Destined Hearts of Mu and Yu (GL) - Chapter 21

Seeing Wei Hanyu smile, Qin Mu’s cheeks flushed red with embarrassment. To catch a glimpse of her, she had already circled the palace five or six times. As hopeless with directions as she was, she had nearly broken down and decided to kidnap another eunuch and force him to reveal where Biyue Pavilion was. But just as she was about to act, she happened to see Wei Hanyu leaving the imperial study.

At that moment, Qin Mu had been so excited she almost rushed forward, but seeing the palace maids and eunuchs accompanying her, she had no choice but to wait. Only when Wei Hanyu reached the bamboo grove and dismissed the servants did Qin Mu dare to approach.

The instant she stood before Wei Hanyu, Qin Mu felt as if her drifting heart had finally found a place to rest. She had the strong urge to throw herself into Wei Hanyu’s arms, but she didn’t dare.

Wei Hanyu’s voice cut through her thoughts.
“Why are you here?”

Snapping back to herself, Qin Mu quickly remembered the reason she had come. Tilting her face upward, she said softly,
“Elder Sister Hanyu, today is your birthday. I wanted to celebrate it with you.”

But before Wei Hanyu could respond, a light approached from the distance. Qin Mu instinctively wanted to hide, but Wei Hanyu caught her arm and whispered,
“Stand beside me. It’s fine.”

Only then did Qin Mu remember she was wearing eunuch’s robes. She nodded, moving to stand at Wei Hanyu’s side just as Lu Xu arrived, carrying a lantern and walking briskly. Wei Hanyu’s brows furrowed, her expression turning cold. For him to wander the palace at this late hour so brazenly—it was clear he no longer regarded himself as an outsider.

“Princess, happy birthday,” Lu Xu said with a gentle smile, his voice soft as a willow brushing the cheek.

Wei Hanyu’s lips curved faintly, but she gave no reply. Her reaction was nothing like the warmth she had shown when she first saw Qin Mu. Standing to the side, Qin Mu noticed immediately—Lu Xu seemed to harbor feelings for Wei Hanyu. Yet she herself didn’t realize that when she looked at Wei Hanyu, her gaze held no less devotion than his, perhaps even more.

“This eunuch seems unfamiliar,” Lu Xu suddenly remarked. Qin Mu had been staring openly at him, and unlike trained servants who never dared meet their masters’ eyes, her gaze was direct and unflinching. It unsettled him.

“He is no eunuch,” Wei Hanyu said evenly, glancing sideways at Qin Mu.

Her words made Qin Mu’s heart sink. Would she expose her as a mountain bandit, as she had once before? She lowered her head, feeling faintly hurt.

Instead, Wei Hanyu added coolly,
“You’ve no doubt heard the recent rumors in the palace. She is the one.”

What rumors? Who was “the one”? Qin Mu’s mind spun with questions. Meeting Lu Xu’s eyes, she saw his expression shift from doubt to fury, and realized something was terribly wrong.

“Princess, you must be bewitched by this man. Let me kill him for you—cut off this path before it goes too far!” Lu Xu’s rage boiled over. Though he had first dismissed the gossip as impossible—for how could the aloof Princess Wei Hanyu, who had never concerned herself with romance, allow a man to stay with her overnight?—now, seeing Qin Mu standing so close and Wei Hanyu shielding him, his jealousy ignited. He drew his sword and lunged.

“Presumptuous!” Wei Hanyu’s voice was icy.

At her command, Lu Xu froze mid-strike. His sword trembled in his grip. He looked at Wei Hanyu, his face full of pain.

“It is late. General, you should not linger in the palace,” Wei Hanyu said coldly. She wanted to sever his hopes once and for all. She had never loved him. She had known this for a very long time.

“Princess… why treat me this way?” Lu Xu’s voice cracked as he stepped back, eyes wounded.

“You should already know. I have never held such feelings for you,” Wei Hanyu said flatly.

Lu Xu’s face fell. With a flick of his sleeve, he turned and left. Wei Hanyu’s heart grew heavy—she knew that tonight she had cut ties with him completely. She had likely offended his father, Lu Youwei, as well. But she no longer wished to force herself into a bond she did not want, nor endure her father bringing it up again.

Qin Mu quietly followed her to the lakeside. The water shimmered with floating lotus lanterns, their light painting Wei Hanyu’s flawless face in dazzling hues.

“General Lu is a man of devotion. He truly cares for you,” Qin Mu murmured.

The moment the words left her lips, Wei Hanyu’s gaze turned on her, sharp and cold. Qin Mu’s tone had been earnest, without guile, but it still stung.

“You should go,” Wei Hanyu said.

Qin Mu bit her lip. She could read her mood, but words always seemed to fail her before Wei Hanyu. Even a simple remark had angered her just now. She thought it best to leave and wait until her mood softened. Yet as she turned, she felt the weight of the jade pendant in her pocket. Pausing, she turned back.

Wei Hanyu’s eyes were distant, her face calm but chilled. Qin Mu hesitated, then held out the pendant with both hands.

The soft glow of the lanterns fell across the flawless jade lotus. For a moment, Wei Hanyu stared, stunned. Thinking she would refuse it, Qin Mu grew uneasy and began to pull her hand back.

But Wei Hanyu reached out and took it. Qin Mu beamed, placing the jade reverently in her hand. It was still warm from resting against her chest.

“Fool,” Wei Hanyu murmured, her voice soft.

Qin Mu blinked, but seeing the warmth in her eyes, her heart leapt with joy. She squatted down, lifted a lotus lantern from the lake, and offered it like a treasure. The light flickered across Wei Hanyu’s face, making her seem even more breathtaking. Qin Mu could not help but stare.

When a gust of wind blew out the flame, Qin Mu quickly picked up another lantern and placed it in Wei Hanyu’s hands.
“Elder Sister Hanyu, make a wish.”

Wei Hanyu closed her eyes slowly, her long lashes trembling, and set the lantern afloat. Watching it drift away, she sighed softly.

“Do you have worries on your heart?” Qin Mu asked gently.

Wei Hanyu looked at her, then sighed again. The willows shook in the wind, and heavy raindrops began to fall, extinguishing the lanterns one by one. In moments, a downpour drenched the lake. Qin Mu quickly removed her outer robe and held it above Wei Hanyu, shielding her as they ran through the rain toward Biyue Pavilion.

When at last they reached it, and Qin Mu saw Wei Hanyu was mostly dry, she felt relieved.
“Please rest early, Elder Sister Hanyu,” she said, before vanishing into the stormy night.

Wei Hanyu opened her palm. The jade pendant lay there, still carrying Qin Mu’s warmth. She thought of her father’s words about the “fool” who had given up such treasure, and everything became clear.

Later, after bathing, she changed into a thin white robe and stepped into the courtyard. The rain still poured. She found herself wondering whether Qin Mu had made it back safely, regretting that she had not given her an umbrella.

Hearing sounds outside, she quickly grabbed one and went to look. In the rain stood a soaked figure, wandering lost along the stone path.

“Hey,” she called softly.

The boyish figure turned. Qin Mu’s pale face was streaked with rain. When she saw Wei Hanyu, she gave a sheepish smile, embarrassed to admit she had gotten lost again.

“Did you lose your way?” Wei Hanyu asked gently.

Qin Mu’s face burned red. In the dark, with the storm hiding it, Wei Hanyu could not see.

“Come with me,” Wei Hanyu said.

To Qin Mu, her voice was like a guiding lantern in the night. She followed closely behind, watching her white robes flutter in the wind and rain like a butterfly dancing in the dark.

Back inside the bright pavilion, Qin Mu felt awkward. The silence was heavy, just the two of them together. Wei Hanyu stepped closer, covering Qin Mu’s face with a cloth and carefully wiping away the rain. The faint fragrance of flowers clung to her breath.

Qin Mu’s heart pounded wildly.

“Finish wiping yourself,” Wei Hanyu said softly, handing her the cloth.

Soon after, she brought out a clean set of clothes.
“It’s late. Change and rest in the side chamber. Tomorrow, I’ll have Yue’er escort you out of the palace.”

Qin Mu accepted them gratefully. “Thank you, Elder Sister Hanyu.”

After bathing and changing, refreshed, Qin Mu decided to bid her goodnight. But when she found Wei Hanyu, she froze.

Wei Hanyu was in her bedchamber, just about to sleep. The gauze curtains stirred, candlelight fell across her as she removed her robes. The thin silk slipped down her shoulders, revealing lavender underclothes, delicate collarbones, and the curve of her chest.

Qin Mu’s breath caught, heat rushing to her face. Dizzy, she stumbled back, colliding into the candlestick with a clatter.