Rumors had it among the people in the capital that the all - powerful crown prince refused to move into the Eastern Palace because he was waiting for someone. He would rather live in his former Prince Yu's Mansion than take up residence in the Eastern Palace.
Another New Year was approaching. Zhongli Mingye was playing with little Yuanbao in the Liuyun Pavilion. Dressed thickly today, the chubby little fellow was clumsily crawling on the ground. As soon as he grabbed Mocui's hand, he tried to toddle with his short legs.
Lady Xiang sent new winter clothes today. "I'm most familiar with Yuanbao's measurements," she said, raising her eyes to look at Zhongli Mingye. He still looked haggard. Song Chuyu always complained about it every time she went home.
"Thank you, Lady Song," Zhongli Mingye replied.
Little Yuanbao babbled and lunged towards him, wanting to be hugged. It was the Laba Festival today. The Song Mansion not only made winter clothes for the crown prince's grandson but also sent Laba porridge.
Today was her seventeenth birthday. The one he loved most would also have been seventeen this year. But she had disappeared without a trace! Little Yuanbao's commotion brought Zhongli Mingye back to his senses. He had no choice but to coax the child.
Seeing this scene, Lady Xiang sighed inwardly. Fortunately, they still had a child. Otherwise... Oh...
Ningyue was standing hesitantly in front of Xiao Xueyi's door, holding the medicine. Yunran asked curiously, "Miss Ningyue, why don't you go in?"
"...Yunran, could you do it for me..." Before she could finish her words, Yunran waved her hands in refusal. No way! The lord asked Ningyue to deliver the medicine just so he could take a look at her.
Reluctantly, Ningyue pushed open the door. "Have you made up your mind?" Xiao Xueyi asked in a deep voice.
"I think it's not urgent to get married," Ningyue said. After thinking about it all night, she still felt that she was too unfamiliar with Xiao Xueyi, and her identity was still rather ambiguous.
"Alright!" Xiao Xueyi didn't want to force her. Seeing Ningyue frown, he asked, "Do you have any difficulties?"
Ningyue poured out all her doubts. Xiao Xueyi couldn't help but smile bitterly to himself. Although she had lost her memory, her mind was very clear.
Suddenly, he took out a pearl necklace and handed it to Ningyue. "Today is your birthday... See if you like it?"
It was a purple pearl necklace. Each pearl was round and plump. Purple pearls were extremely precious. Although Ningyue had never seen one, she knew that this necklace was priceless. She immediately refused, not willing to accept it. Xiao Xueyi was a bit hurt. "If you don't accept this, I'll just throw it away!" Unable to bear it, Ningyue took it.
The two of them had their own thoughts.
Ningyue served Xiao Xueyi the medicine and then felt his pulse. "Now, your leg still needs acupuncture for a few more days," she said.
"I think we should try the acupuncture these days. What do you think?" Anyway, it was a fact that Xiao Xueyi had saved her. Even though her doubts were growing, she didn't want to see such a handsome young man confined to a wheelchair for the rest of his life.
Xiao Xueyi reached out and grabbed her hand. His eyes seemed to light up. "Okay..."
He was very conflicted now. He knew that she was troubled by her lost memories, but he was selfish enough to want to keep her by his side.
Why didn't she want to be the lord's wife?
Jingran could see Ningyue's hesitation. She thought Xiao Xueyi was the dream husband of many women. Why was Ningyue so indifferent?
Saying that marriage was not urgent was actually a gentle rejection. Xiao Xueyi understood it, Ningyue knew it, and Jingran was also aware of it.
Why? Ningyue sighed. She didn't know either. Her first reaction was that she didn't want to marry Xiao Xueyi. Although he was really good to her, there always seemed to be something missing in her heart. And that missing thing was not something Xiao Xueyi could give.
Ji Yeliu thought it over and decided that he couldn't wait any longer. If Xiao Xueyi wanted to use Ningyue to negotiate with the crown prince, that would be fine. But what if he had other motives?
The news Lin Qingge brought made Ji Yeliu panic. "He's going to marry Ningyue as his wife!!!" Was he tired of living?
Given Zhongli Mingye's character, he would surely wipe out the entire Xiao family!
Ji Yeliu stamped his feet repeatedly. "Is Xiao Xueyi crazy?"
Lin Qingge was very satisfied. She thought Ningyue was Ji Yeliu's sweetheart, so she offered an idea on her own initiative. "If Young Master Ji is willing, just listen to me!"
If Ningyue really became Lady Xiao, Lin Qingge was afraid that her good days would come to an end.
Ji Yeliu had no choice but to rely on Lin Qingge to find out about Ningyue. He looked at Lin Qingge coldly. "I don't care how you do things. If you let her get hurt even a little bit, I'll make you suffer in front of Lord Xiao!"
Lin Qingge sneered. "She's really a fox spirit..." One after another, men were crazy about her.
Yingran saw Ningyue bustling around and put on a smiling face. "Miss Ningyue..."
Ningyue knew that Yingran didn't like her. But today, she was being extremely enthusiastic. Ningyue raised her guard but still looked amiable on the surface. "Sister Yingran, we're both servants. You don't need to call me Miss."
"The weather is fine today. I want to go out and buy some rouge and powder... Why don't you come with me?"
"I've always seen that you look so radiant when you put on makeup," Yingran said, stepping forward and linking arms with her.
Ningyue quietly pulled her arm out and then smiled. "Sure, that's fine." The two women left the Tingran Pavilion hand in hand. Fortunately, Xiao Xueyi was out today, so Ningyue was glad to have some leisure. But before leaving, she still left a note in her room.
Before long, she saw a figure moving in the dark. She knew immediately that Yingran must be trying to harm her. She immediately pulled out her jade hairpin and subdued Yingran. "Yingran, who are those people?"
Yingran was scared. She had really underestimated Ningyue. "Don't do anything rash!"
"Rash? Those people were your idea!" Ningyue gestured with the jade hairpin on her neck.
Lin Qingge walked out and laughed. "You're just too smart for your own good."
"Ningyue, you didn't expect this, did you?"
Didn't expect it? Yingran, who had always been at odds with her and found fault with her every time they met, suddenly linked arms with her and invited her to go shopping. How could she not be suspicious? Ningyue said helplessly, "What do you want?"
"Get out of the Tingran Pavilion!"
Without caring about Yingran's life at all, Ningyue used some skills and knocked the woman to the ground. She clapped her hands. "Lin Qingge... You're asking for death!"
Not only had she left a note, but if Xiao Xueyi knew that she was missing, the first person he would suspect would be Lin Qingge!
Lin Qingge didn't care. "As long as you disappear, he'll notice me again. You'd better die and never be found!" There was hatred in her words.
Ningyue remained unmoved. "So what do you want to do?"
Suddenly, she pretended to faint. Lin Qingge was overjoyed and motioned for her subordinates to take Ningyue onto the carriage. "Send her to a brothel in Qingzhou and make her the lowest - class whore!"
The hatred in her eyes was chilling. "What about Yingran?"
"Deal with her together..."
Yingran was so easy to deceive. She didn't even think that if she was allowed to go back safely, it would expose Lin Qingge!
"Yes!"
The carriage galloped quickly through the streets and gradually left the city of Suzhou. Ningyue was the only one lying in the carriage. Suddenly, she opened her eyes. She just wanted to take this opportunity to get out of the city!