Destined Hearts of Mu and Yu (GL) - Chapter 55

“Your Ladyship, please go inside, or you’ll catch cold.”

Su Wanying had been watching with interest, but her maid reminded her. Smiling, she turned and went back inside.

As the sky darkened, everyone returned to their rooms. After bathing, Wei Hanyu returned to her chamber, but Qin Mu was nowhere to be seen. Curious, she followed the sound of coughing from a nearby room. Wrapping herself in a cloak, she followed the noise and entered—only to realize it was a firewood room.

At the doorway, a square table blocked her view. Smoke filled the room, stinging her nose. Wei Hanyu frowned. Following the sound, she saw a yellow tiger-skin hat bobbing up and down.

“Mu’er?” Wei Hanyu called.

The hat shot up from the ground, revealing Qin Mu’s doll-like face through the smoke. But her fair, handsome features were now covered in soot, black as charcoal. Only her bright white teeth showed when she grinned, a sharp contrast that made Wei Hanyu chuckle.

“Mu’er, what are you doing?” Wei Hanyu stepped in, covering her nose and mouth with a handkerchief. Qin Mu quickly stretched out her arms to block her, pushing her outside and shutting the door with a bang.

Wei Hanyu wanted to press further, but Qin Mu looked up, her expression very serious.

“Sister Hanyu, it’s freezing. Hurry back to your room and stay warm.”

Wei Hanyu smiled, teasing, “If it’s so cold, why aren’t you in your room?”

The question left Qin Mu speechless. Stammering, she had no explanation. When Wei Hanyu turned to head back inside the woodshed, Qin Mu blocked her again with an outstretched arm.

“Master Consort, did you get the firewood burning yet?”

A young eunuch suddenly appeared, arms stacked with firewood taller than himself. Oblivious to Qin Mu’s frantic winks, he said cheerfully, “I picked up even more firewood, just as you ordered! With this much, you and the Princess won’t feel the cold tonight.”

After putting the firewood down, he noticed Wei Hanyu. The air froze colder than the winter chill.

“You… you may go now.” Qin Mu coughed to ease the tension. The eunuch bolted like a rabbit, leaving Qin Mu thinking—clearly, everyone in the palace feared Wei Hanyu.

Qin Mu’s eyes darted nervously, but Wei Hanyu simply stood there, staring at her with infinite patience. At last, Qin Mu cracked a dry smile, rubbed her nose, and shrugged.

“When I returned to the chamber, it was freezing—the bed too. So I told the eunuch to open this woodshed. Since it connects to the chamber, heating the stove here would warm the bedroom.”

“These are things servants should do,” Wei Hanyu said softly. Though touched, she also felt a pang of guilt. Qin Mu had once been the great leader of Huangming Mountain, respected and carefree. Now she followed her into the palace, with all her talents wasted—reduced even to doing a servant’s work. The more she thought about it, the more her heart ached. She caught Qin Mu’s hand, stopping her from going back inside.

But Qin Mu’s brows lifted, her eyes firm. “You’re my wife. Taking care of you is only right. In this freezing cold, how could I let you suffer?” She straightened her back proudly and nudged Wei Hanyu into the room with her hip.

Sitting inside, feeling the warmth slowly fill the chamber, Wei Hanyu’s heart also warmed. Hearing the door creak again, she looked up—there was Qin Mu, still wearing that tiger-skin hat, grinning with her big white teeth.

“See? Isn’t it warmer now?”

Wei Hanyu nodded. She picked up a handkerchief to wipe soot from Qin Mu’s clothes, but Qin Mu stepped back, protecting the white porcelain bowl in her hands. Steam rose from it. Carefully, she placed it on the table and beckoned Wei Hanyu.

“Sister Hanyu, drink this ginger soup. It’ll chase away the cold.”

Wei Hanyu frowned lightly, but her gaze softened as she looked at Qin Mu. She felt utterly wrapped in Qin Mu’s warmth. Happiness filled her chest.

Qin Mu rested her cheek in her hand, watching Wei Hanyu sip the soup little by little, her smile stretching wide.

Then Wei Hanyu gently wiped the soot from her face, revealing once again the handsome young features. Her eyes drifted upward, to the hat, and she couldn’t help laughing. She knew that was the cause of Qin Mu’s comical look.

“What are you laughing at?” Qin Mu blinked, thinking her face wasn’t clean yet. Wei Hanyu only shook her head, smiling, and pointed to the top of her head.

Realizing, Qin Mu pulled the hat off, boasting proudly, “Nice, isn’t it? Real tiger skin—very expensive.”

Wei Hanyu laughed again. Qin Mu scowled in mock annoyance—what was so funny? She leaned forward, rubbing her nose against Wei Hanyu’s cheek, inhaling her sweet fragrance. It made her heart flutter. She spread her arms to hug Wei Hanyu, but Wei Hanyu stepped back, letting her miss.

Qin Mu pouted in frustration. But then Wei Hanyu leaned forward herself, pressing her red lips gently against Qin Mu’s forehead. Wei Hanyu always gave her a scolding, then a sweet reward. And Qin Mu always accepted it gladly, closing her eyes to savor the tender kiss.

“Mu’er, I must give you a child.”

The two sat shoulder-to-shoulder on the bed. Wei Hanyu tucked strands of hair behind Qin Mu’s ear as she spoke softly. Qin Mu’s eyes lit up instantly, nodding hard. Wei Hanyu stared at her, surprised. Qin Mu tilted her head curiously.

“Sister Hanyu, why are you looking at me like that?”

“You’re not against having a child anymore?” Wei Hanyu asked, suspicion in her eyes.

“After much careful thought and reflection, I’ve decided—we should have one.” Qin Mu swayed her head like a storyteller, speaking slowly.

“You’re so beautiful, and I’m so smart. Our child would surely outshine the gods themselves.” She burst into laughter at her own words.

Wei Hanyu pinched her cheek. “Mu’er, your skin is too thick.”

“How thick? Just how thick?” Qin Mu grinned, leaning closer. She leaned her full weight against Wei Hanyu. Though Wei Hanyu tried to push her off, she eventually gave up, smiling helplessly.

“Mu’er, you’re fooling around again.”

“You wrong me, Sister Hanyu. I’m not fooling around at all.” Qin Mu widened her eyes innocently—but her hands were already slipping beneath Wei Hanyu’s clothes.

“And you say you’re not!” Wei Hanyu tried swatting away her roaming hands, but Qin Mu’s mischievous skill left her defenseless. Every touch sent shivers through her body, as though shocked by lightning. Looking into Qin Mu’s playful eyes, Wei Hanyu sighed inwardly. Such a troublesome soulmate.

That night, neither slept.

***

At dawn, pounding rattled their door. Qin Mu opened it to find Wei Yanhang standing there. He tried barging in, but Qin Mu blocked him.

“Your Highness, the Princess is still dressing. Please wait in the main hall.”

But Yanhang shoved her aside, hands on hips, arrogant. “I want to see my royal sister. Who are you to stop me?”

At that stance, Qin Mu’s eyes caught on the pouch at his waist. Dark blue fabric embroidered with a golden dragon, lifelike down to its red-brown eyes. Something about it felt eerie. A strange fragrance wafted from it—it had to be the source.

“Your Highness, that’s quite the unique pouch,” Qin Mu said casually. As expected, Yanhang immediately puffed up, distracted from storming in.

“Of course! My Third Brother gave it to me before the trip. Look at the dragon—it suits me perfectly, doesn’t it?” He raised his brows proudly.

Qin Mu pursed her lips, uneasy. Something about the pouch felt wrong.

Just then, Wei Hanyu came out, moving gracefully. Yanhang pushed past Qin Mu, rushing to her.

“Royal Sister! I ordered your favorite pine-flower cakes and silver ear lotus soup for breakfast.”

“The Crown Prince is thoughtful,” Wei Hanyu said with a gentle smile. Yanhang could be mischievous, but toward her, he was always sincere.

“Let’s hurry, before it gets cold.” Yanhang pulled her along toward the hall. Qin Mu followed, still eyeing the pouch. The scent felt oddly familiar.

Suddenly, a white, slender hand rested on her shoulder. A different perfume clouded her senses. Turning, she found Su Wanying, smiling slyly. Since Qin Mu’s return from the frontier, this was their first encounter. Qin Mu froze, unsure whether to smile or not. She always believed beautiful women couldn’t possibly be too wicked—after all, appearance reflected the heart, didn’t it? So, stiffly, she raised her hand in greeting.

“Good morning, Your Ladyship.”

Su Wanying covered her mouth with a laugh, her seductive gaze sweeping Qin Mu up and down, making her uneasy. She leaned close and whispered in her ear:

“Last night, when I got up, I passed by your room…”

She paused. Qin Mu’s eyes widened. And then? Had she overheard something? Qin Mu tried recalling everything she and Wei Hanyu had said the night before. Before she could sort it out, Su Wanying added with a smile:

“Quite the noise you two made.”

Qin Mu’s face flushed instantly.

“Seems all those spring palace books weren’t wasted on you.” Su Wanying’s teasing words left Qin Mu stiff and speechless, her face burning. Satisfied, Su Wanying sauntered off, hips swaying, leaving Qin Mu to kick at the wall in embarrassment.