The carefree sixth prince, my father respectfully invites me to ascend the throne.

"Huh? Oh, I'm eating!" Murong Jin looked up and smiled at Yang Ling. "I thought you weren't coming back."

Upon hearing this, Yang Ling's face darkened instantly, and she snorted coldly, "You were hoping I wouldn't come back?"

"What do you mean?" Murong Jin widened her eyes and protested, feeling wronged. "I was just worried about you."

Yang Ling glanced at her, "I'm fine, you eat!"

"Mm." Murong Jin nodded and lowered his head to concentrate on eating.

"Why don't you ask me why I'm angry?" Yang Ling breathed a sigh of relief when she saw Murong Jin eating peacefully, and then asked casually.

“I know you don’t want to talk about it.” Murong Jin put down her chopsticks, looked up at Yang Ling, her eyes clear as if she could see through everything.

Yang Ling was taken aback. He thought Murong Jin would press the matter, since it concerned her life. He hadn't expected her to be so calm.

“Actually, I’ve been investigating the truth of what happened back then all these years, but in recent years I’ve discovered more doubts, so…” Yang Ling sighed and paused.

Upon hearing this, Murong Jin frowned slightly. "So you suspect Nangong Wan'er?"

Yang Ling smiled bitterly, "You're right, we do suspect her, after all, she's the prime suspect."

Murong Jin fell silent after hearing this.

In fact, she should have thought of it long ago. How could someone as cautious and careful as Yang Ling easily let a strange woman stay by his side?

“However, why do you think I’m an imposter?” Murong Jin looked up at Yang Ling with a puzzled expression. “I look exactly like Nangong Wan’er, and even my figure is the same.”

Yang Ling shook her head upon hearing this, "You are not Nangong Wan'er."

"I'm not Nangong Wan'er?" Murong Jin stared wide-eyed at Yang Ling. "How could that be?"

Yang Ling took a sip of tea and said calmly, "You are not alone."

Upon hearing this, Murong Jin stared blankly at Yang Ling, "What do you mean?"

Yang Ling put down the cup in her hand and said slowly, "You are not Nangong Wan'er."

Murong Jin frowned in confusion, "Why are you so sure?"

Upon hearing this, Yang Ling curled her lips into a smile, a sly glint in her eyes. "Intuition."

Murong Jin looked at Yang Ling suspiciously, "Your intuition is quite accurate."

"You think so too?" Yang Ling smiled with delight upon hearing this, seemingly surprised that Murong Jin would agree with his point of view.

Murong Jin nodded. "I don't know much about relationships, but I think you're reliable, so I've chosen to trust you."

Yang Ling felt a little pleased to hear Murong Jin's candid evaluation of him, but he quickly suppressed it.

"And what about you?" Yang Ling countered, "Why did you save me?"

"Because I need someone to protect me."

Yang Ling raised an eyebrow. "So you think I'm suitable?"

"Yes." Murong Jin met Yang Ling's gaze frankly. "I believe you are not a bad person, and I am willing to believe in your character."

Yang Ling gave Murong Jin a deep look, then suddenly reached out and grabbed Murong Jin's wrist.

"Ouch! That hurts!" Murong Jin frowned at Yang Ling. "What's wrong?"

Yang Ling withdrew her hand. "Since you trust me so much, I might as well tell you. Actually, Nangong Wan'er is not my mother. She is my father's concubine, whom he married through proper channels."

"You mean to say that Nangong Wan'er is a fake?" Murong Jin's eyes widened in surprise. She never expected that Nangong Wan'er would be a fake!

"Yes!" Yang Ling nodded firmly, her tone resolute. "She was separated from her parents at first, and later wandered to Nanyang City, where she was found by her father."

Murong Jin was completely confused, but there was one thing she understood: Nangong Wan'er was an imposter.

So Nangong Wan'er wasn't the real Nangong Wan'er after all! No wonder she always felt that Nangong Wan'er looked at her strangely.

Murong Jin sighed inwardly. Indeed, people's hearts are treacherous!

"How did you figure that out?" Murong Jin asked curiously. She couldn't connect Yang Ling's words to Nangong Wan'er's identity, but Yang Ling was able to determine that Nangong Wan'er was a fake based on these clues.

Seeing Murong Jin's eager expression, Yang Ling felt a surge of pride, but she pretended to be modest and replied, "I just find it strange."

"What's so strange about it?" Murong Jin blinked.

Yang Ling pursed her lips, "Do you know what the current emperor's name is?"

Murong Jin shook his head blankly, "I'm not him, how would I know his name?"

Yang Ling shrugged helplessly and continued drinking her tea.

Seeing this, Murong Jin hurriedly said, "I'm serious! I really don't know his name!"

"You are a princess of the Southern Chu Kingdom, yet you don't even know the names of the members of your Southern Chu royal family. Don't you think you're a good-for-nothing?"

Yang Ling glanced at Murong Jin with disdain, her words laced with sarcasm.

"I don't manage state affairs. I'm only responsible for earning money to support my family. Everything else is none of my business." Murong Jin spread his hands, looking completely innocent.

Yang Ling rolled her eyes upon hearing this. "Forget it, I'm too lazy to argue with you."

Murong Jin raised an eyebrow. Was this a compliment?

Yang Ling suddenly stood up. "It's getting late. I'm going back to sleep." Without waiting for Murong Jin's reply, she walked out.

Murong Jin watched Yang Ling's departing figure, touched the tip of her nose, and knew without a doubt that he had deliberately sent her away.

"Hey, don't forget to find out about Nangong Wan'er for me!"

Yang Ling paused, then continued walking. "Do you remember what you said?"

Murong Jin was taken aback upon hearing this. "What did you say?"

"If I help you, you'll marry me." Yang Ling said, quickening her pace and walking away, leaving Murong Jin with a dashing back view.

Upon hearing this, Murong Jin froze.

When did she say such a thing? Murong Jin tried hard to search her memory, but still had no clue.

After Yang Ling left, Murong Jin sat for a long time before getting up and going to his room.

She lay in bed, tossing and turning, unable to fall asleep, so she put on her clothes and got up.

She pushed open the door and entered the courtyard, gazing at the spring flowers and autumn moon that filled the garden, and fell into deep thought.

She wondered if Yang Ling would really help her escape Nangong Jin's clutches this time.

……

As night deepened, Murong Jin strolled around the courtyard for a while before returning to her room to rest.

The next day, Murong Jin got up very early, washed up, and prepared to enter the palace.

"Husband." Murong Jin, having changed his clothes, called out to Yang Ling, who was leaning against the table.

Yang Ling looked over at the sound and saw that Murong Jin had changed into a light blue brocade dress, with her hair tied up in two simple buns and adorned with a jade hairpin. She looked neat and tidy.

"Hmm, are you going to the palace today?" Yang Ling looked at Murong Jin, a glint in her eyes, her tone slightly concerned.

Murong Jin nodded. She had thought about it all night and decided to go to the palace to sound out Nangong Che's opinion.