Inside the carriage, Yun Mo and Yun Zhen exchanged glances. Xiao'er was truly eloquent. Shouldn't she be sad now? Or was her sadness different from others? Yun Mo's heart felt heavy. He reached out and took Yun Xiao's hand. It was as cold as stone from the night wind, and he tightened his grip, his heart aching.
"Xiao'er, cry if you're sad. It's just Daddy and your brother here. We won't laugh at you."
Yun Xiao turned her head. The lamps hanging from the four corners of the carriage cast a faint light, and in the flickering visibility, she saw her father and brother looking grave, as if something earth-shattering had happened, all staring at her.
Yun Xiao couldn't help but chuckle. Although her laugh was a little cold, it didn't seem overly sad.
"What are you two thinking, Daddy and Brother? I'm not that sad. Murong still remembers me, otherwise he wouldn't have fainted tonight, and I will find a way to cure him, so you can rest assured."
Yun Mo and Yun Zhen looked at each other, trying to gauge the truth in Yun Xiao's words. Finding that she wasn't as sad as they feared, they finally relaxed.
"It's good that Xiao'er can think this way. If you need anything from Daddy or Brother, just say the word, and we will definitely help you. The Emperor will remember Xiao'er, and everything will pass, like clouds dispersing."
As Yun Mo finished speaking, Yun Zhen on the side nodded in agreement.
"Yes, things will get better."
Inside the carriage, the family smiled harmoniously. Outside, snow danced, and the world was a vast expanse of white, clean and beautiful.
At the Yun Prince's Manor, Wanwan and Liuxing Jingyun, upon hearing the news of their master's return, rushed out from Yuxuan.
The moment Wanwan saw Yun Xiao, she embraced her and wailed. Yun Xiao remained still, letting her cry her fill. She had never seen this girl's tear ducts so active, crying with such dramatic flair.
Jingyun, on the side, grew impatient. He kicked Wanwan away and threw himself towards Yun Xiao, mimicking Wanwan's actions.
"Master, should I cry?"
But Yun Xiao shifted slightly, and he missed. The young man wore a dejected expression, as if he were about to bite his finger.
"Master is truly biased."
Liuxing, the most composed of the three, walked over slowly. A dark glint flashed in his pupils as he spoke softly, "Does Master know?"
Since their master had returned from the palace, they assumed she knew about the Emperor forgetting her. They wondered why she didn't seem sad, or perhaps her sadness was simply imperceptible to them.
Yun Xiao nodded. Wanwan, on the side, finally stopped crying and waved her fists in anger.
"Master, that scoundrel actually forgot you! I wanted to rush into the palace and scold him awake, but they all said it would cost the Emperor his life, so I couldn't do anything."
As Wanwan spoke, Jingyun beside her nodded in rare agreement.
"Yes, we were going to settle scores with that fellow, but the Prince stopped us."
Yun Xiao smiled and looked at the three of them. She then turned to her father and brother. "We're going back to Yuxuan. I'm so tired, let's get some rest early."
"Go ahead, Xiao'er. Get a good night's sleep, and don't exhaust yourself."
"Understood, Daddy."
Yun Xiao, accompanied by Liuxing, Jingyun, and Wanwan, headed towards Yuxuan. The servants of the Yun Prince's Manor had all returned. They had been dismissed earlier, but the Prince had now found them all again.
In Yuxuan, Qiao'er was still there. The moment she saw Yun Xiao return, she rushed over and hugged her, her face beaming with joy.
"Miss, they all said you're all better and have become a good person. That's wonderful! Qiao'er is so happy."
"Yes, I'm fine now, Qiao'er, don't worry."
Looking at the simple Qiao'er, Yun Xiao felt a bit of her cheerfulness rubbing off on her. She surveyed the hall, her heart warming at the sight of those who cared about her.
With so many people concerned about her, why should she be sad? Besides, Murong was not an ungrateful man. What she needed to do was to quickly find the reason for his condition and help him recover.
"Miss."
Everyone in the hall looked at Qiao'er. She had been sincerely devoted to Miss from the beginning. Friends made in times of prosperity are not true friends; only friends encountered during times of hardship are truly precious. Qiao'er was such a person. When others had treated her like a fool, she had genuinely cared for Miss. Yun Xiao remembered this kindness. Although she was not a fool, kind people were always likable.
"Qiao'er, go to bed. Miss is also tired."
"Okay," Qiao'er nodded obediently and turned to leave for her rest. She had been very tired lately. Hearing them say Miss was better, that Miss was no longer foolish, she hadn't believed it. Now that she had seen it with her own eyes, she was finally at ease and felt the exhaustion.
In the hall, Yun Xiao glanced at Liuxing and Jingyun, who both seemed a little weary. "You can all go and rest. I'm back, and everything is fine."
"Thank you, Master."
They had been very worried about Miss during this time, unsure of her condition. Seeing her now, they were finally relieved. However, the thought of the Emperor forgetting Miss still weighed heavily on their hearts.
But as their master had instructed, they retreated.
The night was deep, and Yun Xiao felt tired. She had rested in the afternoon but had a nightmare and woke up, unable to sleep. It seemed she had a premonition; indeed, something bad had happened.
Now, all she wanted was to sleep well and tomorrow, she would seriously think about how to investigate Murong's symptoms. No, he was Shangguan Yin now, and it felt truly unaccustomed to use such a name.
Wanwan helped Miss with her ablutions and then guided her to the adjoining bedchamber.
"How have Mother-in-law and Mochen been recently?"
Yun Xiao remembered those two. Wanwan immediately nodded. "The restaurant's business, and Mother-in-law and Mochen are all doing well. It's just that everyone was worried because you were missing. There's nothing else to worry about."
"That's good."
Yun Xiao yawned. She was truly tired, but as she lay in bed, she still worried about the Emperor in the palace. Although she knew he was unharmed, her anxious heart had not fully settled. She tossed and turned for a long time before finally falling into a deep sleep, her dreams filled with Murong's smiling face.
He said, "Xiao'er, you are the most beautiful girl in the world." He said, "Xiao'er, will you marry me?"
All her pretense in front of others dissolved. In her sleep, tears flowed, wetting the embroidered pillow.
Wanwan lay silently by the bedside, shedding tears with her. She knew Miss was just trying not to show it. She was strong and proud. Perhaps she didn't blame the Emperor, but no one would be unaffected by such a loss.
The night slowly passed into deep slumber. Inside the room, the lamp wick flickered, casting hazy, yellowish light throughout the space.
In the morning, the world was a sheet of white. Birds like sparrows chirped on bare branches, and the swirling snowflakes condensed into frosty patterns on the windowpanes, illuminating the room brightly. Yun Xiao slept soundly, finally drifting off only towards morning. Wanwan quietly got up and walked out without waking her.