Chapter 140 Mu Ge was filled with regret.

As Hua Yi spoke in a deep voice, she clenched her fists tightly inside her sleeve.

No way! She had waited for thousands of days and nights to finally get the chance to serve the prince. How could she possibly give that opportunity to someone else? Right now, let alone if Shen Wantang told her to keep a close eye on Mu Ge, she could kill Mu Ge even if Shen Wantang told her to!

Seeing her expression, Granny Chai knew that she would definitely complete the task assigned to her by Shen Wantang very seriously. She nodded in satisfaction and went back to report.

After Granny Chai left, Huayi slowly stood up.

She turned around and looked at Mu Ge in the courtyard.

Mu Ge, dressed in the same white robes as Chu Yanluo, spoke softly and weakly to the young master, even taking over the duties of the maid, serving him tea, picking out snacks for him, and even straightening his crooked hairpin.

Anyone who didn't know better would think that Mu Ge was already the prince's concubine!

Unfortunately, the Crown Prince still valued his wife more. Whenever she asked him, he would quickly say that he would not take a concubine, for fear of upsetting her.

This matter has already spread throughout the entire prefecture.

Hua Yi's usually gentle face revealed a hint of coldness. If the Crown Prince wanted to take a concubine, she should be the first one, since she had already made it public to both the Crown Prince's wife and the Princess Consort!

What is Mu Ge anyway? Does she even deserve to be the Crown Prince's first concubine?

Hua Yi lowered her head to brush the dust off her knees, adjusted her hair, and then entered the courtyard. Without any hesitation, she pushed Mu Ge aside and stood next to Xiao Qingyuan.

The coldness on her face had vanished, replaced by her usual gentle demeanor: "Let me serve the young master. This is something a maid should do; it's not appropriate for Miss Mu to do it!"

Mu Ge was annoyed that she was pushed away, but she dared not show it, lest she incur Xiao Qingyuan's dislike.

She walked to Xiao Qingyuan's other side: "Miss Huayi, you are too kind. It is only right for me to serve the young master. There is nothing inappropriate about it. After all, the young master has said that he wants to take me as a concubine! From now on, I will belong to the young master."

Hua Yi almost lost her composure, a mocking smile appearing on her lips: "What, Miss Mu, don't you know? The young master has already said that he will not take any concubines. Our young master only recognizes one princess consort!"

Mu Ge's face stiffened: "What did you say?! Your Highness, is what she said true?"

Xiao Qingyuan nodded: "It's true. Originally, taking you as a concubine was just a temporary measure. My main purpose was to make it reasonable for you to stay in the manor. However, taking a concubine is not a trivial matter. Although Shen Wantang is very generous in this regard, I cannot disregard her feelings and take a concubine at will. At the very least, I need her approval."

Mu Ge's face paled little by little. Her hope of becoming a concubine, which had just begun to rise, was shattered so quickly.

A hint of resentment crept into her voice: "Was it the Crown Princess who forbade the Crown Prince from taking a concubine? Is it because the Crown Princess dislikes me that she stopped this?"

“It has nothing to do with her. She didn’t say anything. It was just me who felt it was inappropriate.”

Muge refused to believe Xiao Qingyuan's words. Xiao Qingyuan was even willing to defy Princess Ning for her sake, and even made Princess Ning faint and vomit blood, but he still wouldn't budge!

Why did Xiao Qingyuan change his mind after Shen Wantang went to Shaoguang Academy?

It must have been Shen Wantang who did this!

"Your Highness, since ancient times, men have been allowed to take concubines, and no one can interfere. This is a trivial matter, so Your Highness can make the decision yourself. There is no need for Your Highness's Consort to agree!"

Mu Ge's handkerchief was almost torn to shreds, but she still had to put on an act of considering Xiao Qingyuan's feelings: "If even such a small matter requires the Princess Consort's approval to be done, the Prince will be laughed at!"

"Your words are as good as gold; once spoken, they are like water spilled. How can you force someone to take them back?"

"Sigh, I'm fine with it. I'm just worried that the young master will lose his status in the palace and be pointed at and gossiped about when he goes out!"

These words struck a nerve with Xiao Qingyuan.

He gripped the teacup tightly and took a big bite of the pastry: "In this palace, I am indeed the one with the lowest status. Even the guards dare to lay a hand on me."

Nobody listens to him anymore!

Aside from Mu Ge, no one else would want him to bring Chu Yanluo back.

If it weren't for Mu Ge today, he would never have received Chu Yanluo's letter, let alone known that Chu Yanluo's current situation was so bad.

He was grateful to Mu Ge.

He looked at Mu Ge: "Don't just stand there, come and sit down. I haven't thanked you yet for helping me receive Yan Luo's letter. Yan Luo isn't doing too well out there, so you've done a great job today..."

“That bastard Gu Qianhan is a real scoundrel. He lied to me and to Yanluo. Yanluo is sick, and he won’t even call a doctor for her. Yanluo has lost weight…”

Mu Ge was taken aback. Why was he talking to her about Chu Yanluo at a time like this?

She was reminding him to quickly bypass Shen Wantang and take her as his concubine!

What's wrong with Xiao Qingyuan? Was he even listening to her?

Mu Ge tried to steer the conversation back to the matter of taking a concubine: "Your Highness, please take me as a concubine. That way, I won't be kicked out. Otherwise, I'm afraid the Princess Consort will kick me out tomorrow!"

Xiao Qingyuan was absent-minded; his mind was filled with Chu Yanluo's sickly appearance lying in bed. He casually replied, "Shen Wantang won't kick you out; she's not that petty. But Yanluo... sigh, how can I get her out of here? Mu Ge, do you have any good ideas?"

"Well... I don't have any other choice. Your Highness, you should reconsider taking a concubine..."

Xiao Qingyuan ignored her words and stood up: "No, I have to write a letter to Yanluo and send her some money. At the very least, she needs to get better first. That bastard Gu Qianhan probably won't give her a single penny just to get revenge on me."

"Your Highness, oh Your Highness!"

Mu Ge called out several times, but Xiao Qingyuan didn't hear her at all. She was so anxious that her lips were almost blistered!

Yanluo, Yanluo, Yanluo, all he knows is Yanluo! If she had known this would happen, she shouldn't have given him Chu Yanluo's letter!

Now look what's happened! They've shot themselves in the foot!

Mu Ge was filled with deep regret.

If Xiao Qingyuan really brings Chu Yanluo back, then things will be even worse. With Chu Yanluo's jealous nature, she probably won't be able to remain Xiao Qingyuan's concubine!

She hurriedly tried to go inside, but Huayi stopped her.

Mu Ge's face darkened: "Get out of the way!"

Hua Yi looked at her with a forced smile: "Miss Mu, you have quite the airs, it's a bit intimidating. But I am the young master's personal maid. Now that the young master has gone back to his room to rest, it is only natural for me, as his maid, to guard the door for him!"