Not only was Ji Xin'er curious, but everyone else was also very curious.
Zhong Muyu said, "I bought this instrument from a foreign businessman in Linghai Port. Of course, the businessman also taught me this piece."
Lu Ziyuan was speechless. She had hardly left the house since she went to the Lingwang Mansion, and had never been to Linghai Port. Where was she supposed to find foreign merchants?
One has to admire Zhong Muyu's ability to fabricate lies. However, although there are often foreign merchants in Linghai Port, most people wouldn't know this unless they saw it with their own eyes. It's really puzzling that Zhong Muyu knew this.
Ji Xin'er sneered: "Foreign businessmen teach you musical instruments? Can Your Highness's lies get any more outrageous?"
“Yuanjing is located deep inland, so there are naturally few foreign merchants from the sea, but that doesn’t mean Lingqing doesn’t have any. If Princess Yunni doesn’t believe it, she can ask the Prince for confirmation.”
Ji Xin'er looked at Lu Ziyuan with confidence. Since Zhong Muyu, the princess, was not favored, Lu Ziyuan might not speak up for her.
However, Lu Ziyuan simply replied, "That's true."
Ji Xin'er's smile froze on her face. At this moment, it was the Crown Princess who spoke up to smooth things over: "Seventh sister-in-law is indeed very talented. She can even play this foreign instrument. It has also allowed us to learn about things we didn't know before. Very good."
The Crown Prince nodded: "Yunni, there is no end to learning. Seventh Sister-in-law will learn much more now than she did in the palace."
Ji Xin'er reluctantly agreed, but now she could only remain silent.
After Zhong Muyu returned to her seat, everything seemed to return to normal. Everyone continued to drink and chat happily. However, compared to before, several young men and women who liked music kept surrounding Zhong Muyu, toasting her and asking questions such as where to buy a lyre and how to play it.
Zhong Muyu responded to them as much as possible, and the atmosphere of the banquet immediately became relaxed and casual. Seeing this, the Crown Princess also went with the Crown Prince to enjoy the flowers and play elsewhere.
Just then, Zhong Muyu noticed that Shi Heng was watching her from a distance away from the crowd.
Unlike Shi Xi, Shi Heng and Zhong Muyu had no connection. She didn't want to pay attention to them, but her intuition made her leave the young masters and ladies who were having a heated discussion and walk towards Shi Heng instead.
Ji Xin'er and Lu Ziyuan both witnessed this scene.
Ji Xin'er subconsciously looked at Lu Ziyuan and found that his gaze had become much colder.
On the quiet, deserted lakeside, Shi Heng stopped, and Zhong Muyu stopped not far from him.
"How has Your Highness been these past few days?"
Zhong Muyu said, "I'm fine. Is there anything I can help you with?"
“It’s all good…” Shi Heng seemed to be holding back his emotions, then sighed, “My elder brother always thought of you before he passed away.”
Please accept my condolences regarding Shi Xi's situation.
Zhong Muyu didn't know how to answer him, so she could only go along with his words to see what he was going to do.
Shi Heng composed himself and then took out a cloth bag from his pocket to hand to Zhong Muyu.
"This was left by my elder brother. He said it must be given to you."
"What's this?"
"I haven't opened it, I don't know."
Zhong Muyu hesitated for a moment, but finally accepted it.
It wasn't that she was cautious; she was already the Princess Consort of Ling, and it wouldn't be good for her if she obtained anything shady or unclear at this time.
Gently open the cloth bag; inside is a letter and an exquisite jade pendant.
Zhong Muyu glanced through the letter, then immediately packed the items back to Shi Heng untouched.
The letter was filled with longing and wishes for her well-being, and included a jade pendant as a gift—something she dared not accept.
“I understand, but I cannot accept the gifts. I am already the Princess Consort of Ling, and it is against propriety for me to accept gifts from men outside the family.”
Shi Heng stared intently at her. He thought Zhong Muyu would be sad, regretful, or even cry, but nothing happened. Her bright eyes were clear and devoid of any emotion.
He murmured, "This is my elder brother's last thought. He wanted me to give it to you until his death, but you actually said it was against propriety? Does that mean that your feelings for my elder brother were all fake? Were you deceiving him?"
"I am not! No matter what, the person is gone, and everything is in the past."
"It's over? My older brother died for you, and you just say it's over without a care in the world?"
Shi Heng's voice suddenly rose, filled with anger.
Zhong Muyu's face was full of conflict. What should she say? Should she say that the real Zhong Muyu had already committed suicide for love, and that she was now an outsider soul occupying her body?
Would others easily believe such a thing?
Zhong Muyu said, "I'm very sorry to Shi Xi, but I really can't accept the gifts."
She turned to leave, but Shi Heng grabbed her arm to stop her: "You change your mind so quickly! Could it be that you really were toying with my brother's feelings? Because you climbed up to the Prince of Ling, you abandoned my brother, leaving him to suffer the pain of unrequited love until he fell ill and died in agony!"
"Don't talk nonsense! I never toyed with his feelings! To tell you the truth, the real Zhong Muyu has already died for him!"
Believe it or not, let's get out of this situation first.
Shi Heng was taken aback, not expecting Zhong Muyu to say such strange things. However, at this moment, two people were already walking towards them from not far away.
It's Lu Ziyuan and Ji Xin'er.
This is really bad timing!
Zhong Muyu quickly shook off Shi Heng's hand and was about to leave when she heard Lu Ziyuan's voice: "Where are you going?"
Lu Ziyuan was angry, while Ji Xin'er looked at her smugly.
"Now that I've finished speaking, I should go."
"Finished? I see you're acting like a guilty thief!"
Beside him, Shi Heng, seemingly unconcerned about the chaotic scene, asked with a probing look, "What did you mean by what you just said?"
"It means exactly what it says!"
Lu Ziyuan turned to Shi Heng: "Young Master Shi, what is your intention in being here with my queen?"
"This is simply to put an end to what happened before. Since Your Highness has made your decision, I will not pursue the matter any further. I wish Your Highness peace and good fortune in the future."
Zhong Muyu could tell that his words "peace and prosperity" were tinged with resentment. It seemed that he really didn't think of Zhong Muyu's words in a strange way, but rather thought of her as a heartless woman who played with emotions!
However, Zhong Muyu didn't want to explain to him right now; the biggest trouble she faced was the man in front of her.
Ji Xin'er said gloatingly, "It seems that Your Highness is still thinking about your old flame by hiding in a place like this to talk to Young Master Shi."
Zhong Muyu felt a surge of anger: "What do you know to make such speculations? I have absolutely no connection with the Shi family."
However, Ji Xin'er saw Zhong Muyu's retort as humiliation and anger, and she urged, "Your Highness, look, Young Master Shi left in such a hurry, and the Princess Consort is so eager to deny it. I don't believe there's nothing going on here. After all, we've heard about the Princess Consort's romantic affairs before she got married."
Lu Ziyuan said in a low voice, "Yun Ni, step back."
"Your Highness..."
"Step back!"
Seeing that Lu Ziyuan was truly angry, Ji Xin'er knew she couldn't stay even if she wanted to, so she said, "Then I'll go admire the flowers first. Your Highness, don't worry, I won't tell anyone about this."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
