A figure in blue gradually approached the two, who were engrossed in their playful activities and naturally didn't notice.
Just as a snowball was about to land on her, Qin Jiujiu was about to dodge when she accidentally tripped on her own skirt, nearly falling to the ground.
She had already slipped and fallen several times before due to the slippery ground. The snow was thick, and her clothes were also thick. Apart from her shoes, socks, and cloak being a bit damp, it didn't hurt much.
At first glance, Xie Jing saw this scene and instantly flew to Qin Jiujiu's side. He put one arm around her waist and raised the black cloak behind him with the other hand, blocking the snowball.
Qin Jiujiu was startled and, upon seeing the expression on Xie Jing's face, felt inexplicably guilty.
"The weather is so cold, yet you two are in such high spirits!"
He said sarcastically, released the hand around her waist, and turned to look at Yue Nansang.
Without Yue Beiyang's memories, Yue Beiyang's attitude towards Yue Nansang had naturally been very cold during this time. Qin Jiujiu was shielded behind him and couldn't see his expression.
However, she felt the coldness radiating from him was even more chilling than the snow outside.
As expected, Yue Nansang's smile quickly froze on her face. In the past, when she played in the snow with Xing Ru, Yue Beiyang would always stand in front of her, and these words were always directed at her.
Yue Nansang felt a pang of unease, and her expression became somewhat wronged.
Qin Jiujiu quickly tugged at Xie Jing's hand and asked, "Xie Jing, why are you here?"
Her face was now flushed red from the cold, and her originally fair, slender hands were also red. The chill from her hands transferred to Xie Jing's, and he looked back at her with a slightly annoyed tone, "The sky is getting late, if I don't come here, where do you think I should go, A'Jiu?"
He still remembered how this woman had been so virtuous as to personally find him another woman when his love-sickness poison acted up!
"It's so cold… shall we go inside?"
Xie Jing looked at her, his annoyance suddenly turning into helplessness. He took Qin Jiujiu's hand in his and pulled her towards the palace hall.
Qin Jiujiu glanced at Yue Nansang opposite them and gave her a look, saying, "Sang Sang…"
Unexpectedly, Xie Jing interrupted Qin Jiujiu and said to Yue Nansang, "It's getting late, you should go back first…"
A memory inexplicably surfaced in Qin Jiujiu's mind. Her eyes suddenly stung, and tears began to fall.
Hearing Yue Beiyang's words, Yue Nansang pouted, "Xiao Ru'er, then I'll be going back first."
Qin Jiujiu responded with a sound, but as she watched Yue Nansang's retreating back, the memory in her mind became even more vivid. Her tears fell like pearls, causing Xie Jing to panic.
In Xing Ru's memory, what Yue Nansang had just experienced aligned with her own figure. In the original timeline, her situation and Yue Nansang's were clearly reversed.
It was Xing Ru who watched Yue Beiyang protect Yue Nansang behind him, even scolding her. Yet, it was clearly Yue Nansang who had dragged her out to play, and Yue Beiyang's eyes were only for Sang Sang. In front of Sang Sang, she was always just a background character!
And this emotion belonged to the original Xing Ru.
All annoyance on Xie Jing's face vanished. He seemed flustered by her tears and tentatively asked, "Was I too harsh just now?"
His tone was gentle, and Qin Jiujiu felt the sourness in her eyes intensify.
"Yes, why were you always so harsh to me before!"
It turned out she was reminiscing about the past.
Xie Jing breathed a sigh of relief and said, "Even though I've lost my memories, I was in the wrong before. I will never be harsh to you again…"
Qin Jiujiu worried that the more he spoke like this, the more Xing Ru's emotions would affect her. So, before Xie Jing could finish, she covered his mouth.
"Don't speak for now, let me calm down…"
Xie Jing smiled and quietly kissed her palm.
The tickle on her palm spread to her heart, and she hastily withdrew her hand.
"You…"
In the end, Qin Jiujiu didn't say anything. Instead, Xie Jing took her hand and said, "Look how cold your hands are, why aren't you going inside yet!"
As he spoke, he clasped her hand and put it under his cloak. Qin Jiujiu looked at the person before her in disbelief. Xie Jing was inherently a cold person, yet his body felt so warm at this moment.
He was even using his warmth to warm her.
Qin Jiujiu's heart stirred, and she let him hold her hand, allowing him to lead her inside.
Inside the hall, a charcoal fire was burning, making it naturally warm.
"Someone!"
As soon as Xie Jing spoke, A'Dai appeared before them.
"Go find a clean set of clothes for the Princess Consort…" Xie Jing looked at her feet and continued to instruct, "And a clean pair of shoes and socks too!"
A'Dai quickly went into the inner chambers and soon returned with neat clothes.
When she came out, she saw Qin Jiujiu sitting on a stool, while the usually aloof Second Prince was kneeling before her, helping her take off her shoes and socks.
The Princess Consort seemed a bit shy. Seeing A'Dai, she coughed and said, "Xie Jing, I'll do it myself…"
But it wasn't until he had removed her shoes and socks that the Second Prince stood up and looked at her.
Silence filled the room. Qin Jiujiu made no move, her gaze shifting between Xie Jing and A'Dai.
"Aren't you going out?" Qin Jiujiu finally asked Xie Jing. Xie Jing didn't move, his eyes fixed on her. He suddenly said, "Are you shy? I've seen every part of you…"
Qin Jiujiu suddenly coughed violently. A'Dai lowered her head, not daring to look at them.
Xie Jing moved closer to Qin Jiujiu and patted her back solicitously, saying as he did so, "Seeing how much you love to play, I suppose you've caught a cold…"
Qin Jiujiu shot him a glare, and he immediately quieted down. Seeing the annoyance on Qin Jiujiu's face, he pouted, and what was on the tip of his tongue turned into, "I'll go out first. Call me when you're changed…"
Then, he quickly walked towards the door, even thoughtfully closing it for her.
Only then did A'Dai raise her head to look at Qin Jiujiu, "Princess Consort, I will help you change."
A'Dai felt like laughing, but she suppressed her smile in front of Qin Jiujiu. Once behind Qin Jiujiu, the smile on her lips couldn't be contained.
For some reason, Xie Jing had suddenly become so verbose!
The annoyance on Qin Jiujiu's face instantly vanished, replaced by a smile that was hard to suppress.
"Master, the National Preceptor requests an audience!"
Xie Jing waited outside for a long time, only to be met by Wu Han.
A cold glint flashed across his face. He called out to the person inside, "A'Jiu, I have urgent matters to attend to, so I must leave first. I'll come to see you tonight!"
Qin Jiujiu heard this and quickly replied, "Okay!"
Soon, the sounds outside the door ceased.
"Princess Consort, it's so late. I assume His Highness the Second Prince has official duties. He might not be able to come. Shall we extinguish the lights and go to sleep…"
Hearing this, Qin Jiujiu's face flushed, and she explained, "Who told you I was waiting for him… I'm going to sleep now!"
A'Dai smiled, thinking her Princess Consort was still childish.
A'Dai extinguished the lights in the room and then walked out.