Chapter 55: Plan

Chapter 55: Intentions

Last night was the most peaceful sleep Mu Chi had enjoyed in years.

Qiao Wan nestled in his arms without the slightest resistance; he leaned against her shoulder, and they fit together perfectly.

But upon waking to an empty space beside him, Mu Chi was seized by panic, fearing the beauty of the previous night was merely a dream. It wasn't until he saw Qiao Wan that his heart finally settled.

Si Li had tactfully withdrawn to a discreet distance, keeping watch.

Mu Chi strode towards Qiao Wan, his eyes tinged with red, his voice hoarse and laced with apprehension: "What are you doing here?"

Qiao Wan looked at him, puzzled, about to speak, when Chu Wujiu timidly tugged at her hand beside her.

Qiao Wan lowered her head. Wujiu was, after all, a child, still terrified in the grim military camp. She softened her voice to comfort him: "Wujiu, don’t be afraid."

Mu Chi’s expression flickered. In his panic and confusion, he had only noticed the woman in the red brocade cloak, so striking in the desolate, cold camp. Only now did he clearly see that she was holding someone’s hand.

She had come for Chu Wujiu.

Mu Chi looked at her hand tightly clasping Chu Wujiu’s, then, after a long moment, shifted his gaze and took her other hand: "First, let’s return to the tent…"

Before he could finish, Qiao Wan pulled her hand back.

Mu Chi paused briefly, then looked up at her.

"Thank you for what happened last night," Qiao Wan said calmly, glancing at the wound on his hand. After all, he had saved her. "But since I didn’t return to the Gold and Silver Pavilion last night, Yicui must be extremely worried. I should head back now."

Mu Chi gradually calmed down: "I’ll send Si Li to inform—"

"Wujiu and I don’t belong here," Qiao Wan interrupted, lowering her gaze. "This is your military camp, after all."

"It’s fine…"

"I don’t want to." Qiao Wan looked up, meeting his gaze, her voice quiet.

This time, Mu Chi fell silent, his throat working, dry and sore.

Qiao Wan waited a moment but received no response. She looked towards Si Li in the distance: "I’ll go find Guard Si first."

With that, she took Chu Wujiu’s hand and turned to leave.

But Mu Chi suddenly stepped forward, blocking her path.

Qiao Wan frowned and shot him a glare, trying to step around him, but Mu Chi reached out and grasped her wrist. He didn’t use much force, yet it was enough to prevent her from breaking free.

Qiao Wan was furious: "What are you doing?"

Mu Chi looked at her cheeks, flushed with anger, and said: "Qiao Wan, you always want to push me away, to distance yourself from me." His Adam’s apple bobbed heavily. "You never planned to be with me, did you?"

Qiao Wan’s expression stiffened. She fell silent, staring at the tent in the distance, and after a long while, said softly: "I did plan it."

Mu Chi’s eyes trembled. He looked up at her but saw none of the joy or vitality she once had.

She spoke calmly, as if narrating someone else’s story: "I once planned that if I could leave Lingjing, I would go with you and Yicui to a place where it snows every year, to live a peaceful and happy life."

She had never told anyone this before. That brief glimpse in the marketplace—she had never seen such a handsome man, like an immortal who had strayed into the mortal world.

Since childhood, everyone had adored Qiao Qingni and praised Qiao Qingni. Mu Chi was the one she had won from Qiao Qingni.

Such a beautiful person, gentle to her every day, able to see through her false bravado, quick to protect her when she was harmed, and covering his face when she felt jealous—it was too easy to fall for him.

From initial reluctant admiration to genuine affection after being together day after day, it took only a little over a month.

Mu Chi looked at Qiao Wan, who spoke these words so calmly, his face turned pale. He never knew, never realized… that she had once thought this way.

And back then, he…

Mu Chi’s hand trembled violently. He turned abruptly and said sharply: "Si Li."

Si Li hurried over from nearby: "Young Master."

"Take her back." Mu Chi uttered these words and left as hastily as he had arrived.

Si Li didn’t know what had happened but glanced at Qiao Wan and said: "Miss Qiao, please."

Qiao Wan nodded to Si Li, letting him lead the way as she boarded the carriage and slowly left the camp.

Gold and Silver Pavilion.

Yicui stood anxiously at the entrance. Before long, several guards came over from different directions and shook their heads: "Miss Yicui, we haven’t seen the Young Lady."

"Young Master Wen isn’t at home. We heard he went to the Prefect’s office early this morning and couldn’t find out the Young Lady’s whereabouts either."

Hearing this, Yicui grew even more uneasy, wringing her hands and pacing back and forth at the entrance of the Gold and Silver Pavilion.

In the distance, the sound of hoofbeats echoed, unusually clear in the quiet morning light. Yicui looked up sharply.

An unfamiliar carriage.

Her face fell with disappointment, but the next moment, she looked up again, staring wide-eyed at the person driving the carriage.

Si Li called "Whoa" to the horses, and the carriage came to a stop. He jumped down and looked at Yicui waiting at the entrance of the Gold and Silver Pavilion. He couldn’t help but feel a sense of sentiment—the once timid woman he had seen in the princess’s residence now seemed much more at ease. Si Li stepped forward and cupped his hands in salute: "Miss Yicui."

Yicui’s face paled, afraid that she had been found and would implicate her Young Lady. She was about to turn and go back inside when she saw Qiao Wan emerge from the carriage, holding Chu Wujiu’s hand.

"Young Lady!" Yicui’s eyes reddened as she hurried forward. "Are you all right? Today is the fifteenth, have you…"

Qiao Wan smiled at Yicui: "Do I look like something’s wrong?"

Yicui finally relaxed somewhat, then glanced at Si Li: "Young Lady, how exactly did you…"

Only then did Qiao Wan react. She turned to look at Si Li: "Thank you for seeing me home, Guard Si."

Si Li quickly waved his hand, bid them farewell, and drove the carriage away.

Chu Wujiu, weary from the journey, looked exhausted. Qiao Wan had Qing Ya take him back to his room to rest.

Yicui, still concerned about Qiao Wan—as her Young Lady always had a difficult time on the fifteenth of each month—followed Qiao Wan to her bedroom. Only after confirming she was truly unharmed did she finally relax.

But then another concern occurred to her: "Young Lady, since Guard Si brought you back, then…"

"I’ve already met Mu Chi," Qiao Wan said, knowing what Yicui was concerned about. "He is now the Crown Prince of Great Qi."

"Crown Prince…" Yicui murmured, then widened her eyes in shock. "But he wasn’t… he wasn’t…"

"A courtesan?" Qiao finished for her, pouring herself a cup of warm tea to wash away the lingering metallic taste in her mouth.

Yicui nodded, her eyes wide.

“He was never a courtesan, he...” Qiao Wan paused, the teacup in her hand stilling for a moment before she added offhandedly, “He was lying.”

Yicui watched Qiao Wan's expression, her own face growing a bit dazed.

Seeing Yicui still looked worried, Qiao Wan couldn't help but laugh and teased, "Alright, haven't I returned safe and sound? The Gold and Silver Pavilion still relies on you!"

But Yicui didn't brighten, only stared at her. After a long while, as if steeling herself, she said, "Miss, there's actually something I've been hiding from you."

"Hmm?" Qiao Wan took another sip of tea, asking without much concern.

She knew Yicui was good to her; all these years she had been well aware. Even if Yicui kept something from her, there must have been a reason.

Yicui pursed her lips: "Back in Lingjing, when you were locked in your bedchamber with shackles, someone always came to apply medicine to the wounds on your ankles. You asked me if it was me, and I nodded."

"I lied to you, Miss. I actually saw it at night—the one who applied the medicine for you was... that Mu Chi."

Qiao Wan looked at the ripples in her teacup, didn't move a muscle.

Yicui continued, "And the medicine you took every day to regulate your health—the catalyst was... Mu Chi's blood. I never thought human blood could cure illness. I just assumed the prescription suited your condition, so I never mentioned it. Now that you're in such pain every month, it's all my fault..."

As Yicui spoke, she made to kneel, but Qiao Wan quickly stopped her: "What are you doing? Do you think if I had known his blood could ease my pain, I wouldn't have left Lingjing?"

Yicui lowered her head and said nothing.

She just didn’t want Miss to be hurt anymore by that man named Mu Chi.

Back then, after Miss jumped off the cliff of Yanming Mountain, disappeared for over twenty days, and returned from Chuzhou, she slept for three full days.

During those three days, Miss shed many tears, even at times gasping for breath.

Several times, she heard Miss sobbing in her sleep, saying, "It hurts so much, Mother."

The last time Miss had been this distressed was when she discovered the Emperor was only using her to test medicines.

Three days later, Miss woke up and resumed her bold demeanor, but Yicui still felt she was different.

It was as if she had built an impenetrable high wall in her heart, locking away all the people and things that had caused her pain and sorrow behind it, refusing to let anyone—even herself—take another look.

Seeing Yicui with reddened eyes, Qiao Wan helplessly stood up and knelt in front of her: "Yicui, I won’t blame you."

How could she bear to blame someone who had been so good to her?

She didn't want to dwell on why Mu Chi had done those things.

Once, she thought Mu Chi liked her, which was why he treated her with such tender care, but in truth, it was only exploitation; later, she asked him, "Do you like me?" and he said, "No."

Three times was enough—so she would never ask again.

Seeing Yicui still looking guilty, Qiao Wan couldn’t help but laugh: "I haven’t bathed or changed clothes since yesterday, and I’m really uncomfortable. Do you have the heart to keep me crouching here with you?"

Hearing Qiao Wan’s light tone, Yicui finally managed a tearful smile and wiped her cheeks: "Then I’ll have someone prepare hot water first."

Qiao Wan nodded, smiling as she watched Yicui walk out.

The bedchamber fell silent again, and the smile on Qiao Wan’s lips gradually faded. She stood quietly in place for a long time before snapping out of it, let out a bitter laugh, and turned back into the room.

*

When Mu Chi returned to the tent, he sat quietly behind the desk, staring blankly at where the bed stood empty.

Just yesterday, he had held Qiao Wan in his arms on that couch, but today only emptiness and cold remained.

Only a few faint traces of warm fragrance still lingered in the tent.

Mu Chi’s fingertips trembled slightly. He had never imagined that Qiao Wan had once considered taking him away with her, that he had been part of her plans for the future.

It was never her leaving him—it was him destroying her hopes.

"My lord, I’ve already seen Miss Qiao back," Si Li waited outside for a while before entering the tent to report.

Mu Chi’s gaze shifted, looking in his direction, but his eyes remained dazed and confused as he murmured distractedly, "Miss Qiao?"

Si Li was startled and quickly corrected himself: "Princess Changle."

Mu Chi responded softly, "Did she say anything?"

Si Li fell silent.

Mu Chi slowly lowered his downcast eyes and said nothing for a long time.

Perhaps after the time it takes half an incense stick to burn, he finally spoke: "Si Li, she said she once wanted to take that male entertainer with her."

Si Li listened quietly, knowing the Young Master just needed to say something.

Mu Chi’s voice was very soft, as if murmuring to himself: "She really liked that male entertainer back then..."

That male entertainer he regarded as a disgrace, unwilling to recall, looking down upon.

Si Li dared to look up and glance at Mu Chi, cautiously suggesting, "It’s cold today, My lord. Perhaps you should put on something warmer?"

Mu Chi gradually came back to himself, looked down at his thin white inner robe, and stared blankly for a long time before nodding: "You’re right, I should change clothes." He stood up, raised his hand, and said, "You may go."

"Yes," Si Li bowed and clasped his hands, about to turn away.

"Wait," Mu Chi belatedly thought of something and hesitated before asking, "What do children... like?"

Si Li didn’t have children either, but after thinking hard, he replied, "Probably... they like the finest things."

Mu Chi fell silent. The finest things?

Si Li looked puzzled at the Young Master, then suddenly understood, a shock in his eyes as he cautiously said, "My lord, Princess Changle seems to be already engaged..."

Mu Chi’s body stiffened, his hand hanging at his side clenching tightly.

Si Li felt a chill down his spine, held his ground a moment, and said, "I take my leave."

Mu Chi remained standing in place, his expression inscrutable. After a long while, he let out a mirthless laugh and walked into the side tent.

The ground was covered with a thick felt carpet, and a daybed lay quietly on it.

Mu Chi stood for a long time before walking to the rosewood clothing chest nearby. He gently brushed his hand over the carved phoenix on the chest and opened it.

Inside was a snow-white garment, and beside it, a lacquered wooden hairpin with cloud patterns.

Mu Chi raised his hand, his fingertips slowly brushing over the clothing. After a long while, he took it out. The not-so-expensive garment unfolded, swirling like clouds and snow...

On the other side.

Si Li left the tent still shaken and hurried back to his own tent. He then summoned the assigned shadow guard: "Have you found out what I asked you to investigate?"

"Yes," the shadow guard said seriously. "Princess Changle once hired guards from Zhenyuan Security Agency to travel north. I’ve already sent a carrier pigeon to our informants in the Li Kingdom."

"Yes," Si Li nodded, distractedly. "Tell them to make it quick on that end."

"Understood."

*

Perhaps due to the recent stationing of Great Qi's troops in Jiuyuan City, the townsfolk had sensed a tense military atmosphere, resulting in fewer customers visiting the Gold and Silver Pavilion to purchase clothing and jewelry.

Qiao Wan rarely stayed at the shop, allowing Wujiu to play outside while she sat idly behind the counter, chin in hand, listening to the accountant and a few seamstresses whispering among themselves.

Unexpectedly, just after mid-morning, an uninvited guest arrived at the shop.

At first, Qiao Wan didn’t recognize the visitor, but the moment the man saw her, his expression shifted slightly, followed by a light, disdainful snort.

Qiao Wan couldn’t help but take a few more glances at him, eventually recognizing him as Guo Wuan, the man she had once been set up with for a matchmaking meeting. Now, he was accompanied by a pleasure house girl.

Since he was, after all, a wealthy merchant in Jiuyuan, Qiao Wan greeted him with a polite smile. To her surprise, her courtesy only seemed to embolden him further. He spoke with a sarcastic, mocking tone, "Some people have no shame showing their face in public. Even after having a child, they still had the nerve to attend a matchmaking meeting."

Qiao Wan frowned. Just then, she noticed the pleasure house girl picking up a gold filigree and kingfisher-feather hairpin from the shop and handing it to the accountant.

Guo Wuan arrogantly asked, "How much?"

As the accountant was about to answer, Qiao Wan leisurely interjected, "Five thousand taels."

Guo Wuan’s eyes widened in shock. "Are you robbing me? This is worth two hundred taels at most."

"Could it be that the young master doesn’t even have five thousand taels?" Qiao Wan said in mock surprise, covering her lips with her hand.

"You—" Guo Wuan began to retort, but the girl at his side tugged at his sleeve. Not wanting to lose face, he could only glare hatefully at Qiao Wan, toss the hairpin back onto the counter, and stomp out.

His departure meant little—the Gold and Silver Pavilion wasn’t short of customers. Qiao Wan didn’t give the incident another thought.

Yet, to her surprise, in less than the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, Guo Wuan returned. Just as Qiao Wan was about to ask what else he wanted, he fell to his knees with a thud, his face pale, and kowtowed to her repeatedly. "This lowly one was greatly disrespectful earlier. Please forgive me, Miss Qiao, please forgive me..."

With each kowtow, he repeated his plea.

Everyone in the shop stared in shock.

Only after kowtowing until his forehead was bleeding did Guo Wuan tremblingly rise to his feet and stumble out. He cast a terrified glance toward a nearby corner, not even bothering to wipe the blood from his forehead before fleeing in panic.

Mu Chi watched lazily as he scurried away, then withdrew his gaze and slowly made his way toward the Gold and Silver Pavilion. Dressed in white, he seemed to glow under the winter sun, as if haloed in light. His skin was like snow, his bones like ice, his features carved from jade, his eyes pitch-black, as though cloaked in wintry winds and snow.

The only incongruity was the stick of candied hawthorn in his hand. The glossy, transparent sugar coating and bright red hawthorn berries, ordinarily quite common, seemed like rare delicacies or precious jade when held by him.

Mu Chi walked all the way to where Chu Wujiu was playing outside the Gold and Silver Pavilion and looked down at him.

What ate at him had never been Chu Wujiu’s existence itself, but rather... he didn’t dare dwell on the thought that Qiao Wan, someone so averse to pain and so unwilling to suffer the slightest hardship, would willingly bear a child for someone. If she did, she must have cared deeply for that person.

And that—that was what he cared about intensely.

Mu Chi glanced at Chu Wujiu’s delicate neck, forcing himself to look away. After hesitating for a long moment, he crouched down and offered him the candied hawthorn.

Chu Wujiu opened his eyes wide, looking at the treat, then at Mu Chi. His small face slightly pale, he pressed his lips together and remained silent.

"You don’t want it?" Mu Chi tilted his head, his voice unnaturally gentle.

Chu Wujiu pressed his lips even tighter, still saying nothing.

Mu Chi lowered his gaze, pondering seriously for a moment, then looked up and asked, "Then, do you want to be Crown Prince?"

Author's Note:

Wujiu: ??? Mom, there’s a creepy stranger!