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Yin Luo did not speak, and the two maintained this position until morning. Mu Changqing went to court early in the morning, and when he returned, the first thing he did was go back to Cold Jade Garden to see her. He only saw Yin Luo sitting alone by the water, admiring the fish swimming in the pond.
Mu Changqing stood at a distance for a moment before turning to instruct the steward, "Arrange for someone to expand the pond. Also, spend generously to buy various types of fish; whatever the princess likes, make sure to pay attention."
Zhong Bo acknowledged.
Mu Changqing then added, "The princess enjoys dancing. Starting today, cultivate a group of dancers in the residence, as well as some performers for operas and acrobatics. Set up a stage in Cold Jade Garden."
Zhong Bo responded again and glanced at Yin Luo in the distance, saying, "The princess seems unwell. Does the prince need to have Eleventh Master come to check on her?"
Mu Changqing pondered for a moment and said, "Send He Xin to summon the palace's Physician Woman."
After giving his orders, Mu Changqing stood there for a moment before walking out. "You personally find someone to guard Cold Jade Garden. No unrelated people are allowed to disturb the princess."
After a pause, he added, "Bring Qin Liu Yan. From now on, she will take care of the princess closely!"
The steward agreed one by one, and only then did Mu Changqing leave Cold Jade Garden, returning to the Study Room.
Recently, affairs had been busy. Although matters with Fenghua had reached a temporary conclusion, issues with Xiyu were still unresolved.
The pile of documents had accumulated like a mountain; during his absence, enough state affairs had been postponed to keep him busy for half a month.
Following Mu Changqing's instructions, the steward invited people that afternoon to widen the pond and added fish for viewing. When Yin Luo saw this, she said nothing but slowly walked toward the nearby garden.
Because of Mu Changqing's orders, the steward was naturally attentive. The next morning, many unknown flowers bloomed vibrantly in the garden, planted in Cold Jade Garden. Not only that, but a stage for performances was also set up in the garden.
The entire Wangfu seemed to revolve around Yin Luo alone.
That morning, as Yin Luo had just gotten up, she heard a chorus of singing outside. The clear and melodious voices sang sweetly and passionately.
She stepped out of her room and walked down the corridor, where she saw a woman on the stage. The woman was veiled and played the guzheng, her eyes filled with emotion as she sang deeply immersed in her performance.
Yin Luo glanced at her but quickly turned her gaze away, saying to Qin Liu Yan beside her, "Go tell him I prefer peace and quiet."
She returned to her room, and the stage outside, which had only been set up for a day, was taken down that very day, restoring tranquility to Cold Jade Garden.
She was unhappy, and Mu Changqing was cold all day long. The entire Jin Wangfu felt like it was shrouded in dark clouds, making it hard for anyone to breathe.
He would come to accompany her every night, no matter how late he was busy. It seemed that only on her bed could he find peace in sleep.
Every time he came, she was already asleep. Whether she was truly asleep or pretending to be, there were no excessive words exchanged between them; it was as if they understood each other silently. She would sleep when he arrived, and when she woke up, he would have already left.
The steward brought two large boxes of clothes, all the latest summer styles, but Yin Luo didn't use any of them. She only chose to wear her simple old clothes.
Her complexion was pale, and she ate very little each day, gradually losing weight. Even with the best food and clothing, they could not counteract the coldness in her heart. Staying in such a prison-like cage felt like being in a place devoid of light.
That night, Mu Changqing came to her room once again. Yin Luo leaned against the bed and surprisingly had not fallen asleep. Upon seeing him enter, she lifted her gaze to look at him.
This glance, though cool and devoid of emotion, still stirred something within him.
It was the first time in over a month that she looked directly at him. Even if there was hatred in her eyes, he couldn't help but feel delighted deep inside.
“Luoluo……” He called her name, knowing that she did not like the name Nie Qingcheng.
Yin Luo looked at him, her emotions unchanged, only calmly saying, “Turn off the light.”
Mu Changqing naturally would not go against her wishes. After turning off the light, he took off his shoes and socks and lay down on the couch.
In the darkness, he hesitated for a moment before reaching out to embrace her waist. Yin Luo did not refuse, which made him ecstatic.
He couldn't help but hold her hand and slowly turned her body towards him.
In the dark, Yin Luo raised her gaze, fixing her eyes on his face, her voice as gentle as water: “Since we have become husband and wife, shouldn’t the prince take off his mask so I can see your true face?”
Moonlight spilled in from outside, casting a dim light in the room, but it was still faintly visible.
Mu Changqing's eyes narrowed as he stared at her, his tone heavy: “You wouldn’t want to see it.”
“Why? Is it just because of your disfigurement?”
Mu Changqing took a deep breath and remained silent for a long time before saying, “Aren't you afraid?”
Yin Luo curled her lips into a faint smile: “The prince is a man, not a ghost. What is there to be afraid of? Moreover, you are my husband. As a wife, how can I consider us married if I do not know what my husband looks like?”
Mu Changqing's gaze shifted slightly; the words “my husband” made his eyes brighten. He stared at Yin Luo, reaching out to touch her face. Gazing into her clear eyes like autumn water, he was unsure how sincere she was in saying this, yet he couldn't help but be captivated.
He was so easily softened; he could maintain his rationality and ruthlessness in front of everyone else, but when facing her, all that rationality vanished. For every bit of torment he inflicted on her, he felt pain in return. The harm from that night haunted him to this day. However, he knew that nothing could truly compensate for the hurt he had caused her; it was only his momentary anger that had led him to lose control.
If she were not so strong-willed, if she could soften her tone and plead with him, he would not hold her departure against her. Yet, she insisted on maintaining that confrontational attitude towards him.
He was a ruler of the world, yet he could not dominate a single woman. Thus, his anger consumed his reason, and he hurt her deeply.
Mu Changqing lowered his gaze and said to her, "Alright, in this world, I will only show my true self to you."
He reached out slowly to adjust the menacing mask on his face, his eyes never leaving her expression. Then, he gradually removed the mask.
Yin Luo always looked at him with her cold eyes until the moment the mask fell away. At that instant, her usually icy gaze suddenly froze, staring at him in a daze, unable to speak.
What a face it was! In both this life and the last, even after living two lives, she could find no one more handsome than this.
His skin was like jade, with long eyebrows that slanted elegantly into his hairline. His eyes were narrow and phoenix-shaped, carrying a hint of sternness. His nose was high and straight, more perfect than any sculpture. His facial features were deeply defined, complemented by thin lips; the entire face could only be described as "perfect."
Seeing Yin Luo silent, Mu Changqing lowered his gaze. His long eyelashes cast a shadow over his eyelids as he asked softly, "What is it?"
After a while, Yin Luo regained her voice and reached out to touch his brow and eyes. "Why do people say you look as fierce as a ghost?"
Mu Changqing's expression darkened as he replied, "The face you see now has been treated by Eleven. Unfortunately, this is not my true appearance. That terrifying visage, ugly as a ghost, is the real me. The current me is merely a walking corpse living behind a mask."
Yin Luo's gaze froze. Mu Changqing looked at her for a moment before suddenly lowering his head and kissing her lips.
Yin Luo's body stiffened as she raised her eyes to meet his. Mu Changqing then said, "You said I am your husband. Whether you mean it or not, I take it seriously. From now on, I will be your husband, and you will be my wife for this lifetime—no exceptions."
Yin Luo lowered her gaze and after a while said, "I want a master."
Mu Changqing stared into her eyes and asked, "What do you want to teach?"
"Martial arts," Yin Luo replied without hesitation.
Mu Changqing's gaze flickered as he focused on her face for a moment before responding, "Alright, I will arrange it for tomorrow."
"I have one more request. As long as you promise me, I will wholeheartedly be your wife and guard the Jin Wangfu courtyard for you."
Mu Changqing's eyes instantly sparkled like stars, but after a moment, he looked down again and said, "If you leave, that is absolutely impossible!"
Yin Luo smiled and suddenly leaned over, flipping onto him. Their distance was so close that she could kiss his lips with a slight bow of her head. Then she softly said, "It's not leaving; I just want a quiet place to focus on learning martial arts. Three years, I only need three years. As long as you promise me three years, the rest of my life will belong to you."
"You can find someone to monitor me; you can choose the location and the master. I just hope that during these three years, we do not meet and that I have absolute peace."
Mu Changqing's gaze narrowed. "Not meeting?"
Yin Luo's eyes remained steady as she quietly looked at him. "Yes, give me three years to face you again, so we can start anew."
Mu Changqing's expression shifted slightly. This condition indeed held great power for him, but he couldn't decipher her true intentions. He had been tricked by her before, and now he didn't know whether he should trust her or not.
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