"That's true," Ye Jingkun's gaze returned to the little dumpling.
He reached out and brushed aside the stray strands of hair from Su Yunmo's forehead, revealing her delicate little face completely.
The little dumpling murmured in her sleep, pouting her lips and nudging forward, not fully awake.
The fruit wine indeed wouldn't get anyone drunk, but Ye Jingkun had added some strong liquor to the last cup.
"You can't be too greedy when you're out alone. What if you meet a bad person?" Ye Jingkun ruffled her hair, worrying about her.
Ye Ningyuan tucked the Glazed Lock into her embrace, crossing her arms. "Are you referring to me as a bad person?"
Ye Jingkun glanced at her, displeased. "You should leave."
"You're truly heartless. I at least created an opportunity for you. If you don't thank me, you should at least let me stay for a meal?" Ye Ningyuan spread her hands and shrugged.
Ye Jingkun, holding the little dumpling, walked towards the inner chambers. "Someone, see the guest out."
Two servants entered from outside, blocking Ye Ningyuan's path.
Ye Ningyuan smiled and waved her hand.
The two servants suddenly closed their eyes and fell to the ground with dull thuds.
Ye Jingkun stopped in his tracks, turned to look at her, his eyes narrowing dangerously, a murderous aura radiating from them.
Ye Ningyuan feigned a startled look and took half a step back, patting her chest. "Don't look at me like that. If you scare me sick, my father will come looking for you."
Ye Jingkun sneered. "Trying to pressure me with Cloud Wing King?"
"Don't misunderstand. I'm not trying to pressure you with anyone. I'm just giving you a reminder," Ye Ningyuan said, pointing a finger at the little dumpling in his arms. "You need to know your limits."
A glint flashed in Ye Jingkun's eyes.
Ye Ningyuan stepped over the fallen servants and walked past. "She's been out long enough. It's time to go home."
Ye Jingkun didn't move. He instinctively glanced at the little dumpling in his arms, his eyes revealing reluctance.
"There will be other days," Ye Ningyuan extended her hand towards him, signaling him to hand over the little dumpling.
Ye Jingkun gazed deeply at the little dumpling, exhaling a breath.
Instead of handing the little dumpling to Ye Ningyuan, he held her and walked out, instructing the servants. "Prepare the carriage."
Seeing that he intended to send the little dumpling back to the General's Mansion, Ye Ningyuan finally breathed a sigh of relief.
Collaborating with this man was truly dangerous.
The carriage was ready, and it was quite warm inside.
Ye Jingkun placed the little dumpling on the soft seat, covered her with a blanket, and propped a pillow under her head.
As soon as he finished, Ye Ningyuan grinned and entered, baring her teeth. "It's on the way, on the way. Give me a ride, won't you?"
She couldn't trust Momo to be alone with this man, fearing he might poison the little one.
Ye Jingkun frowned and glanced at her displeasedly, saying nothing more. He simply ordered the servants to drive the carriage to the General's Mansion and deliver the little dumpling inside.
After giving his instructions, he alighted from the carriage.
The carriage slowly moved away.
Ye Ningyuan, looking through the carriage window, saw him standing outside the mansion, watching, and not following, which surprised her.
A soft murmur came from the little dumpling on the soft seat.
Ye Ningyuan sighed and turned back to tuck the corner of the blanket around the little dumpling. "You truly are my little ancestor. How much worry have I gone through for you?"
That Ye Jingkun was not easy to deal with. One wrong move and she might be left for dead in the wilderness.
Her cooperation with him carried significant risks.
"Mmm~" The little dumpling seemed to sense someone talking to her and whimpered.
Her small hands unconsciously clutched the corner of the blanket, and she curled up.
Ye Ningyuan pinched her little cheek and exhaled comfortably.
"Consider today my apology to you. But then again, it's not entirely my fault. Who asked you to be so wary of me?"
To get the Glazed Lock from her, one either had to steal it from her residence or snatch it outside.
She had promised the little dumpling that she wouldn't lay a hand on her family, and she had to keep her word. Stealing from the residence was out of the question.
As for people outside the residence, she didn't have many she could trust. She had no way to approach Ye Jingyu, so only Ye Jingkun was someone she could talk to.
"Oh well, this isn't just my matter anyway. If I truly gain something in the future, I'll just split it with you," Ye Ningyuan gently patted her little head.
The carriage slowed down considerably.
Ye Ningyuan called out to stop it and got off midway.
A moment later, the carriage resumed its journey.
Linlang had been waiting outside the mansion gate. Seeing the carriage from Prince Kun's mansion approaching from afar, she hurried to greet them.
The carriage curtain was lifted, revealing the sleeping little dumpling inside.
Linlang's heart skipped a beat, and she had a bad feeling. She glared at the person driving the carriage. "What happened to our young mistress?"
The coachman, not understanding, replied truthfully, "The young lady had a few drinks at the mansion and is a bit tipsy. She'll wake up after sleeping this afternoon."
"Drinking?" Linlang frowned.
Their young mistress was only six years old. How could she be drinking? And in someone else's mansion, too. She was too careless.
She got into the carriage and picked up the little dumpling. After a careful inspection, seeing that the little dumpling was indeed unharmed and just fast asleep, she felt slightly relieved.
The coachman, having completed his master's task, drove the carriage back.
Linlang carried the little dumpling back to the courtyard.
Lüluo saw Su Yunmo being carried back from a distance and quickly went to meet them. "What's wrong? Is the young lady unwell?"
Linlang shook her head. "She had some wine and fell asleep. Go and get some hangover medicine."
"How could she be drinking? The young lady is too willful. If Madam finds out, she'll worry," Lüluo muttered as she hurried to the kitchen.
Linlang carried the little dumpling into the room and placed her on the bed. She then went out to fetch hot water to wipe the little dumpling's face.
But when she returned with the basin of water, the bed was empty.
Su Yunmo was already sitting by the table, pouring tea for herself.
"Young mistress?" Linlang was startled and quickly went to take the teapot from her hand. "Are you thirsty? Your subordinate will pour you water. Please don't scald yourself."
Su Yunmo dodged her hand, poured the water herself, blew away the tea leaves floating on top, and took a sip, exhaling. "It's fine, I won't get scalded."
Seeing that her tone was steady, Linlang was taken aback. "Young mistress, you're not drunk?"
But she had clearly appeared drunk in the carriage just now.
Su Yunmo smirked playfully. "If I weren't drunk, how could I know what tricks those two were playing behind my back?"
Ye Ningyuan was right about one thing: she had indeed been wary of her all along.
However, she had guessed one thing wrong. She wasn't just wary of her.
Linlang couldn't quite understand. "Two people? Didn't you just go to Prince Kun's mansion?"
Su Yunmo said, "Ye Jingkun and Ye Ningyuan have colluded."
This statement shocked Linlang profoundly.
She didn't know the Prince Kun very well, but she had a deep impression of this newly enfeoffed county princess. Ye Ningyuan was no ordinary person.
"The two of them are plotting against you? Are you injured?"
Linlang felt a pang of fear now, regretting not accompanying Su Yunmo to Prince Kun's mansion earlier.
It was fortunate that the young mistress was unharmed. If she hadn't seen through their scheme, she would have been in danger!