Su Yunmo felt wronged, so wronged that she couldn't speak.
She extended her small hand in front of Ye Jingyu, complaining pitifully, "It hurts~"
Ye Jingyu saw the needle prick on her little finger and the blood that hadn't been wiped clean on her thumb. He frowned fiercely, "Who sent you to that kind of place?"
The little dumpling didn't answer him, burying her head in his chest and rubbing against him. "Where are you going? Can I spend the day with you today?"
Seeing that she was unwilling to speak, Ye Jingyu didn't press further. He took out a handkerchief from his embrace. "This King is going to see His Majesty, there are some matters."
He poured some tea from the teapot to wet the handkerchief and gently wiped the bloodstains on her small hand.
The little dumpling furrowed her brows. "Haven't the matters of the General's Mansion already been resolved?"
A faint light flashed in Ye Jingyu's eyes. "The matters of the General's Mansion are resolved, but the matters of the Marquis's Mansion are not yet resolved."
Su Yunmo's eyes narrowed suddenly. "Has there been a response to the letter?"
Ye Jingyu handed her the handkerchief and ruffled her hair. "You go stay with Consort Mother for a while. This King will pick you up later."
The carriage stopped.
Qian Xue said, "Master, we've arrived."
Ye Jingyu stood up and, as he did, he scooped the little dumpling down and walked out.
In front of the Imperial Palace gate, another carriage had also stopped.
Ye Jingcheng alighted from it.
Su Yunmo saw him, her mind briefly dazed, then she lowered her gaze.
It had been quite some time since she had seen this man.
Hadn't he been punished by the Emperor to remain confined for reflection? How had he come out before his time was up?
"Third Brother's relationship with the young lady of the General's Mansion is truly good. He takes her everywhere," Ye Jingcheng swept his gaze over the little dumpling, his tone carrying a hint of sarcasm.
Ye Jingyu ruffled the little dumpling's hair. "Our relationship wasn't this good originally. It's all thanks to Imperial Brother's kindness."
Ye Jingcheng's expression changed drastically.
He had always thought this young man was taciturn and gloomy, but he hadn't expected him to have been hiding it all along.
Or perhaps, after spending so much time with that girl, he had also learned to be sharp-tongued?
The little dumpling rubbed her small stomach and tugged at Ye Jingyu's collar with her small hand. "Brother Yu, Momo is hungry, I want to eat~"
A doting light flashed in Ye Jingyu's eyes. He tightened the collar that had come undone. "Good girl, I'll have Qian Xue accompany you later."
Ye Jingcheng frowned, his gaze falling on the little dumpling's obedient face, a hint of displeasure in his eyes. "I heard there's been some unrest in the General's Mansion these past two days. It's truly remarkable that Miss Su can still eat."
Brother Yu? She called him so intimately!
She had never addressed him like that when they were together.
The little dumpling glanced at him, then slowly turned her gaze back. "Brother Yu, let's go."
"Alright." Ye Jingyu kissed her forehead and stepped towards the palace gate.
Neither of them responded to the other's words.
Ye Jingcheng was infuriated!
Upon reaching the inner palace, Ye Jingyu put the little dumpling down and sent Qian Xue to escort her to the rear palace.
The little dumpling held Qian Xue's hand and walked towards the rear palace, while Ye Jingyu headed towards the study.
Ye Jingcheng chased after them. Seeing them go their separate ways, he looked at the little dumpling's receding back, instinctively took a step towards her, then suddenly stopped.
A murderous glint flashed in his eyes. He clenched his fists tightly and took a deep breath, trying to calm the unprovoked anger surging within him. He turned and headed towards the study.
In the Cold Palace, Consort Liang was still in a deep sleep.
Qian Xue was cooking in the small kitchen.
The little dumpling sat on a chair, her hands resting on the armrests, swaying the chair back and forth with the weight of her body, making a 'creak-creak' sound.
Qian Xue said with a chuckle, "Little Lady, please don't be impatient. It will be ready soon."
The little dumpling held onto the armrests with both hands, her face resting on her arm. "Make a few more dishes, I'll send two dishes to Ye Jingkun later."
Qian Xue's hand holding the spatula paused. "Why do you suddenly think of Prince Kun?"
She sighed. "Yesterday was the day he moved into his mansion. We had originally planned to celebrate for him."
But then her second brother's incident happened, and she completely forgot. Coupled with Ye Yuanlin's death, she hadn't rested all night, and had even less reason to remember this.
This was the first time she had broken a promise.
Qian Xue said with a wry smile, "Something major happened at the General's Mansion. I don't think Prince Kun will mind your missed appointment."
"And didn't you forget? Prince Kun is no longer in the palace. Even if we cook the meal, there's nowhere to send it. It's inconvenient to send it out of the palace."
"That's true." The little dumpling straddled the chair and continued to rock it back and forth.
Seeing that she was no longer dwelling on the matter, Qian Xue breathed a sigh of relief and wiped away a bead of cold sweat.
Good heavens, the Master had been furious that day when he learned that the young lady had cooked a meal for Prince Kun.
If he knew today that she was thinking of sending food to Prince Kun before even eating herself, wouldn't he be so jealous he couldn't sleep?
"Let that brat Su Yunmo come out! I heard she entered the palace, didn't I?"
A commotion arose from outside.
Yi Zuo and Yi You went to investigate. "Your Highness, the Emperor and Empress Dowager have decreed that the Cold Palace is a forbidden area and must not be trespassed."
"What do you mean forbidden area? Stop using Imperial Brother and Mother Empress to pressure me. I'm not afraid. This Princess wants to see Su Yunmo now and have her get out!"
Qian Xue held a plate of food, unable to free her hands. "Little Lady, you don't need to worry. Yi Zuo and Yi You will handle this."
The little dumpling slid off the chair and trotted out with a 'pitter-patter'.
"Little Lady? Little Lady!" Qian Xue called out twice but couldn't get her back. She could only speed up and finish cooking the dish in her hand.
Ye Yunshuang, with her hair styled in an adult bun, was attempting to force her way in with two maids.
Su Yunmo blocked her way. "You're too noisy. Consort Liang is still resting."
Ye Yunshuang sized her up and sneered.
"So it's you, girl. I heard you are very favored by Imperial Brother, and all the princes in the palace have good relationships with you? In this Princess's opinion, you're nothing special."
She was just a little kid, nothing like the rumors outside suggested.
Su Yunmo's understanding of the person before her was limited to hearing about the 'Little Princess's wedding' recently. In her previous life, in the Marquis's Mansion, she had only seen her twice during palace banquets.
She had only heard that this person was spirited, arrogant, and willful. This was the first time they were speaking face to face.
"Do you need something from me?"
A flush of anger rose on Ye Yunshuang's face. "How dare you ask? Your father murdered my Imperial Sister and fled. Not only do you dare to enter the palace so brazenly, but you also speak to me in such a tone?"
Su Yunmo understood. This person was purely looking for trouble.
The Emperor's imperial decree had long since been issued to the various mansions. It was impossible for her not to know.
To describe the punishment as 'fleeing' was quite something.
"This matter was handled by His Majesty. If you have any dissatisfaction, go tell His Majesty. This is not a place for you to make a scene," Su Yunmo waved her hand and turned to leave.
She had thought it was some important figure, but unexpectedly, she was even more brainless than Ye Yuanlin.
"Stop right there!" Ye Yunshuang shouted sternly. "You think you can slip away easily? Not so easily!"
"Whether Imperial Brother judged this case or not, I don't care. In short, my Imperial Sister died because of your father, so you must pay for your father's debts!"