"Rest assured, she's doing very well." Su Yunmo took another sip of tea, her gaze falling on the teacup, a cold glint flashing in her eyes.
However, she truly couldn't understand Ye Ningyuan.
Based on today's situation, she only wanted the Glazed Lock, but showed no intention of harming her.
But as Ye Jingkun said, the Glazed Lock had already recognized its master, and taking it would be utterly useless.
Su Yunmo frowned, feeling a bit muddled. She had a feeling she might have overlooked some crucial information.
She instinctively reached for her chest, suddenly remembering that the Glazed Lock had been stolen.
Linglang, having been with her for some time, knew that when she was uneasy, she liked to hold the Glazed Lock. Seeing her pause, she asked curiously, "Little mistress, what's wrong?"
Su Yunmo shook her head, massaging her temples with a headache.
Linglang's heart skipped a beat as she sensed something was amiss. She quickly stepped forward and pulled open the little dumpling's clothes.
Her neck was bare!
"Little mistress! Where is the Glazed Lock?" Linglang exclaimed in shock, then suddenly realized.
She drew her short saber and turned to rush out.
"Stop, where are you going?" Su Yunmo called out to her.
Linglang's eyes were filled with murderous intent. "This subordinate will go and snatch it back!"
That was a memento left by the princess for the little mistress. No one else had the right to touch it!
"No need to snatch it, it will return sooner or later." Su Yunmo jumped down from the stool and walked towards the bed. "Prepare the congratulatory gifts. We're going out tomorrow."
She wasn't worried about the Glazed Lock. What was important was Ye Jingcheng.
Lin Zehu had been inactive for so long; she truly missed him.
Linglang instinctively wanted to persuade her, but seeing how tired she looked, she swallowed her words and replied, "Yes," before leaving.
Su Yunmo got into bed, kicked off her shoes, pulled the quilt over herself, and closed her eyes to sleep.
The next day, Su Yunmo went to Prince Lian's manor with only Linglang.
Before leaving her residence, she went to see Ziyuan, but Ziyuan was still ill and refused to see anyone.
Su Yunmo wanted to force her way in to see her, but as it was getting late, she had to give up. However, a seed of doubt was planted in her heart.
Inside Prince Lian's manor, red silk ribbons were laid out from the entrance to the main hall.
Meiyan was originally entering the manor as a secondary consort, so she shouldn't have used such a bright red for a grand celebration. However, because she was a county princess of Southern Xinjiang, Emperor Ye Yao had ordered a particularly lavish ceremony.
The little dumpling this time did not come with Zhou Wanyou. She did not use the General's manor's name but sent gifts in her personal capacity.
She arrived a little late. By the time she arrived, the main hall was in the midst of the wedding ceremony.
Before she could reach the entrance of the main hall, she was stopped.
A young servant approached her and accurately called out Su Yunmo's name. "Little lady, my master requests your presence in the back chambers for a chat. Please do come."
Linglang instinctively stepped forward, keeping a close eye on the little dumpling, afraid she might be in danger.
Su Yunmo had been mentally prepared and was not surprised. "Alright, let's go."
What was meant to come would surely come.
The servant led the little dumpling to the back chambers.
As soon as she entered the room, the door was closed.
"I knew you'd come to Prince Lian's manor to join the fun." Lin Yuning emerged from the inner room.
Su Yunmo was stunned to see her. "It's you?"
This was truly unexpected. She had thought Lin Zehu had invited her.
"Are you surprised to see me?" Lin Yuning sneered.
She glared fiercely at the little dumpling, gritting her teeth, her hatred undisguised. "Honestly, if I could, I wouldn't want to see you either."
To cooperate with this dead girl was more disgusting than eating a fly!
Su Yunmo raised an eyebrow, crossing her arms. "It's not exactly surprising. I don't mind, as you're acting on behalf of someone else. State your terms."
"On behalf of someone?" Lin Yuning frowned, a flicker of confusion in her eyes, then she sneered. "Don't misunderstand. This invitation has nothing to do with Prince Lian's manor, nor with the Marquis's manor. It's a private matter."
The words 'private matter' made Linglang wary, and her hand instinctively rested on the short saber at her waist.
Lin Yuning noticed her small movement and frowned displeasurably. "Can't you control your servant?"
"Apologies, my people are like me, a bit impetuous." Su Yunmo placed a hand on Linglang's, signaling her to remain calm.
Linglang lowered her brows and withdrew her hand, but her body remained tense.
Lin Yuning cut to the chase. "I want to cooperate with you. You probably don't think highly of that Southern Xinjiang county princess either, right? We can join forces to eliminate her."
Su Yunmo looked at her as if she were an idiot.
Lin Yuning's face immediately turned red, and she became indignant. "What is with that look?!"
She had genuinely invited her to discuss cooperation!
"Who told you I dislike the Southern Xinjiang county princess?" Su Yunmo was truly puzzled as to where she got this conclusion.
Lin Yuning was even more surprised. "Don't you hate her? At the previous banquet, she clearly..."
"She's just a pawn in the marriage alliance between two countries. She can't even decide who she'll marry in the end, merely going along with others' suggestions." Su Yunmo sounded impatient.
She had thought this person had invited her for something important, but it turned out to be such trivial domestic matters.
"Besides, she's now Prince Ye Jingcheng's secondary consort. She has no relation with Ye Jingyu. Why would I bother with such a fuss? Do you think I'm that idle?"
Su Yunmo rolled her eyes and turned to leave.
Lin Yuning certainly didn't expect her to refuse so decisively. "Wait, I haven't finished speaking!"
Damn it, Meiyan had already entered the manor, and the Prince had hinted at wanting to elevate her status in the future.
Her position in the Prince's heart was already inferior to Meiyan's, and she could only rely on outsiders to eliminate Meiyan. Su Yunmo was the perfect candidate.
Otherwise, she wouldn't have humbled herself to invite her today. She couldn't let her leave now!
Linglang opened the door.
Su Yunmo had already stepped out.
Seeing her so resolute, Lin Yuning panicked and blurted out without thinking, "Her not being a threat to Ye Jingyu doesn't mean she's not a threat to you! She's already cast a curse!"
Su Yunmo stopped in her tracks and turned back, her brow furrowed.
Seeing her react, Lin Yuning quickly continued, "There's a maidservant by your side named Ziyuan. Has she been acting strangely these past few days?"
This statement caused the expressions of both mistress and servant to change.
Su Yunmo turned around, a murderous glint flashing in her eyes. "Explain it in detail."
Seeing her expression, Lin Yuning felt slightly relieved and held her head high again. "As I said, cooperating with me has no downsides for you."
Perhaps this would ruin the Prince's plans, but she could no longer care about that.
She had seen through it long ago. Men were all fickle and ungrateful. Since he was heartless, she couldn't be blamed for being unrighteous!
The position of Prince Consort that she had finally attained, she would absolutely not give up to anyone else!
Linglang glanced at Su Yunmo. Su Yunmo gestured to her, and Linglang turned back to close the door.
Lin Yuning took a deep breath, as if she had made up her mind. "You were definitely invited by Ye Jingcheng today. He called you here precisely to strengthen the curse!"