Upon seeing this person, Yun Shu raised an eyebrow.
Xie Jin had just finished settling his belongings and came over, spotting Li De and the others.
His slanted, sharp eyes narrowed. "Well, well, we just met yesterday and you've already chased me to the General's mansion. Didn't you say yesterday you weren't interested in me? Did you follow me here intending to warm my bed?"
His words were undeniably bold, and his voice was neither too loud nor too soft, just enough to reach Li De, who was walking over, and Princess Ning De, who suddenly appeared.
Princess Ning De had always disliked Xie Jin intensely.
During their first meeting yesterday, Xie Jin had left her with the impression of being too audacious, overly narcissistic, and extremely frivolous in his speech.
His current bold declaration only fueled her anger.
"Do not be enraged. This person is cunning and knows how to manipulate others. You will gain nothing by contending with him," Li De whispered a reminder.
He had received intelligence from scouts about the Night King and Xie Jin. They didn't meet often in the capital, but Xie Jin was likely someone the Night King trusted implicitly.
Someone trusted by the Night King must possess capabilities.
He wouldn't be easily controlled.
Otherwise, he wouldn't have earned Yun Shu's trust. Yun Shu's recent escape from death depended on a coordinated effort, and this person was Xie Jin, the seemingly roguish heir of the Marquis's estate.
Heeding Li De's words, Princess Ning De quickly calmed herself.
But her gaze fell upon Yun Shu.
Compared to yesterday, Yun Shu had shed her simple gauze dress for exquisite attire today, her peerlessly beautiful face even more captivating.
Truly possessing bright eyes, white teeth, and graceful movements.
Even she couldn't help but pause when she looked at her, let alone any other man.
No wonder Li De had said that if Yun Shu could be eliminated, she must be, for she would be an endless source of trouble.
She might have dismissed it before, but now she clearly understood that Yun Shu would undoubtedly bring immense trouble, troubles she could barely fathom. Her own brother had been confined to his study since yesterday, foregoing sleep for two nights.
No matter what she said, her brother insisted on being alone and that everything would be fine.
Before Yun Shu had revealed her true appearance, her brother had already been smitten. Now that he had seen Yun Shu's true face, how could his heart possibly be at peace?
A doomed, ill-fated romance!
With these thoughts flashing through her mind, Princess Ning De walked up to Yun Shu.
"Night King's Consort," Princess Ning De spoke first.
At this moment, Princess Ning De's face bore no trace of yesterday's confrontation. Today, she was as gentle as usual.
Yun Shu smiled and replied, "Princess Ning De."
Their eyes met.
Yun Shu's smiling eyes were unfathomably deep, her gaze twinkling with a light that made her thoughts impossible to discern.
Princess Ning De was filled with a desire to probe further, wanting to see through Yun Shu completely.
"Princess Ning De wishes to speak with the Night King's Consort, so I shall not disturb you further," Li De said, preparing to turn and leave.
Xie Jin's eyeballs rolled as he looked at Li De with a smile. "General Li, this young lord also has some words for you. Shall we walk and talk?"
Li De, like Princess Ning De, disliked Xie Jin immensely.
He had already decided not to waste his breath on Xie Jin.
However, Xie Jin had spoken, and he couldn't refuse. He could only let out a low grunt, "Let's go, we'll talk as we walk."
After Li De and Xie Jin departed, Princess Ning De entered the courtyard with Yun Shu.
As they both sat down.
Princess Ning De heard the innocent laughter of children.
She followed the sound and saw three young boys. Though they weren't identical, it was immediately clear who their father and mother were.
They resembled Zhan Tianye so much, and Yun Shu as well.
Three incredibly beautiful little faces; one could imagine how extraordinarily stunning they would be when they grew up, perhaps rivaling Zhan Tianye, or even surpassing him.
At a single glance, she found it hard to look away.
They were truly outstanding. If they were her and Zhan Tianye's sons, then... how wonderful that would be.
But they were the sons of Yun Shu and Zhan Tianye!
And Yun Shu had snatched everything first!
Suppressing her inner dissatisfaction, Princess Ning De looked at Yun Shu's three children and said in a low voice, "Anyone would have acted as you did yesterday. Although it leads to a confrontation with your future outcomes, it is also destiny. But my brother... he never participated in anything from beginning to end, and he is unaware of many things. Yesterday's events greatly harmed him."
"He is filled with remorse and self-blame, unable to face himself. To him, you are his savior. Of course... you can also see that my brother likes you. I shouldn't have come today, but my brother hasn't slept for three days and two nights, confining himself to his study without eating or drinking. If this continues, his body will surely suffer. I want you to write a letter for me to him."
Without giving Yun Shu a chance to speak, she quickly stated her purpose and request.
Then, she turned her head to look at Yun Shu.
This face was too much of a femme fatale!
If not for this face, her brother wouldn't have fallen so deeply!
Hearing this, Yun Shu lowered her eyelids slightly. "I cannot write a letter, but I would appreciate it if Princess Ning De could convey a message to Prince Zhen."
"Very well, I trouble you, Night King's Consort," Princess Ning De frowned. As expected of Yun Shu, she was always guarded. Was she afraid that if she wrote a letter, it would be used against her later?
She had to admit, she had harbored such thoughts.
It was a pity Yun Shu didn't give her the opportunity.
Never mind, the most important thing was for her brother to recover. No one cared more about him than she did. If she didn't intervene, she feared her brother might shut himself away for seven days and nights, losing his will to live.
"Please take care of yourself, Prince Zhen, and do not harm your body further," Yun Shu said, her red lips parting slightly.
Hearing Yun Shu's words, Princess Ning De's eyes widened. "Is there anything else?"
Did Yun Shu truly not have even a shred of affection for her brother?
During their time together at Prince Pingyang's mansion, had Yun Shu not noticed her brother's concern and tenderness towards her?
"No, that's all. If Princess Ning De has nothing else, I must take my leave. I have just arrived at General Li's residence today, and there are many matters to attend to. My apologies."
As Yun Shu finished speaking, she had already risen.
The intention of seeing her off was quite clear.
Princess Ning De's complexion was rather grim. Having lost sleep for one night and suffering from nightmares for another, her complexion was pale today. Now, coupled with Yun Shu's cold demeanor, the anger that had flared within her was suppressed with great difficulty, her expression clearly showing her distress.
She immediately stood up, said, "We will meet again another day," and then left Li De's mansion, carrying Yun Shu's message to Zhen Lin.