She dared not touch love again, especially in such a time and space.
"Your Majesty, I am tired and want to sleep," Qingyao withdrew her body, her face showing a faint glow, betraying no sign of unhappiness or displeasure.
Yet Murong Liuzun felt uneasy, as if she might leave at any moment. He reached out and grasped Qingyao's hand. "If Yao'er dislikes Xi Men Xinyue, then I will not enfeoff her as a consort. Is that acceptable?"
Qingyao looked at this handsome man, who always appeared so confident, yet his eyes held a hint of anxiety. Her brow unfurrowed even further.
Even without Xi Men Xinyue, there would be other women in the future. Could she stop it once, stop it twice, stop it thrice?
She feared it would lead to enmity. For two people to love each other, to be together for life with only one person, she needed to have such a thought deeply rooted in her heart, rather than forcing it.
"Your Majesty, please return. I do not disagree. Taking a consort is your affair, it is only natural. Moreover, Xi Men Xinyue saved me, how could I disagree?"
Qingyao's smile bloomed like a flower. She pushed his body gently. "Your Majesty, I am truly tired. Let me sleep for a while, will you?"
A brilliant flash crossed Murong Liuzun's pupils, and he nodded. "Alright, but I must tell you something. The Six Kingdoms have sent envoys again, and they seem to want to see you."
"Mm, I understand," Qingyao waved her hand, watching his tall, imperial yellow figure walk outwards. As he reached the palace door, he looked back, his eyes like the spring breeze of March, intoxicatingly so.
Whether it was the joy of happy events making people feel closer, or the reason for taking a new consort, in any case, everything felt distant from her. Her eyes grew moist.
Until the voices of Mo Chou and Mei Xin were heard.
"Your Highness, what is wrong?"
Qingyao came back to her senses, lowering her eyebrows and smiling faintly, as if nothing had happened. Since she had decided to let go, why should she remain tangled? It was she herself who was holding on.
"Prepare yourselves. Tonight is the time for us to leave."
As Qingyao spoke, Mo Chou and Mo You were startled. Although their Highness had mentioned leaving before, and they had agreed, now the mistress was carrying the imperial heir, and they still had to leave?
Mo Chou, Mo You, and the third person were momentarily frozen.
Although their Highness smiled as if nothing were amiss, for some reason, they felt a pang of sorrow. Although she appeared as if nothing had happened, anyone with eyes could see the mist rising in her eyes.
"Your Highness, what has happened?"
Qingyao did not admit it. She was slightly annoyed. What was wrong with these servants? Did they have to see their mistress in distress? She glared fiercely at the people below, casually waving her hand. "You all go down. I will return to my sleeping quarters to rest for a while. Later, await my orders. Keep an eye on the palace movements."
"Yes, Your Highness," the three replied, but with a hint of choked emotion. Their mistress must be hiding something from them, fearing it would be too much for them to bear.
Qingyao threw off the blanket, put on her shoes, and leisurely headed towards the inner palace.
This series of movements was so elegant, flowing like water, her retreating figure exuding an unspeakable nobility, as radiant as mountain flowers. Yet, it pierced the eyes of the three people, until she disappeared from sight.
Mei Xin turned to look at Mo Chou and finally burst into tears, throwing herself into Mo Chou's embrace.
"What is wrong with our mistress? Why doesn't she say anything?"
"Since she is unwilling to speak, we will not ask," Mo Chou said calmly.
She had always been steady and acted with great discretion. After much thought, she had a vague inkling of what was happening, her brows furrowed with a slight displeasure.
If it were not for their mistress, she truly wanted to rush to Liuli Palace and question His Majesty, how could he bear to hurt their mistress? She was carrying his child, how could he hurt her heart so much while she was pregnant?
But in the end, she did nothing, her emotions turning into a cold resolve.
"Alright, let's go out and make arrangements. Tonight, all palace attendants must sleep soundly until death, to ensure everything is foolproof."
"Mo You, go out and buy medicine."
"Mei Xin, arrange for us two to be on night watch tonight."
"Yes," the three dispersed and quickly vanished from the hall.
The winter night was long, the north wind howled, hitting the window lattices made of white silk gauze, rustling noiselessly. Qingyao sat on the large bed with her eyes wide open, Mao Xueqiu nestled in her arms, holding a hand-warmer, her gaze indifferent as she looked at the glazed screen. The surroundings were deathly silent.
Footsteps sounded outside the sleeping quarters. Qingyao looked up and saw Mei Xin and Mo Chou entering, both of them occasionally blowing on their hands. Seeing her sitting motionless by the bedside, their expressions changed slightly. They hurried forward. "Your Highness, why are you not resting?"
"I cannot sleep. Mei Xin, what time is it?"
Qingyao handed the hand-warmer she was holding to Mo Chou, letting her warm her hands. Mo Chou took it, turning it over and over to warm her rapidly chilling fingers, then passed it to Mei Xin beside her. Mei Xin warmed her hands as she replied.
"Your Highness, it is now the hour of the rat. Your Highness, please get some sleep."
Mei Xin looked at her mistress with concern. She had thought she was resting, but unexpectedly, she was awake and did not call for them.
"No, go and prepare the brush and ink for me. Mo Chou, go and pack, take the necessary items, and call Mo You in for me."
"Yes, Your Highness," Mei Xin replied and walked out. Mo You was waiting outside the door. As soon as he heard that His Highness wished to see him, he quickly flashed inside.
He saw that his mistress was much calmer now, as if enveloped by the frost of winter. She calmly and methodically assigned tasks.
"Mo You, you have been mingling in Lin'an City recently, you must be familiar with many places. Now, go and buy a carriage, not too luxurious, and drive it to the high wall on the northwest side, where we left last time. Meet us there. As soon as the city gates open, we will leave Lin'an City."
"Yes, mistress."
Mo You accepted the order and flashed away.
Mei Xin went to fetch the brush, ink, and paper, while Mo Chou arranged their clothes. For a moment, each person had their own task.
Qingyao slowly released the little fox Mao Xueqiu, tidied her clothes, and moved to the bedside. Mei Xin had already fetched the brush and ink and hurried over to help her put on her pale purple sheepskin boots, then attended her to the desk.
Qingyao frowned slightly and began to write with a flourish, her strokes sharp and decisive. She quickly finished, folded the paper, and placed it neatly on the desk. Then, without hesitation, she stood up and went to wash herself.
Everything should end now, why drag it out? Mo Chou had already packed their clothes, two large bundles of belongings, neatly placed to the side, and stood silently nearby.
It had been several months since she entered the palace, it felt like a dream. Unexpectedly, she was leaving now. As she stood there in a daze, she heard her mistress call her.
"Mo Chou, accompany me to a place."