She finished speaking and no longer pestered, waving her hand and humming a little tune as she left.
Su Yun Mo watched her retreating back, rubbing her temples with a headache.
Fate? And a fate that had existed since birth? What did that even mean?
"She's gone?" Ye Jing Yu entered from outside the hall.
Su Yun Mo lowered her head, still lost in thought. "Mm, she's gone."
Ye Jing Yu walked over and flicked her forehead with his finger. "Dinner is ready, let's eat."
The little dumpling let out a long sigh and buried herself in the man's embrace, drawing out her words. "Ye Jing Yu~ I think I've gotten myself into trouble~"
Ye Jing Yu stroked her head and scooped her up with one arm. "Don't be afraid, I'm here."
The little dumpling hummed in response, wrapping her arms around his neck and nuzzling his shoulder.
Ye Jing Yu then carried her to the bedroom to eat.
His picky eating had improved significantly compared to before; he could eat a little now, unlike before when one had to beg and plead to get him to eat anything.
After they finished eating, Ye Jing Yu coaxed the little dumpling to sleep.
Once she was sound asleep, Ye Jing Yu got up and went out. "Tomorrow, you'll dispatch two reliable individuals to the border. I want all the information on Ye Ning Yuan from her birth to her arrival in the capital, year by year, without any omissions."
Qian Xue acknowledged the order and left.
Ye Jing Yu returned to the bedside, looking at the little dumpling sleeping soundly, his eyes gradually darkening.
Su Yun Mo slept soundly through the night, not even feeling unfamiliar with the bed. She woke up early the next day, which was rare.
When she woke up, Ye Jing Yu had already gone to court.
Qian Xue served her breakfast. As soon as she finished, an imperial decree arrived from the palace.
The Empress summoned Su Yun Mo to the palace.
"Little Miss, His Highness hasn't returned from court yet. Perhaps you should wait for him to return before entering the palace," Qian Xue said with some concern.
Su Yun Mo breathed into her palm and put on her small gloves. "The Empress has summoned me. How can I refuse to meet her? It would be said that people from the General's mansion are ill-mannered."
Qian Xue: "But..."
"Are you afraid she'll set an ambush for me? Don't worry, I can handle it." Su Yun Mo wrapped herself up and left with the eunuch who delivered the imperial decree.
Qian Xue watched her leave, swallowing the words she hadn't spoken.
It wasn't that I was afraid you'd be ambushed, but that you'd tear down the palace.
Su Yun Mo followed the eunuch all the way to Fengqi Palace.
The gates of Fengqi Palace were wide open. Luo Yun E was reclining on a soft couch in the main hall.
As Su Yun Mo entered, the eunuch who led the way withdrew.
"Mo Mo is here, come and sit," Luo Yun E greeted her warmly, not even minding that Su Yun Mo hadn't bowed.
Su Yun Mo raised an eyebrow.
This was indeed a bit beyond her expectations. With Lin Yu Ning pregnant, she had thought the Empress would come to show off.
Madam Qin brought pastries and placed them on the table, specially pouring a cup of hot tea, and even placed a soft cushion on the seat.
Su Yun Mo pondered for a moment, then walked over and climbed onto the chair to sit properly.
"These are new pastries from the small kitchen. I know you like these, so I specifically had them brought for you to try," Luo Yun E said with immense affection.
Su Yun Mo, under her expectant gaze, picked up a pastry and put it in her mouth. "They are very delicious, thank you, Your Majesty."
Seeing her happily eating, Luo Yun E relaxed slightly. "Actually, I didn't call you here for anything else. I just heard that His Majesty ordered you to manage the cold palace yesterday?"
A hint of playfulness flashed in Su Yun Mo's eyes.
So, it was about this.
"Yes, Imperial Uncle said that Consort Liang is all alone in the cold palace and is very pitiful, so Mo Mo should go and keep her company." The little dumpling raised the pastry in her hand. "Your Majesty, these are so delicious."
"If they're delicious, eat more," Luo Yun E smiled gently. "Someone, bring Mo Mo a few more plates. You can take them back with you later."
Truly a child; a little favor could win her over. If she had known she was so greedy, she would have just appeased her with food from the beginning.
Madam Qin sent servants to pack the pastries.
The little dumpling immediately beamed. "Mo Mo misunderstood Your Majesty before. You are a good person, even better than Consort Liang."
Seeing her become so affectionate so quickly, Luo Yun E's heart settled. "Is what Mo Mo says the truth?"
The little dumpling nodded seriously. "It's true."
Luo Yun E: "Since Mo Mo thinks I'm better than Consort Liang, would Mo Mo be willing to help me with something?"
The little dumpling tilted her head. "What favor?"
A cold glint flashed in Luo Yun E's eyes, but her expression remained unchanged. "The weather will turn cold soon. His Majesty sending you to take care of Consort Liang is a difficult task."
His Majesty suddenly remembering Consort Liang couldn't be out of nowhere. She might be rekindling her feelings for that wench, and she had to prevent it before it happened.
"How about this, you go and refuse this task to His Majesty. Just say that Consort Liang is now mad and foolish, and treats you very poorly, and you don't want to see her. In short, say as many bad things about Consort Liang as possible."
Su Yun Mo lowered her head, pursed her lips, and thought for a moment, nervously fiddling with the hem of her clothes. "But Daddy said good children shouldn't lie."
Luo Yun E straightened up, her tone becoming a little urgent. "This isn't lying. You're just saying this to refuse the task."
As long as His Majesty heard from her how unbearable Liu Lan Xue was now, he wouldn't have any lingering affection.
"No, Mo Mo cannot do this." The little dumpling flatly refused, placing the half-eaten pastry back on the plate.
Luo Yun E's tone suddenly rose. "Why?"
"Because Brother Yu gave Mo Mo good things, and since Mo Mo took his things, she has to do things for him." The little dumpling jumped off the chair.
"Your Majesty, Mo Mo cannot help with this favor. Mo Mo is leaving." She said, then turned to leave.
"Wait a moment!" Luo Yun E called out loudly, stopping her.
She had always wondered why the girl from the General's mansion was acting so friendly with Ye Jing Yu and opposing Cheng Er.
So, it turned out this girl had been protecting Ye Jing Yu so fiercely because Ye Jing Yu had bribed her with good things.
Since that was the case, she had nothing to worry about. When it came to good things, as the mistress of the harem, did she lack treasures?
The little dumpling stopped and turned around. "Is there anything else?"
Luo Yun E walked down from her elevated position. "Whatever Mo Mo wants, I have it here. You can return whatever Ye Jing Yu gave you before."
The little dumpling looked suspiciously. "But Brother Yu gave Mo Mo many things, so many."
Luo Yun E glanced at Madam Qin.
Madam Qin bowed and retreated, then returned with two maids.
The maids held two trays, filled with gold, silver, and soft jade.
Luo Yun E, her sleeves trailing on the ground, said with arrogance, "Are these enough?"
The little dumpling shook her head. "What Brother Yu gave Mo Mo is more than double this."
Luo Yun E choked, took a deep breath, and said, "Fine, someone, go to my bedroom and bring the small chest from under the bed."
As long as that wench Liu Lan Xue disappeared from His Majesty's life, she was willing to give any amount of treasure!
"Your Majesty!" Madam Qin exclaimed, "Those are all your private belongings."
Luo Yun E gritted her teeth. "Just go and get it. Why so many questions?"