Chapter 116

At this moment, the area outside the palace was bustling with palace maids and officials. Si Yanmo subconsciously looked around and tried to push the person away, but was rejected by the tight arms.

"Amo, don't leave me. I can give up being the King of Qin." The man's voice was already choked with emotion.

Si Yanmo knew she really couldn't tease him anymore, otherwise what if he cried in front of so many people in the palace?

She cupped his face in her hands, giving him a reassuring smile. "Silly boy, it's because I'm not staying here at all!"

"Really?" Zhou Yanqing was still a little incredulous, and didn't let go of her hand.

Si Yanmo gently patted his shoulder, indicating that there were other people beside him. He reluctantly loosened his grip a little, then pressed on, "What did he say? He really doesn't want you to stay?"

She nodded, her tone light: "Yes, yes, I told His Majesty that we have a good relationship, and he wouldn't want to break us up, so he let me go."

"It's that simple?" Zhou Yanqing was somewhat incredulous.

"Of course." Si Yanmo didn't want him to worry, so she took his hand, looking as if she had already accomplished something great. "He's not really lacking in fortune telling skills. His own reputation is more important than forcing me to stay."

Hearing her say that, Zhou Yanqing felt relieved.

Indeed, the Southern Emperor cares most about his reputation, and there's no need for him to ruin it just to have someone else act as his fortune teller.

Moreover, forcibly separating the lovers would offend Zhou Yanqing.

Even with Consort Qin as a hostage, he would still have to be somewhat wary.

Zhou Yanqing finally stopped dwelling on the matter. "Shall we go back?"

Si Yanmo suddenly had a whimsical idea, "Wait, I... I also want to see Empress Nan."

"What do you want to do?" Zhou Yanqing asked, puzzled, but still helped her request an audience.

When he arrived at the Southern Palace, he was kicked out again. He waited outside for two hours before Si Yanmo came out looking relaxed.

"What did you say to her?" he asked curiously.

Si Yanmo feigned mystery, "It's a secret, I'll tell you later."

——

Having wasted a lot of time at the palace, Si Yanmo and Zhou Yanqing originally planned to meet with Sano and the others to catch up.

Since the Southern Emperor already believed what the others said, there was no harm in being careful when they met.

But then they remembered Chen Tingyu's matter, which Tan Muhe should know about, so they changed their route and went to Hechunlou.

It was past lunchtime, but Hechunlou was still bustling with people coming and going, some drinking tea, some listening to music.

Si Yanmo led Zhou Yanqing around the crowd to the backyard, where they indeed saw the two of them learning to play the zither by the pond.

Zhong Zihe claims to be skilled in music, but his skill is limited to listening. When he actually plays, it's described as "awful and unpleasant to listen to." His hands have been worn raw by the strings countless times, and he still plays in a daze. He has only just learned the first part of "Spring Comes and Goes."

He was thoroughly enjoying himself. As long as he couldn't learn it, Tan Muhe would have to keep teaching him, and he could even take the opportunity to touch Tan Muhe's hand. This kind of blissful life was something others could only dream of.

When Si Yanmo arrived, he boasted loudly, "Little Mo'er, listen to how well your brother plays!"

There was no mockery or teasing as expected, nor any encouragement. Si Yanmo's expression was extremely serious, and even Zhou Yanqing next to her remained silent.

His smile froze on his face, as if he realized something, while Tan Muhe silently withdrew his hand from the strings. "Your Majesty... you still haven't done anything, have you?"

Si Yanmo was even too embarrassed to look him in the eye, so she lowered her eyes and nodded.

Even though he knew the answer from the beginning, Tan Muhe couldn't help but feel a little disappointed.

He took a deep breath, trying his best to calm himself down, and stood up to bow to the two of them. "Thank you, King Qin and Queen Qin. You have already helped me enough. As for the rest... perhaps it is fate."

Si Yanmo didn't know what to say. The surroundings were completely silent, except for the occasional sound of koi leaping and falling back into the pond.

Zhong Zihe spoke up to lighten the mood, "No matter what, we've at least driven that old bastard Chen Tingyu crazy, which is a kind of punishment for him."

He chuckled, but no one responded.

Tan Muhe bid farewell to the group and went upstairs. He was already thin, and the breeze made his clothes flutter, making his back look lonely and forlorn.

Si Yanmo quickly signaled Zhong Zihe to chase after them, and he then realized what was happening and jogged a few steps to catch up and comfort them.

The two went up to the guest room, which was also where Tan Muhe had been staying for the past few days.

He sat down, glancing around as if lost in thought.

Zhong Zihe saw this from the doorway, cautiously approached, sat down beside him, and tentatively said, "Um... Mu He, these things are really beyond our control. I know you're upset, so... why don't you cry for a bit? I'll go close the door, no one will hear!"

He was about to close the door when Tan Muhe laughed, amused by his words.

He waved his hand, "You don't need to think so much. I knew before I came that there would be no result, otherwise I wouldn't have killed Qi Muchen myself. I just feel bad for making you all busy with me for so long."

Seeing him smile, Zhong Zihe breathed a sigh of relief, secretly traced the crab-like path with his finger, and took his hand, "What's there to be embarrassed about? Aren't we... friends?"

Tan Muhe raised an eyebrow and deliberately said, "Oh? Friends? I wouldn't dare to be on friendly terms with the Prince of Qin and his wife, nor would I dare to be on friendly terms with the Third Prince."

“But I’m still here, aren’t I?” Zhong Zihe didn’t understand the implication in his words.

Tan Muhe stood up, adopting a serious expression, "So from now on we'll just be friends, good friends?"

Only then did he realize what he meant, and he shook his head frantically, shamelessly pulling his hand and shaking it back and forth, "That won't do. We can't be friends."

"If not friends, then what do you want to be?"

“Hmm…” Zhong Zihe’s lips curled into a sly smile, “It could be a lot, like going home together, eating together, and…”

Tan Muhe quickly covered his mouth, "That's enough!"

He was quite direct, kissing the other person's palm, and then laughing happily after succeeding, "Is that alright?"

Tan Muhe blushed instantly, wondering how this person had developed such a shameless personality.

But after the laughter subsided, knowing the special nature of his identity, he shook his head and said, "You'll find someone better. Even if you're looking for a man, you shouldn't choose someone like me. Who knows, if you get caught one day, it could bring you death."

Zhong Zihe didn't like hearing this and stubbornly said, "His Majesty doesn't even care about Chen Tingyu anymore. As long as you don't show up in front of him, how could he know that you're still alive? At worst, I'll discuss with my parents and move all the shops to Qin, or if all else fails, to Sak. I don't believe he can still find them."

Tan Muhe watched quietly as he helped her find a solution, trying to include him in her future plans, as if she truly wanted to spend her life with him.

For the first time in so many years, he felt such intense love from someone.

Although this person was a man like him, he couldn't help but be moved and his eyes reddened.

Upon seeing this, Zhong Zihe panicked and grabbed a handkerchief to wipe his tears. "Hey, you... don't cry! If you don't want to, we can be friends... that's fine too. I'll just pursue you for a while longer."

He smiled, tears welling in his eyes turning into affection, "Then you're at a huge loss."

"This isn't a business transaction, so what's the big deal about losses? As long as you're happy, that's all that matters." Zhong Zihe smiled, his smile a little silly, which softened his heart.

He picked up the handkerchief and wiped his eyes, then handed it back to him. "Alright, didn't I tell you? As long as you learn 'Spring Comes and Goes,' I'll go home with you."

“Fine! Then you have to teach me!” Zhong Zihe threw a tantrum.

"Okay, okay, okay!"

Anyway, I won't be teaching for much longer.

——

It's Lantern Festival again, and Si Yanmo is setting off from home as usual. But this time, she's not only accompanied by her parents, but also by Zhou Yanqing.

The two boarded the carriage together, and Si Yanmo sighed, "Time flies! We've known each other for a year now."

“Yes.” Zhou Yanqing pulled her into his arms, and couldn’t help but think of the divorce letter from before.

No, I have to tear it up when I get back!

Divorce? What divorce? I'd rather die than divorce!

"Back then, I thought you were so scary, that you'd kill me sooner or later." The woman laughed, recalling how terrified she had been back then.

Who knew she could now ride roughshod over that ruthless Prince Qin?

"Yes, back then you said you'd save me to save your own life." Zhou Yanqing narrowed her eyes. "You didn't really mean to save me, did you?"

"Who said that? I really was trying to save you!"

He didn't believe it. "At a time like this, you don't need to make up lies anymore, do you? I'm not going to eat you."

"No, I'm serious!" Si Yanmo's face was full of seriousness. "Do you remember when Zhou Xiru made things difficult for me at the banquet?"

It seems there is such a thing, Zhou Yanqing nodded.

"Although I used the child in Consort Shu's belly to solve the problem, she still wouldn't let it go. You have to break the cup to scare her before she shuts up."

It was that scene that made Si Yanmo realize for the first time that Zhou Yanqing was not the wicked villain in the rumors.

"So... I saved the beauty, and you repay me with your body?" Zhou Yanqing teased, making Si Yanmo blush.

Just as she was about to say that this person was unreliable, the carriage, which had been moving steadily forward, suddenly stopped.

Before they could react, they were almost thrown to the ground by the inertia. Fortunately, Zhou Yanqing steadied himself in time and caught her, thus preventing her hairstyle, which she had been working on all morning, from being ruined.

The coachman's voice came in, "Your Highness, Your Highness, are you alright?"

"It's nothing." The man's voice turned cold again. He lifted the curtain and found the area beneath the ancient temple packed with people. "What's going on?"

The coachman didn't know either. "Your Highness, should I go and ask?"

"No need." Going to the palace is more important.

Just as he was about to tell the driver to take another route, Si Yanmo suddenly exclaimed, "Tan Muhe!"