Chapter 73 Snow Before the Courtyard "If you come again, I will never..."

Nearly an hour later, the two finally finished their lovemaking. Lu Xiuyi, with a satisfied look on his face, sighed and then forcibly carried her to the bath.

Meng Yu was terrified that he would try to touch her again like yesterday, so as soon as they got to the bath, she grabbed a towel and hid far away.

Lu Xiuyi, naked, sat casually opposite her in the bathtub. Seeing her like this, he couldn't help but laugh and teased her knowingly, "Why are you hiding so far away? Come here."

He patted the water's surface, causing a slight splash.

"No." Meng Yu shook her head, her face full of fear.

Lu Xiuyi suppressed a laugh: "What are you afraid of?"

"I'm afraid you'll lose your bestial instincts," she said bluntly.

Meng Yu rarely spoke so bluntly, and Lu Xiuyi watched her quietly.

After the lovemaking, her lips became even redder, and the half of her body above the water was also radiantly crimson. Recalling her murmurs on the bed, his rested heart was stirred once more.

Seeing his eyes filled with a misty haze like snow, Meng Yu's heart skipped a beat. She subconsciously pulled her handkerchief up to cover his lustful gaze.

Feeling a little scared under his gaze, Meng Yu had no choice but to soften her voice and say, "My legs are weak, I really can't take it anymore."

Her voice was light and soft, like cotton wool filling his ears. Lu Xiuyi snapped out of his daze, suppressing the desire surging in his heart, and beckoned to her: "Come here, and I won't touch you."

A thin mist hung over the bath, obscuring the view ahead. Meng Yu breathed a sigh of relief as his gaze gradually cleared, but she still said with concern, "You can't go back on your word. You promised me, so you can't go back on your word."

"Okay, I promise you, I won't touch you," Lu Xiuyi said helplessly, beckoning her with his finger. "Can you come over now?"

Meng Yu gripped the handkerchief tightly and walked over shakily.

Before she could even get close, Lu Xiuyi stepped forward, pulled her into his arms, and ripped off the scarf she was covering herself with.

"If you're going to take a bath, why are you blocking the way?" He whispered in her ear, his lips brushing against hers, his breath warmer than the rising steam.

His breath tickled the area, and Meng Yu shivered, trying to take a few steps back, but the hand around his waist tightened even more: "Don't be afraid, I really won't touch you."

Lu Xiuyi pressed tightly against her, and Meng Yu could not break free, so she could only let his broad chest press against her.

Through the water's surface, dotted with floating flower petals, his hand gently traced her flat stomach. Suddenly, as if struck by a thought, he asked, "Have you eaten anything cold or cooling these past few days?"

Meng Yu felt a chill run down her spine.

She quickly composed herself, her mind racing through several answers, but she immediately rejected them all.

Seeing that she didn't speak, Lu Xiuyi frowned, gently pinched her chin, and forced her to tilt her head back. His deep eyes traced her face inch by inch: "Why aren't you saying anything? What are you thinking about?"

The question carried a slight chill. Meng Yu reacted quickly, glared at him, then slapped his hand away forcefully, feigning anger, and said, "Of course I ate. I just ate some yesterday, lilies. What? You even have to tell me what to do about that?"

lily?

Lu Xiuyi frowned and pondered for a moment. It seemed that the kitchen was simmering black chicken, lotus seed, and lily bulb soup.

"Alright, I was just overthinking it," Lu Xiuyi patted her back and soothed her gently. "I was just thinking that it's cold today and it's not good to eat cold things, so I asked you one more question. Don't be angry. Besides, you're such a good girl, I was thinking of making it up to you."

Meng Yuyuan wanted to keep up the act, but as soon as he heard about the compensation, he immediately perked up and asked, "What compensation? Tell me, and I'll see if it can make up for this grievance."

Those crescent-shaped eyes seemed to be filled with starlight. Lu Xiuyi just looked at them quietly and felt like he was going to drown in them.

He snapped out of his reverie, reached out and gently pinched the tip of her nose, and said with a smile, "From now on, I will no longer restrict your travel. You can go wherever you want, just let me know in advance."

Unexpectedly, this was the compensation. Meng Yu's eyes widened in disbelief: "Really?"

"real."

Meng Yu paused for a moment, then excitedly wrapped her arms tightly around his waist and pressed herself against his chest. After a while, a deep sigh came from above: "Yu'er, don't betray my trust again. If you do it again, I will never trust you again."

Upon hearing this, Meng Yu's heart skipped a beat, and she tightened her grip around his waist, whispering, "No, it won't happen again."

***

Zhi Mian's legs were broken while she was still alive. The doctor tried everything he could, but could only guarantee that she would not need to use crutches to walk in the future, but she would still walk with a limp.

Chuze went out to investigate all night, and when he returned the next morning with huge dark circles under his eyes, he still hadn't found any useful clues.

The murderer acted swiftly, and apart from leaving behind a single sentence, there were no useful clues at the scene, and no one on the streets or alleys saw anyone suspicious.

This time, they were clearly targeting the General's Mansion and Lu Xiuyi.

Lu Xiuyi was well aware of this, so he sent his secret guards to investigate everyone who came to the capital, starting with Prince Rui.

However, Prince Rui has recently acquired a beautiful concubine and has been staying at home in seclusion, so there is nothing suspicious about him.

Then there was Yang Long'an, the Left Chancellor and Minister of Revenue, and Cen Gong, the Grand Counselor, etc. However, after more than half a month of detailed investigation, no trace could be found among these people.

For a time, the matter seemed to be shrouded in mystery, with no clear direction, so Lu Xiuyi had no choice but to suspend the investigation.

It snowed again last night. The servants got up early this morning intending to clear the snow from the courtyard, but Meng Yu liked to sit by the window and look at the white expanse outside, so she asked Hua Yi to inform them that they didn't need to do anything today.

The charcoal fire in the stove burned brightly, and the rising steam leaked from the curved spout of the teapot, slowly drifting into the air and disappearing, filling the room with the aroma of tea.

Meng Yu, covered with a thick wool blanket, sat on the chaise longue, propping her chin up as she looked out into the courtyard. Snowflakes were still falling, and the bare branches were covered in white snow.

"The snow came early this year, and the manor hadn't had time to collect the winter tea yet, but the general knew that the lady liked to drink it, so he sent someone to Jiangzhou to pick a lot the other day."

Hua Yi kept fiddling with the charcoal fire and checking if the tea had turned out well. Even though she knew Meng Yu didn't really like talking to her, she still kept chattering away.

However, Meng Yu didn't find her annoying. On the contrary, she felt that her presence brought a bit more life to her otherwise stagnant days.

Suddenly, a black dot appeared in the vast white snow, getting closer and closer to her, and its all-black color was particularly eye-catching.

The person who entered brought with him a chill, and Huayi quickly stepped forward to take the cloak he offered, then tactfully withdrew.

"The snow outside is more beautiful than here. You should go out for a walk. Aren't you bored staying cooped up in Longxiang Pavilion all day?"

Lu Xiuyi stretched out his hands to warm them in front of the charcoal brazier, and only after the snow vapor on his body dissipated did he lean against Meng Yu and hold her hand.

His palms were large, thick, and warm. Meng Yu didn't pull them away, letting him hold them, and shook her head: "I've traveled all over the capital, but there's nothing much to see. It's cold, so it's more comfortable to stay here."

Lu Xiuyi did not refute. Although he said this, he always felt more at ease with her staying in the mansion.

There's something I need to tell you.

After hesitating for a moment, Lu Xiuyi decided to tell her anyway.

Meng Yu blinked, signaling him to continue.

Lu Xiuyi lowered his eyes and said apologetically, "We haven't found out who did what happened to Zhimian yet."

This was expected, but Meng Yu wasn't discouraged: "That person leaves no trace, so how could you easily find out?"

Lu Xiuyi held her hand tightly and comforted her, "Don't worry, I will definitely send people to investigate this matter until the real culprit is found."

Meng Yu nodded.

***

After Meng Yu returned, Steward Cao originally intended to hand over the estate's accounts to her, but she really had no interest in managing them anymore. So she called over Manager Zhang and asked him a few questions, and then flipped through a few of the accounts. She realized that Manager Zhang had indeed been working diligently for the past two years, so she felt more at ease entrusting these matters to Steward Cao and Manager Zhang.

After more than a month of recuperation, Zhimian's leg finally got better and she was able to get out of bed and walk. Although she still needed someone to help her, it was still more comfortable than lying on the couch all day.

The sky was clear and the air was fresh, with a gentle breeze and light clouds. Sunlight streamed into the courtyard. Meng Yu had just finished brewing the medicine when she saw Zhi Mian getting up, so she hurried over to help her up.

Zhimian, however, wanted to perform the ritual.

Meng Yu's face immediately darkened, and she pretended to be angry: "Didn't I say that there's no need for us to bow to each other anymore, even if your leg heals?"

“These are the rules, and everyone in the manor follows them. Even if you feel sorry for me, I can’t be the only exception.” Zhi Mian still had concerns, and was even more worried that if Meng Yu set this precedent, she would have a hard time in front of others in the future.

Meng Yu helped her to sit down on the stone bench in the courtyard. Knowing what she was worried about, he said gently with a smile, "I have already spoken to the general and will recognize you as my sister. He will then send someone to the county government to have your slave status removed. From now on, you will be a good citizen and no longer a slave."

The north wind was biting and piercing, but Zhi Mian didn't feel the slightest bit cold; instead, a warm feeling welled up in her eyes.

Just as she was about to express her gratitude, Meng Yu anticipated what she wanted to say, patted the back of her hand, and looked as if she understood: "There's no need for thanks. Just focus on healing your leg and don't worry about anything else. That's the best way to thank me."

Zhi Mian swallowed her words and nodded heavily.

"Girl, you're treating me like an outsider. Zhi Mian is so badly injured, and you didn't even send anyone to inform me." Just then, a reproachful, coquettish voice came from outside the door.

Hearing the voice, the two turned their heads and saw Huaiyin walking over angrily with Granny Wang: "If I hadn't had Granny Wang stop the young master after court today and used threats and inducements on him, I wouldn't have known that such a big thing had happened between you."

Meng Yuyuan wanted to explain, but when she heard that she had used threats and inducements against Lu Xiuyi, she immediately became interested: "Tell me, how did you use threats and inducements against your son-in-law?"

Recalling Lu Xiuyi's gaze, Huaiyin felt a sudden chill of fear. She blinked guiltily and blurted out, "It's nothing. I just showed him the Ten Great Tortures of Daqi, and he obediently told me."

Fearing that Meng Yu would ask further questions, she quickly told Granny Wang to put down what she was holding: "This is sea cucumber, which is good for replenishing blood and promoting tissue regeneration. It would be perfect to make sea cucumber and chicken soup for Zhi Mian."

Zhi Mian was flattered and was about to politely decline when Huai Yin, who already knew what she wanted to say, immediately picked up the box and stuffed it into Hua Yi's hands: "I'm giving it to Hua Yi. Don't say anything more, or I'll get angry. If you make me angry, be careful that the nanny punishes you."

As she spoke, she twitched her lips and made a funny face, which made everyone laugh.

After Huaiyin returned to the palace, Mengyu instructed Huayi to take the sea cucumber to the kitchen and slaughter a fresh chicken to make a soup for Zhimian.

After hearing her words, Aunt Chen looked around and frowned: "Miss Huayi, we've used up all the chicken for today. Fresh chicken won't be delivered until tomorrow. Why don't you go and tell Madam that we can stew it again tomorrow?"

Hua Yi shook her head: "It won't be much trouble to send someone to the market to buy a fresh one."

“It’s almost dinnertime now, and all the girls are so busy, no one has any free time,” Aunt Chen said, perplexed.

The kitchen was filled with smoke. Some were steaming vegetables, some were washing dishes, some were tending the fire, and some were stir-frying. Everyone was so busy that no one had a spare moment.

Hua Yi had no choice but to back down and put the sea cucumber aside: "I'll go buy it, Auntie will wait."

After saying that, she turned and went out.

***

Meng Yu waited at Longxiang Pavilion for a long time, but Hua Yi did not return. Just as he was about to send someone to inquire, he saw Chu Ze helping Hua Yi walk in with a limp.

Startled, she rushed forward, frowning as she asked, "What happened?"

Before Huayi could speak, Chuze explained for her: "She went out to buy chicken, but a thief forcibly dragged her into an alley and tried to do something to her. Fortunately, I happened to be passing by and saved her."

Meng Yu helped her back to her room and sat her down. He lifted her trouser leg and saw that it was just a scrape. Fortunately, she had only grazed her skin. He quickly called someone to go to the storeroom to get some wound medicine. Then, remembering Zhi Mian's matter, he asked, "Who did this? Have they caught them?"

Chu Ze shook his head: "We didn't catch him. He was wearing a mask and ran too fast. We didn't even get a good look at him."

Upon hearing this, Meng Yu glanced at him but didn't ask any further questions. She then turned to Hua Yi and asked, "Why did you go to buy the chicken? Where are the others?"

Hua Yi's eyes welled up with tears as she whispered, "There's no fresh chicken left in the kitchen, and Aunt Chen and the others are all too busy to cook. I was thinking that sea cucumber can replenish blood and promote tissue regeneration. If Sister Zhimian could drink it sooner, her leg might heal sooner."

“I know you mean well, but if anything happens in the future, please come back and report to me first. If anything happens to you, how can Zhi Mian and I be at ease?” Meng Yu sighed and gently comforted her.

Despite what had happened, Hua Yi was rescued by Chu Ze in time, so she didn't feel wronged at first. But when she suddenly heard Meng Yu not only not blame her for leaving the mansion without permission, but also gently comfort her, a wave of grievances surged over her, causing her to burst into tears and sob.

Seeing that everything was alright, Chu Ze withdrew first. The maid brought some wound medicine, and Meng Yu was about to apply it when Hua Yi quickly stopped her: "Madam is of noble birth, how can you lay a hand on a servant like me?"

Meng Yu brushed her hand away and continued applying the medicine to her, comforting her as she said, "You're a grown woman now, why are you still crying so easily? It's alright, it's alright. What do you want to eat? I'll have Aunt Chen make it for you."

After applying the medicine, Meng Yu took out a handkerchief and wiped away her tears.

Hua Yi cried so hard that her shoulders trembled. After a long while, she finally stopped crying and choked out, "Madam always treats me coldly and never even responds to a word. I thought Madam disliked me."

Meng Yu sighed and explained, "I have never disliked you."

To be honest, Huayi was just a fifteen-year-old girl. At first, she treated her indifferently, simply because she didn't want to have too many entanglements with the people in the manor.

The more ties you have, the more concerns you have.

Hua Yi's eyes lit up instantly, sparkling like they were filled with stars: "Really? Madam really doesn't dislike me? Even if I chatter on and on, Madam doesn't dislike me?"

She asked three questions in a row, which made Meng Yu laugh. She raised her hand and gently tapped her forehead: "Really, you don't have to be on duty today. Just stay in your room and rest. What do you like to eat? Roast goose or lamb leg? Or roast chicken? Or perhaps braised beef brisket in a clay pot?"

Hua Yi felt that her voice was very gentle, and even her wounds no longer hurt, so she mustered up her courage and said, "I want to eat lamb leg, the kind with the skin roasted until it's crispy and charred."

Meng Yu ruffled her hair and said with a smile, "Okay, you wait here, I'll go and talk to Aunt Chen myself."

After saying this, she instructed the maid waiting outside the door to take good care of Huayi before heading to the kitchen alone.

As dusk fell, servants lit lamps under the eaves, and the distant lights stretched out like a glittering galaxy, disappearing into the night.

From Longxiang Pavilion to the kitchen, it's just the distance of two long corridors. You walk around a waterside pavilion, through an alley, and then through a moon gate. It's almost dinnertime, and everyone is busy. Along the way, you can hardly see anyone.

Just as I passed the waterside pavilion, a familiar voice faintly came from the other side of the wall.

Meng Yu stopped in her tracks instinctively.

"Is it really her?" Across the wall was a small fishpond, and with the sound of fingertips turning the fish in the bowl, Lu Xiuyi's voice gradually became clearer.

Chu Ze replied in a deep voice, "Yes."

“Heh,” Lu Xiuyi paused, seemingly surprised, “I told her to leave that day, but I never expected that she would climb up to Prince Rui.”

"Fortunately, young master drove her away. If such a vicious person had been left by Zhuang Mama's side, who knows what wicked thoughts she might have had," Chu Ze said, seemingly with extreme disgust.

"Is Madam aware of this matter?"

"I didn't dare to reply. I thought I'd come back and report to the young master first."

Lu Xiuyi responded and sprinkled some fish food into the pond: "We don't have concrete evidence, so it's not good to rush into Prince Rui's mansion to arrest her. Don't tell Madam about this for now. Have someone keep an eye on Prince Rui's mansion, and when she leaves the mansion, we can quietly take her down."

"yes."

Meng Yu had no interest in listening to what they said after that.

Lu Xiuyi's words fell heavily into her heart like a stone. She didn't make a sound, and her face was almost expressionless. After listening, she turned around and quietly took a detour to the kitchen.

She could roughly guess who the "she" they were talking about was.

After instructing Aunt Chen to roast a leg of lamb for Huayi, she returned to Longxiang Restaurant as if nothing had happened.

When Lu Xiuyi returned from his study in the middle of the night, Meng Yu still didn't say a word. He responded to whatever Lu Xiuyi said, without revealing any of his thoughts.

The next day, no sooner had Lu Xiuyi finished breakfast with her than she summoned Steward Cao and ordered him to prepare the carriage, saying she was getting ready to go out.

Since Lu Xiuyi had given instructions beforehand, Steward Cao had no doubts, responded, and hurriedly ordered someone to prepare a carriage.

Hua Yi's leg injury was not serious. After applying wound medicine, the wound stopped hurting overnight.

Hearing that Meng Yu was about to go out, she hurriedly tried to follow.

Meng Yu thought about it and decided to take her with him when he went out.

***

As instructed by Meng Yu, the carriage stopped in front of Xiazhen Pavilion. Meng Yu led Hua Yi upstairs and went straight to the elegant room where she had met Ning Sui before.

Sure enough, she met the person she expected.

Ning Sui has been waiting for her for three days.

Meng Yu found an excuse to send Hua Yi away, and then briefly told Ning Sui about what Hua Yi had experienced after leaving the capital.

After listening, Ning Sui's face was full of complicated emotions. She wanted to angrily curse Lu Xiuyi for being shameless, but then she suddenly remembered his madness over the past two years. For a moment, countless emotions surged into her heart, and she didn't know where to begin.

After a moment of silence, she sighed and, seeing Meng Yu's current indifference, changed the subject: "So what are you thinking? Do you really want to stay by his side?"

The wooden stick protruded, and the window was half-opened, letting in the howling north wind. Meng Yu's nose turned red from the cold, but she didn't want to close the window. Instead, she took a deep breath, which cleared her mind, and said with a faint smile, "I don't want to think about anything right now. I've come today to ask you for a favor."

Ning Sui frowned and said, "Why should we 'ask' for anything between us? Just say what you need to say."

"Borrowing troops."

***

The southwestern streets were the most bustling, with shouts from both sides of the street and music from taverns and teahouses fading into the crowd, lingering and far-reaching.

Suddenly, a troop of cavalry appeared from the city wall and rushed into the crowd. The crowd was terrified, their faces as white as paper, and they hurriedly staggered to the side.

Under a clear blue sky and with the warm sun shining down, a guard from the Prince Rui's mansion was yawning, having nothing to do. However, before he could even close his mouth, he saw a troop of iron cavalry approaching from afar. Their black armor and long spears were even more intimidating than the chill of winter. Startled, he immediately snapped out of his daze and hurriedly nudged the person next to him.

Has our prince gotten into trouble recently?

The person beside him was also startled by the scene, wondering if he had seen things. He rubbed his eyelids and replied, "Yes, it shouldn't be. But how would we servants know about our master's affairs?"

As they were talking, the iron cavalry had already arrived at the door.

The four men were caught in a dilemma: if they stopped them, they were also caught in a dilemma. If the officials were sent by the government, and they stopped them, wouldn't they be accused of plotting rebellion and killed without mercy? If they weren't, they would still be guilty of failing to properly guard the people.

After comparing the options, none of the four guards dared to draw their swords to stop them. The leader bowed and stepped forward, asking in a trembling voice, "May I ask what brings you gentlemen to the Prince's residence...?"

The guard didn't dare to continue the conversation after that question was asked.

Suddenly, the cavalry split into two columns, and a richly dressed woman stepped forward from behind, coldly asking, "Where does your prince's new beauty reside?"

Upon hearing this, the guard was completely bewildered. Before he could react, a knife was already at his neck, and the icy touch jolted him back to his senses.

The garden of Prince Rui's Mansion.

A butterfly quietly landed on a red plum blossom, creating a striking contrast with the pale white hand beside it.

"The young lady said she liked winter plum blossoms, so the prince sent people to plant a whole garden of them. Even the princess was furious when she heard that," the maid behind her said obsequiously.

"What nonsense are you talking about?" The person standing in front of the plum tree was dressed in a gorgeous dress, with her hair piled high, her face lightly powdered, her lips red and teeth white, and she had completely lost her embarrassment from the day before. She spoke softly.

The maid raised her lips, pleased that she was able to serve such a favored mistress: "What I said is true. Miss is favored by the Prince. In the whole mansion, who can compare?"

"Who are you? What are you doing barging into this mansion?" Just then, several panicked shouts came from outside, but the sound stopped in less than a breath.

Normally, there aren't many guards at the Prince Rui's residence. Meng Yu had someone escort the guards at the gate, and easily arrived at the garden, where he saw Ying Congxin, dressed in a magnificent dress, leisurely admiring the plum blossoms.

Suddenly hearing the commotion, Ying Congxin looked in the direction of the sound and saw that it was Meng Yu. He was slightly startled, but quickly recovered, forcefully broke off a plum blossom, sniffed it, and his expression was full of provocation: "Meng Yu, you led your iron cavalry to break into the Prince's mansion. Are you planning a rebellion?"

Meng Yu didn't want to say more to her, but simply gestured to the cavalrymen beside him, and two cavalrymen immediately stepped forward.

Seeing this, the maidservant quickly stepped in front of Ying Congxin and shouted, "What do you want to do? Our young lady is the prince's darling, how dare you... ah..."

Before she could finish speaking, she was swept away by the iron cavalry's large hand, and she cried out in surprise and fell to the side.

"How dare you trespass into the Prince's residence? Let go of your filthy hands, or the Prince will not forgive you when he returns." The iron cavalryman grabbed Ying Congxin and dragged her to Meng Yu without saying a word.

She glared at Meng Yu fiercely, about to curse him, when Tie Qi took a piece of white cloth and forcefully stuffed it into her mouth, causing her front teeth to ache.

"who?"

Just as Meng Yu was about to order his men to leave, he suddenly saw a figure flash under the eaves. The leading cavalrymen immediately gave chase and soon captured a middle-aged man.

The man had shifty eyes and a full beard. When Huayi saw him, she cried out in fright, "Madam, it's him! It's him! I recognize his eyes. He's missing a piece of his left eyebrow, and he... he must have a scar on the back of his right hand..."

Upon hearing this, Tieqi immediately lifted his hand and saw a scar on the back of his hand that looked like a burn.

Meng Yu turned to Hua Yi and asked, "Did he touch you with his right hand?"

Hua Yi nodded.

“Cut off his right hand.”

After giving the instructions, Meng Yu left with Ying Congxin without looking back.

At the same time, a shrill scream came from behind. The cavalryman took out a handkerchief, wiped the blood-stained sword, and then sheathed it.

Just as Meng Yu stepped out of the Prince Rui's mansion, he heard several hurried hoofbeats in the distance. He looked in the direction of the sound and saw the people he expected rushing over.

Hua Yi's expression changed slightly, and she stammered, "Madam, it's the General."

Meng Yu remained expressionless as Lu Xiuyi tightened the reins, stepped onto the saddle, and rushed anxiously to her, grabbing her shoulder with a worried look: "Yu'er, are you alright? Are you hurt?"

His first words weren't a question, but rather concern for her injury. Meng Yu was slightly surprised, but remained calm, only glancing at the person who was bound hand and foot, meeting her fierce gaze, and saying in a low voice: "It's her who's in trouble, not me."

Lu Xiuyi glanced coldly at Ying Congxin, then looked away from her and breathed a sigh of relief: "It's good that you're alright. I'll handle things here. You take her away first."

"Aren't you afraid I'll kill her?" Meng Yu frowned slightly.

"She deserves to die. Kill her if you want."

His answer once again surprised Meng Yu, and she couldn't help but ask, "Since you know she's the mastermind, why don't you send someone to take care of her immediately?"

Upon hearing this, Lu Xiuyi sighed, unsure how to explain it to her.

How can his actions be the same as hers? There are too many aspects involved in this matter. If he were to take action, the Emperor would inevitably suspect him of treason. Moreover, it would be difficult to justify breaking into the Prince's mansion to arrest someone for something for which there is no evidence.

However, Meng Yu was very perceptive. Seeing his reaction, she immediately understood and breathed a sigh of relief: "You should have told me directly instead of deliberately telling me."

Unexpectedly, Meng Yu was able to understand him, and Lu Xiuyi's eyes lit up immediately.

Before he could say anything mushy, Meng Yu added, "These soldiers are borrowed from Ning Sui. Please help me handle them."

Lu Xiuyi nodded, his eyes sparkling with stars. "Of course."

***

Meng Yu took Ying Congxin directly back to Longxiang Pavilion.

Just in case there were any problems, she found an excuse to send Aunt Zhuang to Lin'an Temple early this morning.

Snowflakes, like goose feathers, fluttered down, landing on withered branches and ponds. Meng Yu had a round-backed chair brought out, pulled his cloak tighter around himself, and looked at Ying Congxin with eyes as cold as the snowy sky: "I remember when I first met you, you weren't such a ruthless person. Why have you become so despicable in just two years?"

Meng Yu still wanted to ask her personally why she broke Zhi Mian's leg? Why did she want to ruin Hua Yi's reputation? What was she trying to get revenge for? Was it really as she thought, that she harbored resentment because her advances were rejected?

"Unworthy?" Ying Congxin smiled coldly. "You sit in the position of General Huaiyuan's wife, enjoying his favor and glory, so of course you can say that I am unworthy."

Snowflakes swirled around the oil-paper umbrella and landed on her shoulder. Meng Yu understood, but suddenly felt incredibly disappointed: "If I really enjoyed all of this as you say, I wouldn't have run away for two years. You gave your heart to someone willingly, not because someone forced you. Even if they didn't accept it, you shouldn't have taken your revenge on Zhi Mian and Hua Yi."

"Get revenge on them?" As if she had heard a joke, Ying Congxin laughed with a pale face. "No, I'm getting revenge on you."

Meng Yu was surprised, even incredulous: "I have no grudge against you, why do you want to take revenge on me?"

Why?

Ying Congxin suddenly looked up and burst into self-mocking laughter, a laugh that seemed to contain endless sorrow and pierce through the cold, snowy day.

"I love him, he loves you, so isn't it normal for me to take revenge?" After an unknown amount of time, she stopped laughing. Her eyes, which should have been sparkling, were now filled with malice, more venomous than a snake and blacker than a crow.

Meng Yu did not refute, but watched silently, her brows furrowing even deeper. She also felt incredibly sad, but she was not lamenting her own plight, but rather feeling sympathy and pity for the woman in front of her.

But her silence and scrutinizing gaze only fueled Ying Congxin's anger. She screamed hoarsely, "In terms of looks, I don't think I'm inferior to you. In terms of temperament, I'm more docile than you. In terms of household management, I'm better at managing the General's Mansion than you. But why, why is it that you, a mute, who cares about nothing and does nothing, can steal all his attention? Even if you die, he still can't forget you..."

Tears fell on the snow and froze into ice in no time.

Meng Yu remained silent, then suddenly stood up, walked up to her, and ruthlessly shattered the ice formed by her tears with a single step: "Not all sincerity can be reciprocated. You've already lowered yourself too much, so why would anyone cherish you? Besides, everyone's situation is different, and there's no comparison between people. I don't understand why you would change yourself and demean yourself just to make Lu Xiuyi like you?"

She suddenly realized that Lu Xiuyi and she were the same kind of people. They both felt that they deserved a response from the other person for their sincere feelings.

“That’s because you don’t love him,” Ying Congxin roared, her face contorted with rage. “If you don’t love him, you can be so indifferent, so easily scrutinizing and mocking me.”

Meng Yu disagreed with her statement: "You are wrong. Even if I love someone, I will never change my principles for him, because my life should not be measured or evaluated by anyone or anything."

Her voice was ethereal and clear, echoing amidst the white snow, like pebbles striking Ying Congxin's heart.

Meng Yu sighed silently, knowing there was nothing more to say to her, and coldly ordered, "I will not kill you, but Zhi Mian lost a leg because of you, and now you should return a leg to her."

After saying that, she turned to leave.

Ying Congxin suddenly realized what was happening and burst into laughter, saying, "No, she's not because of me, she's because of you, because of your broken leg."

Meng Yu tilted her head back, straightened her body, and did not turn around, but her voice echoed from behind: "I will never bear the blame you have set for me."

***

After withdrawing the cavalry, Ning Sui returned to her residence from the Eastern Camp. As soon as she entered the gate, the steward, with a furrowed brow and a hurried expression, greeted her: "Miss, you should go back to the Eastern Camp first! The young master is back and knows about your lending of troops to Madam Lu to force your way into Prince Rui's residence. He's furious right now."

It's not surprising that Ning Jian knew. Ning Sui waved her hand calmly and walked inside, saying, "It's alright, we'll make him get over this sooner or later."

As she spoke, she walked to the front hall and saw Ning Jianxing sitting in the main seat, his face full of anger. As soon as he saw her, he blurted out angrily, "You're really something, daring to come back."

Ning Sui stepped over the threshold, her expression calm: "Brother, you're joking. If I don't go home today, you can turn the capital upside down and still find me."

"You dare to talk back? Do you know how big of a mess you've made?" Ning Jianxing slammed his hand on the table and shouted, "You dare to lead troops to force your way into the Prince's mansion right under the Emperor's nose? You've really grown bold."

"Brother, you flatter me," Ning Sui replied without batting an eye.

"you……"

Ning Jianxing was so angry that his face turned red and his neck bulged. He felt a lump in his throat, unable to swallow or get it up.

After a long pause, he said again, "She asks you to send troops, so you send troops? Are you out of your mind, or have you lost your ability to speak? Can't you just refuse? Who is her husband? He's Lu Xiuyi. She wants troops, so tell her to go find her husband. Is it so hard to say just that?"

"Brother, let me correct you, she is borrowing troops."

Ning Sui spoke in a nonchalant tone, as if she were talking about something trivial.

Ning Jianxing jumped up from his armchair in anger: "She dared to lend it, and you actually dared to give it to her."

Seeing that Ning Jianxing's anger was about to reach its peak, Ning Sui immediately smiled, shamelessly clinging to him, hooking her arm around his, and said with a smile, "Don't I have my brother?"

She smiled foolishly, and Ning Jianxing let out a heavy sigh. His anger immediately dissipated, but he didn't want to show it, lest she take advantage of him. So he shook off her hand, turned around and sat back in his chair, coldly snorting, "Don't try that on me, I'm not buying it."

Ning Sui made a face at his back, but quickly put it down when she saw him sit up straight.

“Speaking of which, the person you should thank the most for this matter is not me,” Ning Jianxing took a sip of tea, slowly slurping his hoarse voice. He looked up and saw Ning Sui’s puzzled expression, then explained, “It was Qin Musui. Lu Xiuyi, I, and even His Highness Prince Yu came, but no matter how much we pleaded, we couldn’t quell His Majesty’s anger. It was thanks to him that he came and calmed His Majesty down with just a few words. Otherwise, we wouldn’t know how to clean up this mess for you.”