After Mu Yefeng finished taking a bath and came out, he saw Yang Suxin sitting in a daze in the yard.
He quietly walked behind her, but unexpectedly, she suddenly stood up.
She accidentally bumped into his chin.
"Ouch."
He let out a cry of pain. Yang Suxin turned to look at him and then immediately lowered her head blushing.
"Why are you sitting here alone in a daze?"
She looked at Mo Qinghuan's room with a worried look. "I saw that Sister Princess seemed to be preoccupied, but she looked so unhappy that I didn't dare to ask."
Mu Yefeng followed her gaze and gave a faint smile. He said to Yang Suxin, "It's just a temporary quarrel between the young couple. Don't worry about it."
She tilted her head. "You seem to be right."
He coughed lightly. "I'm going to Hualing Pavilion. Do you want to come along?"
Yang Suxin shyly glanced at Mu Yefeng from the corner of her eye. When their eyes met, she quickly lowered her head.
Mo Qinghuan was lying on the window, watching the two lovebirds. A smile involuntarily appeared on her lips.
Dan'er saw her sad face and felt sad too. She thought that Mo Qinghuan was fine before going out this morning. Why did she become like this after coming back? Could something have happened to her outside?
She was about to go and ask the coachman when she saw Shuang'er sneaking out of the back door. So she decided to ask the coachman later.
Then she followed Shuang'er out of the back door.
She followed Shuang'er all the way to an inn. Shuang'er looked around at the entrance of the inn and then walked in.
Dan'er looked up at the inn.
Wasn't this the inn where Young Master Lu was staying? What was Shuang'er sneaking here for?
She followed to the entrance and saw Shuang'er going up to the second floor.
Sure enough, she saw Young Master Lu opening the door.
Shuang'er walked in. "Young Master Lu, may I ask what you've called me here for?"
Lu Zixiu walked to the bedside, took out a small wooden box from the bedside table, grabbed Shuang'er's hand, and placed the box in her palm.
"What is this?" Shuang'er asked with a puzzled look on her face.
Lu Zixiu let out a bitter smile. "This is something that doesn't belong to me, but I took it. Now it's time to return it to its rightful owner."
Seeing that Shuang'er still didn't understand what he meant.
He explained, "Take it to her. She'll understand when she sees it."
Shuang'er carefully put away the box and then looked at Lu Zixiu. "Why don't you give it to Her Highness the Princess yourself, Young Master?"
Lu Zixiu let out a bitter smile. "I don't know how to face her. Let everything stop at the best impression we have of each other. By the way, I'm leaving the capital. Maybe we'll never see each other again."
"Don't worry, Young Master. I know what to say to Her Highness and won't let her suspect you."
"Then thank you, Miss Shuang'er." He took out a rosewood jewelry box.
"This is for you."
Shuang'er took it suspiciously. She opened it and asked, "For me?"
Lu Zixiu nodded.
"As a thank-you for keeping my secret."
Shuang'er remembered the bloodthirsty man that night. It was hard to connect him with the handsome and gentle man in front of her.
"Go back quickly. She's very smart. Don't let her find out."
Shuang'er nodded and walked out of the room.
She followed the same way back to the Regent's Mansion.
But she saw Dan'er at the back door.
Dan'er was leaning against the door frame, waiting for her.
"Sister, what are you doing here?"
Dan'er grabbed her and hid in a corner where no one could see them.
"I should be asking you that. What were you sneaking out for?"
Shuang'er's face immediately darkened. "When did I sneak out?"
"You still deny it. I saw everything."
Shuang'er quickly covered Dan'er's mouth. "Don't go and tell Her Highness the Princess. I promised to keep this a secret."
Shuang'er looked around warily, afraid that their conversation would be overheard.
"Shuang'er, haven't you forgotten what Her Highness the Princess told us when she brought us to the General's Mansion?"
Shuang'er smiled. "Sister, I'm your own sister. Am I such an unreliable person in your eyes?"
"Then how do you explain what you've just done?"
Shuang'er let out a bitter smile. "I'm just helping a lovelorn man maintain his last bit of dignity. Sister, I hope you won't tell Her Highness the Princess that I met Young Master Lu today. Otherwise, I'll really be angry with you."
She walked back to her room with the wooden box in her pocket.
Dan'er watched her back and felt very conflicted. She didn't know whether she should tell Her Highness the Princess what had happened today.
If she didn't tell her, she felt that she was betraying Her Highness's trust.
If she told her, seeing Shuang'er's reaction, it seemed that Shuang'er would fight her if she did.
After struggling for a long time, Jing Hua passed by the backyard on his patrol and saw Dan'er sitting there in a daze.
He signaled the soldiers behind him to go ahead and then walked towards Dan'er.
"Sister Dan'er, what are you doing?" He smiled brightly, showing a row of white teeth and two deep dimples.
Dan'er came back to her senses and looked at Jing Hua. "Oh, nothing. I'm going back to serve Her Highness the Princess."
Jing Hua stroked his chin and watched Dan'er running away. His big eyes were full of confusion.
— Why is Miss Dan'er acting so strangely today?
At the Prime Minister's Mansion.
Gu Qinglan was sitting alone in a daze at the stone table in the yard, while Gu Yishu was practicing swordsmanship in the yard.
After a long time, Gu Yishu sheathed his sword, walked to the stone table, leaned his sword against the table, and sat down opposite Gu Qinglan.
"Why are you looking so sad? It doesn't suit you."
Gu Qinglan let out a heavy sigh when she heard this. "Yishu, Father wants me to get married. The betrothal letter has already been sent to our mansion."
Gu Yishu picked up the teacup and took a sip. His every move showed that he was a well-bred young master.
"Getting married is a happy thing. Why do you look so sad?"
Gu Qinglan gave him a sad look. "Because I'm not marrying the man I love!"
Gu Qing walked over with his sword in his hand. Seeing Gu Qinglan's sad face, he knew that she was worried about the Chu family's matter.
"Lan'er, among the young masters of the noble families, only Young Master Yang has been appointed as the fourth-rank official of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices at a young age. He's a rare one who doesn't rely on his father's family to get a position in the court."
Gu Qinglan stood up and looked at Gu Qing. A sneer appeared on her lips, full of mockery. "Don't say he's just an official of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices. Even the head of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices has no real power. You're so eager to praise Yang Xin, a mere official of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices. Or are you trying to get on good terms with your future son-in-law from the Prime Minister's Mansion?"
Gu Qing's face immediately darkened. He lowered his head, straightened his back, and stood there silently.
Gu Qinglan got annoyed and pushed past him towards her room.
She pushed open the door and rushed into the room. Then she lay on the bed and cried loudly.
After crying for a while, she suddenly sat up straight. A look of determination flashed in her eyes. "No, I can't just sit back and wait for this. I have to do something!"