“Yes, Young Miss.”
The young man behind her responded obediently, but in his eyes, there was a dark, willful smile.
The General’s Mansion was still brightly lit.
Yu Lingxi entered through the side door and brought Ning Yin to the side hall.
Along the way, servants bowed in greeting, but none dared to look twice or speak a word.
Seeing their daughter return, General Yu and Madam Yu first breathed sighs of relief, then their gazes fell on the black-clothed young man behind her, and their just-relaxed brows unconsciously furrowed again.
“Father, Mother, Elder Brother, Suisui has returned.”
She carefully watched her father’s and brother’s reactions to see if they would recognize Ning Yin’s identity, but unexpectedly, apart from a slight headache and displeasure, their expressions showed nothing unusual.
They didn’t recognize Ning Yin.
Facing General Yu’s imposing scrutiny, Ning Yin remained completely composed, though his eyes darkened somewhat.
Catching Yu Lingxi’s glance, he immediately displayed a smile, like spring wind melting snow.
“Go and rest first. Food and medicine for your wounds will be sent to your room.”
Yu Lingxi softened her voice, her almond eyes firm, fragile yet radiant.
Ning Yin was very obedient. Enduring his pain, he bowed to General Yu and Madam Yu, then withdrew.
“Little Sister, your heart is too soft.”
Yu Huanchen took a deep breath and spoke first, “You’re not yet married. During the spring hunt, you encountered danger, and no matter how loyal this nameless slave may be to you, he still cannot…”
“He is neither a slave nor a beggar.”
Yu Lingxi looked at Yu Huanchen and said seriously, “He has a name, called Wei Qi.”
“The name doesn’t matter at all; your reputation is what’s most important.”
Yu Huanchen stepped forward and said, “Even though he saved your life, you once saved his life in the heavy snow. They cancel each other out—you don’t owe him anything. A generous reward and sending him away from the mansion would be the best outcome.”
Yu Lingxi accepted a cloak handed by the maid and wrapped it around herself, smiling slightly: “Elder Brother, you know very well in your heart that saving him was just a small effort for me, but his saving me was risking his life. How can these be compared?”
At the corner of the corridor, Ning Yin, who heard these words, paused his steps.
Although everything was under his control, these gentle yet firm words still caused ripples in the dead lake of his heart, disappearing in an instant.
His lips curled in a half-smile as he turned and walked into the endless shadows of the long corridor.
In the side hall, Yu Lingxi continued calmly: “Father has taught me since childhood to be loyal, righteous, upright, and honorable. Having been protected by someone willing to sacrifice his life, how could I do something against my conscience out of fear of others’ gossip?”
“We didn’t mistreat him. The silver I gave him is enough to last a lifetime, but he refused to take it…”
Yu Huanchen mumbled, receiving an elbow from Yu Xinyi, and fell silent.
Yu Lingxi had always been obedient and well-behaved, but this was the first time she was so stubborn. Madam Yu could only sigh and give her husband a look.
General Yu’s expression softened, showing gratification as he nodded repeatedly: “Worthy of being my Yu Yuan’s daughter—faithful and responsible!”
“Husband, Suisui is not a boy. What use does she have for righteousness?” Madam Yu gave him a reproachful glance.
“Suisui, allow your brother one more word. You wouldn’t happen to be…” Yu Huanchen hesitated.
The young man’s appearance was extremely fine and pleasing, even surpassing Xue Cen. He worried that his sister, with her simple heart, might sacrifice her lifelong happiness out of gratitude.
After all, Xue Cen was her suitable match.
Yu Lingxi understood her brother’s meaning and quickly shook her head: “Elder Brother, rest assured, I can distinguish between gratitude and romantic feelings.”
These days, Yu Lingxi had been pondering how to inform her father and brother of Ning Yin’s identity, to persuade them to support him, so that in the future, they could rely on this strongest backing to root out the real culprits behind the Yu family’s troubles.
But reasons like “past life and present life” were supernatural and difficult for her family to believe.
Moreover, the trajectory of fate had already deviated. She had changed the crisis of the northern expedition’s destruction. Now each day was a new experience, and she could no longer predict future events as evidence.
Seeing that her father and brother didn’t recognize Ning Yin, who was once the Seventh Prince, further confirmed she couldn’t use her rebirth prescience as an excuse to convince them.
Otherwise, a fugitive prince whom even current court officials couldn’t recognize, yet was identified and brought back by her, a secluded young lady, would be inexplicable to both Ning Yin and her family, only making things a mess.
The current plan was to drop some hints and let her father and brother discover it themselves.
By the time they discovered Ning Yin’s identity, perhaps she would have already transformed his cruel and cold-blooded nature. At that point, persuading her family to support a fallen prince of virtue and merit would be much easier than convincing them to back a violent madman.
With this in mind, Yu Lingxi pressed her lower lip: “Actually, my treatment of him is not only because I’m moved by his loyalty, but also because his eyes and demeanor tell me he is no ordinary person.”
Her clear eyes looked toward her father, gambling on his appreciation for talent, as she said softly: “Father once said that the Yu family army would never bury any talent, didn’t he?”
“Now that Suisui reminds me, I do recall that though the young man seemed frail, he was extremely willing to risk his life. The spirit of cutting his wrist to feed blood would command respect even from me.”
Yu Xinyi crossed her arms over her chest and frowned, “Just now as he stood at the steps, neither servile nor arrogant, his demeanor was unlike any ordinary servant.”
Beside them, General Yu’s stern gaze had already softened.
Tapping his fingers on the armrest, General Yu sighed: “My good daughter, how do you plan to arrange for that boy?”
Without hesitation, Yu Lingxi looked up and said: “Free him from slave status, promote him to the honored guest, and from now on, treat him with proper courtesy.”
…
After four or five consecutive days of rain, the afternoon finally cleared up with the sun breaking through the clouds.