Mu Changxi did not voice his inner doubts, but merely helped Song Chaoyu out of bed.
Song Chaoyu followed him out the door. The evening breeze outside finally cleared her head, but she felt a painful tugging at her scalp.
"Ouch!"
She complained, "I really shouldn't have fallen asleep! My scalp hurts now, these hairpins are too heavy! Fortunately, I don't have to wear them every day, otherwise, wouldn't I lose years off my life?"
"Yes."
Mu Changxi simply stared at Song Chaoyu, his gaze not daring to shift from her.
It was as if he feared she would disappear the next moment. "You don't have to wear these things anymore. Wear whatever you like."
Song Chaoyu chuckled softly, "Isn't today a special occasion? I wouldn't abuse myself like this on a normal day."
She naturally reached out and linked her arm through his. "By the way, what did the Emperor say to you today? Do you still think he suspects you?"
"Mmm, suspicion."
Mu Changxi nodded, continuing to play along with Song Chaoyu's words.
This made Song Chaoyu unable to resist looking up and glaring at him playfully, "What's wrong with Your Highness today? Why do you say whatever I say?"
She reached out a hand and touched his forehead, "Are you perhaps ill? But you don't feel feverish!"
As her hand reached out, Mu Changxi finally reacted.
His eyes instantly cleared.
Mu Changxi grabbed Song Chaoyu's hand. The warmth of her hand finally brought peace to his heart. "I'm fine, I was just too tired today. Shall we go back to sleep quickly?"
"Okay!"
Song Chaoyu quickened her pace, returning to the room with Mu Changxi.
After washing up, as she lay on the bed, Mu Changxi's breathing had already evened out.
"Sigh, everyone is too tired today!"
Song Chaoyu pulled up the quilt and instructed Qiu Qing, who was tidying the basin, "Qiu Qing, by the way. Tomorrow morning, please return the court attire I wore to the Empress Dowager. I've thought about it, it's not good to take someone's things for nothing. Anyway, she won't be able to stir up any trouble in the capital from now on."
Qiu Qing nodded, then let out a low scoff, "She underestimates you too much. By playing a trick on her today, she won't dare to say such things to you again. This position of Princess Chang can only be yours, the Empress Dowager will understand this one day."
"Mmm."
Song Chaoyu lowered her head and looked at Mu Changxi. "Alright, you can go. You don't need to stand guard outside tonight. Everyone is tired and needs to rest early."
Qiu Qing nodded, then took the water basin out, extinguishing the candles in the room.
The moment the candlelight was extinguished, Mu Changxi's eyes opened.
Feeling Song Chaoyu sleeping soundly beside him, he gently turned over and pulled her into his embrace.
Mu Changxi then realized that, without him knowing, he had been weeping.
So, his A'yu had never thought of leaving him!
This was truly wonderful!
As long as they could be together, everything would be worth it!
The evening breeze whispered outside, and the room was warm as spring.
And that night, both Mu Changxi and Song Chaoyu slept exceptionally peacefully.
It wasn't until the next morning, when Xiao Ruizhi came to call Mu Changxi for court, that they were both woken.
Mu Changxi sat up and placed a gentle kiss on Song Chaoyu's forehead. "A'yu, you can rest a little longer."
Song Chaoyu also sat up, her eyes still blurry, and shook her head. "No, you have to go to court, and we also have to pay respects to the Empress Dowager and the Empress today. We can't be late on the first day, and I have something to do today!"
"Oh?"
Mu Changxi looked at Song Chaoyu in surprise, feigning ignorance. "What else do you have to do?"
Song Chaoyu scratched her head, yawned widely, and then got up with Mu Changxi. "I wanted to tell you a couple of days ago, but you've been so busy. The Empress Dowager has a young lady named Shui Yunyan at her home who wants to be your Princess Chang, and even wants to be the mother of our children. She wants me to leave the Prince Chang's mansion and never return to the capital."
"Is there such a thing?"
Mu Changxi raised an eyebrow slightly and snorted, "Does she think that I will surely be the Emperor's right-hand man in the future, so she wants to arrange her own people in my mansion first? Like my father, wouldn't it be better for her to see the situation clearly and live a peaceful life in retirement?"
"That's true!"
Song Chaoyu sat before the dressing table. "So I agreed to her at the time. She probably still thinks I've already left the capital. Today, I'll make her look foolish in front of everyone, and only then will she know not to bully me again! I will never give up the position of Princess Chang."
As she spoke, she patted her head. "Oh, no, I am Princess Chang now! Does the Empress Dowager not realize that even if she wants to give this position to someone else, can she surpass you?"
"Princess Chang speaks wisely!"
Mu Changxi's mood was excellent at this moment. Looking at Song Chaoyu before the dressing table, he smiled even more gently. "The position of Princess Chang can only be my A'yu's, and will only ever be my A'yu's. There can never be a second person. I swear to you!"
"Tsk—"
Already amused by Mu Changxi, Song Chaoyu quickly waved her hand at him. "Alright, hurry up and get ready. I'll go a little later. I must let the Empress Dowager have her fun among the royal relatives, and then I'll appear. That way, I can catch her completely off guard!"
"Good."
Mu Changxi's heart held no more hesitation.
——
At this moment, as the sky in the palace brightened, it was also time for the Empress Dowager and the Empress to receive the morning greetings from the noble ladies.
The Empress Dowager had received news last night that Song Chaoyu had already left the capital.
So she slept quite well last night and even specially sent someone to inform Shui Yunyan, asking her to come to the Empress Dowager's palace before dawn.
At this moment, Shui Yunyan was serving the Empress Dowager as she dressed. She chose a magpie gold hairpin, which actually did not match the Empress Dowager's crimson palace attire today.
But the Empress Dowager praised her repeatedly, "Oh, your taste is so good! So much better than that Princess Chang. You must also serve Prince Chang diligently in the future!"
Thinking of Mu Changxi, Shui Yunyan's cheeks flushed. "Your Majesty, please rest assured, this concubine will surely serve His Highness well."
Seeing her girlish shyness, the Empress Dowager understood a little. "Look at you, you've fallen for Prince Chang, haven't you? I used to look down on him, after all, he's a man with broken legs, what can he achieve? Now it seems, he truly has a great future!"