“Gege… why are you not dressed properly? What if someone sees you?”
Displeasure flickered across Jun Xun’s eyes as he thrust the bowl into Mu Chengyan’s hands.
Reaching up, he tidied the clothing on Mu Chengyan’s body, fastening his belt properly so that only his neck and head were exposed, before smoothing out his disheveled hair.
Mu Chengyan rubbed his eyes awkwardly. “I was a bit rushed when I got up, so I forgot. Did Ah-Xun go make food?”
“Mn. Gege’s health is weak, so I personally brewed some medicine for you and mixed it into the soup.”
Mu Chengyan looked at the soup in his hands with a hint of hesitation; in all his life, taking medicine was the thing he loathed the most.
Jun Xun seemed to sense his inner turmoil and continued, “Gege, this medicine isn’t bitter at all. In fact, it has a sweet taste to it if you don’t believe me, have a sip.”
Seeing the youth go to such lengths to boil medicine and prepare soup for him, Mu Chengyan couldn’t bear to turn down his kind intentions. He closed his eyes and took a large gulp.
Instead of the expected bitterness, a faint, refreshing fragrance washed over his palate the pure, fresh scent of flowers.
“It really isn’t bitter! How did Ah-Xun make this?”
He had taken medicine for so many years, yet not once had he ever tasted a brew that wasn’t bitter.
A smile bloomed across Jun Xun’s face. “I… I went outside to gather some flower nectar and collected the morning dew, then boiled them together with the medicine. That way, it masks the bitterness of the herbs.”
Seeing such a sensible and considerate youth, Mu Chengyan was flooded with a complex mix of emotions.
“Ah-Xun went out to gather dew first thing in the morning?”
Jun Xun nodded bashfully.
“Your Highness, the things he handles cannot be consumed! You must not drink it, it could be poison!”
Yueying sprinted over, his eternal hairstyle blown into a chaotic mess by the wind.
Mu Chengyan gazed down at his empty bowl with an innocent expression. “I’ve already finished drinking it.”
“Your Highness, spit it out quickly! He harbors malicious intentions.”
“Yueying, you must not suspect others without reason. Ah-Xun went out early this morning specifically to gather dew for me.”
Mu Chengyan placed absolute, unwavering trust in Jun Xun.
Jun Xun hid himself aggrievedly in Mu Chengyan’s embrace, tears shimmering within his clear pupils. “I would never harm Gege. Yueying-gege dislikes me, but he shouldn’t slander me.”
Play the victim all you want; I saw right through you from the start!
This boy is up to no good, and from now on, I’ll have to keep an even closer eye on him.
“Enough, Yueying. You are forbidden from doubting Ah-Xun from now on. He only acted out of kindness.”
Mu Chengyan was utterly smitten with the little waif in his arms.
So adorable and so sensible, he couldn’t fathom why anyone could bear to abandon him so heartlessly.
Yueying lowered his head submissively. “Yes, Your Highness. The City Lord invites you to join him for a meal.”
He couldn’t deal with the boy while His Highness was watching, but the moment His Highness looked away, he was going to teach this brat a harsh lesson!
In the grand hall, Song Jinxuan sat draped in vibrant turquoise robes, dressed to the nines with a silver hair crown adorning his head and a folding feather fan in hand, looking remarkably like a flamboyant peacock.
“Why hasn’t the great beauty arrived yet? Could it be that he didn’t sleep well last night?”
He hadn’t laid eyes on the great beauty all night; he was practically itching to spirit him away back to the imperial palace.
Feng Qi remarked, “Third Master, you certainly seem quite concerned about that Crown Prince.”
“Naturally. Who wouldn’t want to show concern for a frail and delicate beauty?”
“Merely concern?”
Song Jinxuan snapped his fan shut and tapped it rapidly against his palm, nodding guiltily.
Upon catching sight of that familiar figure approaching from not far away, he leaped to his feet in excitement.
“Your Highness has arrived. Please, take the seat of honor.”
Mu Chengyan was ushered into the primary seat. Ever since setting foot in the Great Song nation, he felt as though everything had been remarkably smooth-sailing.
Had all his past bad luck truly vanished into thin air? Could it be because of him?
His gaze drifted toward Jun Xun. The youth was clumsily attempting to eat, struggling somewhat with the chopsticks.
Such a kind-hearted soul, why must Yueying insist on continually suspecting him?
Mu Chengyan picked up a piece of meat and placed it into Jun Xun’s bowl. “Eat more, Ah-Xun. Eating more will help you grow taller.”
Jun Xun lifted his head, flashing a completely harmless, radiant smile.
“Thank you, Gege. Gege should eat more, too.”
Song Jinxuan was once again thoroughly ignored. He had hoped to exchange a few words with Mu Chengyan, only to find himself relegated to the very last seat at the table.
He sulked as he poked at his food. What kind of dreadful meal is this? It doesn’t taste like anything at all.
“City Lord Feng, what of those people? Have those elders eaten yet?”
“Rest assured, Your Highness, I have already arranged everything. Today, their families will come to escort them all back home. As for this matter, I shall handle it personally.”
Shen Jin… a full decade had passed; he had enjoyed enough unbridled freedom.
To think he would happen to cross paths with His Highness this time if this matter wasn’t resolved properly, Mu Chengyan would undoubtedly insist on intervening personally, and if any danger befell him, Feng Qi wouldn’t be able to bear the consequences.
“Mn. Yueying’s martial arts are exceptional; perhaps he can be of assistance to you.”
“Then I thank Your Highness.”
Feng Qi led a troop of men directly toward the Yu estate. The dilapidated gates and chaotic courtyard bore no resemblance to the lavish prosperity of the three great clans from years past.
The only shortcoming in capturing Shen Jin was utilizing this woman as bait.
Up atop a steep, towering precipice, the woman was bound in place, her dangling feet hovering directly over a bottomless abyss.
“Must we truly resort to this method? After all, she is innocent.”
“Your Highness, this is the only way. If Shen Jin is not eliminated, countless more victims will inevitably fall prey to him. We must use this method.”
She was merely a person, after all, and wouldn’t die from it.
Feng Qi didn’t entirely understand; human life simply didn’t hold that much weight in his eyes.
Furthermore, this was just a maidservant, not the real Yu Wei.
Back on the battlefield, he had personally slaughtered countless innocents. In these turbulent times, whose hands were truly free of blood?
If this Crown Prince knew how many people his beloved little beggar had killed… would he be frightened into speechlessness?
Feng Qi let out a soft chuckle, suddenly finding himself looking forward to it. How would Mu Chengyan react once the truth came to light?
Jun Xun raised his head and said earnestly, “Gege, she will be fine. She will be released very soon, so please don’t worry.”
Gege… Gege is a god; he cannot bear to witness anyone suffering.
“Mn…”
Mu Chengyan knew as well that if Shen Jin was left unchecked, he would continue butchering innocents.
A once-promising young man had devolved into a bloodthirsty monster.
Ah, the cruel play of fate.
What about himself?
He was no better off, having been driven to this wretched state by his very own biological mother…
What could he do?
Seek revenge?
She was his biological mother the one who had granted him life. How could he ever bring himself to raise a hand against her?
A profound gloom shadowed Mu Chengyan’s eyes.
Was it because she disliked him?
Or because he had committed some unforgivable fault?
“Gege…”
Mistaking Mu Chengyan’s sorrow for sympathy toward the woman, Jun Xun shot a vicious, murderous glare at Feng Qi.
Bringing out some random woman to use as bait what if something goes wrong? Gege would surely be heartbroken.
Feng Qi curled his lip in silent resignation. Was he truly to blame for this? No matter what he did, it seemed he was always in the wrong!