Xin He waited until the commotion outside subsided, then glared irate at the shameless man who had invaded her room. In a lowered voice, she said, "What are you doing in my room at this late hour? And why are you still here?! I’m currently staying at Le Yuanhou’s mansion, if word of this gets out, how am I supposed to face people?"
With one arm of iron-like strength, Mu Houchu swept her onto the bed, wrapping his strong grip around her waist, unwilling to let go.
Xin He struggled, "Mu Houchu, let me go!"
Shulan and Jinxiu were guarding just outside. If this beast dared to do anything, she’d fight him tooth and nail!
However, Mu Houchu didn’t stir, he simply lowered his voice, "I missed you, won’t you even let me hold you?"
Grinding her teeth, Xin He retorted, "Didn’t you visit and hold me all night yesterday? Hadn’t you had enough?"
What she left unsaid was that, despite tossing and turning last night before finally falling asleep, she felt incredibly secure with him there.
"Not enough. I haven’t seen you in days. The day I came to propose, you heartless girl, you didn’t even bother to see me," Mu Houchu said reproachfully, pinching her delicate waist as if to exact revenge.
Xin He curled up in his arms, sighing, "The situation isn’t good right now, things are complicated."
Mu Houchu’s face darkened, "Is it related to your store?"
"Yes, incidents are following one after the other. I feel there’s something fishy. If someone’s gunning for me, I can’t think of anyone who has both the means and the influence to do so," Xin He confessed, a worried expression washing over her face. "I fear they’re targeting you."
During the Black Bear Incident in the palace, Mu Houchu had shielded her, using his own life, making it clear to everyone that she was his weak point.
Since he was impenetrable, she naturally became their target.
She wasn’t afraid of being targeted, but she was afraid of implicating him. She’d seen how wretched this man looked because of her, and she didn’t want to see it again. She would rather have him remain invincible and proud for the rest of his life. But now, because of her, he has a publicly known weakness.
Mu Houchu gently touched her cheek, "I’ll protect you."
Running her hand over the cloud pattern on his wide sleeve, Xin He murmured, "I don’t want you to protect me. I just want to help you. I don’t want to be a burden. I was careless last time, it won’t happen again. I want to protect the people I care about."
A chill flickered in Xin He’s eyes, she wasn’t going to let any of them go.
Feeling a surge of warmth, Mu Houchu gently stroked her face, "Xin He, I’m so fortunate to have met you." 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝘦𝓌𝑒𝑏𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝘭.𝒸𝘰𝑚
In a muffled voice, Xin He responded, "I know you’re busy with court affairs, you don’t need to worry too much about me. If I don’t even have the ability to protect myself, then I really have wasted all this time."
Mu Houchu laughed, "I know, my little wife is the best."
"Who’s your wife?" Xin He retorted unhappily.
Mu Houchu continued, "Xin He, when I came to propose that day, I said I wanted to set our wedding three months from now."
Xin He’s eyes widened, "Isn’t it usually six months?!"
"I’ve prepared all the betrothal gifts and sent them to Hou Mansion, saving a lot of trouble," Mu Houchu said with a smirk.
"Why don’t you say three days from now?" Xin He grinded her teeth, this man really was too casual!
"I’d love that," Mu Houchu hugged her, murmuring, "Xin He, do you know how agonisingly long these three months will be for me? Last night, I couldn’t sleep. I’ve said it before, a home is wherever you are. The massive Prime Minister’s Mansion isn’t my home. How do you expect me to sleep peacefully?"
A ripple of emotion stirred in Xin He’s heart. She, too, couldn’t sleep last night.
Only you, you heartless girl, would sleep soundly while I pace anxiously. I never realised you were such a deep sleeper," Mu Houchu said with a laugh.
Glaring at him Xin He retorted, "You’re the deep sleeper!"
However, she did not reveal the fact that she had also tossed and turned all night. Giving this man a little joy made him shine. She’d rather have him call her heartless.
Just then, Shulan’s voice came from outside, "Miss, Fuquan from Qinghe Shop is here. He’s waiting to see you."
Only then did Xin He push Mu Houchu away, "Get up now. Do you really think you have nothing better to do? Leave, quickly!"
Finally, Mu Houchu relented and after planting a light kiss on her forehead he murmured, "I’ll leave first."
He definitely wasn’t idle. There were countless matters awaiting his attention. But he missed her, and any other issue would have to wait.
Once Mu Houchu spoke, he rose and with a swift somersault, he dashed out the window.
Xin He sat up, ensuring he was out of sight through the window before saying, "I’m up, you may come in."
Only then did Shulan and Jinxiu, along with four other second-ranked maids, enter, each carrying wash basins, cups, towels, the basin carrying mouthwash—altogether, a lot.
This was the elaborate life of a wealthy family.
As Shulan and Jinxiu assisted Xin He to rise, they commented cheerfully, "Eldest Miss, you slept quite late today. You must have had pleasant dreams, your complexion looks much better."
Xin He quirked her lips, "Really?"
He was her pleasant dream.
Having washed and dressed quickly, Xin He was ready to head out.
Just as she reached the door, she paused, turned to the maids in the room and said, "Shulan."
"Yes, Miss, what are your orders?"
"Go tell the housekeeper to have Xiaoyu from my kitchen come up and wait upon me in my room," Xin He instructed.
Shulan hesitated, "Xiaoyu? What rank should she take?"
"Second. She certainly can’t surpass you," Xin He said. The statement seemed careless, but it was clearly meant to reassure Shulan. These were the personal servants close to her, particularly ones she intended as confidantes, they had to be handled properly.
Shulan nodded, "I’ll get it done right away."
Only then did Xin He head out.
Once in the outer hall, she saw that Fuquan had been waiting respectfully.
"Miss," Fuquan bowed hastily.
"Did you find out what you were supposed to?" Xin He asked.
"The background of the Hu Ren is unclear, I couldn’t find any information. But the fact that he managed to establish himself so quickly in the capital implies he has a powerful backer. I audaciously investigated Ruifu Building and discovered that it is owned by the Shen Family," Fuquan reported.
Xin He’s brows furrowed, "The Shen family? Which Shen family?"
In a lowered voice Fuquan said, "It’s the Shen family of Concubine Shen who is currently favoured by the Emperor."
Xin He’s eyes sparkled, her demeanor turning cold, "Continue."
"As soon as the Hu Ren arrived, he entered into a business partnership with Ruifu Building. The power behind him, to make a bold guess, could very likely be the Shen family. But without any evidence, it’s just speculation," Fuquan added.
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