Gu Ruobai watched Su Mingyu frowning, helplessly yet lovingly narrowing his eyes.
"Your Qiyue has truly taken after you. Generally, killers operate in the shadows and don't show themselves in public. But Qiyue not only made a big announcement but also told those who had gone to Wuwang to hire killers that if they recommended other business, they'd get a reward of twenty to fifty taels. As a result, your Wuwang stores have been overcrowded."
Su Mingyu bit her lower lip. "I have something to discuss with you..."
"Nope." Gu Ruobai flatly refused Su Mingyu's proposal right away.
Su Mingyu touched her nose. "I haven't even said what it is yet, and you're already refusing?"
"I know what you're going to say." Gu Ruobai stared intently at Su Mingyu, his tone leaving no room for negotiation. "You want to take advantage of this momentum to take on those tasks that were previously posted on the underground network."
Caught right on the spot, Su Mingyu embarrassedly averted her face. "Don't you trust my abilities?"
Gu Ruobai's eyes darkened. "I'll worry."
Looking into Gu Ruobai's deep eyes, Su Mingyu bit her lower lip. After a long while, she sighed. "I understand."
Seeing Su Mingyu's reluctant expression, Gu Ruobai's eyes twitched slightly. "I'm not trying to hold you back... It's just that Qiyue can handle this matter without you having to step in."
Su Mingyu knew he was worried about her, so she pouted. "Then let Qiyue handle it."
In the following days, Su Mingyu and Gu Ruobai secretly stayed in the Prince Ruixian's Mansion and didn't see anyone.
Everyone just assumed that the newly - wedded couple was deeply in love. Since Prince Ruixian didn't have much to do in the court anyway, no one bothered them.
Leng Ziyue watched as Gu Ruobai personally made a swing for Su Mingyu. He couldn't help twitching the corner of his eye. "You're a prince. Don't you think it's a waste of your strength to do this?"
Gu Ruobai didn't even lift his head. "Su Yueyue's belly is getting bigger by the day, and Consort Ning's pregnancy won't be able to be hidden for much longer. Princess Wu Yurou will soon arrive in the capital. With so many things happening at once, we'd better stay out of the way to avoid being implicated."
Leng Ziyue curled his lips. "Su Mingyu, look at your man. What a wimp."
Su Mingyu walked up to Gu Ruobai with a peeled apple and fed it to him. "Mr. Leng is probably so used to the intrigue around Concubine Chen that he can't stand to see the prince and me so leisurely?"
Leng Ziyue clicked his tongue. "You two are just pretending. You clearly asked me to keep an eye on Consort Ning's movements, yet you act like you're not involved."
Su Mingyu didn't even look at him. "We're just keeping track of the enemy's movements."
Seeing the two of them united against him, Leng Ziyue curled his lips. "You two are in cahoots, aren't you?"
"Watch your mouth." Su Mingyu threw the apple core at Leng Ziyue. "Alright, go back quickly. Your son and daughter - in - law will miss you soon."
Leng Ziyue dodged Su Mingyu's attack and raised his eyebrows. "Princess Wu Yurou will enter the capital tomorrow. Normally, a prince like Prince Ruixian who already has a principal wife doesn't have to go. But Shiqi said she hasn't seen you two for a long time and wants you to attend the welcome banquet and have a gathering."
Su Mingyu nodded in understanding. "I got it. We'll go."
"I'm asking Prince Ruixian. Why are you answering?" Leng Ziyue curled his lips. "You two are really something."
"Get out of here!" Su Mingyu glared at Leng Ziyue angrily.
Leng Ziyue spread his hands. "Fine, I'm leaving."
Watching Leng Ziyue's departing back, Su Mingyu rolled her eyes. "Does Leng Ziyue come here too often?"
Gu Ruobai raised his eyebrows. "Last time, Concubine Chen used the Taoist priest's words that the young prince was lacking an element in his five - element constitution and made the young prince recognize you as his god - sister. Father also conferred the title of county princess on you. It's okay for you to have a closer relationship with Concubine Chen's people. There won't be much gossip."
"That's true." Su Mingyu pouted. "But if someone with ill intentions really wants to cause you trouble, they can still find a way."
Just then, Gu Ruobai finished making the swing. He shook it. "Come on, give it a try."
Su Mingyu raised her eyebrows. "You made this for me for no reason. You really think of me as a kid, don't you?"
"Just tell me, are you going to sit on it or not?" Gu Ruobai stared at Su Mingyu sternly.
Su Mingyu thought for a moment and nodded. "Sit? Why not?"
The warm sunlight shone on the two of them in the courtyard. One sat on the swing while the other pushed from behind. The harmonious scene added a touch of tenderness to the air.
Because they had to enter the palace, Su Mingyu and Gu Ruobai got up very early.
When they arrived at the main hall, almost all the princes who could come were already there.
Seeing how neatly dressed they were, Su Mingyu nudged Gu Ruobai with her elbow. "Most of these people already have principal wives, right? Why are they still here? Look at the third prince. His son is almost ten years old, and he's here too?"
Gu Ruobai whispered, "Princess Wu Yurou is different from other women. Maybe she just likes the third prince's type."
Su Mingyu secretly clicked her tongue. "You said you don't know much about her, right?"
"I don't, I don't." Gu Ruobai said as he pinched Su Mingyu's hand under the table.
Su Mingyu rolled her eyes at him. Just as she was about to say something, she heard a familiar voice. "Prince Ruixian? Are you also interested in Princess Wu Yurou?"
Su Mingyu turned around and was surprised to see it was the King Yu. "King Yu? Does my sister know you're coming today?"
"Does she need to know?" King Yu raised his eyebrows and sat down right next to Su Mingyu.
Su Mingyu squinted her eyes. "It seems that King Yu is also interested in this Princess Wu Yurou?"
Gu Ruobai just peeled an orange and fed it to Su Mingyu's mouth. "King Yu doesn't have a principal wife yet. It's understandable that he wants to marry one."
Su Mingyu nodded in understanding. "Then Mingyu wishes King Yu and the princess will fall in love with each other."
As soon as Su Mingyu finished speaking, she heard King Yu's voice drifting over leisurely. "But I heard that Princess Wu Yurou had a special relationship with Prince Ruixian when she was on the border. Maybe she came here specifically for Prince Ruixian."
Su Mingyu pretended to be shocked and covered her mouth. Then she glared angrily at Gu Ruobai. "My lord! So this is the reason you brought me here on purpose? If you want me to step aside, just say so. Why do you have to beat around the bush?"