Feng Yuan so bluntly “requested” her to leave.

Xiaoying pretended not to hear and said to Mu Hanjiang, “If you want to know who’s behind this, we can rescue my brother and ask him about the whole situation. Why must we wait for him to return to the capital only to be beheaded by His Majesty? He hasn’t committed any crime. Because of the Tang family’s sins, he lost his birth mother from childhood and couldn’t live with his family. Is it just to preserve the Feng family’s reputation that he must be secretly executed?”

This time, Mu Hanjiang reminded himself not to be led by the nose by this cunning young lady: “I am going to investigate this shadowy mastermind. But if we don’t explain everything to His Majesty, aren’t we just continuing to lie and committing the crime of deceiving the Emperor? Enough! You’ve already led me too far astray. It’s time to return everything to its proper course.”

Mu Hanjiang tried to harden his heart, and his tone was very firm.

Seeing that Xiaoying still wanted to continue talking with Mu Hanjiang, Feng Yuan simply uttered two curt words: “Get out!”

His tone brooked no argument. Since this was his manor’s study, Xiaoying could only tactfully leave.

After Xiaoying left, Feng Yuan continued, “I have no intention of cooperating with you. You needn’t take the young lady’s words to heart.”

Feng Yuan briskly dismissed Mu Hanjiang from the matter, but Mu Hanjiang was not pleased. “What? Are you and Yan Xiaoying playing good cop, bad cop with me? Trying to catch me by feigning to release me?”

Someone was attempting to manipulate the heir apparent—there must be a shocking conspiracy. How could he pretend not to know?

Feng Yuan stood up and suddenly pushed open the door and windows. After confirming no young lady was eavesdropping outside, he closed them again and said, “Regarding the Crown Prince’s matter, after rescuing Feng Qiyuan, I will personally explain everything to His Majesty and accept punishment. I won’t implicate you.”

Hearing this, Mu Hanjiang didn’t believe a word and coldly exposed Feng Yuan’s self-interest: “Aren’t you just worried that if this comes to light, your marriage to Yan Xiaoying will dissolve into nothing? With things as they are now, how could you marry her?”

Feng Yuan calmly replied, “My affair with Xiaoying is also none of your business.”

After having his life controlled for ten years, when he finally managed to step out of the deserted palace, he had promised himself that from then on, he would decide how to live his own life.

Unable to reason with him, Mu Hanjiang took a deep breath.

This Crown Prince’s return brought great variables. Though Feng Yuan spoke firmly, things might not necessarily go as he wished.

“Your Highness, your heart is too greedy. How can everything go as you desire? Now that you’ve managed to bring down the Western Palace, you must have greater ambitions. How can you be entangled in this cloud of suspicion about the true and false Crown Prince? Currently, the most prudent solution would be to prevent both siblings from appearing in the capital again. It’s your selfish desires that have made you overlook this most effective approach, which would also be best for the siblings. If you could see clearly and be willing to let go, it would be the best for them!”

“His Majesty has already issued the imperial decree for the marriage. How could it be refused?” Feng Yuan’s tone was resolute, appearing as though imperial will was difficult to defy.

This time, Mu Hanjiang laughed outright: “Which of you two is afraid of defying an imperial decree? One is bold enough to impersonate the Crown Prince, and the other dared to privately initiate a national war. Two people who deceive the Emperor—don’t be too modest!”

Feng Yuan coldly said, “You think that by disrupting my marriage to her, you’ll have a chance?”

“Who said I want a chance? I’m trying to save her life!” Mu Hanjiang seemed to find it impossible to reason with the Grand Prince, and his volume increased slightly.

Just then, the study door was pushed open forcefully, and Xiaoying burst in from outside: “Marriage? What marriage?”

Xiaoying always eavesdropped with skill. Earlier, she had been half-suspended from the eaves of the roof, avoiding Feng Yuan’s check when he pushed open the door. She had expected these two gentlemen to engage in some compromising power negotiations.

Who knew that all she would hear was the absurd news that His Majesty had arranged her marriage to Feng Yuan? As she listened, her eyes grew wider and wider in astonishment.

Mu Hanjiang, seeing her shocked expression, which didn’t seem fake, turned to look at Feng Yuan’s cold glare and seemed to realize something: “What? He didn’t tell you? His Majesty has already arranged your marriage?”

What? Yan Xiaoying’s eyes widened, and she couldn’t help but look at Feng Yuan.

For a moment, she suddenly understood why he had been so leisurely accompanying her to select clothing over the past few days.

And the manor’s steward had seemed busy arranging some kind of banquet these past two days.

So she was getting married, and she was the last one to know.

When the day came, if she didn’t agree, was Feng Yuan planning to have people carry her, forcibly push her head down to complete the wedding ceremony?

Mu Hanjiang understood that Feng Yuan had been keeping this from Xiaoying and let out a slight sigh of relief, mockingly saying to Feng Yuan, “You haven’t even told her this. Are you planning to trick her into marriage?”

Since learning about Feng Qiyuan’s trouble, Feng Yuan had anticipated changes, but he hadn’t expected Mu Hanjiang to expose it so quickly.

According to his original plan, he had wanted to wait until everything was properly prepared before proposing to Xiaoying, letting her foster father see his sincerity, rather than the current situation.

At this critical moment when her brother was in danger, his arrangement was inappropriate.

Feng Yuan lowered his eyes, habitually pressing his lips together, waiting for Xiaoying to get angry with him.

Xiaoying finally understood, and with sudden realization, she looked up and asked Feng Yuan, “You don’t want me to talk too much with Master Mu because of this?”

Seeing Feng Yuan lower his eyes in silence, Xiaoying felt a bit of a headache.

She recalled what she had once casually said to Feng Yuan—that she would marry if there was an imperial decree—and never expected Feng Yuan to take such an absurd statement seriously.

Moreover, he had gone to great lengths to obtain His Majesty’s decree.

She suddenly remembered asking Feng Yuan why he hadn’t requested an official position from the Ministry of War, and he had replied that he had already asked His Majesty for something better…

Xiaoying quickly contained her thoughts: “Fine, since everything’s out in the open, there’s no need to drive me out of the study. The most urgent matter now is to prevent my brother from returning to the palace and to find the shadowy mastermind behind all this. As for other messy matters, we’ll discuss them later.”

“What do you mean by ‘messy matters’?” Feng Yuan and Master Mu spoke in unison, a rare occurrence.

Both of them seemed to believe that whether she married or not was no small matter.

Xiaoying couldn’t be bothered with the two of them and tapped the map with her hand: “Right now, we must confirm whether the person being sent back is my brother. Master Mu, even if you want to make arrests, you need to first ascertain the facts, right? After I investigate, I’ll inform you, and what you need to do is simply stand aside and observe, not getting involved. Alright?”

Mu Hanjiang smiled scornfully, not believing she could resolve this matter alone: “What if he is Feng Qiyuan? Then what?”

Yan Xiaoying promptly replied, “That’s my brother’s business. Master, you just need to pretend you don’t know. There’s no need for you to worry about anything else.”

“Relying on you alone?” Mu Hanjiang hesitated, but when he looked at Feng Yuan, he guessed she would likely borrow the Grand Prince’s power.

Thinking of this, he couldn’t help but frown and say, “Feng Qiyuan bears the title of Crown Prince after all. If you involve the Grand Prince, won’t that implicate him? Once the deception is exposed, he’ll have to bear the crime of fraternal conflict!”

Xiaoying thought to herself: If you two had started fighting earlier, that would also count as fraternal conflict!

But outwardly, she calmly said, “Don’t worry, I’ll find my way. I won’t implicate the Grand Prince, and there’s even less need for you, Master, to be involved.”

Mu Hanjiang didn’t believe Xiaoying’s words. Even if she was more clever than ordinary women, as a delicate woman, how could she rescue Feng Qiyuan?

With that said, Mu Hanjiang rose to take his leave.

Before departing, he seemed to have something to say to Xiaoying and asked her to accompany him alone.

At the door, before Mu Hanjiang could begin, Xiaoying spoke first: “Does the Master wish to tell me that my status is too low, unworthy of aspiring to marry into nobility? Rest assured, once my affairs in the capital are concluded, I will take my brother far away, eliminating the hidden danger of the Tang family’s child-swapping all those years ago.”

Mu Hanjiang looked down at her eyes, restrained himself, and explained, “I didn’t mean to mock you for your humble status, saying you’re not worthy of nobility…”

Xiaoying looked at him openly: “Nor am I refusing out of self-abasement. The Grand Prince has suffered too much in the first half of his life; I can’t bear to see him lose something important to him because of me. Nor am I leaving him willingly because of your threats. Whether I leave or stay, I will certainly follow my heart. And whether he deceives me or tricks me, it’s a matter between him and me, none of anyone else’s business.”

These words were clearly in response to Mu Hanjiang’s earlier accusation that Feng Yuan was tricking her into marriage.

Mu Hanjiang’s expression darkened at the phrase “anyone else,” and after a pause, he said, “Please rest assured, young lady, if there’s an opportunity, I will help you rescue your brother.”

She couldn’t help but ask curiously, “Master has always been a stickler for rules. Why are you willing to make an exception this time?”

“What’s so strange? I’ve made exceptions for you before.”

Xiaoying knew that the previous time was when he took the blame for the war at Fengwei Slope, to protect the Crown Prince whom Mu Hanjiang deemed suitable for the position of heir.

But now, knowing that Feng Qiyuan was an impostor, why was he still willing to risk such a grave transgression?

Hearing Xiaoying’s doubts, Mu Hanjiang paused, looking directly at the young lady’s face, slowly saying, “Why don’t you believe that both last time and this time, it’s because the person I want to protect is you…”

Last time, it was only because the heir apparent was a youth who had impressed him, making him reluctant to let harm come to him, which was why he had saved him.

Xiaoying was caught off guard by Mu Hanjiang’s sudden statement and unusually froze for a moment, pondering the meaning of his words.

But Mu Hanjiang didn’t wait for her reaction, turning to mount his horse and riding away with a flick of his whip.

When Xiaoying returned to the room, Feng Yuan was already waiting there.

The doorkeeper must have reported everything that happened at the door to Prince Ruixiang in detail.

And now Feng Yuan was silent, quietly watching her.

She thought this jealous man would surely make trouble, questioning her thoughts.

Unexpectedly, after a moment of silence, Feng Yuan simply explained his concealment of the marriage: “I had intended to tell you, but with A’Yuan’s situation, it was delayed.”

This explanation was very weak, insufficient to offset his deceptive intentions.

However, seeing him being so reasonable, not irrationally jealous or going mad, Xiaoying suddenly felt that this person’s temperament seemed to have broadened considerably.

But when she placed her hand on Feng Yuan’s arm, she discovered his muscles were very tense, his lips tightly pressed together, as if he was struggling to control himself.

Feng Yuan was, of course, well aware of what Mu Hanjiang had said to his fiancée at the manor gate.

He even felt that Mu Hanjiang had deliberately chosen such a timing. If he were to act jealous and make a scene, it would inevitably lead to an argument with Xiaoying.

And at this critical moment with Feng Qiyuan in trouble, if he made a fuss, it would make him seem inconsiderate and unsympathetic.

Growing up in the palace, Feng Yuan had seen too much of this kind of vying for favor.

Yet he had never imagined that one day he would also resort to such schemes. Mu Hanjiang wasn’t born a woman to enter the palace as a concubine competing for favor—what a pity…

Xiaoying had originally prepared words to comfort the jealous man, but due to Feng Yuan’s “reasonableness,” she held them back.

If she didn’t understand him well, she would truly believe he was this magnanimous.

Since he wanted to hold it in, let’s see how long he could last. But she was very curious about how Feng Yuan had originally planned to “scheme” against her: “Tell me your original plan.”

Feng Yuan smiled, with an indescribable mischievousness: “You wouldn’t like to hear it, so why say it out loud?”

In other words, his original “marriage trick” was only suitable to be acted upon, but too despicable to be spoken of?

So it was her brother’s trouble that had indirectly “saved” her?

Could it be that he planned to drug and knock her out, then force her to bow in the wedding ceremony? Xiaoying grew even more curious, itching to know, and was about to speak when Feng Yuan covered her mouth.

“If it’s something I wouldn’t like to hear, don’t say it either.” After saying this, however, Feng Yuan turned to leave.

Xiaoying embraced his waist from behind, lazily asking, “How do you know what I was going to say is something you wouldn’t like to hear?”

Feng Yuan placed his hand over her wrist, but finally didn’t use any force. He turned his head slightly, waiting for Xiaoying to continue cursing the Feng family ancestry as she usually did when angry.

This young lady loved freedom and hated being manipulated or schemed against. Yet knowing her taboos, he had still stubbornly tried to bind her with a marriage certificate. If she wanted to curse him, it would be normal.

Xiaoying held his chin and interrogated him with force: “Since you prepared wedding clothes, who was that thin undergarment prepared for?”

Feng Yuan hadn’t expected her to ask such an irrelevant question and was momentarily stunned, his dazed expression resembling the stupid dog in the courtyard that Xiaoying had pinned down and kissed fiercely the day before.

Just as he was about to say something, Xiaoying covered his mouth.

“I’m still angry now and don’t want to hear you speak. After we rescue A’Yuan, you can wear that garment and perform martial arts for me alone to see, then I’ll forgive you…”

With that, she tried to imitate Feng Yuan’s earlier manner, striding away. But Feng Yuan pulled her back into his arms, lowering his head to kiss her lips.

Each time he kissed the young woman, no matter how passionate, it was never enough. Even the most ardent entanglement seemed insufficient to bind her freely drifting soul.

Xiaoying closed her eyes, accepting the reverent worship of Dafeng’s eldest prince, while also soothing the young man’s restless insecurity…

His temperament was just like this—due to extreme deprivation in the past, he had to firmly grasp everything within reach, and because he had never had anyone to rely on, he had become reclusive. If she let him overthink, he might veer off into unnecessary complications.

After the kiss ended, Xiaoying reluctantly caressed the man’s face, softly saying, “Next, I may have to say something you won’t like to hear.”

With those words, Xiaoying leaned close to Feng Yuan’s ear, whispering, “I plan to…” And Feng Yuan’s eyes grew wider and wider…

As for Mu Hanjiang, after leaving Prince Ruixiang’s manor, he couldn’t sleep well all night.

The next morning, he received His Majesty’s summons to enter the palace.

Recently, envoys from Wei Country were to enter the capital, but they happened to coincide with the recent assassin incident in the capital, so His Majesty had to carefully inquire about the city’s security.

Chatting about this, they eventually discussed Crown Prince Feng Qiyuan, who was about to return to the capital.

Emperor Chunde sighed and said, “His health is poor, so he has been traveling slowly. I heard he stayed at Liuyun Ferry for several days before continuing his journey.”

As he spoke, he waved for Mu Hanjiang to sit down and ordered someone to serve him tea: “How is your father’s health?”

Mu Hanjiang respectfully replied, “Still the same as always. His old wounds require nourishment.”

Duke Ding, Mu Shen rarely saw people and often went out seeking medical treatment. He was also afraid of passing illness to His Majesty. Therefore, the last time Emperor Chunde saw Mu Shen was probably ten years ago.

Emperor Chunde nodded, looking at Mu Hanjiang as if searching for something on his face, sighing lightly, “Every time I see you, I feel that my sons are useless, each one not as good as you… Perhaps I’m not as good as old Mu and haven’t raised my children well. It’s truly the irony of fate…”

Similar remarks had been made by His Majesty to Mu Hanjiang before.

It seemed that the heir apparent’s return had reminded His Majesty of Feng Qiyuan’s feminine demeanor, causing such reflections. He was simply saying some insincere praise about the Crown Prince.

As they were speaking, the palace’s chief eunuch led in a dignified and beautiful consort.

She carried a tray with a stewed bird’s nest milk custard freshly prepared for His Majesty.

Mu Hanjiang recognized her as Consort Yi, who had recently returned from danger.

Although she was a favored consort, her attire was modest, without the abundance of jeweled hairpins that Consort Shang wore.

His Majesty took a sip, found the taste good, and instructed a palace maid to bring a warm cup to Mu Hanjiang as well.

Since childhood, Mu Hanjiang had frequented the palace, and regarding food, if anything was served, His Majesty always shared it with him.

In His Majesty’s words, a child he had watched grow up was no different from his son, and the palace servants were also accustomed to this.

Just then, a palace servant came to report that Duke Ding was requesting an audience.

His Majesty seemed unprepared and even choked a bit. Consort Yi quickly patted his back to help him clear his throat.

Mu Hanjiang was also puzzled as to why his father had suddenly come to the palace to see His Majesty today.

When Duke Ding entered, Emperor Chunde rose from behind the table, quickly walking several steps to support him: “Old Mu, I thought you were soaking in medicine pots and would never see me again in this lifetime.”

Mu Shen’s thin face radiated a warm smile, and he was about to perform a formal bow when Emperor Chunde stopped him: “There are no outsiders here. Are you afraid of protocol officers finding fault? Quick, bring Duke Ding a seat!”

In his youth, he had studied and traveled with Mu Shen, a friendship formed from childhood, quite unlike others.

After sitting down, Mu Shen looked at his son and asked with a smile, “Hanjiang, what brings you to the palace today?”

After Mu Hanjiang explained that he was reporting to His Majesty about the aftermath of the assassins due to the upcoming reception, Mu Shen nodded: “I heard that envoys from Wei Country are coming soon. At this critical juncture, everything should be handled cautiously. Speaking of which, this envoy is quite significant… I believe it’s the younger brother of the Wei King, named… Huo Buxun!”

Just then, Consort Yi seemed to lose her grip on her cup, and the lid fell to the ground.

Consort Yi remained composed, quickly bowing to His Majesty to apologize, then said, “Since Your Majesty wishes to discuss state affairs with the Duke, this concubine shall take her leave.”

Mu Shen smiled faintly, glancing at Consort Yi’s pale profile. After she left, he took out a notebook and handed it to His Majesty.

“Though I have been ill for many years and physically weak, I dare not forget Your Majesty’s command. I have arranged personnel to infiltrate the Wei Kingdom’s court for many years, collecting information on this envoy’s background and preferences, hoping it will assist in these negotiations…”

Mu Hanjiang knew that his father and the Emperor had not met for a long time and must have much to discuss, so he took his leave from the imperial study.

The assassins’ last traces had been at Five-Li Slope, which was also on the Crown Prince’s return route.

Mu Hanjiang decided to use the pretext of searching for the assassins’ whereabouts to coincidentally encounter the Crown Prince’s procession there.

When he returned to mobilize troops from the Dragon Scale Shadow Guards, he found that Gao Qi was not present, and upon inquiry, learned he was sick and had not reported for duty.

And all the people he usually relied on happened to be absent as well.

His mother’s confidant—Commander Cheng Kun of the Jing rank—approached him.

Upon hearing that Young Master Mu wanted to go to Five-Li Slope, he said, “Coincidentally, I have no duties today and can lead men to accompany the young master on this mission.”

Mu Hanjiang was not accustomed to using the Jing rank officers and instinctively wanted to refuse, but Cheng Kun said, “His Majesty’s investigation into the Ministry of Personnel’s scandal of selling official positions has arrested many civil and military officials. Because it’s not appropriate to go through the Court of Judicial Review, many Dragon Scale Shadow Guards have been borrowed. If the young master finds this subordinate unsuitable, there may be no one else available at the moment.”

Mu Hanjiang was only putting on a show today, going to explore the truth and confirm the Crown Prince’s identity.

So Mu Hanjiang allowed Cheng Kun to bring people and accompany him on this mission.

Meanwhile, the Crown Prince’s carriage had proceeded in fits and starts, and had now reached Five-Li Slope.

When Mu Hanjiang led the Dragon Scale Shadow Guards to Five-Li Slope, he “happened” to encounter the Crown Prince’s procession.

When he reached the convoy, Mu Hanjiang looked at the entourage coming from Jiangzhe and coldly said, “Why are all the Crown Prince’s guards unfamiliar faces? Take out your waist tokens; I need to inspect them.”