She placed her hand on her lower abdomen and assumed a loving look. In her heart, she thought, "My child, rest assured. Your mother will surely protect you and ensure you come into this world safely."
"Mother won't let anyone harm you. Those who try to harm you will all end up badly."
She curled her lips and looked up at Mu Yichen.
"Your Highness, if one day someone tries to harm our child, what will you do?"
Mu Yichen stroked her face. "What nonsense are you talking about? Of course, I won't let anyone harm our child."
She deepened her smile in satisfaction and nestled in his embrace again.
After Mu Yichen left the Prince Rui's Mansion, the Prince Rui ordered a thorough search of the entire mansion.
Min Feiyan walked out from the back courtyard. Seeing Mu Shengze pacing back and forth anxiously, she stepped forward and asked, "Your Highness, what's going on?"
Mu Shengze was in a bad mood at the moment. Seeing Min Feiyan looking listless and frail, he felt even more irritated.
"Zhi'er, help the Princess go to the back courtyard to rest."
Zhi'er didn't dare to disobey Mu Shengze's order. She could only say in a low voice, "Your Ladyship, it's still cold in spring. Let this servant help you back to your room to rest."
Min Feiyan looked up at Mu Shengze. There was a mist of anger in her eyes, but in the end, she obeyed his order and went back.
Since that day when Concubine Yi had that dirty affair with him openly in the Prince Rui's Mansion, she had completely given up on him.
She didn't care what Mu Shengze wanted to do anymore.
She spent her days alone in the back courtyard, and actually enjoyed the peace. Although there were a few times when Mu Shengze got drunk and came to the back courtyard, talking nonsense and hugging her while calling out Concubine Yi's name, she endured it.
However, just as she turned around to leave,
Mu Shengze suddenly grabbed her arm, making her hiss in pain and frown.
"You look so gloomy all day long. It's you who has brought bad luck to me!" he shouted at Min Feiyan. Min Feiyan just lowered her eyes and remained silent.
Seeing that she didn't say a word, Mu Shengze pinched her chin and forced her to look up at him.
"I'm talking to you. Can you stop acting so lifeless?"
Zhi'er knelt on the ground and grabbed Mu Shengze's leg. "Your Highness, please don't. The Princess is not feeling well and she's in a bad mood. Please don't be angry. If you want to beat or scold someone, beat this servant. This servant is willing to take the blame for the Princess."
Mu Shengze kicked Zhi'er away. She fell to the ground but got up and crawled towards Mu Shengze.
Min Feiyan seemed to show some emotion at this moment. She broke free from Mu Shengze's grip, squatted down and helped Zhi'er up.
"Zhi'er, let's go back." The two supported each other and were about to go back.
Mu Shengze behind them spat and ordered the servants to search quickly.
He just couldn't understand. First, Concubine Yi, and then Mu Yichen, both said that the imperial seal was in his mansion. But since he had been under house arrest, he hadn't even stepped out of the mansion gate. How on earth did the imperial seal end up in his mansion? He was really confused.
After searching for most of the day, he finally got impatient. The sun was making him dizzy. He stood up, walked to the couch and half - leaned on it. Just as he was dozing off, the gatekeeper came to report.
"Your Highness, we've searched everywhere, but we couldn't find it!"
He was so angry that he picked up a vase and threw it towards the door. The vase hit the door with a bang and shattered into countless pieces on the ground.
The gatekeeper was so frightened that he almost couldn't stand still.
They heard Mu Shengze roar in a strong voice, "If you can't find it, keep looking until you do."
The gatekeeper responded and retreated tremblingly.
At this moment, a figure jumped down from the wall of the Prince Rui's Mansion.
The figure bypassed the long street and came to the entrance of the Regent's Mansion.
He looked up at the plaque of the Regent's Mansion and then walked forward.
The gatekeeper recognized him and let him in.
"Your Highness, the Prince Rui is searching for the imperial seal everywhere in his mansion right now. But after searching for a whole day, they still haven't found it."
Mu Yanming put down the book in his hand, walked to the window, opened it and looked at the sky.
The sun was shining brightly at the moment, making people feel warm. But his mood at this moment was not very good.
Early this morning, he went to the Yanyang Palace and was once again refused entry.
The secret guard kneeling on the ground didn't hear Mu Yanming's instructions. He looked up at Mu Yanming and saw that Mu Yanming was standing in front of the window in a daze.
He tentatively called out, "Your Highness?"
Mu Yanming ignored him.
"Your Highness?" he called out tentatively again, but Mu Yanming still ignored him.
He stood up and quietly walked outside. Mu Yanming still didn't move.
He walked to the window and looked Mu Yanming in the eye. Mu Yanming raised his hand and gave him a palm strike.
He was hit in the nose. He covered his nose and his eyes were filled with tears.
"Your Highness, did you hear what this subordinate just reported?"
Bai Ke, a patrolling soldier, passed by and saw this scene. He walked forward with a smile and put his arm around the man's shoulder.
The man raised his arm and nudged Bai Ke.
Mu Yanming gave them a disdainful look.
Bai Ke immediately took the man away sensibly.
"A Qi, it's not that I'm saying, you've been with the Prince for so long. Can't you tell that the Prince is in a really bad mood today?"
A Qi laughed freely. "So what if I can tell? Everyone has days when they're in a bad mood."
Bai Ke nodded. "You're right."
"Hey, the Prince sent you and A Jiu to keep an eye on the Prince Rui's Mansion. Why did you come back?"
He bent down, picked up a blade of grass and put it in his mouth. "There was some movement in the Prince Rui's Mansion, so I came back to report to the Prince."
Bai Ke punched his right shoulder. "So you left A Jiu there alone again?"
"Yeah. What's wrong with leaving him alone? He's old enough to handle things on his own."
Bai Ke pursed his lips, frowned and looked at A Qi. "You know he's a bit simple - minded. If you leave him alone there and he gets exposed, he'll surely get into a fight with someone. Hurry up and go back. Don't ruin the Prince's plan."
With that, he pushed A Qi out.
Just then, Mo Qinghuan was walking towards them. The two were joking around and didn't notice. They bumped into Mo Qinghuan.
Fortunately, Dan'er and Shuang'er were quick - witted and caught her from behind. Otherwise, she would have fallen on her backside.
"What are you two doing!" Shuang'er stood in front of Mo Qinghuan, hands on her hips and one finger pointing at Bai Ke and A Qi.
When A Qi saw the cute little girl, he showed his teeth with a big smile.
"Greetings to the Princess."
Mo Qinghuan just gave a faint "hmm" and walked into the house.
As A Qi passed by Shuang'er, he winked at her.
Shuang'er glared at him and quickly followed, walking behind Mo Qinghuan.
Bai Ke followed A Qi's gaze and nudged his shoulder with his own. "What, are you interested in her?"
A Qi snorted. "What are you talking about! I'm not interested in women, okay?"
Bai Ke laughed. "If you're not interested in women, then men can give birth. But as your brother, I have to remind you. If you want to marry the Princess's chief maid, at the very least, you need to have a house of your own. You've got to work hard."