The sky had brightened.
Everyone in Prince Pingyang's manor who had stayed up all night rose as dawn broke.
Even after a sleepless night, they felt no trace of fatigue.
Zhen Xu watched Yun Yueyin, who was already dressed and meticulously applying makeup, and a bad premonition stirred within him. "Zhenzhen, I am severely injured and cannot get out of bed or move. Why are you dressing up so elaborately? Where are you going?"
Why did he find Zhenzhen so strange these past two days?
She didn't seem worried about his injuries, and her smiles felt insincere.
He had a feeling Zhenzhen no longer loved him.
His face, already scarred, was now disfigured by Prince Jin, to the point where even the servants couldn't bear to look. Zhenzhen must be disgusted with him!
Yun Yueyin, feeling unusually cheerful today, rolled her eyes inwardly at Zhen Xu's questioning and replied impatiently, "I'm just making myself look more energetic. If others see me looking haggard, it will only worsen your situation. After all, I didn't sleep all night."
After she spoke, Zhen Xu knew he had misunderstood. He quickly said, "I'm sorry, Zhenzhen, I misunderstood you. Zhenzhen, I have lost everything now. I know you will stick by me through thick and thin."
After all that had happened, the young ladies from noble families in the capital would look down on him even more. He might not even be able to be the heir anymore. Therefore, from now on, he only had Zhenzhen!
Seeing Zhen Xu speaking to her so cautiously, Yun Yueyin felt even more disgusted.
What a useless and ugly man!
"After breakfast, I'll take a stroll in the manor. Once you've recovered, you must accompany me," Yun Yueyin said, coaxing him, even though she was inwardly annoyed.
Hearing Yun Yueyin's words, Zhen Xu's unease was soothed.
He immediately said thoughtfully, "Alright, go ahead. Even if you encounter Zhen Lin and Ning De in the manor, you don't need to be afraid of them. Father is here; they wouldn't dare to trouble you."
These words, however, only made Yun Yueyin feel ironic.
They wouldn't dare to trouble her?
She had slapped herself so many times yesterday, and her knees still ached from kneeling. All of that was done by Princess Ning De! How could she dare to resist?
Even before Prince Pingyang, Princess Ning De could kill her, and Prince Pingyang would be helpless!
In Princess Ning De's eyes, Prince Pingyang, her father, might not even be considered a father. Perhaps the entire Prince Pingyang manor would be overthrown one day!
However, these were not things she should be thinking about.
She had to wait for Yun Shu to arrive and see what would happen to Yun Shu in Princess Ning De's hands!
She might walk into Prince Pingyang's manor alive today, but she might not leave alive!
As a woman herself, she clearly felt Princess Ning De's fury.
Anyone else would have been furious too.
With great anticipation, Yun Yueyin walked out, not sparing Zhen Xu another glance.
When Zhen Xu realized he had been ignored, his suspicion intensified. Although Zhenzhen said she didn't dislike him, he could feel that she did!
Dressed so gaudily, was she trying to seduce someone?
Zhen Xu could no longer bear it. He summoned a personal attendant and said, "Go, keep an eye on your mistress's every move during this period. I want to see if she has any ulterior motives."
"Yes, young master!"
...
Zhen Lin ate little at breakfast. With matters weighing on his mind, he was also worried and went to see Ning De.
Princess Ning De, who had also stayed up all night, had visible dark circles under her eyes.
It was clear she had suffered a significant blow.
Seeing Ning De's state, Zhen Lin felt a pang of heartache.
"Ning De."
Princess Ning De looked at Zhen Lin as he approached, her eyes having lost some of their sparkle, replaced by self-mockery. "Brother, no matter how I think about it, I feel like a complete joke."
"Ning De, don't belittle yourself or think too little of yourself. In my eyes, you have always been excellent," Zhen Lin immediately frowned and said sternly.
Princess Ning De sneered, "In your eyes, I am excellent. But in the eyes of Prince Jin and Yun Shu, I am nothing but a joke!"
Zhen Lin's expression turned grave. He glanced at the sky outside and said solemnly, "Some things are not yet fully understood, and we are still some distance from the truth we suspect. Ning De, have you ever considered that Yun Shu might have had other unavoidable reasons for coming to Prince Pingyang's manor? After all, if not for her, I would still be suffering from the poison, and I might have died by now."
He did not want to think too ill of Yun Shu.
"Brother, she wants to snatch Prince Jin from me. Do you think I can still consider if she has any other difficulties?" Princess Ning De asked Zhen Lin, her face pale.
Zhen Lin's expression shifted slightly. "She is coming to Prince Pingyang's manor today. You won't let her leave, will you?"
Princess Ning De lowered her head, looking at her hands, and said gravely, "Brother, it's not that I won't let her leave, but besides me, there are others who don't want her to leave. Today is a dead end for her. Even if I wanted to spare her, it's impossible."
"What do you mean?" Zhen Lin's heart suddenly tightened.
"Brother, this is the Kingdom of Xixia. If the ruler of Xixia doesn't want someone to live, do you think that person can still survive?" Princess Ning De countered.
Even if Zhen Lin was dull and hadn't thought deeply about the whole matter, he understood now!
If Yun Shu stepped into Prince Pingyang's manor today, she would lose her life!
Suddenly, in his heart, he hoped Yun Shu wouldn't come.
Because a strong intuition told him that her visit to Prince Pingyang's manor might have some purpose, but that purpose would never harm him; she had saved him.
But under this inescapable net, even if she didn't come to the capital, could she find a place of safety?
Moreover, he had a strong premonition that if she agreed to come today, she would definitely come.
Seeing Zhen Lin's face instantly turn pale, Princess Ning De's expression also grew somber. "Brother, this is fate. She cannot escape it. In fact, she could have chosen not to come to the Kingdom of Xixia. As long as she didn't come to Xixia, no one would want her life. But out of all the vast lands, she still came to Xixia."
Why was she still unwilling to give up on Zhan Tianye?
In the Eastern Ning Kingdom, Zhan Tianye belonged to Yun Shu. But in the Kingdom of Xixia, Zhan Tianye did not belong to Yun Shu; instead, he was... her husband.
Zhen Lin instinctively wanted to run out.
But after taking two hurried steps, Princess Ning De stopped him. "Brother, you cannot stop it. It's better to think about how to bury her later. Not only her but also her and King Ye's three children will be eliminated."
Then, she looked towards the door.
It was almost lunchtime.
Yun Shu still hadn't arrived? She frowned. Had Yun Shu sensed the danger and decided not to come?