Chapter 110 Hot Potato
Mu Yuan straightened up and calmly looked back at Mu Chen: "Your Majesty, I am not meddling in other people's business, but I cannot bear to see Your Highness act rashly and damage the royal family's reputation because of a moment of anger. Bao'er... Princess Jing is, after all, the Second Prince's principal wife. Your Highness's actions are not in accordance with etiquette."
His words were eloquent and respectable, but his heart was in turmoil. The harmonious and dazzling scene of Li Bao'er and Mu Cenlin at the palace banquet just now felt like thorns piercing his heart.
He thought he had let go, but seeing Li Bao'er alone and being harassed by the Crown Prince, his resentful heart began to stir again.
He hoped that Li Bao'er could see his good qualities, remember their past relationship, and perhaps... perhaps there was still a chance to salvage the relationship.
Looking at Mu Yuan's hypocritical demeanor, and then glancing at the cold-faced Li Bao'er behind him, Mu Chen knew he wouldn't succeed today. He snorted coldly, his sinister gaze sweeping back and forth between Mu Yuan and Li Bao'er, and uttered, "Fine, very well! You all just wait and see!"
Mu Yuan turned around and looked at Li Bao'er, trying his best to maintain a gentle smile: "Bao'er, are you alright? Did the Crown Prince frighten you?"
Looking at Mu Yuan, Li Bao'er felt little gratitude, but rather a sense of irony. When she was blind and foolish, giving her heart to the wrong person, he accepted it without hesitation, using her to deal with Mu Cenlin. Now that she had finally realized her mistake and found someone truly worthy of her love, who was he putting on this act of deep affection for?
She took a half-step back aloofly and nodded slightly: "Thank you for speaking up for me, Third Prince. I'm fine, but Third Brother, you should call me Second Sister-in-law." Her tone was flat, as polite as if she were treating a stranger.
Seeing the distance she deliberately maintained and her cold attitude, Mu Yuan felt a sharp pain in his heart, and the nascent flame of hope was instantly extinguished. He wanted to say something more, but then he heard the hurried footsteps of Mu Cenlin and his guards approaching from afar.
Mu Yuan's eyes darkened, knowing there was no more chance. He could only force a smile and say, "It's good that you're alright. Well... I'll take my leave now." After saying that, he gave Li Bao'er a deep look, then turned and left dejectedly.
Li Bao'er watched his retreating figure, her heart unmoved.
Belated affection is worthless, even less than grass! Mu Yuan's feelings are nothing more than the lingering effects of unrequited love.
Mu Cenlin rushed over with his guards and immediately saw Li Bao'er and Li Yu standing by the palace road with strange expressions, while Li Yan was slumped on the ground, seemingly unconscious, but the Crown Prince was nowhere to be seen.
Mu Cenlin strode forward, pulled Li Bao'er into his arms, and looked her up and down:
"What's going on? I heard that Li Yan stopped you, and Mu Chen came too?"
Bao'er gently patted his back to comfort him, "I'm fine, don't worry." She briefly recounted what had just happened, but the biggest problem now was that Mu Chen didn't know whether he was angry or felt that Li Yan was no longer of any use, but he had actually abandoned her.
"Now... what about Li Yan?" Li Bao'er looked down at her unconscious half-sister on the ground and asked with a frown.
Although I dislike Li Yan, she is, after all, a human life, and one that has been tortured to such an extent by the Crown Prince. If she is left here unattended, her chances of survival are slim.
Upon hearing this, Mu Cenlin's eyes instantly turned cold, especially when he heard that the Crown Prince dared to harbor frivolous thoughts towards Bao'er; a surge of malevolence welled up within him. He suppressed his anger, followed Bao'er's gaze to Li Yan, and pondered for a moment.
The Crown Prince deliberately abandoned Li Yan, likely with ill intentions. Taking Li Yan back to the Prince Jing's residence would be like taking a hot potato, not only confirming suspicions of competing with the Crown Prince for her, but also potentially leading to accusations that they were detaining the future Crown Prince's concubine. However, ignoring the situation would certainly result in Li Yan's death, and Bao'er had clearly taken pity on her.
After a moment's thought, he made a decision and instructed Yuan Ting beside him: "Yuan Ting, you personally take two reliable people and secretly send Miss Li to a villa in the suburbs of the capital. Find a trustworthy nanny and doctor to take good care of her and make sure her life is saved. Keep the news a secret and do not let a word of it leak out."
Yuan Ting immediately accepted the order: "Yes, Your Highness!"
Mu Cenlin then looked at Li Bao'er and explained, "Bringing her back to the Prince's Mansion right now would be too conspicuous and give others a handle against us. The villa is more secluded. Let her recover from her injuries and save her life first. As for what happens next... we'll discuss it further once she's fully recovered and we've clarified the situation."
Li Bao'er knew this was the safest option at the moment, and nodded: "Okay, I'll do as you say."
Mu Cenlin, recalling the Crown Prince's actions, remained cold in his eyes: "I will give you an explanation for Mu Chen's actions today."
"Okay, no rush." Bao'er smiled gently at him. She would slowly get her revenge for what happened today.
As the night deepened, the shadows of the palaces stretched long behind them, as if concealing countless untold turmoil.
Inside the sleeping quarters of the Princess's residence.
After the palace banquet, the eldest princess returned to her luxurious yet strangely desolate residence, dismissed all the servants, and sat alone in front of her dressing table.
In the mirror, she still looked well-maintained, but her restlessness and unease were undeniable. Frustrated, she removed the jewels from her head, her mind replaying Mu Cenlin's pointed words at the palace banquet.
Western caravans... their travels are too frequent... just how much does he know?
A chill ran up from the soles of her feet. Her business dealings with the Western Regions were indeed more than just the overt tea and silk trade; they involved huge, shady transactions and even more secretive agreements.
If that madman Mu Cenlin were to find out about these things and report them to the Emperor, even if she were the eldest princess, she would definitely be in deep trouble!
This bastard! Just like his lowly mother, he opposes me at every turn! The princess slammed the jade comb in her hand onto the dressing table with a piercing sound.
"Bang!"
The wooden door to the sleeping quarters was suddenly pushed open from the outside! The princess trembled in fright, and shouted angrily, "Who?! How dare you!"
She turned her head sharply, but when she saw who it was, her pupils contracted suddenly, and the anger on her face was instantly replaced by astonishment and a complex mix of emotions.
Crown Prince Mu Shen was standing at the door, still wearing the clothes he wore at the palace banquet. His face looked even paler and more sinister in the dim light.
He walked step by step toward the princess, his steps unsteady, but his eyes were like those of a venomous snake eyeing its prey, carrying an almost insane obsession and long-suppressed emotions.
“Aunt…” Mu Chen’s voice was hoarse, with an unusual intimacy, “You really disappointed your nephew tonight…”
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