Chapter 1541: Chapter 1536: The Plan Revealed

He couldn’t let Qin Muyan end up like himself, injured in his early years and unable to have children.

Qin Rulie said so, but the civil officials and Martial Generals looked at Qin Muyan with a somewhat gossipy gaze.

It was nothing else; when Qin Muyan entered, his complexion was rosy and his steps steady, not at all like someone weary, the lingering flush on his face and slightly upturned lips seemed like he had experienced a vibrant and fragrant affair, only then ‘tired’ a bit.

The ministers’ eyes quickly turned ambiguous, and after the court session, in groups of twos and threes, they gathered to discuss and joke about it.

Qin Muyan wasn’t deaf, but he couldn’t go explaining one by one, the matters of his and Rong Yun’s private room could only be left to their speculation.

Yet before he could leave the palace gate, he was accosted by the current Minister of Personnel, Li Bo, the father of Li Yunshu, who held a third rank and was from the direct line of the Ducal Manor, having grown up under Qin Ge’s knee. Privately, he called him Second Uncle.

Now that he had married Li Bo’s daughter, although she was a secondary consort, he still had to respect Li Bo as his Father-in-law, greeting him with a smile, “Lord Li.”

“Greetings to Your Highness from your subordinate, I heard that His Highness was feeling unwell today and came to express my concerns. It must be due to my daughter’s inadequate care that has caused Your Highness’s ailment. I shall punish myself first,” said Li Bo, about to lift his robe and kneel to punish himself.

Qin Muyan hurriedly helped him, “Lord Li speaks too seriously, the secondary consort is very cautious, my ailment has nothing to do with her, there is no need for self-blame.”

Li Bo sighed deeply, chatting about family matters while walking with Qin Muyan, and casually revealed that today was his birthday, which was usually celebrated with Li Yunshu at home. Now that Li Yunshu was a secondary consort, without the prince’s permission, she couldn’t just run back home to celebrate with him.

Qin Muyan immediately understood that Li Bo missed Li Yunshu. Knowing the current importance of Duke Li’s household to the Great Wei Dynasty, and considering the previous prescription of the infertility medicine which might have hurt her, he agreed to Li Bo instantly, promising to fetch Li Yunshu from the prince’s mansion back to Duke Li’s household for a family reunion.

When Li Bo thanked Qin Muyan for his grace, he also invited Qin Muyan to join them at Duke Li’s household for lunch. Considering Rong Yun was waiting for him in the evening, Qin Muyan thought he could make a trip at noon and return by evening, so he agreed to Li Bo. He met Li Yunshu at the gate of the prince’s mansion and went with her to Duke Li’s household.

Qin Muyan had not dismounted before the prince’s mansion gate when he picked up Li Yunshu and left, which was seen by Madam Yan’s people and immediately reported back.

Madam Yan’s heart sank, “This is not good. Our preparations might have been discovered by the secondary consort. His Highness might not come tonight.”

“What?”

Rong Yun’s dance costume slipped from her hands, and she immediately became very anxious, “But I prepared a surprise for Qin Muyan, the Dance of the Phoenix reaches the heavens, and a lot of delicious food, I even wanted to consummate our marriage… Is he really not coming?”

Madam Yan frowned tightly, “There must be some mistake somewhere. I have guarded thoroughly, I don’t know where the secondary consort got her means from!”

The more serious she became, the sadder Rong Yun felt. She looked down at the dance costume that had fallen to the floor, “My birthday, my coming-of-age ceremony, Qin Muyan isn’t coming? He promised me…”

Madam Yan consoled Rong Yun, “Princess, don’t be heartbroken. Let’s wait for half a day, allow me to clarify things first, then I’ll find a way for you!”

“Aunt, I want to see Qin Muyan, I must see him tonight!” Rong Yun was very adamant, some things can be postponed, but her birthday, her coming-of-age ceremony, it happens once in a lifetime, and she needed to celebrate with the most important person, she couldn’t let it happen!

She relied heavily on Madam Yan, and Madam Yan had always lived up to her expectations.

Only during her investigation did she discover that it wasn’t someone from their yard who let something slip. Every person brought from Beiling City was absolutely loyal to Rong Yun!

The only ones new to the yard were a team of palace guards, but their leader was appointed by Qin Muyan, there’s no reason for them to betray.

This left only the people around Qin Muyan as the leaks!

Madam Yan then re-investigated those around Qin Muyan and found a maidservant who had served Qin Muyan for many years, a first-class maid called Xiaowan, had recently become quite wealthy, dressed in clothes and jewelry made of gold and jade, ostentatiously lording it over the other maidservants around Qin Muyan.

She gritted her teeth secretly, summoned this maid to ask her questions, but the maid put on a convincing act, answered Rong Yun’s questions meticulously in her presence, pretending to know nothing.

Rong Yun frowned in confusion, “Are you really sure it wasn’t you who leaked the information about my birthday celebration?”

“Of course not, this maid couldn’t possibly remember the Princess’s birthday.” Xiaowan on the surface was respectful, but inwardly she rolled her eyes at Rong Yun and cursed silently, “Sly vixen!”

“Not remembering the Princess’s birthday indicates a lack of attention to your master, you deserve to be punished!”

Without another word, Madam Yan ordered someone to drag her out in the yard and gave her a beating with the wooden punishment board, which left Xiaowan’s back bloody and bruised.

Rong Yun was bewildered, “Aunt, she didn’t confess it was her!”

Madam Yan smiled helplessly, “People who do bad things will not have ‘villain’ written on their faces, will they? Princess, everything can be traced and sourced. There’s no issue with the people in our yard, or with the guards, making this maid the most suspicious. Moreover, the gold and silver jewelry she wears are styles used in the secondary consort’s quarters. These details are sufficient as evidence. But tonight… you might not be able to wait for His Highness.”

Madam Yan had weathered many storms and could plan plenty for Rong Yun, hence she could also see further ahead than her.

Today, Li Yunshu lured Qin Muyan to the Duke’s residence of Li, and decidedly won’t let him return to accompany Rong Yun for dinner.

All their careful preparations were for naught!

Rong Yun shook her head in panic, her doe eyes filled with tears, “No! Qin Muyan promised me, he will definitely come back to be with me! Aunt…this time you must be mistaken!”

Anxious, Rong Yun gripped Madam Yan’s hand, trying to prove something.

She knew her mother often praised Madam Yan for being sharp and decisive, saying if she were a man, she could become an official at court.

Madam Yan’s predictions almost always came true, but this time… she didn’t want them to be so, she couldn’t believe it!

Rong Yun shook her head desperately, “He must come! Qin Muyan will definitely come back!”

“Princess, don’t deceive yourself. What we need to think about now, is when His Highness will come back, and how you should make Li, the secondary consort, drink another preventative concoction if His Highness does not agree to it this time!”

Madam Yan clasped Rong Yun’s hand back, her grip tight, trying to bring some sense into her.

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