She leaned backward to avoid Dan'er's hand. "I'm fine."
"Your Ladyship, you used to hate dressing up the most, didn't you?" Dan'er asked tentatively, with a look in her eyes that still said you look strange.
Mo Qinghuan lowered her head shyly and said nothing.
Bai Ke hooked her finger at Dan'er, and Dan'er walked over.
"I heard people say that when a woman suddenly starts dressing up, there must be something wrong. You must keep a close eye on Her Ladyship these days."
Dan'er punched Bai Ke. "What are you talking nonsense about? Her Ladyship is not that kind of person."
Just as they were talking, Mu Yanming came over after finishing his toilette. When he passed by Bai Ke, Bai Ke's mouth opened even wider than when she saw Mo Qinghuan.
Dan'er called Bai Ke twice, but Bai Ke didn't come to her senses.
"Dan'er, did you see that?"
Dan'er was still confused. She looked at Bai Ke and asked, "See what?"
"The Prince is wearing perfume."
Dan'er gave an embarrassed smile. No wonder she didn't notice. Could perfume be seen?
"You look beautiful today." He reached out and stroked Mo Qinghuan's head. Mo Qinghuan shyly lowered her head.
"Brother Prince, Sister-in-law Prince." Mu Yefeng walked in from outside.
He obviously paused for a moment when he saw the two of them.
"You two today..." He hesitated and didn't continue.
Mo Qinghuan remembered the promise she made to Yang Suxin and took the opportunity to say,
"Your Highness, come with us."
As soon as she finished speaking, Mu Yanming's face visibly darkened.
Mu Yefeng looked at Mo Qinghuan even more confusedly and asked, "Where are we going?"
"Let's go boating on the lake together." She said with a smile.
Mu Yanming coughed lightly, as if hinting at something, but Mo Qinghuan pretended not to hear.
He took a deep breath and closed his eyes.
Dan'er and Bai Ke were still sighing that this scene was really a minefield. Couldn't Her Ladyship the Princess see that the Prince was so obviously unhappy?
As for the boating on the lake, since the two of them had dressed up so carefully, wasn't it for a private rendezvous? Why did Her Ladyship the Princess invite His Highness the Prince of Cheng to go with them? The scene would be so strange.
"Sister Princess, I'm here." Yang Suxin bounced in, looking very happy.
After stepping into the courtyard and seeing Mu Yefeng, she suddenly became more dignified.
Mo Qinghuan stepped forward and took her hand. With a proper smile on her face, she whispered secretly, "It's done. We'll go boating on the lake later. It's up to you now."
Yang Suxin nodded happily.
Yin Cong was confused. Looking at Mo Qinghuan, he asked, "Your Ladyship the Princess, won't our Highness take a medicinal bath today?"
Mo Qinghuan had already thought up an excuse. "I've said before that taking a bath should follow the natural law of yin and yang. Morning is yang, and evening is yin. So we'll go boating on the lake this morning and come back to take a bath in the evening."
"Oh." Yin Cong nodded.
After Mu Yefeng saw Yang Suxin come in, his eyes never left her.
Yang Suxin was wearing a pink silk dress today. Her hairpin and earrings were all in matching pink, and she was also wearing a pair of pink crystal bracelets on her hands.
She had very fair skin. Against the backdrop of the pink, her whole person looked rosy-cheeked, like a delicate peach blossom in spring.
Sensing Mu Yefeng's gaze, she stood in front of Mo Qinghuan with her head down, saying nothing.
"Then let's set off." Mo Qinghuan let go of Yang Suxin's hand and reached out to hold Mu Yanming's hand.
But Mu Yanming took a step forward in advance, and she grabbed at the air. She gave an embarrassed smile and chased after him.
"What's wrong with you?" She looked up at Mu Yanming with a pair of almond eyes full of affection.
Mu Yanming took a deep breath and reached out his hand to her.
She pursed her lips and smiled, then reached out.
She specifically told Dan'er to let Yang Suxin and Mu Yefeng share a carriage.
But Mu Yanming said that since the man was unmarried and the woman was unwed, it was inappropriate for them to share a carriage. So Mu Yanming got into Mu Yefeng's carriage and called Yang Suxin over to share a carriage with Mo Qinghuan.
"Your Prince is really something."
Yang Suxin sat in the carriage and peeked out through the curtain from time to time.
Seeing this, Mo Qinghuan smiled and teased, "What are you doing? Do you think they'll back out halfway?"
Yang Suxin then put down the curtain, sat up straight, and looked at Mo Qinghuan.
"No, I mean, the Regent is really something. Why doesn't he let me share a carriage with His Highness?"
Mo Qinghuan took her hand. "It's for your own good. If you and His Highness the Prince of Cheng get together in the future, no one will bring this up. But if for some reason you don't end up together, when you get married in the future, others will use this as an excuse to say that you're not reserved. By then, even if you're married, others will point fingers at you. Do you understand?"
Only then did Yang Suxin understand the importance of this matter. But when she heard Mo Qinghuan say that there was a possibility that the two of them might not be together in the future, she suddenly felt a lump in her throat.
"Sister, you mean that even if I like His Highness very much, there's still a possibility that I won't be able to be with him, right?"
Mo Qinghuan looked at her suddenly red eyes and stroked her head. "Silly girl, have you ever thought that His Highness is deeply favored and may inherit the throne in the future. But his mother's family has declined. If the Emperor chooses a principal wife for him, he will surely choose a family with strong influence."
Yang Suxin nodded. "I know. Although my father is the third-rank Minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, everyone knows that the Minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices has no real power. That's why my father often says that as long as I choose someone I like, I don't need to worry about the Emperor suddenly betrothing me to someone."
As she spoke, tears fell from her eyes.
Mo Qinghuan didn't expect this lively and naughty girl to be so sad and to see things so clearly.
"Don't cry. You'll be ugly if you cry anymore. Besides, what I said is just a possibility. I think His Highness the Prince of Cheng really likes you. Maybe the result will be different."
Yang Suxin wiped away her tears and lifted the curtain. The cool wind blew across her cheeks, bringing a bit of coolness.
When they arrived at the Biqing Lake, the carriages stopped by the lake. It was early spring. The grass on the ground had just sprouted green shoots. The horses snorted and lowered their heads to nuzzle the newly emerged grass.
Mo Qinghuan and Yang Suxin's carriage had been in the front, so they got off the carriage first and walked to the lake to look at the scenery in the distance.
Mu Yanming and Mu Yefeng got off the carriage later and stood behind the two women.
Mu Yanming asked, "Do you see? Your sister-in-law the Princess intends to match you with the eldest daughter of the Minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices."
Mu Yefeng nodded slightly.
He smiled and said, "Sister-in-law the Princess is really a kind-hearted person."
There was full of doting in Mu Yanming's eyes. "She is more concerned about her friends' affairs. But what I want to tell you is that if you like her a little bit, I'll tell your sister-in-law the Princess when I get back, and we'll arrange more such meetings in the future. If you have no intention, she doesn't have to bother anymore."
Mu Yefeng suddenly fell silent. He looked at Yang Suxin.
The two of them were standing by the lake, against the backdrop of the distant mountain scenery. The scene at this moment was as beautiful as a painting.
"Thank you, Brother Prince, for the reminder. I know what to do. But please give me one day, Brother Prince. Allow me to answer you tomorrow."