Hearing Lin Ning say all of that, Cao Peizhi did not think that she would think of that kind of future for herself. “Miss Li-”

“Please call me Sister Ning. I do not see calling each other by our first name an issue since I can call you Brother Wei then you can call me Sister Ning.” Smiling to him, she hoped that he would understand that she wanted him to treat her equally.

“Sister Ning, open your hands.” Cao Peizhi (Wei) had taken out a small little odd object that was a little whistle.

Feeling something small fall into her hands, Lin Ning did not know what it was, but it was small. “What is this?” She asked, not knowing for sure if it was going to help her in any way.

“If you ever wish to go somewhere or need help, then do not hesitate to blow this whistle. I will come to you.” He said, hoping that she would do so in the future if she ever got into trouble.

“Thank you, Brother Wei.” Smiling to him, she did not think that he would be this kind. ‘When did the novel ever say something like this! It was a lie!!!’ Seeing how the novel was nothing more than a lie since she seems to be getting all the special treatment from him. Recalling that the event was still going on, she had to rush back soon or else her parents would worry. “Oh, I need to hurry back before people start to notice that ‘the blind woman’ is gone.” Just when she was about to leave, she felt her hand grabbed by Cao Peizhi.

“Do not ever call yourself ‘the blind woman’ ever again.” Hearing him say that, she did not know what he was thinking, but it was all clear that he did not want her to regard herself that low.

‘It's probably because we are both crippled, so he does not want me to put myself so low.’ She still felt happy though, knowing that her favorite male side character was encouraging her to not be looked down upon. “I will remember that!” Saying that, he had released her wrist as she ran off and waved goodbye to him soon after. Without even knowing it, the rain had started to fall as she had known it would like in the novel. Making it back on time, she sat down between her parents as they were just about to get concerned about her once again.

“Where did you go?!” Her mother then pinched her hand, making her whine lowly to see that her mother was still scary.

“I’m sorry! I went out for some fresh air!” Hoping that it would suffice her mother, seeing how things were still going steady in the palace at the moment. ‘In three… two… one…’ She knew that it was going to happen sooner or later.

“AAAHH!!!!” Hearing the loud scream from within the palace, Lin Ning was finally waiting for this moment to come.

‘Front row seats.’ Holding an evil smirk, she hated to get involved, but if she could just be there then it would all pay off. A maid had rushed over as everyone did not understand what was going on at that moment.

“Your highness, the princess’s reputation has been tarnished!”

“What?!” The emperor was filled with anger at that moment as well as the empress. They cherished their daughter the most in the entire country, but to think that their daughter’s reputation would be ruined. The Empress Dowager had gone forth to see what had just happened at that moment, witnessing that the princess was found sleeping with one of the guards. Lin Ning did not see, but she could hear everything that was highly going on from miles away. ‘The princess may be loved, but she was a child that wanted everything that no other could have. She was also one of the women who targeted the female lead’s past lover. Go Xu Meili!’ Supporting the female lead, she smiled inside to know that Xu Meili was just the tough and smart woman that she liked. Hearing the princess cry, the emperor and empress had sentenced the guard to be sent to the prison to interrogate how all of this could have happened.

“The princess’s reputation has been ruined.”

“No one will ever want to marry her.”

“She will be lucky if a farmer even wants her.”

Whispers could be heard among the palace, the emperor and empress had everyone leave due to the royal family name being tarnished. Servants and maids were all speaking among one another while continuing to spread the word. Lin Ning smiled to see that Xu Meili was putting her plan into action which would start out soon enough. Knowing that one of the princes would find out that she had done it, but he would be the one who fell deeply for her. “Ning’er, you and your mother go home first. I have to stay here.” Her father had to stay to talk to the emperor about that matter, and Lin Ning hoped that her father would be fine after the meeting.

“Alright, father. Please be sure to come back home.” Hearing his daughter say, it only made him wish that he did not have the title Viscount so that he would just be able to go home with them.

“Don’t worry. Father will be sure to come back home.” Smiling at her father, Lin Ning and her mother left before her father as the palace was in a total uproar with the princess’s reputation ruined. Not even realizing that she had just passed Cao Peizhi as she entered into the carriage that was waiting for her. Cao Peizhi watched Lin Ning leave, wishing that he could say his farewell, but he knew that they needed to keep themselves distant from each other. He had gone to see the crown prince who called upon him, wanting to talk about the matter about his sister.

***

“You highness, what did you wish to talk to me about?" Cao Peizhi did not know if he could be helpful to the crown prince since he was a cripple man.

“Peizhi, how is your condition at the moment?” Asking him, the crown prince saw Cao Peizhi like his own brother since they had been through thick and thin together in the palace and battlefield.

“I’ve been better. Something like this will not kill me.” Cao Peizhi kept his calm and serious look on, knowing that the crown prince still felt guilty of his arm. “What did you wish to talk about?” Getting the crown prince back on topic, he knew that they needed to find out who was the culprit.