He stepped forward to give chase.
Qin Mingyan blocked his path, deliberately obstructing him. "Your Highness, please don't get up. You haven't been wiped clean yet. Allow this humble lady to serve you."
As she spoke, she leaned into Ye Jingyu's embrace, her intentions clear.
"Get lost!" Ye Jingyu shoved her away.
Qin Mingyan stumbled and fell, looking at him with a hint of shock. "Your Highness?"
What was going on? Hadn't he been calm about her touch just moments ago? Why did he turn hostile the moment Su Yunmo left?
Ye Jingyu gave her a deep look, a flicker of disgust flashing in his dark eyes.
At that moment, Qin Mingyan felt her heart lurch. A wave of grievance and fear welled up from within her.
She grabbed the hem of Ye Jingyu's trousers, her eyes reddening, and accused him, "Your Highness, why are you so heartless towards me? You know I like you! Am I not even as good as that little girl, Su Yunmo?"
Ye Jingyu looked at her as if she were a maggot on feces. "You are not worthy."
His voice was as cold as the thousand-year-old ice of the Tianshan Mountains.
Qin Mingyan felt frozen from head to toe.
Ye Jingyu shook her off and strode away.
"Why... why?" Qin Mingyan watched his retreating figure, tears streaming down her cheeks.
Slowly, her resentment turned into anger and hatred.
"Su Yunmo, it's all because of you!"
If only this girl would die!
No, if only Your Highness would detest her, look at her the way he just looked at me.
If Your Highness detests her, Consort Liang wouldn't continue to be provoked by her, and I would definitely be able to enter the Prince Yu's mansion!
Once this thought took root, it became deeply ingrained in Qin Mingyan's heart, impossible to shake off.
Meanwhile, Su Yunmo ran out of the pavilion and headed straight for the back hall, her small legs churning as she fled, fearing recapture.
She kept looking back to see if Ye Jingyu was chasing her, not paying attention to where she was going.
As she rounded a corner, she suddenly bumped into someone.
"Ouch!" the Third Concubine cried out, stumbling back two steps. "Who is this? Are you blind?"
Su Yunmo also stumbled back two steps and stopped.
But her first instinct wasn't to look at the Third Concubine; she looked back, anxiously watching for Ye Jingyu, calculating that at his speed, he would catch up soon.
"Sorry," the little dumpling apologized casually and tried to run again.
The Third Concubine grabbed her and refused to let go, indignant. "So it's you, you little brat. Do you know where you are? Instead of staying in the garden, you dare to run around recklessly?"
The little dumpling, dangling from her hand, tutted. "I didn't mean to, and I've already apologized."
"Is this what you call an apology? I'm telling you, don't think you can get away with this!" the Third Concubine spat.
She had suffered losses at this girl's hands twice before, but this time it was in the Marquis's mansion. Here, she was in charge. This damned girl wouldn't get away easily this time.
"What are you arguing about?" Lin Yuning's voice rang out.
She approached from the other side with Linlang, her gaze falling on Su Yunmo, and she frowned. "What's going on here?"
The Third Concubine's eyes flickered, and she quickly put down the little dumpling in her hand. "She was running around recklessly in the mansion and ended up here. I was afraid she might offend a distinguished guest."
"Is that so?" Lin Yuning glanced at Su Yunmo. "I'll send someone to escort her back. Have you done what I told you?"
The Third Concubine nodded and bowed to report, "The martial arts practitioners have been arranged in the guest rooms. They said they wanted to walk around earlier, and I told them to wait until the banquet. I assure you, there will be no disruptions."
Lin Yuning nodded. "Good. You may go and attend to your duties."
She had met those martial arts practitioners herself only once. They didn't look like they were from the capital.
But it didn't matter. As long as they showed their true skills at the banquet, that was enough.
"Yes, I'll take my leave now." The Third Concubine bowed and hurried away.
Her retreating figure looked somewhat unsteady.
Su Yunmo crossed her arms. "It seems that after finishing her business at the Prince's mansion, the Princess of Lian also takes the time to manage the people in the Marquis's mansion."
The Third Concubine, who had been so arrogant towards others earlier, was now so afraid of her.
Lin Yuning didn't reply. "I don't think I need to send someone to escort you. You can find your own way back, can't you?"
"Miss Su should hurry back to find the Lord. Lest you bump into something and the mansion cannot bear the responsibility."
Although this damned girl was hateful, today was her father's fortieth birthday, and there should be no major incidents.
Su Yunmo: "Why the rush? I've come to find you. I want to borrow someone from you."
"Borrow someone from me?" Lin Yuning frowned. "Does the General's mansion lack servants for you?"
"This servant is no ordinary person." Su Yunmo pointed at Linlang. "I want her."
Both the mistress and the servant were startled.
Lin Yuning was even more nervous than Linlang. "What do you mean by that?"
Could it be that she already knew Linlang's true identity?
No, she absolutely couldn't let her acknowledge Linlang.
She already had the support of Prince Yu and the General's mansion. If even the unfathomable Southern Border became her backing, then she would be finished!
Su Yunmo: "It's nothing much. She has something I want, so I intend to inquire about it."
Only people from the Southern Border could enter the Southern Border.
Although she didn't know if Linlang was from the Pu Suo tribe, as long as she could enter the Southern Border, there would be a way to obtain one or two Rebirth Flowers.
A chill ran down Lin Yuning's spine.
She knew after all. She was asking Linlang for the prayer beads!
"Linlang, kill her!"
This time, it was Su Yunmo's turn to be stunned.
Su Yunmo frowned, confused.
Was this person alright?
She just wanted to ask someone she knew to do something. Even if she was asking for a favor, she could have made demands. Why the sudden order to kill?
Linlang was also taken aback. "Princess? But today is the Marquis's birthday. Shouldn't we prioritize harmony..."
"Did you not hear me when I told you to kill her?!" A trace of ruthlessness, mixed with a hint of fear, flashed in Lin Yuning's eyes.
She knew Linlang's strength. If she acknowledged Su Yunmo as her master, then she would be the one to die!
"Yes." A complex expression flickered in Linlang's eyes as she reached for the short saber at her waist.
"Little one!" Ye Jingyu's voice rang out from another path.
Su Yunmo's eyelids twitched.
This was bad. He had found her so quickly.
"It really is you. I thought I'd catch a big fish today, but it turns out to be two, hahaha..." another man's voice suddenly sounded.
Su Yunmo turned and saw Hu Xue standing in the corner of the room, and beside Hu Xue was the Southern Border person who had been tracking her a few days ago.
Lin Yuning also saw them. "Didn't I tell you to prepare and perform during the banquet? What are you doing here?"
Su Yunmo's heart skipped a beat.
Were these the martial arts practitioners Lin Yuning had invited?
This was bad!
"This is bad!"
Su Yunmo thought "This is bad" in her heart, and the "This is bad" that followed was spoken by Linlang.
Su Yunmo looked at Linlang.
Linlang grabbed Lin Yuning and leaped away.
"Hahaha... it's too late. Let's end it all together this time. Soon, we'll know who is real and who is fake." Hu Xue laughed heartily.
At the same time, a thick fog began to rise from all around, quickly enveloping the entire Marquis's mansion.
"Momo!" Ye Jingyu's figure also vanished from her sight in the next second.