northernbook Chapter 209 Xie Yaochuan's Schemes
Chapter 209 Xie Yaochuan's Schemes
Suddenly, a pair of broad, strong hands landed on her shoulders, protecting her tightly and stabilizing her.
Mu Yunshang looked up at the person with some surprise.
What came into view was an exquisitely beautiful face. Mu Yunshang was a little surprised, but when she saw the beauty mark at the corner of his eye, she instantly recognized him and immediately took a step back. "Thank you, Lord Xie."
Xie Yaochuan felt a sharp pain in his heart when he saw his arms suddenly empty, but he still tried his best to maintain his gentle image in front of her.
"Miss Mu, do you still remember me?" Xie Yaochuan's lips curled up slightly, revealing a faint smile. His already affectionate peach blossom eyes were now staring intently at her, as if trying to see through her eyes to the deepest thoughts in her heart.
Xie Yaochuan deliberately avoided revealing her identity as the Empress, wanting to see her reaction. Mu Yunshang, however, seemed unconcerned, merely smiling slightly as she looked at him and said, "My maidservant told me that everyone from the Dali Temple was poisoned some time ago, and you, Lord Xie, were the most seriously injured. You should be alright now, right?"
When Xie Yaochuan heard that Mu Yunshang knew about his recent situation, an indescribable joy welled up in his heart. His eyes brightened instantly as he stared at her, his heartbeat quickening involuntarily.
"No...it's nothing, I'm almost fully recovered. It was indeed our oversight that time. Now, when the Dali Temple goes out on cases, they bring a special chef with them, and we will never let something like that happen again." His voice trembled slightly, as if he was trying hard to control his excitement.
Mu Yunchao was somewhat surprised by his friend's sudden visit. He simply stood aside and looked at his peacock-like appearance, saying with a hint of sarcasm, "Someone who doesn't even tie his hair up normally is dressed so neatly today. If someone who didn't know better saw this, they would probably think you came out to find your sweetheart, rather than to discuss the case with me."
Xie Yaochuan was taken aback when Mu Yunchao saw through his thoughts. Seeing that the other party was really just teasing him as a friend, he relaxed a little and then retorted calmly, "How could I not tie my hair up normally?"
Although Mu Yunchao exposed Xie Yaochuan's little scheme, he still made sure to maintain his image in front of Miss Mu Yunshang.
Mu Yunshang chuckled softly and slowly shook her head, secretly marveling at how rare it was for her younger brother to have such a close friend as Xie Yaochuan.
"Miss Mu, would you like to stay at the Mu residence for a few nights? Or would you like to return to the palace when night falls?" Xie Yaochuan gazed at Mu Yunshang with gentle and peaceful eyes. His charming peach blossom eyes seemed to contain endless affection, giving anyone the illusion that he was looking at them with deep affection.
Looking into his eyes, Mu Yunshang felt a strange sensation welling up inside her, but she remained polite and replied softly, "I'll return to the palace tonight."
Xie Yaochuan continued to persuade her without changing his expression, "Miss Mu, why don't you stay here for the night? We are currently investigating a case in the capital, and the murderer often appears at night. In order to catch the murderer, we have set up many ambushes on the streets. If you return to the palace now, it may disrupt our carefully planned deployment."
He knew how to understand Mu Yunshang's thoughts and what to say to persuade her to stay the night, so that he would have another chance to meet her the next day.
As expected, Mu Yunshang did as he wished, and after a slight hesitation, she said, "In that case, I will stay another night. It is really not appropriate for me to interfere with your arrangements, as the Dali Temple handles cases with great difficulty."
Xie Yaochuan's peach blossom eyes couldn't help but curve into a smile upon hearing this, making him look like a little fox.
Looking at his stunning appearance, Mu Yunshang couldn't help but feel a slight stirring in her heart. She recalled the fairy she often dreamed of when she was a child, the fairy whose appearance she had forgotten and who would secretly cry alone in her room.
Actually, if she were a celestial being, she would look quite similar to this Lord Xie.
If his face were on a woman's, she would probably be called a scourge to the country and its people.
Mu Yunshang smiled and pointed to the black and white beast in the yard, then looked at her younger brother Mu Yunchao, "Yunchen begged and pleaded with me to get that black and white beast, and you just leave it in the yard like that? That little thing is a ferocious beast, it can hurt people. You two are really carefree."
Mu Yunchao shook his head and said with a smile, "Let's wait until he remembers. His memory is terrible, it'll probably take him at least ten days to half a month to remember this."
Mu Yunshang shook her head and went straight back to the Duchess's courtyard.
Xie Yaochuan stared intently at Mu Yunshang's receding figure, his heart pounding wildly as if it would leap out of his throat. Just watching her from afar filled him with immense satisfaction and happiness.
Mu Yunchao noticed that Xie Yaochuan had fallen into a daze again and couldn't help but let out a cold snort, "When did a killer who commits murder at night appear in the capital? I have never heard of this case before."
Xie Yaochuan casually straightened his clothes, then turned to look at Mu Yunchao and replied calmly, "This is a case handled by the Dali Temple, so naturally you have no way of knowing about it."
Mu Yunchao clenched his teeth, staring coldly at the person in front of him, and said sternly, "However, your mobilization of the Imperial Guards, especially at night, must be approved by me."
Xie Yaochuan gave Mu Yunchao a forced smile and said, "Then just pretend you didn't hear anything. Don't you want your sister to stay at home a little longer?"
Although Xie Yaochuan was only acting to satisfy his own selfish desires, he cleverly shifted all the blame onto Mu Yunchao, putting on an act as if he was wholeheartedly thinking of the other party.
Mu Yunchao was slightly taken aback. Indeed, he really wanted his older sister to stay home and spend more time with their mother.
In her past life, her mother missed her older sister the most, but because her older sister married into the palace, she seemed to have become estranged from her family. She was unwilling to let her mother go to the palace to visit her, nor was she willing to leave the palace to visit the Mu family.
It gives the impression that they will never see each other again.
When my mother was released from prison and brought home, she was in a daze, as if she had lost her soul. Yet she still held the maid's hand tightly, softly calling out my elder sister's name, her eyes filled with endless longing and sorrow.