Marquis Mu Houchu had no intention to stay any longer. He simply glanced at Old Man Chen and turned to leave.
Just as he reached the garden outside the hall, he suddenly saw Chen Yining walking from deep within the garden, "Hou Chu."
"What’s the matter?" Mu Houchu asked coolly.
Chen Yining bit her lip. Did she need a reason to seek him out?
"I initially heard news of your death... I thought you..." Chen Yining’s face showed a trace of relief. "Thankfully, you’re still alive and even specially rushed back. Otherwise, who knows what chaos the capital would descend into? I’m afraid I would also suffer the consequences."
Mu Houchu suddenly looked at her. A concealed surge of joy filled Chen Yining’s heart. He rarely gazed at her so earnestly. Unable to suppress the corners of her lips from lifting, her demeanor was coy and charming.
"How did Gongsun Yi manage to kidnap someone like you who always stays in the back of the house?"
Mu Houchu’s question left Chen Yining shocked, her pupils shrinking abruptly. Did he suspect her?
Chen Yining forced a smile onto her face, "Upon hearing the news of your death, I was distraught. So, I decided to visit Shao’an Temple to pray for your spirit’s peace. Who knew that as soon as our carriage left the city, I was kidnapped." 𝐟𝚛𝕖𝚎𝕨𝗲𝐛𝚗𝐨𝐯𝐞𝕝.𝐜𝗼𝗺
Mu Houchu’s eyes turned cold, but he merely nodded in acknowledgment, "Hmm."
He then turned to leave.
Chen Yining quickly followed him, "Hou Chu..."
"Is there something else?"
Chen Yining nervously fiddled with the handkerchief in her hand before answering, "Hou Chu, don’t blame my father. Even if the defense layout map was leaked from our mansion, it must have been an unintentional mistake."
"There’s no need for more words regarding this matter. A conclusion has already been reached." It was evident that he disregarded her plea.
Chen Yining’s face paled, and she replied, "I heard about your assassination attempt and almost losing your life to an assassin. What about your injuries...?"
"I’m fine." Mu Houchu left without lingering.
Watching the man’s indifferent departure, Chen Yining felt as if her heart was being brutally torn. She could no longer be content with merely exchanging a few words or casting him a few glances. Ever since she saw him in his wedding attire...
Was he also this cold towards that woman?
She had dedicated everything to bring him back to the capital. Was it all just to witness such an unsatisfactory outcome?
——
Mu Houchu left the Chen Mansion.
Ling Feng had already led the horse out. Riding side by side, Mu Houchu spoke, "There’s no need to discuss the matter at the Chen’s. I will report back to the emperor in person."
"Yes." Ling Feng hesitated, then asked, "Does the master also believe that everything Old Man Chen said is true? That the defense layout map was easily stolen by Liu Yun?"
Mu Houchu replied coldly, "Old Man Chen probably wouldn’t have the courage or incentive to start a rebellion. I’m not really interested in discovering how the map was stolen from Chen’s Mansion, whether it was due to Liu Yun’s betrayal or some other reason. On the other hand, this incident gives us leverage over Old Man Chen, allowing us to strip him of his power. This trip was not in vain."
Ling Feng was surprised, "So that’s the master’s intent. Old Man Chen and you both support the emperor – why then..."
Mu Houchu’s eyes chilled, "Just because he’s not a threat now doesn’t mean he won’t be in the future. Old Man Chen is not one to be content with the status quo. It’s better to eliminate him now to avoid future trouble."
"Indeed," Ling Feng nodded, "Are you heading back now, master?"
"No, I’m going to the palace."
People thronged the streets. Despite being on horseback, they couldn’t ride fast and had to slow down.
Suddenly, they heard an animated storytelling session emanating from a large tea house nearby.
"Right at that moment, Marquis Mu angrily exclaimed, ’Take the country if you wish, but spare Miss Chen!’ The palace gates flung open and Gongsun Yi stormed in. Dropping Chen Yining, Marquis Mu finally took the beauty home!"
The storytelling voice reaching Mu Houchu’s ears furrowed his eyebrows, "What is the tea house saying?"
With a hint of embarrassment, Ling Feng answered, "It seems they are talking about you and Miss Chen..."
"Capture that storyteller and have him flogged twenty times in the county office. If anyone else dares to talk nonsense, heavier punishments await." After saying this with an icy voice, Mu Houchu spurred his horse and decisively galloped away.
Within the palace.
The Emperor asked, "How is the investigation into the leakage of the defense layout map going?"
Mu Houchu calmly replied, "There are no leads. It’s likely that one of the lower-ranking officials colluded with Gongsun Yi to opportunistically steal the layout."
The emperor nodded, "In the future, we need to manage these maps strictly."
"I have already ordered them to be properly sealed. From now on, only the commander of the imperial guard and I will have access to the defense layout map. There will be no more mistakes."
"That’s good. I feel more at ease with you handling this."
As they spoke, a commotion suddenly rose from outside the hall.
The emperor frowned, "Who’s outside?"
A young eunuch rushed in, looking quite flustered, "It’s Princess Chaoyang asking for an audience. I tried to tell her Your Majesty was meeting with a courtier and asked her to wait, but she insists on barging in."
"Scoundrel!" The emperor shouted angrily, "You cliamed you tried to stop her but she kept making trouble? She is a princess of a nation, how could she behave in such a manner?"
The little eunuch hastily replied, "This servant understands the error of his ways. I will have the princess escorted out of the palace immediately."
"If she refuses to leave, drag her out! Even though she is already married, she still lacks basic manners!" The emperor muttered, looking agitated.
"Yes."
The little eunuch finally retreated.
Only then did the emperor turn to look at Mu Houchu, who was standing in the hall. Tall and stern, he was as cold as ever, seemingly unaffected by the previous commotion.
The entire court was well aware of Princess Chaoyang’s infatuation with Mu Houchu. Knowing her hopeless situation, the emperor decided to arrange her marriage to Duke De Zhuang when Mu Houchu previously feigned his death. Although Gongsun Yi staged a rebellion on the day of her wedding, which disrupted the entire ceremony, the marriage rites were already completed. With the emperor’s marriage edict, Chaoyang had no choice but to accept her fate.
The wilful Princess Chaoyang insisted on coming to the palace knowing that Mu Houchu was present. However, Mu Houchu remained indifferent towards her.
The Emperor said, "Now that everything has stabilized and Gongsun Yi has been dealt with, you should take some time to consider your own marriage. You’re already 24 years old and there isn’t a single woman at your mansion. It’s honestly an issue."
Upon hearing the term "marriage", Mu Houchu thought of Ji Xinhe in her gorgeous wedding dress, causing his previously chilled heart to throb slightly.
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