Anyway, Xiao Xueyi must not be in danger.
Ning Yue let out a soft sigh. She always lost out under Zhongli Mingye's intimidating aura.
Thankfully, Zhongli Mingye didn't intend to kill Xiao Xueyi.
At present, it was not easy for her to leave the mansion. "Niaoniao... tell me... how can I get out?"
"You'll have to plead with the Crown Prince!"
Niaoniao felt sorry for Ning Yue. Just when the family was finally reunited, she lost her memory. Everyone knew the truth, but the Crown Prince strictly forbade them to tell Ning Yue.
Micu saw her worried and said with a smile, "Ning Yue, don't be anxious... I'll go out in the next couple of days. I'll take you with me then." Niaoniao gave her a look, but Micu shook her head.
"Really?"
Ning Yue was crazy about getting out. Now that she had the chance, she was extremely happy. After Micu comforted Ning Yue,
she went to the study.
"She wants to go out? Then let her... except to the prison." After a pause, "She must be back before dinner."
"Yes!"
"I'll dine with Mother Concubine in the palace tomorrow... I'll be back late."
Ning Yue finally got out. It had been more than ten days. She wondered how the Bright Moon Tower was doing. As soon as she stepped in, she knew her worries were unnecessary.
The imperial guards had withdrawn.
Under the leadership of several stewards, it reopened during the Lantern Festival. Steward Chen saw Ning Yue come in. "Miss Ning Yue, do you have any news about the Pavilion Master?" Their Bright Moon Tower belonged to the Listening to the Sounds Pavilion.
If something happened to the Listening to the Sounds Pavilion and Xiao Xueyi, the Bright Moon Tower might not be able to operate. How could they make a living then?
Ning Yue didn't know how to answer. She just comforted them, "I'll figure it out."
"At present, the Crown Prince won't kill the Pavilion Master." Although Ning Yue didn't know the deal between Xiao Xueyi and Zhongli Mingye, she knew there must be some unknown connection between them.
Otherwise,
why could the Bright Moon Tower reopen after Zhongli Mingye became the Crown Prince? She had personally investigated the past of the Bright Moon Tower before, so she naturally knew that the person behind the Listening to the Sounds Pavilion was the Crown Prince.
But as days passed. Zhongli Mingye didn't say he would release Xiao Xueyi, nor did he give a definite answer. There were thousands of people in the Listening to the Sounds Pavilion.
Fortunately, the managers of each business were all extremely capable.
Micu saw her looking worried and said, "Actually, you don't need to worry so much... If His Highness the Crown Prince is satisfied with you, he will surely spare Pavilion Master Xiao."
She couldn't be too obvious.
Ning Yue lowered her head. "..." She felt powerless again. She clearly knew that the flutter in her heart didn't belong to her.
The Bright Moon Tower reopened for business. Ning Yue was temporarily relieved.
She took a detour and went to General Song's mansion. She visited Lady Xiang, who gave her a lot of food. "Take these back for His Highness the Crown Prince. This dried fish should be steamed carefully for Yuanbao. It has to be soft and glutinous before he can eat it."
"And... these sets of clothes were made for Yuanbao."
Lady Xiang instructed her in detail, which made Ning Yue both amused and embarrassed. It seemed as if she really regarded her as Yuanbao's mother.
As they were walking, Micu always kept an eye on Ning Yue, making sure no one jostled her. When they returned to the mansion, it was a bit late.
Zhongli Mingye was waiting for Ning Yue to have dinner with him. "Since when has there been a rule in the mansion that the master has to wait for the maid?" Seeing his expression soften a little, she naturally knew he had been waiting for a long time.
She quickly washed her hands and stepped forward to serve him the dishes. But unexpectedly, he darkened his face and didn't start eating for a long time.
"If Your Highness the Crown Prince doesn't like me, you might as well kill me." Today, Ning Yue didn't want to be good - tempered.
"What did you say?"
Zhongli Mingye stood up. He didn't know what he was fussing about. He just felt uncomfortable when Ning Yue went out of the mansion.
He didn't expect this woman not only didn't try to placate him but also got angry.
"..." Ning Yue suddenly knelt down. "The Pavilion Master is in prison. His health is already poor. Please show mercy, Your Highness the Crown Prince, and release him!"
"If you agree, Ning Yue... is willing... to accompany you." To be the substitute of the former Crown Princess and be Yuanbao's mother for a lifetime.
A myriad of pain flashed across his eyes. Zhongli Mingye's face darkened with anger. He never expected that Ning Yue would go to such lengths for Xiao Xueyi.
"Have I ever told you! The more you do for Xiao Xueyi, the more I hate him!"
Angry as he was, he didn't want to see Ning Yue kneeling. He reached out to help her up. "Since you're willing, then serve me well." If it weren't for worrying about the injury in her head, Zhongli Mingye wouldn't have suppressed himself so much.
His cold eyes made Ning Yue feel a bit uncomfortable. "You know very well that Xiao Xueyi's motive for sending you to the capital was impure! Now... are you still willing to sacrifice for him?"
"He saved me, and the Listening to the Sounds Pavilion took me in. The grace of saving a life is greater than heaven. Ning Yue can't be an ungrateful person." Ning Yue raised her head. Her beautiful eyes were so enchanting that it made people feel dazed.
"If it were Your Highness the Crown Prince who saved Ning Yue, Ning Yue would also repay you."
"Just the grace of saving a life?" Zhongli Mingye grabbed her suddenly. "Nothing else?"
What else? Ning Yue didn't understand what he meant. The two were very close. The candle crackled. Under their gaze, Zhongli Mingye couldn't help but kiss her.
After a long time, he said hoarsely, "Since you've made up your mind, then serve me well."
Chen Jiacai saw with his own eyes the person who looked exactly like the former Crown Princess enter Prince Yu's mansion. He immediately had an idea. "When will the birthday banquet of the Duke of Rongguo start?"
"In three days. Then find someone to send the news out... Make sure it's done cleanly."
"This person looks exactly the same. Xiao Xueyi must have spent a lot of effort. If she can look exactly the same, I can surely find someone too..." Chen Jiacai regarded this as his last chance.
If he could replace her, presumably... there would be a queen from the Duke - Protector's Mansion in the future.
When Zhongli Mingye woke up, Ning Yue was lying beside him, fast asleep. Last night, he promised to release Xiao Xueyi, but he also confined him in the Bright Moon Tower and forbade him to go out.
Ning Yue was also not allowed to see Xiao Xueyi again. Just to be on the safe side, Zhongli Mingye didn't dare to take risks. He was afraid of losing. The only thing he couldn't afford to lose was Song Jinyu.
He coaxed Ning Yue to have dinner with him. At night, he asked her to accompany him. They lay down fully dressed. Ning Yue was fully prepared. But Zhongli Mingye didn't force her.
He just coaxed her to sleep with him.
Ning Yue felt awkward and her face was blushing. But she couldn't resist sleepiness. Before falling asleep in his arms, Zhongli Mingye whispered quietly, "On the Bright Moon Terrace that day, you weren't this shy."
Boom... Ning Yue remembered...
She immediately felt extremely shy. Niaoniao came in to serve her to wash and dress. She still saw her face flushed.
Micu asked someone to pack the clothes. "His Highness wants you to attend the birthday banquet of the Duke of Rongguo with him."
"Today, the King and Princess of Zhongzhou are guests in the mansion."
Ah? Ning Yue was a bit dazed when she heard this news. It wasn't until Rong Shuang'er hugged her that, through Shuang'er, she saw Ming Ruyi.
Her eyes were too clear and... strange. Rong Shuang'er then realized that Ning Yue didn't remember them at all.
Ming Ruyi saw that she was as beautiful and charming as before and in good spirits. She had received the news earlier and wanted to come and visit.
But Zhongli Mingye reminded them that now Song Jinyu could only be Ning Yue because she had lost her memory. Moreover, she couldn't be stimulated.
If they tried to forcefully awaken her memory, it might backfire.
So, they just regarded it as getting to know Ning Yue, that is, Song Jinyu, anew.