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

The person who was the worst to her.

The man outside the door heard this and couldn't quite describe how he felt.

A subtle flicker of emotion crossed his narrow eyes, but it vanished in an instant, too fleeting to be captured.

Inside the room, the maid spoke cautiously: "To be honest, it's because you and the Second Master had a disagreement that the Old Madam took the opportunity to punish you. If you could get along well with the Second Master, the Old Madam wouldn't find fault with you, and the Second Master would definitely protect you."

Mingyi said, "From what you're saying, you want me to bow down and apologize to him?"

"Miss, are you expecting the Second Master to bow down to you?" the maid said. "As the saying goes, couples quarrel in bed and make up before they get out of bed. It doesn't matter who apologizes first; what matters is that they live in harmony from now on..."

Mingyi interrupted her, saying, "He and I are not husband and wife; Princess Jianing is his wife."

The maid quickly admitted her mistake: "It was a slip of the tongue."

Inside the room, Mingyi clearly saw the shadow reflected on the door. Her eyes were cold and devoid of any emotion.

She already knew about it when Zong Xian came.

So he conspired with Yuegui and deliberately said those words.

She looked away. "Let's not talk about that anymore. It's chilly inside. Let's bring in some more charcoal."

Laurel responded and went to get busy.

As soon as the maid stepped out of the inner room, Mingyi immediately raised her hand, sweeping away the tea and snacks on the low table, and then fell off the bed herself.

She closed her eyes and counted silently.

Before she had even finished counting five numbers, the man who was about to leave turned back, pushed open the door, and walked quickly to her.

He bent down, picked her up, and pulled her into his arms.

Mingyi raised her hand to hug his neck, looked up at him, and showed surprise.

Zong Xian gently placed her between his legs, holding her tightly in his arms. He frowned slightly, his eyes filled with heartache and guilt. "Why were you so reckless? Are you hurt anywhere?"

Mingyi bit her lower lip lightly, lowered her eyes, and shook her head.

Hearing the commotion, Yuegui arrived late and saw a mess on the ground, as well as a man with an unusually gentle expression.

The next moment, Zong Xian glanced over and said coldly, "You little brat, how do you serve your master?!"

Yuegui knelt down with a thud, offering no explanation: "Second Master, spare my life!"

Mingyi extended her pale palm and gently covered his clenched fist, her voice soft and gentle: "My lord, please don't blame her. It was my own carelessness. Yuegui has been with me since childhood, we're like sisters. Please don't be angry with her, okay?"

The girl's voice was soft, and her fingertips gently touched the back of his hand. How could he possibly be angry at all?

My heart is almost melting completely.

Zong Xian feigned a stern rebuke: "This is a one-time exception. You may leave."

As if granted a pardon, Yuegui bowed her head and retreated, gently closing the door behind her.

Zong Xian immediately reached out and pretended to lift the girl's skirt.

Mingyi was startled and instinctively grabbed her skirt. "What are you doing, my lord?"

Zong Xian met her resistant and flustered eyes and said helplessly, "In your eyes, am I just a lecherous man who doesn't care about the occasion? Just look at the injury on your leg."

Mingyi finally felt relieved and let him lift her skirt and roll up her trousers.

Her legs were slender and fair, but her knees were red, swollen, and purple, like a blemish on a white wall, glaring and heartbreaking.

These are real injuries sustained from kneeling on the cold winter bricks.

Zong Xian's eyes darkened, tinged with a fierce aura, but his face remained expressionless as he took out a box of top-quality jade skin cream.

Lightly rub your fingertips over the red and swollen area, slowly making circular motions.

The room was warm and cozy, filled with the subtle fragrance of medicine, creating a gentle and intimate atmosphere.

He was looking at her injury, and she was staring at him.

Each had their own thoughts.

Mingyi watched indifferently.

How strange! It's amazing that someone as cold and cruel as Zong Xian could have such a considerate side.

He fell in love with her.

Mingyi's mind was as clear as a mirror, yet at this moment he felt only utter irony.

In a daze, the scene from Baixianglou suddenly surged back to me.

That day, he forcibly stopped her, cutting off her escape route back to Qingzhou to find Xie Huaiyu, and forcefully confined her to a small space.

He forced her back onto the bed, leaning down to crush all her struggles and hopes, his eyes filled with chilling coldness and mockery:

"Let me tell you, sincerity is the cheapest thing in the world, because people's hearts are fickle and no one can be trusted."

"Do you think Xie Huaiyu will distance himself from you now that he knows we've slept together? Will your relationship last?"

"Can your affection truly withstand such a test? I doubt it!"

He not only sneered at her and Xie Huaiyu, but also did not believe that there was such a thing as unwavering devotion in this world.

Arrogance and conceit, cold-heartedness and ungratefulness are not enough to describe even a tenth of his nature.

But ironically, even someone like that can fall in love.

Yesterday he scorned true feelings, today he is deeply in love; such contradictions are truly laughable.

Should she also mock him for his cheap affection?

However, a powerful minister like him, who prioritizes personal gain, is calculating in his choices, and his affections are inherently unreliable and cheap.

The pity he feels right now may be genuine, but once it conflicts with his sense of power and the bigger picture, he will ultimately abandon this feeling without hesitation.

She just needs his affection right now.

She wanted to exploit his feelings to achieve her goal.

...

Zong Xian, of course, had no idea what she was thinking. He looked up and saw her staring at him intently, and smiled slightly, "Why is Jiao Jiao staring at me like that?"

"I just didn't expect that you would come to see me."

Zong Xian carefully applied the ointment to her and gently lowered her clothes, his movements gentle and meticulous, without any imperfections.

He then raised his hand to stroke her face and said gently, "Are you looking forward to my arrival?"

Mingyi nestled into his arms, "You're not angry with me anymore, sir?"

This means bowing your head and begging for mercy.

The last trace of resentment in Zong Xian's heart completely vanished. He tightened his arms around the girl's slender waist, lifted her face, and placed a kiss on her forehead. "As long as you don't mention him again and stay quietly by my side, I will never be angry with you again."

The "he" in this context refers to Xie Huaiyu.

He was indeed tempted.

Mingyi softly agreed, "Let's not talk about the past."

The girl's eyes were full of tenderness, and she clung to him so affectionately; how could anyone not love her?

Zong Xian gently touched the tip of her round, delicate nose, his tone unconsciously softening: "By the way, I have some good news to tell you."

Mingyi looked up: "What happy occasion?"

"I plan to take you in first and give you a formal status."

Zong Xian looked quietly into her eyes, "Are you happy?"

A hint of panic flashed in Mingyi's eyes, her eyelashes trembled slightly, and she feigned hesitation, avoiding his gaze: "The princess hasn't even entered the house yet, isn't this inappropriate? If word gets out, it won't look good for the official's reputation or the princess's face."

Her demeanor was timid yet sensible, as if she were genuinely considering his best interests.

When Zong Xian heard this refusal, he simply thought she was overthinking things and was timid and afraid of trouble.

He raised his hand, pinched her chin, and lifted it slightly, his tone arrogant: "What's wrong with that?"

"I know what I'm doing in this household. Just answer me. Do you agree or not?"