Chapter 122 Sleeping Together His A'Zhu probably already suspects him! ...
In an instant, the memories she had been deliberately suppressing began to attack her, and the feeling of impending death surged in like a tidal wave. The suffocating, searing pain made it hard for her to breathe, and her breathing became extremely rapid.
Is this person dead?
A sudden, intense panic sent chills down her spine. She opened her mouth, about to call for help, when the motionless figure in the water suddenly surfaced.
“You just now…” She met a pair of deep eyes, her heart still pounding, “I thought something had happened to you, I’m so glad you’re alright.”
At the same time, a sense of annoyance inexplicably arose.
Holding your breath while taking a shower? What kind of quirk is that?!
"Are you afraid I'm really dead?" Mu Hanshi had wiped the water off his face, his wet hair was all smoothed behind his head, and his eyes were half-lowered, making it impossible to see his emotions.
Shen Qinglu wondered to herself, "Could it be that he's trying to test me?"
Why?
"Of course I'm scared. The important matter is not yet accomplished. If something happens to you, not only me, but also those behind you, and my family, will inevitably be controlled by Prince Xin. Don't play like this again, just in case."
"You think I'm playing around?"
She didn't say anything, which was taken as tacit agreement.
If it's not for playing, then why?
In an instant, she remembered that he had once asked her how it felt to be drowning. As if some unbelievable thought flashed through her mind, the agony of being on the verge of death returned, and her heart ached with every breath.
"Then why did you do that?"
Upon hearing this, Mu Hanshi slowly raised his eyelids and looked at her with a deep gaze.
Her face was damp from the moisture, just like her heart at that moment, which felt wet and sour, as if it had just rained.
The rising steam seemed like a barrier, separating them; though they were so close, it felt as if they were so far apart. Doubts and speculations raged within her, yet she dared not ask. Like someone returning home after many years, even standing outside the door, she dared not go in.
She's scared!
I'm afraid this person is my brother, and I'm also afraid this person isn't my brother.
If he were the older brother, and he also appeared in this timeline, would that mean he was also dead? This was not the outcome she hoped for, nor was it the outcome she wanted to see.
If he weren't her brother, he could immediately deduce a lot from just a few questions, inevitably leading to a barrage of interrogations and questions, causing much more trouble and complications.
“Everyone has their own secrets. If you don’t want to tell me, then you don’t have to.” As she spoke, she slowly lowered her eyes, her gaze inadvertently sweeping over the wound on his chest.
The wound was clearly an old one, and it must have been very deep back then.
"You were seriously injured?"
Mu Hanshi gave her a deep look, then placed one hand on the wound. "Back then, Feng Zhen rebelled and harmed his brothers. I took a sword for my brother."
So that's how it is.
“I survived after being stabbed, and my brother wanted Feng Zhen to spare me, so he drank two cups of poisoned wine by himself. Just as we were about to die, your uncle arrived in time and fought his way out to save us.”
"My uncle was trying to protect you and find someone to treat your injuries and detoxify you, so he couldn't rush to support Prince Dou."
Mu Hanshi nodded. "If it weren't for your uncle, my brother and I would both be dead."
If that were the case, the ruler of the world would not be the Demon King, but most likely the Prince Xin who later entered the capital.
The mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind; the struggle for royal power is cruel and treacherous. It's not hard to guess what Prince Xin was thinking back then.
"Splash!"
Shen Qinglu was lost in thought when Mu Hanshi stood up from the water.
They had been married for several days and had intimate physical contact, but this was the first time she had seen his body clearly. The shock was so great that she forgot to be shy and forgot to cover her eyes.
Under her gaze, Mu Hanshi slowly dried himself off and put on his bedtime clothes. After tying his sash, he took her hand and led her around the screen toward the bed.
The bright red wedding tent and the embroidered quilts with mandarin ducks were piled up to create a private space.
She was led to the bed and then held in someone's arms.
The man's presence enveloped her, his large hand gently stroking her back, sometimes lightly, sometimes casually, yet revealing a provocative intent.
Sunlight streamed in through the half-open window, bringing a warm breeze that stirred the red gauze curtains, creating ripples that evoked a sense of wonder.
Her hand rested on his chest, whether she wanted to push him away or to seduce him, it was unclear; she could almost feel the old scar through the thin fabric.
Is this the heart?
He had a heart injury, and his brother had a heart condition. How could it be such a coincidence? It was as if it were a destiny from a past life, or even a preordained fate.
Are you sleepy?
She heard his voice, like a siren's low murmur, and her heart skipped a beat for no reason. "No... I'm not sleepy."
"Since you're not sleepy, then don't go to sleep yet."
"..."
She felt a weight on her body as she looked at the face hovering above her.
This is a face that looks completely different from her brother's, yet she has transformed him into her brother several times in her dreams. If he really is her brother, then is this how they should look?
Why doesn't she find it hard to accept?
"What are you thinking about?"
"nothing."
She murmured to herself and slowly closed her eyes.
She naturally didn't see the change in Mu Hanshi's eyes, which were as deep as ink, filled with a raging storm, and as mad as a demon.
His A'Zhu probably already suspects him!
However, she neither asked nor avoided him, and was even so well-behaved. Does this mean that she does not reject him?
Thinking of this, he lowered his body and completely covered her.
*
When the tree falls, the monkeys scatter.
The incidents at the Marquis of Anyuan's residence and the Earl of Xingyi's residence threw countless people in Donglin City into disarray.
Those who were obvious were naturally investigated, but those who were implicated were investigated and prosecuted, and the atmosphere in the capital was tense.
Those who acted in the shadows, who hadn't been caught yet, were all looking for ways to protect themselves.
When Shen Qinglu heard that Jiang Yingshui was requesting an audience, she was strolling through the garden of the Prince's mansion, as if inspecting her own territory.
After a day of pleasure, Mu Hanshi went out again, telling her not to wait for him that night.
She knew that there were too many things to do and she was probably very busy.
As for what she's been busy with, you can tell just by listening to the news from outside, and you also know why Jiang Yingshui came here.
They didn't meet often, their relationship wasn't deep, but there was a considerable distance between them. Although it wasn't awkward, they were quite distant.
After exchanging a few polite pleasantries, Jiang Yingshui revealed her purpose for coming: not to plead for the Jiang family, but to seek Shen Qinglu's opinion.
"I was thinking that the Prince used to live alone in that courtyard. If you, Princess Consort, accompany the Prince to stay there occasionally in the future, shouldn't we add some things or renovate it?"
These words were both flattering and a test.
Shen Qinglu understood the veiled meaning in Jiang Yingshui's words, but she didn't take it to heart. If Mu Hanshi were to remember the old friendship with the Mu family and wanted to stay at the Marquis's residence for a few days in the future, she would have no objection.
As for whether to buy something or redecorate, she didn't really care. But she had her own thoughts, so she didn't refuse Jiang Yingshui's suggestion and even asked to go and take a look at the courtyard.
Jiang Yingshui was overjoyed and immediately went back to the Marquis's residence with her.
After passing through the garden and then around the bamboo grove, the small courtyard comes into view.
The new green shoots of the bamboo forest have grown, blending harmoniously with the old green, and the fresh fragrance of bamboo leaves fills the air, making it exceptionally pleasant.
This was her second time entering the courtyard, but with a completely different identity.
She was intently searching for something, looking around the courtyard from the inside out. Finally, she stood in front of the painting and thought to herself that the person in question really did like bamboo.
Jiang Yingshui rarely came, and apart from sending people to clean and tidy up, she almost never set foot here. Seeing that she was looking at the painting, she said, "This painting should be made by the prince himself. The painting technique is superb and the materials are wonderful. The dark ink is tinged with blue and the light ink seems to have a green hue. This green and blue color is extremely appropriate for the occasion. It is truly a masterpiece."
The moment the words "green" entered her ears, it was like two thunderclaps from a clear sky, leaving Shen Qinglu's mind blank. Amidst the bursts of white light, it seemed as if there were endless rolling waves.
She felt as if she had been struck by lightning, or as if she had been submerged by a giant wave, soaring to the heavens one moment and sinking to the earth the next. Her heart experienced everything in an instant, rising and falling with nowhere to turn.
In a daze, she seemed to break through time and space and return to the scene many years ago when her adoptive mother asked her if she wanted to take the surname Shen.
She had just started a family and had relatives. Overjoyed by the suggestion, she nodded vigorously and said she was willing. In order to quickly integrate into her new family and gain their approval, she whispered that she wanted her adoptive father to give her a new name.
As the adoptive father pondered, the boy beside him spoke up: "Bamboo has a strong vitality. Old bamboo is always green, while new bamboo is green. Both green and green symbolize vitality, so how about we call you Green and Green? Do you like it?"
She likes it!
Vitality and vitality are the best blessings for her, and she loves them dearly.
Why would that person create such a painting?
Is all of this just a coincidence?
Unaware of the turmoil in her heart, Jiang Yingshui was still sighing, "The prince prefers quiet and doesn't like to be disturbed. The layout here hasn't changed for many years."
She tried to calm herself, her beautiful face showing no emotion. "I've looked at it, and there's nothing missing. Your Highness is a sentimental person, so it's best to keep things as they are."
Whether to change it or not is not the goal; her presence is a turning point for Jiang Yingshui. Taking advantage of this opportune moment, there are some things that need to be mentioned.
“Xin’er has truly realized her mistake and has been reflecting on it at home these past few days. I know that the Princess is a magnanimous person, and that she has already done more than enough by intentionally saving face for her. But she has indeed done something wrong, and reflection alone is probably not enough. She still needs to be sent out of the capital to temper her character and prevent her from causing trouble again in the future.”
Shen Qinglu smiled and said, "If she can admit her mistakes and correct them, it won't be in vain that I let her off the hook for the sake of the Marquis's mansion."
"We can never repay the Princess's kindness. Our whole family will remember it and keep it in our hearts."
Wise people always know when to stop speaking and when to stop acting.
Jiang Yingshui showed goodwill and brought up Jiang Xinyue's matter, but she didn't say anything about what was going on outside, as if her whole performance was just about whether or not to repair the courtyard.
Shen Qinglu knew perfectly well that all her goodwill was for the sake of the Jiang family.
As he was leaving, he said to her, "There have been many things happening in the capital lately, and people are inevitably restless and prone to overthinking. But overthinking is useless. You should know that the innocent are innocent, no one is perfect, and Your Majesty is a benevolent ruler."
She understood what he meant, and while she was grateful, she also felt a pang of regret. She regretted that she had clearly seen that the child was a good person, but had kept her distance because of social class and prejudice.
Shen Qinglu noticed the regret in her eyes, but felt nothing in her heart.
Many people in this world are destined to be passersby, simply passing through without leaving any trace of emotion. But are there people who are an indispensable part of your life, who would appear by your side even if they traveled through time and space?
Upon considering a certain possibility, Shen Qinglu subconsciously looked up at the sky.
The sky is high, far, and boundless.
So many coincidences made her fantasize.
When she returned to the palace and stood in front of the courtyard where the new house was located, she saw an empty plaque.
Yang Zhen came over at some point and whispered, "The prince said that the name of this courtyard still needs to be decided by the princess."
After saying that, he handed over a box, "This is the deed to the Prince's private property, please take a look, Your Highness."
Shen Qinglu naturally wouldn't refuse and took the box.
Just as he said, the box was full of land deeds and house deeds, some from the capital and some from outside the capital.
She flipped through the pages one by one, her gaze suddenly settling on a contract.
The address on this deed is...
Deer Cry Manor!
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