Taking her into his tent, he incurred the wrath of a powerful and mad minister, from which he could

Ask Zong Xian to let her leave the manor? How could that be possible?

Mingyi shook her head: "Don't be foolish."

Hearing this, Zong Ying became even more convinced that she had been coerced, and her eyes lit up. "You really were forced, weren't you?"

Mingyi's silence can be considered a tacit agreement.

Zong Ying immediately frowned deeply: "How could Second Brother do something so despicable as to break up lovers!"

Mingyi remained silent.

Zong Ying then grasped her shoulders, her tone innocent yet firm: "Don't worry, my second brother dotes on me the most and always grants my every wish. I'll beg him to let you go, and he'll definitely agree!"

"You haven't entered the household as a concubine yet, there's still time!"

She's just a pretty girl. Second Brother could have any kind of girl he wanted, so why did it have to be Ji Mingyi?

Besides, Mingyi really did call him Second Uncle and even served him tea! How could they be together?

This is inappropriate! This is absurd!

My second brother is really muddle-headed.

Zong Ying couldn't bear to watch any longer, and a sense of responsibility inexplicably arose on her shoulders. She said to Mingyi, "Mingyi, wait here for my news! I'll be right back!"

Before Mingyi could stop her, the girl had already rushed off.

Or perhaps, she also harbored a sliver of hope, which is why she didn't really stop her.

She thought that Zong Ying was the apple of the Zong family's eye, Zong Xian's most beloved little sister.

Perhaps Zong Ying really could save her from this predicament? In that case, she wouldn't have to take any risks.

Even if it fails, Zong Ying will not be punished.

In short, let's take a gamble!

With this thought in mind, Mingyi was filled with anxiety for the next few hours, and made several mistakes in writing.

...

Zong Xian had just returned to the manor, dressed in a purple official robe, and went straight to the study in Songhe Garden.

Before long, a servant came to report that Miss Zongying had arrived.

Zong Xian naturally let her in.

His study was never to be entered by strangers, but Zongying was family, so it was different.

"You wouldn't come here without a reason, what do you want from me this time, girl?"

The man leaned back in his armchair, his expression gentle, speaking words of affection.

However, the aura of those in power is revealed intentionally or unintentionally, like the biting snow outside the window, which can make people tremble with fear.

Zong Xian knew why she had come to find him.

As early as when he returned to the manor, the servant who was secretly monitoring Ji Mingyi came to inform him that Zong Ying had seen her and wanted to plead for her.

Zong Xian didn't expose her, just smiled and looked at his innocent little sister, the smile not reaching his eyes.

Seeing his smiling tiger-like appearance, Zong Ying inexplicably dared not mention the purpose of her visit, and instead chatted about everyday matters with a smile.

As the saying goes, one should strike while the iron is hot, but the momentum will wane and eventually be exhausted.

The man who had vowed to plead for Mingyi a moment ago now hesitated.

Zong Xian, however, took the initiative to bring up Ji Mingyi.

"In a few days, she will be entering Songhe Garden. The embroidery workshop just delivered her wedding dress. My sister has been married before, so I'll take a look at this wedding dress for her."

Zong Ying's brow twitched.

Ji Mingyi had no parents or relatives, and no elders to arrange her marriage.

Zong Ying thought that Liu would help with the arrangements, but she didn't expect that Zong Xian would do it all himself, even preparing her wedding dress.

Zong Ying was stunned when she saw the wedding dress.

The fabric is the finest crimson satin embroidered with gold thread, adorned with twin lotus blossoms and delicate pearls that shimmer with every movement.

When ordinary concubines get married, they usually use rose red or light red. This kind of deep crimson is a color that can only be used by the principal wife.

The embroiderer couldn't possibly be unaware that the Zong family intended to take a concubine, not a wife; therefore, it must have been Zong Xian's arrangement.

Zong Ying's heart sank heavily.

She originally thought that her second brother was just acting on a whim, casually taking a concubine, and that once the novelty wore off, he would eventually let her go.

But the wedding dress in front of her clearly told her that Zong Xian was determined to take Ji Mingyi as his wife.

Zong Ying clenched her sleeves, the courage she had mustered along the way gradually dissipating, but she still forced herself to look up at the man on the armchair.

"Second Brother."

Zong Xian slowly picked up the teacup, his fingertips tracing the cool porcelain rim, his gaze lightly falling on her: "What's wrong? Don't you like this wedding dress?"

"It's not about the clothes."

Zong Ying bit her lower lip, mustered her strength, and said, "Second Brother, Mingyi already has someone she loves, but she was forced to stay in the manor. She used to call you Second Uncle. If word gets out about this marriage, what will outsiders say about the Zong family? Why don't you... why don't you let her go? There are countless beauties in the world, why are you so fixated on her alone?"

After these words were spoken, the study fell silent for a moment.

Outside the window, the cold wind whipped up snowflakes that pattered against the windowpane, the rustling sound making the atmosphere even more stagnant.

Zong Xian put down his teacup, the porcelain bottom striking the wooden table with a soft sound.

His smile remained gentle, but there was no warmth in his eyes. The oppressive feeling of being in a superior position pressed down on Zong Ying, making her breath catch in her throat.

"My sister is kind-hearted, always thinking of others," the man said calmly, his tone revealing neither joy nor anger. "But who thinks of me?"

Zong Ying was taken aback: "Second Brother..." She wanted to say that forced love is never sweet.

Zong Xian interrupted her, asking calmly, "That's what she told you. She wants to leave?"

Mingyi didn't say it explicitly, but Zongying could understand it.

Hearing Zong Xian ask this, he thought there was an opportunity and quickly nodded, "Yes!"

She stepped forward again and gently tugged at his sleeve, with a hint of flattery: "Second brother, please grant Mingyi's wish. I consider her family, and I really can't bear to see her become a concubine, nor do I want to call her aunt in the future, that would be too strange."

"Besides, doesn't Second Brother already have two beauties in his courtyard? It wouldn't matter if Second Brother took them as concubines."

"OK."

Zong Ying was taken aback, not expecting Zong Xian to agree so easily.

"Has Second Brother agreed to let Sister Mingyi leave the manor?" she asked again uncertainly.

Zong Xian's expression remained gentle and doting, without a trace of hostility. He was still the good second brother she remembered: "Since you've gone to such lengths to plead for her, I'll grant your request. From childhood to adulthood, what have you wanted? Have I ever refused?"

Upon hearing this, Zong Ying felt a great weight lifted from her shoulders. She had no further doubts and beamed with joy, saying, "I thank you on behalf of my sister Mingyi, Second Brother!"

After saying that, he turned around excitedly and rushed off to deliver the good news.

She never turned around, unaware that the warmth on the man's face had faded, and his eyes and brows were gradually covered with coldness and melancholy.

...

"Will he really let me go?"

Mingyi was incredulous; Zongying had actually succeeded?

Zong Ying didn't think too much about it, grabbed her hand, and went straight out of Shuangxu Garden.

After passing through the winding corridor, the outline of the main gate of the ancestral mansion can be seen in the distance.

Zong Ying said in a light tone, "Once you leave the Zong residence, I'll prepare a carriage for you. Set off immediately to find Xie Huaiyu, and remember to send me an invitation..."

The dazed person suddenly awoke and froze.

Zong Ying had no choice but to stop, turning to look at her with a puzzled expression: "What's wrong?"

Mingyi, her face deathly pale, slowly pulled her hand out of Zongying's grasp and then took a step back.

"Zongying, thank you, but I can't leave."

Zong Ying was stunned: "Why? I've already fought for your freedom!"

It's not that simple.

If she dared to step out of the mansion, she would only be met with Zong Xian's boundless rage.

Mingyi didn't look at Zong Ying's confused eyes. Her long eyelashes drooped and trembled slightly. "Just think of me as someone who is greedy for the wealth and glory of the Zong family and can't bear to leave!"

Before Zong Ying could react, Mingyi turned around and walked straight into the depths of the cage.

Zong Ying was both anxious and angry. Just as she was about to step forward and call out to her, Cui Mama, who was by the side of Old Madam Zong, arrived at that moment.

"Third Miss, the Old Madam requests your presence." Madam Cui's expression was unusually solemn.

Zong Ying had no choice but to give up for the time being and follow in her footsteps, asking in confusion, "Why did Mother call me?"

Madam Cui sighed softly, "Third Miss, you shouldn't interfere in Second Master's affairs."

When Mingyi returned to her room, Zongxian was indeed waiting for her there.

He leaned back in his armchair, his fingertips casually tracing the pages, engrossed in reading her copy of "Rules for Women."

The man's brows and eyes were deeply furrowed, and when he wasn't smiling, he exuded a sense of indifference and ruthlessness. He rarely showed his emotions, and all his thoughts were hidden in his calm eyes.

Hearing footsteps approaching, he slowly raised his eyes, a faint, indistinct smile appearing on his lips.

"You weren't leaving, so why are you back?"