"I, a commoner girl, value honesty above all else. Since the Fifth Prince has been sincere with me, I should naturally reciprocate. If the Crown Prince has nothing else to say, I shall take my leave."
From the moment Mu Fengqie met Yuan Yuchuan, she knew he was of noble birth, but she never imagined he was the Crown Prince in the Forbidden City, a person of such exalted status.
However, she couldn't bring herself to like Yuan Yuchuan. He always made people feel uncomfortable, unlike the Fifth Prince. Talking to the Fifth Prince always gave her a sense of comfort.
Perhaps it was because Yuan Yuchuan had an innate air of superiority, while Yuan Yuhan was neither overbearing nor humble, which made him more popular. Thanks to the prescription for the plague, the names of the Fifth Prince and Mu Fengqie had both become well - known.
Yuan Yuchuan was taken aback. He never expected Mu Fengqie to know his identity, and for a moment, he didn't know how to face her.
"Since Miss Mu knows that my ship is bigger than my younger brother's, be careful not to board the wrong one. There's no going back in this world." Yuan Yuchuan flashed a charming yet sinister smile.
At this moment, Yuan Yuhan walked out. His sharp eyes fixed on Yuan Yuchuan for a moment, then quickly returned to normal, unnoticed by others.
"What were you and the divine doctor discussing, Brother? Were you talking about the treatment for the plague?" Yuan Yuhan asked casually.
Mu Fengqie laughed. "No. The Crown Prince and I were discussing ships. But I'm afraid my knowledge is too limited to understand what the Crown Prince meant. Could your Highness please explain it to me?"
Hearing this, Yuan Yuhan also laughed. Even Jing Xinche, who had been silent by the side, couldn't help but curl the corner of his mouth. He had been worried that she might be bullied, but it seemed his worry was unnecessary.
Yuan Yuchuan's face darkened. The false smile had disappeared from his eyes when he looked at Mu Fengqie. Even with his strong willpower, being humiliated by a mere woman made him furious.
"One day, you'll follow me willingly. Just wait and see!" Yuan Yuchuan tore off his mask, revealing his ugly face. He put his hand on Mu Fengqie's shoulder.
Jing Xinche quickly grabbed Yuan Yuchuan's hand. A crisp cracking sound was heard, followed by Yuan Yuchuan's shrill scream. But Jing Xinche showed no sign of letting go.
"Regardless of your status as the Crown Prince, if you dare to hurt a single hair on her head, I'll chop you into pieces!" Jing Xinche said as he tightened his grip.
Yuan Yuchuan's fingers were visibly bending. It seemed they were about to break, and his screams grew louder. Yuan Yuhan also felt a sense of unease.
He leaned over and whispered in Jing Xinche's ear, "That's enough. This is the Xuanwu Gate. We can't afford to make any mistakes."
Hearing this, Jing Xinche finally let go. Yuan Yuchuan felt as if he had been reborn, but the pain remained. He glared at Jing Xinche and Mu Fengqie with hatred in his eyes, as if he wanted to devour them.
"I'll make you pay! Those who oppose me will disappear from this world!" With that, Yuan Yuchuan got into his carriage in a hurry.
Mu Fengqie couldn't stop thinking about Yuan Yuchuan's words. She was not only single but also a homebody. Whenever she had time off, she would stay at home watching TV or reading novels.
She knew that princes had their own secret guards and attendants. As the Crown Prince, Yuan Yuchuan must have countless highly - skilled warriors around him. Even if Jing Xinche was extremely skilled in martial arts, he would be outnumbered.
She frowned worriedly. "Have I caused us trouble? If what he said is true, should we run away quickly?"
Jing Xinche smiled and stroked Mu Fengqie's hair. "Don't worry, Qie'er. I'm here. I won't let anyone hurt you."
Yuan Yuhan nodded in agreement. Jing Xinche's martial arts were second to none. "I'll also send people to protect you. Yuan Yuchuan won't be able to harm you."
After all, it was he who had involved Mu Fengqie and Jing Xinche in this matter. He would definitely ensure their safety. Jing Xinche was going to be his most important general in the future, and he couldn't let Yuan Yuchuan succeed.
"No need. I don't take him seriously." Jing Xinche said disdainfully.
Yuan Yuhan nodded. He thought that a person like Jing Xinche wouldn't do anything without a plan. His strength must be far greater than he had imagined.
Jing Xinche and Mu Fengqie returned to the medical clinic. Lou Yueying and Xiaoqing rushed out of the house. Lou Yueying's eyes turned red when she saw the emperor's rewards.
She was never short of such things, but she was unwilling to see a mere country woman receive the emperor's favors. She didn't deserve it!
She rushed towards Jing Xinche and tightly wrapped her arms around his neck. Crying, she said, "Brother Jing, you're finally back. I was so worried something had happened to you. I was scared to death! I'm so glad you're okay! What would I do if something happened to you!"
Both Xiaoqing and Mu Fengqie were startled by Lou Yueying's sudden action. They stood there looking at each other in surprise. Jing Xinche calmly pulled Lou Yueying off him.
"I'm fine, Yue'er. Remember the propriety between men and women. Be more careful in the future."
Jing Xinche noticed Mu Fengqie's unhappiness. He was now a married man, not the former General Jing.
A look of grievance immediately appeared on Lou Yueying's face. "But Brother Jing, we used to do this all the time. Are you going to abandon me?"
"I'm already married, but I'll always be your brother."
Jing Xinche was also very troubled. He and Lou Yueying had grown up together. He truly regarded her as his younger sister and had always taken good care of her. He could see her feelings for him, but he didn't want to hurt her.
Lou Yueying bit her lips tightly. Her face turned pale and then red. "I understand. I wish you and Sister - in - law a long and happy marriage. But I'm not fully recovered yet. I hope I can stay here for a few more days."
Watching Lou Yueying's emotional changes, Mu Fengqie couldn't help but give her a mental thumbs - up. Her ability to shed tears at will and her excellent acting skills of switching between crying and smiling were truly at the level of an actress.
Women understood women best. A woman's heart was like the needle at the bottom of the sea. Jing Xinche didn't notice Lou Yueying's true intentions, but Mu Fengqie had already seen through her.
"You can stay here and rest. Leave when you're fully recovered. Don't tell anyone about my whereabouts, not even Xing Zhou." Jing Xinche said slowly.