Chapter 169: Mu Houchu?

When Ji Xinhe heard this statement, her mind was inexplicably foggy. The widely renowned Prime Minister Mu had died several months ago, a fact known throughout the country. Of course, she had heard about it. 𝓯𝓻𝓮𝙚𝙬𝓮𝙗𝒏𝙤𝒗𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝒐𝓶

But she didn’t know that Prime Minister Mu had died in Lanshan City?

How could so many inexplicable incidents take place in the small Lanshan City? Everything seemed to revolve around him, somehow. Even Prime Minister Mu had died here?

Mu?

They all share the same surname, Mu?

Ji Xinhe had known this for some time, but she had never thought to link them together. After all, one was a fugitive pursued by the court, and the other was the reigning Prime Minister. How could they possibly be connected? There are too many people with the same surname in the world.

Yet today, witnessing all of this, she had an uncanny feeling that something was off.

Ji Xinhe hurriedly grabbed hold of the person who had spoken earlier: "Excuse me, did you say that Prime Minister Mu died in Lanshan City?"

"Yes, few people know about this event due to our remote location. However, it’s no secret in the capital city. It seems that Prime Minister Mu was pursued and killed, ultimately dying in the wilderness, and his body..." The young man couldn’t go on, hesitatingly waving his hand: "Nevermind, forget it."

Ji Xinhe was taken aback, all of a sudden she remembered the scene of their first meeting. He seemed to be pursued and killed, breathlessly collapsed in the wilderness.

A bold and shocking conjecture revolved in her mind, catching her completely off guard.

"Then," Ji Xinhe began shakily, "Do you know the full name of Prime Minister Mu?"

The young man thought for a moment, before lowering his voice: "It seems to be... Mu Houchu."

Mu Houchu?

These three words echoed in Ji Xinhe’s mind. Is it just a coincidence that both the surname and the given names are identical?

Mu Houchu, Mu Chu, the middle character "Hou", representing nobility, was dropped.

She hadn’t even noticed this till now!

The young man couldn’t help continuing: "However, discussing the real name of the Prime Minister, is not something ordinary people like us should do lightly. We must be discreet about it."

Ji Xinhe remained still, not taking in a single word he said.

Seeing her in a daze, the young man couldn’t help laughing, "Look at you, you’re clearly a sheltered young lady. You’re even shocked by someone’s name? Don’t worry, we didn’t say anything offensive. He can’t retaliate just for this, right?"

When Ji Xinhe thought of the man who was at her home right now, on her orders to chop wood and cook, a chill ran down her spine.

Zheng Xiaocui and Hong Qin came running over: "Xinhe, where did you go? You disappeared in the blink of an eye. There are so many people here, what would we do if we got separated?"

"Hey, why do you look so pale? Are you feeling unwell?"

Ji Xinhe slighted her lips, finally awakening from the shock, "I’m feeling a bit off. I think we should head back."

"That’s alright. You are getting married in a few days. We can’t have any accidents."

As they were talking, the trio rented a horse carriage and headed straight back to the village.

——

With the construction of the new house completed, Ji Dong no longer had to busy himself with it. He left for town to manage his shop, leaving the task of decorating the wedding room and other odds and ends to Mu Houchu.

When Ji Xinhe arrived home, Mu Houchu was chopping firewood in the courtyard. It seemed effortless for him as he had already piled a small mountain of firewood, without even breaking a sweat.

"How come you’re back so early?" Seeing her enter, Mu Houchu looked slightly surprised.

Hong Qin supported her as they came in: "Xinhe suddenly started feeling unwell, so Xiaocui and I decided to bring her home."

Mu Houchu’s brows furrowed slightly: "What’s wrong? Have you seen a doctor?"

"I just need to rest for a while." Ji Xinhe turned to Hong Qin and Xiaocui, "You both should go home too. Don’t worry about me."

"Well, since you have your husband at home, why should we hang around?" Hong Qin giggled and ran off with Xiaocui.

Mu Houchu led her into the house. After feeling her forehead and finding no signs of a fever, he finally relaxed a little: "What’s wrong? It’s springtime, but the temperature varies greatly. You should wear more clothes to ward against the cold."

While speaking, he poured her a cup of hot water to warm her hands.

Ji Xinhe sat on the kangtou, placing the tea cup on the small table beside it. She wrapped her hands around the cup, feeling the scorching heat through it, and the turmoil in her heart seemed to intensify.

"Mu Chu."

"Hm?" Mu Houchu looked at her, waiting for her to continue.

It was rare for her to call his name so solemnly. It must be something important.

"Who are you really?" Ji Xinhe asked, steadily meeting his gaze.

She hadn’t asked before because she thought she had a rough idea. It didn’t matter to her if he was a bandit or a fugitive, she had accepted him. But now she was asking, for his identity was completely beyond her expectation. They were to be married in three days, yet she realized she didn’t know him at all.

Her heart felt inexplicably oppressed.

"Do you want to know?" Mu Houchu was not overly surprised that she would suddenly ask this question. She was not a fool, on the contrary, she was very smart. With the mass arrest of many officials in the prefecture today, she was bound to suspect him.

So he had prepared himself, ready to confront her questions and admit everything.

"Are you Mu Houchu?" Ji Xinhe moistened her lips before speaking slowly.

"Yes."

"So until now, even the name you told me was a lie?" There was a certain sadness in Ji Xinhe’s heart. She was going to marry a man she knew nothing about, including his name. How could she possibly be happy about this?

Mu Houchu’s large hand enveloped hers that was cradling the tea cup. He looked at her and said softly, "No, Xinhe, my name is real. My parents named me Mu Chu. When I was six years old, my parents died, and I vowed to become a noble. That’s why I added the word ’Hou’ to my name. No one knows my real name, except you."

"But now, I just found out that everything I know about you is a lie, Mu Houchu. I don’t know if I should trust you or not."

"What should be considered as truth? What should be regarded as false? Is what the world knows to be true? And what the world does not know, necessarily false? Xinhe, I’ve told you, I, Mu Houchu, do not consider myself a good person. I have never sincerely treated anyone in my life, except you. I am genuine towards you. Xinhe, why won’t you believe that the me in front of you is the most genuine me?" Mu Houchu looked at her, his eyes filled with an unprecedented sincerity and earnestness.

The strings of Ji Xinhe’s heart quivered slightly. Prolonged silence followed, before she forced a smile onto her face: "I believe."

He was the man she loved. How could she not believe him?

The wedding was set to take place in three days, and since the moment she agreed, she never regretted it. He said he loved her, he said he wanted to marry her, he also said the man before her eyes is the most genuine him. Then why shouldn’t she believe him?

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