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On the day she arrived, it was raining, and everyone was soaked. Out of courtesy, Yin Luo personally went out to greet her.
Mu Changqing got off the horse, drenched, and seeing Yin Luo standing at the gate, hurried over, "It's fine as long as the steward is here; you don't need to come out in the rain!"
Water dripped from his body, so he didn't touch her. Yin Luo took the umbrella from Liu Yuan's hands and held it over his head while also taking a cotton towel to dry his hair.
Mu Changqing accepted the umbrella and lowered his head, cooperating with her actions. On the carriage, Ye Qing Ge was being helped down by a servant. Seeing this scene, she paused slightly, then quickly averted her gaze. After getting off the carriage, she walked over to Yin Luo and forced a smile, saying, "Cousin-in-law."
Yin Luo looked at her and stopped what she was doing, handing the cotton towel to Mu Changqing's hand. She nodded lightly at Ye Qing Ge and said, "You've had a hard journey. Your room has been prepared; I'll have the steward take you there."
Ye Qing Ge glanced at Mu Changqing and shook her head, saying, "I'm familiar with the residence; there's no need to trouble Zhong Bo. I'll go by myself."
Yin Luo said nothing more. She bowed slightly and left with her maid.
Mu Changqing accompanied Yin Luo back into the house. Watching Ye Qing Ge's figure disappear, Yin Luo couldn't help but say, "It seems that after not seeing each other for years, Cousin Miss has matured quite a bit."
Mu Changqing glanced sideways and replied lightly, "You haven't been back for years; you probably don't know what has happened to her. Last year, I arranged a marriage for her, but she stubbornly refused to marry and directly rejected the suitor, causing him to fall ill from anger. It caused quite a stir at that time. She felt too embarrassed to stay in the capital and returned to her Duchess's Residence. Now that a year has passed, if she doesn't become more sensible, she really won't be able to get married!"
Yin Luo couldn't help but smile and turned to look at him. "Don't you know why she refuses to marry?"
Mu Changqing's expression darkened as he reached out and directly held her hand. "She is my sister; that will never change."
Yin Luo smiled slightly. "You think that way, but she doesn't think so."
"That doesn't change anything." Mu Changqing raised his head to look at the rain curtain, tightening his grip on her fingers a little more. "In this life, having you is enough."
Yin Luo laughed again, but upon closer inspection, there was a hint of bitterness in that smile.
At night, Yin Luo personally instructed the kitchen to prepare some light and delicate dishes for Ye Qing Ge and arranged for the steward to organize her food and accommodations for the next month in the residence.
This young lady is quite delicate, and she knows it. The two of them have had their share of conflicts in the past. In those days, she had punished her, but now, she merely has to fulfill her duties as a princess. After all, she is marrying into the Jin Wangfu, and she cannot appear shabby.
When she returned to her room, she did not expect Mu Changqing to have finished his official business and come back. The room was lit with candles, and he was lost in thought while looking at a painting on the couch. Yin Luo walked around the long couch, intentionally wanting to see what he was looking at, but when she saw the figure in the painting, she suddenly froze in place, staring at the person depicted.
It was a scene from when she first met him. Her gaze was cold yet sharp as a knife, holding a hairpin that was indeed the one she had used to threaten him that day. Dressed in a green long skirt, surrounded by vibrant flowers, despite her fierce and ruthless gaze, the figure in the painting remained breathtakingly beautiful and full of life.
"Back then, you were truly like a cat with sharp claws," Mu Changqing turned to look at her, his eyes shimmering like stars.
Yin Luo stepped in front of him and took the painting, dissatisfied. "How could this fierce look resemble a cat?"
A hint of a smile played on Mu Changqing's lips as he leaned against her from behind, resting his arm on the couch behind her. From another angle, it seemed as if he was embracing her. He said nothing but focused intently on her as if admiring a beautiful scenery with great interest.
Seeing that he remained silent for a while, Yin Luo glanced over and met his deep gaze that seemed as vast as the sea, momentarily taken aback.
Mu Changqing immediately leaned closer to her, reaching out to gently lift her chin for a better look. After a long moment, he said, "Back then, every word you spoke was sharp; every movement felt like it could cover thousands of miles. I intended to temper your temperament and make you yield, but I didn't expect you to be so stubborn that you actually killed twelve of my brave warriors!"
Yin Luo's gaze dropped slightly as she pouted. "You still bring this up? Thinking about it makes me want to settle scores with you. I don't know what your heart is made of; how could you throw a woman into a den of wolves? Weren't you afraid they would really kill me?"
Mu Changqing's eyes shifted slightly as he reached out to wrap his arms around her waist and pull her closer. "Afraid? Looking back now, it's all just regret!"
He embraced Yin Luo tightly and kissed her hair. "Whenever I think about what I did to you back then, my heart is filled with remorse. I only regret not realizing my feelings for you sooner and letting you suffer so much. Luoluo... I'm sorry."
Yin Luo's body stiffened completely; however, he held her even tighter. When she came back to her senses, she realized that tears were streaming down her face.
She didn't even know why she was crying; the tears just wouldn't stop. "What is there to apologize for? At that time, I was just a stranger to you... What need is there for compassion towards a stranger?"
Hearing this, Mu Changqing shook his head. "That day... were you afraid?"
Yin Luo paused for a moment, her voice choked with emotion. "When it comes to losing one's life, how could one not be afraid?"
Mu Changqing tightened his grip again and said, "I promise you with my life that from now on, I will never put you in such a situation!"
Yin Luo sniffled and said nothing. She reached out her hands to embrace him and said, "You must keep your word... If I do something wrong in the future, you must not use your methods against me again!"
"Alright, I will never do that for the rest of my life!"
The candlelight flickered gently, casting the shadows of the two lovers, seemingly reluctant to part. However, the howling wind outside interrupted the scene.
The next morning, Mu Changqing went to court early. When Yin Luo woke up, the outside was radiant; it was a clear day.
Qin Liu Yan came to assist her in getting up. She brought in hot water for her to wash up and, after she finished grooming, helped her change into clean clothes. She lowered her voice and said, "Everything is ready; we are just waiting for the princess's command."
Yin Luo paused in her movements, turned to look at her, and did not speak.
Seeing her expression, Qin Liu Yan noticed her silence and couldn't help but say, "If the princess does not wish to proceed, I will inform everyone and cancel the plan."
"Wait!" Yin Luo grabbed Qin Liu Yan's hand and looked at her, saying, "Give me three days to think it over. I will give you an answer in three days."
Qin Liu Yan looked at her deeply, sighed lightly, and nodded.
When Ye Qingge returned this time, she was indeed much quieter. Although she did not actively approach Yin Luo, as long as Yin Luo behaved properly, she felt satisfied and relieved.
On the last day of consideration, Mu Changqing had not returned from court for a long time. Yin Luo had instructed the kitchen to prepare a feast for his return. However, as noon passed without any sign of him, she could not help but ask Qin Liu Yan to inquire about him. When Qin Liu Yan returned, her expression was quite grim.
She informed Yin Luo that the palace had suddenly gone on lockdown; their people had not come to meet up with them. This meant that no news was coming out of the palace.
In the past, if Mu Changqing had matters to attend to, he would send someone ahead to notify the royal residence. But today, as dusk approached and he still had not returned, after Qin Liu Yan inquired about the details, she told Yin Luo that officials holding important positions in Capital City had also not returned and were inexplicably stuck in the palace all day.
What could be so mysterious that it kept everyone inside the Palace, preventing any news from leaking out?
This matter is truly strange!
"Liuyuan, go prepare the carriage, we are going to King Qing's mansion."
Liuyuan took her orders and left. Yin Luo, dressed in black, came out from the residence. The steward personally escorted her to the carriage, which drove straight to King Qing's mansion. The gates of King Qing's mansion were tightly closed, and no one came out. Qin Liuyuan stepped forward to knock on the door and knocked for a long time before a servant finally came to open it. After confirming their identities, the servant informed them that Eleventh Master had set off three days ago for Xinzhou because there had just been a hurricane there, causing severe damage. King Qing was sent by the Emperor to assess the situation and, since he was skilled in medicine, he could take measures to prevent an outbreak of plague.
Yin Luo felt even more uneasy and hurriedly turned back to the palace.
The guards at the palace gate would not let her in, even when she stated her identity.
With no other choice, she could only return to the Jin Wangfu.
At the dinner table, after hearing the news, Ye Qing Ge rushed out as well. This time, she did not cause any trouble but instead comforted Yin Luo, saying, "Cousin-in-law, don't worry. Something significant must have happened in the country for Cousin to not leave the palace. He Ren and He Xin are skilled in martial arts and will protect him. Plus, Cousin is not lacking in martial skills either, so he must have been delayed by something!"
Yin Luo felt anxious and couldn't eat dinner. Once back in her room, she pressed Qin Liuyuan about recent events in the court. Qin Liuyuan told her that aside from a few officials being gradually transferred away from the capital, there had been no other unusual movements. When Yin Luo asked her to check the list of those transferred officials, she was shocked after reading it!
She clearly hadn't initiated any plans, but who had secretly started everything before she even returned?
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