"It’s quite nice outside, you should prepare to go home once you’re up. You haven’t been home all day, your father must be worried sick." Mu Houchu got up from the bed and meticulously helped her dress.
Xin He, feeling sore all over, simply let him dress her.
"Are we going home straight away?" Xin He asked, surprised.
He did mention yesterday that they would go home today, but facing it head-on today was still somewhat unbelievable.
"Yes, I have arranged everything. Don’t worry." Mu Houchu kept his head down and buttoned her dress one by one.
Looking at this man being so serious, her heart warmed a bit. She had seen him serious before, back when she hadn’t returned to Hou Mansion, and he would lazily hang around her house, even bringing his official documents.
When he read his documents, he was quite serious, but his eyes lacked such cautious tenderness and instead seemed somewhat indifferent.
Gazing seriously at the row of small buttons as he is now had a way of dissipating Xin He’s fiery built-up temper.
"Did you go out last night?"
Only after finishing buttoning her dress does Mu Houchu look up at her: "Did you wake up last night?"
Xin He shook her head, stating, "No, but I can guess."
"I went to see the Emperor."
Xin He tensed up, hurriedly asking, "Has the Emperor made things difficult for you?" 𝗳𝚛𝚎𝚎𝘄𝕖𝕓𝕟𝕠𝚟𝚎𝕝.𝗰𝕠𝐦
"No, I just gave Old Man Chen a bit of a taste of his own medicine. By now, the Chen Mansion has likely fallen into chaos." Mu Houchu’s voice was cool and detached.
When he decided to spare Old Man Chen’s life the first time, it was out of gratitude for being raised by him. Regardless, Old Man Chen deserves some credit for transforming him from an incapable child into the man he is today. Even though his motives weren’t pure, aren’t all men in this world out to use each other?
Old Man Chen’s motives for taking him in were far from pure, and his reasons for siding with Old Man Chen weren’t innocent either. They were, in essence, two peas in a pod.
However, despite his inclination to spare Old Man Chen, the latter refused to recognize what was good for him, and he had no choice but to respond in kind.
"Do you think the Emperor let you off so easily?" Xin He continued to probe, suspecting he was hiding something.
With a helpless smile, Mu Houchu replied, "This clever girl, she can’t be deceived by anything."
"I handed over the Prime Minister’s seal," elaborated Mu Houchu.
Xin He’s eyes widened in shock, "You gave up your authority? That can’t be!"
"Don’t worry, I have my plans. I know what you’re worried about. If I can’t handle these matters, how can I protect you?" Mu Houchu stroked her forehead gently. "Be good, let me take you home first. You don’t need to worry too much about the rest, leave everything to me."
With his reassuring words "Leave everything to me," Xin He’s previously panicky heart calmed down instantly. As long as he was by her side, there was nothing she needed to worry about too much.
It was only then that Xin He realized that she had somehow grown accustomed to relying on him. Regardless of how dominant she was in the outside world, in his face she instinctively softened, willing to stand behind him and let him shield her from the wind and rain. She didn’t know whether this change was good or bad, but one thing she did know was that she had no other choice. The only thing she could do in this life was to trust this man.
"Alright." Xin He nodded her head and smiled.
Once Mu Houchu had helped her into her clothes, he escorted her down the mountain.
Once they descended the wild mountain, Mu Houchu urged her to gallop all the way back to the Hou Mansion.
Seeing the bustling crowd outside, Xin He couldn’t help but feel a sense of loss.
Observing her mood, Mu Houchu asked, "What’s wrong?"
I stayed in a small house by the medicinal spring yesterday. When I woke up this morning, I felt like I had returned to Yang Luo Bay," Xin He said with a smile. "It felt very peaceful."
However, she knew at this moment that she had not gone back. She was still here, in the midst of all this chaos and bloodshed.
Squeezing her hand, Mu Houchu said, "After marrying me, I will give you peace."
"Hmm?" Xin He was puzzled and about to ask a question.
But suddenly, there was a commotion in the crowd up front. A government official shouted loudly, "Make way! Make way! By the authority of the court, prisoners are being transported! Who dares to block the way!?"
As Xin He was still in shock, she saw a prison cart coming out from the crowd. The prisoner being transported was none other than Old Man Chen.
The men escorting the cart were imperial guards. The leader spotted the man riding a tall horse up front and quickly dismounted, bowing on one knee, "Minister Mu, I am glad to see you!"
Upon hearing this, Old Man Chen who had lost his spirit, was suddenly taken aback. He looked up in horror to find Xin He sitting unscathed on a horse in front of him. Worse yet, Mu Houchu was also alive?!
"You, you, you..." Old Man Chen was almost coughing up blood. The moment he saw Mu Houchu, all the doubts in his mind instantly cleared.
This man was actually alive!
Nonetheless, Mu Houchu completely ignored his terrified gaze. He calmly said to the kneeling man, "You may rise, official work is important."
"Yes, sir!" The man hurriedly got to his feet, gestured to his men, and they opened up a path for the horse and carriage.
With a kick to the horse’s belly, Mu Houchu and Xin He sped off.
Old Man Chen glared at Mu Houchu, almost choking on his own blood from sheer anger. He trembled all over. He was certain he had won, but the tide had turned so easily! Seeing this man standing unscathed before him, he knew he was done for!
——
Mu Houchu took her straight back to the Hou Mansion.
The Marquis had been pacing anxiously. Upon seeing Xin He, a servant rushed in to announce her return. "Eldest Miss is back! Eldest Miss is back!"
The Marquis couldn’t wait for Xin He to enter the mansion, he rushed out to her, his face filled with worry. "Xin He! You really had me worried! Where did you disappear to all day?"
Xin He was slightly at a loss for words, she couldn’t tell her father about the previous day’s events, especially her overnight stay outside with Mu Houchu.
Mu Houchu seamlessly picked up the conversation, "Xin He was falsely accused of assassinating the Imperial Concubine, and the upset of it all prompted her to take a short break. By the time I found her, it was already late, so we stayed out for the night before returning. Lord Marquis need not worry."
The Marquis shot a glance at Mu Houchu and huffed, "Well, in that case."
As if he’d believe that!
Xin He cast a troubled glance at Mu Houchu, thinking about her father’s initial dislike of Mu Houchu, which was now probably at an all-time low. Their betrothal hadn’t even been finalized yet. She just hoped her father wouldn’t call it off.
However, Mu Houchu just raised the corners of his lips and gave her a reassuring glance, then turned to the Marquis, "Since I have brought Xin He back, I need to make a trip to the palace. Lord Marquis, I’ll take my leave now."
The Marquis glared at him and stormed back into the mansion.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
