed and tidied up the room as soon as she heard footsteps outside.
Now, she was sitting at the table, sipping a cup of tea, though her pure and stunning face still bore a trace of pallor from the ordeal.
“With the banquet at the mansion today, younger sister Si Yu must be busy,” Yun Mu Jing said, forcing a gentle and affectionate smile. “I’m glad you came to see me.”
Suppressing the trembling in her fingertips, she poured a cup of tea for Yun Si Yu, stood up, and handed it to her. “Freshly brewed tea. It’s cold outside, have a cup to warm yourself.”
Yun Si Yu sniffed the inferior tea leaves and glanced at the chipped teacup, unable to hide a flicker of disgust and disdain in her eyes.
However, on the surface, she feigned reluctance. “I drank quite a bit earlier in the front courtyard, so never mind. Elder sister, you should have it.”
She hadn’t noticed earlier, but now that she was closer, she immediately spotted the faint red mark deep on Yun Mu Jing’s neck, a glint flashing in her eyes.
“Elder sister… were you in this courtyard the whole time?” Yun Si Yu asked pointedly. “I wonder if you’ve seen the Crown Prince.”
“The Crown Prince?” Yun Mu Jing replied, looking bewildered. “His Highness… attended the banquet today? I’m not quite sure.”
“I wasn’t in the courtyard the whole time. Today, during the banquet, I happened to run into an old friend and chatted with them for a while. But I truly haven’t seen any Crown Prince.”
Hearing Yun Mu Jing’s words, Yun Si Yu’s anxious heart quickly settled, and her brows relaxed.
If Yun Mu Jing didn’t even know the Crown Prince was attending the banquet, how could she have met him?
The room was so clean, with no trace of a man at all. Yun Mu Jing must be telling the truth.
“Pfft!”
As soon as Yun Mu Jing finished speaking, Yin Suo couldn’t help but laugh.
Since that man wasn’t the Crown Prince, what Xiao Jin saw must have been Yun Mu Jing secretly flirting with some other man!
After all, those who could attend the General’s Mansion banquet were all wealthy or noble. Yun Mu Jing had been wandering among commoners for ten years—how could she know such people?
Quite the excuse!
Yun Si Yu’s expression darkened. She had intended to use this to accuse Yun Mu Jing in front of their parents. Was this fool deliberately trying to alert the enemy and ruin her plans?
“Yin Suo,” Yun Si Yu called out warningly.
Yin Suo’s heart tightened. Meeting Yun Si Yu’s chilling gaze, she quickly bowed her head and said to Yun Mu Jing, “This servant was out of line. Please forgive me, eldest miss.”
“It’s fine,” Yun Mu Jing shook her head and looked at Yun Si Yu. “Is there anything else, younger sister?”
“Nothing major,” Yun Si Yu said, her smile widening as a faint glimmer flashed in her eyes. “Speaking of which… I should congratulate elder sister, as today is also your birthday.”
“You and I share the same year, month, and day of birth. That must count as fate.”
Back when Yun Mu Jing went missing, her adoptive parents took her in and poured all the love meant for Yun Mu Jing into her—this was largely the reason.
However, times have changed. The ten years of affection she shared with her adoptive parents had long surpassed anything Yun Mu Jing could ever catch up to.
Take this, for example: although she and Yun Mu Jing shared the same birthday, only she was celebrated in the front courtyard. Wasn’t Yun Mu Jing, that poor soul, left all alone in the backyard?
Indeed, upon hearing this, Yun Mu Jing’s expression dimmed slightly.
For parents to celebrate their adopted daughter’s birthday while completely ignoring their own biological daughter—anyone would feel a bit hurt.
But Yun Mu Jing forced a smile nonetheless. “All these years, it’s been my sister who stayed by Father and Mother’s side. It’s only right that they dote on you. I… I’m fine.”