Mo Xiaoxiao disliked the girl the first time he saw her.

She looked respectable in her attire and was pretty, comparable to the ladies from the capital, but she didn't know any manners at all.

After being scolded by Mo Xiaoxiao, the woman was about to reply when she looked up and saw a stunning woman in a long brocade dress with twined flowers approaching her.

"What are you still standing there for? Why don't you kneel when you see the princess?"

Mo Xiaoxiao said angrily again, and the woman finally reacted as if she was frightened.

"Your humble servant, Mei Qiuyi, pays homage to Princess Jingling."

Perhaps it was because the woman's aura was too strong. Mei Qiuyi was stunned for a moment, then immediately knelt down and saluted.

"Get up."

Before coming, Jiang Libian asked Mo Qi to check the person who came.

Mei Qiuyi is the legitimate daughter of the Qinzhou governor.

After the snowstorm, Mr. Mei from Qinzhou Prefecture immediately went with his subordinates to rescue the refugees, but unexpectedly they encountered an accident.

After Gu Qingchen arrived in Qinzhou and learned about this, he immediately sent someone to inform the emperor, so before he left Qinzhou, the court's reward had already reached the Mei family.

However, when Mo Jiu left Qinzhou, Mei Qiuyi insisted on following him to Beijing, saying that Prince Jingling was in a hurry to leave and she wanted to thank Prince Jingling in person.

Mo Jiu had no choice but to take the person with him, but Gu Qingchen had not returned since he entered the palace yesterday, so Mei Qiuyi came to the palace by herself.

Logically speaking, as the family member of a meritorious official, Jiang Li has always been respected.

But Mei Qiuyi was also an official's wife. She rushed to the house without sending a visiting card, saying that she was expressing gratitude, but it gave people the impression that she was asking for something.

"It's a long journey from Qinzhou to the capital. Why don't you rest for a few days, Miss Mei?"

After the servants brought hot tea, Jiang Li finally asked.

Mei Qiuyi looked at Jiang Li's expression and then said, "In reply to the princess, Qiuyi came to the capital to express her gratitude. If she waits a few more days, it would seem a little insincere."

Along the way, she had asked Guard Mo about the princess. From Guard Mo's description, the princess had extraordinary medical skills and was very kind to her servants.

At that time, Mei Qiuyi thought that Princess Jingling must be very ordinary in appearance.

Otherwise, why would such a capable person need to please servants? It is just to make the people in the palace like her and win the heart of Prince Jingling.

However, when she saw it today, she was completely stunned.

"I've heard about your story. Your father's sacrifice for the people was a great deed. It's the prince's duty to report this to the court. If you really want to express your gratitude, you shouldn't come to the prince's mansion," Jiang Li smiled. "Young lady, you should go to the imperial palace."

"However, without the Emperor's summons, you probably won't be able to enter the palace. If you don't want your trip to the capital to be in vain, you can kowtow a few more times at the palace gate like everyone else did, as a sign of sincerity."

After Jiang Li finished speaking, Mei Qiuyi's expression changed.

"princess……"

Mei Qiuyi pursed her lips, and when she looked up at Jiang Li again, tears filled her eyes.

"Qiuyi has no other intentions. Qiuyi just feels that if it weren't for the prince, then this minister's father wouldn't have received the imperial title. It's only logical that this minister should thank the prince."

"Also, when we were in Qinzhou, Your Highness saved our lives. I will never forget that. In the disaster camp, if Your Highness had not helped me, I would have been crushed to death by the falling wooden beams."

The beautiful girl is so charming and beautiful.

Jiang Li looked at Mei Qiuyi, and these two words appeared in his mind.

The look of wanting to cry but not crying is really heartbreaking.

It’s a pity that I’m not a man.

Jiang Li felt sorry for her lack of understanding.

However, when it comes to being a hero saving a damsel in distress, Jiang Li doesn't believe it at all.

Mei Qiuyi felt a little uneasy when she saw that Jiang Li had no reaction at all after hearing all this.

Could it be that her information was wrong?

After arriving in the capital yesterday, she had inquired about it. She found out that Prince Jingling had only one wife, the princess, because the princess was extremely jealous and had a very bad temper. She had once driven Prince Jingling to the study on their wedding night.

Mei Qiuyi swallowed and continued, "Princess, please don't misunderstand me. What I meant is that although the prince saved me, nothing happened between us."

The more Jiang Li listened, the more she wanted to laugh. Bai Lianhua's speech was really, very unique.

"Don't worry, I won't misunderstand."

Jiang Li took a sip of tea and looked at Mei Qiuyi with a smile.

But he couldn't see the other person.

She originally thought that since Princess Jingling was so jealous, her words would definitely make her angry on the spot. Then, she would leave the palace crying and let everyone know that she had come all the way to the capital to repay her gratitude, but was bullied by the princess.

By then, when Prince Jingling came to find her, she would show an understanding and aggrieved look. Having seen what a tigress looks like, Prince Jingling would definitely feel even more sorry for her.

She will never forget the look in Prince Jingling's eyes when he looked at her. She is sure that Prince Jingling must be fond of her.

It's just that I haven't had the chance to say it out loud yet.

"princess……"

Unfortunately, Prince Jingling was not in the palace today, and she could not see through the woman in front of her.

Mei Qiuyi's palms were slightly sweaty, and she didn't know what to do for a moment.

"If you came here today to say this, then I understand." Jiang Li raised her hand slightly, and Mo Xiaoxiao helped him up.

When Jiang Li stood up, she gently gathered her hair and said, "I know the prince. He won't care about this. To put it bluntly, if you appear in front of him now, he might not even remember who you are."

"I have sensed your sincerity, so I will not keep Miss Mei for lunch. Butler, please show her away."

"Princess!" Fearing she would miss the opportunity, Mei Qiuyi ignored the woman's indifference and stepped forward to grab Jiang Li's sleeve. "To repay you for saving my life, I am willing to stay in the palace and serve you, my Lord and Princess!"

///

When Gu Qingchen came back, it was already afternoon.

The New Year had just passed, and the red lanterns in the mansion had not yet been taken down. Combined with the white snow on the eaves, it created a warm atmosphere.

When he thought that there was someone waiting for him to return home in the mansion, Gu Qingchen's lips curled up slightly, and the tiredness of the night seemed to disappear at this moment.

As soon as he crossed the threshold, the butler came towards him.

After explaining what happened in the palace today, Gu Qingchen asked, "Where is the princess?"

"Since that girl left, the princess has been staying in the study."

“Squeak—”

When Gu Qingchen pushed open the study door, Jiang Li was dozing off with his head propped up.

Without waking Jiang Li, Gu Qingchen took a shawl from the couch behind the screen and quietly put it on Jiang Li.

Jiang Li finally woke up after he finished reading several secret letters sent from various places.

Looking up, the man's profile was like a sculpture. Even if you just look at him quietly, you can stare at him for hours.

No wonder the girl didn't even want a home and came all the way to the capital to repay her gratitude.

"woke up?"

Gu Qingchen turned his head and happened to meet Jiang Li's eyes.

"Mei Qiuyi, do you still remember?"

Jiang Li wiped the corner of her mouth lightly, luckily there was no saliva. Then she put away the book that was under her elbow and went straight to the point.

"who?"

After reading the last secret letter, Gu Qingchen raised his hand and placed the letter on the burning candlestick.

Jiang Li shrugged, "It's just... a girl you saved, she was a beauty."