Ye Jingyu didn't even look at her, placing his shoes on the stone table beside him and fiddling with his socks.
Su Yunmo's socks were as small as she was, only about the size of Ye Jingyu's palm.
He lifted the little dumpling and placed her on a cleared spot in front of him, holding her with one arm as he put her left sock on her foot.
After it was on, the sock extended above her ankle.
Seeing this, Qin Mingyan gritted her teeth again.
Did the General's Mansion not even have a servant to attend to her? They actually had His Highness Prince Yu do such a thing for her!
This brat was too arrogant!
"I'm fine, thank you for your concern. You can go now." The arrogant little dumpling yawned, feeling like she still hadn't slept enough.
She wasn't sleepy, just tired from running too much yesterday and unable to fully recover.
Qin Mingyan's expression soured at being dismissed, but she managed to suppress it.
She looked at Ye Jingyu, her gaze filled with longing: "Actually, the Empress summoned me to the palace today, and I originally intended to pay a visit to Consort Liang."
"Since Your Highness is also here, why not accompany me? The carriage is right outside the General's Mansion, and we can leave immediately."
Ye Jingyu finished putting on the other sock and began to attend to her shoes.
He hadn't paid close attention to children's shoes before, but now he noticed the little dumpling's shoes were a tender pink, with cute embroidered patterns.
Ye Jingyu's lips curved upwards involuntarily.
Su Yunmo noticed him smiling, her eyelids twitched, and she kicked him.
Ye Jingyu raised an eyebrow and looked at her.
The little dumpling puffed out her cheeks and glared at him.
Their interaction was as if no one else was present.
This made Qin Mingyan, standing by, extremely awkward.
She wanted to extend her invitation again, but she knew Ye Jingyu wouldn't respond. The shame and annoyance in her heart could no longer be contained: "Miss Su, aren't you being a bit too bold? His Highness is not your servant."
Both the one putting on shoes and the one kicking froze, looking up at her simultaneously.
They didn't speak, but their eyes conveyed a single message: It's none of your business.
Qin Mingyan knew her words were inappropriate, but they were already spoken and couldn't be taken back, so she tried to salvage the situation.
"What I mean is, His Highness Prince Yu is a guest at the mansion."
"Miss Su, although you are young, you should understand propriety. If word gets out that His Highness Prince Yu is putting shoes on a mere official's daughter, it might cause criticism, which would also reflect poorly on the General's Mansion."
Su Yunmo turned to look at Ye Jingyu and kicked him again: "Did you hear that? It's reflecting poorly!"
Aren't you going to leave quickly?
Ye Jingyu grabbed her small kicking foot and put on the shoe for that foot: "Whether I am criticized, and whether the General's Mansion's reputation is good or bad, what does it have to do with others?"
He wasn't leaving!
Qin Mingyan's face stiffened, and she clenched her fists tightly, her voice rising slightly uncontrollably: "Your Highness! I am saying this for your own good!"
"I cannot interfere with the affairs of the General's Mansion, but I must concern myself with your affairs. After all this time, doesn't Your Highness know my feelings?"
She liked him, and she would be his future princess. Why wouldn't he even look at her?
What was so special about that brat, a mere sprout that would take years to grow? Did he really intend to wait for her to grow up?
A hint of ferocity flashed in Ye Jingyu's eyes: "I do not know your feelings, and you had best put them away."
Consort Qin is truly useless. I already had someone hint to her, yet she can't even control her own family.
Qin Mingyan, rejected to her face, froze completely, her usual confidence vanishing instantly.
The little dumpling extended her other bare foot towards Ye Jingyu, wiggling it.
It seemed a bit cold; it was better to put on the shoe.
A hint of helplessness flickered in Ye Jingyu's eyes, and he lowered his head to fiddle with the remaining shoe.
Qin Mingyan felt provoked.
She pointed at Su Yunmo, her eyes brimming with tears: "It must be you, right? You must have said bad things about me to His Highness, which made him dislike me!"
This girl was truly malicious. She must still be holding a grudge from that day.
Yesterday, she had instigated Consort Liang to gang up on her, and today she was being so intimate with His Highness Prince Yu in front of her.
If anyone said there was no trickery involved, who would believe it!
"Su Yunmo, at such a young age, how can you be so shameless? Do you want to be the mistress of Prince Yu's mansion? You're so tiny and already so ambitious, aren't you afraid of being struck by lightning?"
A killing intent instantly arose in Ye Jingyu's eyes. He looked up sharply, gazing at her as if she were a corpse.
Su Yunmo placed her hand on Ye Jingyu's chest, then turned to look at Qin Mingyan, suddenly smiling: "So what if I do?"
The other two were stunned.
Qin Mingyan was enraged.
Ye Jingyu was taken aback, then his surprise turned into helplessness.
The little dumpling wrapped her arms around Ye Jingyu's neck, resting her little head on his chest, her expression innocent: "Momo likes Brother Yu the most! When Momo grows up, I'll marry him."
"Auntie, Brother Yu won't like someone as old as you. And when Momo grows up, I'll be prettier than you. Momo's daddy is also more powerful than your daddy, so Brother Yu won't fancy you."
She said this with great innocence, but it was very irritating.
Qin Mingyan admitted she was angered, pointing at Su Yunmo with trembling fingers: "You, you, you... you're shameless!"
At such a young age, to say such things, it was truly shameless!
The little dumpling pouted: "Auntie is the shameless one. Brother Yu doesn't like you, yet you always hang around him, with no self-awareness. Shameful, shameful, shameful."
She snorted, then looked up and smiled secretly at Ye Jingyu: "Brother Yu, am I right?"
Ye Jingyu dotingly rubbed her head: "Momo is always right."
The little dumpling continued to beam: "Then, does Brother Yu like Auntie, or does he like Momo?"
Ye Jingyu's fingers stiffened slightly, and his words carried a barely perceptible sincerity: "You are the most special to me."
"Brother Yu is also very special to Momo." The little dumpling tilted her head and kissed his chin, then looked at Qin Mingyan with a raised eyebrow.
Still not leaving?
Ye Jingyu's body stiffened.
Qin Mingyan's eyes were filled with tears, almost about to cry.
She opened her mouth, only managing to utter "Your Highness," then could say no more. She turned and ran outside.
Her retreating figure looked utterly desolate.
Su Yunmo smacked her lips, feeling much better now.
"Hey, I helped you solve a problem, so you owe me a favor." The little dumpling turned back and snorted proudly.
Ye Jingyu's gaze swept over her tender lips, his eyes darkening slightly: "I saved you last night."
"Then you bit me too!" The little dumpling glared, unconvinced.
Ye Jingyu lowered his gaze and said softly: "That's true."
Su Yunmo found it strange.
Did he agree? So readily? This was unlike his usual demeanor.
But it didn't matter, as long as he understood.
"I'm not talking to you anymore. I'm going back to lie down for a bit. You can play by yourself."
The little dumpling jumped off the ground, yawning as she headed back into the room.
Ye Jingyu watched her retreating figure until the door closed before finally looking away.
He touched his chin; the warmth seemed to linger there.
After a long while, His Highness Prince Yu closed his eyes and sighed deeply.
Indeed, he would have to wait a long time.