Yan Xun glanced at the movement of her fingertips, then walked slowly to her and crouched down.
Mu Yao was startled by his action and instinctively wanted to pull away.
But she saw that an object had been added at her waist.
It was the purple jade pendant he usually wore at his waist.
Mu Yao was dazed for a moment, and then a solemn voice came from above her head.
“Tonight, I will enter the palace to request an edict from the Emperor. I will not wrong you.”
She turned around and looked up to meet Yan Xun’s ink-black eyes. A thought suddenly arose in her mind.
She wanted to trust once more.
It was not until Yan Xun had been gone for a long while that Mu Yao finally came back to her senses.
“Miss, it’s getting late. Should we return to the residence early?”
Mu Yao glanced out the window and nodded silently.
As she rose, she took the opportunity to pick up the paper Yan Xun had left behind and handed it to Ningzhu. “Burn it once we’re back.”
To avoid arousing suspicion, Mu Yao naturally removed the jade pendant from her waist before leaving the establishment and clutched it in her hand.
Upon returning to Mu Fu.
Only then did she place it on the table to examine it closely, and naturally noticed a chip on one edge of the pendant.
“How did it get chipped?”
Mu Yao was startled and examined it carefully, confirming that it was not damage she had accidentally caused while distracted, but rather something that had been there long before. Only then did she relax.
“It was probably knocked by the Prince on the battlefield. Miss, this pendant can represent the Prince’s identity. It shows that the Prince does have genuine feelings for you.”
The words the two had exchanged in the private room had been clearly heard by Changqing and Ningzhu, who were guarding outside the door.
Ningzhu was worried about her young miss, but looking at the pendant, her worry lessened somewhat.
After all, this object was precious and not something to be given to just anyone. Even when the Pingyang Houfu had been on such good terms with the Mu family back then, the token they sent was not Lu Zhi’s identity pendant.
“He is a good man.”
Mu Yao said as she rubbed the pendant.
In the end, she placed the pendant in a box and set it at the head of her bed.
In her heart, she was somewhat worried about Yan Xun’s visit to the palace.
Inside the Yu Shufang.
The Emperor raised his eyes to look at Yan Xun, who was kneeling on the ground with a serious and solemn expression. A hint of surprise appeared in his eyes. He closed the memorial and studied him with interest.
“You brat, why are you so proper today? Do you have a request for me?”
Yan Xun straightened his back. “Your subject has come today to beseech Your Majesty’s grace—to grant a marriage to your subject.”
Hearing that this usually carefree fellow had found someone he liked, the Emperor raised his brows curiously. “Which family’s daughter?”
“Your subject seeks to marry the young miss of the Mu family.”
The words “the young miss of the Mu family” wiped the smile from the Emperor’s face. He gave a cold “hmph” and sat back on the dragon throne. “Her.”
“Yes. Your subject has admired the Mu family’s young miss for a long time. I beg Your Majesty to grant the marriage.”
Seeing that he was serious.
A dark glint flashed through the Emperor’s eyes, though his expression remained indifferent. “As far as I know, you have had no dealings with that young miss of the Mu family. Why have you taken a particular liking to her?”
The probing hidden in these words made even Eunuch Li, who had served by the Emperor’s side for many years, break out in a cold sweat.
He feared that the Chu Wang kneeling there might say something he ought not to say.
“The Mu family’s young miss is unyielding in character and has spirit. That is why your subject likes her.”
“Moreover, your subject believes that the Mu family’s young miss has a calm temperament and will certainly not cause your subject any worry.”
The Emperor did not respond. He looked at Yan Xun with an expressionless face, as if weighing something.
Silence fell over the hall, with only Eunuch Li’s cold sweat flowing.
After a long while.
The Emperor finally spoke slowly: “Let me think on this matter. As it happens, I need you to make a trip to Changcheng. It seems there is a trend toward flooding there this year. Go and investigate for me how things truly stand.”
“If Your Majesty does not agree to your subject’s request, I fear your subject’s mind will be unsettled—unable to eat well, sleep well, or investigate well.”
Yan Xun shamelessly rose to his feet and plopped himself down on a chair.
It startled Eunuch Li, whose body trembled as he hurriedly checked the Emperor’s expression.
The Emperor shot him a glare at the sight of him unable to stay serious for even three seconds.
“I grant it. When you return, I will have Eunuch Li deliver the edict.”
Upon hearing this.
Yan Xun immediately rose and gave thanks for the Emperor’s great grace.
With the matter settled, there was no need for him to remain in the palace.
He found an excuse and was escorted out by Eunuch Li.
Yan Xun placed the object from his bosom into Eunuch Li’s hands. “Please deliver this for me, Eunuch. I am still in a hurry to report the good news to the Grand Lady.”
When he saw what was inside the wooden box, Eunuch Li nearly dropped it. “Why does Your Highness not deliver this to the Emperor personally?”
This was the Hufu!
“I’ll trouble Eunuch Li then.”
Seeing him leave in a hurry, joy written across his brow, it was clear he truly did like that young miss of the Mu family.
Eunuch Li sighed inwardly, and thinking of the object in his hands, hurried back quickly.
“Your Majesty.”
The Emperor glanced at the Hufu inside the box and picked it up to examine it.
“Tell me, why has he taken a liking to the Mu family’s girl?”
Eunuch Li’s eyes darted about. “Perhaps it was love at first sight with the Mu family’s young miss? Does Your Majesty not also hope that Chu Wang finds a gentle and quiet young lady?”
“Gentle and quiet?”
The Emperor gave a cold snort, clearly recalling the incident at the palace gates that day. “That Mu Yao has not a trace of gentleness about her!”
“However, since the Mu family has only her left as an orphan, this counts as a good match after all.”
Eunuch Li naturally understood what the Emperor meant.
He took the opportunity to present the wooden box, so that the Emperor could place the Hufu back inside.
“Speaking of it, Miss Mu is also pitiable. If not forced by circumstances, she likely wouldn’t have done such a thing. Your Majesty, since Chu Wang now wishes to marry Miss Mu, might you bestow a dowry gift for her?”
Eunuch Li’s words were harmless enough, for the imperial house had long held the custom of bestowing gifts upon families of loyal martyrs—a gesture that inspired gratitude for imperial grace and earned a good reputation.
At the mention of Mu Fu, the Emperor could not help but sigh.
“The Mu family were loyal ministers, but alas… enough. Draft the decree as I intend: posthumously honor Mu Fu as Zhongsu Houfu, and Mu Yao as Zhongsu Commandery Princess… When that brat returns, have him deliver the decree.”
Eunuch Li noted everything down, sighing inwardly.
At least this put them on equal footing with Pingyang Houfu.
Though this Commandery Princess title was far more glorious by comparison.
“Your servant will see to it at once.”
Eunuch Li acknowledged and withdrew.
The Emperor glanced at the wooden box holding the Hufu, a deep glint flickering across his eyes before vanishing.
Now, at last, he could sleep soundly.
But tonight, someone was sure to lie awake—namely Old Madame Xiao at Chuwangfu, who had just heard the news her son brought back!
“Bang!”
The teacup landed on the table with a heavy thud.
Nanny Qi, standing beside Old Madame Xiao, felt her heart skip a beat but dared not speak.
Yan Xun, however, remained as composed as ever.
“Even if Mother is angry, this matter was settled with an imperial decree I obtained. The decree will be issued once I return. I came today only to inform Mother so that preparations may begin early.”
Old Madame Xiao was so furious that the finger she pointed at Yan Xun trembled.
“Do you even know what that Mu girl has done? And you still dared to go before the Emperor to seek this marriage? I think you’ve lost your mind!”
“I know well enough. Now that she has broken off her engagement with the Lu family, I naturally had to act quickly.”
The way he spoke made Miss Mu sound like some prized delicacy.
But Old Madame Xiao valued propriety above all else, especially after hearing how Mu Yao had clutched a memorial tablet to force the Emperor into annulling her engagement.
She had taken a dislike to such a bold and reckless person as Mu Yao, and certainly did not consider her a good match.
Now her son had acted first and sought permission afterward.
And by the look of it, he had long been smitten with the girl.
How could Old Madame Xiao possibly accept this all at once!