Chapter 36

When that girl heard this, tears brimmed her eyes and fell like pear blossoms in the rain, presenting such a pitiful sight.

She struggled to stand up, but her right foot would not budge at all. Her slender fair hand gripped her ankle tightly. It seemed she had sprained her ankle and was now twisting her elegant brows in pain as she slumped down in the cold snow, her eyes growing redder.

"Mother...I can't seem to move. My foot hurts so much."

"You useless thing... If I had known earlier I wouldn't have brought you out here to embarrass me!" The noblewoman continued cursing, but did not ask the servants to help the girl up. She was deliberately trying to humiliate her.

The girl buried her head dejectedly as tears plopped into the snow. The maid behind her nodded obediently, not daring to do anything but cry anxiously along with her mistress.

"How could it be her..."

Word of what happened outside the Queen's tent spread quickly around Qing Ying.

"Isn't she the illegitimate daughter of the Huo family, Lady Huo Qiyun?"

"So it's her? I heard that later she married the youngest son of the Zhao family, Zhao Changxing. After she married into Zhenguo Duke Manor, she was rarely seen socializing with others. I heard discipline in the duke's manor is very strict, and the daughter-in-laws are not allowed to interact closely with outsiders. As an illegitimate daughter, she should be content to have married into a prestigious household. After getting married, she focused on serving her husband and raising children, keeping an exceptionally low profile. I heard years ago that there were few heirs in the duke's manor, so she was told to stay in the manor and concentrate on having children. And now so many years have passed, yet her belly has shown no sign. No wonder Lady Zhao treats her badly."

"Lady Zhao brought her along deliberately today, right? After all, the heir is back in Bianjing and will meet Her Majesty soon."

"I wonder if the heir knows that she is now—"

"Shhh, stop that! Be careful or the heir will cut off your hands and feet if he hears you!"

Someone hurriedly interrupted the gossip, looking around anxiously as if there was a big secret that could not be spoken aloud.

Qing Ying gazed steadily at Lady Huo, whom everyone spoke of as living such a miserable life.

She felt like the clothes Lady Huo wore looked quite similar to her own. And the girl's exquisite beauty that transcended the mundane world, with the air of a delicate flower and an indescribable charm, skin as fair as jade with a rosy tint—it was a natural beauty, like a lotus blossoming out of clear water.

Her pitiful weeping as she struggled helplessly in the snow... She was physically weak, unable to withstand the wind. Finding herself completely helpless, her face turned red with shame. Tears clung to her eyelashes as she wished the ground would open up and swallow her.

Perhaps it was empathy among those who suffer the same plight.

Or maybe it was remembering her own experience of being bullied. Qing Ying's heart stirred, and she resolutely walked out from the crowd towards the girl.

Everyone looked at her in shock.

"That girl surnamed Gu actually dares to offend Lady Zhao?"

"Lady Zhao is notoriously unreasonable. Offending her means no peaceful days ahead."

But Qing Ying was fearless. She went to Huo Qiyun's side and smiled at her, bending down to take her arm and help her up.

Just then, she felt the girl grip her hand tightly in a tense, downward motion.

Under her cloak, Huo Qiyun clutched her hand firmly. Her reddened eyes pierced sharply at Qing Ying.

Qing Ying could not pull Huo Qiyun up, and frowned in puzzlement. Looking at the tear stains on her face, she was very confused. What? She was here to help her, yet she still acted as if she didn't need any help?

Was something wrong with this girl's mind after being tormented by her mother-in-law?

But before she could react, the sound of galloping hooves came from behind.

No horses or carriages were allowed near the Queen's tent, so anyone riding here must be extremely wealthy and influential.

Before Qing Ying could let go of Huo Qiyun's hand, someone grabbed her collar from behind and threw her unceremoniously into the snow...

"Miss!"

"Sister!"

Gu Shuang and Yanzhi rushed over to help her up.

Qing Ying's butt hurt from the fall. She was stunned, gazing blankly at the one who had thrown her.

A familiar dark purple coat... The man had a tall and upright figure, chiseled side profile, straight nose, thin lips. His long phoenix eyes were deep and unfathomable, giving off immense pressure.

Lady Zhao's body stiffened and her face turned deathly pale.

The expressions of the ladies present varied, but the man looked at none of them. Reaching out his long arm, he swept Huo Qiyun up from the ground in one swift motion.

"Are you all right?" The man's voice was icy cold, but his words revealed concern.

Huo Qiyun weakly leaned away from the man's broad chest. Through eyes blurred with tears, she looked cautiously up at the man sheltering her, trembling all over.

"I'm fine... Thank you, Changdu."

Hearing Huo Qiyun was unharmed, the man hid the emotions in his eyes. Expressionless, he released her.

But that title "Changdu" struck Qing Ying's mind like thunder.

What Changdu?

Which Changdu?

Could it be the heir to the Zhenguo Duke, Zhao Changdu, that she knew of?

But...wasn't he the Young Marquis Su Huanfeng from Yong'an Marquis Manor?

Could it be she had mistaken this man's identity that day under Mount Qixia?

Qing Ying's mind went blank. When Yanzhi helped her up, her thoughts were still a tangled mess.

A man in a crimson brocade robe embroidered with circular flower motifs walked up to her with a smiling face. Waving his hand casually before her, he said, "Hey, Qing Ying, what are you spacing out for?"

Qing Ying's dumbfounded gaze moved from the "young marquis'" retreating back and fell upon this exquisitely handsome face before her. Bewildered, she asked, "Who are you?"

The man jumped up in anger. "You don't even recognize me?"

Qing Ying couldn't recover her senses. She fixed her eyes on him and after looking him over a few times, seemed to find him vaguely familiar. After much effort she finally recognized him. "You're the steward of Yong'an Marquis Manor?"

But how could a marquis manor's steward possibly be here, dressed in such luxurious brocade robes?

The man straightened his back proudly, a dimple peeking out as he smiled. "Not bad, you still remember me."

Seeing her confused expression and innocent, childlike charm, he couldn't resist leaning close to her ear and meaningfully saying, "Remember this - I am your fiancé, Su Huanfeng."

So what?!

Qing Ying's already shattered worldview crumbled once more in an instant.

So not only had she mistaken this man's identity, she had shamelessly tried to flirt with the esteemed heir of Zhenguo Duke Manor!

Qing Ying's mind buzzed and went blank. When Yanzhi helped her up, her thoughts were still a chaotic mess.