Chapter 644: Out of the Ordinary
Mu Yunyao accompanied Yue Wang through half a bowl of noodles. Seeing that he still showed no sign of leaving, she could not help feeling puzzled.
“Fourth Master, are you still not going back?”
“Yao’er, the palace gates have already been locked for the
night. I cannot get out now.” As he spoke, Yue Wang’s gaze drifted toward Mu
Yunyao’s bed.
Mu Yunyao froze, then her face flushed scarlet. “Since
Fourth Master cannot return, then… you may as well stay here for the night?”
She was mortified to the core, yet refused to yield in words.
Yue Wang had originally meant only to tease her, but at her
suggestion, his heart began pounding wildly. He opened his mouth, only to give
in at last beneath Mu Yunyao’s sly gaze.
“I… I had already told Imperial Father that, on the Lantern
Festival, I especially wished to remain in the palace and keep him company. He
gave me permission to stay the night.”
If he had not obtained the Emperor’s leave, then no matter
how capable he was, he could never have moved freely in and out of the
forbidden palace. Still, when he had said those words, Imperial Father’s
expression had been particularly teasing. Clearly, he had known Yue Wang had
another purpose in mind.
The redness in Mu Yunyao’s ears faded somewhat, and the
pounding of her heart gradually steadied.
“Then Fourth Master should hurry back. There is court early
tomorrow morning.”
The New Year had passed, and tomorrow the Emperor would
resume official business.
Yue Wang lowered his head and kissed her lightly between the
brows. “Then I will go first.”
“Alright.”
Only after his figure had vanished from sight did Mu Yunyao
close the window, change her clothes, and climb into bed. Hugging the quilt,
she rolled back and forth more than once. Thinking of the sea of lanterns among
the plum trees that night, and of the love shining in Yue Wang’s eyes, she felt
her heart swell as though it had been filled to the brim with honey, leaving
not the slightest space empty.
Jin Lan stepped forward to place a bed warmer in the bed and
said with a suppressed smile, “Miss should sleep soon. It is already quite
late. In only two more days, you will be a bride. You must take care and keep
yourself looking your most beautiful.”
“I know. You and Jin Qiao should go rest as well.”
She passed the night in beautiful dreams. When morning came,
Mu Yunyao was almost reluctant to wake.
In her dream, she had worn a red bridal gown and stood hand
in hand with Yue Wang. Their eyes had met, brimming with affection, so sweet
that one could not help but smile.
When Jin Lan saw that Mu Yunyao was awake, she stepped
forward and drew back the curtain, letting the sunlight spill in.
“Miss, Grand Princess Yide knew you slept late last night,
so she specially instructed this servant not to wake you too early and said you
need not go pay your respects today. Why, you have even missed breakfast.”
Mu Yunyao raised a hand to shield her eyes from the light.
The clear morning sun only made her feel more languid and unwilling to move.
“It was still snowing heavily last night. Has it cleared
already today?”
“Yes. This servant did not expect it either. After the
snowfall in the night, the sky has cleared completely. Everything outside is
covered in silver. If Miss wishes to enjoy the scenery, then you should get up
quickly.”
As Mu Yunyao rose to dress, Jin Lan noticed that the smile
lingering at her lips had not faded.
“Miss, this servant sees that you have been smiling all this
time. You seem very happy…”
Mu Yunyao looked into the bronze mirror before her. In its
reflection, she could clearly see the slight curve of her lips. Thinking again
of last night’s dream, her smile deepened further.
“Yes, I am very happy.”
In her previous life, she had entered Jin Wang’s residence
as a concubine. Her background had been considered disgraceful, and Madam Meng
of the Su family had deliberately made things difficult for her. Back then, she
had packed her things herself and been led into the residence by a matron. At
that time, her heart had held nothing but unease and confusion.
Only now did she understand that marriage could also be
something joyful—something capable of filling one with anticipation and
delight.
After washing and dressing, Mu Yunyao first went to pay her
respects to Grand Princess Yide, only to be teased yet again. On the way back,
she passed the side hall where Poisonous Lady had once stayed, and concern
stirred in her heart.
“Has there still been no word from Poisonous Lady?”
“No.”
“Before she left, she said she would return for my wedding.
Have people keep a closer watch. If there is any news, send it to me
immediately. Also, prepare a separate invitation for Su You. Otherwise,
Poisonous Lady will surely throw a fit at me again afterward.”
“Yes, this servant understands.”
She waited all the way until the seventeenth day of the
first month, yet there was still no news from Poisonous Lady. Instead, it was Beijiang
that suddenly began to stir.
Wei Jiu came to report respectfully.
“Master, Beijiang has already agreed to ally with Jin Wang. Beijiang
princess has also inclined toward his side. This subordinate intercepted word
that Beijiang has agreed to supply Jin Wang with sufficient iron and horses,
and Jin Wang is now cautiously trying to win over military officers.”
“Military officers? Whom has he approached?”
“Xun Lü of the Xun family.”
“Xun Lü? The second-rank Cavalry Commandant? If I remember
correctly, he has never gotten along with Yu Wang or the Qi family.”
“Yes. Xun Lü was once a first-rank Loyal and Valiant
General. Later, after drunkenly injuring two subordinates in the army, he was
impeached by the Duke of Wei and demoted by the Emperor. He is now serving as a
Cavalry Commandant in the Jingxi Camp. This man is arrogant by nature and
hungry for glory. Though a military man, he has made repeated contact with
court officials and has long harbored ambitions beyond his station.”
Mu Yunyao’s expression turned cold.
“No wonder Jin Wang would seek him out. Mobilizing a great
army is no easy matter. Not only would he need the Emperor’s tally, but the
capital garrisons cannot enter the city unless the Emperor issues a special
decree. Besides that, the capital itself is guarded by twenty thousand of the
finest imperial troops, while the palace is protected by the Imperial Guard. To
try to seize the capital in one blow would be all but impossible. Jin Wang
cannot be foolish enough to attempt such a thing.”
Wei Jiu raised his eyes.
“Master, on the third day of the third month, the Emperor is
to leave the palace and go to the imperial estate outside the city to conduct
the Spring Plowing Ceremony.”
Mu Yunyao’s brows drew together sharply.
“The Spring Plowing Ceremony… the imperial estate outside
the city…” Her eyes darkened. “I understand. What movements have there been
from Ling Wang and the Li family?”
If Beijiang had tilted toward Jin Wang, then Ling Wang and
the Li family would naturally have to respond.
“Reporting to Master, during the Lantern Festival, Ling Wang
and Jin Wang both invited Beijiang princess to go view the lanterns. The
princess chose Jin Wang. After learning that the two had gone out together,
Ling Wang flew into a rage. For the moment, however, we have not discovered any
move against Jin Wang. On the contrary, he is secretly helping Jin Wang contact
military officers.”
“Helping Jin Wang?” Mu Yunyao’s eyes shifted. “If Ling Wang
is helping Jin Wang win over military officers, then either he has gone mad, or
he intends to use Jin Wang—letting him be the one to test the waters first.”
“Master, should the Shadow Guards place people among them?”
Mu Yunyao shook her head.
“The Shadow Guards are few in number. Every one of them has
a greater use. The Emperor, Grandmother, and Mother alone already require many
of them at their sides. We cannot afford to scatter our people any further. I
will have others find a way to investigate. You may go for now. If there is any
news, report it immediately.”
The Shadow Guards were a blade—one meant to cut through an
enemy’s throat at the critical moment. They could not be worn down on secondary
matters, or the cost would outweigh the gain.
“Yes.”
After Wei Jiu withdrew, Mu Yunyao lifted a hand to rub at
her brow, turning over countermeasures again and again in her mind.
Jin Lan brought over a cup of tea.
“Miss, you should rest early. Tomorrow is your wedding day.”
Mu Yunyao’s heart trembled. She pressed all those tangled
thoughts down into the depths of her heart.
“Alright. I understand.”
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