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

Yun Jin looked at Xiao Jingyan, and something seemed to be slowly melting in her heart.

For a prince bound by feudal ethics to go to such lengths for her, traveling thousands of miles back to petition the emperor for a title for her and even obtaining a decree of marriage with an empty date, promising not to force her into marriage.

He had made two preparations. Fearing that she might reject his proposal, he first obtained the title of County Princess. Even if she didn't marry him, with this title, she wouldn't be looked down upon in the capital anymore.

It would be a lie to say she wasn't moved. But a question remained unanswered, and she finally asked, "Your Highness, why? Why does Your Highness treat me differently?"

Xiao Jingyan didn't answer immediately, but remained silent for a long time. So long that Yun Jin thought he wouldn't answer, he finally spoke, "I know you're not her."

These words struck Yun Jin like a thunderbolt, leaving her trembling with fear. If she hadn't seen that his favorability rating hadn't dropped, she would have almost doubted that her identity had been exposed.

She lowered her eyes, picked up her teacup, took a sip, and used the rim of the cup to hide the fleeting panic in her eyes.

When she raised her head again, a faint smile was on her face: "What did Your Highness say? This humble woman does not understand."

Xiao Jingyan looked at her, as if he were seeing another person through her.

A slight smile played on his lips, a hint of relief in his expression: "It doesn't matter. If it were her, I probably wouldn't have done that."

Yun Jin guessed that he was referring to the original owner of this body, not herself. But she really knew nothing about their past interactions.

She thought for a moment and decided to ask from a different angle: "Did Your Highness visit Qingping County when you were a child?"

Xiao Jingyan was silent for a moment, then nodded: "Yes."

Yun Jin looked at him and replied with a smile, "Then I understand. Your Highness, I had a high fever once when I was a child, which lasted for several days, and I can't remember many things before that. So I've forgotten how we met. Would Your Highness mind telling me?"

She appeared calm, but she seemed somewhat guilty.

Xiao Jingyan looked at her, a complex emotion flashing in his eyes. He was silent for a moment, then shook his head: "Since you've forgotten, let's not talk about it."

Yun Jin was furious. Why keep me in suspense? Can't you just tell the truth? She said defiantly, "If Your Highness doesn't tell me, how will I know if you've mistaken me for someone else? What if I find out I've mistaken you for someone else and regret it later? Fine, Your Highness won't tell me then."

You should return this imperial edict to His Majesty. First, I don't want to be anyone's substitute. Second, I don't want to share a man with any woman. Third…”

She thought for a moment, but couldn't think of a third reason, so she added confidently, "I haven't thought of a third one yet. I'll talk about it when I do."

Looking at her like this, Xiao Jingyan couldn't help but smile. His smile held a hint of helplessness, a touch of doting, and a hint of inexplicable heartache.

He sighed, leaned back in his chair, and finally spoke slowly, "Alright. Then I'll tell you a story."

"My father and mother have not been interested in court affairs or state matters for many years. My mother likes to travel around and says she doesn't like being confined to the inner quarters, and my father also dotes on her."

So after they got married, my father took my mother everywhere, and I was even born on the road.

Since I was born, I have traveled to many places with them and met many people.

I was seven years old that year. When we passed through Qingping County, my father had some business to attend to and stayed in the county town for a few days.

I went hunting in the mountains with my mother. I was playing and chased a rabbit, then got separated from them. The mountains were dense, the trees tall and the forest deep; I got lost and wandered around for a long time, unable to find my way down. Later, as it was getting dark, I encountered a wolf.

The wolf wasn't big, but I only had a short knife for self-defense, and I was no match for it. I thought I was going to die.

He paused, a slight smile playing on his lips. "Then a little girl appeared. She carried a bamboo basket on her back and held a handful of dirt in her hand, which she threw at the wolf. The wolf's eyes were blinded, and she grabbed my hand and ran."

A blurry image suddenly flashed through Yun Jin's mind: a dense forest, wolves, and two small hands clasped together.

The image was blurry, flashing by so quickly that she couldn't even catch a complete picture.

She led me to a riverbank, where there was a hornet's nest. The wolf was chasing after us. She picked up a stone from the ground, knocked the hornet's nest down, and pushed me into the river.

Then she jumped into the water herself, and the wolf was stung by the wasps and ran away. When we came out of the river after the wolf had run far away, I saw the huge bump on her face.

He gestured with his hand, his tone tinged with a hint of heartache, "I asked her if it hurt, and she smiled and told me it didn't hurt at all."

Yun Jin felt as if something had struck her heart hard.

She recalled those blurry fragments of the original owner's memories: high fever, coma, and waking up with no recollection of anything. Those forgotten memories, it turned out, held such a story.

Xiao Jingyan continued, "I asked her what her name was, and she said it was Yun Jin. She was very thin, and her clothes were worn out, but I remember her eyes."

He looked at Yun Jin with a deep gaze, as if looking through her at the little girl from many years ago who was soaking wet but smiled and said "it doesn't hurt".

"She led me down the mountain and took me to an inn where I met up with my father and mother. Before she left, I gave her a box of ointment to apply to the spot where I had been stung by wasps. I also arranged to meet her at the inn the next day to treat her to a meal and thank her properly. But she didn't come the next day. My father received a letter from my uncle saying that there was an urgent matter that required him to return to the capital, so we left that very day."

Yun Jin was silent for a moment, then said softly, "I have some fragments of memories in my mind, only dense forests, wolves, wasps, and running. After returning that day, I had a fever for several days, and I was delirious with fever. When I woke up, I couldn't remember many things. If it weren't for the medicine you gave me, I probably wouldn't have made it. It must have been that fever that made me forget some things."

Xiao Jingyan looked at her and suddenly spoke, his voice tinged with anticipation: "Now, do you still want to marry me?"

Yun Jin didn't rush to answer, but looked at him seriously: "Your Highness, may I ask you a few questions?"

Xiao Jingyan nodded: "Ask away."

"There are so many women in the Prince's mansion. If I marry you, I won't have to listen to them, will I?"

Xiao Jingyan laughed. She was jealous, and jealousy meant she cared. He explained with a smile, "The women in the manor are just decorations, a cover for others. I can make them leave at any time."

Yun Jin raised an eyebrow: "Are you willing to part with it?"

Xiao Jingyan gave a wry smile: "I haven't even touched them, what's there to be reluctant about?"

Yun Jin looked at him and asked again, "What about that Miss Qing? Is she the same?"

Xiao Jingyan paused for a moment, then shook his head: "She is not. Her father was my deputy general, a brave and skilled warrior who died on the battlefield. Before he died, he entrusted her to me."

Yun Jin pouted, her tone tinged with a hint of coquetry, "So you just took her into your room?"