Su Yunmo remained rooted to the spot, but her eyes had turned a bloodshot scarlet, her pupils fixed intently on herself.
The little girl's hair billowed in the wind, making her appear like a phantom at that moment.
"Ah! A ghost!" Jiang Qinyue shrieked, truly letting out a scream. Forgetting the pain in her hand, she scrambled away, still screaming.
Hearing the commotion, Qian Xue emerged from the inner courtyard. Catching sight of Jiang Qinyue's fleeing figure from afar, she looked puzzled. "Little mistress, what's wrong with her?"
"Nothing much." Su Yunmo's expression was somewhat grim as she turned to leave.
"Little mistress, where are you going? His Highness is in his chambers. Are you leaving without even seeing him?" Qian Xue called out to her.
Su Yunmo's steps faltered, and she gritted her teeth.
She was right. She had come with good intentions to ask if he needed anything brought to him, only to be met with such vexation.
To leave after being so needlessly angered was simply not her style.
"Who said I was leaving? I am indeed going to see your Prince!" Su Yunmo enunciated each word, turning back and striding into the courtyard.
Ye Jingyu was unaware of what had transpired outside, only vaguely sensing some noise.
Seeing Su Yunmo enter, he suppressed his questions and playfully teased her.
"Why are you here to see me again today, so soon after meeting last night? Are you worried about my injuries?"
Su Yunmo walked over, scoffing coldly, her arms crossed. "Why would I worry about you? Is there anything about you that needs worrying about? You look perfectly fine."
Ye Jingyu: "???"
He frowned, asking uncertainly, "Are you upset about something? Did someone offend you?"
*You know perfectly well who offended me!*
Su Yunmo did not voice this thought.
She cast a cool glance at the man, her lips curving into an incredibly gentle smile. "What are you talking about, Your Highness? How could I possibly be angry~"
Her tone was dripping with sarcasm.
Ye Jingyu's eyelids twitched. If he wasn't mistaken, the person who had offended her was indeed himself, yet he couldn't recall doing anything.
Hadn't last night's events already passed?
"Momo, is there something you need today?"
The man wanted to steer the conversation away.
Su Yunmo saw through his attempt and did not let him have his way.
She strode to the bedside, sat at the head of the bed, and reached out to touch Ye Jingyu's chest.
"I came to check on Your Highness's injuries, but upon arriving, I discovered that Your Highness is naturally attended by beauties and has no need for me."
Sour!
So incredibly sour!
Su Yunmo knew her words were sour, but she couldn't suppress the simmering resentment within her.
Her soft, boneless hand moved across the man's chest. Ye Jingyu found it quite comfortable, his eyes narrowing in enjoyment, not quite grasping the meaning behind Su Yunmo's words.
Seeing his blissful expression, Su Yunmo's smile widened. Then, with a forceful push, she pressed down!
"Oof!" Ye Jingyu gasped sharply, his entire body tensing!
"Momo! Hiss!"
What was going on?
"Oh? What's wrong, Your Highness? Does your wound hurt? I must have hurt you, haven't I?" Su Yunmo withdrew her hand, looking at him with feigned concern, the smile in her eyes uncontrollable.
Ye Jingyu found her sly demeanor both infuriating and amusing.
Su Yunmo winked at him, smacking her lips. "See? I told you I'm clumsy and can't serve you properly, didn't I?"
"Since that's the case, I won't be an eyesore here. I'll be leaving now." Su Yunmo dropped the remark, hopped off the bed, and walked briskly towards the exit.
She didn't even stop when Ye Jingyu called out to her.
Qian Xue, hearing the commotion inside, guessed that the two little masters were definitely throwing a tantrum again.
As she was thinking this, she indeed saw Su Yunmo storming out of the room with fierce determination and heading outside.
Seeing Su Yunmo's displeased expression, Qian Xue didn't dare to stop her. After she left, Qian Xue entered the room. "Master?"
On the bed inside.
Ye Jingyu clutched his chest, gritting his teeth. "What exactly happened outside just now?"
Qian Xue cautiously glanced at her master. "When the little mistress entered the manor earlier, she encountered Jiang Qinyue, and they had a minor dispute."
Ye Jingyu's brows furrowed fiercely, a glint of ferocity flashing in his eyes. "When did Jiang Qinyue arrive?"
Qian Xue knew her master would be angry and dared not conceal anything.
"Master, you sent her father on another mission yesterday, and he said there were too many matters in the capital to look after her."
"Furthermore, he was worried she wouldn't be properly cared for if sent back to Nongyue Pavilion alone, so he sent her to our manor. She was brought here this morning."
"Nonsense!" Ye Jingyu bellowed. "Doesn't Nongyue Pavilion have any maids? Can't they take care of her?"
Qian Xue felt a bit wronged by the scolding.
*It wasn't me who let that woman come. If you're angry, don't take it out on me.*
Although she thought this, Qian Xue dared not say it.
There was no way to explain this. The excuse of "no one to care for her" was clearly a lie; it was highly probable that the woman herself had begged the Pavilion Master of Nongyue Pavilion to let her come.
However, the Pavilion Master of Nongyue Pavilion was someone who served the master and was loyal. If the Prince's manor didn't even help with such a small favor, it would seem ungracious.
Ye Jingyu naturally understood this logic. "Go and personally tell her to behave herself, otherwise, I don't mind kicking her out."
Qian Xue acknowledged with a "Yes" and withdrew.
The room fell silent.
Ye Jingyu rubbed his still aching chest and let out a long sigh.
Well, he had no idea how long it would take to appease her this time.
Su Yunmo, however, had no intention of letting him appease her. She had made up her mind.
If that man came to the General's manor tonight with any more sweet-talking nonsense, she would stab him with a knife!
Damn Ye Jingyu!
Su Yunmo cursed him all the way out of the Prince's manor.
Linlang was waiting by the carriage at the entrance. Seeing her mistress emerge, she hurried to greet her. "Little mistress, what's wrong?"
When she entered the manor earlier, wasn't she happy about not having to write calligraphy today?
Why did she come out with such a grim expression after just one visit?
"Bitten by a mad dog!" Su Yunmo spat out the words through gritted teeth.
Seeing her like this, Linlang could vaguely guess what had happened and shook her head helplessly, not asking further questions.
Su Yunmo was about to board the carriage.
Suddenly, a small beggar ran over from the other side, bumping into Linlang.
Linlang caught him and, seeing his filthy state, was about to ask him what he needed.
The little beggar said nothing, instead stuffing something into Linlang's hand before running off.
"What is it?" Su Yunmo, halfway into the carriage, turned her head to look when she noticed the commotion nearby.
Linlang looked down and discovered a handkerchief in her hand, wrapped around something. "Your subordinate doesn't know. That child just now stuffed it into my hand."
Could it be some mischievous child playing a prank?
Su Yunmo's heart leaped when she saw the handkerchief. "Give it to me!"
This was her elder brother's!
Linlang nodded and handed the handkerchief to Su Yunmo.
The handkerchief was indeed wrapped around something.
Upon opening it, they found bloodstains and a lock of hair.
Both of them were startled.