It was a clean little courtyard, appearing to be used for storing sundries.
However, the plants in the courtyard were tended to, with several plum trees planted. It was not yet the season for plum blossoms to be in full bloom, but they still looked very elegant.
Mu Changxi sat between the two plum trees, his back to Song Chaoyu. There was no one else in the courtyard.
The Crown Princess and Mu Changxi seemed very familiar with each other. Upon entering the courtyard, she said, "I've brought the person for you. Speak well with each other, and don't bully them! I'll keep watch outside. Feel free to say whatever you need to say."
As the Crown Princess closed the door, Mu Changxi also turned his wheelchair, facing Song Chaoyu.
For a moment, Song Chaoyu felt that the smiling man before her seemed to overlap with Han Xi from her memory.
But when her gaze fell upon the imposing python-patterned dragon robe that Mu Changxi was wearing, she hid all her longing for Han Xi.
She lowered her head and performed a graceful bow to Mu Changxi, "Greetings, Your Highness Prince Chang."
"Rise."
Mu Changxi's tone also carried a sense of distance.
He was now a high and mighty prince, and naturally could not be as unrestrained and radiant as Han Xi.
Mu Changxi gestured for Song Chaoyu to sit on the flower bed by the plum trees, "Sit. There is tea and fruit in the house. If you wish to have some, we can go inside."
Even though he was still the same person, why did Song Chaoyu feel that he had completely changed?
Song Chaoyu shook her head and simply sat by the edge of the flower bed.
The not-so-warm autumn sunlight filtered through the sparse plum branches, dappling Mu Changxi's face.
It made the smile in his eyes appear insubstantial, "The Crown Princess said you were looking for me?"
"Yes."
Although Song Chaoyu felt it was improper for a woman to initiate such a conversation, she still spoke, "A couple of days ago, my grandmother found me and told me something. You... what do you mean?"
Mu Changxi's right eyebrow twitched slightly, "I didn't expect your grandmother to tell you so soon. I don't intend to force you, nor do I want to use my status as a prince to pressure you. So I merely asked my mother to have someone find your grandmother. These are my intentions. What do you think?"
It was she who had come to ask him, so why was he throwing the question back at her?
Song Chaoyu was somewhat perplexed, "Why me? With your current status, I'm afraid you won't lack noble ladies willing to enter your Prince Chang's mansion, will you?"
"What status?"
Mu Changxi's smile, however, held a hint of unspeakable bitterness.
He even reached out and patted his legs in the wheelchair, "Of all the women my father introduced to me, which one would look upon these legs?"
The current Emperor truly wished to bestow the best of the capital upon Mu Changxi.
Seeing Song Chaoyu remain silent, Mu Changxi also asked her, "So, you came to see me today to say that you are unwilling to enter the gates of my Prince Chang's mansion, is that right?"
Song Chaoyu had been wrestling with this matter for days.
Perhaps she could vaguely foresee everyone else's path, but her own was something she couldn't grasp.
In her previous life, she never saw Han Xi again. For three years, confined to that small courtyard, she had cut off almost everything, living only on memories.
Now, if she were truly asked if she was willing...
If it were Han Xi, she would be willing.
But the person before her was Mu Changxi!
She lowered her head, a sense of retreat growing within her, "You are His Highness Prince Chang, a noble of the imperial family. I am merely a daughter of an outer concubine. I... wish for a stable life."
"Stable? Is that truly what you think?"
Mu Changxi stared into Song Chaoyu's eyes, as if he could discern everything in her heart, "I don't believe you can live a stable life in the Song family now. Nor do I believe the Song family will marry you to someone who will provide you with a stable life. A'yu, you have changed. You are different from before."
He continued, "You have changed so much in just a few months since coming to the Song family. Can you imagine what you would become if they truly married you off to someone else?"
He could actually sense her change?
For some reason, Song Chaoyu felt a pang of guilt.
She dared not look up into Mu Changxi's eyes, merely muttering, "Your change is even more frightening, isn't it?"
"Tsk—"
Seeing her familiar childish demeanor, Mu Changxi couldn't help but laugh out loud.
Song Chaoyu looked up, her gaze meeting those eyes that only Han Xi would smile at so tenderly.
Her heart felt an indescribable ache. It was as if a hand had grasped the very center of her heart and refused to let go. It wasn't exactly painful, but it made her heart feel terribly heavy.
Mu Changxi, however, continued to gaze at Song Chaoyu, his expression growing more serious, "A'yu, what if I insist that you enter the gates of Prince Chang's mansion?"
Would he do that?
Song Chaoyu looked at Mu Changxi uncertainly, "Why?"
Mu Changxi looked up, gazing at the sunlight through the sparse plum branches, the light making his eyes slightly squint. "Why? Because we are the same kind of people! A'yu, we are the same kind of people. In this world, no one is like us."
The same kind of people?
For some reason, Song Chaoyu's heart jolted upon hearing this.
Mu Changxi continued in a light tone, "Even in this vast capital, I cannot find a place for myself. Isn't it the same for you in the Song family? Only when we are together can life be smooth. Even if there are storms outside, as long as we are together, we can overcome them."
He sighed, "A'yu, I cannot promise you a wonderful life. But as long as I am here, home is here. I want to give you a home, like we had in the manor, a place where you can be free."
Freedom? How luxurious this word was in the capital, how unattainable a dream for so many!
For some reason, Song Chaoyu's eyes suddenly welled up with tears.
But freedom... was she to become Mu Changxi's favored concubine?
Even as a secondary consort, would she truly gain freedom?
Song Chaoyu eventually lowered her head, "Everyone in this capital is bound by circumstances; where can true freedom be found?"
Mu Changxi understood her refusal and only sighed, "Very well! I knew this would be the outcome, yet I still had to ask. A'yu, can I ask you for one thing?"
Song Chaoyu was somewhat flustered, "Ask? Your Highness Prince Chang, please refrain from using that word with me. It frightens me."
Her unfamiliar tone made Mu Changxi realize that Song Chaoyu seemed to be angry with him.
But why was she angry?
Mu Changxi, not understanding, could only continue, "Please, just wait a little longer. Don't rush into marriage, alright?"
Why?
Although Song Chaoyu thought the same, she still didn't understand why.