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

Zong Xian didn't care where Ji Mingzhe and her maid went, as long as they were under his watchful eye.

He readily agreed.

When the disciplinary nanny came over, she saw Zong Xian coming out of the house.

He hastily stepped aside, not daring to look directly at her: "Greetings, Your Excellency."

Zong Xian was already dressed neatly, with his hair tied up in a jade crown, looking every bit the upright and honest gentleman.

He knew about the old lady Zong's hiring of the old nanny to train Mingyi, and he tacitly approved of it.

He glanced indifferently at the old woman with his hands behind his back and said, "She's exhausted today. She should rest on the couch. Don't disturb her."

The old nanny responded respectfully.

Zong Xian then asked, "How has she been behaving these past few days?"

In front of this important person, the old nanny naturally said the best things.

Zong Xian didn't ask any more questions. There were still a bunch of maids kneeling in the courtyard. He glanced at them indifferently and said coldly, "Get up, all of you. This is not a repeat of today's incident."

Everyone hurriedly expressed their gratitude: "Thank you, sir!"

Zong Xian then strode away.

inside the house.

Mingyi stared at the top of the tent with clear, unwavering eyes, her gaze resolute.

She must escape.

Even if it costs me my life, I will break free from this cage.

Since Zong Xian discovered that she had been taking contraceptive soup, no one from Yongshou Hall has appeared again.

Madam Zong turned a blind eye and couldn't do anything about her son.

But Mingyi had secretly kept the contraceptive pills. Now that Yuegui had found them, the huge weight on her heart was lifted, and a wave of weariness washed over her, and she finally fell into a deep sleep.

Jiangzhou is a long way off, and we will set off tomorrow. We need to go to the ferry to take a boat south.

Zong Xian was on leave today, so he specially accompanied her to see them off in person.

Ji Mingzhe, thinking they were really going to Jiangzhou, looked at his older sister with reluctance, "Sister, aren't you coming back with us?"

Mingyi leaned down and gently touched the tip of his nose, saying tenderly, "I have something to do and can't leave. How about I, Zhe, go see our parents in my place?"

"it is good."

Ji Mingzhe actually knew why she couldn't leave, but he didn't say it.

Suppress everything in your heart.

Before boarding the ship, the boy looked up and grasped Mingyi's hand, saying earnestly, "After paying respects to our parents, A-Zhe will immediately return to the capital to be with my elder sister."

Mingyi nodded with a smile and gently pushed his back, "Go on upstairs."

He then instructed Yuegui, "Take good care of him."

Looking into her young mistress's calm eyes, Yuegui nodded emphatically, "This servant will protect the young master. Please take care, young lady."

Only the master and servant knew in their hearts that their next meeting would not be in Kyoto.

Yuegui led Ji Mingzhe into the crowd and boarded the ship, accompanied by guards assigned by Zong Xian.

Watching the two people he cared about most walk away, Mingyi's tense nerves relaxed slightly.

The wind was strong and bitingly cold by the river.

Zong Xian raised his hand to take off his fox fur cloak, draped it over Mingyi's shoulders, and carefully tightened the belt.

This thoughtful scene was witnessed not only by the people on the boat, but also by Princess Jianing, who was not far away.

"who is she?"

Princess Jianing stared intently at the woman beside Zong Xian, her eyes blazing with jealousy and anger at being betrayed.

She had never seen any other woman beside Zong Xian.

I have never seen him treat a woman with such tenderness.

Even she, his fiancée, never received such treatment. What right does that woman have?

Princess Jianing did not consider herself a jealous person, but how could anyone remain unmoved when they saw their beloved giving all the tenderness they had never shown in their life to someone else?

His usually composed and proud eyes were now shrouded in gloom.

The maid beside him was also surprised, then remembered a rumor and hesitated before saying, "I heard that the Prime Minister is going to take a concubine first, perhaps it's that woman..."

"nonsense!"

Before the maid could finish speaking, Princess Jianing interrupted her sharply.

"He wouldn't do that to me!"

The maid kept her head bowed tightly, not daring to utter a sound.

Princess Jianing raised her eyes and looked once again at the beautiful figure on the riverbank.

The woman was exceptionally beautiful. Holding a gilded hand warmer, she quietly watched the departing ships, her expression serene.

The river breeze caresses her sleeves, her face as beautiful as jade; her elegant figure stands by the river, detached from worldly dust.

Zong Xian stood beside her, his fierce aura somewhat subdued. He raised his hand and put it around her shoulder, his care for her undisguised.

This scene was a painful sight for Princess Jianing.

When Mingyi turned around, she saw Princess Jianing not far away.

But she remained unmoved, pretending not to see anything, and silently withdrew her gaze, getting into the car with Zong Xian's help.

Zong Xian, however, did not come up.

A moment later, a maid's timid voice came from outside the carriage.

"My lord, my princess requests an audience."

The carriage was quiet, and Mingyi sat still until the familiar footsteps faded into the distance.

He just raised his hand and lifted the curtain to look outside.

Beneath the desolate willow tree in the winter, a woman stood with tears welling up in her eyes, her face full of grievance, and her body trembling slightly.

Zong Xian's tall, straight back was facing this side, so she couldn't see what kind of expression he had at that moment.

But she could imagine that he would be arrogant and cold, utterly devoid of warmth.

Only such indifference could crush a woman's passionate heart.

"I have no objection to you wanting to take a concubine, but we are not yet married, and you are in such a hurry to take her. Where does this leave me, and where does it leave the reputation of the General's Mansion?"

Princess Jianing felt extremely wronged and questioned him repeatedly.

Zong Xian stood with his hands behind his back, the corners of his dark robes fluttering in the river wind. He said indifferently, "Is the princess threatening me with the General's Mansion?"

"I don't..."

Why take other people's gossip to heart?

Princess Jianing gripped the hem of her skirt, her nose stinging with tears: "You make it sound so easy, but that's because the gossip hasn't reached you yet."

Zong Xian said calmly, "If the princess cares about the rumors, I will protect her and take all the blame upon myself."

Princess Jianing bit her lip, unable to understand, and questioned, "Are you in such a hurry to take her as a concubine because she is already pregnant?"

"No," Zong Xian answered crisply.

"If not, why can't we wait until after our wedding to bring her into the manor? Is she not going to live to see that day?!"

When Jia Ningjun's temper flared up, he couldn't help but speak harshly.

The last vestige of warmth in Zong Xian's eyes vanished instantly, his patience completely exhausted, and his voice turned cold and deep: "Princess, my mind is made up, and this matter cannot be changed."

Having said that, he didn't linger and turned to leave.

Princess Jianing panicked and, disregarding all decorum, urgently called out to him, "If you could only choose one between her and me!"