Song Chaoyu understood Mu Changxi's meaning.
She took a bite of the pastry. It tasted good, and her mood seemed to improve slightly. "Then these people must be after the so-called treasure? Now that the jade pendant is with me, it's probably not safe. I'll find an opportunity to send the jade pendant to the Crown Princess."
After Song Chaoyu said this, Mu Changxi fell silent for a moment.
From what Song Chaoyu knew of Hanxi, she felt that the man before her seemed unhappy after hearing her words.
But what else could she say?
How could she keep such a dangerous item with her?
Unexpectedly, before Song Chaoyu could speak again, Mu Changxi sighed, as if resigned or having already "accepted" it. "Keep the item. But I will deal with the person for you."
These words confused Song Chaoyu. "Deal with it? How do you plan to deal with it?"
Mu Changxi turned his head away, seemingly unwilling to meet Song Chaoyu's gaze. "You don't need to worry about this. I will make this person disappear from the world."
Song Chaoyu frowned.
She didn't know what was happening to her, but she felt an inexplicable anger in her heart.
If she couldn't release it, she feared she would "burn herself to death."
She lowered her head, not wanting Mu Changxi to see the displeasure in her eyes, but she couldn't help but speak with a hint of coldness in her tone. "Are you planning to kill that Rui Ji? But she is in the Song manor now. If something really happens to her, our Song manor will be implicated, won't it? This matter is not so easily resolved. My grandmother and I already have a more suitable plan. But it is indeed unsafe to keep that Hai Yu pendant with me. Iā"
"Xiaoyu."
Mu Changxi stared at Song Chaoyu, interrupting her. "Are you so unwilling to accept what I give you? From the moment you saw me again, you decided to distance yourself from me, didn't you?"
If she didn't distance herself, what else could she do?
But... wait!
What did his words mean? What did he mean by her wanting to distance herself from him? Things were clearly not like that, were they? Wasn't it him who wanted to distance himself from her?
Song Chaoyu looked up, wanting to say something.
But she unexpectedly met Mu Changxi's seemingly wounded eyes, and the words she wanted to argue with him couldn't be spoken.
"I... I didn't."
She still explained unconsciously, but her voice grew softer. "It was you who suddenly appeared like this, becoming His Highness Prince Chang. I don't know what secrets you hold, nor did I expect that the Hanxi brother I grew up with would be His Highness Prince Chang. I fear attracting fatal danger, and even more, I fear implicating my mother and grandmother. So, if what you give me is dangerous, I must return it to you."
She lowered her head, feeling a bit lost. "You can call me selfish or heartless."
"I understand."
Seeing that Song Chaoyu had made up her mind, Mu Changxi finally compromised.
It seemed that since childhood, he could only compromise with this girl. "If you don't want to keep it, send it to the Crown Princess."
The atmosphere between Song Chaoyu and Mu Changxi suddenly became somber.
Xiao Ruizhi, standing nearby, seized the opportunity to step forward and respectfully poured Song Chaoyu a cup of flower tea. "Miss Song, have some tea to calm your anger. The Plum Blossom Hai Yu pendant is a treasured item of our Prince. He gave it to you, naturally, he doesn't wish to take it back. However, my Prince has no other intentions, so please, Miss Song, do not misunderstand my Prince's good intentions!"
A treasured item?
She had grown up with Mu Changxi, and she truly didn't know that such a precious Hai Yu pendant was Mu Changxi's treasured item.
She dared not ask who the person who was a hostage in the Southern Kingdom in Mu Changxi's stead was.
Now that Mu Changxi had returned, was that person... still alive?
Had he, like the boy named "Hanxi," disappeared from this world forever?
Had the Mu Changxi before her, in the end, stained his hands with blood because of her?
...
These questions that Song Chaoyu wanted to ask but dared not ask seemed to have become a tangled mess in her heart, leaving her unable to calm down for a long time.
Song Chaoyu and Mu Changxi could no longer talk about everything as they used to.
They sat opposite each other, looking at each other in silence, letting time slip by, drop by drop.
Until Song Chaoyu had finished three cups of tea, she was the first to stand up. "If Your Highness has no other matters, this humble girl will take her leave."
"Alright."
A thousand words in his heart could not be spoken at this moment.
Mu Changxi watched Song Chaoyu rise, his familiar figure filling his eyes.
Until Song Chaoyu's back disappeared, he sighed heavily again.
Xiao Ruizhi also stared at the teacup Song Chaoyu had just drunk from, and mimicking Mu Changxi, he sighed. "My Lord, actually, Fourth Miss Song is a good girl. It's a pity her status is too low. Otherwise, if you asked the Emperor to grant a marriage, she could marry you."
Mu Changxi raised his eyes, his sharp gaze falling on Xiao Ruizhi. "She is not just any girl. I always feel that she has changed since we met again. But it's good this way. She can protect herself and look after herself, so I don't have to worry too much. Go and investigate what exactly is going on with that Rui Ji."
ā
When Song Chaoyu returned to the front hall, the Old Madam Song was already waiting for her.
At the Duke of Ao's manor, the Old Madam said nothing.
On the carriage ride back, she took Song Chaoyu's hand. "Fourth girl, why do I always feel that your relationship with His Highness Prince Chang is unusual? Did you meet him before when you were at the estate?"
However, before Song Chaoyu could answer, the Old Madam gave a wry smile and rubbed her forehead with her other hand. "How could that be? Even if you had the chance to see him at the estate, he was held hostage in the Southern Kingdom and couldn't control himself! I just feel that he pays too much attention to you."
Song Chaoyu dared not answer the Old Madam's question.
Thinking of Mu Changxi, an inexplicable sense of grievance arose in her heart. "Grandmother, your granddaughter has already spoken with His Highness. We will return the Hai Yu pendant to His Highness, and there will be no more trouble!"
The Old Madam nodded and patted Song Chaoyu's hand. "You girl, I can't quite understand the thoughts of you young people! Fine, let this matter be settled! After we return, you must help me deal with that Sixth Concubine!"
Old Madam Song was resolute, but Song Chaoyu's father, Song Yuan, seemed possessed, wishing to visit the Sixth Concubine's courtyard every day.
Sometimes even his colleagues would praise him for "winning the beauty" and being "full of spring."
Although Madam was constantly comforting him, Song Yuan felt that he was still vigorous in his old age and paid no attention to others' words, showering the Sixth Concubine with even more favor.