Although Mingyue Tower was closed, Ning Yue found that visitors came to see her one after another. Something seemed off to her.
Xiang's enthusiasm was a bit overwhelming for Ning Yue.
Then, the prime minister himself condescended to visit Mingyue Tower. Ning Yue... was extremely flustered. Were they all taking her as a substitute?
She didn't have the heart for such things now!
If things went wrong, Tingran Pavilion might be doomed.
For the moment, she couldn't say much. With a slight raise of her eyebrows, she suddenly grabbed Xiang. "Madam Song, please show Ning Yue a way out."
Xiang sighed inwardly. Such a nice girl, but she had lost her memory. At present, she couldn't be explicit and simply said, "Silly girl... the world belongs to the Zhongli family..."
Zhongli? Ning Yue smiled bitterly. How could she not know!
Since that day, she hadn't thought about looking for Zhongli Mingye at all. After all... if she went to plead with him,
what would happen?
Ning Yue didn't dare to think. Seeing that she understood, Xiang smiled faintly. "Girl, you're a smart one. Some things aren't as complicated as you think."
"Whether it's Tingran Pavilion or Xiao Xueyi, it all depends on your words and actions..." Did Xiang mean that she should go to Zhongli Mingye to plead for mercy?
Ning Yue was extremely troubled. She didn't want to use her looks to gain any benefits.
She just wanted to live safely in Tingran Pavilion.
Several groups of people came that day, and she was a bit tired. At night, the remaining snow melted and then froze again. She wrapped the white fox fur cloak tightly around herself.
In the prison, no one took care of him. Xiao Xueyi... Ning Yue was a bit at a loss. It was so cold. Would his leg ailment flare up in the prison?
In Gusu City, his protection of her; and all the indulgence he had shown in Tingran Pavilion. Ning Yue felt a bit uncomfortable.
Her feelings for Xiao Xueyi were complicated.
Since he almost killed Ji Yeliou in front of her last time, Ning Yue had trusted him less. But it didn't mean that Xiao Xueyi wasn't important to her.
It was so cold. Would he catch a cold? The more she thought about it, the more anxious she became... If Tingran Pavilion was really involved in such a serious crime,
it was likely that Xiao Xueyi and the entire Xiao family would have no way out.
No, she couldn't hesitate any longer!
"Prince Yu's Mansion..." It felt strangely familiar. Ning Yue had been standing at the door for more than an hour. The weather was cold. Although she was wearing a white fox cloak,
she was still shivering all over.
Zhongli Mingye was coming back from the palace. He saw her outside the door from afar.
Since that day, they hadn't seen each other again. That woman had been so shy that she hardly left Mingyue Tower.
He had planned to go and see her the next day, but unexpectedly, Ning Yue didn't want to meet him at all!
It was so hard to see his own wife. There was no other way but to force her to come out of Mingyue Tower by herself.
Now... had she finally understood?
"What are you doing here?" He suddenly spoke behind Ning Yue, scaring the woman into taking a step back. She accidentally stepped on Zhongli Mingye's foot.
Ning Yue's red lips twitched. She didn't dare to look at him.
After all... that day... it had been too abrupt.
Zhongli Mingye noticed her fluster and looked down at her playfully. "Miss Ning Yue, can't you even walk properly?"
Ning Yue blushed slightly. "Greetings to Your Highness the Crown Prince..." After saluting, she composed herself. "Ning Yue has something to ask of Your Highness the Crown Prince."
Of course, he knew why Ning Yue was looking for him. But Zhongli Mingye didn't want to let her off so easily.
"Come in first."
As soon as the words left his mouth, he took her hand and walked into the mansion.
She was a bit stunned. Why wasn't she at all disgusted by Zhongli Mingye's rather offensive behavior?
Her mind was in a mess again. Her heart was pounding like a deer.
She wanted to break free, but it seemed impossible. And the people in the mansion seemed to be used to it, which made Ning Yue even more nervous...
"What are you afraid of? This prince won't eat you," he said with a hint of laughter in his voice, bringing Ning Yue back to her senses.
In Liuyun Pavilion, Zhongli Mingye poured tea for her. "This tea is most suitable for women..." It was also the jasmine tea that Song Jinyu had loved the most.
A glint of interest flashed across his phoenix eyes.
As soon as she smelled the tea, Ning Yue knew it must be top - grade jasmine tea.
However, she wasn't here to drink tea. "Your Highness... Ning Yue has a favor to ask..."
"Is it for Xiao Xueyi?"
Ning Yue thought for a long time. "It's for the lives of the thousands of people in Tingran Pavilion." She stood up, walked in front of Zhongli Mingye,
and knelt down...
Before Zhongli Mingye could reach out his hand, he heard the woman say in a deep voice, "Tingran Pavilion's mistake in the illegal salt trafficking can be either serious or minor. It all depends on Your Highness the Crown Prince."
"If Your Highness is willing to show mercy, Tingran Pavilion will no longer deal in illegal salt and will only do legitimate business. Please... spare the pavilion master."
"He has a disability in his legs... and poses no threat to you."
Ning Yue gradually understood that it was likely that Xiao Xueyi had once cooperated with the Crown Prince, which was why he had been so bold.
Zhongli Mingye looked into the distance. "The wrongdoings he has committed are not limited to this one!" The most unforgivable thing was that he had coveted the person he loved the most.
Moreover, if the illegal salt trafficking incident hadn't been made such a big deal,
it was likely that Xiao Xueyi would have already hidden the amnesiac Song Jinyu away by now.
Seeing his solemn expression, Ning Yue sighed and continued, "Ning Yue doesn't know many things. But... no one is perfect. Everyone makes mistakes."
"Please show mercy."
After saying that, she prostrated herself on the ground. Zhongli Mingye looked at her coldly. "If you keep kneeling, today will be Xiao Xueyi's death day."
His woman was kneeling to plead for another man today. It was really hateful!
Ning Yue didn't understand his words. The ground was a bit cold. The hand that was reaching out to her had well - defined joints.
She saw the burning passion in his phoenix eyes and was a bit lost in it. Involuntarily, she reached out and held it.
Suddenly, her legs went weak, and she fell into his arms. "Listen, this prince likes to make deals with people..."
He whispered in Ning Yue's ear, "Ning Yue, you're a smart person." Ning Yue's eyes widened in surprise.
Was this the Crown Prince? He was clearly a domineering playboy!
Just as she was in a daze, she suddenly felt a sharp pain in her ear. That man had actually bitten her. What a lecher. She was both ashamed and angry and struggled to get up.
Unexpectedly, Zhongli Mingye hugged her even tighter, and his tone became even more ambiguous. "This prince's study is short of a personal maid. How about... you, Ning Yue, come?"
Ning Yue was immediately furious upon hearing this!
She had come to plead with Zhongli Mingye to spare Xiao Xueyi, but... she didn't want to be a substitute!
"Your Highness, Ning Yue is a commoner girl, not a maid. Moreover, the pavilion master is of great use to you... Why do you have to be so ruthless?" Her beautiful eyes sparkled as she spoke neither humbly nor arrogantly.
Zhongli Mingye suddenly laughed. "You probably don't know this prince's reputation in the capital." He looked at Ning Yue seriously.
"What this prince wants, he will surely get. No matter the cost!"
He gently let go of Ning Yue. "You can leave Prince Yu's Mansion now. This prince will order Xiao Xueyi's execution immediately!"
"You!"