Wang Qingyao’s immediate desire to eat upon entering the Prince of Dingnan’s mansion astonished his three grandsons.
Did the Princess of Ding'an not have a hide as thick as their grandfather’s? Hadn’t they just been arguing? How could she possibly have the nerve to eat their family’s food?
The Princess of Ding'an proved, with actions, that she absolutely could.
Prince Dingnan, more magnanimous than his grandsons, uttered a cultured phrase: “A guest who enters is a guest, how can we not let them eat?”
He ordered his servants to prepare a meal. While waiting, he led Xiao Yun and the others to see Xiao Mo.
Xiao Mo was not imprisoned in a jail. Out of respect for the Old Imperial Concubine, Prince Dingnan had confined him to a small courtyard, forbidding anyone from seeing him.
As Xiao Yun and the others entered, Xiao Mo was strenuously climbing a tree leaning against the wall, intending to scale the wall and escape.
The lock clicked, the door creaked open, and both parties froze.
After a brief silence, Prince Dingnan roared, “Xiao Mo, you little rascal, where do you think you’re climbing a tree to go? You damn turtle, are you trying to abduct our Duoduo again?”
Prince Dingnan’s lion’s roar echoed. The few withered leaves on the tree, already sparse, slowly detached and fell, leaving the tree completely bare.
Caught red-handed, Xiao Mo shivered and slowly slid down from the tree.
The fact that he could still climb a tree indicated that neither his arms nor his legs were injured.
Wang Qingyao examined him from head to toe. Apart from a slight abrasion on his face, she could find no other signs of distress.
Xiao Yun rushed forward, embraced Xiao Mo excitedly, and patted his arm. “Xiao Mo, I’m so glad you’re alright. I was worried sick when you fell off the cliff.”
“Eldest Brother, Eldest Sister-in-law,” Xiao Mo, having regained his frosty handsome demeanor from the capital, greeted Xiao Yun and Wang Qingyao calmly. “I’m fine, thanks to Duoduo…”
“Little County Princess!” Prince Dingnan exclaimed, his eyes wider than oxen’s.
Xiao Mo corrected himself: “Thanks to the Little County Princess saving me. The Little County Princess was injured while saving me. Eldest Brother, Eldest Sister-in-law, you must thank her properly.”
Aside from the monthly family meetings on the first day of each month in the capital, this was the first time Wang Qingyao had heard Xiao Mo speak so much.
Xiao Yun nodded. “Of course, of course. May I ask where the Little County Princess is now? I would like to thank her in person.”
Prince Dingnan had three grandsons but only one granddaughter, Feng Jiangduo. She had been granted the title of County Princess by the Emperor at birth. Therefore, people in the Nanzhou region were accustomed to calling her Little County Princess.
Feng Jiangduo was a skilled martial artist. Carrying a burden and falling from such a height had cost her only a treasure sword that could slice iron and one arm.
She was recuperating in her own courtyard, her right arm in a splint and suspended around her neck.
She was startled when a crowd of people suddenly surged in.
“Grandfather.”
“You must be Duoduo?” At this moment, Wang Qingyao fully embraced her role as an elder sister-in-law and walked directly forward, enthusiastically taking Feng Jiangduo’s uninjured left hand. She chattered, “I am Xiao Mo’s eldest sister-in-law, and that is his eldest brother. Xiao Mo told us that if you hadn’t saved him this time, he would have lost his life. Ah, doesn’t the old saying go that a life-saving debt should be repaid with oneself? Xiao Mo is offering himself to you, do you want him?”
Feng Jiangduo was much as Wang Qingyao had imagined, the cool and heroic type. She had an oval face, large dark eyes, thick eyebrows, a high nose bridge, bearing a resemblance to Prince Dingnan while also possessing a feminine grace and a perfect blend of heroism.
Her demeanor was cool and aloof. Her hair was tied high on her head, and she wore a dark blue fitted outfit, devoid of any jewelry or adornments, appearing neat and capable.
Upon hearing Wang Qingyao’s words, she showed no signs of shyness. Staring into her eyes, she replied directly and decisively, “Yes.”
Her straightforward nature was not at all affected or pretentious. Wang Qingyao adored her.
Xiao Mo’s lips curved slightly. Prince Dingnan roared, “Want what nonsense! I don’t agree!”
Feng Jiangduo looked at Prince Dingnan. “Grandfather, you said I could make my own decisions about everything.”
Prince Dingnan: “…”
After a long pause, he pouted childishly, “I regret it.”
Even Feng Jiangduo was speechless.
At this moment, a servant from Prince Dingnan’s mansion announced that the banquet was ready. Wang Qingyao, so hungry her back was against her stomach, no longer concerned herself with these matters and went to eat with Xiao Yun, leading Yin Zhu and the others.
Xiao Mo also joined them, accompanying them for a few drinks.
After a satisfying meal, the servants cleared the table and served tea. Xiao Yun then asked Xiao Mo what had happened in the past few days and what exactly was going on between him and Feng Jiangduo.
Unexpectedly, Xiao Mo became shy, a suspicious pink hue appearing on his cheeks. After a while, he slowly recounted the events of the past few days.
The kidnapping incident was largely consistent with Jin Doudou’s account. The kidnappers were either masked or wore veils, so he didn’t know who he had offended. Later, they took him to a dilapidated temple. He overheard them say they would notify Prince Ding'an and the Princess, and that Prince Ding'an’s wife should come alone to meet them. It was then he realized the matter was related to Wang Qingyao.
At this point, he looked at Wang Qingyao. “Sister-in-law, why did those people kidnap me?”