Chapter 302: What's the Panic?

Chunzhi's hand moved up along Huo Zheng's chest, gently tapped his forehead, and said softly, "It's almost time for dinner. Hurry up and wash up so that you can have dinner with Daddy and Mommy."

Lord Mu is upright and honest, but that doesn't mean his son-in-law would act recklessly in his own house.

Huo Zheng put his thoughts aside with some regret, and settled for the next best thing, asking Chunzhi to massage his shoulders.

The wind is strong and the rain is heavy in front of the door, but the house is warm and loving.

Chunzhi asked about Huo Zheng's visit to the palace, "You went to the palace to see the emperor, how are those people in the Fourth Prince's Mansion doing?"

Huo Zheng said, "My father has ordered that those Taoist priests who deceived my fourth brother into practicing alchemy be punished with 100 strokes of the cane and expelled from the capital. Eunuch Xu will be sent to personally oversee the execution and everyone in the Fourth Prince's mansion will be present to observe the caning to set the record straight and ensure that no innocent people are implicated."

"That's good."

When Haruzhi heard this, she breathed a sigh of relief.

Hundreds of lives were saved in the Fourth Prince’s mansion.

Huo Zheng looked at Chunzhi's reaction and said slowly, "When I entered the palace, Huo Yan happened to be in front of my father."

"Is it Huo Yan's turn?" Chunzhi's interest piqued upon hearing this. "I bet Huo Yan will be so mad at me for not wanting to marry Princess Xiling."

Huo Yan smiled and said, "You're right. Father was very angry this time. When I left the palace, Huo Yan was still kneeling in the rain."

Huo Yan was born to the imperial concubine and had been favored since childhood. He was even more favored than Huo Zheng, who was raised by Queen Wang. Being punished to kneel was the first time in his life.

Chunzhi asked: "Then you didn't try to persuade her?"

There is no such thing as father-son affection or brotherly love in the imperial family, but everyone has to do a good job of appearing good so that no one can find fault with them.

"I was going to try to persuade him." Huo Zheng scooped up some hot water and poured it over himself, "But the Ninth Prince has a bad temper and doesn't want my kindness, so I had to give up."

"You just left like that?"

Haruji thought of that scene and found it a little funny.

Huo Zheng said slowly, "It wouldn't be good to make Ninth Prince even more angry."

Moreover, he had just intervened to save the people in the Fourth Prince's Mansion. If he continued to meddle in the Ninth Prince's affairs, it would only make the Emperor displeased.

The drama of deep brotherly love only needs to be performed for the sake of expression. His relationship with Huo Yan is not that deep. If he overacts, it will seem fake.

"Too."

Chunzhi added this sentence seriously.

Before they finished speaking, they both looked at each other and smiled at each other.

After half an incense stick.

After Huo Zheng finished bathing, Chunzhi helped him dress. He was about the same height as Mu Kaiji, so his clothes fit him well.

Prince Chang'an usually wears luxurious clothes, mostly in black. Today, he wore the casual clothes of the young master of the Mu family, which was light blue and embroidered with cranes. He looked more scholarly and elegant.

Chunzhi raised her hand to smooth his clothes, "Mother's skill in making clothes is very good. This one was originally meant for my brother, but today I'm giving it to you for free."

"Really?" Huo Zheng said, "I think the princess's cooking skills are better."

Chunzhi only sewed new clothes for Huo Zheng when they were in Linshui Town. After they were separated for such a long time and Xiaoxing came back, even though they were together every day, she didn't have the time to make new clothes for him.

"You're lying with your eyes open. My craftsmanship is no match for mother's." Chunzhi knew Huo Zheng was trying to coax her. "But if you like the clothes I make, I'll make you another one when I have time."

Huo Zheng took advantage of the situation and asked immediately, "When will you be free?"

Chunzhi thought for a moment and said, "Once we settle down in Xizhou, we'll naturally have time."

"Okay." Huo Zheng's heart softened a little when he thought of Chunzhi going to Xizhou with him.

As long as they are together, anywhere is fine.

During dinner, Mu Qingshan was quite surprised to see Huo Zheng still in the Mu Mansion.

Mrs. Mu explained to him that the rain was too heavy, so she asked her daughter and son-in-law to stay at home overnight and go back early the next morning.

Mu Qingshan didn't say anything. Although he didn't leave the house today, his colleagues had already delivered a message saying that the emperor summoned Princess Xiling today and intended to marry her to the fourth prince Huo Lei. However, the fourth prince refused and took off his clothes and crown on the spot to become a Taoist monk. The emperor was so angry that he wanted to punish everyone in the fourth prince's house. It was only when Prince Chang'an came to the palace that the matter was resolved.

Even though Mu Qingshan had never looked at Prince Chang'an differently because of his daughter, he now felt that he was the most talented and kind-hearted among the princes.

During the meal, Mu Qingshan asked Huo Zheng about his plans after going to Xizhou.

Huo Zheng said: "To benefit the people, even if we can't build Xizhou into a prosperous place, at least everyone should have enough food to eat and a house to live in."

Mu Qingshan stroked his beard upon hearing this and said, "Your Highness has such an ambition, which is a blessing for the people of Xizhou."

As the two men were talking, Xiaoxing, who was standing by, saw his grandfather's beard and started to feel the itch again.

He quietly crawled over to pull his grandfather's beard, but was stopped by Huo Zheng.

"Don't make trouble, dear."

Huo Zheng held the little guy in his arms and held him in one hand.

Xiao Xinghui stretched out his finger and poked his father's chin. Daddy has no beard, Daddy is handsome, hehehehe...

Mu Qingshan and Huo Zheng had something to say, so this meal lasted a little longer than lunch.

The heavy rain continued and the sky soon became completely dark.

Mrs. Mu was very fond of her grandson and said she would take care of him for the night. Chunzhi told the little guy not to bother his grandmother.

Xiaoxing nodded as if he understood, and was taken away by his grandmother.

On this day, Chunzhi and Huo Zheng stayed at Mu's house.

With the person you love most by your side, the sound of wind and rain helps you sleep well.

The next morning, it was still raining.

Huo Zheng was going to attend the morning court, so he got up before dawn. Chunzhi was half asleep, and when she noticed that the man sleeping beside her had gotten up, she rubbed her eyes, opened them, and looked at him.

As Huo Zheng was getting dressed, he said, "It's still early, you can go back to sleep. I'll come pick you and Xiaoxing up after court and it won't be too late to go back together."

This is just enough for Chunzhi and Madam Mu to stay for half a day longer.

Chunzhi hummed sleepily. Huo Zheng walked back to the couch, leaned over and kissed her on the forehead, touched her face, and then left lightly.

Chunzhi closed her eyes, raised her hand to touch her forehead, and the corners of her lips unconsciously rose.

Not long after Huo Zheng left, Chunzhi fell back asleep.

But soon someone braved the wind and rain and knocked on the door outside, "Princess, Princess, wake up!"

Chunzhi was awakened and immediately lifted the quilt and sat up, looking outside and asking, "What's the matter with you being so frightened? Come in and tell me."

The visitor immediately pushed the door open and walked quickly to Chunzhi's couch. He was soaked by the rain and looked quite disheveled.

"Yuzhu? Why are you so wet?" Chunzhi got up from the bed and wiped the rain off her with a handkerchief. "What happened? Don't be anxious. Tell me slowly."

Yuzhu didn't bother to wipe the rain off her body. She grabbed Chunzhi's hand and said urgently, "Master Gu...Gu Yuanjia's injuries have suddenly worsened. He has a high fever and is now delirious! I sent someone to the Imperial Hospital to fetch the doctor, but they said the Ninth Prince knelt in the rain all night and is seriously injured. The Imperial Concubine has summoned all the doctors to the palace!"