~ Staged Accident ~
The ship continued steadily northward. Just as it was nearing the capital, it suddenly lurched violently.
Inside the cabin, Mu Yunyao was making tea. The sudden jolt knocked over the small brazier, sending burning charcoal onto the carpet. Smoke and ash quickly filled the air.
Fortunately, Yue Wang had been keeping watch beside her. Seeing the situation turn dangerous, he pulled Mu Yunyao into his arms without hesitation. Once the ship steadied a little, he quickly doused the fallen coals with water. “Yao’er, are you all right?”
The back of Mu Yunyao’s hand had been splashed and reddened by hot water. It stung sharply. “I’m fine. What happened?” They were close to the capital, the weather was calm, and the river was wide and steady—how could the ship have rocked so violently?
Yu Heng knocked on the door. “Master, our ship collided with the vessel escorting the Beijiang Princess to the capital. Their ship has been damaged and can no longer continue. Beijiang has sent an envoy to request that the princess be allowed to travel to the capital on our ship.”
The Beijiang Princess?
Mu Yunyao blinked, then lightly shook her hand to ease the burning pain. “Just a few days ago, Fourth Master and I were just talking about this Beijiang Princess. Who would have thought we’d run into her so soon? What an incredible coincidence.”
Yue Wang’s gaze sharpened. He gave Yu Heng a cold command. “Bring our ship to shore. Yunyao and I will return to the capital by carriage. Give the ship to the Beijiang Princess.” Because of her special status, he couldn’t treat her like anyone else. Still, he had no intention of meeting her. If she wanted the ship, he and Yunyao would simply leave and take a carriage. In any case, the capital wasn’t far away.
“Yes.”
Mu Yunyao squeezed out a bit of burn ointment and dabbed it onto the reddened skin on the back of her hand. Hearing his decision, she couldn’t help laughing. “She’s clearly coming for you. If you avoid her like this, you might stir up her competitive streak—she may chase after you even harder.”
After all, this was a sturdy river ship. The wood was hard and water-resistant, unlike paper. It wouldn’t break from a small bump. The river was wide, and it would be hard to crash two ships together by accident. This ‘accident’ was just an excuse for the Beijiang Princess to get close to Yue Wang.
Yue Wang walked over, took the ointment from her, and carefully applied it to her hand. Then he bent down and softly blew on the red, swollen spot. “Aren’t I just worried that Yao’er will knock over her vinegar jar (get jealous)?”
Mu Yunyao’s eyes sparkled with laughter. She leaned in and pecked him lightly on the corner of his mouth. “A reward.”
Yue Wang’s eyes lit up. He was about to ask for more shamelessly when Mu Yunyao straightened. “If we’re switching to a carriage, then hurry and have them pack.”
Yue Wang lifted a hand and brushed his fingertips over his lips, as if savoring something sweet. “All right.” At that moment, even if Mu Yunyao told him to jump into the river and swim back, he would agree without hesitation.
As soon as the ship reached shore, the two of them disembarked without stopping to greet anyone and left at once by carriage.
At the front of the ship, a beautiful woman with a gauze veil watched the carriage disappear in a cloud of dust. Her eyes flashed with a sharp light. Only after the carriage was gone did her expression return to its usual calm and placid stillness. She turned to her maid. “Set sail.”
“Yes.”
To avoid the Beijiang Princess, Mu Yunyao and Yue Wang took their time. By the time they entered the capital, it was already the twenty-ninth day of the twelfth lunar month.
In preparation for the wedding, Yue Wang had already moved out of the palace earlier. But with the New Year approaching, he decided to return to the palace for a few days, so he accompanied Mu Yunyao directly back to the palace.
Grand Princess Yide had been waiting anxiously. When she heard Mu Yunyao had returned, she went out to greet her at the hall’s entrance.
Mu Yunyao hurried forward to salute. “Greetings, Grandmother. Greetings, Mother.”
Xu Yanhan stepped forward and helped her to her feet, examining her from head to toe. Only after seeing that she was safe and well did she finally relax. “You’re finally back. Your grandmother and I have been worried sick these days.”
“It’s all Yunyao’s fault,” Mu Yunyao said, feeling her heart ache at how tired they looked. “I won’t be away for so long again.”
Grand Princess Yide clasped her hand, her face full of warmth. “It’s good that you’re back. This journey must have exhausted you. I had food prepared—come and eat. Afterward, wash up and go rest.”
“I’m not tired. These past few days, to avoid the Beijiang Princess, Yue Wang and I traveled quite slowly.”
Mu Yunyao was practically forced to eat, then carefully told them what she had seen on the journey. She also handed over Mu Cheng’s letter and jade pendant to Xu Yanhan.
After reading the letter, Xu Yanhan held it to her chest. Tears spilled down uncontrollably. “I knew it… I knew Mu Cheng wouldn’t lie to me…”
Mu Yunyao felt a painful tightness in her chest. “Mother, Father didn’t lie. His feelings for you were sincere.”
After crying, Xu Yanhan’s eyes were red, yet her spirit seemed far lighter than before—as if a heavy weight had finally been lifted from her heart.
Seeing this, Mu Yunyao quietly let out a breath of relief.
When Grand Princess Yide heard Mu Cheng’s background, she sighed softly. “Who would have thought Mu Cheng was a descendant of the Mu family… Fate really works in strange ways. Yanhan, since the knot in your heart has been untied, live with a lighter mind from now on. Don’t keep thinking about the past.”
Xu Yanhan nodded. “Yes. Your daughter understands.”
Grand Princess Yide looked to Mu Yunyao. “Yao’er, you said earlier you encountered the Beijiang Princess?”
“Yes. The Beijiang Princess ship collided with ours and was damaged. So Yue Wang and I let her have the ship and hurried back to the capital by carriage.” Mu Yunyao asked as she spoke, “Grandmother, have you met the Beijiang Princess already?” Then, noticing Xu Yanhan’s oddly strained expression, she grew concerned. “Did something happen?”
Xu Yanhan said, “The Beijiang Princess, Helian Liluo, arrived in the capital yesterday. At once, rumors began to spread throughout the city, saying Yue Wang took pity on her damaged ship and deliberately yielded his ship to her.”
Mu Yunyao found the phrasing unpleasant and corrected calmly, “A Beijiang envoy came to request it. Yue Wang and I, considering her status, didn’t wish to enter the capital alongside her and invite misunderstandings, so we yielded the ship.”
Xu Yanhan continued, “Not only that. Yesterday, Yu Wang was arranged to receive the princess. When she disembarked, she fainted—and fell straight into Yu Wang’s arms.”
Mu Yunyao’s eyes widened a little. “She just… fainted like that?”
“They said she wasn’t accustomed to the local climate,” Xu Yanhan replied, her expression growing even more peculiar. “Also—after she entered the palace to pay respects to His Majesty, when she was leaving, her skirt was accidentally torn… and she happened to run into Jin Wang…”
Mu Yunyao blinked, feeling as though her mind could hardly keep up. “So… did she also just ‘happen’ to run into Ling Wang?”
Xu Yanhan nodded. “Not yet. The timing was too tight. She probably hasn’t had the chance.
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