Chapter 223 Qingliangyuan

Chu Taibao just left a few words and turned away.

Mu Qing didn't know the way, so he had to ask the eunuchs and palace maids next to him.

However, when the servants in the Prince's Eastern Palace saw him coming, they immediately avoided him as if they had seen a ghost.

It was as if talking to him would make one unhappy.

Mu Qing had no choice but to ask along the way, and when he arrived at Qingliang Garden, he found that the place had been abandoned for a long time.

There was a thick layer of dead leaves on the ground, which had been accumulated for who knows how many years. Since it had rained a few days ago, there was still heavy moisture in it.

Bushes and weeds emerged from the dead leaves, and spider webs covered the eaves of the corners of the garden, one here and one there, covered with dust and dead insects. If you were not careful, your face would be covered with this dirt.

No wonder when Mu Qing asked for directions just now, the eunuchs and palace maids looked very strange when they heard that he was going to Qingliang Garden, and even had a hint of sympathy.

Mu Qing found a broom in the corner and looked around. He didn't know how long it would take to clean the yard alone, not to mention scrubbing the tables, chairs and benches inside...

With such a heavy workload, even the palace maids who were specially assigned to clean the house would need several days to complete it.

While Mu Qing is known as Lu Yunjue on the surface, he has never been involved in any business.

Chu Taibao actually asked him to come here to clean, which was clearly targeting him.

A hint of anger appeared in Mu Qing's eyes, but he still resigned himself to his fate and started cleaning, while thinking of countermeasures in his mind.

What Chu Taibao did was simply to make him give up.

But there was no grudge between them, and they had never even met before. Why did he do this?

As dusk approached, the sky darkened particularly quickly. A cool breeze blew through the Qingliang Garden, making a rustling sound.

The window in the house seemed to be broken and was creaking and shaking, adding a sense of horror to the quiet courtyard.

Next to the window was a pond, which was also covered with a layer of dead leaves and the water was green.

It was completely dark, and the place became desolate and eerie. When Mu Qing was cleaning by the pond, he went to close the window, and suddenly he caught a glimpse of a dark shadow flashing across the pond.

His heart skipped a beat, and when he looked carefully he realized it was a fish.

Just as he breathed a sigh of relief, someone suddenly pushed him hard from behind.

Although Mu Qing was a martial arts expert, he was still caught off guard by the sneak attack and couldn't help but step on empty air. Fortunately, he used the broom in his hand to support himself and did not fall.

He turned around quickly, but saw only a black shadow running out.

The black shadow didn't seem to have any intention of harming his life. After giving him a push, it ran away without any reluctance and disappeared at the door in the blink of an eye.

Mu Qing chased after him desperately, and as the distance between them was getting closer, he bumped into someone when he turned a corner.

The man adjusted the jade crown that had been knocked askew. He wasn't angry about the knock, but just asked in surprise, "Huh? Lu Yunjue, why are you here?"

A hint of surprise also flashed across Mu Qing's eyes. The person he bumped into was actually the prince?

How did he get here?

But now is not the time to think too much. Seeing that the black shadow has run out of sight, Mu Qing felt a little anxious. He said sorry and continued to chase.

The Crown Prince held him back with his hand, "I've been busy lately, so I haven't summoned you. Since we meet by chance today, why don't you go to the East Palace and spend some time there?"

He still looked gentle and polite, but he blocked Mu Qing's way when the black shadow was escaping.

Mu Qing looked at him coldly, feeling that there were doubts everywhere.

He didn't want to get entangled with the prince any further, so he bowed and said, "I have important matters to attend to, so I'll take my leave first."

But the prince did not withdraw his hand. A gentle smile still hung on his face, and he said, "Are you chasing someone?"

"Yes, there was an assassin in Qingliang Garden." Seeing that he was determined to stop them, Mu Qing felt more and more suspicious, so he asked tentatively, "Why, has the Crown Prince seen the assassin?"

The prince still smiled and shook his head: "No."

After delaying for such a long time, it was clear that the shadow could no longer be caught up.

Mu Qing's eyes turned cold. "Then why did you stop me? Wasn't it to give the assassin a chance to escape?"

The prince's reaction seemed calm, but this calmness was actually abnormal.

How could an ordinary person's first reaction when hearing that there is an assassin in the palace be to smile and shake their head?

Even if he is a martial arts master, isn't he afraid that assassins will harm the emperor?

If others heard that the prince was so indifferent to the assassin entering the palace, they would think that the assassin was sent by the prince!

Although Mu Qing's question did not directly conflict with the prince, it contained hidden meaning.

The prince heard this sharp question, but he remained elegant and calm: "When did I stop you?"

Mu Qing was speechless. In his conversation with the prince just now, there was indeed not a single word that could prove that the prince was deliberately trying to stop him.

He then bowed and said, "I am sorry for my rudeness, Your Highness, please forgive me!"

He knew that he couldn't quarrel with the prince now, after all, the palace was the prince's home ground.

"That's fine. You're a man of passion, and it's not uncommon for you to be impulsive and not consider things thoroughly," the Crown Prince said with great tolerance and generosity. "But once you enter the Eastern Palace, you won't be as free as before."

Mu Qing was just pondering the meaning of his words when he saw the Crown Prince pointing to the sky: "Look, even the birds are hurriedly rushing home, busy fleeing the Forbidden City."

"I am stupid, please speak frankly, Your Highness." Mu Qing thought to himself that the prince's words seemed to be persuading him to go home and regain his freedom.

It can be seen that the prince really did not want him to be the prince's guardian.

Could it be that she really didn't want to be with him, or was she afraid of revealing something?

But no matter which reason it is, it is abnormal, because Lu Yunjue, like Chu Taibao and others, were all selected by the emperor himself.

He is the crown prince, known for his gentleness and obedience. Why would he be wary of the ministers given by his own father?

But the prince turned the topic back to the shadow: "Do you think my reaction to hearing that there was an assassin in the palace was a little strange?"

Mu Qing didn't expect him to say that, so he nodded.

The prince smiled and said, "You said the shadow came from this direction, but I didn't see anyone. There's a rumor in the palace that Qingliang Garden has been abandoned for a long time and is often haunted. Are you sure you didn't see a ghost?"

Mu Qing suddenly felt a chill on his back. The night wind whistled past, blowing the leaves off the eaves.

He wondered if a ghost could push a person, but he didn't say it out loud.

The Crown Prince seemed oblivious to the shocking nature of his words as he continued, "I just returned to the Eastern Palace and heard that Grand Tutor Chu had sent you to Qingliang Garden. It's getting late today, so if you have anything else to do, you should go back first."

Mu Qing had just taken two steps when he heard him whisper behind him, "If you walk too much at night, you're likely to run into ghosts. You have to choose the right path."

After saying that, he left.

Mu Qing realized that the prince was hinting that he should stop pursuing her.

But this made him even more certain of one thing.

The prince is inextricably linked to the deaths of his father and brother!