freenovelworld Chapter 133 Impossible to Guard Against!
Chapter 133 Impossible to Guard Against!
In the following days, Mu Xin Nuan was extremely busy!
She was still a child after all, and bound by her status, she couldn't do many things herself and had to entrust them to Rong Yue and others around her. For example, finding out news about Mu Xinyao and the Plum Courtyard.
Princess Zhaoyang's birthday was approaching, and during dinner that evening, the old lady brought up the matter again.
"Daughter-in-law, I heard you're going to Princess Zhaoyang's residence tomorrow?"
"Yes, Mother."
"Princess Zhaoyang is extremely favored by the Emperor, so we must not prepare a meager gift for her."
"Yes, mother."
"Is Anuan going tomorrow too?" The old lady's gaze fell on Mu Xinnuan's face.
"Reporting to Mother, Princess Zhaoyang specifically requested that my daughter-in-law bring Anuan over. She had seen Anuan before when we were in the palace."
The old lady nodded. "Anuan is a sensible child. It's good for her to see such grand occasions. But what about Xinyao?"
The old lady hesitated slightly, a hint of apology in her eyes, but at the same time, when she looked at Madam Li again, there was a sense of anticipation.
"Mother, you know who Princess Zhaoyang is. It's impossible to celebrate her birthday without an invitation!"
Mu Xinyao quickly said, "Mother, there's no need to make things difficult. I'll just stay home and take care of Grandmother."
Mu Xin Nuan glanced at her and smiled faintly. She had indeed become smarter and knew how to act well-behaved and sensible in front of others.
The dinner went fairly well. After returning to Yuexuan, Mu Xinnuan didn't rush to sleep. Instead, she pondered repeatedly about Mu Xinyao's well-behaved behavior that evening. It was somewhat unexpected, but more than that, it was strange!
Mu Xin Nuan didn't believe that her half-sister had really become well-behaved. There's always something fishy going on when things are abnormal, and that saying is absolutely true!
"Mu Hua, has Mu Xinyao done anything unusual these past two days?"
"Miss, I did not find anything wrong with her."
Mu Xin Nuan frowned. "Keep an eye on her, as well as her head maid and nanny. I don't believe she'll just be a good girl from now on."
"Yes, ma'am."
The next day, Mu Xinnuan waited at the second gate early in the morning. Sure enough, her aunt Liu came over with Li Wanyue not long after.
Mu Xin Nuan took Li Wan Yue to her own courtyard first, saying she wanted to ask her to help her pick out some more suitable accessories.
As soon as the two entered the house, Rongyue quickly went out, closed the door, and stood guard outside.
"What is my cousin doing? Why are you being so secretive?"
Mu Xin Nuan just smiled and didn't explain further. About half an hour later, the group went to Princess Zhao Yang's residence together.
The princess's residence was naturally very grand, with flowers in full bloom, pavilions every three steps and towers every five steps, exuding nobility and elegance, and overwhelming wealth! Even the cobblestones paving the passageway, upon closer inspection, did not come from the capital, but were probably presented as tribute from other places.
“Princess Zhaoyang is the Emperor’s beloved daughter, so it’s only natural that her residence is so grand,” Li Wanyue said with a smile.
Mu Xin Nuan remained silent. She saw Yang Yu'er leading Luo Yingying over, and with a flick of her long eyelashes, she turned and pulled Li Wan Yue away to look at the scenery elsewhere.
Until the banquet ended, everything seemed normal. Mu Xin Nuan stayed with Li Wan Yue the whole time, never separating. Just when Mu Xin Nuan thought she should breathe a sigh of relief, a maidservant hurried over.
"Excuse me, are you Miss Mu?"
"Indeed. May I ask what business this lady has with me?"
"This servant dares not, it is the princess who has invited me. The princess has just drunk some fruit syrup and is resting in the warm pavilion. She said she would like to invite Miss Mu to come over for a chat."
Mu Xin Nuan blinked, "I wonder if there are any other people in Nuan Pavilion who are also talking with Her Highness?"
"Miss Mu, Madam Yang and Miss Yang from the Duke of Anguo's Mansion are also here."
Mu Xin Nuan nodded and smiled, "Alright, please lead the way, sister."
Li Wanyue naturally brought her maid with her, but because of what happened at the Duke of Anguo's mansion, she didn't dare to move around freely anymore. She just sat in the pavilion, admiring the flowers while waiting for Mu Xinnuan to come back and keep her company.
On the stone table in the pavilion sits an incense burner the size of a jade plate, but only about half a foot tall. Made of bronze, wisps of smoke drift slowly and continuously from it. Even without wind, the shape of the smoke is as alluring and beautiful as a woman.
Li Wanyue sat for a while, leaning against the railing. Before long, she felt weak all over and drowsy.
Having learned from her previous experience, if Li Wanyue still doesn't realize she's being tricked this time, she'd be incredibly stupid!
She watched as her maidservant's body went limp and she sat down on the ground. She herself was too weak to even lift her hand. In her hazy state, she seemed to see a pair of black court boots. She glanced upwards, but only managed to catch a glimpse of the person's chin and a rough outline before she knew nothing more.
Mu Xin Nuan followed the maid all the way to the East Warm Pavilion, where Princess Zhao Yang was indeed leaning on the couch, talking with Yang Yu Er. It seemed that the atmosphere was quite harmonious.
"Greetings to the princess."
"Is this Mu family's Anuan? Please get up and have a seat."
"Thank you, Your Highness Princess."
"I heard from Yu'er that your zither playing is excellent, so I had someone invite you over."
Mu Xin Nuan remained unmoved and said with utmost respect, "This humble woman's musical skills are crude; how dare I embarrass myself before the princess? I fear that I might offend Your Highness's ears, and that would be my fault!"
“Why be so modest, Ah Nuan? Your half-sister can play the zither so well, which shows how much your Mu family values this skill. Moreover, I’ve heard Mu Xinyao mention more than once that your zither skills are far superior to hers.”
Mu Xin Nuan smiled slightly. This Yang Yu'er is getting better and better at talking! If she insisted on not playing the zither, she would not only offend Princess Zhaoyang, but also be branded as inferior to her half-sister! Was she trying to belittle herself, or was she trying to elevate Mu Xin Yao?
"More than once? If I remember correctly, Miss Yang and my sister have only met a few times in total, right?"
Yang Yu'er's smile deepened, "Yes, that's exactly why. Yet I always hear your sister praising you, which shows just how much she admires you!"
Mu Xin Nuan's lips curled up slightly. Judging from her expression, she was clearly on Mu Xin Yao's side. Regardless of whether she played the zither today, at least in Princess Zhao Yang's memory, Mu Xin Yao was a concubine's daughter who knew how to be humble and respect her elder sister!
"Since Miss Yang says so, Your Highness, then I shall make a fool of myself and offer my music. But I wonder what kind of music Your Highness would like to hear?"