Translator: Rize
Editor: Larkspur
When Chu Li stepped into the Fu, the first person he saw was Shen Momo in the Front Hall. Without a second thought, he blurted out, “Mu Yunjin?”
Shen Momo was taken aback, she had not expected that Chu Li would come back early. “She should still be in her room, she must not have woken up. Zi Xiang is yet to come to the kitchen to get breakfast. Last evening, she did not have dinner, she must have been tired.”
Chu Li nodded slightly and walked inside, looking unconcerned.
When he walked into Glass Spring Pavilion, he noticed Mu Yunjin's door and windows were open. Several servant girls stood inside and outside, wiping and cleaning. However, the mistress herself was nowhere to be seen.
Ding Xian was standing at the side, he smiled and motioned to a servant girl standing at the door. “Huangzi Fei?”
The servant girl curtsied and lowered her gaze. “Huangzi Fei has ordered us servants to clean up her room, she should be in the gazebo.
“Sigh, the hot summer has passed, yet Her Highness Huangzi Fei’s room still has worms,” a servant girl holding a broom and dustpan came out of the room muttering in amazement.
She was startled to see Chu Li in the courtyard and ran over to pay her respects.
“What do you mean by worms?” Chu Li coldly demanded.
The servant girl couldn't help but tremble when she heard his cold tone, she extended her hands and showed the contents of the dustpan. “It’s these two little worms, this servant does not know what kind of worms they are.”
Chu Li's eyes darkened as he focused on the two dead worms, he quickly exited the Glass Spring Pavilion.
Noon, during mealtime.
Today, there seemed to be a kind of subtlety in the air that was hard to miss. Mu Yunjin’s face was red and immersed in eating rice; from time to time she would sneak a peek at Chu Li but did not dare look straight.
Chu Li was also particularly awkward, he focused on eating and did not say a word, merely glancing and from time to time meeting Mu Yunjin’s eyes.
Inside the dining room, an undercurrent coursed.
After dinner, the two went back to the Glass Spring Pavilion; the room had long been cleaned.
Mu Yunjin stood by the door of her room, pursed her lips, and looked at Chu Li. “Last night… I woke up in the middle of the night and found was a pair of mother and child worms. If I am not mistaken, they are the legendary Gu worms….”
As she spoke, she observed Chu Li’s expression. The Mother Gu worm was brought by Qin Muyue from the borders. If he knew that she(QMY) intentionally wanted to harm her, how would he react?
Will he choose to turn a blind eye or…. vent for me?
A cold glint flashed in Chu Li’s eyes, his face completely stiffened. He reached out to brush some strands of hair on Mu Yunjin’s forehead, his movement is gentle. “Benhuangzi will settle this for you.”
Mu Yunjin’s heart finally settled down. She smiled lightly, her eyes revealing a somewhat proud look. “Then I will await your good news.”
“En.” Chu Li nodded, his lips forming a small smile.
A moment later, she returned to her senses, touched her hot cheeks, and started scolding herself. You’re really becoming more and more like a love-struck fool.
“Young Miss…” Zi Xiang’s voice rang out from outside the door.
"Come in."
Zi Xiang walked in holding Mu Yunjin’s washed clothes, she put them inside the cabinet. Then she looked at Mu Yunjin with a smile. “Young Miss, off late, your relationship with His Highness Liu Huangzi seems to be closer than before…”
“How so? Don’t speak nonsense.” Mu Yunjin's expression changed as she pointed a finger at Zi Xiang.
The little maid laughed happily. “Young Miss is shy, ah.”
“Who’s shy?! Stinky girl, are you trying to pick a fight?” Mu Yunjin was visibly embarrassed, to hide it, she posed like she was going to beat up someone.
Zi Xiang was not afraid of her mistress, she continued to smile teasingly. “Hahaha, Young Miss you are shy, this servant has been with you for years and this is the first time this servant saw you like this!”
“You, this girl really wants to be beaten, come let me hit you a few times!”
“Hahaha, Young Miss won’t really beat up this servant.”
While the room was filled with a peal of teasing laughter, the air outside, on the stone table, was no different.
“Your Highness, this subordinate once thought that it would be either Young Miss Qin or some country’s princess who would accompany you for the rest of your life. Never did I expect it would be Third Miss Mu. Fate truly works in mysterious ways, ah,” Ding Xian remarked.
Chu Li cast a cold sidelong glance as he said, “If you are idle, I will arrange something for you to do.”
Ding Xian immediately covered his mouth and scratched his head. “This subordinate remembered that there are still some things that needed to be done. I am quite busy, so I’ll take my leave.” He then turned on his heels and scurried away.
“Wait a moment.” Chu Li stopped Ding Xian who was almost at the gates of Glass Spring Pavilion.
Ding Xian ran back.
“Look into where the pair of Gu worms came from,” Chu Li instructed.
Ding Xian nodded, then he lowered his body and spoke awkwardly, “If it is really Young Miss Qin? There are still a lot of things we need her to do.” He was anxious.
Chu Li lowered her gaze, his fingers gently tapped the table, his face cold and resolute. “So what?”
The simple words cleared all the queries Ding Xian was harboring. In the end, he still mustered the courage to add, “Your Highness, once a person starts to become sincere, the outcome is far from calm." With that, he walked away.
Chu Li sipped some tea and listened to the laughter from the opposite room. His cold face softened a little, and his eyes immersed in deep thoughts.
Editor: Larkspur
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A hand on her knees, Mu Yunjin had been sitting on her bed for some time when she heard the person on the roof leave. It was only then that she lit a candle to illuminate the room.
But she did not sleep, just lay flat on the bed, hands pillowing her head.
Sure enough, some people are beginning to get restless.
Early the next morning, Mu Yunjin got dressed and went out of the door. Dark circles almost drooped until her chin. Half-squinting at the dazzling light, she walked towards the gazebo in the garden and sat down with the help of the pillar to rest.
Zi Xiang was mystified, she couldn’t help but ask, “Young Miss, you did not sleep on the bed but ran here to sleep?”
“My room is a little dirty, have someone clean it inside out thoroughly,” Mu Yunjin grumbled.
Zi Xiang was puzzled but still nodded. She then immediately called on a few servant girls to do the bidding.
The servant girls immediately went about the task.
Mu Yunjin yawned and leaned against the pillar, she kept her eyes closed and continued to sleep.
“Young Miss, you did not eat last night, should this servant bring you some breakfast?” Zi Xiang asked.
Mu Yunjin shook her head and just waved her hand.
Zi Xiang did not speak anymore. She simply fetched a palm-leaf fan, sat on the railings, and started fanning her mistress.
♚
Shen Momo was taken aback, she had not expected that Chu Li would come back early. “She should still be in her room, she must not have woken up. Zi Xiang is yet to come to the kitchen to get breakfast. Last evening, she did not have dinner, she must have been tired.”
Chu Li nodded slightly and walked inside, looking unconcerned.
When he walked into Glass Spring Pavilion, he noticed Mu Yunjin's door and windows were open. Several servant girls stood inside and outside, wiping and cleaning. However, the mistress herself was nowhere to be seen.
Ding Xian was standing at the side, he smiled and motioned to a servant girl standing at the door. “Huangzi Fei?”
The servant girl curtsied and lowered her gaze. “Huangzi Fei has ordered us servants to clean up her room, she should be in the gazebo.
“Sigh, the hot summer has passed, yet Her Highness Huangzi Fei’s room still has worms,” a servant girl holding a broom and dustpan came out of the room muttering in amazement.
She was startled to see Chu Li in the courtyard and ran over to pay her respects.
“What do you mean by worms?” Chu Li coldly demanded.
The servant girl couldn't help but tremble when she heard his cold tone, she extended her hands and showed the contents of the dustpan. “It’s these two little worms, this servant does not know what kind of worms they are.”
Chu Li's eyes darkened as he focused on the two dead worms, he quickly exited the Glass Spring Pavilion.
♚
Zi Xiang was fanning Mu Yunjin, she wanted to pour her a glass of water to help her refresh only to discover that the kettle on the stone table was empty. So she put down the fan, picked up the kettle, and went to the kitchen.
When Chu Li arrived at the gazebo, he saw Mu Yunjin sitting with her back against the pillar, her eyes closed. Her face was pale and haggard as if lifeless.
“Mu Yunjin! Mu Yunjin!” Chu Li rushed up to her, reached for her shoulders, and shook her, unaware of how hoarse his voice was.
But the girl didn’t stir.
Panic surged from the depths of his heart, his brows furrowed… Images of her beautiful smiles flashed before his eyes. Unknowingly, Mu Yunjin seemed to have taken an important place in his life.
“Yunjin…!” Seeing her motionless, he called again, reaching a hand to her cheek, brushing gently. But his mind was nearly out of control.
By the time Ding Xian followed into the garden, this was the scene that greeted him. He stood slack-jawed. He hadn't seen Chu Li this flustered ever since he had decided to follow him. At this moment, he was clearly afraid of losing someone he loved.
“Oh…!”
A murmur was slowly heard.
Mu Yunjin dazedly opened her eyes, stirring from her dream. She had been sleeping against the pillar, so ached all over. She shifted her neck, took in a deep breath, and slowly raised her eyes.
Chu Li was staring at her with a deathly pale face. His brows were drenched in sweat, and his eyes were brimming with concern.
“It’s you,” Mu Yunjin said dispiritedly, this explained why she heard someone calling her when she was sleeping.
Chu Li pursed his lips as he watched her slowly open her eyes; his heart was still heavy and tight, but his voice was gentler. “How are feeling?”
“Good, sleepy….” Mu Yunjin did not understand the meaning of his question and simply answered. Then, she yawned.
She wanted to sleep longer, but just as she began to lean back against the pillar, she was abruptly yanked. She immediately fell into a warm embrace, her head spinning ... She was unable to react, but it helped her sober nonetheless.
Chu Li held her tightly in his arms, almost exhausting all his strength. He seemed to touch her body as if to check there was really nothing wrong with her. His eyebrows gradually eased, but his mind was still on the verge of flying into a rage.
“Mu Yunjin, are you an idiot?!”
Her face was pressed onto his chest, she could clearly hear his rapidly beating heart. She really felt stupid, she was unable to react to what was going on.
A sweet feeling gradually bloomed in her heart, and the muddledness dispersed. She reached out to embrace his waist and listened to his heartbeat, lips curved up into a smile. She had never felt more reassured.
Chu Li felt hands on his waist, and his expression gradually changed to reveal a different set of thoughts. He had always disliked anyone touching him, but this time, he surprised himself. His expression softened a little.
It was at this time that Zi Xiang returned with a kettle in hand. Just as she was about to make a sound, Ding Xian motioned her to ‘shush’, and pointed in the direction of the pavilion.
Following his line of sight, she saw two people locked in a tight embrace. Zi Xiang felt like she was struck by lightning.
This, this, this...
It's so scary.
♚
Today, there seemed to be a kind of subtlety in the air that was hard to miss. Mu Yunjin’s face was red and immersed in eating rice; from time to time she would sneak a peek at Chu Li but did not dare look straight.
Chu Li was also particularly awkward, he focused on eating and did not say a word, merely glancing and from time to time meeting Mu Yunjin’s eyes.
Inside the dining room, an undercurrent coursed.
After dinner, the two went back to the Glass Spring Pavilion; the room had long been cleaned.
Mu Yunjin stood by the door of her room, pursed her lips, and looked at Chu Li. “Last night… I woke up in the middle of the night and found was a pair of mother and child worms. If I am not mistaken, they are the legendary Gu worms….”
As she spoke, she observed Chu Li’s expression. The Mother Gu worm was brought by Qin Muyue from the borders. If he knew that she(QMY) intentionally wanted to harm her, how would he react?
Will he choose to turn a blind eye or…. vent for me?
A cold glint flashed in Chu Li’s eyes, his face completely stiffened. He reached out to brush some strands of hair on Mu Yunjin’s forehead, his movement is gentle. “Benhuangzi will settle this for you.”
Mu Yunjin’s heart finally settled down. She smiled lightly, her eyes revealing a somewhat proud look. “Then I will await your good news.”
“En.” Chu Li nodded, his lips forming a small smile.
♚
Back in her room, Mu Yunjin sat on the rocking chair and stared at the ceiling. Her mind was filled with the thought of the warm embrace, her lips couldn’t help but bloom into a smile.A moment later, she returned to her senses, touched her hot cheeks, and started scolding herself. You’re really becoming more and more like a love-struck fool.
“Young Miss…” Zi Xiang’s voice rang out from outside the door.
"Come in."
Zi Xiang walked in holding Mu Yunjin’s washed clothes, she put them inside the cabinet. Then she looked at Mu Yunjin with a smile. “Young Miss, off late, your relationship with His Highness Liu Huangzi seems to be closer than before…”
“How so? Don’t speak nonsense.” Mu Yunjin's expression changed as she pointed a finger at Zi Xiang.
The little maid laughed happily. “Young Miss is shy, ah.”
“Who’s shy?! Stinky girl, are you trying to pick a fight?” Mu Yunjin was visibly embarrassed, to hide it, she posed like she was going to beat up someone.
Zi Xiang was not afraid of her mistress, she continued to smile teasingly. “Hahaha, Young Miss you are shy, this servant has been with you for years and this is the first time this servant saw you like this!”
“You, this girl really wants to be beaten, come let me hit you a few times!”
“Hahaha, Young Miss won’t really beat up this servant.”
While the room was filled with a peal of teasing laughter, the air outside, on the stone table, was no different.
“Your Highness, this subordinate once thought that it would be either Young Miss Qin or some country’s princess who would accompany you for the rest of your life. Never did I expect it would be Third Miss Mu. Fate truly works in mysterious ways, ah,” Ding Xian remarked.
Chu Li cast a cold sidelong glance as he said, “If you are idle, I will arrange something for you to do.”
Ding Xian immediately covered his mouth and scratched his head. “This subordinate remembered that there are still some things that needed to be done. I am quite busy, so I’ll take my leave.” He then turned on his heels and scurried away.
“Wait a moment.” Chu Li stopped Ding Xian who was almost at the gates of Glass Spring Pavilion.
Ding Xian ran back.
“Look into where the pair of Gu worms came from,” Chu Li instructed.
Ding Xian nodded, then he lowered his body and spoke awkwardly, “If it is really Young Miss Qin? There are still a lot of things we need her to do.” He was anxious.
Chu Li lowered her gaze, his fingers gently tapped the table, his face cold and resolute. “So what?”
The simple words cleared all the queries Ding Xian was harboring. In the end, he still mustered the courage to add, “Your Highness, once a person starts to become sincere, the outcome is far from calm." With that, he walked away.
Chu Li sipped some tea and listened to the laughter from the opposite room. His cold face softened a little, and his eyes immersed in deep thoughts.
♚♚♚
Rize/Larkspur Thank you so much for the update.
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