2. A Sudden Enlightenment

ances, she would never act recklessly without clarifying the situation first. Since this wasn’t a dream and there were no ghosts during broad daylight, it must be a real person. As her mind gradually...Chapter 2: Sudden Enlightenment

No sound was heard from behind the screen, indicating that Rong Jing had already changed his clothes, but he did not come out immediately after Yun Qianyue spoke.

Yun Qianyue's expression turned somewhat unpleasant; she had forgotten about a woman’s menstrual period since coming to this world. Where could one inquire about such matters from others She looked up at the screen and took a deep breath. Since losing face was inevitable, what difference would it make if she did so again She called out softly, "Aunt Zhao, please come in for a moment."

"Miss, Aunt Zhao is in the kitchen! What can I do for you" Cai Lian's voice came from outside.

"You won't do. Go get Aunt Zhao!" Yun Qianyue thought that Cai Lian was younger than her and probably didn’t understand such things either.

"Yes, Miss!" With some puzzlement, Cai Lian still followed orders.

Yun Qianyue used the quilt to cover herself and waited quietly. Rong Jing behind the screen also seemed quite patient.

Soon, Aunt Zhao entered through the door. She glanced around the room in surprise at not seeing Rong Jing. She then asked softly, "Is Miss looking for me"

"You... what do you use when you come to that..." Yun Qianyue pulled Aunt Zhao closer and whispered.

"What is Miss referring to" Aunt Zhao was puzzled.

"That thing... the thing women have..." Yun Qianyue spoke in an extremely low voice, but the room was so quiet she felt her words were still clear.

“The thing women have” Aunt Zhao couldn't think of what exactly Yun meant and was confused.

"Oh, it's menstruation. What do you use when your menstruation comes" Yun Qianyue decided to just let it out. She didn’t lower her voice anymore. Since the black-hearted fellow already knew about this, she had nothing left to fear.

“Ah! Miss is talking about menstruation, right Does Miss have her period now This is great news!” Aunt Zhao suddenly understood and showed a joyful expression.

Yun Qianyue looked up at the ceiling. Was there anything to be happy about for this matter She said clearly word by word, "Don't get too excited yet. I asked you what kind of thing do I need" This was the first time she realized that having someone clever around was truly important!

"Miss, wait a moment. Old servant will fetch it for you." Aunt Zhao left quickly with satisfaction.

Yun Qianyue held the quilt and waited again.

A short time later, Aunt Zhao returned with something in her hand, possibly a cloth bag of some sort. She swiftly walked to the bedside and handed Yun Qianyue the bag. “Use this.”

"This" Yun Qianyue took it with both hands, eyes wide open. "Can you use this thing"

“It can be used! Old servant thought Miss would soon reach adulthood and her menstruation should have come by now, so I prepared many of these for Miss in advance. The one that Miss uses is stuffed with cotton; it's soft and good quality, better than the ones made from chaff we use. Those are much worse…” Aunt Zhao hurriedly explained.

Yun Qianyue stared at the bag in her hands speechlessly for a long while before she could say anything.

"Miss" Aunt Zhao looked at Yun Qianyue.

“How long can I use this” Yun Qianyue asked again.

“About half a day. It depends on how heavy your menstrual flow is. If it's heavier, then maybe an hour or so; if lighter, you could last for half a day,” Aunt Zhao replied.

Her period had already soaked through the sheets and stained both her clothes and Rong Jing’s. Was that considered a lot of blood It seemed to be around an hour's duration. Also, this was something Aunt Zhao had made by hand without sterilization; it wasn't clean. Yun Qianyue felt like crying.

“Miss isn’t satisfied” Aunt Zhao looked somewhat at a loss as she stared at Yun Qianyue.

Yun Qianyue closed her eyes, thinking that this was ancient times and it was already good to have something. She couldn't ask for too much, like sanitary napkins. When she opened her eyes again, she shook her head to Aunt Zhao, “I am satisfied. You can go now. I will use this.”

“Okay! Old servant will inform the old Prince and the Prince immediately,” said Aunt Zhao as she turned around and walked out.

"Wait a moment... you're going to tell my grandfather and father" Yun Qianyue was startled. Did one need to announce it to everyone

“Miss’s menstruation is good news. As Miss has noble status, naturally we should inform the old Prince and the Prince. This is something that must be recorded in the household's annals,” Aunt Zhao replied immediately.

"Then you go ahead," Yun Qianyue felt somewhat helpless.

Aunt Zhao thought it was probably because this was Miss’s first time, causing her to be uncomfortable. She smiled and comforted her for a moment more. "Once your period comes, you'll become an adult." Leaving the room under the rain, she hurried toward Prince Yun's yard.

Yun Qianyue watched Zhao Mama run out of the Qingyue Pavilion happily. She then turned her gaze to the bag in her hand and struggled for a moment before putting it down, quickly changing into clothes. Once everything was taken care of, she put on her shoes and got off the bed. Looking at the messy bed with scattered clothing, including Rong Jing’s brocade robe which he had thrown on the floor, she called out to the screen behind her in an unhappy tone, "You can come out now!"

Rong Jing slowly walked out from behind the screen, his jade-like face slightly blushing.

Yun Qianyue rolled her eyes and pointed at the clothes on the floor irritably. "What am I supposed to do with your robe" she asked. Surely he didn’t expect someone else to take it away for washing in a moment, right Wasn’t that embarrassing enough already

"You can put it aside first; there’s no need to wash it," Rong Jing suggested.

“When are you planning to leave and return to your own residence” Yun Qianyue asked.

"Although your wound has healed on the surface, it may take a few more days for complete recovery," replied Rong Jing.

"Then I’ll put it away first. You should stay in the next room tonight and not in my quarters anymore," Yun Qianyue said.

Rong Jing nodded readily this time, saying, "Okay!"

Yun Qianyue snorted and bent down to pick up the clothes on the floor, stuffing them into her dresser. Rong Jing’s eyes flickered as he slowly walked over to sit at the table, his gaze never leaving Yun Qianyue.

After closing the cabinet door, she turned around, meeting Rong Jing's eyes directly. She felt that her own skin was thick enough, but still not as thick as this man’s. Before she could speak, he said seriously, "Since you… you should go back and lie down!"

"I won’t die," Yun Qianyue glared at him coldly.

Rong Jing's face showed a hint of discomfort as he covered his mouth with his hand and cleared his throat lightly, then looked out the window without speaking further.

Yun Qianyue went to the bed, removed all bedding, and carried them in her arms. She walked quickly to the door, opened it, and threw everything into Cai Lian’s arms. "Take these to be washed."

"Yes!" Cai Lian thought that she had just washed these sheets but did not dare say anything; instead, she hurriedly accepted them.

"Inform the kitchen to prepare a pot of chicken soup for your mistress," Rong Jing’s voice echoed out.

Cai Lian was startled and almost dropped what she held in her hand. Her little face turned pale as she looked at Yun Qianyue.

Seeing Cai Lian's reaction, Yun Qianyue knew that the girl had misunderstood something. Thinking to herself how ancient people were indeed mature for their age, even a 12 or 13-year-old understood more than her did. She glared at Rong Jing and said irritably to Cai Lian, "What nonsense are you thinking My menstrual period has come."

Cai Lian suddenly understood and felt slightly apologetic as she looked at Yun Qianyue; her face flushed red as she nodded. “I’ll go right away!” With that said, she held the things tightly and ran off.

Yun Qianyue watched Cai Lian run into the rain, where droplets pattered on her body, making her small figure shrink under the fine rain curtain. She took a deep breath of fresh air and turned back to enter the room.

"Let’s change your dressing," Rong Jing said as Yun Qianyue entered, his face returning to its usual calm tone as he spoke softly.

“Alright,” Yun Qianyue nodded without being overly delicate. Women have their moments of awkwardness; if she were to be embarrassed all the time, how could she survive in this world She called out to Tingshuai and Tingyu who hurriedly brought warm water inside.

Yun Qianyue sat on a soft couch as Rong Jing rolled up his sleeves and began changing her dressing. The bandages were pulled open, revealing that the wound had indeed started scabbing over, just as Rong Jing said – it was still only healing on the surface. It would take several more days for complete recovery, but this was already enough to impress Yun Qianyue with his medical skills; they really weren’t something to be trifled with. She couldn’t help praising him, saying, "Your medical skills are truly excellent. In case of future injuries, I’ll have to rely on you."

Rong Jing paused for a moment and said in a solemn tone, “Stop talking nonsense and don’t let yourself get hurt again.”

Yun Qianyue rolled her eyes again, snorting. "Don’t forget how I got injured in the first place; it was because of you! If you weren’t so foolish, would I have been injured"

Rong Jing fell silent for a moment before saying, “I promise not to be foolish anymore, and thus you mustn't get hurt again.”

“Is what you say the law Who are you to me” Yun Qianyue snorted sarcastically. Seeing Rong Jing pause in his actions, she urged him impatiently, "Quickly now; I’m starving. Hurry up so I can eat."

Rong Jing looked at her deeply for a moment and then suddenly lowered his head, somewhat self-deprecatingly saying, “You’re right; you are no one to me. Feel free to injure yourself as much as you like from now on except this time; after today, I won’t care about your life anymore.”

Yun Qianyue was shaken in her heart.

Rong Jing’s movements were swift and efficient as he finished cleaning, dressing, and bandaging the wound. He then stood up without looking at her, stepping towards the door.

Yun Qianyue was startled and asked, "Where are you going"

Rong Jing did not speak; he lifted the curtain and left the room, walking into the rain.

Yun Qianyue didn't hesitate and chased after him, rushing out of the room. Raindrops pelted her body as she closed her eyes uncomfortably before reopening them again. She stretched out a hand to grab Rong Jing's sleeve and said angrily, "Can't you see it's raining Where are you going"

"Back to my residence!" Rong Jing spat out two words without looking at Yun Qianyue.

"Didn't you say that you were returning in a couple of days Why do you want to leave now" Yun Qianyue asked.

"I don't even have the relationship with you of half a tael of silver. I am not your anyone, so why should I stay here Do you think I'm idle and would rather live in my own residence but come here to suffer your disdainful looks This Young Master is not that cheap." Rong Jing shrugged off Yun Qianyue's grip and, with an expressionless face, threw out a sentence as he took steps toward the exit. A dense curtain of rain enveloped him; his moon-white brocade robe was dotted instantly by fine droplets.

Yun Qianyue opened her mouth but didn't make any sound. She stood rooted to that spot and watched Rong Jing leave without moving at all.

"Miss..." Tingshuo and Tingyu, who had been attending inside the room, were startled when the two suddenly quarreled over nothing and started arguing. They quickly followed after them. They saw Rong Jing leaving while Yun Qianyue stood in the rain. Both of them hurriedly used their sleeves to shield Yun Qianyue from the rain.

Yun Qianyue watched as Rong Jing's figure left without looking back, her heart filled with a mix of annoyance and anger that she couldn't explain clearly. She felt like something was tying up her heart in knots; it could neither be spit out nor acted upon.

"Miss, it’s raining outside! Young Master Jing would catch a cold if he goes home now, you..." Tingshuo plucked up the courage to speak. These days she had felt that since Young Master Jing stayed in Miss's room day and night taking care of her, he must be fond of Miss. Although Miss seemed to despise him very much, she was willing to block his way when attacked with dark weapons. She thought they would get along well from now on but never expected something like this.

"Yes! Miss, Young Master Jing has always been weak; if he catches a cold in the rain..." Tingyu also spoke anxiously. She didn't understand why Miss and Young Master Jing would fight over nothing today, especially under such circumstances. Nobody liked to get wet in the rain.

"If you want him to go, let him! Back into the room!" Yun Qianyue suddenly said with hatred, pushing away Tingshuo and Tingyu as she entered the house quickly. She only followed after him because of her illness.

Tingyu and Tingshuo exchanged a glance then looked at the door, but there was no sign of Rong Jing anywhere. They hurried into the room.

Yun Qianyue sat on the soft couch when she entered, cursing him as 'crazy'. Then she remembered that what she said must have hurt him deeply. Although she used to insult and mock him worse than this many times in the past, today he snapped. She felt regretful but wouldn't chase after him again even if asked to do so. Her face was gloomy as she sat there, feeling rather frustrated.

Tingshuo and Tingyu entered the room and saw Yun Qianyue's gloomy expression; they exchanged glances and didn't dare say anything more.

"Miss, the food is ready. Shall I bring it to you" Cailian returned from the laundry room with some bedding and came into the room briskly. Not seeing Rong Jing, she looked surprised and asked: "Miss, where's Young Master Jing" She only noticed Yun Qianyue’s unhappy face then and immediately stopped speaking.

Yun Qianyue raised her head to glance at Cailian, telling her, "He has left. Give him an umbrella but don't say it was I who asked you."

Cailian was startled; she wasn’t very smart but could imagine that Miss and Young Master Jing had quarreled again from the situation. She nodded and quickly went out to return with an umbrella soon after.

Tingshuo and Tingyu secretly heaved a sigh of relief, thinking that their mistress still cared for Young Master Jing. They hoped that he would understand her.

Yun Qianyue thought he had taken care of her for two days; it was raining outside after all! She couldn't be too unfeeling toward him. It would be best if he left now, and she wished they could go their separate ways in the future. Although she thought that way, there was still an unpleasant feeling deep inside.

Before long, Cailian returned with the umbrella in her hand and timidly said to Yun Qianyue: "Miss, when I went out after him, Young Master Jing had already got into a carriage."

"Xiangge has returned" Yun Qianyue was surprised.

"It doesn’t seem like Xiangge was the one driving," Cailian shook her head.

Wasn't Xiangge Did he plan to leave long ago then Yun Qianyue told Cailian, "Go to the gate again and ask the guards when the carriage arrived at the entrance. Also, find out who was driving it."

"Yes!" Cailian turned around to walk away.

Yun Qianyue stood up in front of the window looking outside. At this moment, the fine rain suddenly started pouring heavily. She looked at the gray sky and felt her mood even grayer.

Tingshuo and Tingyu were standing by the door, not daring to breathe.

Before long Cailian returned under an umbrella again with a panting voice: "Miss, the carriage arrived just now. It’s said that it was driven by Lady Sun from the palace. When she got off the carriage upon her arrival and saw Young Master Jing leaving for his residence, she asked someone to drive him home on her behalf. She went to Lord Grand Duke first and said she would come here soon."

"Mm!" Yun Qianyue responded with no emotion. She thought he was lucky to have a ready carriage!

"Miss... what happened between you and Young Master Jing Do you want me to go after him again to give the umbrella" Cailian waited for some time without hearing anything from Yun Qianyue, so she whispered cautiously. As someone close to Miss, she was braver than Tingshuo and Tingyu.

"He’s already in a carriage; he doesn’t need an umbrella! Forget about it!" Yun Qianyue suddenly turned back around and thought that where did her anger come from Hadn't she always wished for this scoundrel to stay away from her Wasn’t him leaving better now With these thoughts, the annoyance dissipated. She suppressed the uneasiness in her heart and sat by the table, saying to Cailian: "I'm starving; bring me food quickly."

"Yes! Miss, I’ll go get your food." Cailian went out.

"We’ll go too!" Tingshuo and Tingyu followed her.

Before long the three of them brought the food in. Yun Qianyue picked up her chopsticks to eat but found that something was wrong with everything she tasted although she ate a lot until she couldn’t anymore before putting down her chopsticks. She heard footsteps entering Shanyue Hall and looked out of the window, seeing Mother Zhao leading Lady Sun walking in.

The two of them walked and laughed, their smiling old faces resembling flowers in bloom.

Looking at the pair of them, Yun Qianyue's mood suddenly improved. She waved dismissively to Cai Lian and others, saying, "Clear these away and bring a cup of hot tea for Grandmother Sun."

"Yes!" Cai Lian and the others quickly cleared the table and set out a cup of hot tea.

Outside the door, Grandmother Sun said respectfully, "Old servant is here to visit Miss Qianyue at Her Majesty's behest. I have also brought over the amulets Empress Mother had embroidered for Lady Wang."

"Come in!" Yun Qianyue spoke gently.

Zhao Mama stepped forward and lifted the curtain, allowing Grandmother Sun to enter with a box of brocade. She respectfully handed it to Yun Qianyue, who opened it and found inside seven amulets of varying sizes, intricately embroidered with exquisite craftsmanship. Praiseworthy, she asked, "All these are done by Empress Mother"

"They all come from Her Majesty's hand," Grandmother Sun replied earnestly. "Lady Wang’s memorial day is on the first day of July; it will be in two days. Miss Qianyue mustn't forget to burn this at her grave that night."

Where was her mother’s tomb Yun Qianyue remained nonchalant and nodded, "Understood! I won’t let Empress Mother worry about me."

"Old servant congratulates Miss Qianyue on becoming an adult! Once old servant returns to the palace and reports this to Her Majesty, she will surely be delighted," Grandmother Sun said with a grin.

Yun Qianyue rolled her eyes; she hadn’t expected ancient people to take such matters so seriously. She smiled and said, "Then I thank Grandmother Sun!"

"Miss Qianyue is too kind! Ever since you were injured, Her Majesty has been anxious day and night. As long as you recover soon, Empress Mother will be relieved, and old servant will also be happy," Grandmother Sun quickly said. Then she looked around and whispered, "Her Majesty has some private words to pass on."

"You may leave now!" Yun Qianyue gestured for Cai Lian and the others to depart.

Cai Lian, Ting Xue, Ting Yu, and Zhao Mama quickly left, closing the door behind them.

Grandmother Sun lowered her voice and said, "Empress Mother knows you don't want to enter the palace or marry Crown Prince. She doesn’t wish for you to step into a similar situation again. As for Viscount Jing… Empress Mother says he’s too good for his own good; fate is jealous of him. Therefore, after ten years of illness in bed, he only recovered half. Even if he fully recovers later on, due to his complicated nature, it would not be beneficial for you. Moreover, His Majesty's will is unpredictable. The Yong and Yun royal houses have stood for a hundred years; their branches are vast. Even if Viscount Jing loves you deeply, His Majesty will never allow the marriage between the two royal households. To avoid any future hardships for you, should you harbor feelings towards Viscount Jing, it would be best to cut them off entirely. Furthermore, Viscount Jing is exceptionally talented; and your reputation has caused you such burdens… If anything were to happen involving you and Viscount Jing, His Majesty will surely protect him at the expense of you. In that case, things might become irredeemable."

Yun Qianyue narrowed her eyes but remained silent.

Lifting her head slightly, Grandmother Sun continued, "If you truly like Master Rong Feng, Empress Mother agrees and is pleased. Although he's from the side branch of Prince’s Manor, after establishing his own household in Wenhao Marquis House, they have distanced themselves. Currently, only Rong Feng remains alone without much support behind him. If you were to marry him, everything would be simpler. Furthermore, Master Rong Feng returned to participate in the martial arts competition; regardless of who wins or loses with Little Prince Ran, he is likely to gain His Majesty's favor. Should he also love you, perhaps Empress Mother will agree for you to marry him."

Yun Qianyue remained silent.

Sensing the pressure from Yun Qianyue, Grandmother Sun, who had lived half her life in the palace, felt overwhelmed. She continued speaking softly, "Empress Mother says that your age is approaching womanhood; you must stop playing around now. Even if it looks like frivolity on the surface, you should have a plan in mind. No one can predict His Majesty's thoughts right now, but there’s one certainty: he watches over Yun Manor and Miss Qianyue closely. A single misstep could lead to unimaginable consequences. Therefore, you must think carefully before acting. Empress Mother says if anything happens, you may seek her counsel in the palace. Although she doesn't enjoy His Majesty's favor, being together for half a lifetime has given her an understanding of him. She will surely help you as much as possible and won’t stand idly by; that incident at Guan Jing Park was orchestrated by the old王爺to test Crown Prince’s loyalty. He informed Empress Mother beforehand; hence she reluctantly cooperated with Crown Prince. Even if you aren't her niece, out of respect for your late mother who was her sister-in-law, she will assist you regardless."

"Empress Mother said this much, and I have conveyed it all," Grandmother Sun said softly.

Yun Qianyue didn’t expect that after the incident with Rong Jing, Grandmother Sun would come to say these words. She felt a mix of emotions—she wanted to sneer but couldn’t; she wished to be angry yet found no outlet. If not for overhearing Empress Mother and Mingfei’s conversation in the palace that day, she might have dismissed Grandmother Sun angrily. But because she had overheard their discussion, she knew Empress Mother's intentions were good, and her aunt seemed genuinely kind toward her. Yet due to their first encounter, which was unfortunate and led to her acting alongside Ye Tianqiong, they remained distant despite knowing each other’s kindness.

Empress Aunt had spoken with great insight, showing her earnest concern. Sending Grandmother Sun that day must have been intended for this very purpose: a warning and reminder. Due to her injury, Empress Mother chose to send the message through Grandmother Sun instead.

Suppressing her mixed emotions, Yun Qianyue asked, "Did my aunt also inform my grandfather of these words"

Grandmother Sun was surprised; she hadn’t expected Miss Qianyue’s perceptiveness. She replied respectfully, "Empress Mother instructed me to first relay this message to the old王爺and only then come to you if he permitted it. I already conveyed this to Old Lord."

"So my grandfather agrees" Yun Qianyue raised an eyebrow.

Grandmother Sun shook her head and said, "After hearing Empress Mother's message, the old王爺neither agreed nor disagreed; he only told me to deliver these amulets for you. I believe he implicitly approved."

"Alright, I understand. Thank you," Yun Qianyue nodded.

Grandmother Sun answered respectfully, "Yes!" After this conversation, she sensed Miss Qianyue was not like the rumors suggested; her composure and poise were unmatched even by Empress Mother.

"Cai Lian, see Grandmother Sun out. If her carriage isn’t back yet, use mine," Yun Qianyue called from inside.

Cai Lian opened the door and bowed to Grandmother Sun, saying, "Grandmother Sun, please."

With a backward step, Grandmother Sun bid farewell respectfully.

Cai Lian looked at Yun Qianyue who gave her a signal; she quickly fetched the reward money and followed out. She was observant enough to be Yun Qianyue’s personal maid.

After Grandmother Sun left, the room fell silent once more.

Yun Qianyue sat motionless in the chair, her expression cold and somewhat indifferent.

In her previous life, she was an orphan who struggled tirelessly to pursue her dreams and reach the pinnacle of success. In the end, however, she still left with nothing—born without anything and dying with nothing. This time around, being able to be reborn made her feel that it was a blessing from heaven, giving her the affection she hadn't experienced in her past life as well as the wealth and honor within easy reach. Additionally, there was this body of an idle and unproductive person along with its reputation for unrestrained behavior. She had thought she could do whatever she wanted, idly waiting to die while enjoying comfort and ease; however, it turned out otherwise. The old emperor appeared to be frail and old but his bony hand seemed like a vast invisible net controlling her fate from above. Moreover, the Tian Sheng capital's Yun王府 (Prince's Manor) and her status as the legitimate daughter of this manor provided her with comfort while also not allowing her continued ease.

In such a short period of time, starting from being compelled to engage in amorous activities, then inexplicably falling into the secret passage under Lingtai Temple, followed by Cold Shaozhu blocking and attempting to kill her on the street... Then, two days ago, a hundred elite assassins secretly attempted to murder her... All these events and the hands behind them continuously pressured her.

Did they want her to go back to her old ways

Suddenly, Yun Qianyue sneered with an icy, menacing sound in the quiet room.

If she went back to her old ways, what was the harm

But before going back to her old ways, shouldn't she do something For instance, first have a means of opposing the old emperor, such as power and influence. Then there's herself—now with no martial arts skills, without anything, besides Mo Li and the three thousand hidden guards in the manor, she had nothing. What could this kind of self possibly achieve

Yun Qianyue extended her hand to lightly press against her forehead and thought quietly.

This was the first time since coming to this world that she seriously considered these things. She no longer focused solely on being Yun Qianyue but instead allowed Li Yun and Yun Qianyue to merge, now having only Li Yun's brain. Fortunately, even in her state of depression for so long, she hadn't lost the wisdom she was once proud of.

Her mind raced through everything that had happened since entering this world until today, ultimately focusing on her body. To oppose the old emperor and control her own destiny, first she needed to understand herself—such as the deep secrets hidden within her body. She must uncover them; only by understanding these could she find methods to address the issues. Otherwise, as the Empress said, even a slight misstep would have unimaginable consequences.

After all, she now had feelings for Yun Manor. The old marquis and marquis of Yun, Yun Muhuan, and those collateral relatives and servants currently relying on Yun Manor to live due to her, there were so many people behind her; she was no longer alone. With such an identity, it wasn't scary if she made a mistake—what was frightening would be whether the people behind her could withstand the consequences. Therefore, she must have enough leverage and preparation.

Furthermore, at present, besides inheriting what this body had learned, there were no memories left to her; thus, she couldn't rush into anything. Fortunately, however, she still had time—everyone's attention was currently focused on the assassination attempt of a hundred elite soldiers during broad daylight and the arrival of the first beauty of Nanjiang, Ye Qian, in the capital, so she wouldn't receive too much attention temporarily. She could take this opportunity to do some things.

Yun Qianyue thought as such and immediately stood up when Cai Lian returned from seeing Sun Auntie off; she walked to the door and said to her, "Give me your umbrella; I'm going to visit Grandpa."

Cai Lian was startled: "Miss, it's raining outside! Do you have urgent business with Old Marquis If not urgent, why don't we wait until after the rain stops before going Your arm wound can't get wet!"

"Urgent matter," Yun Qianyue said.

Cai Lian suddenly noticed that in such a short time her miss seemed different again. She hesitated to speak up and offer advice, for it was as if her former self had returned. Knowing she couldn't stop her, Cai Lian handed the umbrella over to Yun Qianyue: "You don't need to follow." After receiving the umbrella from Cai Lian, Yun Qianyue left.

She felt it necessary to have an open and honest conversation with Old Marquis. She had been hiding away unwilling to face things before but now she couldn't avoid them any longer. Rather than blindly bumping into walls like a blindfolded bear, why not just speak openly If the old marquis could overlook this matter, then in the future, she would treat him as her grandpa and Yun Manor as home; she would do everything in her power to protect herself and Yun Manor. But if he couldn't, then the worst outcome was that she’d give back his granddaughter's body.

Thinking like this, Yun Qianyue quickly left Shallow Moon Pavilion.

The fine raindrops pattered on the umbrella, clearly audible. The path to Old Marquis’s courtyard from Shallow Moon Pavilion was silent and deserted; she moved unimpeded, soon arriving at his courtyard.

Jade Bracelet was startled upon seeing Yun Qianyue arrive; in a hurry, she anxiously welcomed her: "Miss Qianyue, what brings you here If there's something to say, just send someone to tell me! You're still injured!"

Yun Qianyue smiled faintly at Jade Bracelet and said, "It’s fine; I've recovered a bit. Just coming to see Grandpa."

"Marquis is in the room now; you should go in quickly," Jade Bracelet hurriedly opened the curtain.

Yun Qianyue handed her the umbrella and slowly entered the house. She saw that Marquis had just finished his midday meal and was sipping tea. She took a deep breath, walked up to Old Marquis, and called him Grandpa.

"You stinky brat, instead of properly recuperating from your injury, what are you running in such heavy rain for" Old Marquis looked at Yun Qianyue from head to toe; today he seemed unusually amiable as he nodded continuously after his scrutiny: "In the blink of an eye, this little girl has grown up. Not bad! I can now face my deceased wife with some peace."

Yun Qianyue lowered her head and suddenly hesitated, unsure if she should say it or not—whether such a decision was right. But if she didn't tell him, she really knew nothing about this body; doing something wrong would cause Yun Manor and the old man who doted on her to regret deeply. If she told him and he accepted it, he might provide some guidance. Summoning up courage, she said, "Grandpa, I am here to tell you that I am not your granddaughter. Actually..."

"Foolish girl!" Old Marquis's initially pleasant face suddenly turned furious; before Yun Qianyue could finish speaking, his beard quivered with anger as he pointed at her: "What madness have you fallen into After driving away the Prince of the Realm, I ignored you—now you come here to stir up trouble! Who is your grandpa if not me One more word and I’ll break your legs!"

Yun Qianyue was taken aback. She looked at Old Marquis; she had been worrying about him finding out she wasn’t his granddaughter, but now that she came forward to tell him, he didn't even believe her. It was understandable that he wouldn't believe this strange matter. She took a step back and said seriously: "Grandpa, I’m telling the truth—really, I am not your..."

"Get out!" Old Marquis raised his cane and glared at Yun Qianyue with bulging eyes in fury: "Say one more word and I’ll hit you whether or not you're injured!"

Yun Qianyue never expected this, but she couldn't give up like that. She took another step back, still trying to persuade him: "Grandpa, what I'm saying is true—I am actually..."

The moment she began speaking, Old Marquis’s cane was already aiming for her face—his hand showed no mercy.

Yun Qianyue was startled and quickly dodged to the side. However, the uninjured arm was lightly struck by the back of the cane—it hurt badly. She reached out to cover her arm while glaring at Old Marquis: "You really hit me! I'm injured!"

"That's exactly what you deserve," Old Marquis looked truly furious; even though he often scolded Yun Qianyue in the past, he had never laid a hand on her. Now, not only did he throw his cane, but he also prepared to grab a chair.

Yun Qianyue was somewhat speechless. If she had known it would end like this, why did she worry about him finding out earlier She huffed irritably, "I won’t say if you don’t want to hear! Do I look like I enjoy looking for a fight with you"

With that said, she ignored Yun Old Eldest Prince and turned around in a huff to leave.

"Since you have the energy to act crazy, it seems paying a visit to the Rong王府 is not an issue. I don’t care how you offended Young Lord Jing; you need to apologize to him right away," Yun Old Eldest Prince said to her as she was about to leave.

"I’m not going!" Yun Qianyue retorted without looking back and left the room.

"You dare! If you don’t go, I’ll kick you out of Yun王府!" Yun Old Eldest Prince raged.

"Go ahead then. This place is just a dump anyway," Yun Qianyue said fiercely in reply. What had she done to deserve this She’d woken up with so much anger already. Even if it was her mistake, she didn’t think what she did now was wrong, and yet everyone thought it was. If she’d known the situation would be like this, she never would have come here.

"You…" Yun Old Eldest Prince seemed to lose his words in anger.

Yun Qianyue darted into the rain and left Yun Old Eldest Prince’s courtyard quickly.

Jade Bracelet had been standing guard outside. When Yun Qianyue came out of the room after getting into a fight with Yun Old Eldest Prince, Jade Bracelet was stunned for a moment before rushing after her when she saw her marching off angrily in the rain and pleaded, "Miss Yun Qianyue, forgive me if I’m overstepping my boundaries, but you shouldn’t have said such things to offend His Highness. He dotes on you like his own granddaughter, so how can you say that he’s not your grandfather"

Yun Qianyue stopped in her tracks and sighed inwardly as she accepted the umbrella Jade Bracelet handed her. "I was just trying to provoke him because of all his nagging and scolding me. I’m just unhappy today, so I came here looking for a fight."

Jade Bracelet had not expected this reason. She laughed out loud with a snort. "His Highness dotes on Miss!"

"I know! So that’s why I wanted to ‘dote’ on him today," Yun Qianyue said dismissively and walked off under her umbrella, her heart still heavy.

Jade Bracelet thought Miss was rather childish. She laughed and turned around to go back into Yun Old Eldest Prince’s room. When she saw his bearded chin quivering as he stared out of the window with a frown, she picked up his cane and tried to cheer him up. "Miss is still a child. Don’t get yourself sick over it! She was just trying to provoke you!"

Yun Old Eldest Prince snorted. "Rotten brat! Ever since her accident, she’s gotten more brazen! What nonsense has she been spouting If I hear her say one more word like that, I’ll break her legs!" He continued to grumble angrily. "Go to the Rong王府 and apologize to Young Lord Jing… Forget it. This old man doesn’t care about her any longer. Let her do as she pleases! If he cares enough, he’ll find a way to deal with her."

Jade Bracelet giggled behind her hand. "Your Highness is right. You don’t need to worry over this matter. From what I can see, Young Lord Jing really does care about Miss. It’s just that…"

Yun Old Eldest Prince gave a cold snort and said nothing.

Jade Bracelet was also silent as she worriedly massaged his back.

"It all depends on what one makes of it!" Yun Old Eldest Prince muttered after a while, closing his eyes.

Jade Bracelet thought for a moment and seeing that he did not want to continue speaking, she gently rubbed his back and remained silent.

Yun Qianyue had walked a considerable distance before she stopped in her tracks and turned around to look at Yun Old Eldest Prince’s courtyard. The mansion was shrouded by thick rain clouds. As she watched, she suddenly found the earlier incident rather amusing.

Living as this body’s owner felt like stealing happiness. She had always been troubled by the fact that she occupied someone else’s body and had wanted to come clean about it. It wasn’t just because revealing her secret would be helpful in fighting against the old emperor, but also because of the burden she carried with her every day. Even if no one knew, she could not get over herself. Now that she had created such a commotion, however, all those troubles seemed to have been lifted off her shoulders.

What difference did it make if she was not Yun Qianyue Since coming here, her grandfather, father, brother, maid and even the people who had gotten close to her in just a short time were already involved. She could no longer stand on the sidelines as an outsider. Whether they knew or not, she was now Yun Qianyue.

Not only that, but also Li Yun!

The soul of Li Yun which had been entrenched in her mind for twenty years and her identity as Yun Qianyue were things she could not simply throw away. Since she couldn’t get rid of them anyway, why didn’t she make a brand new self who was happier than both the souls of Li Yun and Yun Qianyue That way, at least this life would have been worth living.

Thinking like that, although she had not gotten any answers from Yun Old Eldest Prince regarding her body’s secret, it made all the worries in her heart disappear. She felt much lighter. At present, nothing could be rushed; her priority was to heal the wound on her arm and then think about other matters.

Having made up her mind, Yun Qianyue prepared to leave when she heard someone approaching behind her. She slowly turned around just as Yun Muhuan approached with an umbrella in hand. She stopped herself from leaving and watched him come closer.

Rong Jing finally lost his temper… (⊙_⊙)

Yun Qianyue’s emotional intelligence is definitely negative, no doubt about it… o（∩_∩）o~

I was saddened by the lack of votes while furiously typing my fingers off. Heaven help me! -_-"

Thank you to the following dear readers for your diamond donations, patronage and flowers!

nanamao (50 diamonds), Lu Nainai (10 diamonds, 1 flower)Baoaqiqi86921 (10 diamonds)Youyouwoxinxian (188 patronage, 6 flowers)Raphaellion (2 diamonds)Changqiu dongfeng huaxueyue (188 patronage, 2 flowers)Sfs520mgq (188 patronage)Deliadiliya (100 patronage)Pa3pa (1 diamond, 1 flower)Leo Li (3 flowers)yqf111 (1 flower)Zhuer peigua (1 flower)15827736980 (1 flower)Hhqm (1 flower)wodebaobetio (1 flower)Desk846 (1 flower)Q470004115 (1 flower)Gana qun (1 flower)Jiaoqiansei (1 flower)Xingjiaying (1 flower)Fengyun sanshi (1 flower)Xukf13 (1 flower)nce you're in my carriage and Grandpa Yun entrusted you to me on this trip, naturally, I can take care of you," Rong Jing said slowly as he saw that Yun Qianyue was ignoring him. He then said indiffer...