Murong Jin Yun did not understand Feng Jin's meaning at first, nor what she was up to.
Why had she been invited here today?
"I don't mean anything. I just want to talk to you."
Feng Jin remained unhurried. "Calm yourself. Don't be so impulsive. You just need to know that I mean you no harm."
"I remember clearly what you said in court yesterday. Can I have a look at your half of the jade pendant?"
Murong Jin Yun cast a suspicious glance at Feng Jin. She was still in a state of confusion. After a pause, she hesitantly took out the jade pendant. Her status was evident, and she wasn't worried about what Feng Jin might do.
Taking the pendant, Feng Jin examined it meticulously. Indeed, it bore a strong resemblance to the shape and patterns described by Ling Mohan.
"Cai Qing, bring out the items."
To be safe, she had asked Ling Mohan to draw the shape of the jade pendant from memory the night before for comparison.
"Yes, Young Madam."
Cai Qing took out the neatly folded papers from a pouch and spread them out on the table.
Feng Jin compared them carefully. The patterns and shapes matched by about eighty percent. On the back of the pendant was the remaining half of the character 'Ling,' which Ling Mohan had personally carved.
It was likely this character that led Murong Jin Yun to believe the man who had sworn eternal love to her was Ling Mohan.
"What are you comparing? Give me back the jade pendant!"
Murong Jin Yun panicked and stood up, intending to snatch the pendant. Feng Jin turned and dodged, holding the pendant tightly.
"Are you trying to silence me forever? Don't forget that everyone in the palace banquet knew about this. If you dare to do this, I will definitely report you to your Emperor!" Murong Jin Yun threatened Feng Jin by invoking Emperor Xuanwen.
Feng Jin chuckled dismissively. "This jade pendant does belong to my husband, but it wasn't given to you by him. My husband lost this pendant three years ago on the battlefield."
"No... no..." Murong Jin Yun shook her head. "This is all a lie you've concocted to prevent me from competing for Ling Mohan. Young Madam Ling, aren't you confident enough in yourself to fear I'll snatch Ling Mohan away!"
"The one who promised you eternal love was not Ling Mohan, but someone else."
Upon seeing the jade pendant, Feng Jin was quite certain that the person Murong Jin Yun had sworn eternal love to was Gu Bei Chen.
"Young Madam, Young Master Gu has arrived," Lu Shi reported as he entered the pavilion.
"Please invite him in."
Murong Jin Yun looked at Feng Jin with a slight bewilderment, not understanding what was happening. When her gaze fell upon Gu Bei Chen, a familiar feeling washed over her, causing her heart to tremble.
The feeling was too familiar, something she hadn't sensed in Ling Mohan.
"Why did you summon this young master? Speak quickly, I'm still busy!"
Gu Bei Chen's voice echoed through the pavilion, clear and distinct in Murong Jin Yun's ears.
The voice was too familiar, as if etched into her bones. Murong Jin Yun's gaze slowly shifted to Gu Bei Chen.
At that time, she was blind and didn't know what he looked like. When she returned, he was long gone. She searched a hundred miles around Wei Yi Mountain but found no trace of him. All she had was this half jade pendant.
After several searches, she learned that the owner of this jade pendant was Ling Mohan, the young general of Eastern Chu.
She knew there were too many obstacles between their identities, and they were destined not to be together. She could only hide this love deep in her heart.
Upon learning that her father intended to establish good relations with Eastern Chu and form a marital alliance, she volunteered to go to Eastern Chu. She knelt in the snow for a day and a night before her father agreed to let her decide her own marriage.
After waiting for three years, she could finally be by his side. But she learned that he was already married with children. Even more ridiculously, the person she had missed and longed for for three years didn't recognize her and even seemed to dislike her.
She had thought that person had changed his mind, but the moment she saw Gu Bei Chen, it seemed... everything was a little different.
"Young Master Gu, do you recognize this young lady?"
Feng Jin didn't waste words with Gu Bei Chen. She directly pushed Murong Jin Yun towards him.
Whether it was him or not, they would know after meeting.
Under Feng Jin's pressure, Gu Bei Chen turned his head to look. Upon seeing the person behind him, Gu Bei Chen froze. It was a gaze that spanned eternity, and he remained unresponsive for a long time.
Seeing their reactions, Feng Jin instantly knew.
"Young Master Gu, Princess..." Feng Jin called out tentatively, but there was no response. She unconsciously raised her voice. "What's wrong, both of you?"
Gu Bei Chen was the first to react. Pointing at Murong Jin Yun, he asked Feng Jin, "What is going on?"
"Young Master Gu, has your memory degenerated with time?" Feng Jin handed the half jade pendant to Gu Bei Chen.
"This young lady is the Princess of Western Liang. She came here to find the person who gave her this half jade pendant."
Gu Bei Chen looked at the half jade pendant in his hand. The memories ingrained in his bones surged back. His gaze was fixed on Murong Jin Yun.
Three years ago, her appearance was even more youthful than now, but he recognized her at a glance. This was the person he had been searching for for three years.
He took out the other half of the jade pendant from his怀中, and Gu Bei Chen put the two halves together. A smile formed on his lips. "I never expected you to be the Princess of Western Liang. No wonder I couldn't find any news of you for so long."
Murong Jin Yun looked at Gu Bei Chen with a slight daze. An extremely familiar feeling enveloped her. When she saw Gu Bei Chen take out the other half of the jade pendant, she finally confirmed that the person before her was the one she was looking for. Before, she had mistaken the person and gone to the wrong person.
"Back then, I was blind. To protect myself, I had to live incognito. When I returned to Western Liang and went to look for you at the foot of Wei Yi Mountain, there was no news. I could only rely on the half jade pendant to find you, but I never expected to find the wrong person and almost cause trouble. By a twist of fate, I actually managed to find you."
Murong Jin Yun suppressed the ecstasy in her heart, trying to keep her tone calm. Who would have thought that by a twist of fate, she would actually find him.
Watching their expressions, Feng Jin felt as if she was glowing. Seizing the moment when no one was paying attention to her, she quietly left with Cai Qing, leaving them space.
"Young Madam, we're just leaving like this? Not staying longer?"