"Little Ru'er!"
Qin Jiujiu, who was in the middle of adorning her hair with a flower, paused and looked towards the door. It was Yue Nansang.
She had returned to An Province a few days ago. Yue Nansang had already finished serving her punishment and had regained her freedom. King Yue and Queen Yue believed she had severed ties with Su Mu, but Qin Jiujiu knew that Yue Nansang was still waiting for Su Mu to marry her.
However, Su Mu was destined not to return!
Qin Jiujiu had seen Su Mu's fate in the plot transmitted by the system. He had won the battle, but upon returning to the capital, he was feared by the Emperor due to his outstanding military achievements. He was framed and met his end by being forced to drink poisoned wine!
Yue Nansang would not be met by a grand procession of eight sedan chairs carrying the young general Su Mu to marry her, but by the countless cavalry of the Sheng Qi Kingdom.
Qin Jiujiu composed herself and adopted the expression and tone that Xing Ru would use when facing Yue Nansang.
"Sangsang!"
Yue Nansang's smile widened uncontrollably. "Little Ru'er, I heard your relationship with my second brother has improved?"
They were sitting by a table, drinking tea. Qin Jiujiu, upon hearing this, choked on her tea and coughed uncontrollably.
"Have you heard something?"
Yue Nansang wore an expression as if Qin Jiujiu's secret had been exposed. She replied, "It's all over the Yue Palace now..."
Another shiver ran down her spine. No wonder Ade had stopped nagging her recently and kept looking at her with a smile, especially when Xie Jing visited her room.
The only one in the Yue Palace who knew about Yue Beiyang's amnesia was likely the Imperial Advisor, Chu Ming.
It was Chu Ming who had sent people to escort them back that day. Qin Jiujiu had also encountered Chu Ming up close for the first time. Before she recovered her memories, she had stumbled upon him in secret with a concubine from the Yue Palace behind the rockery. It seemed these two were unaware of this.
Chu Ming's eyes held a faint glow, making him appear more like a villain than Yue Beiyang. However, Chu Ming and Yue Beiyang seemed to have a deep connection. With just one glance, he saw that something was off with Yue Beiyang.
There was nothing Qin Jiujiu could do but confess to him.
It was at that time that Xie Jing learned his true identity through their conversation and realized that the identity he had fabricated was all a lie to him.
During this period, Xie Jing frequently came to the main hall, even shamelessly insisting on staying overnight. If she hadn't been firm and found an excuse to drive him away, Qin Jiujiu didn't know what the people of the Yue Palace would be saying now!
"Sangsang, how is Su Mu?"
Up to this point, Qin Jiujiu had not met Su Mu, who was Xie Yun before his consciousness awakened!
"..."
As soon as Su Mu was mentioned, Yue Nansang's expression turned affectionate. With a smile on her face, she began to enthusiastically share everything about their time in the military camp with Qin Jiujiu.
It was exactly like the storybook she had read before!
Qin Jiujiu was somewhat surprised. Such a perfect match felt as if the person had witnessed it firsthand, or like herself now, had heard it directly from the person involved!
"Sangsang, have you told anyone about these things?"
Logically, it wouldn't be Xing Ru!
Xing Ru was going to die soon in the original plot, so how could she have written this story in such a short time?
Yue Nansang shook her head. She would naturally not speak of such private matters to just anyone. It was only because Xing Ru was her childhood friend that she shared these things with her.
Only then did Qin Jiujiu ask, "Then, Sangsang, do you have any contact with Su Mu now?"
The moment this was mentioned, a clear sadness flashed in Yue Nansang's eyes, indicating that they could not communicate at the moment.
Therefore, Yue Nansang would never know that the young man had already arrived in the netherworld before her death.
"How can Sangsang be sure that he will keep his promise and come to An Province to marry you?"
Just as she was speaking, Yue Nansang's expression stiffened. She moved her lips, about to speak, when Yue Beiyang's voice came from the doorway.
"Ajiu!"
Although Xie Jing knew Qin Jiujiu's true identity during this period, he had always called her "Ajiu" and couldn't change it. Qin Jiujiu had corrected him many times, but she no longer bothered with the name.
Yue Nansang heard it and naturally didn't realize who her second brother was calling. She turned her head to look at Qin Jiujiu, her eyes filled with confusion.
Qin Jiujiu explained helplessly, "Ajiu is my..."
Qin Jiujiu recounted her and Xie Jing's experiences in the Man Luo Kingdom to Yue Nansang, omitting the origin of Qin Jiujiu's name and merely saying that she had seen wine at the time and made up the name.
Yue Nansang didn't dwell on it and called out, "Second Brother!"
However, Xie Jing only glanced at her indifferently. Seeing his cold demeanor, Qin Jiujiu thought he hadn't realized Yue Nansang's identity and quickly gave him a look – respond quickly!
Xie Jing initially didn't want to respond, but upon seeing Qin Jiujiu's expression, he pouted and, with some annoyance, merely responded faintly, "Mm."
His voice was very soft, as if it came from his nasal cavity.
Although Yue Nansang found her second brother a bit strange, she felt a sense of guilt being with Yue Beiyang at this moment. After glancing at Qin Jiujiu, she said, "Then I won't disturb Second Brother and Second Sister-in-law..."
After speaking, Yue Nansang decisively stood up and was about to leave.
Qin Jiujiu responded, but Xie Jing remained indifferent, his gaze never falling on Yue Nansang.
After Qin Jiujiu saw Yue Nansang off, she turned to look at Xie Jing.
Their eyes met.
Why was this person staring at her?
Qin Jiujiu instinctively touched her face and asked, "Is there something on my face?"
Xie Jing's gaze lingered on her face, and he replied, "No."
Qin Jiujiu lowered her hand, puzzled. "Then why are you staring at me?"
Xie Jing replied without hesitation, "Because you're beautiful!"
The words came so suddenly that Qin Jiujiu didn't react at first. Her expression was indifferent. After the words swirled in her mind, she suddenly looked up, her eyes wide with surprise and confusion, and looked at Xie Jing.
If anyone else had said such a thing, it would have been considered cheesy, but the person in front of her had a devilishly handsome face. A thought crossed Qin Jiujiu's mind, and she actually dared not look at him again.
Her gaze flickered, and she dodged the topic, "Are you looking for me for something?"
In fact, Xie Jing came every day, and Qin Jiujiu asked this question daily. She didn't find it bothersome.
Xie Jing, however, didn't find it bothersome. He replied, "Today is the first of the month. Chu Ming said I should stay overnight in the main hall tonight on the first of the month!"
So that was the reason!
Qin Jiujiu thought about it and realized that it was indeed the first of the month. Every first of the month, the love flower poison on Yue Beiyang's body would act up. He had endured it the past few times, but this seemed to be the last time!
Qin Jiujiu stood up and walked behind Yue Beiyang.
"How about I find you a woman?"
She made a move as if to go out, but Xie Jing, with quick hands, grabbed one of her hands.