"Oh? And how long does she spend at the embroidery workshop each day?" Ye Jingyu raised an eyebrow.
Su Siqi stroked his chin, calculating carefully. "Five shichen every day."
The little dumpling immediately drooped her face and tugged at Ye Jingyu's clothes with her small hand.
Ye Jingyu patted her back reassuringly. "And how much is her care fee?"
Su Siqi: "One ingot of silver each month."
That was quite a sum, considering his third sibling might not even fetch that price.
Ye Jingyu called out, "Qianxue."
Qianxue stepped forward, took out a stack of banknotes from her sleeve, and handed them over. "This is one thousand taels. Our master requires the young lady's assistance with some matters recently, and she will be staying at the Prince's mansion for the next month."
"One thousand taels?" Su Siqi's mouth widened, almost drooling.
Good heavens, truly royalty, so generous with their出手!
He raised his hand to snatch them.
Qianxue dodged his hand first. "Second Young Master, the General's wife..."
"Don't worry, I'll help keep it from Mother," Su Siqi patted his chest.
As long as the money was in hand, everything else was negotiable.
Qianxue glanced at Ye Jingyu, who nodded.
Qianxue then handed the banknotes over.
Su Siqi snatched them, quickly checked the numbers, and then, with lightning speed, tucked the banknotes into his sleeve.
He faked a cough, stood with his hands behind his back, and said, "Momo, you should follow Prince Yu and learn well. Second Brother will come to see you in a couple of days."
The little dumpling didn't speak, responding with her pouting backside.
Su Siqi didn't mind and hummed a tune as he left.
Before leaving, he couldn't resist adding, "If Prince Yu is pleased, I wouldn't mind renewing the arrangement next month."
Ye Jingyu waved his sleeve, glancing at the little dumpling in his arms. "That depends on how someone performs."
The little dumpling buried her head and let out a soft hum.
After Su Siqi left, Ye Jingyu carried her off the carriage and into the Prince's mansion.
Su Yunmo wasn't visiting the mansion for the first time, but each time she came and went in a hurry, never truly taking in the scenery of Prince Lian's mansion.
Ye Jingyu instructed the kitchen to prepare dishes, then carried her around the mansion.
There were rockeries and clear lakes, with a new view at every step, exceptionally beautiful, no less than Prince Yunyi's mansion.
"Do you know Prince Yun Zun?"
As they sat down to rest in a pavilion, Su Yunmo leaned against a pillar and asked him.
Ye Jingyu held some fish food and casually tossed a handful into the lake.
The fish in the lake became active, crowding together to snatch the food. A few, in their eagerness, jumped ashore.
But the rippling water quickly carried them back into the lake.
"I've only heard some of the elders in the palace mention him. It seems he was the Emperor's elder brother, imprisoned for treason."
Su Yunmo pouted. "Treason? This court truly never has a moment of peace."
Ye Jingyu laughed. "The imperial court has always been like this. But why are you suddenly asking about such an old matter?"
"Grandmother mentioned him once, so I just asked. It's not like I'm thinking of him," Su Yunmo paused, then jumped down from the bench, clinging to the pillar to look at him. "What kind of person do you think Prince Yunyi is?"
Ye Jingyu finished tossing all the fish food and turned to look at her. "Are you asking about Prince Yunyi, or Ye Ningyuan?"
Su Yunmo narrowed her eyes, her perception sharp. "You've investigated Ye Ningyuan? Is there something wrong with her?"
Qianxue came from outside the courtyard. "Young lady, the Young Princess of Prince Yunyi's mansion is here to see you."
Su Yunmo's heart skipped a beat, and she lowered her eyebrows. "I know."
She glanced at Ye Jingyu. Seeing his expressionless face, she then walked out of the pavilion and followed Qianxue to the front hall to receive the guest.
Ye Jingyu watched her retreating figure and tossed the empty food box into the lake.
The fish were fighting too fiercely for food, not noticing it was a food box, and pounced on it, biting and devouring it.
When Su Yunmo arrived at the front hall, Ye Ningyuan was fiddling with a vase.
Seeing the little dumpling enter, a hint of joy flashed in her eyes. "Momo, have you missed me~?"
Su Yunmo walked into the hall. "Qianxue, you may go down."
Qianxue bowed and left.
Only the two of them remained in the hall.
"Oh? The people in the Prince's mansion listen to you so well. It seems your relationship with Prince Yu is even better than I imagined." Ye Ningyuan put down the vase and leaned closer.
She scrutinized Su Yunmo from head to toe, then stroked her chin. "Strange, why haven't you changed at all?"
Su Yunmo jumped onto a stool and sat down, glancing at her. "What kind of change do you expect me to have?"
"How should I put it? Before I came, I thought you would be very sad and dejected, so I could take this opportunity to comfort you and let you know how good I am."
Ye Ningyuan frowned, talking to herself, and then seriously examined her. "But why do you seem not sad at all now?"
Aren't the people of the General's mansion very important to her?
Su Yunmo narrowed her eyes. "Are you disappointed that I'm not weeping profusely?"
Ye Ningyuan quickly held up both hands. "Don't misunderstand me, I'm not here to gloat. I'm here to help you resolve your worries."
Su Yunmo glanced at her. "Resolve worries?"
"General Su has been demoted and banished from the capital. I imagine life will be difficult for the General's mansion from now on, won't it?" Ye Ningyuan tilted her head and chuckled. "How about it? Do you want to come and live at Prince Yunyi's mansion with me?"
Su Yunmo stared at her with a沉眸. After a while, she suddenly said, "Is this why you killed Ye Yuanlin?"
The smile on Ye Ningyuan's face froze for a moment, then she sighed and took a step back, sitting on a nearby chair. "So you already know."
It seemed her visit today was in vain. The little girl wouldn't go back with her.
"I didn't know originally, I was just trying to trick you. Now I know." A sharp glint flashed in Su Yunmo's eyes.
Ye Ningyuan was stunned, then burst into laughter, giving her a thumbs-up. "As expected of Momo, you're truly too clever."
Su Yunmo looked at her, her expression growing increasingly profound.
When Ye Ningyuan finished laughing, she wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes with her hand, rested her elbows on the table, and propped her head up, looking at her lazily. "Are you angry?"
"I just don't understand what your purpose is in doing this. I believe I have no enmity with you." Su Yunmo frowned, genuinely perplexed this time.
She was certain she had never met this person in her previous life, and the current body couldn't possibly have had any dealings with her before.
They were complete strangers. What was Ye Ningyuan's motive for this whole charade?
"Enmity? Of course, we have no enmity." Ye Ningyuan jumped down from the chair, walked in front of her, and bent down to gaze at her.
"Momo, we are fated. Our fate was sealed from the moment you were born; you cannot escape it."
Su Yunmo's heart skipped a beat at her gaze, as if something was budding in her heart, but it was quickly suppressed.
Before Su Yunmo could fully process it, Ye Ningyuan took two steps back, clasped her hands behind her back, and reverted to her usual flippant demeanor.
"General Su's matter was due to my lack of foresight. I won't be so careless next time. Alright, since you don't wish to come with me, I'll be going back. We'll meet again next time."