Ying Feng saw that Miss Mu was quite angered, and dared not say another word. He quickly got up, led the way, and escorted her out of Mingyue Wan, heading towards the study.
Along the way, many servants were startled by Mu Qingyao's formidable aura and dared not even utter a sound, hurrying to their tasks.
In reality, Mingyue Wan was not far from the Crown Prince's study. The study was located within Tianran Ju, the residence of the Crown Prince, and Tianran Ju was adjacent to Mingyue Wan, separated only by a garden. The group soon arrived outside the study door.
Mu Qingyao's face was cold and stern. Without waiting for Ying Feng to announce her, she barged directly into the study.
The others dared not to follow, and waited outside the study.
The study was not particularly luxurious, but it was very refined. Besides the essential leather-bound books, it contained the most ancient paintings and poetry collections, followed by antiques and jade.
Changsun Zhu sat in the study with an elegant demeanor, unbothered by her impetuous entrance. He waved his hand, signaling Ying Feng and the others to withdraw.
The study fell silent. He slowly smiled, his handsome face relaxing, his dark eyes like stars in the night sky, exceptionally dazzling, radiating an unrestrained aura.
"You've come?"
Mu Qingyao looked at his nonchalant expression, her anger flaring.
The person who had captured her maid had the nerve to smile, to smile so leisurely and radiantly. She truly wished to punch his face until it swelled. Didn't he know how anxious she was?
Although Mei Xin was her maid, she was like a sister to her. The first person she saw after she transmigrated was Mei Xin. The deep affection between them was beyond the understanding of others.
Sometimes, when she felt lonely, seeing Mei Xin would inexplicably relax her mood.
This was because Mei Xin always found ways to make her laugh and happy.
Though Mei Xin was a bit clumsy and timid, she had always been loyal to Mu Qingyao.
"Where have you hidden Mei Xin?"
"Accompany me to the palace banquet tonight, and tomorrow morning, I will return her to you safely."
Changsun Zhu said with a gentle smile, his voice as soft as water, as if this were a trivial matter.
Mu Qingyao's face darkened. She spoke resolutely, "I want to know, what will happen to her if I don't accompany you to the palace banquet?"
This was what she wanted to know most. If she refused to accompany him to the banquet, what would he do? Would he really cruelly kill Mei Xin? If so, it was sheer folly for her to agree to become his Crown Princess.
"Then you will never see her again."
Changsun Zhu's smile remained unchanged, but his words carried a hint of bloodlust that intensely filled the study.
Mu Qingyao had already considered this possibility, but hearing him utter it so casually chilled her to the bone. Following this was a surge of hatred as she coldly stared at Changsun Zhu.
"Why must you turn things into this? When you brought me out of Xian Yue, I felt at least grateful. Why must you make me hate you? The more you can speak such cold-blooded words so calmly, the more I detest you, not any less."
Her words finally struck a chord with Changsun Zhu. He could no longer maintain his composed smile. He suddenly stood up, leaned forward, his dark eyes filled with a deep, chilling bloodthirst.
"If you hadn't forced me, I wouldn't have gone this far."
"Why must you take me as your concubine? Do you truly like me? Or is there something else on your mind?"
Mu Qingyao asked him with a cold accusation. Changsun Zhu paused at her question, then quickly replied.
"I like you. In this world, no one is more suited to me, Changsun Zhu, than you. There is no one else. Therefore, you will undoubtedly be the Crown Princess of Qingluo Kingdom."
He declared possessively, his words arrogant and bloodthirsty, an unyielding resolve that would not cease until his goal was met.
With the conversation having reached this point, Qingyao knew that her words were useless. This man was like one possessed, determined to make her his Crown Princess, and she absolutely refused. However, if she refused, she feared Mei Xin would truly be killed by him. What was such a person incapable of doing?
She absolutely did not want Mei Xin to be harmed. Therefore, she could only use a delaying tactic, agreeing to attend the banquet tonight, and then act according to the circumstances.
"Fine, I will attend your palace banquet tonight. I hope you do not regret it. If I do not see Mei Xin tomorrow morning, I will set fire to your Crown Prince's manor and leave nothing standing."
Mu Qingyao roared with murderous intent, her face grim and cold. Her bloodthirsty, ferocious eyes seemed to have come from hell. If Changsun Zhu did not release Mei Xin tomorrow, she might very well burn down the Eastern Palace Manor.
"Alright, I will have someone release her tomorrow."
Changsun Zhu, having achieved his objective, did not make things difficult for her. Seeing her anger, he felt a pang of heartache. His dark eyes flickered with pain. He truly wished to keep her, but why was it so difficult? No matter what he did now, she would likely not forgive him easily.
Then he did not mind being a bit more ruthless, as long as he could keep her. He believed that everything would slowly get better.
Qingyao said no more. Changsun Zhu's face now appeared so sinister and cruel in her eyes. What use was his handsome appearance? She turned and walked out, not even looking at the man's somber dark eyes in the study.
"Miss?" Mo Chou and Mo You called out, both very worried. They hadn't expected Changsun Zhu to stoop to such underhanded tactics, abducting Mei Xin, who did not know martial arts. They could only hope Mei Xin would be alright.
"Let's go," Qingyao said in a deep voice, leading the way back to Mingyue Wan. Besides Mo Chou and Mo You, Ying Feng also followed her departure.
Upon returning to Mingyue Wan, Qingyao dismissed Ying Feng and the others, keeping only Mo Chou and Mo You.
"Tonight, I will attend the palace banquet with Changsun Zhu. You two do not need to accompany me. Remain in the manor and search for Mei Xin. She is timid and will surely be scared."
The thought of Mei Xin's current predicament filled Qingyao with an inexplicable panic, her heart feeling as if it were drenched in oil, and she lost all composure.
"Master, that won't do," Mo You said, unwilling. She glanced back at Mo Chou, and both looked at their master. However, their master's expression was resolute, and she spoke with indignant anger.
"This damned Changsun Zhu. Once we find Mei Xin, we will find a way to leave the Crown Prince's manor immediately. This man is truly a cunning and treacherous villain. If we stay any longer, I'm afraid nothing good will come of it. Moreover, their Qingluo Kingdom is not peaceful, and that Changsun Yin seems ambitious for the position of Crown Prince. If we continue to stay, we might become targets."
"Yes, Master, please rest assured. Tonight, we will definitely ascertain Mei Xin's whereabouts. Mao Xueqiu has always been close to her and will surely find her location."
Mo Chou was confident about this. Thinking about Mei Xin's current situation, their hearts also felt uneasy. If it were her or Mo You who were captured, it would not matter much, as they knew martial arts and could hold on for a while. But Mei Xin had no martial arts skills and was timid; she must be terrified right now.