Ju Xiang stepped forward, helping Lin Yu Ning sit on the chair and massaging her shoulders. "Your Highness, please don't be angry. Be careful not to harm yourself."
Lin Yu Ning breathed heavily, gently rubbing her stomach with one hand.
Ju Xiang: "Your Highness, this can't go on. You need to make a decision quickly."
"What decision can I make! She was granted marriage by His Majesty himself, so her entry into the manor is legitimate." Lin Yu Ning gritted her teeth hatefully.
"Moreover, she helped the Prince accomplish something today, and the Prince is now highly favored by her. I imagine she will officially become the Prince of Lian's concubine in a couple of days!"
Judging by the Prince's attitude towards her today, her favor already surpassed hers before she even entered the manor.
If that day truly came, she would be lucky not to be kicked out!
Lin Yu Ning was so angry she could almost shatter her teeth, clenching her fists tightly.
She could only hope the child in her womb was a boy, who could become her support in the future. If it were a girl, it would be a pregnancy in vain!
Ju Xiang pondered, "Your Highness is currently pregnant and should be the most doted upon by the Prince. Yet, the Prince treats you like this. Even I can't stand it."
"If Your Highness truly cannot think of a good plan, why not seek the Empress's help? Let Her Majesty make a decision for you?"
Lin Yu Ning sneered, "Although the idea of letting that slut Mei Yan enter the manor was proposed by that brat from the Prince of Yun Yi's manor, the Empress clearly agreed. It's better not to ask her."
Ju Xiang: "But Her Majesty didn't know that the Nanjiang County Princess entering the manor would cause the Prince to neglect you! I believe Her Majesty would stand by you if she knew."
"After all, even if Her Majesty doesn't care for you, she must care for the little imperial grandson in your womb, right?"
Lin Yu Ning's eyes suddenly lit up.
Yes, how could she forget? The Empress had always attached great importance to this pregnancy.
If Mei Yan's presence hindered her prospects, even if the Empress intended to win over the Prince of Yun Yi's manor, she would have to carefully weigh the pros and cons.
Lin Yu Ning gradually regained her confidence. "Prepare the carriage early tomorrow morning. I want to go to the palace to pay my respects to the Empress Dowager."
Even if she could get rid of Lin Nian Ge herself, that slut Mei Yan wouldn't dare to step on her!
The next morning.
The snow had partially melted, and the roads were icy.
A carriage was prepared at the Prince of Lian's manor. Lin Yu Ning went out towards the imperial palace.
Meanwhile, Ye Jing Yu also boarded a carriage heading towards the palace gates.
Qian Xue drove the carriage and, halfway, turned to stop in front of the General's manor. "Master, will you go in yourself, or shall I?"
Ye Jing Yu held a book, turning a page. "You go."
Qian Xue said, "Yes," jumped off the carriage, and stepped into the manor.
A moment later, she emerged from the General's manor, holding the little one by the collar of her clothes.
Su Yun Mo dangled in mid-air, struggling desperately. "Are you all done with me?!"
Did she owe the Ye family something in her past life?
They kept coming one after another to torment her, not even letting her sleep peacefully!
"Little master, I apologize. I am acting under orders." Qian Xue lifted the carriage curtain and tossed the little one inside.
The little one was tossed into Ye Jing Yu's arms like a cat.
Ye Jing Yu casually opened his arms and caught her.
Seeing his expression, the little one grabbed his collar. "Are you trying to drive me to death or what?!"
Last night, Ye Ning Yuan held her like a bolster, tossing and turning her, and she barely slept half the night.
Finally, as dawn approached, Ye Ning Yuan quieted down. She thought she could finally sleep in, but before she could even close her eyes for a while, Qian Xue pulled her out of the quilt.
What had she done to offend the imperial family? To warrant such deep hatred!
Ye Jing Yu frowned displeviously. "Didn't I tell you not to use foul language?"
The little one's eyelids twitched, and she opened her mouth, biting down on his left cheek.
Ye Jing Yu gasped in pain.
The carriage curtain was lifted again.
Ye Ning Yuan rubbed her hands and entered. "Why is it colder today than yesterday? It's freezing."
She raised her eyes and saw their situation, paused for a moment, then composed herself and sat on the other side of the soft couch as if no one else was there.
Ye Jing Yu's gaze swept over her.
Ye Ning Yuan pulled the little warm treasure out of her embrace, stuck her hands inside, and blinked back at the man. "You two continue. Don't mind me. Pretend I don't exist."
Ye Jing Yu: "..."
The little one was still biting with all her might.
Ye Jing Yu finally felt the pain and reached two fingers into the back of her neck, pinching it.
"Ah!" The little one cried out in surprise and let go.
She glared at him furiously, her cheeks puffed out.
Ye Ning Yuan rested her elbow on her knee, her chin on the warm treasure, watching the two with a playful gaze.
Ye Jing Yu couldn't pretend she wasn't there. "How did she end up at the General's manor?"
The little one was still angry and didn't want to reply.
Ye Ning Yuan pursed her lips and answered for the little one. "I'm being chased by my father and hiding from debt at the General's manor these past two days."
A hint of displeasure appeared on Ye Jing Yu's face.
Ye Ning Yuan withdrew her hands and waved them back and forth. "Don't worry, I won't bother you two. You two interact normally. Just consider me a radish; if there's a hole, I can squat in it."
Ye Jing Yu frowned.
What kind of bizarre metaphors were these.
The little one, having had enough of her anger, crossed her arms. "Don't talk about her first. Why are you looking for me?"
Ye Jing Yu set the book aside. "Tomorrow is New Year's Day."
Su Yun Mo asked curiously, "So what?"
"On New Year's Day, there will be ceremonies and sacrifices. This year is different from previous years. Father plans to take the imperial family and nobles to the imperial mausoleum for worship. We'll be back in about three days," Ye Jing Yu stared at her.
Su Yun Mo blinked. "Oh."
And then?
Ye Jing Yu's face immediately darkened.
He would be away from the capital for three days, and she wouldn't even see him on such an important day as New Year's Day. Didn't she miss him at all?
She dismissed him with a simple "Oh"?
The man gnashed his teeth. "Is there something you should be telling me?"
Su Yun Mo hadn't fully woken up yet and was a bit sleepy. Hearing his question, she scratched the back of her head, thought carefully, and suddenly realized.
"Don't worry, I'll find time to visit Consort Liang in the palace these few days. You're only going for a short while, so it's not a big deal."
Ye Jing Yu took a deep breath.
Why did he want to strangle her so badly?
Ye Ning Yuan sat aside, pursing her lips, watching the little one playfully.
How to put it? Mo Mo is sometimes very considerate, but unfortunately, she's not very considerate.
Ye Jing Yu seemed to realize that if he truly argued with the little one, he would eventually be angered to death.
He changed the subject. "A message came from the palace this morning saying that my mother's condition is a bit unusual. I'll take you to see her."
Su Yun Mo nodded, turned, and snuggled into his embrace. "Okay, let's go. But let me sleep for a while first. Don't bother me this time."
She yawned, tucked her small hands into his clothes, rubbed them against his chest, and closed her eyes hazily.
"I was tossed around at the Prince of Lian's manor all morning yesterday, then busy at Ye Jing Kun's all afternoon. I'm already exhausted. If I don't get a good sleep tonight, I'll collapse."
Ye Jing Yu's eyelids twitched.
Ye Jing Kun?