"No matter how upset Princess Chaoyang is, the marriage is almost settled. Some things can’t be achieved by outsiders who ask for too much. However, Miss Chen, you’re different. As soon as the Princess’s wedding day passes, your position as the future Prime Minister’s wife will be secure, with no more surprises." Rui Xue spoke sweetly and pleasingly, winning Chen Yining’s approval.
Chen Yining found Rui Xue’s words pleasant, but she couldn’t bring herself to be happy at this moment. Her delicate fingers constantly fiddled with a handkerchief while her eyebrows furrowed slightly, "So many days have passed and there’s still no news from him. If he’s really alive, why is he hiding it from me? What could be the reason?"
"Miss, there’s no need to worry too much. Mu Xiang has always been closest to you. Since he has disappeared, he must be dealing with some important matters. Once he’s done, the first thing he’ll do is come to find you."
Only then did Chen Yining feel slightly relieved and nodded her head.
However, a teasing male voice came from outside the house, "That may not be the case."
Chen Yining turned pale, "Who is it?!"
Just as Rui Xue was about to call for help, the door suddenly opened wide, revealing a handsome man outside. He was wearing a luxurious deep blue robe and a black cloak, with a broad-brimmed hat on his head that covered most of his face. The brim of the hat obscured the slight maliciousness in his eyes, but it was still clear that he was shrouded in a gloomy aura.
As Chen Yining recognized the man, her eyes widened, "You...you are...Gongsun Yi?!"
Gongsun Yi strode in, removed his cloak and hat, and revealed his face with a smirk, "Indeed, it is me."
"You’re not dead?"
The late Prime Minister, in order to help the second prince seize the throne, had once forced the late Emperor to abdicate but was killed by an arrow from Mu Houchu in the Golden Throne Hall. The entire Gongsun family was sentenced to execution, and Gongsun Yi, as the eldest legitimate son of Gongsun Ming, was somehow still alive.
"I think you might be more interested in another matter than the fact that I’m still alive." Gongsun Yi looked at Chen Yining, the teasing smile on his lips deepening.
"What’s the matter?" Chen Yining had a bad feeling.
Gongsun Yi glanced at Rui Xue, and Chen Yining calmed herself down before saying to Rui Xue, who was preparing to call for help, "Guard the door, and don’t let anyone in without my order."
"Yes." Rui Xue hesitated before turning around and leaving.
Chen Yining sat down across from Gongsun Yi and hurriedly asked, "What’s the matter? Is it related to Mu Houchu?"
"Yes, it concerns him."
"He’s not dead, right?" Chen Yining said excitedly.
"Not only is he not dead, but he’s also doing quite well, and in the future, he might do even better." Gongsun Yi’s lips curled into a smirk.
"What do you mean?" As Chen Yining listened to his words, she felt increasingly uneasy, as if something was about to happen, or rather, had already happened.
"Do you know what day it is in three days?"
"In three days, it’s the princess’s wedding. How could I not know that?" Chen Yining became anxious, not wanting to discuss these unrelated people with him.
But Gongsun Yi shook his head, his smile elusive, "The princess’s wedding? In three days, such a good day is not only reserved for the princess’s wedding."
Chen Yining’s heart skipped a beat, she hesitated, "Then... who else?"
"Mu Houchu. In three days, it will be his wedding day. He has been living incognito in a remote small town, carefree. Unfortunately, some people are still waiting for him to return to the capital, how ironic." Gongsun Yi sneered.
Chen Yining’s face turned deathly pale, "Impossible! This is not possible!"
"Why would I lie to you? If you don’t believe it, just wait until he brings that woman back to the capital one day. But by then, it will be too late."
"How is it possible that he would do something like that for a woman..." Chen Yining said anxiously.
"I’m also curious, what kind of woman would it be for him? I was in a hurry to come to the capital and didn’t have time to take a look. But it doesn’t matter, what matters is that this woman is not you."
"He wouldn’t do that!" Chen Yining stood up abruptly, her face full of panic and helplessness.
"Instead of deceiving yourself at this point, it’s more appropriate to think about how you should go on in the future."
Chen Yining glared at him, "Why are you telling me this? I don’t believe you’re so kind-hearted!"
"Miss Chen is smart and should know that I, Gongsun Yi, always seek something in return. I came to Miss Chen today because I think there’s something to gain from you. I just want to see if Miss Chen really wants to do this deal with me." Gongsun Yi spoke leisurely, his words full of temptation.
Chen Yining’s face was pale, and she clearly hadn’t recovered from the shock of the sudden news.
How could a man like Mu Houchu suddenly want to marry? She had grown up with him, yet he was cold and reticent even to her. He was not born to be a man who would dote on women, but rather, he was born to be a general or prime minister. But she didn’t care. She was willing to wait by his side, even if she didn’t weigh as heavily in his heart.
He was that kind of man, a man who had almost no interest in women.
But how could he suddenly want to marry?
For the first time in her life, Chen Yining felt a crazy envy of the unknown woman.
Chen Yining closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and said, "What’s the deal?"
—
"What is this?"
Ji Xinhe stared wide-eyed at the large red boxes being moved into the house, which almost filled her entire dilapidated room.
"Betrothal gifts." Mu Houchu sipped his tea and said leisurely.
"Betrothal gifts?! Why so many? In our small mountain village, who doesn’t just give a dozen or twenty silver for betrothal gifts? I told you not to be ostentatious!" Ji Xinhe looked speechless.
She knew officials had money but didn’t know that they were this rich. The huge boxes filled with gold and silver jewelry could probably buy an entire city!
Sure enough, being an official could make one so greedy and crafty, especially such a high-ranking one.
Mu Houchu blinked innocently, "I’m not showing off. I deliberately had them sent here in the dark, without anyone in the village knowing."
"......" Ji Xinhe’s face was full of black lines.
Mu Houchu chuckled softly and pulled her hand to sit down, "Although I’m not showing off, I don’t want to miss out on anything that I should give you. Xin He, I truly want to marry you. I only want to marry once in my life, so I can’t shortchange you in any way."
His words warmed her heart, and she didn’t say anything more.
Mu Houchu opened one of the boxes and said, "This is the wedding dress. Would you like to try it on in advance?"
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