He is my mother's
The morning light had just warmed the bluestone slabs of the Silver Prince's Mansion, and the hall was filled with the bitter aroma of medicinal porridge and the sweet fragrance of osmanthus cake. Yin Li was feeding He Mo medicinal porridge spoonful by spoonful with a white porcelain spoon—his right arm was wrapped in thick gauze, making it difficult for him to even lift his hand, so he could only obediently open his mouth, a hint of a smile hidden in his eyes. The way she focused on blowing on the porridge was even sweeter than the medicinal porridge itself.
"Slow down, it's hot." Yin Li had just brought the spoon to his lips when she saw him frown slightly. She quickly withdrew her hand and blew on it twice. Her fingertips accidentally brushed against his lips. The two looked at each other, and her ears turned slightly red. She quickly lowered her head and stirred the porridge.
Before this sweet, intimate moment could last even half a cup of tea, the sound of galloping hooves suddenly came from outside the mansion, followed by a maid's panicked cry: "Young Miss! Something terrible has happened! Princess Jinhe has rushed in with her entourage!"
They said they wanted to settle scores with Prince He—no, they wanted to propose marriage to Prince He!
"A marriage proposal?" Yin Li's spoon clattered into the bowl, splashing porridge all over the table. He Mo sat up straight, his brows furrowed: "When did I get involved with the Jin Prince's Mansion?"
No sooner had she finished speaking than a figure in pale yellow rushed in. Princess Jinhe wore a gold hairpin inlaid with jewels, and the lotus flowers embroidered on her skirt fluttered with her movements, making her look like a golden peacock flapping its wings.
Behind her followed four burly maids, carrying brocade boxes and food baskets, making it seem as if they were about to empty the Silver Prince's mansion.
"Prince He!" Jinhe spotted He Mo at a glance, her eyes shining brightly. She shook off the servant's hand and rushed over. "I thought about your sword dance at the palace banquet yesterday all night! I came today to bring you ginseng to nourish your body, and I also brought peach blossom pastries that I made myself. Please try them!"
As she spoke, she handed the brocade box to He Mo, but her hand restlessly moved towards his arm—trying to take the opportunity to link arms with him. Yin Li reacted quickly, grabbing the plate of osmanthus cakes on the table and placing it between the two of them with a "thud," causing the osmanthus cakes in the plate to bounce.
"Princess, please wait." Yin Li stood in front of He Mo, her hands behind her back, her back straight like a bamboo protecting its young. "Prince He's right arm is injured, and he even has difficulty holding chopsticks. I'm afraid he won't be able to taste your peach blossom pastry."
Jinhe's hand froze in mid-air before she noticed Yinli. She looked her up and down and snorted, "Who are you? Dressed in plain clothes, are you a maid from the Silver Prince's mansion? How dare you interfere in the affairs of this princess?"
"I am Yin Li, the eldest daughter of the Yin clan." Yin Li raised her eyes, her gaze clear as ice. "And also... someone who can take care of He Mo's every need, and even take a knife for him."
Upon hearing this, the maids in the hall suppressed their laughter, and the guards also secretly pursed their lips. He Mo, sitting in the back, almost couldn't help but laugh out loud, quickly coughing twice to cover it up, but his eyes were full of indulgence—his young lady could be quite fierce when protecting someone. Jin He's face instantly turned as red as a ripe peach, pointing at Yin Li's nose and saying, "You're talking nonsense! This princess is the most suitable person for the prince!"
"My father is the King of Gold, I have endless wealth and luxury to enjoy, and I can also play the zither and dance. What else can you do?" "I can do a lot." Yin Li counted on her fingers, her tone serious, "I can change He Mo's dressings, feed him porridge, and bandage his wounds; I can investigate clues with him, break into secret rooms, and evade assassins;
When he's injured, I can give him medicine; when he's in danger, I can stand in front of him—by the way, would the princess warm someone with a stove in a dilapidated temple in the middle of the night? Would she cry as she fed him antidote when he was poisoned?
Jinhe was speechless after being asked the question. After a long pause, she suddenly stamped her foot and said, "Those are all rough jobs! This princess would never stoop to doing them! Your Highness, please tell her that you prefer a lady from a respectable family like me, not a wild girl like her who only knows how to wield swords and spears!" He Mo finally spoke, his voice carrying a hint of amusement, but it was exceptionally firm: "Princess, I think that a 'wild girl' like Yin Li is much more adorable than a rich young lady."
"Besides, who I love is none of anyone else's business—" He reached out and gently took Yin Li's wrist, pulling her close. "I only recognize her."
Jinhe looked at their clasped hands, then at the tenderness in He Mo's eyes, and tears streamed down her face. She grabbed the brocade box on the table and threw it to the ground: "I don't care! I'm going to marry you! My father said that if I like you, I'll take you even if I have to!"
The maids behind her were about to step forward when they were stopped by the guards. Yin Li looked at Jin He, who was throwing a tantrum, and suddenly sighed. She took something out of her bosom and handed it to her—it was the calming incense pill that He Mo had given her yesterday.
"Princess, these incense pills can calm your nerves. Light them when you get back, and you'll feel better after a good night's sleep. It's not wrong to like someone, but it's not dignified to forcibly take someone else's beloved." Jin He looked at the porcelain bottle, then at Yin Li's determined eyes, and then at He Mo's protective manner, finally realizing that she had no chance.
She wiped away her tears, picked up the brocade box from the ground, and glared fiercely at Yinli: "You wait! This princess will not let this go!" After saying that, she ran away crying with her servants, not even bothering to pick up the gold hairpin that had fallen.
After Jinhe left, the hall finally quieted down. Yinli looked at the crumbs of peach blossom pastry on the ground and couldn't help but laugh out loud: "This princess is quite cute."
He Mo pinched her cheek, his tone teasing: "Who was it that was blocking people with a plate of osmanthus cakes just now, and seriously listing what they could do?"
"I was trying to help you!" Yin Li glared at him, but didn't dodge his hand. "Besides, I was just telling the truth!"
"Yes, yes, that's the truth." He Mo pulled her down to sit, picked up the spoon again, scooped up a spoonful of porridge and brought it to her lips, "My young lady, you've worked hard, it's your turn to try it."
Haha, he's my son.
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