Zhou Yunting finished dealing with the men sent by Li Yanchen, a task Li Jin had entrusted to him. Afterwards, he made his way to the courtyard where Wei Rong and Li Ruoyan were staying. "Dowager Lady, Eldest Young Lady, the hour is late. His Highness is already waiting outside the temple to escort you back to the mansion. Please do not delay any further."
Ping'an had come with Zhou Yunting, but, unusually, Ping'an didn't say a word this time.
Li Ruoyan let out a cold laugh and spared no effort in her sarcasm. "So, now that Li Jin is the Heir Apparent, he's really different, daring to put on airs with us. Earlier today, he made Grandmother and me wait for ages, and now, when we make him wait a little, he sends someone to hurry us along."
Wei Rong's face darkened. Her initial thought of returning vanished instantly, and she said sharply, "Let him wait. This old woman is not planning to return so early."
Zhou Yunting seemed to have anticipated this. His expression remained unchanged in the face of Wei Rong's obstinacy. Instead, he cupped his hands and said, "Dowager Lady, it is not that His Highness is unwilling to wait for you longer. It is just that His Majesty the Emperor sent someone with a summons, ordering him to enter the palace for an audience immediately. He fears that any delay might incur His Majesty's displeasure, which is why he sent this subordinate to urge you."
"......"
Wei Rong fell silent, the Emperor's name leaving her no room for refusal. She didn't dare to continue putting on airs. With a face as black as thunder, she told Li Ruoyan to leave with her.
How infuriating! After all these years, why hasn't the Emperor grown tired of that sickly weakling, Li Jin?
Li Ruoyan stamped her foot in resentment and followed Wei Rong.
"Zhou Yunting, thanks. I'll treat you to a meal when we get back tonight," Ping'an said quietly to Zhou Yunting as they walked behind Wei Rong and the others.
To tell the truth, the task of summoning Wei Rong and the others was initially assigned by Li Jin to Ping'an, to help him overcome his psychological fear. A year ago, Ping'an had said some unpleasant things which Li Ruoyan overheard. She promptly reported them to Wei Rong. Seizing an opportunity when Li Jin was at the palace, Wei Rong had severely punished Ping'an, beating him until he was half-dead. Although Li Jin returned just in time to save him, the incident left Ping'an with a deep-seated fear. Now, unless absolutely forced, he avoided any interaction with Wei Rong and Li Ruoyan.
When Li Jin gave the order to Ping'an, Zhou Yunting was also present. Seeing Ping'an's deathly pale face, Zhou Yunting resolutely took on the task himself.
Li Jin initially refused, as he had specifically assigned this task to help Ping'an face his fears. Besides, with the Emperor's eunuch having personally delivered the summons, Wei Rong wouldn't dare cause any delays.
However, Zhou Yunting's attitude was extremely firm, he even knelt directly on the ground.
Seeing this, Li Jin had no choice but to change his mind and let Zhou Yunting deliver the message. However, Ping'an still had to go along to observe and learn, which led to the events just now.
"Alright."
A smile tugged at Zhou Yunting's lips as he acknowledged in a voice low enough for Ping'an to hear.
"Zhou Yunting, let's be clear upfront, you have to take it easy," Ping'an said, already feeling the pinch.
Zhou Yunting's appetite was no ordinary matter. If it weren't for the fact that Zhou Yunting had helped him out this time, Ping'an would never be willing to treat a bottomless pit who could eat him into poverty.
"Alright."
Zhou Yunting nodded, being very agreeable.
"Huh..." The speed of Zhou Yunting's agreement only made Ping'an more uneasy.
Could it be that he plans to eat me out of house and home?
Thinking this, Ping'an gulped hard.
Zhou Yunting naturally saw all of this, but it seemed he found Ping'an's pained, reluctant expression quite amusing. He didn't say anything, just watched him with interest.
____
Damn it, damn it! In the future, I must marry someone of higher status than Li Jin, and make Li Jin bow and scrape to me.
Li Jin had already become Li Ruoyan's obsession. As she walked along the road, not for a moment did she forget her desire to crush Li Jin underfoot. As time passed, this desire grew even stronger.
"Ah..."
Perhaps Li Ruoyan's thoughts of revenge were too intense, for she failed to notice a stone in her path. She stumbled and was about to fall when a strange man caught her, saving her from hitting the ground.
"Miss, are you alright?"
Ying Ziheng suppressed his impatience and asked with feigned concern.
Having just quarreled with Ying Xichen, Ying Ziheng was in a bad mood, and a hint of anger lurked in his tone. However, when he got a clear look at Li Ruoyan's face, he was instantly captivated.
Li Ruoyan possessed a delicate, lovable beauty, in no way inferior to Shen Ningyu's captivating charm.
"I... I'm fine... Th... thank you... Thank you, young master..." Li Ruoyan had never been held by an unrelated man like this before, and she couldn't help but blush.
At the same time, because the path they were on had many pedestrians, the people passing by couldn't help but point and stare at Li Ruoyan and the others.
"Yan'er, come here right now!"
Wei Rong, hearing the surrounding gossip, her face instantly turned as black as a burnt pot. She harshly called Li Ruoyan back.
Li Ruoyan was an unmarried daughter of a prince's mansion. Although the other party had helped her with good intentions, he was, after all, an unrelated man. If this matter got out, Li Ruoyan's reputation could be damaged.
"Uh... Yes..."
Scolded by Wei Rong, Li Ruoyan finally remembered that she was an unmarried daughter of a prince's mansion. Her face instantly turned pale, and without daring to linger any longer, she withdrew from Ying Ziheng's embrace and quickly walked to Wei Rong's side.
"Yan'er, let's go."
"Yes."
After such an incident, Li Ruoyan no longer dared to stay. She quickened her pace to escape this troublesome situation.
Ying Ziheng saw this but didn't mind, simply turning and walking away.
As for Li Ruoyan, she seemed to have taken quite a liking to Ying Ziheng, frequently stealing glances at him, intentionally or not.
After about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, they reached the temple gate.
Once Ying Ziheng's figure was out of sight, Li Ruoyan walked distractedly with Wei Rong to the outside of Yunling Temple. By chance, she saw Ying Ziheng, who seemed to be conversing happily with Li Jin, and was immediately surprised. "Huh? Grandmother, look! Isn't that the young master from before? Why is he chatting with Li Jin? Does Li Jin know him?"
"It really is him."
Wei Rong was also startled, but her expression quickly turned very ugly.
That damned Li Jin must have deliberately hired this man to ruin Yan'er's reputation. How utterly outrageous.
"Grandmother, what's wrong?"
Seeing Wei Rong's sudden change in expression, a trace of confusion flashed in Li Ruoyan's eyes.
As they were outside and Yunling Temple had many visitors, Wei Rong couldn't explain properly. She could only shoot Li Ruoyan a frustrated glance that said 'you disappoint me'. "What are you still standing there for? Come quickly and help this old woman into the carriage."
"Yes..."
Wei Rong was clearly furious. Li Ruoyan didn't dare to provoke her further and obediently followed her into the carriage.
____
Ying Ziheng, arriving at the main gate of Yunling Temple, happened to see Li Jin and quickly walked over to greet him. "What a fortunate encounter. I didn't expect to meet Brother Jin here at Yunling Temple."
Li Jin heard this and responded with a slight smile, "I also didn't expect to run into Brother Ziheng here."
At this time, Ying Yuan was still biding his time and concealing his capabilities, showing no sign of ambition and certainly not contending with Ying Ziheng. Unaware of the truth, Ying Ziheng thus continued to ingratiate himself with Li Jin and maintained a cordial demeanor toward Ying Yuan.
In Ying Ziheng's view, Ying Yuan—who had lived under the Empress's care for years yet still failed to win Ying Zhengjing's favor—was utterly insignificant. Were it not for Li Jin's friendship with Ying Yuan, Ying Ziheng would not have given him a second glance.
Ying Ziheng inquired casually, "What brings you to Yunling Temple today, Brother Jin?"
Li Jin replied frankly, "To pray for blessings for my late mother."
"My apologies."
"It's fine." Li Jin shook his head. "Brother Ziheng, my family's carriage is waiting, so I must take my leave now."
"Alright, take care, Brother Jin."
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