He pushed the door open and stepped in. Standing at the doorway, he saw Mo Qinghuan sitting in a chair, engrossed in a book.
Hearing the noise, she slightly lifted her eyelids. The dim yellow candlelight cast a hazy glow on her features.
"Your Highness, why are you here at this hour? Is there something wrong?"
Mo Qinghuan stood up and walked over. Mu Yanming gently pulled her into his arms. She could smell his refreshing scent, not the strong odor of incense but rather a natural one.
"You..." He really wanted to ask if she still remembered the things from their childhood. But suddenly, he thought that since they were going to be together anyway, whether she recalled the past didn't seem to matter.
Mo Qinghuan couldn't understand Mu Yanming's actions at the moment. It seemed that something had quietly changed since the day he rescued her from the palace.
Just like now, he would casually wrap his long arms around her, holding her so tightly that she couldn't breathe or break free.
She guessed that he came at this hour because he had finished his work and returned to the mansion. He must have heard about what happened during the day from Lu Zixiu. So, she gently pushed him away, raised her head, and looked into his eyes. "Your Highness, did you hear about what happened during the day?"
Mu Yanming put one hand behind his back. "Yes, Zixiu told me everything. But! I will never believe it."
Mo Qinghuan gave a faint smile. "Thank you for your trust."
She looked at Mu Yanming. He seemed hesitant to speak, as if there was something he wanted to say but couldn't find the right words.
She poured a cup of tea and handed it to Mu Yanming.
"When I came just now, I noticed someone monitoring your courtyard. Should I ask Bai Ke to deal with it?"
Mo Qinghuan shook her head. "No, let her keep watching. I know who it is."
Mu Yanming sat down at the table, put down the cup in his hand, and took out a jade pendant from his belt. "Here, this is for you."
Mo Qinghuan's eyes lit up with joy. "Did you go to the emperor to get it?"
"He sent someone to deliver it to the mansion." Mu Yanming placed one hand horizontally on the table. His long fingers gently tapped on the table, hitting Mo Qinghuan's heart with each tap.
The two sat there. After a while, a sudden flash of lightning split the silent night sky, followed by a dull thunderclap.
Big raindrops started to fall, and the rain gradually picked up.
Mo Qinghuan got up and stood by the window. The rain was pouring down from the eaves, and the whole courtyard was shrouded in a thin mist. She couldn't see anything clearly.
"The rain is getting heavier." She turned to look at Mu Yanming. "How are you going to get back?"
Mu Yanming also walked over and looked outside the courtyard. "Yes, it's really heavy. It seems I can't leave now."
Mo Qinghuan bit her lip and said nothing.
Mu Yanming turned to look at her. "I'll wait until the rain stops before leaving."
He returned to his seat, poured himself a cup of tea, and drank it.
Mo Qinghuan felt the atmosphere was a bit awkward. Although they were going to get married, they didn't seem to know each other very well.
She walked to the desk, picked up a book, and handed it to Mu Yanming. "We don't know when the rain will stop. Why don't you read a book?"
She put the book down and then sat back at the desk, picking up a medical book and reading it carefully.
Mu Yanming picked up the book. The words "Women's Virtues" on the cover caught his eye.
"Women's Virtues?" He read it out loud.
Mo Qinghuan looked over. Mu Yanming had already opened the book and seemed to be reading it with great interest.
The two sat facing each other. After an unknown amount of time, another loud thunderclap sounded. Mu Yanming put down the book. "This rain doesn't seem to be stopping anytime soon..."
Mo Qinghuan's book was covering her face. "Your Highness, you may as well take a rest first."
Mu Yanming came in front of her and looked down at her face hidden behind the book. Mo Qinghuan felt a shadow fall over her. She looked up and saw Mu Yanming's strong jawline.
She swallowed nervously. Mu Yanming's lips curved slightly at her little action. "What about you?"
"I'll just make do on the couch for one night." She put down the book and walked out from the other side. "Dan'er, bring me another quilt."
Dan'er and Shuang'er had been waiting outside the door. "Yes, miss. I'll go get it right away."
Shuang'er nudged Dan'er, looking excited.
Not long after, Dan'er came back with the quilt. Mo Qinghuan went over to take it. "Give it to me."
She carried the quilt over to the couch and spread it out. Then she stood up and wanted to turn around to tell Mu Yanming that he could go to rest first. But unexpectedly, he was right behind her. She lost her balance and fell onto the couch. Instinctively, she reached out and grabbed Mu Yanming.
Mu Yanming was pulled down by her. He propped his hands on either side of her body, a faint smile on his face.
The candlelight flickered. Time passed second by second. Mo Qinghuan lowered her eyelids and didn't dare to move.
She held her breath, raised her arm, and hooked Mu Yanming's arm. Her fingertips flicked slightly, and a fine powder floated in the air. Mu Yanming frowned slightly, and then he collapsed on top of her, motionless.
She got out from under him, helped him onto the bed, and said, "I'm sorry, Mu Yanming. The atmosphere just now was really... I had no choice. Please don't blame me when you wake up."
She clasped her hands together and bowed. Then she covered Mu Yanming with the quilt and returned to the couch. By now, the night was deep.
The rain outside was still pattering.
"Dan'er, you two can go to sleep. There's no need to keep watch."
Dan'er and Shuang'er outside the door showed knowing expressions. They nudged each other and retreated.
In her sleep, Mo Qinghuan felt as if something was pressing on her. But her eyelids were so heavy that she couldn't lift them.
She shifted her body, and the pressure came again. When she shifted again, her head hit the wooden frame inside the bed. She woke up, covering her head, and was shocked by what she saw. She almost let out a scream.
Oh my god! How did she end up inside the bed! She removed Mu Yanming's arm and crawled out of the bed on tiptoe. Mu Yanming pursed his lips tightly and pretended to be asleep.
When Mo Qinghuan got out of the bed, she gently patted her chest.
"What's going on? Did I sleepwalk to the bed while I was asleep? Am I... am I subconsciously coveting Mu Yanming's good looks?"
She was startled by her own thought. She climbed onto the couch barefoot, curled up in the quilt, and listened to the sound of the rain hitting the eaves. Before long, she fell asleep again.
Early the next morning, the sunlight after the rain shone through the lattice of the window and through the screen, falling on the bed.
Mo Qinghuan closed her eyes and stretched her body. But her arm accidentally hit something.
It was soft and warm.
She suddenly opened her eyes and was really frightened. She leaned back.
At this moment, the person she hit was looking at her with a gloomy face. She gave an embarrassed smile. Judging from the situation, this man might have a serious case of morning anger...