"Do you think they captured the Prince of Rui to drive a wedge between you and him?"
She poured another cup of tea for Mu Yanming and pushed it in front of him.
"I initially thought so too. But after I found the Prince of Rui, he said that the kidnappers told him they would surely let him go unharmed after keeping him for one night."
Mo Qinghuan pinched her chin, looking quite puzzled.
"Why would the kidnappers say that to the Prince of Rui? Did anything happen during the day when the Prince of Rui was missing?"
Mu Yanming's eyes suddenly lit up. He hadn't understood why the kidnappers had to kidnap the Prince of Rui on this particular day.
After Mo Qinghuan said this, he immediately reacted.
"I know why."
He put down the teacup he had just picked up, got up, and opened the door.
"Bai Ke, immediately go and find out what the envoys did after the Prince of Rui was kidnapped during the day..."
Bai Ke nodded and quickly left.
He returned to the room and sat down again. "According to what the kidnappers said, if I'm not wrong, kidnapping the Prince of Rui must be to buy time for the envoys so that they can do something."
Mo Qinghuan didn't know that her words had given Mu Yanming a clue.
She hadn't solved one question yet when another doubt arose.
"What could the envoys possibly want to do in the capital of the Li State? With their current strength, are they capable of contending with the Li State?"
Mu Yanming shook his head and said in a very certain tone, "It's winter now. It's cold and snowy in the Northern Rong. Even if they want to wage war, they won't be stupid enough to start a war between the two countries at this time."
"Then I don't know why!"
Mu Yanming suddenly stood up. "Alright, I won't return to the prince's mansion tonight. I'll stay here."
He held Mo Qinghuan's hand, opened the door, and walked towards the next room.
As soon as she stepped in, Mo Qinghuan felt that the atmosphere was strange.
"This room..."
As if knowing what she was going to ask, Mu Yanming interrupted her directly.
"Yes, I used to live here often, but I rarely come here after I got married."
Mo Qinghuan walked two steps further into the room. The room was decorated very elegantly.
The gray curtains hung down, adding a sense of mystery to the whole room.
There were many books on the shelf in front of the desk. Her fingertips glided across the desk. There was no dust, indicating that it was cleaned every day.
"You have a perfectly good prince's mansion, but why do you come to live in an inn?"
Was it because he had too much money?
She smiled and turned to look at him, seemingly waiting for his answer.
He just smiled faintly. The dim candlelight made his eyes seem to have glinting lights.
"The prince's mansion always makes me feel lonely, so I don't like living there. But it's different in an inn. The noisy hubbub makes me feel as if I'm in the world."
Mo Qinghuan understood the feeling he was talking about. In fact, it was loneliness. So he didn't want to be alone in a quiet environment.
"It's getting late. Go to sleep."
Mu Yanming took off his cloak and casually threw it on the screen.
Mo Qinghuan glanced at the bed. The ginger - colored brocade quilt looked soft and smooth.
Although they had slept in the same bed in the prince's mansion, she suddenly felt embarrassed here.
Mu Yanming had already taken off his outer clothes and sat on the edge of the bed.
Seeing that she was still standing there, the smile on his lips faded. He raised his hand and hooked his finger at her.
"What are you standing there for?" She walked over awkwardly and sat on the edge of the bed, not knowing where to put her hands.
"I don't seem to be sleepy yet."
Mu Yanming leaned over, wrapped his long arm around her, and pinned her under him.
"It's almost midnight... Usually at this time, you're sound asleep. Now you're telling me you're not sleepy. Do you think I'll believe it?"
His fingers picked open Mo Qinghuan's ribbon. The movement was so gentle that the dazed Mo Qinghuan didn't notice.
His movement gradually moved backward, and his fingertips glided across her waist.
She trembled slightly. Mu Yanming's mind buzzed, as if a string on a musical instrument had snapped.
He leaned down and pinned her on the bed.
"Do you know? I've been waiting..."
She didn't come to her senses for a moment and just stared blankly into his eyes.
Hearing his words, she asked softly, "Waiting for what?"
Mu Yanming cleared his throat. "Waiting for the day when you open your heart to me, and the day when we can be completely honest with each other."
For some reason, she suddenly felt unable to look directly at the four words "be completely honest with each other".
Seeing that she didn't say anything, he turned over and lay down properly.
His voice was hoarse. "Alright, go to sleep. I have things to do tomorrow."
He closed his eyes. Mo Qinghuan turned her head to look at him and raised her hand to suppress the heart that was about to jump out of her throat.
"What on earth is Mu Yanming up to? Why does he always seem to want something but then hold back in the end..."
Could it be that Mu Yanming... was impotent?
She was shocked by her own thought and even swallowed hard.
If that was really the case, it would explain why in the past few months he had only kissed her but not...
Actually, she wasn't that dull when it came to feelings. She could even feel that he was aroused. But every time, whether she showed the intention to refuse or just stood there dazed not knowing how to refuse, he could always stop in time... She originally thought it was Mu Yanming's grace not to force her, but she never thought there was another reason...
His eyelids suddenly twitched. She was so scared that she quickly closed her eyes.
Mu Yanming looked at her and his expression was as gentle as water, with affection in his eyes.
He wanted... he wanted to possess her and make her completely his.
But every time he saw the panic and confusion in her eyes, he would feel like backing off.
He was afraid that if one day his revenge plan failed, what would happen to her? If he couldn't give her a certain future but took her virginity, how could she find another good man in the days when he was gone...
He smiled bitterly and pulled the quilt up for her.
At this time, Mo Qinghuan had fallen asleep after closing her eyes. She was really sleepy because her biological clock was always very accurate.
It was already time for her to fall into a dream...
Mu Yanming felt the breathing of the person beside him, raised his hand, and tapped her acupoints.
He put on his clothes, opened the door, and walked out. By this time, the rain had weakened a lot, leaving only a thin mist floating in the air.
He walked out of the Gathering Gentlemen Tower. Through the night and the misty rain, he saw Bai Ke hurrying towards him.
He walked forward to meet him. Seeing this, Bai Ke bowed and said, "Your Highness, there was nothing abnormal about the envoys' itinerary. They followed the itinerary you gave them before."
The master and the servant walked forward side by side. "The more it seems there's nothing abnormal, the more we should be vigilant. At present, the disappearance of the Prince of Rui doesn't bring any substantial benefits to anyone, except for the envoys."
"Your Highness, don't worry. Your subordinate will surely lead the guards to keep an eye on the envoys."
He nodded in satisfaction. "Just don't tip them off."