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Finally, they arrived.
As soon as the carriage stopped, Lan Xun pushed Mu Shengsheng aside and stepped out briskly.
Mu Shengsheng forced her weak legs to follow, stepping down from the carriage stool.
Night had fallen. In the dim darkness, a grand and imposing mansion stood before her. At the entrance, two stone lions stood proudly, while several exquisite red lanterns hung above the gates. The red glow illuminated the plaque, on which “Residence of the Regency Prince” was written in sweeping calligraphy.
From afar, the guards rushed forward upon seeing Lan Xun return, lining up neatly and bowing. “Welcome back, Regency Prince.”
Mu Shengsheng could not help but marvel at the grandeur. This was far beyond the reach of the Xuanwu Marquis’ residence.
Lan Xun walked toward the mansion gates with his hands behind his back.
His long legs carried him quickly, and Mu Shengsheng struggled to keep up, panting and calling out, “Your Highness, I’m weak… I can’t keep up…”
Lan Xun did not glance back. “Even if you can’t, you must. Otherwise, wait for the Duke of Zhenguo’s household to fetch you…”
Earlier, in the carriage, being close to Lan Xun had made her feel unprecedentedly at ease. Now, as he walked farther away, her spirit sank, and she reverted to her frail, lingering-on-the-edge-of-death self.
Feeling the immense gap between them, Mu Shengsheng grew even more determined—this lifeline she had to hold onto tightly.
She trudged along, panting heavily, moving forward with difficulty.
Meanwhile, Lan Xun had gone straight to his study.
His personal guard, Tianshu, who had just gathered the information, reported, “Your Highness, what she said is true. She is indeed Mu Shengsheng, the sickly daughter of Xuanwu Marquis Mu Pingchuan…”
Everyone in the capital knew that Mu Pingchuan had a daughter with his late wife, whom he cherished dearly, but she suffered from a terminal illness. His first wife had passed, and Mu Pingchuan had initially refused to remarry, focusing entirely on his daughter’s care. Only out of necessity to seek medical help for Mu Shengsheng did he take Lady Lin as a second wife.
It was said that his departure from the capital this time was to seek treatment for his daughter, and he had lied to Lan Xun about it.
Tianshu’s expression was serious. “Mu Pingchuan has opposed Your Highness in both open and covert ways. Are you truly going to shelter his daughter?”
Lan Xun did not care. “She is merely a sickly girl. Harmless.”
“But what if there’s a plot…”
Tianshu was about to speak further, but Lan Xun interrupted, “Enough. I can handle it myself.”
Tianshu considered that perhaps Lan Xun intended to use the girl to control Mu Pingchuan, and said no more, leaving obediently.
Lan Xun remained alone in his study. Planning to attend to official matters, he found his mind full of the girl’s delicate face and the memory of her soft touch. A strange, alluring force made him restless, burning, and increasingly difficult to manage…
He hurriedly removed his clothes and instructed his attendants, “Prepare ice water.”
The servants whispered among themselves. “Our prince truly is skilled in martial arts—still requiring ice water baths even after the start of autumn.”
“Indeed, indeed!”
Meanwhile, Mu Shengsheng, exhausted, had just crossed the threshold of the Regency Prince’s mansion.
Inside, the sprawling palace-like courtyards stretched endlessly. Mu Shengsheng nearly fainted at the sight. How could she manage on her own inside?
She sat down on the threshold, unwilling to take another step.
From a distance, a group approached carrying lanterns. As they drew near, she saw a maid in blue leading two attendants, one of whom carried a sedan chair.
The group stopped before her, and the blue-clad maid smiled. “Are you Miss Mu?”
Mu Shengsheng nodded, bracing herself against the doorframe, struggling to stand.
The maid hurried forward to support her. “I am Xuanji, sent to escort you to the guest room to rest.”
Mu Shengsheng’s eyes brightened. Perhaps Lan Xun wasn’t as heartless as her father had suggested.
Xuanji helped her onto the sedan chair, carrying her to a secluded courtyard.
Upon entering the main room, Mu Shengsheng saw the interior was simple yet elegant, with a bed, tables, chairs, and a dressing table. A faint incense scent filled the air, and a set of clean clothes was prepared in a corner.
She was wearing a red garment under a flowing outer robe, her hair disheveled, makeup smudged, and face streaked with dirt—utterly bedraggled.
Xuanji helped her wash up and change into the provided clothing.
The simple attire was slightly loose on her slender frame, highlighting her frailty and delicate beauty. Barefaced yet naturally lovely, she had a mixture of tender charm and faint sickness. Every expression inspired pity.
Such a rare beauty was unmatched in the capital, perhaps even in the entire realm. Even a maid like Xuanji was secretly astonished; any man seeing her might have his eyes pop out.
No wonder the usually indifferent and ascetic Regency Prince, who had never taken a concubine, made an exception to bring her here.
Xuanji respectfully asked, “Is there anything else you need, Miss? I can take care of it for you.”
Mu Shengsheng nodded slightly. “Thank you for your effort.”
After Xuanji left, Mu Shengsheng, utterly exhausted, collapsed onto the bed and slept a deep, dreamless sleep.
The next morning, she awoke in an unfamiliar room, momentarily disoriented.
After a while, she remembered—yesterday, Lan Xun had sheltered her. Now she was in the guest room of his mansion.
A day had passed, and she had only three days of life remaining. She needed to find Lan Xun quickly.
Struggling to her feet, she nearly fell from dizziness.
Xuanji, hearing the movement, rushed in to support her. “Miss, just tell me if you need anything. No need to do it yourself.”
Though the prince had not asked for special arrangements, sheltering a girl in his mansion was no ordinary act. Xuanji had to serve her carefully—any mistake might incur the prince’s wrath, risking her life.
Xuanji helped her wash and dress, then guided her to the table.
The table was filled with various foods: congee (plain, shredded chicken, and bird’s nest), plum cakes, date cakes, crystal dumplings, and an assortment of delicate dishes.
Xuanji served her a bowl of plain congee with warm hospitality. “You must be hungry. I prepared food last night but saw you already asleep, so I did not disturb you. I wasn’t sure what you liked, so the kitchen made extra today… please eat.”
The food looked delicious, but Mu Shengsheng, still weak, had little appetite. She sipped the congee and nibbled a few pieces of date cake to fill her stomach.
Seeing that most of the food was untouched, she felt slightly guilty. “You need not go to so much trouble. I am ill and cannot eat much.”
Xuanji was unbothered. “Miss, you are the prince’s esteemed guest. I cannot neglect you.”
Her dedication reminded Mu Shengsheng of Zisu and Lülü, whom she had heard were locked in the firewood room yesterday. She wondered how they were faring.
But she could not protect them. Likely, her stepmother had only sold them off as the marquis’ property, without extreme cruelty.
After the midday meal, Mu Shengsheng went out in a sedan chair.
Xuanji cautioned, “At this hour, the prince has not yet returned from court. If you go, there may be no one.”
The Regency Prince was busy with official duties, returning at night after reviewing memorials, or staying at the palace.
“It’s fine. I can wait.”
Mu Shengsheng only wanted to see Lan Xun; her hope for survival rested entirely on him.