Ye Jingcheng left the imperial palace with Mei Yan without anyone knowing.
They slipped away while everyone was eating 'new rice', and it felt rather dejected.
Ye Ningyuan, holding her food bowl, sought praise from Su Yunmo: "How was it? Although I couldn't get rid of Mei Yan directly, I've still exceeded my mission, right?"
Even though Mei Yan didn't die, she lost her child. For Ye Jingcheng, she was no longer useful, and it was no different from being dead in his residence.
Not to mention Ye Jingcheng was poisoned. Unless one had his antidote, no one could cure him, which meant his life was in her hands.
"Let's say so," Su Yunmo raised an eyebrow and, in a very good mood, extended her hand towards her: "Give it here?"
Ye Ningyuan's eyelids twitched, and she instinctively took a step back.
"Momo, although we did bet on whether Lin Yu Ning would injure one person or two, that was just a joke. Do I still have to be punished for this?"
Seeing her expression, Su Yunmo rolled her eyes and cursed her for being useless, "Give me the antidote."
Ye Ningyuan rubbed the back of her head, looking a bit puzzled: "What do you want this thing for?"
Ye Jingcheng's death was a good thing, and this time no one else had to take the blame. Lin Yu Ning had taken it all upon herself. Whether the antidote existed or not didn't seem to matter much.
However, despite not understanding, Ye Ningyuan still took out the antidote from her embrace and handed it to her: "Momo, don't do anything foolish."
It was hard-earned to bring Ye Jingcheng to rock bottom. Such an opportunity was rare.
"Stop babbling," Su Yunmo put away the antidote and simultaneously nudged the bottom of her bowl: "Eat your fill."
"Oh~" Ye Ningyuan looked aggrieved.
A maidservant approached from the side and bowed before Su Yunmo: "May I ask if you are Miss Su? Our noble person requests your presence at Qingyun Palace."
Su Yunmo asked curiously: "Who is your noble person?"
The maidservant didn't say much, only made a gesture of invitation: "Our noble person said you'll know when you get there. There's a great happy event waiting to be told to you."
"A happy event? Then I'll go with you to see," Ye Ningyuan said excitedly.
A hint of difficulty crossed the maidservant's face: "Your Highness, our noble person has only invited Miss Su. It might be inconvenient for Your Highness to accompany her."
Upon hearing this, Ye Ningyuan's face immediately fell, and the food in her mouth suddenly didn't taste as good: "What, does your noble person think I'm an eyesore?"
No matter what, she was still a Princess. When she first entered the palace, all the concubines in the harem fawned over her. Now they were putting on airs.
Su Yunmo's eyes flickered, and she shoved her own rice bowl into Ye Ningyuan's embrace: "You talk too much, it's normal for people to find you annoying. Just wait here, I'll go by myself."
Seeing Su Yunmo say this, Ye Ningyuan had no choice but to agree.
Su Yunmo then left with the maidservant.
Ye Ningyuan watched the little figure depart, a bad premonition arising: "Wu Ze, go follow Momo. Report to me immediately if anything happens."
If she remembered correctly, this maidservant seemed to be someone close to Chu Xingyun.
Su Yunmo was led by the maidservant to Qingyun Palace, a place she was visiting for the first time and felt somewhat unfamiliar with.
As she walked step by step towards the main hall, Su Yunmo felt an illusion, as if she were recalling the scene of her first visit to Fengqi Palace.
Chu Xingyun was already waiting for her in the main hall. Unlike Luo Yun'e, she didn't intend to intimidate Su Yunmo; instead, she welcomed her with great enthusiasm.
Only when Su Yunmo saw this woman did she suddenly recall meeting her at the hunting grounds. Back then, she was sitting beside the Emperor.
She was... Ye Jingkun's birth mother.
Su Yunmo asked with some curiosity: "May I know why Your Highness summoned me?"
A happy event? What happy event could she possibly have that this person needed to tell her about?
"Come, come, Momo, sit down and have a pastry first. There's no rush to talk about it, you'll know sooner or later." Chu Xingyun gestured for the maidservants to serve pastries.
The maidservants also acted very respectfully, inviting Su Yunmo to the seat of honor.
Seeing this, Su Yunmo had no choice but to show respect, after all, she was Ye Jingkun's birth mother.
Thinking this, she casually picked up a pastry and popped it into her mouth, praising: "The pastries in Your Highness's palace are much tastier than those at the banquet."
Chu Xingyun was also pleased to hear her say this: "It's good that Momo likes them. If you like them, you can take some with you when you leave."
A maidservant nearby chimed in: "Your Highness, it's alright if Miss Su doesn't take them. As long as she likes to eat them, she can come to our palace anytime."
"That's true," Chu Xingyun chuckled, covering her mouth with her hand. "After all, we'll all be family from now on. Momo entering Qingyun Palace should feel just like coming home, there's nothing inconvenient about it."
The pastry Su Yunmo was biting into snapped in half with a 'crack'.
She looked up, her lips twitching: "Your Highness, what did you say? Family?"
She didn't think they were that close yet.
Chu Xingyun smiled charmingly, her expression full of affection: "Look at me, I'm so happy I'm getting muddled. I haven't had a chance to tell Momo yet. Momo, you probably don't know, but you've been betrothed to my Kun'er through a childhood engagement."
'Bang!'
The pastry in Su Yunmo's hand was also crushed.
She desperately suppressed the expression on her face, dug into her ear: "Your Highness, please say that again, I didn't quite hear clearly."
What was this about being engaged to Ye Jingkun?
"Engaged," Chu Xingyun enunciated each word clearly, ensuring she heard it, and then smiled again.
"Momo must be very happy too. From your expression, I can tell you're very satisfied with this marriage. I heard you and Kun'er are usually quite close. Since you two are fond of each other, it's good to settle it early."
Su Yunmo wanted to curse.
Satisfied, my foot!
Fond of each other, my ass!
What in the world is this!
Chu Xingyun seemed not to notice Su Yunmo's gritted teeth and continued her monologue: "Although Momo is still young, luckily Kun'er is also not much older. You have plenty of time to cultivate your feelings."
"Today, I casually mentioned this matter to His Majesty. I didn't expect His Majesty to also think this was a good idea and has already agreed."
Su Yunmo now not only wanted to curse but also to slam the table, but her upbringing held her back: "His Majesty agreed?"
Chu Xingyun nodded: "His Majesty agreed. I just returned from His Majesty. His Majesty still thinks this marriage is excellent and plans to issue an imperial decree tomorrow."
Su Yunmo: "..."
Damn it! She couldn't hold back anymore!
She directly threw the pastry on the ground, jumped down from her chair, and stomped out angrily with her short legs.
Seeing her like this, the maidservant looked concerned: "Your Highness, Miss Su doesn't seem very willing to this marriage."
Chu Xingyun waved her hand dismissively and picked up a cup of tea: "Whether she's willing or not, what does it matter?"
She's just a child. Since His Majesty has already given his order, do her thoughts still matter?
This marriage between Kun'er and the General's household, she has settled it for him!