Xiao Ying’s heartbeat sped up.

  How did Long Ming find this place?

  Why was he looking for her?

  Bang, bang, bang!

  Someone was trying to break the door down.

  She could tell that he was desperate.

  Xiao Ying wanted to leave through the other window, but she had just moved away when she heard a bang and the door was kicked open from outside.

  Xiao Ying froze on the spot.

  The man walked in.

  Apart from the smell of alcohol, there was also a cold aura around him.

  Xiao Ying met the man’s dark eagle-like eyes and her heart almost stopped beating.

  Was he going to hit her given his cold and scary appearance?

  Xiao Ying stepped back. “Long Ming, did you drink?”


  The man said nothing. She stepped back and he approached her step by step.

  Xiao Ying felt her neck turn cold.

  Was this person really going to strangle her to death?

  “Long Ming, listen to me. I left for your own good…”


  The man strode forward and stood in front of her. Behind her was the wall of the temporary shelter and there was no way out.

  “Long Ying,” he called her in a low voice.

  It had been a long time since Xiao Ying heard him call her Long Ying.

  Goosebumps appeared on her arms.

  Xiao Ying opened her mouth, wanting to say something when the man suddenly reached out and grabbed her slender waist, pulling her into his arms.

  His actions were very sudden. Xiao Ying’s nose touched his firm chest and she gasped in pain.

  His hand around her waist tightened.

  He almost wanted to strangle her to death.

  Xiao Ying was almost out of breath from his hug.

  What… was wrong with him?

  Not only did he not pinch her, he even hugged her tightly!

  “L-Long Ming, I’m suffocating.”


  After a while, the man finally let go of her. His large hand cupped her beautiful face and looked at her carefully.

  Xiao Ying looked at him.

  When she got closer, she realized that one side of his face was slightly red and swollen. The corner of his mouth was injured and he looked like he had fought with someone.

  “What’s wrong?” Xiao Ying felt that with his status, he should not have fought with anyone. Besides, every time he went out, there would be bodyguards following him. How could he have gotten injured?

  Long Ming’s rough fingers caressed Xiao Ying’s face, his deep eyes red. “I’m sorry.”


  Xiao Ying blinked.

  Why was he apologizing to her?

  Could it be…


  “Long Ming, do you remember everything?”


  The man’s firm chin rested on the top of her head. Smelling the faint fragrance in her hair, he hummed softly.

  Xiao Ying’s heartbeat sped up again.

  She hurriedly looked up from his chest and looked at the gentleness in his eyes. She could not help but smile. “Really? Really?”


  Looking at the woman who was as happy as a child, a smile appeared on Long Ming’s handsome face.

  “Really.”


  Xiao Ying raised her hands and hugged Long Ming’s neck. Her eyelashes fluttered and tears fell.

  “Long Ming, I thought you wouldn’t remember it.”


  Long Ming looked at the tears falling from Xiao Ying’s cheeks. He lifted her chin and kissed away the tears on her cheeks.

  “I won’t forget in the future.”


  Xiao Ying clenched her fists and punched his shoulder lightly. “I’m not blaming you. I know that you didn’t do it on purpose.”


  They hugged for a while.

  At night, Long Ming did not return home. The two of them lay on the wooden bed and she leaned into his arms, listening to his strong heartbeat. “Long Ming, I left because I didn’t want you to let Liu Yiyi off for my sake.”


  Long Ming caressed her silky long hair with his large palm. His well-defined fingers combed through her hair and caressed her fair ears, as he played with her palm lightly. “It’s only temporary. The Duke’s palace has always been ruled by the Duke’s wife. I’ll go and find the Duke’s wife personally.”


  “The Duke’s wife is righteous and kind. Even if it’s her own daughter, she will not let it go.”


  Long Ming looked down at the woman in his arms and pinched her earlobe with his long fingers. He only let go when he heard her complaint. “If you leave like this again, it won’t be as simple as a pain in the ear.”


  “We’ve been through so many things and met with so many difficulties. There should be a way to negotiate anything with each other.”


  Hearing his words, Xiao Ying’s eyes filled with tears. She nodded at him. “You didn’t remember what we experienced after the battle in the forest. I didn’t dare to be too close to you, but it’s different now. Long Ming, who loved me the most, is back.”


  Long Ming kissed her forehead and sighed softly. “No matter what, Long Ming loves you the most.”


  …


  Long Ming thought of everything and Xiao Ying felt like she had the warmest and most reliable harbor.

  He was right. When there was a problem, they could not act on their own. They had to discuss it with each other and solve it together.

  Xiao Ying followed Long Ming back to the palace.

  Long Ming got someone to release Liu Yiyi.

  Liu Yiyi returned to the Duke’s palace and took a bath. She learned from the servants that the Duke’s wife had quarreled with her husband. The Duke’s wife did not want to save Liu Yiyi and her blood pressure had risen because of it. She had almost lost her life.

  After she woke up, her mental state had worsened.

  Liu Yiyi came to the Duke’s wife’s room. The Duke’s wife was knocking on the wooden fish when she heard footsteps and looked at Liu Yiyi.

  The Duke’s wife’s spirits were getting worse by the day. When she saw Liu Yiyi, her emotions became unstable again. “Why are you here? You’re not my daughter. My daughter is not as evil as you!”


  When Liu Yiyi heard the Duke’s wife’s words, her lips curled into an ambiguous smile. “Mom, I’ve already done the test. Why am I not your daughter?”


  “If I’m not your daughter, would Dad have saved me? Now that I’m in the Duke’s palace, I’m his treasure. Mom can’t compare to me!”


  “You!” The Duke’s wife stood up, but her body was weak. After she stood up, Liu Yiyi pushed her hard and the former fell to the ground, almost fainting.

  At this moment, footsteps came from the corridor.

  Liu Yiyi could tell that it was the Duke. She suddenly raised her hand and slapped herself twice before pinching her neck. The moment the door was pushed open, she fell to the ground.

  “Mom, I was wrong. Please don’t hit me. I know you like Sister. I will definitely learn from Sister in the future. Please don’t hit me anymore…”.

  The Duke walked into the room and saw Liu Yiyi, whose face was red and swollen. There were strangulation marks on her neck and her face was covered in tears. He hurriedly walked over and helped her up.

  The Duke’s wife stood aside, her temples throbbing.

  She went to the bedside table, took out the medicine from the drawer, and swallowed two pills.

  She felt terrible and could not hear what the Duke was saying. She only heard Liu Yiyi’s fake cry.

  …


  Long Ming and Xiao Ying received an invitation from the Duke’s palace. The Duke was going to announce Liu Yiyi’s identity next weekend.