Destined Hearts of Mu and Yu (GL) - Chapter 39

“Princess, do you have something on your mind?” Qingfeng asked in concern. Normally, Wei Hanyu never showed her emotions, but today, a rare look of worry lingered on her face.

Wei Hanyu sighed softly.
“Qingfeng, I don’t know if the decision I’ve made now is right or wrong.”

“Princess, you’ve always been wise and decisive. I don’t believe you could be wrong.” Qingfeng looked at her seriously. He wasn’t flattering her — having served at her side for so long, he knew how much thought she put into everything concerning Wei Yue’er.

“I just don’t know… if she learns the truth one day, will she blame me?” Wei Hanyu gazed into the distance, a trace of sadness in her heart. The reason she hadn’t told Wei Yue’er the truth wasn’t because of jealousy, but because the fewer people who knew Qin Mu’s true identity, the safer Qin Mu would be. She couldn’t guarantee how her father — who loved her deeply — would react if he discovered that Qin Mu had once been a bandit from Huangming Mountain. Nor could she know how long this secret could remain hidden. All she wanted was for Qin Mu to live peacefully in the capital. If danger arose, she wanted to send her away at once. The palace was filled with hidden threats, especially in times like this — when everything looked calm on the surface, yet that calm was what worried her most.

“No matter what happens in the future, I believe Princess Yue’er will understand your intentions.” Qingfeng reassured quickly when he saw her furrowed brows.

“The imperial exam is near. Keep a close eye on Yue’er for me. I hope she doesn’t cause trouble before then.” Wei Hanyu pressed her hand to her forehead. At the moment, all her thoughts were on Qin Mu, leaving her little energy to deal with Wei Yue’er. Yet Yue’er was the kind who would overturn the roof if left unattended, so she had to be kept in check.

“Please rest assured, Princess.” Qingfeng cupped his fists and spoke earnestly.

Wei Hanyu stood in silence, her gaze fixed on the Imperial Library. For a long while, it was as if she could see through its thick walls to where Qin Mu was bent over her books inside.

***

After dinner, Qin Mu returned to her studies, reading line after line with full concentration. When night fell and Sister Hanyu still hadn’t come, she finally closed her book, blew out the candle, and made her way to Biyue Pavilion. Passing through the back garden, she noticed the purple mandalas blooming brightly and bent down to pick one, her heart full of the thought of giving the lovely flower to her even lovelier Sister Hanyu.

At Biyue Pavilion, Yin’er came forward immediately. Seeing the flower in Qin Mu’s hand, she covered her mouth with a laugh. Qin Mu blushed and quickly hid the flower behind her back.
“Is Sister Hanyu back?” she asked.

Yin’er’s eyes darted mischievously.
“The princess told you to look for her in the wooden house behind the side hall.”

Qin Mu blinked, startled. She had never been inside that small wooden house, only admired it from afar. Surrounded by green trees, peaceful and quiet, she had always assumed it was some sort of greenhouse filled with flowers. Seeing Qin Mu hesitate, Yin’er shook her head.
“Does Young Master Qin mean to keep the princess waiting?”

At once Qin Mu snapped back to her senses and hurried toward the corridor. A maid at the entrance stepped forward to stop her, but Yin’er behind her kept winking, signaling to let her pass. As Qin Mu disappeared deeper inside, the maid grew anxious and whispered urgently,
“Yin’er-jie, the princess is bathing inside the chamber.”

But Yin’er only chuckled softly.
“With the way those two are with each other, do you really think they haven’t seen everything already?”

The maid’s cheeks flushed red, understanding her meaning. Still, every time the princess bathed, it was her duty to guard carefully. If this led to blame, what then? Sensing her unease, Yin’er patted her shoulder.
“If the princess blames anyone, I’ll take responsibility.”

Knowing how trusted Yin’er was by the princess, the maid nodded. The worry left her face.

Yin’er then dismissed the eunuchs and maids guarding Biyue Pavilion, snuffed out the lanterns at the door, and after checking the surroundings thoroughly, left.

***

Meanwhile, Qin Mu walked down the long corridor, and soon a wave of hot, moist air brushed over her face. It was autumn in the capital, the air already chilly, so the warmth surprised her. Curious, she quickened her steps until she reached the wooden house. She knocked lightly.
“Sister Hanyu, I’m here.”

No reply. From the cracks in the wooden door, waves of steam drifted out. Sweat beaded Qin Mu’s forehead. The mandala in her hand was beginning to droop. Determined to give it to her Sister Hanyu quickly, she pushed the door gently. It wasn’t locked. So she stepped right into the forbidden place — Wei Hanyu’s private hot spring bath.

The moment she entered, the air was full of mist, like stepping into a fairyland. A delicate fragrance drifted around her — one she knew well, Sister Hanyu’s own scent. Following it deeper inside, Qin Mu noticed damp pits on the wooden floor filled with water. Then ahead she saw a large pool, steam rising from it. Only then did she realize why the room was so warm: it was a hot spring. Flower petals floated on the surface. She bent down, scooped some up, and inhaled the faint, sweet fragrance.

She let her gaze wander around the pool, but the steam was too thick. She couldn’t see far. Not knowing how deep the water went, and remembering her fall into the lake last time, she felt nervous. Step by step, she edged along the poolside. Suddenly, her hand brushed against something warm. She felt it again — soft and smooth. She leaned closer, sniffed, and caught that familiar fragrance.

“Had enough of touching me?”

The mist shifted. And there was Wei Hanyu, her cool face faintly lit. She half-squinted, her gaze calm yet piercing. Even through the haze, Qin Mu could see her long black hair hanging wet over her shoulders, her body wrapped only in a thin gauze robe. Water still clung to her skin, the fabric sticking close, faintly outlining her graceful curves. Qin Mu suddenly realized her hand had landed on Sister Hanyu’s soft fullness. No wonder it felt so good — and she was reluctant to move her hand away.

“How did you get in here?” Wei Hanyu brushed aside the hand still lingering on her chest and asked evenly. She didn’t seem to notice that her damp gauze now revealed even more of her exquisite figure.

“I—I just wanted to see you, so I came in.” Qin Mu rubbed the hand she had just been slapped away with. Even the spot where Sister Hanyu touched seemed to tingle.

“So impatient? Or did you know I was bathing and deliberately sneak in?” Wei Hanyu’s lips curved faintly, her eyes fixed on Qin Mu.

Qin Mu’s face flared red. She waved her hands, panicked, and quickly held out the flower.
“Sister Hanyu, I really didn’t know you were bathing. I only wanted to give you this flower.”

The pale purple mandala was already wilting in her grasp, leaning sadly to one side. Wei Hanyu couldn’t help but smile softly.
“Mu’er, you really are silly.”

Qin Mu realized Sister Hanyu was only teasing. She immediately leaned closer shamelessly, pouting.
“Sister Hanyu, you’re so bad. You’ve had such a wonderful hot spring all to yourself, and never told me.”

Wei Hanyu pressed a hand against her forehead, pushing her back with a smile.
“This may be a hot spring, but the water isn’t shallow. You can’t even swim — are you sure you dare come in?”

“Who says I don’t dare? I—I’m not afraid of water!” Qin Mu lifted her chin, trying to sound brave. She wrapped her arms around Wei Hanyu’s slender waist, pressing against her. Her palace robe soaked through, marked with dark patches. The hot spring was already steaming, and with Qin Mu clinging to her, a fine sheen of sweat rose again on Wei Hanyu’s skin. She sighed helplessly. So much for her bath — it was ruined again. She tapped Qin Mu’s forehead.
“Mu’er, you really are shameless.”

Qin Mu only lifted her face and grinned.
“Sister Hanyu, bathe with me, won’t you?”

Before Wei Hanyu could answer, Qin Mu pulled her straight into the water.

Qin Mu was usually afraid of water, but with her soft, fragrant Sister Hanyu in her arms, she felt no fear. After all, last time too, it had been Sister Hanyu who saved her from the bottomless lake. Clinging tightly to her like sticky glue, Qin Mu followed her into the hot spring. Wei Hanyu supported her carefully, leading her to a shallow area where her feet could touch the smooth pebbles underfoot. Qin Mu let out a long sigh of comfort, all her fatigue washed away.

Watching Sister Hanyu glide away, her white gauze floating, her elegant back half-revealed in the clear water like fine jade, Qin Mu felt a rush of heat flood through her. Memories of last night stirred — Sister Hanyu’s sudden boldness, her soft voice still ringing in her ears. Qin Mu’s heart began to pound wildly.

She slid after her, but didn’t notice she was drifting farther from the shallows. Soon her feet could no longer find the bottom. Flailing a few times, she sank. Luckily, Wei Hanyu spotted her at once and swam over, pulling her up. Qin Mu coughed, gulping air, and immediately hugged her, resting her head against Sister Hanyu’s shoulder.

Gently moving her ankles, long black hair floating over the water, Wei Hanyu easily carried her back to the shallows. Qin Mu knew then — if she wanted to bathe with Sister Hanyu often, she had to learn how to swim. She silently vowed she would.

For now, though, Sister Hanyu stayed beside her, leaning against the stone wall. Qin Mu scooped up some flower petals steeped in fragrance, moved close, and said eagerly:

“Sister Hanyu, let me help you bathe.”