"Zi Yuan?" Su Yun Mo called out.
The door opened, and Green Luo entered first, carrying a washbasin.
Zi Yuan followed closely behind.
Su Yun Mo dressed and got out of bed. "Go and investigate Consort Liang's affairs in the palace."
Was Night Jing Yu's mother referred to by that title?
Zi Yuan acknowledged with a 'yes' and turned to leave.
Green Luo's eyes lit up, and she quickly said, "Does Miss want to ask about the Third Prince's mother? This servant knows."
Su Yun Mo raised an eyebrow.
Green Luo glanced triumphantly at Zi Yuan and immediately poured out all the information she knew.
"Consort Liang was originally a princess of an enemy nation, married to His Majesty for a political alliance. When Consort Liang first entered the palace, His Majesty doted on her greatly, even to the point of neglecting the Empress."
"Later, Consort Liang gave birth to the Third Prince. Auspicious signs appeared, and His Majesty was even more delighted. Disregarding the opposition of his officials, he only waited for the Third Prince to come of age to bestow upon him the title of Crown Prince."
"Unfortunately, Consort Liang was later accused of adultery. His Majesty did not believe it at first, but he caught her red-handed. In his rage, His Majesty banished Consort Liang to the cold palace."
Green Luo sighed. "It's a pity the Third Prince grew up alone in the palace. Fortunately, the Empress was benevolent and took him under her wing. The Third Prince has lived a carefree life all these years."
A flicker of a dark light crossed Su Yun Mo's eyes.
Carefree?
Would a carefree person experience assassination attempts?
Would they be beaten to such a state?
Would they wear a mask day and night, afraid to show their true face?
She remembered the rumors inside and outside the palace that Night Jing Yu wore a mask to hide ugly scars on his face, but she knew best whether he had scars or not.
The story of him disfiguring himself by accidentally falling from a rockery in his childhood now seemed suspicious.
"Go prepare the carriage, I need to leave the manor," Su Yun Mo fastened her belt, jumped out of bed, and walked out.
Zi Yuan, still holding chopsticks, said, "Miss, you haven't eaten breakfast yet."
Su Qing Tian walked in from outside the courtyard and blocked Su Yun Mo, who was about to leave.
The man's tall figure immediately blocked the light.
Su Yun Mo frowned slightly.
Why at this particular moment?
Su Qing Tian stood in front of her, his attitude firm. "I have something, come with me now."
He had thought it through. Since You'er and the children couldn't do without this girl, he had no choice but to accept her.
If she was going to be his daughter, she couldn't be on good terms with Xie Zheng Ping!
He wanted to build a good relationship with the little girl and prove that her biological father was better than her adoptive father!
Su Yun Mo frowned. "I cannot leave the General's Manor for now. Can you wait for me for a while?"
The situation with Night Jing Yu was unclear. To be safe, she had to prepare for all eventualities.
Although Night Jing Cheng already knew her true identity, the identity of the legitimate daughter of the General's Manor was still a good cover for outsiders.
Su Qing Tian frowned.
Who said anything about waiting?
"The carriage is prepared outside the manor gates. We are going to Miaoshan in the suburbs."
He paused, fearing he hadn't made himself clear or that Su Yun Mo would misunderstand. "I'll go with you."
It wasn't to drive her away.
Su Yun Mo lowered her gaze and clenched her fist. "Mm."
He couldn't even wait a few days? If that was the case, there was nothing she could do. She shouldn't linger any longer.
After this matter was resolved, she would go find Night Jing Yu.
Su Qing Tian reached out to hug her, but Su Yun Mo stepped out first.
Su Qing Tian's hand froze in mid-air, a hint of annoyance in his expression. He quickly followed.
Green Luo watched the father and daughter leave, looking puzzled.
Wait for a while? Leave the General's Manor.
Her eyes widened instantly.
Oh no, the young miss was going to be abandoned again. She had to quickly tell the madam!
The carriage was already waiting outside the manor.
After the two got into the carriage, they headed towards the outskirts.
Along the way, the large and small figures in the carriage remained silent.
Su Qing Tian was thinking of conversation topics.
Su Yun Mo was thinking about Night Jing Yu's affairs.
If only she could get a chance to meet Consort Liang.
It was a pity she had no way to enter the palace now.
"Stop here for a moment." Arriving at a bustling market, Su Qing Tian asked the driver to stop and then got out of the carriage.
Su Yun Mo curiously peeked outside.
Did General Su underestimate her too much?
This was only three streets away from the General's Manor. If he abandoned her here, she could still find her way back.
After a while, Su Qing Tian returned, holding a string of candied hawthorn, and offered it to Su Yun Mo. "Eat this."
Su Yun Mo blinked in surprise. "Why are you giving this to me?"
Did he go out for so long just to buy a string of candied hawthorn?
Su Qing Tian was even more surprised than her. "Don't children love to eat this?"
His three children, when they were her age, always asked for a large pile whenever they went out.
Su Yun Mo smiled. "No one bought this for me before, and now I don't really have any feelings for these. It's all the same whether I eat it or not."
This person probably really thought of her as a child, trying to coax her with food, fearing she would cry and make a fuss on such a long journey.
Actually, he didn't need to do this. Since she had promised to go, she wouldn't break her word.
Su Qing Tian's hand stiffened, his expression becoming much more dejected, and he withdrew his hand helplessly. "Then let's just put it aside for now."
Su Yun Mo suddenly came back to her senses.
She didn't mean it that way. What she said just now was about not having these when she was little at the Marquis's manor.
It wasn't an accusation that he had abandoned her in the side courtyard and ignored her.
"Give... give it to me." Su Yun Mo felt a little awkward. Being alone with her father didn't feel as relaxed as being with her mother. "Actually, I really want to eat it."
Never mind, this was the last time they would be together. There was no need to make either of them unhappy.
Su Qing Tian's eyes brightened, and he handed the candied hawthorn back.
Su Yun Mo took it and bit off a small piece. It was sour and sweet.
"Does it taste good?" Su Qing Tian leaned very close, staring at her.
Su Yun Mo looked at his expectant eyes and was slightly stunned. A strange feeling arose in her heart. She lowered her gaze, then looked up and smiled. "I like it!"
Her eyes were bright and pure. Su Qing Tian was taken aback, and his heart suddenly felt like it skipped a beat. A gentle warmth bloomed within him.
This child actually looked a bit cute.
Su Yun Mo felt his gaze and looked up, asking, "General Su, is there something on my face?"
"No," Su Qing Tian immediately withdrew his gaze and turned his head, then pouted in annoyance.
She was cute, but a bit impolite.
Why would she call him 'General Su'? It didn't sound good at all.
Su Yun Mo sensitively detected his displeasure and sighed inwardly, putting down the candied hawthorn.
He still wasn't used to treating her as family, was he?
Su Qing Tian caught a glimpse of her putting down the candied hawthorn from the corner of his eye. He pursed his lips even tighter, becoming more annoyed.
The little girl clearly didn't like this. He should have asked You'er about her preferences beforehand.
The two, one large and one small, harbored their own thoughts.
The carriage moved forward slowly.
It took about half an hour to reach Miaoshan.
The carriage couldn't go up, so they had to get off and walk.
Miaoshan was not high, but it had many steps.
It was said that drawing lots and making wishes here were most effective, and many people visited daily.
Su Qing Tian had chosen this place after comparing one hundred temples, big and small, around the capital.
He wanted to make a wish to the gods, asking that Xie Zheng Ping be made to work overtime every day, so that he would have no time to think about You'er!