After Mu Yanming left, she got out of bed. Although Bai Ke and Dong Xue stayed to take care of her, she still dared not stay in the room alone.
So she asked Bai Ke to move a stool and sit outside the hall.
The strong afternoon sun was suddenly covered by big, dark clouds. The once bright courtyard instantly dimmed.
Mo Qinghuan looked up at the sky. Her heart skipped a beat for no reason. Was something about to happen?
She then remembered Mu Yichen's provocation at the palace gate this morning. She always felt that today's birthday banquet was not as peaceful as it seemed.
Before long, raindrops as big as beans began to fall. In no time, the courtyard ground was soaked.
The strong wind whipped up the heavy rain. It was no longer possible to stand under the eaves. Mo Qinghuan was escorted by Bai Ke and supported by Dong Xue as they entered the courtyard.
This was the heaviest rain since the Spring Festival. She stood in front of the window with a small crack open, which was enough to see the scene outside. However, even through this small crack, the wind and rain rushed in recklessly.
It wet the hair on her forehead. Bai Ke glanced at Dong Xue, signaling her to go and persuade Mo Qinghuan, but Dong Xue just shook her head faintly and stood in a place sheltered from the wind and rain, watching Mo Qinghuan.
Bai Ke was extremely annoyed but didn't want to lose her temper on the spot. She could only secretly clench the sword in her hand.
This stalemate lasted for half an afternoon. When it was almost the You hour (5 - 7 p.m.), Mu Yanming returned.
As soon as he put down his umbrella and strode in, he saw her standing by the window with raindrops on her forehead hair.
His heart ached. He quickly walked up to Mo Qinghuan and reached out to touch her forehead. It felt cold.
His face darkened. He turned to glare at Bai Ke and Dong Xue. The anger in his eyes was almost uncontrollable. Just as he was about to scold them, Mo Qinghuan suddenly turned around, walked up to him, blinked at him, and reached out to brush the raindrops off his body.
With her beautiful eyes full of tenderness, his heart softened instantly. The scolding words on the tip of his tongue were forcefully swallowed back.
Seeing this, Bai Ke and Dong Xue wisely retreated.
Mu Yanming picked up a handkerchief and gently wiped the water droplets from her forehead. His eyes were filled with unhidden distress. "Be careful. You might get a headache again."
She had been looking down. Hearing Mu Yanming's words, she looked up at him. Seeing the affection in his eyes, her heart pounded so hard that it almost jumped out of her throat.
In the past, people always said that the Regent was kind to her in every way, but she always felt that there was too much formality between them. They were not like a normal young couple but more like two people forced to be together due to the situation.
These days, things had changed. She truly felt...
Palpitations! Yes, the kind of palpitations a young girl in love would feel, the palpitations of being in love.
Although she was already a wife and was almost going to be a mother, realizing this still filled her with genuine joy.
Looking at her eyes full of tenderness like autumn water, Mu Yanming's Adam's apple rolled a few times. He suppressed the glint in his eyes and glanced at the rain outside.
"It's time for us to go to the Green Wave Hall."
Mo Qinghuan stood up following the strength of his hand holding hers. As she walked out of the door, she didn't forget to give Bai Ke and Dong Xue a glare.
These two useless people really infuriated her. They couldn't even take good care of her.
The rain had lessened a bit. He held the umbrella, tilting it all the way towards the little woman beside him. This scene in the rain attracted many onlookers and whispers.
But he seemed not to hear them. He carefully put his arm around Mo Qinghuan's waist, afraid that she might accidentally slip.
When they reached the rockery, they suddenly heard a deliberately low - pitched female voice. "Impossible! Unless you stop! Otherwise, I will definitely tell."
Without much thought, Mo Qinghuan knew it was Zhao Yiyi's voice. But what did she mean by this?
The master and her three servants held their breaths and listened carefully to the movement behind the rockery.
Then came a deep voice like the wind blowing into an old well. "Madam, can't you just listen to me this once? I promise you that as long as you turn a blind eye to this and put this medicine in the Regent's and his wife's wine, I will grant you anything you want after that. I'll expel Mo Yao from the mansion as soon as we get back."
Hearing this, the woman suddenly burst into laughter. She reached out to touch her lower abdomen, her eyes full of affection. But when she looked up at Ning Shouzhang, there was a hint of coldness in her eyes. "General, the Princess saved my mother and son. I will never do such an ungrateful thing. And you, if you stop now, I guarantee that even if I have to sacrifice my life, I will beg the Regent to spare the lives of the over a hundred people in the General's Mansion."
She wiped the tears from her face, her eyes firm and unwavering. "But if you remain stubborn, don't blame me for not being able to watch you fall into the abyss with my own eyes."
Mo Qinghuan subconsciously looked up at the man beside her. The man still looked calm, but no one knew better than Mo Qinghuan that his calm exterior was hiding a storm.
There was no more sound inside. After a long silence, Mu Yanming put his arm around Mo Qinghuan and left. The rain fell on the bluestone - paved ground, as if they had never been there.
Finally, they returned to the Green Wave Hall. She took out a handkerchief and gently wiped the raindrops that had landed on Mu Yanming's face like secret kisses.
"Huan'er, I still have something to deal with. You sit here and be careful. Do you hear me?"
Mo Qinghuan put away the handkerchief. Seeing the deep and lingering worry in his eyes, she held his finger with her small hand and gently tickled his fingertip.
"Don't worry. Besides, I trust Yiyi."
He nodded and almost shyly withdrew his hand. Mo Qinghuan couldn't help but smile seeing his slightly red earlobes.
This Mu Yanming seemed like an expert when he was flirting with her. But as soon as she tried to respond, he got shy.
She turned to look at the main seat. It was empty. The Emperor and Concubine Li hadn't arrived yet.
She and the Regent's seats were in the first row on the right side, while the Crown Prince's seat was directly on the right side of the Emperor.
She sat down in front of the low table, propping her chin up in a daze. Her red sleeves embroidered with rosy clouds hung down, revealing half of her fair and tender arm like a lotus root. A string of Buddhist bead bracelets hung loosely on her wrist. Mu Yanming had insisted on putting it on her in the carriage.
After a while, Zhao Yiyi and Ning Shouzhang walked into the hall from outside.
She was holding Ning Shouzhang's arm. Although there was a smile on her face, those who knew Zhao Yiyi well could tell at a glance that it was a fake smile, the fakest kind.
As soon as she entered, her eyes fell on Mo Qinghuan sitting in the front row. She found that Mo Qinghuan was also looking at her.
She let go of Ning Shouzhang's hand and was about to walk forward when he grabbed her. She glared at him angrily but couldn't break free, so she had to obediently stay beside Ning Shouzhang.
Mo Qinghuan naturally noticed this. She turned to look at Bai Ke, who immediately understood and stepped forward.