"Fine. You wait here. I'll go and ask our master," the man said. After that, he paid no more attention to them. Instead, he ordered his men to guard them closely and not let them in.
After seeing Zhu Yan go inside, Jing Xunchè's eyes never left the inn's entrance. It was as if Mu Fengqié would appear in his sight the next second.
But when he saw Zhu Yan come out, his eyes dimmed.
"Duke Zhongning, please. Our master is waiting for you upstairs," Zhu Yan said. After he went in and told Mu Fengqié about this, she thought for a while and then agreed.
She felt that she needed to have a good talk with Jing Xunchè. It was not a good idea for him to keep pestering her like this. So, she decided to make things clear once and for all today to avoid future troubles.
"Isn't the Crown Prince going to stay with Heng'er for a while longer?"
"No. I'm busy today. I just managed to spare some time to come here. It's my fault. I should have given him the things when I found Heng'er. I just forgot yesterday."
"It's not too late to give them now. Please convey my words to the Princess. Fengqié will surely teach Heng'er well. By the time Heng'er returns, he will surely be able to assist the Crown Prince."
Hearing this, the Crown Prince's eyes lit up. He knew that Mu Fengqié was willing to help him. Although the whole Jin'er Kingdom was under his control, there might be mistakes one day. If he could have a capable assistant in the future, it would be perfect.
"In that case, I would like to thank the Valley Master here."
"You're welcome, Crown Prince."
"Master, Duke Zhongning is here," Zhu Yan's voice came from outside the door.
"Since the Valley Master has other things to attend to, I won't disturb you anymore. Farewell," the Crown Prince of Jin'er Kingdom said.
"Take care, Crown Prince."
When the Crown Prince of Jin'er Kingdom went out, he saw Jing Xunchè and nodded at him. He didn't mind Jing Xunchè's coldness and walked out quickly. He really had urgent matters to attend to.
He came here today for two reasons. One was to give the token to Heng'er and get his fingerprint, then send it back to Jin'er Kingdom. He also recorded Heng'er's name in the family genealogy. After Heng'er returned to Jin'er Kingdom, there would be an ancestral worship ceremony.
By that time, Heng'er would appear in people's sight as a prince. So, he had to go back quickly to prepare. After this hunting competition in the Qin Dynasty, he would start to take action.
He wanted to ascend the throne and manage Jin'er Kingdom well before Heng'er returned. He also wanted to hide Heng'er's whereabouts. Otherwise, it might bring endless disasters to Heng'er.
After Jing Xunchè went in, he stared at Mu Fengqié without saying a word. He never thought that it would be his most trusted subordinate who separated him from Qié'er. This was something he had never expected.
The two of them just sat in the room without saying a word. Finally, Mu Fengqié broke the silence.
"What on earth do you want from me?"
"Qié'er, I already know what happened back then. That letter of divorce was not written by me. It was Hong Yi who imitated my handwriting. So, that letter of divorce doesn't count."
Hong Yi also followed Jing Xunchè, but he didn't go in. He stood guard outside the door with Zhu Yan.
"Aren't you going in with them?" Zhu Yan looked at the man standing outside the door leisurely. Didn't he worry about their master?
"No. This is their business. I don't want to get involved," Hong Yi said.
"Madam, back then, Hong Yi was blind and thought that Madam was not good enough for..."
Mu Fengqié didn't say a word for a long time after hearing his words. Finally, she sighed. "Jing Xunchè, since that's the case, let's just stop here. I'm living a good life now."
"Moreover, I'm living a very peaceful life now. This is the life I've always wanted. So, Jing Xunchè, no matter who wrote that letter of divorce back then, let's just accept it as a fact."
"Isn't this kind of life good? If you don't agree, I can cure your poison as a condition. How about it?"
Jing Xunchè's face turned completely pale. He thought that Qié'er would come back to him after he explained everything. But what did he hear? Qié'er still didn't want to be with him...
"Why... why?" Jing Xunchè looked at Mu Fengqié in a panic.
"Jing Xunchè, there's no reason. I'm just used to my current life and don't want to change it. You can say I'm cowardly or whatever. Anyway, I just want to live a simple life like this."
"Qié'er, I can also give you such a life. Come back to me. I'll resign from office immediately. I'll take you to live in seclusion. Let's find a village and live there, okay?" Jing Xunchè walked over and squatted beside Mu Fengqié's legs, looking at her.
There was a faint trace of fear in his eyes. He was afraid that she would reject him, but he had no idea what to do now.
Hong Yi knelt on the ground, deeply self - reproachful. If it weren't for him, the master and his wife might not have separated.
"Please agree, Madam," Hong Yi knelt on the ground and sincerely begged Mu Fengqié. But instead of Mu Fengqié's answer, he heard Jing Xunchè's outburst of anger.
"What are you still doing here? I've already told you to go! Get out! You don't need to appear in front of me ever again, and definitely not in front of Qié'er."
"Hong Yi, go out first," Mu Fengqié didn't know what to do when she saw the two of them.
"… Yes," Hong Yi knew that he would only be in the way here. He got up and walked out.
"Why did you come out? How's it going inside?" Mu Nan looked at Hong Yi who came out and was a little confused.
"The master doesn't want to see me," Hong Yi said.
"Sigh," Mu Nan didn't know what else to say.
"Qié'er, give me another chance, okay? Let's start over. Let me court you. I swear I'll give you the life you want."
"You..." Before Mu Fengqié could finish her words, Jing Xunchè covered her mouth.
"Shh, don't talk first. Listen to me. I know you must be very sad now. But, Qié'er, I'm also in pain. My heart is hurting. You're the only one in my heart, no one else."
"Let's start over, okay? Let's live a peaceful life. Then, have a child of our own, okay?" Jing Xunchè's eyes were full of expectation.
Looking into Jing Xunchè's eyes, Mu Fengqié remembered their past life. Before they went to the Nanqing Kingdom, they were very happy. Everything started to change after they arrived in Nanqing.
"Qié'er, I know you can't accept it right away. It's okay. I can wait. Even if it's three years or thirty years, I'm willing. I just beg you not to disappear again, okay?"
"I really miss you and worry about you so much," Jing Xunchè slowly leaned his head on Mu Fengqié's legs.