But those eyes were particularly memorable, coupled with his imposing stature, they overlapped with the masked man from that night, fitting the description better than the King of Beijin.
However, he was the Emperor's senior martial brother; did the Emperor know nothing about him?
This man was more insidious and terrifying than any man she currently knew, and his actions were extremely contemptible. Even that scoundrel Changsun Zhu wouldn't go so far as to try and ruin a woman's reputation, yet this man had done so with ease.
At today's flower viewing banquet, when Princess Ru Yin refused the marriage, she clearly looked at him. This indicated that he and the Princess were already involved. Why didn't he step forward and ask the Emperor to bestow the marriage? If he truly liked the Princess, he could have stood up, requested the marriage, and sincerely assisted the Emperor in the future. But he hadn't. Based on all the analyses above, Mu Qingyao arrived at a conclusion.
Liu Qianmu was a great spy, the most insidious scoundrel...
Mu Qingyao was lost in thought, the cold, elegant light on her face shifting unpredictably. Xing Zhu and Mo Chou dared not disturb her, wondering what was wrong with their mistress. Ever since they returned from the flower viewing banquet, she had been sitting on the couch without moving, maintaining this posture for a long time.
"Mistress?"
Mu Qingyao snapped back to attention, her gaze sharply sweeping towards Mei Xin, who had spoken. The maid flinched, her mistress's expression so grim and terrifying.
"What is it?" Mu Qingyao saw the three maids beside her frozen, all staring at her. She realized she might have been too cold and had scared them. Her expression softened slightly.
"Mei Xin, immediately bring brush and ink to this palace."
Mei Xin dared not say anything more. Her mistress must have something on her mind. She quickly went to fetch the brush, ink, paper, and inkstone. Xing Zhu and Mo Chou, seeing their mistress's expression soften, breathed a sigh of relief. Xing Zhu playfully asked, "Imperial Sister-in-law, did something happen? Your expression just now was terrifying; none of us dared to speak!"
Mu Qingyao smiled. It seemed her expression had been too stern, scaring these maids. She had been too engrossed in thought, and her expression had unintentionally become cold.
"I was just thinking about some things from the flower viewing banquet, so I got a bit lost in thought."
Mu Qingyao didn't want to tell them about Liu Qianmu, and the Emperor didn't know that Liu Qianmu had tried to assault her.
She had been puzzled back then. The Emperor had assigned Prince Nan'an to protect her outside, so why had someone managed to break in? It turned out to be Liu Qianmu. He naturally knew where Prince Nan'an was stationed; he just needed to avoid their sight.
Everyone had been deceived by that wolf in sheep's clothing.
Mei Xin brought the brush and ink and placed them before Mu Qingyao. Mu Qingyao pondered for a moment, then picked up the brush and wrote a line of text.
She was warning the Emperor to be careful of this person. Although her doing this was perhaps unnecessary, and the Emperor might already know, she still felt it was necessary to remind him. Mu Qingyao finished writing the note and handed it to Mo Chou.
"Take this to the Emperor."
"Yes, Mistress," Mo Chou replied and walked out. In the main hall, Princess Xing Zhu looked curiously at the departing Mo Chou and asked Mu Qingyao, "Imperial Sister-in-law, what did you write? Why are you having her deliver it to my Imperial Brother?"
"It's nothing," Mu Qingyao waved her hand, not wanting to discuss it.
Mei Xin put away the brush and ink. Mu Qingyao reached out, pulled Xing Zhu closer, raised an eyebrow, and changed the subject, "How was it? Your Imperial Sister's fuss today made the Emperor forget to bestow a marriage upon you. Tell Imperial Sister-in-law, do you have anyone you like?"
Xing Zhu's face immediately turned bright red. She grumbled coquettishly,
"Imperial Sister-in-law, why are you teasing Xing Zhu? Xing Zhu won't like those stinky men. Can I like Imperial Sister-in-law?"
After speaking, Xing Zhu snuggled into Mu Qingyao's arms, acting like a clingy little imp. Mu Qingyao pinched her cheek playfully,
"I like men, not little girls. Besides, your figure isn't much, dry and flat like an undeveloped bean sprout."
Her words provoked the little princess. Mu Rong Xing Zhu immediately jumped away, lifting her head and chest with an imposing air, and pulled Mu Qingyao's hand towards her chest, "Look, isn't it quite good?"
Muffled laughter could be heard from a corner of the hall. Several palace maids chuckled. The princess was truly easily teased. Lan Yi, seeing her mistress's demeanor, had already turned ashen. What was the princess doing, pulling someone's hand to feel her chest?
The muffled laughter made Xing Zhu snap back to reality. Belatedly, she blushed crimson. Mu Qingyao didn't let her off, teasing her gently.
"Princess, it's really too small. Men like women they can't hold in one hand. Are you sure you don't need to supplement a bit more?"
"Imperial Sister-in-law, I'm not talking to you anymore," the little princess was so embarrassed her face changed. She stamped her foot and rushed out, with Lan Yi closely following her mistress.
Mu Qingyao's lips curved into a faint smile. Princess Mu Rong Xing Zhu was indeed too naive and easily fooled. She hoped this extraordinarily tumultuous storm wouldn't harm her.
"Mistress, you bullied the princess again."
Mei Xin served tea and chuckled slyly. The princess was truly easily teased. It wasn't often that someone offered tofu on a plate for others to eat.
"She's just too naive," Mu Qingyao took the tea and drank it, her face etched with thoughtfulness.
She wondered what the Emperor would think upon seeing the note, and whether she had acted unnecessarily.
In front of the Liuli Palace gate.
Mo Chou met Ah Jiu and said with a calm expression, "Mistress asked this servant to bring this note. Please have Ah Jiu Gonggong deliver it to the Emperor."
"Yes," Ah Jiu took the folded note. He didn't dare to look at its contents. He moved swiftly and turned to go inside. Mo Chou saw him enter the main hall before turning to leave.
In the main hall, the Emperor, dressed in a bright yellow dragon robe, was engrossed in handling memorials. Sunlight reflected on his face. Hearing footsteps by his ear, he looked up. His dark pupils were as deep and dark as spilled ink. He curled his lips and asked, "Is there something?"
"Your Majesty, the Empress sent a message."
After saying this, he presented the neatly folded note. As a eunuch, even though Ah Jiu was literate, he dared not casually read his master's belongings.
The Emperor took it and opened it. He saw a line of elegant small-script characters clearly written on the note: Be careful of the people around you.
Mu Rong Liuzun's pupils suddenly released a grim, cold light.
Had the Empress discovered something? Be careful of the people around you. Who were the people around him? His sharp gaze swept over Ah Jiu. Seeing Ah Jiu's calm and composed demeanor, he felt he was being overly suspicious.
The Empress's note must have another meaning. What had she discovered? His gaze shifted unpredictably. He concentrated his internal energy, and the note instantly turned to powder in his hand, drifting down to the ground through his fingers.
Who exactly was this person around him? Just now, at the flower viewing banquet, Yao'er was fine. Could it be that she discovered something at the banquet?