"Qier, I know you're not asleep. What did Bei Moxue say to make you so angry? Qier..." Jing Xunchao rested his head against Mu Fengqie's and asked softly.
Mu Fengqie sighed and said coquettishly, "Isn't it all because of you and your love - struck admirers? She said she wants to marry you and asked me to step aside. She'd be the main wife and I'd be the secondary one. What do you think, General Jing?"
Jing Xunchao was startled by the sudden "General Jing". He looked at Mu Fengqie in panic and threatened, "If you dare to step aside, I'll devour you."
Mu Fengqie gasped at his words. "The mansion bestowed by the emperor will be ready for us to move into tomorrow. Go to bed early tonight and get up early to pack tomorrow. We can't stay in the Minister's Mansion forever."
Now that Jing Xunchao had been conferred the title of the Ever - Victorious General, although the position was not very high compared to his previous one, it was still a proper general's post. So the emperor had bestowed a mansion upon him.
The next morning, the two got up early and started packing. It took them about half a day to move all their belongings to the new courtyard. Although the courtyard was not as large as the Minister's Mansion, it was still more than ten times the size of an ordinary family's yard.
Shen Yiru and Li Wantong came to help. Soon, Yuan Yuhan also arrived at the new courtyard. Mu Fengqie never expected to see Yuan Yuhan today.
"Your Highness the Fifth Prince, why do you have time to come here today? Don't you need to accompany the envoys?" Mu Fengqie asked in surprise.
Yuan Yuhan shrugged. "The Crown Prince has already taken them away. Prince Beiming invited me, but I declined. Yuan Yuchuan and Yuan Yuze are there. I can't stand the sight of them. By the way, I heard that you were very close to the Crown Prince during that period. What on earth was going on?"
After Yuan Yuhan returned to the imperial city, some of his followers had told him all about what had happened recently. That was how he learned that Mu Fengqie had been with the Crown Prince during that period, seemingly doing things for him. This puzzled him greatly.
Shen Yiru burst out laughing and explained, "Fengqie has successfully infiltrated the enemy's camp. You have no idea how capable she is. She got along so well with the Crown Prince and the Third Prince that she managed to drive a wedge between them. She's amazing!"
Shen Yiru always loved to hear about Mu Fengqie's interesting experiences with the Crown Prince and the Third Prince. She was even more convinced that Mu Fengqie was an extraordinary woman who could always bring unexpected surprises.
Yuan Yuhan was enlightened when he learned the truth. He gave Mu Fengqie a thumbs - up. He had to admit that Mu Fengqie was indeed a resourceful woman.
The group was happily having hot pot when they received an invitation from the Crown Prince. Everyone's expressions changed.
"Go back and tell the Crown Prince that this prince and General Jing have something to do and have no time to attend the cuju game for now." Yuan Yuhan said with a cold face.
He really couldn't understand why the Crown Prince would hold a cuju game at this critical moment. None of the people present was in the mood to play.
But the page who delivered the message seemed to have expected Yuan Yuhan's refusal. Squinting his eyes, he said, "His Highness the Crown Prince has ordered that for the friendship between the two countries, Your Highness the Fifth Prince and General Jing should attend the cuju game. Do you want to lose to the Kingdom of Beiming? I've delivered the Crown Prince's message. Whether to go or not is up to Your Highness the Fifth Prince and General Jing."
Only then did Yuan Yuhan realize why the Crown Prince had thought of holding a cuju game. If they won against the Kingdom of Beiming, the emperor would surely credit the Crown Prince.
Even if they didn't want to go, they had to. He angrily threw away his chopsticks and glared ahead.
Li Wantong quickly picked up the chopsticks on the ground, washed them clean and handed them to Yuan Yuhan. "Brother Han, don't be angry. The Crown Prince's eagerness to prove himself may not be a good thing. Why get angry and hurt your body over this?"
"Wantong is right. The Crown Prince's intention to win over the Kingdom of Beiming is obvious. The emperor may not be blind to it. In my opinion, the emperor is not as simple as he seems. Haven't you noticed that the emperor has deliberately sowed discord between the Crown Prince and the Fifth Prince?"
Mu Fengqie had long felt something was wrong. The emperor did love beautiful women, but he had never neglected state affairs. Since the plague incident, the emperor had shown great favor to the Fifth Prince, even more than to the Crown Prince. This kind of behavior made people wonder about the real reason for his kindness to the Fifth Prince.
Jing Xunchao also nodded. "Put other things aside for now. We have to attend this cuju game whether we like it or not."
The group quickly got ready and went to the cuju game. The men waited on the field, while the women watched and cheered from the sidelines.
"This knife is a precious weapon of our Beiming. It can cut through anything, including the teacup in front of us." Bei Mochen drew out his knife and instantly cut the teacup in front of him.
It was indeed a good knife. Even Yuan Yuchuan couldn't help but be impressed. Such a sharp weapon was truly a good thing.
"Such a good knife. How about making it a bet?" Yuan Yuchuan raised his eyebrows and suggested.
Bei Mochen was secretly delighted. The Crown Prince was really easy to deceive. He didn't even have to say anything before the Crown Prince took the bait. The fish was in the net!
"Sure. If you win, I'll surely present this knife with both hands. But if we win, I'd like to ask for a marriage for my seventh sister."
As Bei Mochen spoke, he secretly glanced at Yuan Yuhan on the field. Bei Mochen was always good at sizing people up. The Crown Prince was just a figurehead with no real ideas. It was still uncertain who would rule the country in the future. The Fifth Prince seemed ambitious. Maybe he would be the future emperor.
If his seventh sister married him, she might become the future queen, which would be the supreme honor.
Bei Moxue sneaked up to Mu Fengqie's side. Mu Fengqie couldn't help but frown. Why was this Princess Seven so persistent?
"How about making a bet between us?" Bei Moxue suggested.
Mu Fengqie was secretly delighted. The problem that had troubled her for a whole day and night had finally found a solution. It was really a case of "searching high and low without success, but finding it without even looking"!
Mu Fengqie agreed almost without hesitation. "If we win, I want the century - old sandalwood that's supposed to be offered to the emperor."
Bei Moxue frowned slightly. The century - old sandalwood was meant for the emperor. If she gave it to Mu Fengqie, it would be hard to explain to her father.
However, Bei Moxue's hesitation disappeared soon. Beiming was good at cuju, and there was no way they would lose this game.
"Fine, I agree. Let these people be the witnesses. If you lose, I want you to divorce General Jing and never appear in front of him again!"