She stood up, turned to look at A-Ye, and saw her sigh softly, then raise her chin, gesturing for her to leave quickly.

Aying silently turned and walked into the warm pavilion, carefully sat down on the edge of the couch, stared at Rong Ning on the couch, and fell into deep thought.

Aying had been by Rong Ning's side since childhood and had a deep understanding of the profound friendship between the sisters.

She knew why this affection was so deep, and was even willing to give everything for the other person.

Rong Ning was a clever and quick-witted girl from a young age, but she was also quite unruly and difficult to control.

Especially after her mother's death, she became even more unpredictable. Once she lost her temper, no one could stop her. This made the people in the mansion both love and hate her, especially the emperor and the crown prince.

Only Princess Zhaoqing remained gentle and patient with her throughout.

She tolerated all of Rong Ning's actions and emotions.

This tolerance and understanding made Rong Ning feel genuine warmth and care, and it became the cornerstone of their deep sisterly bond.

The most troublesome time for the master's personality was before the age of ten. Because of her mother's early death, her temperament changed drastically, and she did many things that were unacceptable to people.

At that time, the little master was like a little hedgehog, full of hostility towards everyone, including her own father and brothers and sisters.

She was always causing trouble and giving her family a headache.

In Aying's memory, her master back then was someone that everyone hated.

She is often mischievous, disobedient, and stubborn; you can't find a single kind word in ten sentences she speaks.

Rong Ning was so good at verbally sparring that no one could out-argue her; that's how she developed her skills back then.

Because of this, he was whipped by his father countless times at a young age.

Even her own brother often said that she was immature.

Every time she was scolded by her older brother, she would run to her mother crying, but her mother was no longer there. She could only sit in the ancestral hall, leaning against her mother's memorial tablet, crying and cursing.

The master was exceptionally stubborn, and the child's older brother, having limited patience, also scolded her. This made her even more rebellious, unwilling to listen to anyone.

The concubine, in particular, would avoid her whenever she saw her.

Their relationship was extremely tense, almost to the point of irreconcilable conflict.

Only Princess Zhaoqing would gently and patiently guide her, listen to her innermost thoughts, and then analyze the pros and cons for her.

Once she calmed down and was more receptive to what I was saying, I told her that she had indeed made mistakes and should correct them.

This made the master feel warm and comforted, and he gradually let down his guard.

During that time, the master was particularly dependent on Princess Zhaoqing. She was aggressive and domineering outside, and wanted to take a bite out of anyone who came near her.

Only when she was in front of Princess Zhaoqing would she burst into tears and ask heartbrokenly, "Without our mother, will our father abandon us?"

As Ah Ying grew older, she realized that the reason their masters were so troublesome back then was probably simply because of fear.

But apart from Princess Zhaoqing, no one was willing to understand her. They just treated her as a child being willful and mischievous, trying to coax her casually, and if that didn't work, they would beat and scold her.

The master, however, has been rebellious since childhood. The more he is beaten and scolded, the more he acts up and becomes increasingly uncontrollable.

She'll fawn over whoever pleases her.

Therefore, her master naturally only became close to Princess Zhaoqing.

Later, the master told Aying many times that when he was a child, he liked to be with Princess Zhaoqing the most. Whenever he was wronged, he would go to Princess Zhaoqing, hug her leg and cry incessantly. Then Princess Zhaoqing would take him to eat delicious food or play games with him.

Listening to her mistress's story, Aying felt very sad. She knew that her mistress must have been very lonely when she was a child. Everyone avoided her and thought she was troublesome. Only Princess Zhaoqing was kind to her.

Ah Ying decided to take good care of her master so that he would no longer feel lonely and helpless.

Under Princess Zhaoqing's tolerance and education, the master's personality later became less extreme.

Seeing the changes in her master, Aying was also very happy.

Later, the master managed to get the opportunity to learn martial arts at Linghua Temple, and he could only return to Nanyang City a few times a year.

After she left, many people probably felt relieved, as if they had sent away a plague. During the years she spent at Linghua Temple, apart from Princess Zhaoqing, it seemed that no one remembered her.

The correspondence between the master and Princess Zhaoqing never ceased, and Princess Zhaoqing would send someone to Linghua Temple to deliver things every half month.

When the master travels, whenever he encounters something new or interesting, he immediately thinks of bringing it back to his elder sister.

Her master often said, "My sister is the best person in the world. I must study martial arts diligently so that I can protect her wherever I go."

"Anyone who dares to bully my older sister, I'll beat them up!"

However, now... there is no chance anymore.

Suddenly, a loud drumbeat sounded outside, growing closer and closer, as if signaling that the marriage procession was about to depart.

Aying suddenly came to her senses, and her heart tightened.

She took a deep breath, trying to calm her inner unease.

Just then, Rong Yang, who was already dressed, walked in.

Her crown and robes were heavy and complex, giving her a solemn and dignified air, befitting a princess of a nation.

Aying quickly stood up and silently stepped aside, not daring to make a sound.

She looked at Rong Yang, whose eyes were filled with reluctance and longing. She gently stroked her mistress's face, as if she wanted to remember this moment forever.

Aying felt her eyes welling up with tears, which almost spilled out.

What a terrible mess you've made!

She couldn't help but ask herself, but she couldn't find the answer.

Ah Ying silently turned her head away, unable to bear seeing the scene before her any longer.

Time passed second by second, and Rong Yang stood there, gazing at her master, as if she had forgotten the passage of time.

Only when the master of ceremonies anxiously urged her from outside the door did Rong Yang slowly stand up, turn around, and leave.

Her silhouette appeared lonely yet resolute, evoking pity in the viewer.

With Rong Yang gone, the room fell into a deathly silence.

Ah Ying stood there blankly, too heavy-hearted to speak.

She listened as the music outside gradually faded until it disappeared completely.

She waited quietly for another hour, and only after confirming that no one would disturb her did she gently push open the door and window and look outside.

The procession for the marriage alliance has already gone far away, and all the guards have been withdrawn.

Aying took a deep breath, carried Rong Ning on her back, left the courtyard, and then quickly walked out of the post station through the back door. She went through a small alley and then turned into a street. After walking around for half an hour, she finally quietly entered an ordinary farmhouse.

This is Rong Ning's stronghold in the north.

The people inside were all carefully selected by Rong Ning. They lived like normal people in Kangye City, and nothing seemed out of the ordinary.

When they saw A-Ying carrying Rong Ning in, they were startled. "What's going on? Shouldn't it be Princess Zhaoqing being carried out?"

"Stop asking!" A-Ying raised her hand to stop him, and said seriously, "Quickly prepare the carriage, we'll take our master away from Kangye City."