More than just going with the flow

It's completely baffling to me.

As soon as we arrived at the palace gate, we saw Muli waiting at the entrance.

He came over and naturally took my hand: "Back to the Imperial Observatory? I'll see you off."

Is it that you can't say things in public? "Okay," I nodded, "I was just about to come find you."

After we returned to the Imperial Observatory and sat down under the eaves, Mu Li finally spoke: "I investigated and found that someone did receive a transfer order and followed the Crown Prince to several places. In the end, the item was only found at the Confucian Temple. But the transfer order was delivered by a person, so the traces are easy to erase."

"So, even though those Imperial Guards went there on orders, as long as the Crown Prince denies it, you have no evidence to prove that he instructed them to do so, right?"

“That’s right,” Mu Li nodded. “I have already instructed everyone not to obey orders without a decree. But after this, I’m sure he won’t use the Imperial Guards again.”

The supervisor breathed a sigh of relief: "How would I, an outsider, understand these things? You should all go out of the palace and find the prime minister."

“That’s true,” I nodded. “Then let’s go find the prime minister and ask Ah Shi what he thinks.”

"Okay." Mu Li nodded.

I put Baohe back into the well. He was still holding the lantern in his hand. He opened his eyes, glanced at me, and then closed them again to go back to sleep.

Muli led me out of the palace and we soon arrived at the Prime Minister's residence.

It was already very late, and the Prime Minister's residence was quiet, with only the lanterns at the entrance lit.

I went over and knocked on the door, but no one answered.

"They must be asleep. Let's try the back door."

"Okay." We went to the back door again, and this time it took a long time before we heard anyone come: "Who is it? In the middle of the night."

A moment later, the door opened a crack, and the servant, looking bewildered, yawned and asked us, "And you two are?"

"I am Xu Yi. I have something to discuss with your master. Please inform him."

"Miss Xu?" The servant opened the door immediately: "The steward instructed that Miss Xu may come in whenever she wishes."

The housekeeper is so thoughtful. I nodded and said, "Thank you very much."

"Would you like me to take Miss there?"

"No need, we can go by ourselves."

"Very well." After saying that, the servant locked the door and went back to sleep.

It was my first time walking around the Prime Minister's residence alone in the middle of the night, and I was a little unaccustomed to it. I asked Mu Li, "Shouldn't we go find the steward first?"

Mu Li laughed: "You're already in, why bother looking for the steward? Just go find the prime minister."

"That's true." With that, I went with Muli to the Prime Minister's courtyard. I knocked on the door and called out, "Prime Minister?"

He called out twice and the candles inside were lit: "Xu Yi?"

A moment later, the prime minister came out in plain clothes: "What's wrong? Why are you so late?"

I put it simply: "The Crown Prince has destroyed the cultural heritage of the Confucian Temple and even borrowed soldiers from the Imperial Guard, so he came to discuss this with you and Ah Shi."

“I said he’s been going out a lot lately, but there’s been no movement in the court. I didn’t expect it was for these reasons.”

The prime minister didn't waste any words, pointing to the room on the side: "Come on, let's talk in Ah Shi's room." He then led the way to the side of the main courtyard. After waking Ah Shi, he sat on the bed, wrapped himself in the blanket, and asked me, "Literary lineage? What's that?"

Before I could even speak, the prime minister was already furious: "What is literary tradition? You've studied for so long and you still don't understand?"

Ah Shi, who was still a little sleepy, immediately lost all his drowsiness and asked in a loud voice, "Literary lineage? Is it the literary lineage that inherits the literary tradition?"

"Are there any other cultural traditions?" I asked him in return.

"Why...why is he digging this up?"

"He himself has nothing, so if he wants to gain the support of scholars and secure the throne of the crown prince, he must seize it."

"Oh? Having this will get me the approval and support of scholars? Auntie, can you take me to dig some up too?"

"What are you thinking about?" I tapped his head. "The luck you stole isn't yours to keep. You'll have to pay it back with interest sooner or later. You should just focus on your studies and take the imperial examinations!"

“I was just saying, Auntie,” Ah Shi smiled at me, “How could I possibly imitate him?”

I glanced at him sideways before turning to the Prime Minister: "This literary lineage has already been dug up; he must have already consumed and absorbed it. The key point is that he used the Imperial Guards to do it, so..."

The prime minister glanced at Mu Li: "So, this also involves the power of the Mu family, this general?"

“Yes,” Muli nodded, “and according to the reports from his soldiers, they went to many places. Although they didn’t seem to find anything in other places, they at least found a way to make a fuss about it.”

"I'm afraid your old man is on the Crown Prince's side," the Prime Minister said, bringing up another matter.

How did we end up talking about Muqi again? Before I could even process what was happening, Muli's expression changed.

"What's wrong?"

Muli looked at me, took a deep breath, and then brought up another matter: "It's nothing, I just happen to have free time and can spend every day with Xu Yi..."

"Weren't we supposed to be talking about serious matters? How did we suddenly get onto the topic of my daughter's love affairs?" My face flushed instantly. "Weren't we supposed to be talking about serious matters? How did we end up bringing this up again?"

"I'm talking about serious business!"

After Mu Li finished speaking, A Shi laughed: "That's true. You are now General Mu, the commander of the Imperial Guard. If it were true... it wouldn't make much difference if you were just my uncle every day with my aunt."

My face turned even redder: "This is nothing! What are you talking about?"

The prime minister took a sip of tea and said slowly, "Since the item has already been dug up and can't be found, there's no need to worry about it. Now, the main thing is to pay attention to the court and do well in the imperial examinations."

Ah Shi nodded: "I know, teacher."

“That’s settled then,” the prime minister stood up. “A-Shi, get some rest. As for the two of you…” the prime minister looked at us. “Go find your own rooms to rest.”

"Huh? You can just pick anywhere?" Isn't that a bit too casual? This isn't even my residence.

The prime minister nodded: "It's so late, do you expect me to go and find someone to help you find a room? There are several rooms in the main courtyard, and if that doesn't work, there are plenty of rooms in the side courtyards. You can find one yourselves. I need to rest now, as I have to go to court soon."

After the prime minister finished speaking, he left. Ah Shi chuckled at us and said, "Then Aunt and Uncle should go find a room to rest. I need to sleep too." With that, he lay down under the covers and added, "Close the door for me, Aunt."

After we left, I asked Muli, "Do you want to sleep in the main courtyard or the courtyard next door?"

"And you? Where do you sleep?"

I looked at the row of rooms opposite Ah Shi and said, "I'll just stay there, it's close."

"Okay, I'll go with you."

"Together? It looks like there's a suite over there, and only one bedroom..." I stopped abruptly, then turned to look at Muli: "You... with me?"

"Hahaha," came Ah Shi's laughter from the house behind: "If Uncle doesn't go with Aunt, who will he go with?"

I rolled my eyes at the room behind me: "Go to sleep." Then I pulled Muli down the steps and into the courtyard, asking him again uncertainly, "Are you... coming with me?"

A faint smile played on his lips as he tilted his head, mimicking my gesture, and asked, "Is that not allowed?"

"Sure! What's wrong with that? I'm already so old..." As soon as I finished speaking, Muli picked me up around the waist and carried me to the house across the street.

Soon we arrived at the room. Muli didn't turn on the light; she simply went straight in, placed me on the bed, and braced herself on either side of me, looking at me. I unconsciously took a deep breath: "Muli, you..."

He smiled and then gently kissed the corner of my lips: "Sleep."

After saying that, he held me and we fell asleep together.

My heart was pounding, afraid he might do something else, but he just picked up a strand of my hair and played with it, asking me, "Xu Yi, didn't you understand just now?"

"What?" I didn't quite understand.

He chuckled and kissed my forehead again before continuing, "If Grandfather sides with the Crown Prince, he can pin the recent deployment of the Imperial Guards on me. This way, I can step down and remain in the rear. If the Crown Prince's path doesn't work out later, I can reappear in public."

He raised his hand and touched my cheek: "But because of this, I won't be able to help you, Xu Yi, as the commander of the Imperial Guard, for a long time..."

"Huh? But I'm with you not because you're Commander Mu, but because you're Mu Li! I'm not with you for status."

“I know,” Muli nodded, “but I’ll feel like I can’t help you, I’ll feel useless…”

"How could that be?" I cupped his face in my hands. "You're not just Commander Mu, you're also the highly skilled Mu Li. If it really comes to that, you can stay with me and protect me..."

I suddenly remembered what Mu Li said, "Then I'll be with Xu Yi every day." It turns out he had already planned his escape route...

I punched him: "Are you kidding me?"

"Hmm," he nodded, took my hand and kissed it, "I have to ask you, the person involved, whether you're willing for me to come along?"

"Of course I'd be happy to. Although I'm very powerful in magic, I'm not good at martial arts. When facing people, it's better to have you around."

“Hmm,” Muli nodded, “If you’re willing…” Then she smiled and kept looking at me…

His eyes were full of affection... My heart started pounding uncontrollably again, but before it could beat a few more times, those gentle lips covered mine once more...

His voice was tender: "Xu Yi...would you be my wife?"

No, of course it's no good! I was about to refuse when I found my body betraying me and moved even closer to him...

What the heck? Is it desire?

Do I have desires for Muli?

Uh... this is something I really didn't expect.

The woods were gentle that night, as soft as a light dewdrop, creating only ripples as it fell onto the water's surface...

I'm tired, emotionally tired...

My feelings for Muli were aroused, and Muli is also part of my desires. It seems that I am not as indifferent to Muli as I thought...

Does this mean I have to overcome the obstacle of love?

Have I never done this before? Uh... I don't think I have...