"We can go tomorrow; it won't make a difference if we wait one more night," Ye Jingyu said, rubbing her hand.
Qian Xue stepped forward, offering her shoes. "Young miss, please put on your shoes first."
The little dumpling kicked them away, clutching Ye Jingyu's collar with both hands and throwing a tantrum. "I won't wear them! I won't wear them! I want to go to the Princess's manor! I want to go, I really want to go!"
Qian Xue glanced at her master with a helpless expression.
Ye Jingyu, his head aching, said, "Go prepare the carriage."
He took the shoes from Qian Xue's hand, found a spot by the roadside, and sat down. He placed her on his lap. "Alright, no more fussing."
Qian Xue bowed and retreated to prepare the carriage.
The little dumpling finally quieted down, clasping her small hands together and blowing warm air onto them.
Ye Jingyu took off his cloak and wrapped it around her. He then bent down to put on her shoes. "You know it's cold too?"
The little dumpling sneezed. "I'm a person, not a dead object. Of course, I know it's cold."
"If you know it's cold, why are you causing trouble? If you catch a cold, you won't be able to show off." Ye Jingyu was now very adept at dressing and putting shoes on her.
He finished one shoe and moved to the other.
Before putting them on, he held her small feet with his large hands and rubbed them vigorously until they were hot, then put on her socks and shoes.
The little dumpling pouted and huffed. "If I didn't act like this, you definitely wouldn't agree to let me follow you. You'd be worried if I got cold."
Ye Jingyu's hand paused as he was putting on her shoe, his eyes flickering slightly. He continued with his task.
Once both shoes were on, he looked up at the little dumpling on his lap, gazing into her eyes. "Why do you think this king would be worried?"
The little dumpling huffed, tilting her head proudly. "Because you like me."
Ye Jingyu's fingers twitched, his gaze gradually becoming complex.
Seeing him stunned into silence, the little dumpling pouted. "Hello? What's with that expression? Liking me isn't something to be ashamed of."
Ye Jingyu looked her up and down, then held his hand above her head to gauge her height. His tone carried a hint of disdain. "It is rather embarrassing."
Su Yunmo: "..."
Seeing her crestfallen, a hint of indulgence flashed in Ye Jingyu's eyes. He opened his arms. "Come here. You'll really get cold if we wait."
"Hmph!" She pouted and turned her head away.
A cold wind blew past.
The little dumpling shivered, tucking her neck and burrowing into his embrace. "Mmm~"
It was better to come inside; it was indeed a bit cold.
Ye Jingyu's smile deepened.
Qian Xue arrived driving the carriage from the street and stopped by the roadside.
Ye Jingyu stood up, carrying her, and got into the carriage. "To the Princess's manor."
Qian Xue nodded, flicked the whip on the horse's back, and headed towards the Princess's manor.
The carriage was equipped with clothes the little dumpling could wear and a small brazier.
The carriage interior was warm.
The little dumpling exhaled, shaking her hair like a little lion dog.
Ye Jingyu first poured a cup of hot tea and brought it to her lips. "Drink."
The little dumpling held his wrist with both her small hands and took a small sip from his hand, then exhaled a puff of warm air.
The hot liquid warmed her from the inside out.
There was still quite a bit of tea left in the cup.
Ye Jingyu didn't mind and drank it down in one gulp. "Take off your sleeping robe."
She yawned and opened her small hands, waiting to be served.
Ye Jingyu sighed, helpless against her, and began to help her off with her sleeping robe, then put on her clothes layer by layer.
Qian Xue, being thoughtful, had even prepared gloves, though they were a size larger than the little dumpling's hands.
After putting them on, her small hands couldn't form fists. When she tried to clench them, they looked like little steamed buns.
The Princess's manor was also sealed off, with no one allowed in or out.
Ye Jingyu carried her off the carriage and into the manor.
The room where Ye Yuanlin had hanged herself had not been touched. Su Qingtian's saber was still stuck in the steps of the doorway, and half the door lay on the ground.
Inside the room, the white silk ribbon still hung from the ceiling beam.
When the wind blew, it gave off an eerie feeling.
Qian Xue lit more than twenty candles in the room.
The room was well-lit, making it much clearer to see things.
Ye Jingyu entered the room and placed the little dumpling in his arms. "What do you want to see?"
"The white silk," Su Yunmo pointed to the ceiling beam. "Can you take it down?"
Qian Xue glanced at her master. Ye Jingyu nodded, and Qian Xue proceeded to untie it.
The white silk ribbon was untied and handed to Su Yunmo.
Su Yunmo held the white silk, feeling it inch by inch. After feeling the entire length, she held it under the candlelight and examined it carefully twice. She shook her head. "No, this isn't the white silk ribbon Ye Yuanlin used to hang herself."
Qian Xue was surprised. "Young miss, on what grounds do you say that?"
"After the manor reported the incident, His Majesty immediately summoned the King and assigned this matter to him. I was the first to arrive and can guarantee that nothing in this room was replaced by anyone."
"That's not what I meant." Su Yunmo handed the white silk ribbon to Ye Jingyu. "Do you think your aunt was the type of person to commit suicide so easily?"
Ye Jingyu narrowed his eyes, his gaze sweeping over the white silk ribbon.
The white silk ribbon was intact, with no signs of damage.
Qian Xue also suddenly realized something.
Initially, she had guessed that the Princess was merely trying to stage a scene. However, because General Su was also angry and didn't pay much attention to her, she had a misstep, leading to a tragic accident.
But now, it seemed there was more to this accident.
The Princess had loved General Su for many years and was certainly aware of his temperament. Even if she were staging a scene, she wouldn't have gambled with her own life. The white silk ribbon must have been tampered with beforehand.
It was impossible for it to be so perfectly intact.
Ye Jingyu's gaze deepened. "Go find the servant who provided the white silk ribbon to the Princess."
"Yes!" Qian Xue cast an admiring glance at Su Yunmo and quickly hurried out.
Only the two of them remained in the room.
Ye Jingyu looked at her. "It seems you suspected the white silk ribbon was problematic from the start?"
She had insisted on coming out with him to verify her suspicions.
Su Yunmo nodded. "When we were at the manor, Father said, 'That white silk ribbon can't possibly strangle someone to death.'"
Since Father said that, it meant he had already noticed something was wrong with the white silk ribbon at the time, which was why he had allowed Ye Yuanlin to hang herself without worry.
Qian Xue soon brought a young maidservant.
As soon as the maidservant entered, she stumbled and fell to her knees, trembling and not daring to look up. "This servant, Chun Ju, greets Your Highness."
The white silk ribbon was thrown in front of her.
"Look, is this the item you found for your mistress?"
Chun Ju glanced at the white silk ribbon and kowtowed. "Your Highness, spare me. This servant was merely following orders. This servant knows nothing!"
Su Yunmo gave Ye Jingyu a disdainful look, then walked over to Chun Ju and crouched down. "Sister, don't be afraid. Mo Mo just wants to know what the Princess did before she died."
Chun Ju didn't dare to look up, only seeing a pair of small shoes less than a palm's width.
She was taken aback and slowly raised her head in surprise, only to see a young, innocent face.
A child? How could there be a child here?
The little dumpling squinted and smiled, revealing six small white teeth. "Before the Princess faked her suicide, did she ask you to help cut the white silk ribbon?"
Chun Ju was momentarily blinded by her smile and vaguely followed her lead. "No, the Princess was very angry at the time and didn't ask for my help, saying she would do it herself."
The little dumpling raised an eyebrow. "Why was she angry?"
Chun Ju frowned, also finding it strange.
"The Princess initially asked me to get the white silk ribbon. When I went to get it, a man told me to take two. But after I brought two, the Princess scolded me, saying I was wishing for her death."