Although Long Yingtong was three to four years younger than her in reality, with a mental age nearing forty and a particular fondness for children, she couldn't help but treat Long Yingtong as if she were her own daughter, owing to her sweet and innocent nature.

Long Yingtong gleefully gestured upon hearing this.

"There's no need for an explanation, sister, I can understand." Yang Mengchen said with a smile to Jin Yuan and then turned to Long Yingtong, "What I said is certainly true, Princess. You may draw whatever you like."

After pondering for a moment, Long Yingtong gestured a few times.

"Please rest assured, Princess, I will sew three pillows that are both novel and cute. When you return, you can give them to the Emperor, the Empress Dowager, and the Empress. I am sure they will praise the Princess as a well-behaved and filial child."

Long Yingtong laughed happily, nodding repeatedly to express her thanks.

"You don't need to thank me, Princess. I am also happy to fulfill your wishes," Yang Mengchen said, waving her hand.

Aside from the Yang brothers, the rest of the people looked at Yang Mengchen in amazement.

Ms. Yang actually understands the Princess's hand gestures? That's too miraculous, isn't it? Jin Yuan had been by the Princess's side for two years before only roughly guessing her intent, and the others, aside from the simplest and most explicit gestures, could not understand at all.

Looking at Yang Mengchen with hopeful eyes, Long Yingtong gestured.

"If the Princess wishes to stay, we would certainly welcome it, but it would require your brother's agreement," Yang Mengchen said, subtly taking Long Yingtong's pulse as she held her hand.

Long Yingtong looked towards Long Xuanmo.

"Agreed," Long Xuanmo nodded in assent.

Ever since the incident with the Sixth Princess, there had been a multitude of rumors in the palace. The Emperor and Empress, to protect her from harm, had no choice but to confine her to the Empress's chambers, not allowing her to take a single step outside.

Yet still, there had been lapses, causing the Sixth Princess to become increasingly introverted, sometimes going an entire day without 'speaking' a word.

Long Yingtong gestured with excitement.

Gently holding Long Yingtong in her arms, Yang Mengchen caressed her back with extraordinary tenderness, "We'll go set up the room in a bit. You can arrange it however you wish." Her fingertip, equipped with a Black Needle, quietly pricked an acupoint on her neck. As she closed her eyes, Yang Mengchen gestured for Mo Mei to carry her upstairs.

Jin Yuan naturally followed.

"Prince, what exactly is going on?" Yang Mengchen fixed her gaze on Long Xuanmo, her face as cold as frost, her eyes as deep as bottomless pools.

The people around underwent a sudden change of expression, puzzled by why Yang Mengchen's demeanor had abruptly altered, a stark contrast to moments earlier.

Long Xuanmo's pupils contracted sharply, emanating an icy chill and murderous aura, "Three years ago, on a snowy night, Yingtong sneaked out of the chambers alone, and by the time the maids and sister realized, it was already the following day at midnight;

Later, the Emperor and Empress found Yingtong in the Cold Palace, where she lay in the snow, turned into an ice sculpture;

Though the Imperial Physicians saved her life after much effort, she could no longer speak. They said Yingtong had suffered from the cold and her vocal cords were affected, and despite the Emperor's search for renowned doctors worldwide, it was to no avail."

"Damn it!"

Enraged, Yang Mengchen smashed her teacup to the ground. It shattered instantly, tea quietly flowing everywhere, the delicate scent of tea lingering and diffusing throughout the room.

```

Everyone had never seen Yang Mengchen so furious, and the fierce, almost world-destroying momentum unnerved them.

Suddenly thinking of something, Luo Jingrui asked in a deep voice, "Ninth sister, did the princess get poisoned?"

Yang Mengchen's lips were pressed into a straight line, her dark pupils blazing with fierce flames.

All present couldn't help but shiver.

"Ninth sister," Yang Chengrong looked at his sister with concern on his face.

"Big brother, don't worry, I'm fine."

Yang Mengchen closed her eyes, and when she opened them a moment later, they were calm and undisturbed. The violent and icy aura around her vanished without a trace.

"If I'm not mistaken, after the princess left her sleeping chamber, she must have come across some indecent act. Perhaps out of regard for her royal status, or maybe for some other reason, those people didn't silence her by killing her, but instead threw her into the Cold Palace. The princess, suddenly frightened and affected by the cold, became unable to speak;

moreover, those people administered a poison called 'Midnight Paradise'—at midnight, the victim's bones would ache as if being sawed by a blunt saw, excruciatingly painful for two hours, yet leaving no trace. The worst part is, those afflicted by the poison cannot even seek death."

The princess must have kept silent to prevent the Emperor and Empress from worrying and chose to suffer in silence alone. At that time, the princess was just over three years old..." Yang Mengchen's voice choked with sobs, unable to continue as she thought of her past self.

Hearing this, everyone was filled with righteous anger, especially Long Xuanmo, who was both furious and self-blaming. His already cold face became chillier, his eyes blood-red, and his clenched fists showed protruding veins.

"Ninth sister, do you have a way to cure the princess?" Luo Jingrui asked with a hint of urgency.

Yang Mengchen spoke solemnly, "Curing the princess's poison isn't hard, but it will take some time. The key is to unlock the princess's mental block; otherwise, she will never speak again."

"It seems the princess is very fond of ninth sister. You could try," Yang Cheng'an said, believing that only his sister could succeed.

Yang Mengchen nodded lightly, "I'll give it a try."

Everyone fell silent.

"Jin Yuan is not suitable to serve the princess."

Long Xuanmo looked straight at Yang Mengchen without speaking.

Yang Mengchen returned the look calmly, "Jin Yuan is not malicious, but having not noticed anything for many years by the princess's side shows that she isn't wholehearted."

"I will handle it," Long Xuanmo said.

That night, although Long Yingtong had agreed to share a bed with Yang Mengchen, she insisted on going to the next room. Yang Mengchen knew she didn't want her to see the effects of the poison, so she agreed; but when midnight came, Yang Mengchen silently made her way to the next room.

As expected, she saw Long Yingtong curled up on the bed, her little hands gripping her arms tightly, her nails digging deeply into the flesh. Bloodstains marred her white clothes, her face was pale as snow, large beads of cold sweat stood out on her forehead, her lips bitten until they bled, yet she made no sound at all.

Yang Mengchen's nose tingled with sourness, tears welled up in her eyes and she forcibly held them back from falling. She hurried to the bedside, held Long Yingtong tightly in her arms to prevent her from hurting herself, and said softly and tenderly, "Yingtong, don't be afraid, sister is here with you all the time."

Outside the window, everyone turned their backs, and even those accustomed to life and death couldn't help but let their tears fall.

```

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.