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

The next morning, Yun Jin changed her clothes, tied "Kneeling is easy" bandages to her knees, and then went to have breakfast with Chu Wanqing.

After finishing her meal, she put down her chopsticks and casually mentioned, "Mother, I am going to the palace today to express my gratitude."

Chu Wanqing paused, picked up a handkerchief and touched the corner of her mouth, saying solemnly, "Mother will go with you. There are many rules in the palace, and I'm worried about you going alone. Although you are now a county princess, which of those concubines in the palace isn't shrewd? What if someone tries to trip you up..."

As she spoke, she stood up to change her clothes.

"Mother." Yun Jin reached out and pressed her hand on the back of hers. After hesitating for a moment, she still said truthfully, "His Highness Prince Yu will accompany his daughter."

Chu Wanqing paused slightly, remained silent for a while, and then sighed softly, saying, "It's good to have him by your side. At least he can protect you."

Yun Jin didn't explain much, but simply shook her mother's hand, stood up, bowed, and left Qingshui Garden.

Yun Jin walked through the covered corridor and saw a blue-curtained carriage parked outside the side gate in the distance.

Xiao Jingyan was leaning against the car wall, resting with his eyes closed. Hearing footsteps, he opened his eyes, lifted the curtain, and held out his hand to her: "Get in!"

Yun Jin placed her hand in his palm, used the leverage to get into the carriage, and sat down opposite him. While unbuttoning her cloak, she asked softly, "Have you been waiting long?"

"No, it just arrived." Xiao Jingyan handed over a package of oil paper. "This was specially brought to you by my mother. She said that girls this age love to eat this."

Yun Jin took it, opened the oil paper package, and saw that it contained osmanthus cake, which was still steaming.

She picked up a piece and put it in her mouth, her eyes unconsciously narrowing: "Delicious, please thank the old princess for me."

"She said there's no need to thank me." Xiao Jingyan leaned against the carriage wall, looking at her with a mischievous glint in his eyes. "She also said that if you really want to thank her, you should marry into the family and call her 'Mother Consort' as soon as possible. That would be better than anything else."

Yun Jin almost choked on a piece of pastry because of his words. She coughed twice, picked up her teacup and took a big gulp before she could catch her breath.

She looked up and glared at Xiao Jingyan, but her ears involuntarily turned red. She squeezed out two words through gritted teeth: "You're annoying."

Xiao Jingyan chuckled softly, reached out and patted her back, his tone full of affection: "Eat slowly, it's all yours."

Yun Jin rolled her eyes at him again, stuffed the remaining half of the pastry into her mouth, picked up her teacup, took a sip, and asked casually, "Did you mention me to your mother?"

Xiao Jingyan nodded: "I've mentioned it."

Yun Jin looked at him speechlessly. Couldn't he say a few more words?

She gritted her teeth and finally asked, "What...what does your mother think of me?"

Xiao Jingyan reached out and took her hand in his, kneading her fingers. He looked up at her, his gaze gentle yet earnest: "She heard that you are the girl who saved me back then, and she told me that I must repay her with my body."

Yun Jin's eyes widened instantly, and she blurted out, "Impossible!"

Would Princess Yi be so unreliable?

Xiao Jingyan immediately dropped his playful expression and said seriously, "I'm telling the truth, my mother really said that."

Yun Jin looked at his expression, which was so sincere it couldn't be more sincere, and her lips twitched.

Well, it seems this future mother-in-law is indeed as rumored—unconcerned with details.

She immediately developed a strong interest in this future mother-in-law she had never met, wondering when she would be able to meet her.

Just as she had this thought, Xiao Jingyan said, "When we return from the palace later, I will take you back to the manor to meet my mother."

Yun Jin's expression froze, and she asked in surprise, "Today?"

"Scared?" Xiao Jingyan ruffled her hair, a slight smile playing on his lips. "Don't worry, my mother is a very kind person. She'll like you a lot. Besides, she's even prepared a gift for our first meeting. You can't let her prepare it for nothing."

Yun Jin turned her head to avoid his hand, quickly raised her hand to touch her hair, and glared at him reproachfully: "Don't mess up my hair, we have to go to the palace later!"

Xiao Jingyan withdrew his hand and watched her hurriedly tidy her hair, unable to hide the smile in his eyes.

The carriage soon stopped at the palace gate. The two got off the carriage and followed the young eunuch who was leading the way, walking step by step towards the Qianqing Palace.

Inside the Qianqing Palace, the emperor had just finished the morning court session and had breakfast, and was reviewing memorials.

Fu Lai tiptoed in and bowed, saying, "Your Majesty, His Highness Prince Yu has come with the Princess of Ninghai to express our gratitude."

The emperor raised his eyes, a hint of interest flashing in them. He had seen Yun Jin once before at the victory banquet, but he hadn't had a deep impression of her then. She was just an adopted daughter of the Yun family; why should he be saddened by her?

But after hearing so much about this girl recently, he suddenly became curious about her.

That's why I asked Fu Lai to help me figure out what kind of personality she had. When Fu Lai returned to report that day, he said that the girl was impulsive and naive, but Prince Yu was very fond of her.

The emperor was skeptical. Could the girl that Xiao Jingyan had taken a liking to really just be a country girl?

He put down his vermilion brush, straightened his cuffs, and said calmly, "Let them in."

Yun Jin followed Xiao Jingyan into the hall, curiously peeking at the emperor on the dragon throne, only to meet his scrutinizing eyes.

Seeing the 15% favorability rating floating above the emperor's head, she had a better idea of ​​what was going on; as long as it wasn't negative, it was fine.

She feigned panic and knelt down with a thud, loudly proclaiming, "Your subject, Yun Jin, pays her respects to Your Majesty! Long live the Emperor! May Your Majesty enjoy boundless blessings and live as long as the heavens!"

As she knelt down, she couldn't help but think to herself, "Luckily I prepared in advance, otherwise my knees really wouldn't have been able to take it."

Upon hearing her words, Xiao Jingyan was taken aback at first, then lowered his head, hiding the smile in his eyes, and also bowed: "Uncle Emperor, Jingyan has brought Ninghai to pay his respects to you today."

The emperor twitched his lips. This girl was indeed as Fu had said, somewhat... well, straightforward.

But his doubts remained, and a gentle smile appeared on his face as he looked at the two of them: "Rise."

"Thank you, Your Majesty!" Yun Jin quickly stood up, but she moved so fast that she almost stepped on her own skirt.

She quickly steadied herself and instinctively reached out to support Xiao Jingyan beside her. Xiao Jingyan was slightly swayed by her sudden pull, but quickly regained his balance and grabbed her elbow.

She quickly said to him, "I'm sorry, Your Highness, I didn't mean it."

After saying that, she remembered that she was in front of the emperor, so she quickly turned around and gave the emperor an embarrassed smile. When she saw that the emperor's favorability rating had increased to 28%, she felt even more relaxed.

Xiao Jingyan suppressed a laugh and looked at the Emperor: "Uncle, Jin'er is innocent by nature, and it's her first time meeting you, so it's understandable that she's a little nervous. You are a magnanimous person and will certainly not hold it against her."

Yun Jin nodded repeatedly, looked up at the emperor, and earnestly explained, "Yes, Your Majesty, this is my first time meeting you, and I was indeed a little nervous, overwhelmed by your imperial might. Also... it's just that I grew up in the countryside and haven't learned any etiquette. But rest assured, I... ah, no, I will definitely study etiquette diligently when I get back."

Fu Lai, standing nearby, broke out in a cold sweat and quickly whispered a reminder: "Princess, you mustn't look directly at His Majesty!"

Yun Jin suddenly realized, said "Oh", and quickly lowered her head, then knelt down again with a thud, saying loudly, "Your Majesty, please forgive me. I didn't know I shouldn't look at you. You are a magnanimous person, please don't... please don't hold it against me."