Destined Hearts of Mu and Yu (GL) - Chapter 16

When these words came out, Qin Mu’s heart gave a jolt. Her palms broke out in sweat from nervousness as she looked at Wei Yue’er with doubt in her eyes and asked.

“Miss Yue’er, what do you mean by this?”

“Biyue Pavilion is my elder sister’s bedchamber. You stayed there overnight last night. If this spreads out, how will my sister ever get married?” Wei Yue’er rolled her eyes at Qin Mu as she spoke.

Hearing this, Qin Mu’s chest tightened. She had never considered such a problem. Thinking about it now, she felt even more that Wei Hanyu possessed a broad heart and generous spirit.

“In that case, tomorrow you should prepare betrothal gifts and propose to my father, the emperor. Marry my sister and all will be settled.” Wei Yue’er, noticing how Qin Mu had just looked at Wei Hanyu and how Wei Hanyu had looked at Qin Mu, felt there was something between them, so she spoke.

“I am just a poor scholar, with an empty household. How could I make the First Princess lower herself to me?” Qin Mu frowned as she answered. In truth, if she were truly a clean scholar it might be different. But she was not—she was a bandit of Huangming Mountain, through and through. How could she ever be worthy of Wei Hanyu.

“Fine, then let my sister remain lonely for life.” Wei Yue’er spread her hands, speaking with mock regret.

“Even if I were willing, I fear the Princess herself would not agree.” Qin Mu sighed as she spoke. Besides, she was a woman. How could Wei Hanyu ever agree to marry her.

“Do not worry. For the sake of you risking your life last night to accompany me into the Qing Mansion, I will help you.” Wei Yue’er raised her brows, a face full of mischief.

Originally, Qin Mu appearing at Biyue Pavilion last night should have remained a tightly kept secret. But Wei Yue’er had stirred the matter. The First Princess bringing an unfamiliar man back into her palace chambers at night, and even summoning imperial physicians for a joint consultation—this news quickly spread throughout the palace.

Wei Hanyu, upon learning this, was not bothered. When she brought Qin Mu back last night, she had already expected such an outcome. Now, facing rumors and gossip, she remained calm.

But three people were not calm. One was the emperor, who treasured Wei Hanyu as a jewel. Another was Wei Yanhan, who adored her with obsession. And another was Lu Xu, who loved her to madness.

Inside the imperial study, the emperor quietly listened after the head eunuch finished recounting the matter. His fingers tapped lightly on the desk for a moment before he spoke.

“Send someone to investigate this person’s background.”

Wei Yanhan, upon hearing of this, could not stay as calm as the emperor.

At the wrestling ground, Wei Yanhan vented his rage by throwing several men, yet still felt no relief. Since childhood, his elder sister had been his alone. How could anyone else share her.

“Reporting to the Crown Prince, we have found out. This person is named Qin Mu, a scholar candidate for this year’s examination. The spies report that he lodges in the outskirts of the capital and goes daily to Zhuangyuan Inn to prepare for the exam.”

“Bah.” Wei Yanhan’s eyes turned red, his fists clenched. He turned his head toward the men he had beaten down and said. “Pick a few fighters and come with me to meet this man.”

Wei Yanhan and his men left the training hall, just as Wei Yue’er was on her way to Biyue Pavilion to find Wei Hanyu. Seeing Wei Yanhan striding angrily toward the palace gates, ignoring her completely, she stepped forward to ask.

“Brother, where are you rushing off to?”

“What business is that of yours.” Wei Yanhan glanced at her with disdain. Though both he and Wei Yue’er were loved by Wei Hanyu, the two had never gotten along. Wei Yanhan was born of the empress, naturally noble, while Wei Yue’er was the child of the emperor and a maid beside the empress, her status far lower.

Wei Yue’er raised her brows, stuck out her tongue, and said.

“You think I can’t tell? With so many men, you’re surely off to cause trouble. I’ll go tell my sister right now.” With that, she turned and ran toward Biyue Pavilion.

Wei Yanhan panicked, signaling his men with his eyes. Immediately they rushed forward, grabbed Wei Yue’er, and dragged her back.

“Hey! You little brat, looks like you’re tired of living. Believe it or not, I’ll throw you into the lake to feed the fish.” Wei Yanhan, only around eighteen, temper fiery as ever, glared as he spoke.

“You dare.” Wei Yue’er was no easy target either, showing no fear.

Their quarrel drew the attention of patrolling guards. The leader was Qingfeng, Wei Hanyu’s trusted aide.

“Brother Qingfeng, save me.” Wei Yue’er bit her lip, tears glistening in her eyes as she cried out. This instantly caught Qingfeng’s attention. Seeing the Crown Prince’s men dragging Wei Yue’er, his brows furrowed. He drew his sword and strode forward.

“Crown Prince, why are you treating Princess Yue’er like this?”

“You are only a minor guard. Best not to meddle in this prince’s affairs.” Wei Yanhan narrowed his eyes, his face full of disdain.

“Disrespect toward the princess is exactly my duty to stop.” Qingfeng’s sword was already unsheathed, pointing at the lackeys holding Wei Yue’er.

“Today you are lucky. This prince will spare you once.” Wei Yanhan snorted, signaling with his eyes. His men immediately released Wei Yue’er, and they strode quickly out of the palace gates.

“This Crown Prince grows more lawless by the day.” Qingfeng shook his head as he watched Wei Yanhan leave, sighing. Why such a difference between siblings of the same mother.

“Brother Qingfeng, quickly tell my sister. The Crown Prince has gone out to make trouble again.” Wei Yue’er called out.

Qingfeng nodded. He remembered last month, when the Crown Prince had led men out of the palace and beaten up Shen Er, son of Minister Shen, just because Shen Er had said in a teahouse that Wei Hanyu was an old maid no one would marry. In his fury, the emperor punished him with a month of confinement. That month had only just ended, and now he was about to make trouble again.

As for Qin Mu, after being wounded by the arrow, she returned to her lodging, where Qiu Chan carefully tended her. By the time she recovered, a week had passed. With the date of the imperial examination drawing closer, Qin Mu grew anxious. So she rented a room at Zhuangyuan Inn. By day she discussed exam topics with other scholars, and by night she burned oil at her desk, studying into the late hours.

One day, she read through the night in her room. When her stomach began to rumble, she opened the window and realized the sun was already high. Rubbing her sore eyes, she patted her empty stomach and stepped out of her room. The smell of food filled the air. Looking down, she saw the hall already crowded with guests, every table filled with rich dishes. Spotting her, Huang Ming, another candidate, waved at her.

“Brother Qin, come eat with us.”

Qin Mu smiled, shook her head, and said.

“I happen to have urgent business outside.”

Huang Ming nodded and sat back down, continuing to chat happily with the others. Qin Mu pressed her lips together, rubbed her stomach, and left Zhuangyuan Inn. In truth, it wasn’t that she didn’t want to eat with him. But prices in the capital were nothing like Huangming Mountain—they were absurdly high. Having already spent most of her savings to rent a room at the inn, she had to be careful with every coin.

Turning left from the inn, five hundred meters away was a bun shop. The buns there had thin skin, lots of filling, and most importantly, they were cheap. Two would make a meal, and she could bring back two more for later at night when she studied.

But as soon as she stepped out of Zhuangyuan Inn, after only a few steps, she felt several unfriendly gazes from behind. Her ears twitched. She heard footsteps following her. When she stopped, they stopped as well.

Qin Mu was not surprised. She had only been in the capital a few days, always kept a low profile, and spoke little, all to avoid trouble. Yet trouble had come knocking anyway.

She thought for a moment. Since it had come, she might as well face it. Turning into a secluded alley, she quickly realized the people behind her had dropped their act. Their footsteps grew loud and arrogant, and she heard the scrape of sticks being dragged along.

At the far end of the alley, Qin Mu calmly turned, her face still composed as she looked at the hostile men.

Her sudden turn startled Wei Yanhan. Seeing Qin Mu’s calm and unhurried manner, as if she had expected them, made his heart skip. Although he had already investigated and knew Qin Mu was a weak scholar, facing her steady gaze made him uneasy. So he put on a front, clearing his throat, raising his brows, and asking.

“Poor scholar, do you know who I am?”

“This humble one is newly arrived in the capital, so it is indeed my first time meeting young master. But judging from your fine clothes and noble bearing, you must be the son of a prince or high noble.” Qin Mu clasped her hands in salute, a faint smile on her lips.

Her eyes had always been sharp. At a glance, she could tell Wei Yanhan’s birth was noble and his status high. Yet she did not know how she had provoked these men. Seeing the unfriendly faces of his followers, Qin Mu knew he had come with ill intent. But she was not the kind to cower. Choosing this secluded alley did not mean she was cornered. On the contrary, she planned to lure them in, then catch them all in one move and teach these troublemakers a lesson.