"Miss Ying Feng thinks too much," Mu Qingyao stood up, stretching her slender, supple body. She waved her hand lazily. She wasn't the type to be bullied. From now on, she would be the one doing the bullying; no one would dare touch her.
"Are you tired, miss? Would you like to rest for a while?" Ying Feng asked solicitously. Qingyao shook her head, looking out at the sunny, pleasant weather. Although she had been here for a few days, she hadn't had a chance to properly explore the Crown Prince's estate. The scenery in Ming Yue Wan was lovely, but she had grown tired of it. With such weather, it was perfect for strolling in the gardens.
"No need, Ying Feng. I want to see what the Crown Prince's estate looks like. Let's just explore the estate today." Ying Feng was delighted by Qingyao's rare good spirits and immediately replied respectfully, "Very well, then this servant will lead Miss Mu around the Crown Prince's estate."
"Okay, let's go," Qingyao nodded in agreement, reaching out to pick up Mao Xueqiu from the side. She stroked its little head and said softly, "Mao Xueqiu, we're going to the garden. You must have been bored these past few days." As soon as she finished speaking, Mao Xueqiu let out excited squeaks, as if responding to her. Ying Feng looked at the snow-white, adorable little fox with surprise. It seemed to understand human speech, which was truly rare.
Qingyao, leading Mo Chou and Mei Xin, followed Ying Feng outside. Seeing Mo You standing under the eaves, basking in the sun, he straightened up as soon as he saw his mistress emerge and followed them to the garden. A grand procession set out from Ming Yue Wan.
News of the stir here was immediately reported to An Le Yuan. Upon receiving the news, Shen Xu Xue tidied herself up and led her own little maidservant out of her courtyard. Today, she intended to get a good look at that girl, to see what sort of bewitching charm she possessed that made His Lord lose his bearings and treat her so well.
The Crown Prince's estate occupied a vast area. There were numerous courtyards. The back area alone was no less extensive than the Emperor's Inner Court, but it was understandable. The Crown Prince was the future heir apparent, so having many consorts was not unusual.
The gardens were not ostentatiously luxurious but were meticulously crafted with countless rare stones and famous flowers, several ponds, pavilions, and vermillion railings adorned with embroidered screens, creating a truly vibrant and refreshing scene.
After strolling for half the day, Mu Qingyao was hungry. She hadn't even seen half of the garden yet. Ying Feng mentioned that they had barely covered half the grounds. It was truly astonishing, and everyone was tired and no longer wished to explore. It was time to return.
"Miss Mu is not continuing her stroll?" Ying Feng asked respectfully when Mu Qingyao stopped. Mu Qingyao looked up. In the distance, there was a lake embankment, with mist rising like smoke, and lush green forests stretching as far as the eye could see. If they continued exploring, it would likely take the entire day. Everyone was hungry now, so she decided to stop. They could continue another time.
"Alright, let's go back." As the group was preparing to head back, a ghostly, cold voice suddenly spoke, "Oh, going back already?" Everyone was startled. This person's martial arts were formidable; they were so close, yet none of them had sensed anything. This was partly because he had no killing intent, and partly because his internal energy was so profound that they couldn't detect his presence.
A tall, dense tree obscured the speaker's form, making it impossible to see their face clearly. Ying Feng's expression turned cold as she shouted into the air, "Who's there? Come out." A gentle breeze blew, and the figure landed silently. If it hadn't been daytime, everyone would have suspected it was a phantom. But it was daytime, and in the sunlight, the newcomer wore a long black robe, its hem embroidered with golden threads. He exuded an imposing arrogance. His face, sculpted by divine hands and meticulously refined, was smooth and radiant. It gleamed under the sunlight. His eyebrows were slender, as were his eyes, which emanated a chilling, bloodthirsty glint, clearly indicating a sinister and venomous disposition. He curved his lips into a half-smile, looking at Ying Feng.
"Little Feng'er, you've been out for a few days and don't even recognize me anymore? It seems you're asking for a beating." Although his words were playful, his voice was cool and utterly devoid of warmth, just like the man himself. Mu Qingyao looked coldly at this sudden apparition, who was exceptionally handsome. If Chu Qianyi's handsomeness carried a hint of sunny playfulness, this man was an Asura from hell, with a ghostly gaze and a suffocating aura. His chilling words made everyone profoundly uncomfortable, as if an icy wind was blowing.
"So it's Prince Yin. What are you doing, Prince Yin? You nearly scared this servant to death." Ying Feng spoke with feigned fear, but her demeanor was neither servile nor overbearing; she was poised and dignified. It turned out the person before them was the Emperor's younger brother, Prince Yin, Changsun Yin. Mu Qingyao wondered what he was doing hidden in the large tree. She glanced up at the dense foliage. If he hadn't spoken, no one would have known he was there.
"Is this the distinguished guest the Crown Prince brought back?" Changsun Yin turned his attention to Mu Qingyao. Ying Feng was stunned and was about to speak when Qingyao's expression turned cold, her icy eyes flashing with a stern ferocity. She disliked this man and spoke without any pleasantries. "Qingyao cannot bear the title of distinguished guest. Prince Yin flatters me too much." The fierce and hateful emotion was openly displayed on her face. With that, she turned to Ying Feng and said, "We should be going back."
"Yes, Miss Mu." After speaking, Ying Feng glanced at Changsun Yin and bowed calmly, "This servant will take her leave. His Lord is not in the estate today. Prince Yin should return." "You speak too kindly," Changsun Yin's pupils flashed with sharpness and a strong bloodthirsty glint. He hadn't expected Changsun Zhu to bring back someone as arrogant as himself, who dared to disregard him. Very well, very well. Changsun Yin's lips curved into a sinister smile, and he waved his hand indifferently. Mu Qingyao did not even spare Changsun Yin another glance. This man was clearly not a good person. She saw his ambition in his eyes at first glance. Moreover, such people would stop at nothing. She suspected the Qingluo Kingdom would not be peaceful, and it seemed there would be internal strife. It would be best for them to leave as soon as possible. The group departed grandly, leaving behind fierce, bloodthirsty eyes that followed them until they disappeared. Only after their figures vanished did another onlooker, Shen Xu Xue, with a playful expression, quietly approach Changsun Yin. She glanced at Prince Yin sideways. "It seems even our Prince Yin isn't being shown any respect. Perhaps she really is the future Crown Princess, and will one day be Empress." "Hmph, she's not worthy of that," Changsun Yin snorted, his eyes seeming to spew fire. He then asked, "Who exactly is she?" Shen Xu Xue shook her head. "I don't know. I only know her name is Mu Qingyao, and she's from Xian Yue. Her background is unknown. Besides His Lord, no one else knows. If we knew her background, it might be easier to deal with her."