"All right, go then," Liu Liu waved her hand.
After Cui'er left, she turned to look at the distant and near faint lights on the river. The cool breeze brushed her face, making her mind exceptionally calm and wise.
Feng Xie already had a prince. In the hearts of the Tianfeng dynasty's officials, that child should be the Crown Prince of Tianfeng.
If Mu Xing returned, given the Emperor's fondness for him, he would certainly be made the Crown Prince. It was a pity that Mu Xing had lived on the Island of Leisure since childhood and was accustomed to his wild nature. How could he endure restraint? Entering the palace might be a torment for him.
Liu Liu sighed with a thousand emotions, truly unsure how to untangle the current situation.
She knew Feng Xie had been carefully seeking her forgiveness. She was not heartless, but she would never allow her son to be exposed to any dangerous place. Therefore, the palace was not a place for them to be.
Liu Liu's grape-like, crystal clear, dark and bright eyes sparkled with captivating ripples of light.
The large boat sailed on the Chu River for half a month before returning to the Island of Leisure. The fair and clear Island of Leisure, with its green screens and layered peaks, was lush and verdant everywhere, a scene of infinite beauty.
The calm and peaceful Mirror Lake was as beautiful as a painting, clear and transparent, as smooth as fine silk in its blue sheen. The beautiful scenery on the shore was reflected clearly in the lake. The air was filled with the fragrance of seaweed.
A crowd had gathered on the shore long ago, all waiting expectantly. When their figures appeared, a cheer erupted.
If one listened carefully, many voices could be heard saying, "Has Mu Xing returned?" It seemed that the person everyone missed the most was Mu Xing, the little troublemaker. Mu Xing also missed everyone greatly. From a distance, he began to wave his delicate little hands, screaming with excitement.
"Grandma, I'm back! Chu Feng gege, Duanmu gege, I'm back!" His joyful voice blended with the gentle breeze, pleasant to the ear. Su Xinhe and Qing Ming, the older generation, had already rushed forward to embrace Mu Xing. Everyone gathered around the little fellow, asking him questions.
"Mu Xing, was it fun outside?"
"Mu Xing, did you miss me?"
"Mu Xing, did you bring anything nice for us?"
Liu Liu glanced at everyone with a cool demeanor. It was rare for everyone to be so happy, and she didn't want to interfere too much. She watched them playfully toss Mu Xing from one person to another, extremely happy.
They passed him from hand to hand, thoroughly delighted.
Liu Liu suddenly thought of a problem: if Mu Xing left the Island of Leisure, would everyone feel lonely?
The island would be too desolate. Usually, it was Mu Xing's antics that provided endless amusement for everyone. If he left, what would these people do? Wouldn't they be very sad?
As Liu Liu was thinking, Chu Feng quietly walked up to her and asked curiously, "Master, where did Dai Mei go?"
"Oh, she's gone to attend to some matters. You'll need to assign someone else to manage the affairs she's been overseeing. She might be gone for quite some time. Please take care of it,"
Liu Liu softly instructed Chu Feng. She couldn't tell Chu Feng that Dai Mei had sent Hua Wu You to the Qilian Mountains to lift a curse.
Many people on the island didn't get along with Hua Wu You. If they heard he was cursed, they would likely celebrate with firecrackers. That's why she told them nothing.
"All right," Chu Feng asked no further questions. He would do as his master commanded.
As Chu Feng walked away to handle his tasks, Liu Liu looked up at Duanmu and surprisingly didn't see the fellow's shadow. She then looked at Cui'er beside her, who had also disappeared. She immediately understood.
But when she thought of what Cui'er had said last night, she feared Duanmu would be heartbroken. In truth, she hoped Cui'er would marry Duanmu, but since Cui'er disagreed, there was nothing she could do.
Although Cui'er usually lacked strong opinions, once she decided on something, not even nine oxen could pull her back, unless she forced her. But could she force someone when it came to matters of the heart?
When Duanmu reappeared, he looked dejected and disheartened, though he managed to maintain his composure. A true man could bend and stretch. There were plenty of beautiful women in the world. Since she had refused him, why should he persist in bothering her?
Although his heart ached, he had no habit of forcing women.
Seeing Duanmu looking so melancholy and unhappy, Liu Liu called Cui'er over and asked her carefully, "What did you say to Duanmu? He looks quite upset."
Cui'er sighed. In truth, she didn't want to hurt Duanmu, nor was she entirely without feelings for him.
However, her mistress would eventually leave the Island of Leisure and return to the palace. She, on the other hand, was unwilling to leave her mistress and Mu Xing. She couldn't selfishly ask Duanmu to wait for her for years. Therefore, she had been upfront with him, stating she would not marry him.
Fortunately, that fellow had played it cool and said nothing. Although his expression was somewhat unpleasant, he wasn't so heartbroken as to be unrecognizable. She hadn't expected her mistress to notice his sadness.
"I just told him to find another good match. I can't marry him."
"You," Liu Liu glared at Cui'er, completely at a loss for how to handle her.
In fact, Cui'er marrying Duanmu would be a hundred times better than following her. Because although Duanmu was only a minor steward,
The steward of the Seven Stars Tower was already worth millions. More importantly, Duanmu had no other women by his side. Wouldn't it be good to immediately take the position of the main wife?
"In three days, I will prepare a wedding for Chu Feng and Senior Sister Qing Feng. If you change your mind by then and are willing to marry, come find me. You have three days to consider."
Liu Liu did not wish for Cui'er to be so hasty. She looked at her earnestly, hoping she would reconsider her suggestion more carefully. Cui'er remained silent, for she knew her choice would not change, no matter how much time passed.
In the following days, the Island of Leisure was filled with joyous celebrations. The island was decorated with lanterns and colored streamers. The lush branches were also adorned with colorful ribbons by everyone. The entire island was red, like a sea of fire.
The sky was clear and bright, with white clouds drifting in the sky. The sky was an endless expanse of blue, merging with the water of the Mirror Lake. Waterfowl skimmed across the lake, creating ripples.
The air was filled with the fresh scent of aquatic plants. Willow catkins flew through the air, like falling rain covering the sky. The fluffy willow catkins landed on the tender green leaves, creating a brilliant contrast with their vibrant colors.
Liu Liu, accompanied by Cui'er and Hong Xiu, walked into the grand hall of the Seven Stars Tower. From afar, she could hear Mu Xing's sweet voice.
"Chu Feng gege, are you going to be a groom? When will you have a little brother for Mu Xing?"
Since Mu Xing had parted ways with A Bu, he had suddenly developed a desire to have a little brother to play with. Thus, he had been pondering this matter for days. The most likely person to have a little brother was Chu Feng.
Therefore, Mu Xing had run over early that morning to pester Chu Feng.
The people in the grand hall were startled by Mu Xing's words, and then erupted in booming laughter. Chu Feng scooped Mu Xing into his arms, pinching his tender little face. His usually handsome and indifferent face was filled with seriousness: "Alright, I will definitely have a little brother for Mu Xing."
Everyone was amused again by Chu Feng's words. Qing Feng, standing behind Chu Feng, blushed as red as a shrimp and subtly kicked Chu Feng with her foot from behind. Chu Feng pretended not to notice and ignored the shy person.