Liu Yiyi had been in the palace for half a month.

  Xiao Ying gave in to her every time. When she started a fight, Xiao Ying would not argue with her.

  This made Liu Yiyi angry.

  The Duke’s wife found an old nanny who knew etiquette and wanted to teach Liu Yiyi some etiquette.

  In the end, she angered the old nanny so much that she had almost gotten a heart attack.

  The Duke’s wife then found a university professor to teach her culture, but she either slept or played with her phone in class.

  The Duchess disliked her biological daughter even more as time went by.

  Liu Yiyi naturally felt the disappointment the Duke’s wife had towards her. She was too lazy to enrich herself, but she had a problem with the Duke’s wife being good to Xiao Ying.

  Every day, there would be all kinds of arguments, causing the family to be in chaos.

  The most outrageous thing was that she had asked the Duke’s wife to make a choice. The Duchess had to choose between her and Xiao Ying. They couldn’t possibly coexist.

  The Duke’s wife chose Xiao Ying without hesitation.

  Liu Yiyi was furious.

  Even though the Duke’s wife had not chosen her, she did not move out. She simply went on a hunger strike for a day.

  No one had gone up to offer her a meal. At night, she came down dejectedly.

  The Duke’s wife’s attitude was very firm. She did not fall for Liu Yiyi’s pretentious act and said to her ruthlessly at dinner, “Stay in this house if you can. If not, you’re free to leave.”


  On the contrary, the Duke’s wife liked Xiao Ying more and more. If there was anything on her mind, she would always tell Xiao Ying and their relationship became more harmonious.

  During dinner, Liu Yiyi could not understand what the Duke’s wife and Xiao Ying were talking about, nor could she interrupt them.

  In this family, she was like an outsider.

  Soon, it was the day for Long Ming to be discharged.

  Long Mei contacted Xiao Ying early in the morning.

  “I think I’d better not go.” He had not contacted her recently. He probably did not want to see her!

  Long Mei did not force Xiao Ying. It was her brother’s fault for being so stubborn!

  When Long Ming was discharged from the hospital, even Wan Bao came to fetch him.

  Xiao Ying had promised Wan Bao that she would let her return to the palace with Long Ming after he was discharged from the hospital.

  Long Ming had changed out of his hospital gown and was wearing a knee-length black coat. It accentuated his tall figure. Under his short hair, his facial features were well-defined and his eyes were dark.

  He glanced around the ward and saw that that woman was not among the people who came to fetch him. He could not describe his feelings.

  She had always been so brutal.

  Had she been ignoring him recently because she wanted him to look for her?

  How naive!

  He would not look for her!

  Although the Duke’s wife had been troubled by Liu Yiyi’s lack of manners recently, she had been paying attention to the relationship between Xiao Ying and Long Ming.

  Seeing that Long Ming was discharged from the hospital and still did not contact Xiao Ying, the Duke’s wife felt a little angry and resentful.

  Ying’er had already given birth to a daughter for him, and the two of them had already been at the stage of discussing marriage. But their relationship had broken down just like that.

  As a mother, she was worried for Ying’er even if she were to marry into the palace in the future.

  Given the Duke’s status, it would not be difficult to find a good family for their daughter.

  The Duchess looked at Xiao Ying, who was making snacks in the kitchen, and said to her, “Ying’er, will you accompany me to a banquet tonight?”


  Xiao Ying nodded. “Okay!”


  Xiao Ying fed the Duchess a piece of bear biscuit she had just made. “Mom, what do you think about it?”


  The Duchess’ curved up into narrow slits. “Delicious.”


  Liu Yiyi happened to come to the kitchen and when she saw the harmonious and happy relationship between the Duchess and Xiao Ying, she felt something gnawing at her heart.

  Why was this Xiao Ying so popular everywhere she went?

  She was the daughter of the Duke’s wife. When had the Duke’s wife ever smiled at her like that?

  …


  That night.

  The Duchess brought Xiao Ying to the hotel.

  When they arrived downstairs, Liu Yiyi followed them down in her evening gown.

  “Mom, you’ve never taken me out. Can I go with you and Sister tonight?”


  The Duke’s wife looked at Liu Yiyi, who was wearing a fiery red dress, seemingly imitating Xiao Ying’s style. She frowned slightly. “I’ll take you there after you learn your etiquette.”


  Liu Yiyi stomped her feet. “Who said I haven’t learnt it?”


  “A well-bred young lady would not stomp her feet like that.”


  The Duchess tpok Xiao Ying’s hand. “Ying’er, let’s go!”


  Liu Yiyi looked at their disappearing figures and the tears in her eyes fell.

  The Duchess was too biased. Liu Yiyi had never thought about why the Duchess was disappointed in her. She felt that she was not in the wrong and it was completely the fault of everyone else.

  Liu Yiyi drove out of the Duke’s palace.

  She arrived at a bar.

  She sat in front of the bar and ordered a cocktail. She took a big sip and took a huge gulp, choking on it so much so that her tears fell.

  Liu Yiyi was wearing a high-end custom-made dress. Although she wasn’t refined, she was pretty and her figure was exquisite, so many people came to hit on her.

  Liu Yiyi was concerned only about a person with Long Ming’s status. There was no way she would take a fancy to any of these men.

  Lou Lan, Li Yuan, and a few other socialites were also at the bar. They had spotted Liu Yiyi coming in.

  Li Yuan whispered into Lou Lan’s ear, “Lan Lan, do you see that woman? A servant of my family has a relative working for the Duke’s family. She told my servant that that woman is the second daughter of the Duke.”


  Lou Lan frowned in confusion. “Isn’t Long Ying the only daughter of the Duke?”


  After the Duke’s palace announced Xiao Ying’s identity, Lou Lan had kept a low profile for a while. It was only when no one came to find trouble with her for several days that she had come out again.

  She had information about Xiao Ying’s past. Lou Lan wanted to find the person who had given her the information, but that person seemed to have disappeared and could not be found.

  “I heard that this Second Miss had a weak body in the past. The fortune teller said that she had to live in the mountains.”


  Lou Lan looked at Liu Yiyi and walked toward her with a smile.

  On the way to the banquet, Xiao Ying looked at the Duke’s wife. “Mom, give Yiyi some time to learn the rules.”


  At the mention of Liu Yiyi, the Duchess’ head hurt. “I don’t know if she can change those bad habits.”


  Xiao Ying pursed her lips and said, “Mom, I think I should move out for the time being. You and Yiyi should build up your relationship…”


  Before Xiao Ying could finish, she was interrupted by the Duke’s wife. “You silly child, you’re always thinking about others! I won’t let you move out. I panic whenever I don’t see you for a day.”


  Xiao Ying had no choice but to listen to the Duke’s wife.

  In the palace.

  Long Ming told Wan Bao a story and came out of her room.

  When he arrived downstairs, he overheard Long Mei on a call.

  “Sister-in-law, did the Duke’s wife bring you to Mrs Li’s party? Mrs Li’s third son is very outstanding and is still unmarried. From what I see, the Duke’s wife must be bringing you out to meet that outstanding single man.”


  Hearing Long Mei’s words, Long Ming’s expression darkened.

  When he was discharged from the hospital, she had been nowhere to be seen but now, she was going to a party for a blind date?