Just then, the gatekeeper came outside and said, "Your Highness, Princess Rui has invited you to meet at Jujun Tower at the Xushi hour tonight."
"What does she want from me!"
Thinking of the assassination attempt last time, she thought Min Feiyan was simply inexplicable.
"I'm not going. Just tell her I'm not feeling well."
"Yes, Your Highness."
The gatekeeper was about to leave.
But Mo Qinghuan called him back. "Wait. Go back and tell her I'll definitely be there on time."
The gatekeeper replied with a "Yes" and then left.
"Your Highness, last time when you went to the Rui Prince's Mansion, you almost got assassinated by her. Why do you still want to meet her?"
She shook her head. "I don't know either. I'll go and have a look first. Maybe I can find out some information."
"I'll go and prepare breakfast for you."
"Okay."
She got up, walked to the bedside, picked up the clothes she had taken off last night, and fell into deep thought.
...
On the other side, in the palace.
Mu Yanming covered his chest. Seeing this, the emperor ordered the eunuch beside him, "Offer a seat to the Regent."
Mu Yanming coughed lightly twice. "Your Majesty, dozens of assassins broke into the Regent's Mansion last night. Fortunately, my guards were capable. Otherwise, Your Majesty might not have seen me this morning."
The emperor immediately pretended to be shocked. "What! There were assassins!"
Mu Shengze stood behind the Regent's chair, staring sharply at Mu Yanming's back.
"So many experts failed to take your life, Mu Yanming. You're really lucky."
The emperor glanced at Mu Shengze and then looked away.
"Prince Rui."
"Your son is here."
"Previously, I asked you to investigate the case of Princess Rui's miscarriage. How's the investigation going?"
Mu Shengze's heart skipped a beat. It seemed that the emperor was going to release Mu Yichen.
But it didn't matter. Even if he was released, Mu Shengze had already established his status by replacing the Regent to receive the envoys.
Since the emperor wanted to release him, why not let him be the good guy? So he stepped forward.
He bowed and said, "Your Majesty, in your son's opinion, it's better to release the second brother first."
The emperor nodded in satisfaction.
"Good. Then you go and pick up your second brother in person. Then convey my decree and order him to investigate the assassination attempt on the Regent."
Mu Yanming covered his chest and coughed a few more times.
All the ministers shook their heads in pity.
After the court session, Mu Yanming and Bai Ke walked on the palace path.
The whispers were endless.
"Look, the Regent's health is really not as good as before. I think he's lost weight!"
"Who doesn't know that? Who in the military doesn't have old injuries?"
"Yes, I heard that heart disease is a stubborn illness and can't be cured."
"Alas, if the Regent falls, I'm afraid the capital will change."
The voices gradually faded away, but Mu Yanming still heard the general asking the civil official, "Lord Lin, if the Regent falls, which prince will you support as the crown prince?"
The civil official who was asked laughed.
"Look at what you're saying, Lord He. Of course, I'll support the emperor. Whoever the emperor appoints as the crown prince, I'll support."
He Qiying smiled and watched the man walk away.
Bai Ke and Mu Yanming walked up to He Qiying. Before he could react, Bai Ke asked, "My lord, if the Regent falls, which prince will you support?"
"Well..." As he said this, he turned around. Seeing Bai Ke's teasing look and Mu Yanming's gloomy face, he took a step back in fright.
"Greetings to the Regent."
Bai Ke stepped forward and patted He Qiying on the shoulder. "The emperor's appointment of the crown prince has nothing to do with whether our lord falls or not. So, Lord He, please be careful what you say in the future. Otherwise, you might bring disaster upon yourself."
He Qiying bowed and said repeatedly, "Yes, yes, yes."
"Your Highness, please rest assured. I understand."
Mu Yanming snorted and left, covering his chest.
Bai Ke glared at the man and then followed Mu Yanming.
Unexpectedly, on the way, they happened to meet Mu Shengze releasing Mu Yichen.
The two brothers were very enthusiastic when they saw Mu Yanming and stepped forward to greet him.
However, Mu Yanming didn't seem to be in the mood to talk to them.
So, he just gave a faint "hmm" and left.
The two brothers walked to the palace gate.
Mu Yichen saw Leng Nier walking quickly towards them from afar.
"Your Highness."
He stroked Leng Nier's head lovingly.
"Okay, I'm fine now!"
She glanced at Mu Yichen and Mu Shengze, and there seemed to be some resentment in her eyes.
She helped Mu Yichen into the carriage. Before leaving, she glared at Mu Shengze angrily.
Although Mu Yichen found it strange, he didn't ask much.
It wasn't until they got back to the mansion that he pulled Leng Nier's hand and asked, "Why do you seem to have a deep grudge against the elder brother?"
"Your Highness, you must stay away from your good elder brother in the future."
Mu Yichen was stunned for a moment and asked, "What's going on? What happened during the few days I was in prison?"
She pulled his sleeve and walked into the house. "You couldn't be visited when you were in prison. It was all your good elder brother's doing. If it weren't for the Regent's help later, I wouldn't even be able to send things to you."
Mu Yichen stood still. Just now, when the elder brother picked him up, he directly told him that he was the one who arranged the assassination of the Regent.
He told Mu Yichen to just do a symbolic investigation and not to take it seriously.
Seeing him in a daze, Leng Nier pulled him again.
"Your Highness, go and change out of these clothes and burn them. They're unlucky."
Mu Yichen let her pull him into the house.
...
Mu Yanming returned to the Regent's Mansion.
Mo Qinghuan was grinding medicinal powder. He sat opposite her and quietly watched her movements.
"What kind of medicine is this?"
She didn't even look up. "It's medicine for Mother-in-law. The weather has been getting colder recently, and her health has been getting worse."
Mu Yanming nodded. "Yes, this winter in the Li Kingdom is indeed colder than previous years."
She looked up at him, but out of the corner of her eye, she accidentally caught sight of Lu Zixiu.
She suddenly remembered the question she asked Lu Zixiu when he pretended to be Mu Yanming.
"Your Highness, do you like snow?"
Mu Yanming shook his head gently. "No, I don't."
"But I like it very much. I like winters with snow. I once heard a story. It is said that if two people who like each other build a snowman together in winter and then turn white-haired in the snow, they will be together forever."
Mu Yanming suddenly laughed. "Where did you hear this story from?"
Mo Qinghuan put the ground medicinal powder into a small bottle.
"Dane bought it for me from a storyteller on the street. They really dare to write anything in it."
She stood up. "Accompany me to visit Mother-in-law. She always misses you, but you've been very busy before."
"Okay, let's go." He took her hand and walked outside.
Lu Zixiu gave a bitter smile, as if mocking himself, and then turned around and left.