Accumulated rain fell along the double eaves of the East Palace, and Rong Xi could clearly hear the ticking, ticking sound of the rain falling on the bluestone floor.
She only felt that the rhythm of her heartbeat was also consistent with the sound of the falling rain.
Pounding, plopping.
The man in front of her has a clear and delicate nose and lips, clean and handsome bones, three-dimensional lines of the jaw and cheekbones, and she is dressed like her favorite man again.
Mu Huai has her in her eyes, and she also has him in her eyes.
Only now did Rong Xi understand the state of mind of those elopement girls.
No matter how determined a person is, he will be confused by such a man.
And who is the one who would completely lose his mind
They all know that they are about to go to the abyss, but even if they will fall to pieces, they will willingly walk to the edge of the cliff.
Her heart has been completely eroded, Rong Xi knows that this kind of relationship is a bit crazy and dangerous, she wants to rein in the precipice in time, so that she doesn't like him so much.
Seeing that she was silent, Mu Huai was still carefully pinching her chin with his hands, and after leaning slightly, he kissed the woman's eyebrows and eyes tenderly with his lips.
He whispered: "My dear, call me again."
Rong Xi was kissed by him, his sanity was on the verge of collapse, and finally he called him again sweetly: "...Brother Zhiyan."
The eyes of the little boy in front of him are extremely docile.
Mu Huai's eyes were full of pampering, he stroked Rong Xi's hair rewardingly, and said in a warm voice, "Good boy."
*****
The midsummer in Bianjing is coming to an end, and the weather is much cooler in the morning and evening.
After Mu Huai was in court recently, besides going to the Zhengshitang or the Dali Temple outside the palace, whenever he had free time, he would also go to the martial arts field in Yin Cheng's mansion to practice martial arts.
This day Yin Cheng happened to be taking a rest, and the little maid who was on duty in Yin's house next to the martial arts field was envied by everyone. The good thing about this job was that she could get a glimpse of the prince's beauty.
The prince was wearing a dark black uniform, with one eye closed, and a bow in his hand with distinct finger bones. He was tall and straight, with a wasp waist and long legs, and he looked sassy and heroic.
His profile is three-dimensional and exquisite, and his appearance is obviously the handsomeness of Zhilan Yushu, but without losing the masculinity and vigor of a man.
The prince was already at an age when he was full of vigor and vitality. The strange thing was that although his aura had the arrogance of a superior person, he also had a kind of stability and depth that didn't match his age.
Such a handsome and upright person, one cannot take one's eyes away.
- With a sound of "whoosh", the feather arrow hit the bull's-eye.
Yin Cheng clapped his hands and applauded.
Mu Huai fired nine more crossbows and arrow feathers, only one arrow missed the heart by an inch.
After handing the longbow in his hand to the servant of the Yin family, Mu Huai frowned and said, "It's been a long time since I drew the bow, and my hand was born."
Yin Cheng shook his head helplessly.
If this is still called hands-on students, then those crossbowmen in Daqi should be sent back to their hometowns by the Qing Dynasty.
Yin Cheng is free today, not only wants to practice martial arts with Mu Huai, but also wants to teach his six-year-old adopted son to draw a bow.
Huanniang's son was renamed Yin Yu by him, and Yin Cheng chose someone to specially make a small bow for Yin Yu a while ago.
Seeing Yin Cheng patiently teaching Yin Yu how to draw the bow on the other end, Mu Huai walked up to the two of them.
After the death of Yin Cheng in the previous life, he did not leave any heirs.
He really neglected to take care of his ministers, thinking that when he returned today, he would ask the imperial physician of Youshan Xinglin in the palace to take Mrs. Yin Cheng's pulse, to see if there was a magic way to have a son.
Yin Yu is studying very seriously, but when Yin Cheng holds his little hand, he can send the arrow feathers a certain distance.
But once Yin Cheng let go of his hand and let him try it himself, Yin Yu's arrow could not shoot very far.
Yin Cheng said to his son in a warm voice: "Don't worry, try again yourself."
Yin Yu nodded obediently, and under the watchful eyes of the two adults, he tried to draw the bow again.
Mu Huai stood with his hands behind his back, looking at Yin Yu silently.
Seeing that he tried several times, he still couldn't get it right.
Then he went to Yin Yu and taught the child the essentials himself.
The boy's stature only reached his waist, and he was thick-headed and thick-headed, just at the age of playing, but Xiaopang didn't have much strength in his arms.
Unexpectedly, Yin Yu quickly grasped the trick of Mu Huai's teaching.
After Mu Huai let go of his arm, Yin Yu held the small bow, and with a sound of "嗖—", he shot the arrow feather at the target.
Although the arrow feather was extremely far away from the bull's-eye, the child's expression was still very excited.
Mu Huai touched the boy's round head, and his tone was rarely relieved, and he praised in a low voice: "He's a smart boy."
Seeing that his son's eyes showed admiration and admiration for Mu Huai, Yin Cheng hurriedly dragged Yin Yu to his side.
He knew that a child as old as Yin Yu was the easiest to develop feelings of admiration for a strong parent.
Yin Cheng's tone was rare, and he said to Mu Huai: "Your Highness also has his own son. When he grows up, he can teach him how to draw a bow."
Mu Huai understood what Yin Cheng said.
He was saying, since you have your own children, don't abduct my children.
Mu Huai shook his head indifferently, and said to Yin Cheng with a little helplessness: "That kid Mu Jue can't do anything except eat and sleep now, he's just a meat dumpling who can cry. Another four or five years."
Yin Cheng pushed Yin Yu's little head, and asked him to go back to find his wife, and then replied: "The little grandson will always grow up one day, Your Highness, please relax, don't worry."
Mu Huai just taught Yin Yu how to draw a bow, and he felt the joy of raising a son in his heart. He thought to himself, when will Mu Jue grow up, he really wants to teach him how to ride and shoot right now.
Hurry up and grow up, so that he, who is an old man, can also experience the joy of Yin Cheng.
Yin Cheng observed that although Mu Huai's expression was slightly sad, his temperament recently was not the same as before.
In the past, there was always a hostile look on his brows, but now he looks more calm and confident.
The whole person is in very good condition, and it can be seen that he is comfortably served by the princess of the East Palace.
The breeze was blowing, and the fine sand on the martial field was swirling in the air.
Mu Huai said again: "When Yu'er grows up, or you have your own biological son in the future, I hope their relationship with Mu Jue will be as good as Gu's and yours."
Yin Cheng pulled the corner of his lips slightly, and replied: "Naturally, the son of the minister will definitely be loyal to the son of His Highness in the future."
At this time, the servant brought the weapons that they used frequently, and Mu Huai threw Yin Cheng's commonly used knife to him, saying that the two of them hadn't competed for a long time.
Yin Cheng took it, he felt that Mu Huai had been practicing martial arts diligently these days, so he should be preparing for something.
But he obviously has no intention of going out to fight.
So what exactly is Mu Huai going to do
Yin Cheng couldn't guess Mu Huai's unpredictable thoughts, and he thought he just wanted to strengthen his body.
*****
Summer is coming to an end, Bianjing is still sunny in the morning, and it starts to rain again in the afternoon.
After practicing martial arts with Yin Cheng, the two drank some wine at the mansion, and Mu Huai returned to the East Palace before evening.
He is not bad at drinking, and drinking is just for pleasure, and he never lets himself be in a state of unconsciousness.
Even if others think he is drunk, he is not drunk.
After returning to the East Palace, Rong Xi was not in the palace.
Mu Huai recalled that she had mentioned to him last night that today she and Concubine De would go to Prince Chen's Mansion to prepare for Mu Tao's marriage.
Rong Xi said that Concubine De had helped them a lot with the marriage ceremony of the two of them before, and as his wife, she had to do more in Chen Wang's marriage ceremony.
In the previous life, Mu Tao married the domineering Tuoba Yue, and the marriage was unfortunate.
In this life, under Mu Huai's intentional matchmaking, Emperor Zhuang betrothed the first daughter of the Founding Duke to Mu Tao as his wife.
The Duke of the county is a second-rank title, with a valuable status, but he has no real position in the court.
Mu Huai's thoughts were deep, even though he knew that Mu Tao never wanted to be a courtier, he didn't want him to marry a woman with too much power in his mother's clan as his concubine.
Fortunately, the gentleness and virtuousness of the second daughter of the Duke of the county is well known in the Biandu family. I hope that in this life, Mu Tao's marriage will be happy.
Thinking in this way, Mu Huai took a bath before Rong Xi returned to the palace, and washed away the smell of alcohol on his body.
After he changed into his normal clothes, the rain became heavier and the temperature in the hall became colder.
Rong Xi still hasn't returned.
Mu Huai was a little worried, so he sent eunuchs to check the situation.
The eunuch soon returned to the side hall and told Mu Huai that the concubine had returned to the palace.
Mu Huai immediately got up and went to look for the woman.
Rong Xi was wearing the heavy imperial concubine's attire, but her small face that was originally radiant looked pale, and the small mouth that used to be pink was also white, and she was extremely uncomfortable at first glance.
Just as Mu Huai was about to ask, Rong Xi called him weakly: "Husband..."
Leaning forward, she fainted in front of him.
Mu Huai hugged the delicate woman across his body in time, feeling a little flustered in his heart, and his expression was extremely solemn.
After the imperial physician arrived at the East Palace, he said to Mu Huai: "The Crown Princess is already cold, and this baby was born prematurely, and she has been tired recently. It's the last month, so her body is naturally weaker."
When Mu Huai heard the word menstrual affairs, he remembered the time when she dipped him in cold water before, and felt distressed and guilty for Rong Xi.
Before autumn came, Mu Huai ordered his servants to burn charcoal in the hall.
The face of the beauty on the bed gradually recovered some color, and Mu Huai sat on the side of the bed, guarding her all the time.
Seeing her wake up, he ordered the palace servants to bring red dates and shredded ginger soup.
After Rong Xi got up, he saw Mu Huai's sharp eyes, and asked her in a low tone: "I heard from Dan Xiang that you were feeling unwell in Prince Chen's residence. Why did you keep silent and didn't look for a chance to rest?"
Rong Xi knew that although Mu Huai's tone sounded like a reprimand, he was actually complaining that she didn't care about her body.
Then he said in a soft voice: "This is an old problem of my concubine, besides, my daughter's menstruation is often not smooth, so I can't be coquettish, and I don't want to lose my composure in front of the concubine."
Mu Huai took the jujube and ginger silk water presented by the palace servants, scooped it up with a porcelain spoon, fed it into her mouth, and ordered: "Next time you don't feel well, don't hold back, you will suffer even if you make a mistake. alone."
Rong Xi nodded obediently.
Mu Huai thought for a while, and then ordered: "I will report illness tomorrow, Prince Chen's residence will not miss you as a helper, Concubine De will understand."
Rong Xi listened, but said: "My husband is like this, it is inevitable that I will be too spoiled by my concubine, this is not good..."
Halfway through her speech, she looked around again.
Seeing that there were no other palace people around, he said again: "Now my husband is the crown prince, no one will say anything. If in the future... your husband ascends to the throne, the concubine will be the queen. If your husband is still so spoiled by the concubine, those officials will definitely I will present some remonstrance to you.”
Mu Huai didn't take it seriously, and after putting the ginger and jujube water on his side for a few minutes, he replied: "Gu Hou loves his wife, who would make irresponsible remarks?"
Rong Xi pursed her soft lips, recalling the events of the past month.
Sometimes if he tortured her badly, Mu Huai would specifically tell the palace servants not to let them wake her up and let her oversleep.
If she loses her appetite, Mu Huai will be harsh on the cook.
A while ago, when the little maid combed her hair, she was a little reckless and accidentally pulled her hair, which hurt her.
After Mu Huai saw this, his deep eyes immediately widened, and he almost asked the eunuch to drag the maid out and beat him with dozens of boards.
Fortunately, she stopped her, otherwise the court lady would have been beaten to a half.
Rong Xi felt that Mu Huai usually rewarded and punished his ministers and courtiers clearly, and he was diligent and self-disciplined.
Although he is a bit addicted to that kind of thing, he is not a prince who is obsessed with beauty and does not do business properly.
But when it comes to things related to her, Mu Huai's various behaviors are like a fatuous tyrant treating a troubled beauty.
Mu Huai had already called her a disaster, and Rong Xi really didn't want to be a woman who deceived the king.
Then patiently explained to Mu Huai: "But the husband can't be harsh on the servants because of some trivial matters. It's not good for the husband. The servants will inevitably make mistakes, and if they make mistakes, they will be punished according to the rules, and they will not be severely punished."
Mu Huai hugged the delicate woman who was talking to him in a soft voice, and said in a low voice: "The rest of the things must be rewarded and punished, but you can't."
Rong Xi closed her eyes and leaned against his arms, and asked in a low voice, "Why not?"
Mu Huai kissed the top of her hair, and said in a somewhat solemn tone, "Xi'er is an orphan's heart and soul, and even a few hairs make her feel bad."
After saying that, Rong Xi still couldn't help laughing muffled in his arms.
There was a slight dimple on her cheeks, her smile was so beautiful, and Mu Huai's heart was also infected.
Rong Xi murmured softly again: "Fortunately, there are no other people in the palace. If others listen to it, my husband's reputation will be ruined."
Mu Huai pressed the bridge of his high nose against her neck, and while smelling the familiar fragrance of hair and skin, he covered her lower abdomen with his big hands, rubbing the painful spot for her.
He buried her on her neck, and said in a low voice: "Your menstrual irregularity originated from Gu, of course Gu is distressed."
The thunder continued, and the wind and rain were about to come.
Rong Xi found a sense of security in Mu Huai's arms.
The hall is very warm, and the two are warming silently.
- "Your Highness... the father-in-law of the Qianyuan Palace is outside the East Palace, saying... that the emperor has urgently called you to the Qianyuan Palace."
The little eunuch's voice was very anxious, breaking the original warm atmosphere of the bedroom.
Rong Xi's expression also gradually became panicked, she vaguely guessed something, and her gentle and beautiful eyes gradually became tinged with fear: "Husband...Father, he..."
Mu Huai kissed her between the brows, and said warmly: "Don't be afraid, wait for Gu to come back."
After calming down Rong Xi's emotions, Mu Huai strode out of the bedroom.
As soon as he left the East Palace, his eyes no longer showed the tenderness he had just faced Rong Xi.
His expression was cold and indifferent, his eyes were cold but firm.
The little eunuch holding the umbrella for Mu Huai inevitably felt a little nervous.
Since all the Grand Dukes of Qianyuan Palace came to the East Palace in person, no matter how stupid people are, they can guess that this is the emperor, and the end is approaching.
I saw that the prince in front of me was tall and straight, and when he walked steadily towards the Qianyuan Hall, he was calm and unafraid of the wind and rain.
The little eunuch knew that Daqi Jiangshan was about to change hands.
This was a moment that would deeply disturb everyone in the palace.
Right now, Prince Mu Huai is about to ascend the throne and proclaim himself emperor, inheriting the foundation of his father's generation.
But the little eunuch felt that Mu Huai was the emperor, even though he was an ordinary servant in Yongxi Palace, his heart was more peaceful than before.