CH 51

Chapter 51: The Way I Look At You, Is It Weird?

Yu Muyao smiled and said: “The Prince is being really cautious. In that case, A-Lian, you can also go wait outside.” 

A-Lian nodded her head, leaned over, and walked away. At that moment, only Qi Ci and Yu Muyao remained in the main hall.

Qi Ci invited her to sit down and asked: “May I know why the County Princess has come here today in such a hurry?”

Yu Muyao slowly took a sip of the fragrant and bitter tea and said: “I’m here to discuss our marriage.”

Qi Ci froze.

Yu Muyao put down the porcelain cup. When the cup finally touched the wooden table with a soft sound, with a smile on her face, Yu Muyao spoke as she gently stroked the edge of the cup with her index finger: “Yesterday, Empress Dowager wanted to match us together in marriage, but His Highness refused decisively. At first, I thought that as the night went by, His Highness would understand that a marriage between us is the most beneficial at the moment. So I took the liberty of coming here uninvited today. However, who would’ve thought that after coming here, I would accidentally understand the real reason behind the Prince rejecting me.”

Although Qi Ci’s heart thumped, he thought that Yu Muyao was trying to scare him. After thinking about it, he asked in return: “A reason? I would like to know what the County Princess has understood about me?”

Yu Muyao smiled cheekily as she approached Qi Ci. After holding their hands together, she said with a bright smile on her face: “Since the Prince already has someone he likes, how could he pay attention to me?”

Qi Ci retreated half a step back, widening the distance between them, and said: “Did the Empress Dowager discuss this with the County Princess?”

“Oh?” Yu Muyao laughed. “It turns out His Highness has really made his feelings clear to the Empress Dowager? Then, I wonder, has His Highness also told the Empress Dowager that the person His Highness likes is the Demon Slayer guarding outside?”

Her words were like a thunderstorm in Qi Ci’s ears. As his whole body froze in place, it took him a long time before he could utter a word: “You, you….”

Originally, Yu Muyao asked this to test him, but she didn’t expect to obtain such a strong reaction from Qi Ci. She was very proud of herself, after all, she had guessed right. Taking advantage of the situation, she exaggerated: “Your Highness, the way you stare at the Demon Slayer is so affectionate that only a fool wouldn’t see what His Highness wants.”

At the same time, Bian Zhonghua, the ‘fool’, was hugging his arms as he leaned outside the main hall’s door, staring at the immaculate sky with heavy emotions surging inside his heart.

At that moment, the Steward came looking for him: “Lord Bian, why are you waiting outside? Ah, right! I have something to tell you, His Highness the Crown Prince has summoned the Prince to the Imperial Palace. Lord Bian, please tell the Prince and then accompany him into the Palace as a bodyguard.”

Bian Zhonghua stood up straight, smiled, and said to the Steward that he understood. However, in his mind, he was thinking: ‘Why is there so much trouble inside and outside the Palace? Why is everyone trying to involve Qi Ci?’

The Steward continued: “Also, Empress Dowager has ordered the Prince to go to the Northern Border to transport the coffin of his mother back to the Capital. State Master Li asked me to tell you that you’re in charge of selecting 10 Secret Servants to follow and protect the Prince.”

“Ah,” Bian Zhonghua’s eyes flashed. As he suppressed down the momentary apathy surging inside his heart, he said: “I understand.”

After he finished giving the instructions, the Steward left.

Then, Bian Zhonghua leaned back against the pillar with his arms folded again. As he looked up at the sky again, the corners of his mouth raised a little.

Coincidentally, two people walked out of the main hall. Of course, they were Yu Muyao and Qi Ci.

Bian Zhonghua was stunned.

‘Why did they come out so soon?’

“Then, Your Highness, I’ll be going.” Yu Muyao smiled and bowed to Qi Ci. When she saw Bian Zhonghua standing outside, waiting, her eyes turned back and forth between the two of them. Then, all of a sudden, she pulled up her sleeve to cover her lips and smile.

Bian Zhonghua was puzzled after seeing her smile like this. But when he looked at Qi Ci’s appearance, his eyebrows knitted gently.

Yu Muyao didn’t want to get involved between the two of them, so she simply left with A-Lian.

As the sound of the horses’ hooves slowly ran over the blue stone slabs at the entrance of the Prince’s Residence, A-Lian could see that Yu Muyao was in a hurry. Worried, she couldn’t help but ask: “Miss, are you and the Prince….”

“Not a chance.” Yu Muyao waved her hand casually. “I’ve always wanted to go visit the Northern Border, where my father fought and defeated the enemy. Coincidentally, it also happens to be the place where the Prince grew up. If I were to marry him, our fiefdom would be in the Northern Border. However, even though I do think the Prince is very pleasing to the eye, unfortunately, he already has someone he likes.”

A-Lian thought to herself, ‘What if he has someone he likes? Miss is so excellent, which girl can compare with her? How can Prince Chongfeng not like Yu Muyao?’

“If Miss really likes the Prince, you can always ask the Lord….”

“No, no, no.” Yu Muyao put her hands on her waist as she said: “I’m not going to marry someone that doesn’t like me! I’ll simply be wronging myself!”

Immediately feeling justified, A-Lian nodded her head.

After sending Yu Muyao away from the Prince’s Residence, Qi Ci still had a haunted look on his face.

Bian Zhonghua couldn’t stand to see him like this anymore. Once he saw that there was no one around, he stretched out a hand and pinched Qi Ci’s cheek: “The County Princess has already gone far away. Stop thinking about it.”

At that moment, Qi Ci raised his head. With a sad face, he opened his mouth and asked: “Bian Zhonghua, the way I look at you, is it weird?”