Fu Junheng glanced at Mu Chunxi with a cold gaze but did not give any response. This was just his usual aloof attitude towards others.

Mu Chunxi maintained her faint smile, withdrew her gaze, and looked at Mu Chenshuang, "As soon as I returned to the capital, I heard rumors about you and Crown Prince Junheng. I didn't expect to see it with my own eyes today. Since Your Highness has arrived, why don't you invite Your Highness to your residence for a visit?"

Mu Chenshuang did not answer Mu Chunxi's question, but simply said, "Since Chunxi is back, then go back to the manor to rest."

Mu Chunxi glanced at Mu Chenshuang, said nothing more, bowed to Fu Junheng, and then walked towards the gate.

However, the moment she stepped into the Marquis's residence, her face instantly darkened, her fingers clenched tightly, and a cold glint appeared in her eyes.

After exchanging a few words with Fu Junheng, Mu Chenshuang turned and went back to her residence, and Fu Junheng did not stop her.

Back inside the courtyard.

Mu Chenshuang instructed Linglong to prepare hot water, as she needed to take a bath to relax.

While serving Mu Chenshuang her bath and washing, Linglong noticed that her mistress was absent-minded. "Miss, is something on your mind?"

Mu Chenshuang came back to her senses. She was indeed wondering what Fu Junheng would say to Lord Mu, and whether Lord Mu had returned to the manor yet.

"Send Honghua to check if my father has returned home."

Linglong inserted a hairpin into Mu Chenshuang's hair, then lowered her hand. "I'll go call Honghua."

Honghua quickly returned to Tingzhu Courtyard and hurriedly said, "Princess, I saw Crown Prince Junheng and the Marquis enter."

Although Mu Chenshuang appeared calm on the surface and her eyes showed little emotion, the way she unconsciously clenched her fingers revealed her true feelings.

"Crown Prince Junheng came to see the Marquis?" Linglong asked in surprise, then looked at Mu Chenshuang with concern and said, "Miss, Crown Prince Junheng must have come to see the Marquis to talk about you, Miss."

The Marquis has confined the young lady to the courtyard, clearly indicating his disapproval of her relationship with Crown Prince Junheng. Now that Crown Prince Junheng has come to visit, it is likely because of the young lady's situation.

Mu Chenshuang's eyes darkened slightly as she said, "What else could it be but this?"

"Should we ask Qiye to eavesdrop?"

"No need, let's wait for news!"

The Marquis will definitely send someone to find her.

As expected.

Half an incense stick later, Lord Mu's guards summoned Mu Chenshuang to the main courtyard.

Mu Chenshuang entered the hall, but Fu Junheng was no longer there. Only Lord Mu, sitting in the main seat, had a solemn expression.

"father."

Mu Chenshuang stepped forward and called out softly.

At this moment, she felt somewhat uneasy.

Lord Mu put down his teacup, raised his eyes, and looked at Mu Chen Shuang with a pair of dignified and piercing eyes. "Shuang'er, I want to know what you're really thinking?"

Mu Chenshuang stood before Lord Mu, her eyes lowered, "Even I don't know."

She couldn't fathom what the Marquis was thinking, nor did she know what Fu Junheng had said to him.

"Then do you know what Crown Prince Junheng and my father said to me?"

“He didn’t say, and his daughter didn’t ask.”

Lord Mu said directly, "Crown Prince Junheng said that he has already informed His Majesty that he will marry you, Shuang'er."

His tone was extremely ordinary, yet it made him all the more enigmatic.

Lord Mu's words startled Mu Chenshuang, who looked at him in disbelief. She had no idea that Fu Junheng had already asked His Majesty for clarification.

Was he really determined?

At this moment, she felt a strange mix of panic and helplessness.

Lord Mu gazed intently at Mu Chen Shuang, "Shuang'er, do you find it surprising that Crown Prince Jun Heng said such a thing?"

Mu Chenshuang composed herself and said, "I really didn't expect him to tell His Majesty about this."

"So this is just Crown Prince Junheng's one-sided idea."

How could she not understand the meaning behind Lord Mu's words? This was already enough of a hint for her.

"Father, are you really absolutely against me being with him?" Mu Chenshuang asked, looking directly at Lord Mu.

Lord Mu lowered his eyes slightly, and his already imposing aura became even stronger at this moment.

"Father is firmly against it, Shuang'er, would you listen to your father?"

Mu Chenshuang remained silent, unable to give Lord Mu a definite answer.

"And what will His Majesty do then?"

"His Majesty will definitely talk to me about this after the morning court tomorrow. However, Shuang'er, you'd better be prepared. The person who will be sent to Xiyue Kingdom for a marriage alliance will definitely not be you."

Mu Chenshuang lowered her gaze and remained silent. This was something she had seen through from the beginning; no one would agree to her being with Fu Junheng.

The thought of this fills me with an inexplicable aversion.

She looked at Lord Mu, her eyes instantly hardening. "Whether Father or His Majesty agrees to me being with Fu Junheng or not, my future marriage will not be decided by others. This is my bottom line."