The legitimate daughter returns to the capital and embarks on a splendid life, tearing apart the fak

Before Yun Jin could react, Xiao Jingyan leaned forward slightly, his gaze locking onto her eyes. His voice lowered, carrying a hint of seduction: "I know your secret, but at least I won't harm you. Besides, I can help you."

Yun Jin's heart skipped a beat, and she leaned back to create some distance: "Why did Your Highness help me?"

This statement is tantamount to an admission of the "secret" that Xiao Jingyan mentioned.

Xiao Jingyan stared at her for a long time, then suddenly smiled. His smile held a hint of wickedness and nonchalance, like he was teasing a ruffled kitten.

"you guess."

Yun Jin took a deep breath, suppressing her panic, and forced a weak smile: "It can't be that the Prince has taken a liking to me..."

Xiao Jingyan leaned back in his chair, arms crossed, looking at her with a faint smile playing on his lips: "Why not?"

Yun Jin choked on her saliva and started coughing uncontrollably.

Xiao Jingyan sighed, reached out to pat her back, but continued, "Is it necessary to be so excited about being noticed by me?"

While coughing, Yun Jin thought to herself: Could Chen Mengyao really be right?

She finally managed to stop coughing, took the water Xiao Jingyan handed her, took a sip, calmed herself down, and then looked at him, speaking as calmly as possible: "Your Highness is joking, I won't take it seriously."

Xiao Jingyan leaned back in his chair, arms crossed, the smile never fading from his lips. He looked at her, his gaze a mixture of amusement and seriousness: "You think I'm joking?"

Yun Jin lowered her eyes, avoiding his alluring gaze: "Your Highness is of noble birth, while I am but an ordinary young lady, unworthy of your status."

"To climb the social ladder?" Xiao Jingyan chuckled softly, his laughter low and languid. "What if I don't care?"

Yun Jin looked up and met his gaze, her heart in turmoil.

She didn't know what Prince Yu was trying to do—helping her, giving her pearls, and getting her out of a predicament at the palace banquet, and now saying such things.

She didn't believe in love at first sight, and she certainly didn't believe that someone like Prince Yu would be kind to a woman for no reason.

"Your Highness," she took a deep breath, trying to make her voice sound calm, "what exactly do you want to say?"

Xiao Jingyan stared at her for a long time, then suddenly sat up straight, placed his hands on the table, and showed a rare serious expression.

"What I want to say is very simple." He looked into her eyes and said, word by word, "Marry me, and I will protect you completely. That includes your mother and your brother. I will avenge the grievances you suffered in the Yun family. I will investigate Liu Zhixue's matter for you. Whatever business you want to do, I will pave the way for you. As long as I want, you can do whatever you want in this capital."

Yun Jin was stunned.

She had considered what Prince Yu might say, but she hadn't expected him to be so direct. Each and every one of his points struck a chord with her. He knew everything she needed.

"You don't need to worry about anyone's opinion," Xiao Jingyan continued, his tone calm yet carrying an undeniable authority. "In the Prince Yu's residence, you are my principal wife, my only mistress. No one dares to bully you, no one dares to scheme against you. You can do whatever you want, and I won't stop you."

Yun Jin opened her mouth, wanting to say something, but found that she didn't know what to say.

Xiao Jingyan looked at her, a half-smile playing on his lips again: "So? Think about it?"

Yun Jin took a deep breath, trying to appear calm: "Your Highness, marriage is a serious matter, not a game. You should know that before my mother married Yun Heting, he also promised to be with her for life, but he didn't keep his promise. So now..." she hesitated, "I don't want to get married for the time being."

Xiao Jingyan nodded, without refuting: "That's why I didn't ask you to agree now."

He stood up, picked up the cloak draped over the back of the chair, and put it on. "Take your time to think it over. I'm not in a hurry."

He walked to the door, then suddenly stopped and looked back at her. His gaze was no longer as nonchalant as before; instead, it held a hint of seriousness.

"Yun Jin," he called her by her full name for the first time, his voice low but clear, "I keep my word. If you are unwilling, I will not force you. But if you are willing..." He paused, "I will certainly not let you down."

After saying that, he pushed open the door and went out.

Yun Jin sat there, staring at the closed door, without moving for a long time.

Lan Qi peeked out from the stairwell and, seeing that Prince Yu had left, hurriedly ran in and asked in a low voice, "Jin'er, what did Prince Yu say to you? He didn't make things difficult for you, did he?"

Yun Jin shook her head, stood up, and straightened her clothes: "Uncle, I'll go back first."

Lan Qi noticed that she didn't look well and was a little worried. Knowing that she didn't want to talk, he didn't ask any more questions. After seeing her downstairs, he had her sign the agreement at the front desk before letting her leave.

Yun Jin carefully put away the agreement, went out, got into the carriage, leaned against the carriage wall, closed her eyes, but her mind was in complete turmoil.

She didn't understand why Xiao Jingyan would suddenly say such things to her. She believed that if he wanted to protect her, he could definitely do it.

Why?

If Prince Yu wishes to marry, there are plenty of noble ladies in the capital willing to do so.

But why her?

She opened her eyes, lifted the carriage curtain, and looked at the street scene outside. Because of the drop in temperature, there were few pedestrians on the street, and those who did pass by were in a hurry.

A gust of cool wind swept over her, and she shivered. She quickly lowered the carriage curtain and wrapped her clothes tighter around herself.

She remembered what Chen Mengyao had said—"Prince Yu is not a good person, stay away from him."

However, the feeling she got from Prince Yu was different from what was rumored outside.

Why did he do that?

She thought and thought, but couldn't come up with an answer.

The carriage stopped at the side gate of the Yun residence. Yun Jin got out of the carriage and quietly slipped inside with Chunxi.

She first went to Qingshuiyuan to pay her respects to Chu Wanqing.

Chu Wanqing was leaning against the couch reading a book when she saw her return. She put down her book and asked with concern, "What's wrong? You don't look well."

Yun Jin shook her head, sat down next to Chu Wanqing, leaned on her shoulder, and said softly, "Mother, I'm fine, just a little tired."

Chu Wanqing touched her forehead; it wasn't hot, so she felt relieved and asked, "How did your talk with your cousin go?"

Yun Jin nodded: "That's good. I've discussed cooperation with him."

Chu Wanqing didn't ask for details, but gently patted her hand: "As long as you know what I mean. If you're tired, go home and rest early."

Yun Jin responded, leaned against the railing for a while, and then got up and returned to Jinshu Pavilion.

She lay in bed, staring at the top of the tent, her mind replaying Xiao Jingyan's words from earlier that day.

I thought about it for a long time but still couldn't figure it out, so I simply stopped thinking about it.

She pulled the blanket over her head and went to sleep!

Just as I was drifting off to sleep, there was a sudden, urgent knocking at the door, followed by Chunxi's voice:

"Miss! Shi Yong is here, he says it's urgent!"

Yun Jin suddenly opened her eyes, put on her clothes, got up, and quickly walked to the outer room.

Chunxi has already lit the lamps.

"Let him in." Yun Jin sat down in the chair and straightened her clothes.

Shi Yong burst in, his face grave and his forehead beaded with sweat, clearly having run there.

He didn't even bother to bow, and said in a low voice, "Miss, something has happened."