Chapter 42: The Powerful Photographer and the Weak Substitute Daughter 4

The original owner had been staying in the Lin family and had never been out. He was very sensitive to the outside world. When he arrived at the Tianyuan Temple high in the mountains, he began to suffer from acclimatization, diarrhea and vomiting, and was abandoned by the soldiers traveling with him.

The original owner was the same as her. When she heard that the emperor's car had collapsed, she wanted to run away, but ended up falling off the mountain and dying.

Lin Muqing asked the system: "What favors do the original owner and the male protagonist have to repay?"

The system had no idea that the original owner was the host at this time, and would only tell her the reason based on the system background data, "Host, the original owner got lost when she went out through the dog hole, and it was the male protagonist who ordered the servants to take her back to the Shangshu Mansion to go through the dog hole."

Why did she feel so reluctant? Whatever. "Alright, the original owner is missing. There will be one more beggar in the capital. At least she can have food to eat in the Shangshu Mansion, and her aunt still loves her."

"Okay, I know how to do this mission."

Just now she deliberately pretended to be weak and foolish, at least she wouldn't arouse people's guard.

She waited for the shopkeeper to bring the medicine before she got up from the bed, tidied herself up and opened the door.

"Thank you very much, sir."

"No, no, you are too polite, young lady. I will leave first. Please tell me if you have any questions." The shopkeeper was not sure who this woman was from the prince, so he put down the medicine bowl in a gentle manner and left with a smile.

Lin Muqing finished drinking the bitter medicine with an unpleasant expression.

I took the medicine, but I still felt hungry.

She stood up and walked to the door, but Xi Chenmu just came back.

She opened the double-leaf auburn door with her own hands, and her eyes met with the man outside.

She lowered her head quickly as if she had touched a taboo.

"My daughter is here to see the prince."

"I am ready to go back home." Xi Chenmu raised his right hand to his abdomen, his expression was cold and gentle, his eyes unclear, "Miss Lin is planning to..."

"My daughter has nowhere to go. Can I be a farmhand in the palace?" She seemed to be afraid that he would not agree, and continued, "I cook delicious food and work very efficiently."

System [Host, it seems like you haven't cooked in sixty years! ]

Lin Muqing: Go away and don’t disrupt the stage.

Xi Chenmu's eyes were filled with interest. "Didn't Miss Lin say that she has never been out of the house? How delicious can she cook?"

Lin Muqing saw in the plot that Xi Chenmu loved Jiangnan cuisine. Combined with the fact that her aunt was from Jiangnan and had been a cook, this was an opportunity for her to get close to him.

"My daughter's aunt is from Jiangnan. She was a cook when she was young and is good at cooking many Jiangnan dishes. I can cook them too."

"Then follow me back to the palace and give it a try."

Xi Chenmu remained calm. He didn't know whether he chose to keep her because of the dish or for some other reason, but he always did things as he pleased.

Lin Muqing followed him downstairs. She was looking straight at the man's back, which was broad and thick. From his steps, it was obvious that he was a martial artist. She could only take one step at a time.

The guards found it incredible that the prince brought a girl home.

But they have no power to control the prince's thoughts.

*

On the way back, because the carriage she took was dirty, she replaced it with a new one.

Inside the carriage.

Lin Muqing sat opposite Xi Chenmu, trying not to disturb him.

But the space in the carriage was neither big nor small. There was a 30-centimeter small square pearwood table between them, on which was placed a fragrant pineapple cake.

Lin Muqing was extremely hungry. He stared at the cake, his stomach growling louder and louder. If he had known earlier, he would have exchanged some food from the system to fill his stomach when he was alone in the inn. Now it was inconvenient with outsiders around.

"Gu..."

Xi Chenmu looked lazy. He saw that she was extremely hungry but did not dare to speak. It was the doctor who said that she needed to eat something prepared by the shopkeeper after taking the medicine. Perhaps those people thought it was someone of his.

He didn't stop it.

"Didn't you have breakfast this morning?"

She nodded vigorously and vomited it all out.

Xi Chenmu felt uncomfortable, as if she shouldn't be like this. She hesitated for two seconds and said, "I will allow you to eat one piece, otherwise you will feel hungry again."

"Thank you, Your Majesty!" Her eyes were shining, but she was not looking at him, but at the cake.

Xi Chenmu's right hand, which was wearing Buddhist beads, had slender and distinct finger bones. It fell on the pineapple cake and was about to pick it up.

Lin Muqing also reached out to take it at the same time.

The warm little hands suddenly pinched both sides of his finger bones, and squeezed his hands as if they were pineapple cakes. With some force, his heart suddenly felt numb, and Xi Chenmu's throat rolled slightly, and he let go of the pineapple cake.

Lin Muqing seemed to be scalded and retracted his hand.

Xi Chenmu turned to make tea, as if nothing had happened, "If you want to eat, get it yourself."

"Thank you, Your Highness." She didn't hesitate and quickly took one, turned around to face the curtain. It was small to begin with, so she finished it in two bites.

It's very dry and sweet, and sticks in the throat.

"You are eating so eagerly, I won't compete with you for it." Xi Chenmu saw her frowning expression and poured out the Longjing tea.

Steam rose from the white porcelain tea bowl.

"I've never eaten this kind of pastry. I'm sorry." She pursed her lips, her cheeks slightly red.

Xi Chenmu thought of her past life experience, and could not tell any emotion from her tone, "Are you the daughter of Minister Lin?"

"yes."

"I have never heard that Minister Lin has a second daughter."

Minister Lin has been married for twenty years. Even though he has only one legitimate daughter and few children, he has never taken a concubine. He is a well-known good man who keeps himself clean in the capital. Some people who don't know the truth say that Minister Lin loves his wife and daughter. People like Xi Chenmu who understand the situation in the court sneer at this, but he dare not give up because of Mrs. Lin's identity as the daughter of the Left Prime Minister.

Lin Muqing explained: "Madam doesn't like the existence of my daughter and my aunt."

At first, the concubine slept with Minister Lin after he was drunk. She was afraid of being punished by the lady, so she kept it a secret and dared not make it public. But she got pregnant that time, and later she could not hide her belly. It was said that there was a big fuss at the time, but outsiders did not know about it. They just gave the concubine a firewood room and left her alone. Poor concubine, she only had one meal a day and no one knew how she managed.

Seeing that she was worried, Xi Chenmu guessed a little bit. He had seen a lot of things like that in the backyard.

The man tapped the white porcelain tea bowl in front of Lin Muqing with his fingertips. Was he giving it to her to drink?

My heart warmed. Even though he didn't say anything, I felt a subtle sense of comfort.

She glanced at him, then picked it up carefully.

The system said cheerfully: "The host's acting skills have improved!"

Lin Muqing: Don’t bother me, I’ve finally gotten into the mood.

…

Xi Chenmu stared at her as she sipped her tea, and said in a very light tone, "I seldom go back to the capital, but I don't know that Minister Lin is actually two-faced."

She even did something so audacious as to replace her daughter in the palace. It seemed that the Left Prime Minister also knew about it.

She nodded. In the eyes of outsiders, he was still her father after all, so she couldn't say more.

"Gu..."

Lin Muqing put down the tea bowl, licked the biscuit crumbs on her lips, and couldn't help staring at the pineapple cake.

Sad, she would never even look at pineapple cake in her previous life, but now, wow, she really wants to eat another piece.

Let’s get there quickly so she can go back and have some food to supplement the group’s diet.

Xi Chenmu was making tea and occasionally glanced at her in his spare time.

He hadn't left the Lin residence for sixteen years and had never even eaten pineapple cake. This was the exact opposite of his experience of traveling around the world, and a subtle emotion spread.

But it seems they have something in common.

The father is equally irresponsible.

So that's what attracted him?

He himself couldn't tell.

"Gu..."

Another grunt interrupted his thoughts.

The girl's ears turned red due to shame, and even when she lowered her head, one could feel that her cheeks must be red and hot.

The man narrowed his eyes, deep and bright, and said nonchalantly: "I don't like pineapple cakes. Eat these before getting off the carriage."

"Thank you, Your Highness." Lin Muqing's eyes suddenly lit up. She picked up a piece and took one bite after another, then took a sip of hot tea.

Xi Chenmu saw the light yellow crumbs on her lips at a glance. She seemed to be afraid of him, but also not afraid.

It was his first time meeting a woman, and he felt agitated.

Even though I have traveled to several countries, I have never had this feeling. It has always seemed like there is something empty in my heart. I have no interest in women, and only by making money can I feel at ease.

Seeing that he was looking at her inexplicably without saying a word, the girl in front of him blinked and said something casually.

"Does the prince also think pineapple cakes are greasy?"

"Hmm." There seemed to be a smile in Xi Chenmu's eyes, and he took a sip from the white porcelain tea bowl.

This time the tea suddenly didn't taste astringent.

The carriage returned to the palace and stopped.

Lin Muqing ate a plate of pineapple cakes and found some crumbs hanging on the corners of her mouth. She took out the handkerchief from her waist and wiped her mouth.

"Who bought me clothes? How thoughtful! He also bought me handkerchiefs."

She said curiously as she opened the curtain.

The guard outside was still Yun Yi. He sent a substitute over. Lin Muqing’s identity was not difficult to guess, but did the prince really want a cook?

But if he said that he had improper thoughts about her, Yun Yi still felt that the prince should not have that intention. Miss Lin's appearance was not a great beauty, but she was also very pretty. Could it be that she really...

For a moment, Yun Yi was filled with mixed feelings, and said with a frown:

"You are joking, young lady. I just asked the shopkeeper to buy a full set of women's clothes."

"So it was you who bought it, thank you." Lin Muqing seemed very grateful to him. He raised his lips slightly, looked at the carriage platform and wanted to get off, but he hesitated because of the injury on his leg.

It is this period of hesitation.

Xi Chenmu opened the curtain and came out, grasped her wrist through her sleeve, and brought her steadily to the ground.

She stood still, breathing softly, obviously caught off guard.

Xi Chenmu let go of her hand, his dark eyes captured her, his tall figure stood in front of her, and asked inexplicably.

"I brought you down here, why don't you thank me?"

Lin Muqing blinked, feeling confused as to why these words sounded so strange. She quickly bowed and thanked him.

"Thank you, Prince!"

Xi Chenmu stared at the top of her head, his smile not reaching his eyes. His ears started to break out when he heard these words.

He glanced at Yun Yi, who was pursing his lips to suppress some emotion, and then looked at Lin Muqing's pale face after being confused and sick.

"Well, come in."

He turned around and walked into the mansion as if nothing had happened, and Yun Yi followed closely.

"Welcome home, Prince!"

The prince returned to the imperial city after a year. The servants and guards put down their work and stood in a row in the middle of the opposite door to express their awe.

Xi Chenmu: "No need to be polite."