Farewell Flower Festival

Bai Shao, the personal maid, advised Shu Fei to sew again tomorrow, but Shu Fei said it was okay and it would be almost finished.

Chaoyan watched Shufei sewing a cloak for a while, and Baishao reminded her, "Princess, it's getting dark. I'll ask someone to take you back first." Shufei reminded Chaoyan to be careful on the road.

After coming out, Bai Shao called two young palace maids to send Chao Yan back.

On the way, Chao Yan accidentally saw a head of white hair. It was the priest Yu Chen. Eunuch De was leading the way in front, probably going to see Emperor Mu.

Before, she had heard Eunuch Wu say that priests could predict natural disasters and military calamities, and she wondered if there was going to be another war, or a natural disaster somewhere.

……

After arriving at the Imperial Study, Yu Chen felt the Emperor Mu's pulse and asked, "What do you think of my previous suggestion?" The Emperor Mu said, "Let's talk about it in a year or two."

Yu Chen took out a white porcelain medicine bottle from his sleeve and handed it to Emperor Mu, then left.

Emperor Mu called Eunuch De in and asked him if he thought the Crown Prince could take on the important task now. Eunuch De said, "Your Highness the Crown Prince is diligent and hardworking now, and with the Crown Princess always urging him on, he will definitely not disappoint the Emperor in the future."

Emperor Mu pondered for a moment and said, "Let King Xiaoyao come to the palace tomorrow."

Eunuch De agreed.

……

The next day, Emperor Mu summoned Mu Tianyuan and Shen He in the imperial study at the same time, and asked Mu Tianyuan to accompany Shen He to inspect the military camp tomorrow, and to ask Shen He if he had any questions about military affairs.

Mu Tianyuan went back and told Liu Sui about this matter, and felt that he might have done something wrong again.

"Father praised you a few days ago. He asked you to follow the prince to inspect the military camp so that you can be familiar with military affairs. You should pay more attention to yourself. If you don't understand anything, ask the prince. Don't put on airs when you arrive at the military camp. Just do whatever the prince says."

Mu Tianyuan muttered a few words, and Liu Sui began to pack his luggage and asked Luzhu to bring the cloak that she had sewn a few days ago.

When Luzhu came over with the cloak, Mu Tianyuan said that the color of the cloak was not good-looking. Luzhu reminded him in a low voice, "Your Highness, the material was chosen by the master, and the needle and thread were also sewed by the master."

Hearing the last sentence, Mu Tianyuan was stunned for a moment. When he realized that the cloak was sewn with willow spikes, he felt warm in his heart. He immediately changed his words and said that it looked good. He even put it on to try it on, and kept praising it for its beauty.

At this time, a little palace maid came to report that Princess Chaoyan had arrived.

Mu Tianyuan frowned and muttered, "Why are you coming here again?"

Liu Sui asked Lu Zhu to invite people in. When Chao Yan came in, she saw Mu Tianyuan with a sour face, obviously not welcoming her. She bowed and greeted, then went to talk to Liu Sui, the Crown Princess. Mu Tianyuan was left aside and snorted angrily to express his dissatisfaction.

"Your Highness, are you going on a long journey?" Chao Yan asked curiously, looking at the bag on the table.

Mu Tianyuan said unhappily, "What does it have to do with you? Stop asking."

Liu Sui asked Lu Zhu to bring something. Lu Zhu brought a brocade box and handed it to Chao Yan, saying, "Master, I don't know what the princess likes. This jade pendant is your dowry. Please don't dislike it, princess."

When Chaoyan heard the word "dowry", she was stunned for a moment. After she realized what was happening, she said that it was too expensive and she could not accept it.

Liu Sui opened the box and took out the jade pendant. She reached out and took Chao Yan's hand and placed the jade pendant in her hand.

Mu Tianyuan snorted again to express his dissatisfaction.

"Your Highness will follow the prince to the military camp tomorrow, and will inevitably trouble the prince later. This is a small gift from me, so please accept it, Princess."

Liu Sui's words were spoken in a dignified and graceful manner, without any flattery. Chao Yan accepted the jade pendant, which made Mu Tianyuan snort again.

Chaoyan really couldn't figure out what good things Mu Tianyuan had done in his previous life to be able to marry such a virtuous wife?

The next day, Mu Tianyuan followed Shen He to the military camp, and Emperor Mu sent Han Lie to accompany them.

In the morning, Chaoyan went to Baibuting to ride two laps in the snow, then went to talk to the Crown Princess, and in the evening she went to visit Empress Shufei.

After meeting Mu Tianqi while riding a horse one morning, she stopped going to Baibuting.

The Second Prince didn't do anything to her, he just talked to her, but there were always hidden meanings between the lines, which was more tiring than talking to Concubine Yin. She filled her day's schedule specially to avoid chatting with Concubine Yin, and would never ask for trouble by chatting with the Second Prince.

……

Time flies, Chaoyan has lived in the palace for nearly half a month. During this period, she has not seen Mu Tianling once. She is a little worried that he will meet Miss Liu behind her back. It’s not that she doesn’t trust him, she is just a little worried.

Mu Tianyuan also stayed in the military camp for half a month. When he came back, he was very thin. As soon as he entered the house, he complained to Liu Sui, without caring whether there was anyone else in the house. He said that the tent in the military camp was leaking and he was so cold that he couldn't sleep well at night.

Chaoyan happened to be there too, and Liu Sui felt a little embarrassed, so Chaoyan said goodbye first. Mu Tianyuan watched her leave with a resentful look on his face.

The next day after Shen He returned from the military camp, he came to pick up Chao Yan and took her back home. But Chao Yan sneaked out in the afternoon.

It happened that Mu Tianling was on vacation that day and stayed in his house. Chao Yan went to the Jiuxing Division but found it empty-handed, so he went to Prince Ling's Mansion instead.

Seeing Eunuch Wu, whom she had not seen for a long time, Chao Yan was so excited that she hugged him. Mu Tianling happened to see this. His expression suddenly became a little strange, as if he had seen something incomprehensible.

Before Chaoyan could reminisce about the past, Eunuch Wu asked her to have a good chat with Mu Tianling and left first.

When there were only two of them left, Mu Tianling still maintained a calm look. When Chao Yan ran over, the calm expression on his face disappeared. He thought she would jump up and hug him like last time. He even raised his hands to catch her, but Chao Yan stopped in front of him, which made him a little embarrassed.

Seeing Chao Yan staring at him without saying anything, Mu Tianling asked, "You don't recognize me after not seeing me for a few days?" Chao Yan asked back, "Your Highness, do you miss me?"

Such a straightforward question made Mu Tianling blush a little. He changed the subject awkwardly and said, "You are in the palace." Before he finished speaking, Chao Yan hugged his slender waist. She looked up at him and said, "I miss Your Highness."

A pair of watery eyes made Mu Tianling feel like a kitten scratching his heart. He grabbed her hand and led her into the house. After closing the door, he pressed her against the door and lowered his head to get close to her. The breath between the two gradually heated up. Chao Yan felt her heart pounding, almost jumping to her throat, and her face was hot from time to time, even to her ears.

Her lips softened slightly, and she closed her eyes involuntarily...

When she opened her eyes again, it seemed as if a century had passed and yet only a second had passed. The sound of her own violent heartbeat was still echoing in her ears. There was a little sparkling mist in her eyes and her cheeks were as rosy as peach blossoms. When she raised her watery eyes to look at him, she felt uneasy, happy, shy, and a little aggrieved, mixed with a little bit of helplessness.

He held her in his arms, gently stroked her hair with his chin, and whispered in her ear, "I missed you, too."