In that very moment, she thought she had seen wrong.
But she confirmed it again, and she was not mistaken!
It was true!
The Night King, in the face of Ning Ruan, completely shed his murderous aura, and his gaze upon Ning Ruan was incredibly gentle!
None of them noticed, Zhen Lin didn't notice, Princess Ning De didn't notice, but she did!
No one could persuade the Night King to release his foot, but after Ning Ruan said a few words, the Night King let go! And his murderous aura was gone!
This Ning Ruan…
Who on earth was this Ning Ruan?
Suddenly she recalled the day of the hunt…
Yun Yueyin’s eyes, as if she had discovered something earth-shattering, remained filled with shock.
Ning Ruan knows medicine, Ning Ruan’s origins are unknown, Ning Ruan’s behavior in some aspects is like Yun Shu…
Suddenly, an incredible thought resurfaced.
Ning Ruan is Yun Shu! Ning Ruan is Yun Shu!
She stood up abruptly and moved towards the door, intending to follow, but she took two steps and stopped herself, unable to alert the enemy! She would go see Li De and tell him about this discovery!
Princess Dai was still grieving. When she looked up and saw Yun Yueyin staring wide-eyed at the door, her eyes not on Xu’er at all, and looking terrified since earlier, she became furious. Such a common woman, unworthy of a good reputation!
"What are you doing there? Come and take care of Xu’er!"
This sharp question instantly sobered Yun Yueyin. She snapped back to attention and looked at Zhen Xu, who was lying on Princess Dai and Prince Pingyang.
Disgust immediately welled up from her heart.
She still vividly remembered how terrified Zhen Xu had looked beneath the Night King’s foot just now, as if he were about to wet himself, and it gnawed at her heart like a thorn.
The man she married was so cowardly; she wanted a different man!
But at this moment, her identity was Zhen Xu’s wife, and she couldn’t offend Prince Pingyang and Princess Dai. She could only respond meekly with a "yes," and then came to Zhen Xu’s side, weeping profusely, "Husband, husband will be fine! I believe the heavens have eyes and will make those who bully my husband pay the price."
These words immediately improved Princess Dai’s expression.
Despite being from a humble background, she wasn't that bad.
Prince Pingyang slammed the bluestone bricks on the ground fiercely, "Too much! Too much! I will go into the palace tomorrow to see the Emperor! I will have the Emperor deliver justice for me! I am an old man, yet I have been insulted by a Prince Jin who has just returned to the capital. I simply cannot swallow this insult!"
Princess Dai did not try to dissuade Prince Pingyang from going.
The bigger the fuss, the better, she thought. She was happy to see it happen!
The Emperor should finally know how arrogant Prince Jin was! It would be best to postpone the acknowledgment of this newly recognized son, and then see who Ning De and Zhen Lin would have to rely on!
…
Zhan Tianye left Prince Pingyang’s mansion first.
In fact, Zhen Lin and Princess Ning De had tried to keep Zhan Tianye there. It was already dark, and they wanted to ask Zhan Tianye to stay overnight at Prince Pingyang’s mansion.
But he refused, saying he was passing by Prince Pingyang’s mansion today and had other matters to attend to. Seeing his firm attitude, the siblings knew they could not insist further.
At the gate, Princess Ning De could only watch Zhan Tianye’s figure until he completely disappeared into the night.
Behind her, Zhen Lin sighed, "Prince Jin’s actions are truly unpredictable."
Upon hearing this, Princess Ning De turned around and said with a smile, "If Prince Jin’s actions were predictable, then he wouldn’t be the Prince Jin that the Emperor favors."
Zhen Lin suddenly understood, "You are right."
The Emperor's thoughts were difficult to fathom, so how could the mind of Prince Jin, who was valued by the Emperor, be deciphered by others?
However…
He still keenly felt that something was not quite right.
For some reason, he always had this feeling.
Every time he saw Prince Jin, and every time Ning De thought Prince Jin liked her, he would have this unbelievable thought, always feeling as if something was misunderstood by him and Ning De.
However, before he could ponder it further, Yun Shu and Qin Yiqing were already walking towards the gate.
By now, the sky had darkened even more.
Zhen Lin looked at the two of them, feeling more guilt, and even a sense of being implicated. His gaze finally fell upon the woman who unsettled him.
"It’s getting late, I’ll have someone escort you out," Zhen Lin said, looking at Yun Shu.
If he could, he would wish for her to live in Prince Pingyang’s mansion for a lifetime.
But, such a thought now seemed destined to be a mere fantasy.
"Thank you, not for now. Xiao Qing and I can accompany each other back. I’ll come again the day after tomorrow," Yun Shu smiled and refused, nodding to Zhen Lin and Princess Ning De.
Princess Ning De’s heart was still filled with the lingering warmth of a fast heartbeat. She looked at Yun Shu absentmindedly, "It’s inevitable for two young ladies to encounter danger when traveling at night."
"Ordinary people can’t harm us. Both my master and I know a little bit of martial arts," Qin Yiqing said with a giggle. She never thought that she, Qin Yiqing, would learn how to be humble one day.
How could they only know "a little bit" of martial arts!
Compared to Yun Shu, she might know "a little bit," but Yun Shu’s martial arts were such that she rarely met an opponent.
"Please don’t worry, Princess," Yun Shu said with a light smile.
Princess Ning De and Zhen Lin exchanged glances. Seeing that the conversation had reached this point, they knew that nothing more they said could change Yun Shu’s decision.
So, they both said, one after another, "Be careful on your way, see you the day after tomorrow."
They did not take a carriage but walked slowly under the night sky.
The moonlight was beautiful that evening.
Watching the backs of the two women walking side-by-side in the night, Princess Ning De sighed softly, "What is all this happening today!"
Except for the Night King’s visit, which was good, all other events were a complete mess.
Zhen Lin’s expression was stern, "Given the personalities of Father and Princess Dai, this matter today is not over."
Princess Ning De had already anticipated this. She sneered, "If they want it to end, I don’t. These kinds of scenes have been played out year after year, exhausting my patience."
"Perhaps he will go to the Emperor to complain," Zhen Lin guessed again.
Princess Ning De immediately pursed her lips upon hearing this, "If that is the case, then he truly overestimates himself. In the Emperor’s eyes, how can a foolish minister compare to Prince Jin?"
In the darkness of the night, the siblings, who could stand on their own, showed no trace of longing for their father.
There was only mockery.
…
After walking through several streets.
Once they were sure they were not being followed, Qin Yiqing began to look around, left and right, front and back.
"Where is the Night King?"
When she learned about what had just happened, she first scolded Prince Pingyang and his wife severely, then praised Zhan Tianye repeatedly. Now, knowing that Zhan Tianye would accompany them back to see the three treasures, she was even more eager.