After dinner and playing all afternoon, the sky gradually darkened.
The General's mansion's carriage waited outside to pick them up.
Ye Jingkun escorted the little dumpling into the carriage.
Ye Ningyuan got in last. Before boarding, she said playfully, "The scenery in Prince Kun's mansion is quite nice. I'll come back to admire it properly next time."
"It's just that next time, I probably won't be bringing Momo. I hope Prince Kun won't refuse me entry."
Ye Jingkun glanced at her and gave a soft 'mm', saying nothing more.
A tacit understanding spread between the two.
"If you don't get in the carriage soon, I'll go back by myself?" a催促ing voice came from inside the carriage.
"No, no, no, I'm coming!" Ye Ningyuan cheerfully got into the carriage.
The coachman urged the horses, and the carriage sped away.
Ye Jingkun watched the carriage disappear into the night, then turned back to his mansion with a furrowed brow.
Inside the carriage.
Ye Ningyuan squeezed next to the little dumpling, rubbing her hands. "I'm freezing, absolutely freezing. I hate the cold the most. Of all seasons, winter is the most detestable."
"Prince Yunyi's territory is to the south. You're used to living there, so naturally, you can't stand the cold of the capital," Su Yunmo replied casually.
Ye Ningyuan raised a finger and wagged it back and forth.
"Momo, you underestimate me too much. I just said I dislike it, not that I can't stand it. Back then, I could run around outside in the heavy snow wearing only a single layer of clothing and not get sick."
Su Yunmo secretly rolled her eyes. "When did the county princess of Prince Yunyi's mansion become so down on her luck that she lacked food and clothing?"
Besides, it didn't snow in the winter in Prince Yunyi's fiefdom. If you're going to lie, at least make it believable.
Ye Ningyuan's expression turned somber, and she looked at Su Yunmo sadly. "Momo, actually, when I was little, my father didn't dote on me. I was always bullied at home, and nine out of ten days I was locked in a cage."
"Later, my mother died early, and I had no one to protect me. My father became even worse, treating me like less than human. It wasn't until much later that I was freed."
Su Yunmo pursed her lips and looked at her, then tenderly reached out and patted her shoulder. "Please accept my condolences. Just try to think positively."
Ye Ningyuan: "..."
"Can't you offer me a little more comfort?" she asked, her face full of hurt, hands clasped over her chest, weeping softly.
Su Yunmo glanced at her, pulled the blanket over herself, turned, and leaned into the corner.
Her words were so unbelievable that even a ghost wouldn't believe them!
Ye Ningyuan sighed mournfully.
Can't people have a little more trust and sympathy for each other?
Momo is truly heartless!
The carriage returned to the General's mansion.
Linlang waited at the courtyard entrance with a small, warm hand-warmer for her master.
She saw the two of them walk in side-by-side. Her gaze lingered on Ye Ningyuan for a moment, but she said nothing more and walked towards Su Yunmo.
Ye Ningyuan, however, snatched the hand-warmer first, tucking it into her embrace with a look of satisfaction. "It's so warm."
She raised an eyebrow at Linlang and praised generously, "Momo, the people under you are truly thoughtful."
"Unlike me, I only have one guard. He's nowhere to be seen most of the time, only appearing when I need something done. And he always wears a black robe, standing in a tree at night like an owl."
Su Yunmo's mouth twitched.
Did her subordinates know she was badmouthing them like this outside?
Linlang frowned, glanced at the hand-warmer in Ye Ningyuan's hand, and softly called out, "Master."
Su Yunmo waved her hand. "Give it to her. We're almost at the house anyway."
"Momo, you're so kind!" Ye Ningyuan leaned down and quickly kissed the little dumpling on the cheek. Then, before Su Yunmo could retaliate, she ran into the house.
Su Yunmo watched her retreating back, gritted her teeth, and wiped the saliva from her face with her sleeve before following.
Inside the house, Ye Ningyuan had already taken off her shoes and gotten into bed.
The little dumpling walked over and kicked the head of the bed. "Get down, go back to your own room!"
Ye Ningyuan rolled around in the bed, wrapped herself in the quilt like a silkworm. "Isn't this my room? I want to sleep with you."
Su Yunmo rubbed her hands together. "Give me a reason."
"I'm afraid of the dark," Ye Ningyuan blurted out.
Su Yunmo raised her hand to pull the quilt.
"Ahhh!" Ye Ningyuan screamed, clutching the quilt.
Linlang hurried in. "Little Master, what happened?"
She looked at Ye Ningyuan screaming on the bed and couldn't help but cover her ears.
Su Yunmo also gritted her teeth and kicked the head of the bed again. "Stop making noise!"
Ye Ningyuan immediately shut her mouth, clinging to the quilt with a pitiful expression. "I want to sleep with you. If you don't let me, I'll keep shouting! I'll shout so loud that no one can sleep!"
Linlang frowned and stepped forward. "Master, should I throw her back to Prince Yunyi's mansion?"
For some reason, she felt this county princess was a bit strange.
It would be better if the little master had less contact with her.
Ye Ningyuan's eyes widened immediately. "Momo, don't forget you promised me today. You can't go back on your word!"
Su Yunmo took a deep breath, her head aching.
She rubbed her temples. "Forget it, let her be."
After all, it would only be for two nights at most.
A triumphant glint flashed in Ye Ningyuan's eyes, and she rolled on the bed, hugging the quilt.
Linlang glanced at Ye Ningyuan, wanting to say something but stopping herself. Finally, she said, "Yes."
Linlang went out and returned with hot water to wash the little dumpling's feet.
Ye Ningyuan also sat beside the little dumpling, dipping her feet in the water with her, and kept poking the soles of Su Yunmo's feet with her toes.
Su Yunmo, annoyed by her poking, glared at her.
Ye Ningyuan immediately put on a wronged expression. "I didn't mean to. Don't be angry with me. If you're angry, I'll cry for you."
Su Yunmo was helpless.
After washing her feet, Ye Ningyuan contentedly lay down in the quilt.
She was on the edge of the bed, and the little dumpling was on the inside.
Ye Ningyuan didn't sleep properly, constantly kicking off the quilt.
Although there was a charcoal brazier in the room, it still got cold late at night. When Ye Ningyuan kicked off the quilt, the wind would blow in.
Enraged, Su Yunmo kicked her. "If you don't sleep properly, I'll throw you outside in the yard to sleep in the snow!"
Ye Ningyuan grinned and hugged her. "You can let me sleep, but you have to let me sleep while holding you."
If it were before, Su Yunmo would have absolutely refused. But after running around all day, exhaustion had set in, and she was too lazy to argue further. "Whatever you want."
Ye Ningyuan knew she would agree and became happy. She hugged Su Yunmo's waist and pulled her into her embrace, nuzzling her head against her.
Her thoughts were correct; sleeping while holding her in winter was indeed very comfortable.
The lamp on the bedside cabinet was quickly extinguished.
The two of them nestled in the warm quilt, gradually falling into a deep sleep.
In Prince Lian's mansion.
Lin Yuning had already smashed nearly a hundred cups, the floor covered in shards of porcelain and debris.
The maid Juxiang entered from outside. "Princess Consort, the Prince has already gone to County Princess Meiyan's courtyard. It's likely he'll be staying there tonight."
Resentment flared in Lin Yuning's eyes, and she smashed the last teacup onto the ground. "Bitch! Meiyan, you bitch!"
What Southern Border County Princess, what noble status, it was all a facade!
She had just been betrothed to the Prince, and she was already impatiently using her body to seduce him. She was even more shameless than a woman from the pleasure quarters!