"You may leave." Qin Jinchen didn’t pay attention to the subordinate’s surprise, rely dismissing him, while he continued to gaze in the direction Mu Qingge had departed, as if in a silent farewell.
...
In the Changle Princess Mansion, Qin Yiyao sat silently in her room.
Ever since her imperial brother, Prince Rui, brought her the news from the palace, she had been sitting there. She didn’t want to believe it was true, yet when the imperial edict was issued, she had no choice but to accept it.
"Princess, I went to the Mu Mansion, and they said the Young Lord is not within the residence." The maid finally returned with news, yet it was still disappointing.
Qin Yiyao’s eyes dimd, and she softly instructed, "No need to look further, you may leave."
The maid withdrew with so concern.
Without outsiders present, the tears Qin Yiyao had been holding back finally fell, leaving two streams of clear tears on her beautiful face.
"Why?" Qin Yiyao seed to ask herself, yet it also felt like she was asking Mu Qingge.
However, she was destined to receive no answer.
She had her pride; since Mu Qingge had so easily abandoned the engagent, she couldn’t possibly act like a forsaken woman, seek him out, and demand an explanation.
He wasn’t at the Mu Mansion and had sent her brother to relay the matter, clearly indicating one thing—he didn’t want to see her.
Qin Yiyao was perceptive, so how could she not discern the hidden aning?
Therefore, she didn’t continue searching for Mu Qingge’s whereabouts, solely to preserve her last fragnt of dignity.
When the tears dried, Qin Yiyao’s exquisitely beautiful features returned to their initial coldness, as if she had wrapped herself once more in an icy barrier, sealing herself within.
...
When Mu Qingge arrived at the Mu Family Army’s camp, the procession set to return to Yi City was already prepared to depart.
Mu Xiong and Mu Lianrong were there as well, spending one last night with her. After tomorrow’s farewell, they wouldn’t et again for another ten months.
"Ge’er, co quickly. Look at what your aunt has prepared for you," Mu Lianrong said, pulling Mu Qingge by the hand and leading her into a tent.
Inside the tent, Mu Qingge was stunned.
Items were piled like a small mountain, leaving her gaping in awe.
Yet Mu Lianrong, like a child showing off a treasure, began introducing them one by one: "Look, these snacks are famous in Luodu, I bought a little of each for you. And these silks and satins, they’re from the south. So are even from Yu Country. See, aren’t they beautiful? When you reach Yi City, you should prepare more clothing for yourself; our Mu Family’s young lady cannot appear shabby. Oh, and here are assorted jewelry... this package is of rouge and powder."
Suddenly, a lacquered box with gold embroidery appeared in Mu Qingge’s hand, startling her.
The weight in her hand brought her back to her senses, and she looked at the exuberant Mu Lianrong, her mouth twitching.
"Aunt, I’m a man!" Mu Qingge reminded, trying to suppress the headache creeping at her temples, feeling that her aunt had sohow changed since discovering her female identity.
Mu Qingge’s reminder caused the smile on Mu Lianrong’s face to freeze.
The excitent receded like a tide, and Mu Lianrong, full of heartache, gently stroked her hair, no longer calling her ’stinky boy’ like before.
"Ge’er, you’ve had it hard." Mu Lianrong’s words seed to be pent up for a long ti before she uttered them. Thousands of words seed to have condensed into this single sentence.
Mu Qingge shook her head, "Aunt, it hasn’t been hard for . This way, I actually feel freer." If she were identified as a woman, wouldn’t she have to stay in the Mu Mansion all day, living in seclusion? And then, once she reached marriageable age, be casually handed over to so man?
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