"Sister, rest assured, I will arrange everything properly." Mei Yan sat down without restraint, as if she had already become the mistress of the mansion.
Seeing this, Lin Yu Ning's resentment deepened.
Her hand, hidden in her sleeve, clenched into a tight fist. She turned to Zhou Wan You and her daughter, "Since that's the case, Madam, please enjoy a tour of Prince Lian's mansion today. This consort is feeling unwell and cannot accompany you further."
With that, she slowly departed.
Su Yun Mo watched her leave without any hesitation, her brow furrowed.
Was Lin Yu Ning's role today merely to bring Mei Yan forward?
Had Mei Yan already started working for Ye Jing Cheng?
Although she was a princess from the Southern Border, destined to marry him, she had no actual connection to Ye Jing Cheng. Why was she so eager to please that man?
"Madam and little miss have had tea. Would you like to try some of the mansion's pastries?" Mei Yan asked softly, showing no lack of decorum.
"After all, the Prince invited you both here today to apologize for the unpleasantness last time. Madam and miss are welcome to amuse yourselves however you wish in this mansion."
Su Yun Mo did not wish to be amused.
She reached out and tugged at Zhou Wan You's collar, "Mother, it's so boring here. Mo Mo doesn't want to stay any longer."
Zhou Wan You rubbed her back, "Does Mo Mo want to go home?"
The little dumpling shook her head, "Mo Mo wants to go out for a walk."
"Perhaps the little miss is feeling bored. How about we take a stroll by the lake?" Mei Yan suggested.
"I heard that Madam intended to see the plum blossoms when she visited Prince Lian's mansion last time, but some mishap occurred. Why not make up for it today?"
Su Yun Mo sneered inwardly.
The main event was coming!
Zhou Wan You replied, "Since the princess suggests it, it would be impolite to refuse."
Mei Yan rose and led the mother and daughter towards the lake.
Meanwhile, Lin Yu Ning returned to her chambers and yanked all the blankets off the bed, throwing them onto the floor.
"Su Yun Mo! Su Yun Mo! It's all because of you! You are the cause of all this! Damn you, damn you, damn you!"
She furiously beat the bed with a pillow, her eyes filled with hatred.
"And that damned bitch! What Southern Border princess? She's just a lowly creature clinging to the Prince!"
When she one day gives birth to an imperial grandson and becomes the most cherished woman in the world, she will make them all suffer a terrible fate!
A maid, hearing the commotion, rushed in from outside and quickly stopped her.
"Princess Consort, you are still pregnant. Please be careful. The imperial physician said you caught a chill in the woodshed. You must rest well these few days and avoid any strenuous activities."
Lin Yu Ning flung the pillow to the floor and turned to sit on the bed.
The maid knelt beside her, placing a hand on her belly and stroking it gently, "This servant knows Princess Consort is angry, but no matter how angry you are, you must take care of yourself."
Lin Yu Ning cried out, "Take care of myself? If this continues, that damned Mei Yan will step all over me and become the mistress of Prince Lian's mansion! How can you expect me to calm down!"
She couldn't understand what method that bitch used to win the Prince's favor.
It had only been two days, and the Prince already trusted her so much that he let her test Su Yun Mo and her daughter.
Yet, she herself didn't even know what plan the Prince intended to execute.
The maid also sighed, "No wonder Princess Consort is unhappy. Even this servant feels it's unfair to you."
"That so-called princess is already so favored before even entering the mansion. If she truly enters the mansion in the future, you will likely be even more aggrieved. If heaven blesses her with some mishap, and she cannot marry into the mansion, wouldn't that be wonderful?"
Lin Yu Ning's fingers tightened.
A mishap?
That's right. If this plan goes awry, she would undoubtedly lose the Prince's favor.
At that point, the Prince would likely no longer consider taking her into the mansion. And even if she did eventually enter, the Prince would no longer value her.
However, she couldn't handle this herself. She needed someone to act on her behalf.
Lin Yu Ning twisted her fingers.
"I heard the princess sustained some injuries after leaving the palace yesterday? You personally deliver some gifts to visit her, and also inform her about Su Yun Mo and her daughter's visit to Prince Lian's mansion today."
The maid understood her meaning and withdrew.
Lin Yu Ning clenched her fists tightly, gritting her teeth.
She had worked hard to reach this position, and she would absolutely not allow anyone to snatch away her title as Princess Consort of Prince Lian!
Zhou Wan You and her daughter were led by Mei Yan to the lake.
Mei Yan suggested taking a small boat to the Liang Xin Pavilion in the center of the lake.
However, as the small boat only had four seats, and besides the three of them, only Zi Yuan was brought along.
The boat gradually moved away from the shore and entered the Liang Xin Pavilion.
A person was sitting inside the Liang Xin Pavilion.
Ye Jing Cheng.
Upon seeing him, Su Yun Mo felt a chill spread through her.
"Why is the Prince here as well?" Mei Yan asked with a hint of surprise.
Ye Jing Cheng sat at the stone table, sipping tea. "The snow has just fallen, and the lakeside scenery is beautiful. I came to the pavilion to rest for a while. I didn't expect you to bring the General's wife and daughter here for a visit."
"What a coincidence." He said this last sentence while looking at Su Yun Mo.
His tone carried a subtle probing that only the two of them could understand.
"As the Prince said, the scenery here is beautiful." Mei Yan gestured with her hand, inviting Zhou Wan You, "Madam, please sit."
Zhou Wan You, holding the little dumpling, remained standing.
She glanced at Ye Jing Cheng, her eyes darkening slightly.
Ye Jing Cheng poured himself a cup of tea. "It seems Madam is apprehensive about being in the same pavilion as me? Even though there were some misunderstandings last time, Madam wouldn't distrust me, would you?"
Mei Yan stepped forward and pulled Zhou Wan You to sit.
"How could that be? The Prince is joking. Both the Prince and Madam are upright and proper. Moreover, Mei Yan is also here in the pavilion. What could be inconvenient?"
With the conversation having reached this point, Zhou Wan You had no choice but to sit.
The little dumpling sat on her lap, her small arms wrapped around her neck, her head resting on her shoulder. Her gaze quickly scanned the surroundings.
It was indeed just an ordinary pavilion, with no other presence besides the five people within it.
Ye Jing Cheng would never do something as foolish as commit murder within Prince Lian's mansion.
"Mo Mo is young and likely not interested in the scenery. I happen to have some small toys with me. I wonder if Mo Mo would like them?" Ye Jing Cheng took out some intricate toys from his embrace.
Upon seeing those items, Su Yun Mo's expression immediately turned grim.
These were things he had bought for him when she first met him and they went to the market to play.
Ye Jing Cheng pushed the items towards her, leaning forward with a smile, "Children of Mo Mo's age should be very interested in these, shouldn't they? If you like them, I can give them to you."
Su Yun Mo narrowed her eyes dangerously, placed her hand on the table, and pushed outwards with great force.
The items scattered onto the floor, some hitting Ye Jing Cheng.
The little dumpling smirked and tilted her head, feigning innocence, "I'm truly sorry, brother. Mo Mo doesn't like them."