The Grand Secretary's guards remained on watch, making it impossible for Mu Wanyu to leave. She had been trying to figure out a way to escape for the past few days, but without success.

She had mentioned it to her father and Li Li, but both of them declined, citing her poor health.

In the middle of the night, she lay in bed, gently stroking the jade pendant in her hand. Liu Xinqi appeared silently in her room, looking at the pensive woman on the bed, and felt that her demeanor seemed to have changed a lot.

Was the incident with Ms. Xu too damaging to her, causing a drastic change in her personality? Liu Xinqi comforted herself with this thought.

Mu Wanyu sensed someone approaching and shrank further into the bed: "Who is it?" She wasn't sure if it was that person.

"It's me."

When Mu Wanyu saw the person who came first open the curtain in front of her bed and sit down casually, her eyes lit up with joy. She just happened to be unable to go out, and then this person came.

"Are you feeling better lately?" Liu Xinqi asked softly. Mu Wanyu looked into his calm eyes, unable to see a trace of affection. Had she guessed wrong?

This man of extraordinary status doesn't like her at all? Then she can't believe he would help her wholeheartedly. She gave him a weak look and said, "I'm feeling better."

Mu Wanyu blinked nervously, then said seemingly casually, "You...you left your things here."

She gently pinched the jade pendant with her slender, pale fingers and slowly handed it to her.

Looking at her timid appearance, Liu Xinqi suddenly smiled with relief. It seemed he had been overthinking things. This woman was still so afraid of him, even refusing the gifts he offered.

His heart stirred, and he raised his hand to gently stroke her face. Mu Wanyu turned her face slightly away, but the man was still able to touch her.

"This is for you, just keep it." He gazed at the woman before him, mesmerized, feeling a pang of guilt for not stopping that man from harming her that day. Besides, she had saved his life.

Mu Wanyu pretended to be conflicted, but still accepted the jade pendant: "Then... I'll keep it for you for now."

Liu Xinqi nodded, then suddenly leaned down and kissed the woman in front of him. Mu Wanyu was stunned! This man really liked her! But she wasn't the other consciousness! However, for the sake of the grand plan at hand, she should just endure it.

Seeing her reaction, Liu Xinqi assumed she was scared and softened his movements: "Don't be afraid, I won't hurt you."

Mu Wanyu softened her body, letting him take what he wanted. Liu Xinqi was no naive young man inexperienced in matters of the heart; women were playthings for him to enjoy, and he hadn't been with a woman in a long time.

Moreover, he also had some feelings for the woman in front of him, so he inexplicably wanted to see her again and again.

Mu Wanyu pretended to struggle in fear when he entered. Liu Xinqi thought she was recalling the day she was humiliated. Looking at her delicate and charming appearance with tears in her eyes, he couldn't help but feel even more sorry for her.

"It's okay, I'll be very gentle and won't hurt you." He wanted to help her forget that unpleasant experience and leave her with only joy from then on.

Mu Wanyu nodded cautiously, her eyes still filled with fear, which didn't seem fake.

This experience was different from the last one. Mu Wanyu felt very comfortable; this man was indeed very gentle. She had always valued her chastity highly, wanting to save it for her beloved, Di Jingcheng.

But ever since she was raped, she has hated these men and only wanted to take revenge on them. So she stopped refusing Li Li. After they confirmed their relationship, they had been intimate many times, and she didn't refuse the man tonight either.

She even shamefully compared the different feelings that different men gave her, and how nice it felt to be cared for.

The two kept their voices down. The maid outside was already dozing off in the darkness and had no idea what was going on inside the room.

As dawn broke, Mu Wanyu had already fallen into a deep sleep. Her body was too weak to endure, which only made the man more tender towards her. He gently kissed her face a few times, cleaned her up, dressed her, and covered her with a blanket. Then, he picked up her clothes, which were covered in stains, and slipped away.

Mu Wanyu didn't get up until noon. The person beside her was long gone, and a note was slipped into her hand. She unfolded it and read: The Emperor left the palace today.

"Miss, are you awake? I'm coming in!"

——

In the evening, Consort Wu disguised herself as a palace maid going out to buy things and left the palace with her waist token.

She arrived at the outskirts of the capital, hired a horse-drawn carriage and drove it herself. After traveling ten miles, she entered a temple.

The Jokhang Temple appears even more desolate in the snowy winter world. A few monks are clearing away the unmelted snow in the temple, and the tall trees in the courtyard are still bare.

The abbot, seeing someone enter, put his hands together and walked over: "Amitabha, is the female benefactor here to offer incense?"

Consort Wu looked around and shook her head slightly: "I'm here to find someone."

The host's eyes were expressionless and utterly indifferent. He nodded slightly and said, "Please follow this old monk, female benefactor."

Consort Wu followed the host into the backyard and into a separate, old-fashioned side room.

——

Emperor Jingcheng and his entourage strolled leisurely, covering dozens of miles in a day, until they arrived at Meizhou City, the closest city to the capital. Although not as prosperous as the capital, it was still economically well-developed, and its most distinctive feature was its local hand-pulled noodles.

The carriage stopped in front of a villa. Ignoring the man beside her, Azi lifted the curtain, intending to jump out. But the man caught her in his arms: "The ground is slippery, don't fall!"

Azi reached out and poked her chest: "Quickly, go downstairs, this courtyard is so beautiful!"

Di Jingcheng carried her down from the carriage: "What's the rush? If you like, we can play for a few more days."

"Royal sister-in-law! Royal sister-in-law! Royal brother!" Di Jinghan jumped down from the carriage and ran over.

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