The kidnapping of Jiang Yueying was actually orchestrated by Sun Ningxiang in secret.
However, Mu Ruoyan did not intend to let Lin Xihe know these things. After all, in his eyes, Sun Ningxiang was just a dying person, not worth his time.
Today, Sun Ningxiang was secretly delighted to see that Mu Ruoyan had no interest in the two princesses brought by Xiao Yugan, thinking that Mu Ruoyan was particularly fond of her.
So she took the initiative to move closer to him, trying to get his attention.
However, to her disappointment, Mu Ruoyan didn't even glance at her.
Sun Ningxiang was unwilling. Although she was a spy sent by the Western Regions, if she could become the Empress of the Northern Territory and ascend to that supreme position, she would no longer be subject to the Western Regions and could truly control her own destiny.
Now, thanks to the connections provided by the Western Regions, she has secretly acquired city defense maps and some military secrets. She believes that as long as she presents these secrets to Mu Ruoyan, she will surely gain a place in his heart.
Therefore, Sun Ningxiang decided to take a risk and drugged Mu Ruoyan, hoping to use this to make their "good thing" happen.
She was confident that with her looks, Mu Ruoyan would treat her differently. However, she never expected that she would be the one forced to take three times the dose of the drug, and that she would be served by five or six uncouth men.
On the other side, after Lin Xihe's emotions had calmed down a bit, Mu Ruoyan slowly asked the question that had been brewing in her heart for a long time: "When do you plan to bring your daughter back?"
Since arriving in Dahao, Mu Ruoyan had never seen Lin Xihe's daughter. Initially, he thought Lin Xihe had sent her away because she harbored resentment towards him. Now that the rift between them had disappeared, he felt it was time to bring the child back.
"Bring...bring them back?" Lin Xihe hesitated.
"Since you're coming with me, don't you plan to take your daughter with you?" Mu Ruoyan asked back, her tone tinged with confusion.
Lin Xihe had naturally considered this issue, but due to the uncertain situation, she had not taken any action.
Moreover, Ji Zhuo treats Tang Bao like his own daughter and dotes on her. Now that Ji Zhuo is going through a blow, she doesn't know how to ask him to take Tang Bao away.
"Lin Xihe, do you want to leave the child with Ji Zhuo, or did you never really want to come with me?" Mu Ruoyan asked, her tone becoming more questioning as she saw Lin Xihe remain silent.
Lin Xihe naturally wouldn't admit that she hadn't made up her mind yet, and quickly explained, "No, I just thought... you don't like children."
"How could I not like your child?" Mu Ruoyan chuckled softly, her tone softening. "How could I not like your child? Let's bring her back tomorrow."
Lin Xihe hesitated for a moment, but finally nodded under Mu Ruoyan's firm gaze. She knew that no matter what, Tang Bao was the most important part of her life, and it was only right for her to take Tang Bao wherever she was.
The next day, Lin Xihe went to the Ji residence with a feeling of unease.
She was filled with unease, feeling that Chu Yunni probably never wanted to see her again. But out of courtesy, she went to pay her respects to Chu Yunni first.
Unexpectedly, Chu Yunni was not as distant or disgusted as she had imagined. Instead, after Lin Xihe bowed, she dismissed all the servants and gently took her hand.
"Xihe, seeing Zhuo'er's condition these past two days, I knew that you two probably wouldn't end up together." Chu Yunni's tone was filled with helplessness and tenderness, as if she had already seen through everything.
"I'm sorry, Mrs. Ji..." Lin Xihe lowered her head, her voice choked with sobs, her heart filled with guilt.
"How can I blame you?" Chu Yunni gently patted the back of her hand.
"If it weren't for you, Zhuo'er might not have been able to come back safely. Our family has let you down."
She was not unreasonable; she naturally knew that Lin Xihe, who was powerless, could not save Ji Zhuo on her own.
However, looking around now, the only one who can rival Xiao Yugan is the Northern Emperor who suddenly appeared a couple of days ago.
Although she didn't understand why the emperor of the Northern Border would save Ji Zhuo ahead of time, the words "Northern Border" that she overheard from Lang Feng had already given her some clues.
However, Chu Yunni was unaware that Lin Xihe already had Mu Ruoyan in her heart. Her choice was not entirely out of sacrifice.
"No, I'm also implicated in A-Zhuo being targeted..." Lin Xihe said softly, her tone filled with self-reproach.
"It's all in the past. It's a fact that you saved Zhuo'er." Chu Yunni patted Lin Xihe's hand reassuringly, her eyes full of affection.
Then, she took out a jade bracelet from a brocade box beside her and gently placed it in Lin Xihe's hand: "This bracelet was originally intended to be given to you after your marriage. Now it seems that there is no chance. Now, I give it to you, which can be considered as fulfilling our unfulfilled wish."
Lin Xihe quickly withdrew her hand, a pang of sorrow gripping her heart. Her fate with Ji Zhuo was over; it would be inappropriate to accept the bracelet any further.
“Madam Ji, it is my fate that I am not destined to be with A-Zhuo, and I am also ashamed of your family’s kindness.” With that, Lin Xihe knelt down directly, her tone firm but with reluctance, “Thank you, Madam Ji, for taking care of Tang Bao over the past few days. Today, I will take her back.”
Upon hearing this, a complex look flashed in Chu Yunni's eyes. She reached out to help Lin Xihe up, her tone tinged with reluctance and worry: "You're taking Tangbao with you? But she's still so young. Won't she be able to adapt to suddenly leaving her familiar environment?"
Lin Xihe lowered her head, her voice so soft it was almost inaudible: "I... I'm reluctant too. But I have to leave the capital, and I don't know if I'll ever be able to come back. Tang Bao, I can only take her with me."
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