In the dead of night, the snow was falling harder and harder. Ning Yue started a fire in the kitchen. She fried the finely chopped scallions in oil and stir - fried a piece of ham.
Watching the delicious aroma rising from the pot, Ning Yue added some boiling water. The pot bubbled and gurgled, and her thoughts gradually drifted away.
Why did Zhongli Mingye suddenly come?
She felt a bit awkward. Just because she looked a bit like Song Jinyu, everyone took her for that woman. But... if things went on like this, where would she end up?
Xiao Xueyi refused to say anything, as if he had admitted that he had done something wrong to her. Now... she thought of Xiao Xueyi again, the man who claimed to be her fiancé.
Was he really doing all this for her own good?
In the past, she had thought that if what Xiao Xueyi said was true, spending the rest of her life in Gusu City would be a happy ending. But now, she had come to the capital.
She met Zhongli Mingye, and even more coincidentally, she looked extremely similar to the deceased Crown Princess.
Since he appeared in front of her, Ning Yue faintly felt a change in her heart. It seemed to be filling up. She was disturbed by these changes,
because she didn't want to be someone's substitute. No matter how affectionate Zhongli Mingye's eyes were, they were for Song Jinyu.
It made her feel like a thief, stealing someone else's heart.
She carried the bowl of fragrant hot noodle soup, hesitated for a while, took a deep breath, and gently pushed open the door.
The Crown Prince had changed his clothes. Even though it was a coarse cloth garment of a servant, it still looked good on him. Sure enough, a good - looking person would look decent in anything.
Every time she saw him, she felt a bit uncomfortable. Ning Yue put the noodles on the table. "Eat it while it's hot... It's so cold outside... Eating this will warm you up..."
Seeing that he just sat there without moving, Ning Yue thought he was used to being served. She stammered and stepped forward, handing the chopsticks to his hand.
Zhongli Mingye looked up at her. There was a bit of black ash on her slightly pink cheeks. He reached out his hand to brush it off, but the delicate woman was like a frightened little rabbit and quickly stepped back. He looked at her leisurely and then slowly ate the noodle soup.
Watching the sky gradually brighten outside, she knew she had to send him back earlier.
After all, this... was her boudoir.
If... it was seen by the early - rising stewards or maids, it would be bad. Ning Yue stared blankly as the man finished eating and even drank up the soup. "Your cooking skills are really good."
"I used to make medicine for the Pavilion Master. When I was free, I learned from the cook..." Ning Yue replied obediently.
She made medicine for Xiao Xueyi, which meant her health had already recovered. But she had stayed in Gusu City for almost half a year!
What was even more annoying was that he had been searching downstream all the time. How could he have noticed that Xiao Xueyi was also on the Min River that day...
Seeing that she still looked so innocent, the panic in Zhongli Mingye's heart suddenly welled up. He grabbed her and tightly held her in his arms.
Ning Yue came to her senses. "What... are you doing!" How heartless could he be! She had changed his clothes and cooked noodles for him,
but now he was bullying her!
She struggled but didn't dare to shout out loudly. She was afraid of being seen, for then she wouldn't be able to explain. Unfortunately, Zhongli Mingye seemed to have lost his mind.
He reached out his hand to tear at her clothes. Ning Yue's eyes gradually widened. She turned her face away. His breath was too cold, and... familiar?
This Crown Prince was really so despicable! He actually... She fiercely pinched his waist, her mind in a complete mess. But she was no match for his strength.
Soon, her outer garment was torn off, and her middle - layer clothes were also in a mess.
Until she felt a chill on her back. Zhongli Mingye had actually torn off all her clothes. She was extremely angry and directly slapped him,
but he quickly grabbed her hand and still forced her to stay in his arms. "Don't move..." His voice was slightly hoarse, as if he was on the verge of crying.
What was going on? Ning Yue was stunned! The Crown Prince was hugging her. Although she was half - naked, the man didn't do anything else,
but just hugged her.
Until she felt drops of tears falling on her back. He was crying! Ning Yue couldn't believe it. Why was he crying... She was the one who had been molested, okay?
Instead, he started crying first! Ning Yue didn't know whether to laugh or cry... People who didn't know might think that she had molested the current Crown Prince!
Just when her mind was in a complete mess, the tears flowed down along her neck.
At first, they felt a bit warm, but later they became cold.
The coldness made Ning Yue shiver. The man who had lost his mind finally noticed. He gently let go of Ning Yue and tenderly helped her put on her clothes one by one.
"I'm sorry..."
"..." In this situation, what could she say? She didn't dare to look up at him at all. After all... a man doesn't shed tears easily, and she had seen the Crown Prince in such an embarrassing state. She might lose her head accidentally!
Ning Yue gave up the idea of slapping him again.
Zhongli Mingye seemed as if nothing had happened. He just stared at Ning Yue. He didn't want to take his eyes off her for a moment. Hearing from Niaoniao and Micui was not as good as seeing with his own eyes. Only when he saw it could he feel at ease.
The red petal - shaped wound was so familiar. He had kissed it countless times. It was her mark. Once, Song Jinyu wanted to get rid of it,
but he had refused. "This King thinks you look extremely beautiful like this!" Every time they were in the heat of passion, he would always kiss that wound, making her tremble all over.
They would be immersed in the wonderful feeling together, as if it had penetrated into their bones.
That wound, others didn't know about it, and it couldn't be faked... Now, he saw the same wound on Ning Yue's body with his own eyes.
Ning Yue was really Song Jinyu!
She was a person who had lost her memory and forgotten her past.
She was the person he most wanted in this world.
Xiao Xueyi had long heard the unusual noises in Ning Yue's room and had also received the news. He knew that Ning Yue had brought the Crown Prince into the Mingyue Tower.
He was guarding not far away. Before dawn, Zhongli Mingye left... As if feeling his gaze, the Crown Prince's phoenix eyes coldly stared at that direction, sneered, and strode away.
However, as soon as he went out,
he heard someone at the door say, "Our Pavilion Master Xiao has finally settled his life - long event, hasn't he?"
"What do you mean by that?" Another old voice was puzzled.
"I heard from Miss Jingran that the Pavilion Master Ning Yue is Pavilion Master Xiao's fiancée!"
The smile on his lips instantly froze! His phoenix eyes coldly stared at the people at the door, making them tremble with fear.
Inside the room, Ning Yue sat on the bed blankly, hugging her knees. She didn't know what she was thinking... Her clothes were slightly in a mess, which made people have wild thoughts.
Xiao Xueyi rolled his wheelchair over, which made Ning Yue come back to her senses.
"Are you okay?" Xiao Xueyi looked rather strange, but Ning Yue didn't look at him anymore. Her eyes were wandering. "I don't know..." She couldn't tell whether she was okay or not. The Crown Prince had only torn off her clothes and then cried,
and later apologized. It was so inexplicable. The anger in her heart hadn't even subsided, and he had left... Left... Left!
It was really infuriating!
He had taken advantage of her and left without saying a single word!
But with him here, what could she do! Xiao Xueyi saw her expression changing constantly and decided not to bother Ning Yue anymore.
Looking back, he took a lingering look at her. After all, she didn't belong to him.