Ji Xinhe looked up and noticed his gaze. She blushed and turned away, glowering at him. She took back the bowl of soup, placed it in front of herself, and huffed, "If you’re not going to eat, so be it!"
Mu Houchu looked at her innocently. She only told him not to touch her before marriage, he was just looking, he didn’t touch.
This sly fox was pretending to be a naive little sheep!
Ji Xinhe gritted her teeth. He had his fill of advantages, and now he even complained about her small chest!
Mu Houchu ’s lips curled lightly, his expression was quite satisfied and pleased. He served himself a bowl of soup and started to drink leisurely.
Ji Dong observed the interaction between the two and was somewhat confused, but he just thought that it was the couple messing around and didn’t take it to heart. Seeing their mutual affection, he found it rather endearing: "Eat more, eat more!"
——
In the capital city.
With an Imperial Edict, His Majesty arranged a marriage for Princess Chaoyang.
He planned to hold a grand wedding ceremony, making the whole country join in the festivities, and using the joy of the princess’s marriage to celebrate the new emperor’s early reign.
While the outside world was in joy due to the edict, Princess Chaoyang in the palace was in endless tears.
"Your Majesty, the princess is still refusing to leave her sleeping chamber. For three consecutive days, she has refused to eat anything. What should we do..." A young eunuch said helplessly.
The Emperor was annoyed and said: "How long is she going to keep this up for? He is already dead, so what is she still fussing about?"
"Your Majesty, please calm down. The princess just cannot accept the news."
"What can she not accept?!"
"The news of the death of Minister Mu."
The emperor said coldly: "Whether she accepts it or not, he’s already dead. She’s just causing chaos without a cause. All these years she really has not grown up a bit!"
The young eunuch hurriedly replied: "The princess just doesn’t believe it. After all, ’seeing is believing’. They only said Minister Mu is dead, how could she casually believe it? That’s why she can’t let go."
The emperor was silent for a moment, then said: "Since she wants to see his corpse, let her see it!"
"Your Majesty means...?" The young eunuch asked tentatively.
"You surely know what I mean, go and make arrangements at once!" The emperor was also not willing to waste time on such sentimental things with a young girl.
"Yes."
At Qingwu Palace.
The palace maids were still waiting anxiously outside the hall, and a wet nurse was softly persuading outside the door: "Princess, please don’t starve yourself, let this old servant send in some food for you. If your valuable body gets hurt, how can this old servant explain to His Majesty?"
"I won’t eat! Until my imperial brother gives me an explanation, I will not eat!"
The old wet nurse was anxiously pacing back and forth: "What should we do?"
Just as she was saying this, she saw an elegant figure approaching the hall. this figure had a breath-taking beauty and a slender and attractive shape.
The servants at the front of the palace caught sight of her and immediately stepped forward to bow: "The servants greet Miss Chen."
"You may rise. Is the princess inside?" Chen Yining, the precious daughter of Old Man Chen.
Old Man Chen had great prestige in the Imperial Court. Chen Yining also often enters the palace and is much loved by the current Empress Dowager. The palace servants also respect her greatly.
"The princess ... is naturally inside." The old wet nurse stuttered, appearing a bit hesitant.
She seemed reluctant to let her in.
"Then please announce my arrival, I wish to see the princess." Chen Yining’s voice was soft and gentle, making it difficult to refuse.
However, the wet nurse showed a troubled expression: "The princess is currently mourning, I’m afraid if Miss Chen goes now..."
Everyone in the capital knew that Princess Chaoyang adored Minister Mu. But everyone also knew that Minister Mu and Old Man Chen’s daughter, Chen Yining were childhood sweethearts, the golden boy and jade girl pair.
Hearsay, true or false, who knows? But that is a different matter.
This caused Princess Chaoyang to be opposed to Chen Yining, repeatedly going against her on purpose, and disliking her. Now that Princess Chaoyang was heartbroken, seeing Chen Yining would only make her feel worse, wouldn’t it?
"The wet nurse only needs to make the announcement." Chen Yining said with a light laugh.
Even though she was smiling, her face was somewhat pale, it seems that after the news of Minister Mu’s death, Chen Yining also had a hard time.
"Yes." The old wet nurse reluctantly agreed, then went to announce: "Princess, Old Man Chen’s precious daughter, Miss Chen, seeks an audience."
"Let her in."
The old wet nurse was startled, thinking she had heard wrong.
Chen Yining, however, smiled and walked in.
Upon entering the hall, she saw that Princess Chaoyang was sitting on the bed in a daze: "Why are you here?"
Chen Yining took out some pastries from her sleeve: "Princess, you must be hungry. Eat this first. Starving is a show for the emperor. With your valuable body, you can’t hurt yourself."
Princess Chaoyang snorted but took the pastries from her hand and began to eat: "As you said, I have been fasting for three days. I don’t know if there has been any movement from my brother."
Chen Yining laughed: "Don’t worry, princess. After all, you are the Emperor’s beloved sister. The Emperor must be distressed about your fasting. As for the true fate of Minister Mu, he will naturally tell you the truth."
Princess Chaoyang replied assertively, raising her head: "Of course!"
"The princess only needs to persevere for a few more days, and the truth will naturally be revealed." As Chen Yining said this, her face turned a bit paler.
"I understand." Princess Chaoyang nodded.
Chen Yining brought her food, gave her instructions, and then left the palace.
The little maid beside her immediately draped a cloak over her: "Miss, will this plan really work?"
Chen Yining’s face turned cold: "To this day, whether he is dead or alive, even I, even my father, do not know. The only one who knows must be His Majesty. Either he is really dead, or he is alive..."
Yet he was keeping her at a distance too.
Although he was cold-hearted, they grew up together since they were young. He was an orphan without parents or relatives. She always thought she was the closest person to him. But what did he think of her?
She didn’t dare to think about it, nor did she want to.
"But Princess Chaoyang has always been simple-minded. Even if we cooperate, can we really get the truth from His Majesty?" the young maid couldn’t help saying.
"It doesn’t matter whether she is simple-minded or not. The only way to find out the truth now is to rely on her, after all, she is the beloved sister of the emperor." Chen Yining said.
"Then, what if Minister Mu is not dead?"
Chen Yining’s heart trembled slightly. If he was not dead, why wouldn’t he let her know directly? Was he keeping her at a distance like an enemy or did he never care about her at all?
Chen Yining closed her lips but did not reply. Stepping on the footstool, she climbed into the horse carriage.
——
Three days later, the "corpse" of Marquis Mu was brought back to the capital.
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