Song Chaoyu looked at Mu Changxi in confusion. He held her hand and tightened his grip. "Ayu, what you are about to do is to come home with me. Don't think about anything, and don't worry about anything."
His voice was very low, almost inaudible to anyone but Song Chaoyu. "I wish you were still the Song Chaoyu from the manor back then, innocent and carefree."
The past... was it truly gone forever?
Song Chaoyu thought this, and a sense of loss washed over her.
—
When they boarded the carriage to return, the rain had stopped.
As the carriage began to move, Ping Jiang, covered in blood, chased after them from behind.
Mu Changxi merely lifted the carriage curtain and glanced at Ping Jiang. "Handled?"
Ping Jiang nodded. "Handled. Although Xiao Zhangzi has been by Prince Ning's side since childhood, Prince Ning does not dare to completely fall out with you at this moment, so he handed Xiao Zhangzi over. I killed Xiao Zhangzi in front of Prince Ning. Prince Ning was angry but dared not say anything more. After all, if the Emperor found out about his unauthorized visit to Haizhou, he would surely become suspicious."
They... killed Xiao Zhangzi?
Song Chaoyu also felt that Xiao Zhangzi deserved to die.
She just hadn't expected Ping Jiang to deal with him so swiftly.
Ping Jiang glanced at Song Chaoyu, then continued, "That Gu Rui has also been brought over. Once we return, she will be at the Princess Consort's disposal."
Song Chaoyu nodded, but she still had a question for Mu Changxi. "You found me too quickly! I thought you wouldn't be able to find this place. After all, who would have thought Prince Ning would come to Haizhou at this time?"
Mu Changxi smiled and then said to Song Chaoyu, "You have to thank Zhu Zhu for that. She was the first to discover you had been taken away, and that girl is clever. Afraid you would be harmed, she didn't call for help but instead followed your carriage all the way. When she returned to report, her shoes had come off, and her feet were covered in blood. But she was very fast. With that girl by your side, I can rest assured."
It was Zhu Zhu?
This was something Song Chaoyu had never expected.
Song Chaoyu understood, and then rested her head on Mu Changxi's shoulder. "Don't worry, he couldn't do anything to me."
From behind her, Mu Changxi stroked Song Chaoyu's head. "Although I believe such a thing will never happen to you again, I also hope that if something similar happens one day, you will learn to protect yourself."
So... did he mean what Song Chaoyu was thinking?
That it was alright if she suffered some other harm in order to protect herself?
Could he... accept that?
Of course, Song Chaoyu only dared to wonder this in her heart, not daring to ask Mu Changxi directly.
By the time the carriage reached their residence, Tiao Hong and Qiu Qing had already come to greet them.
Tiao Hong, worried about Song Chaoyu, checked her carefully before letting out a sigh of relief.
Qiu Qing, however, knelt directly before Song Chaoyu. "Qiu Qing failed to protect the Princess Consort, please punish me!"
Song Chaoyu had always been lenient with her subordinates, so how could she punish Qiu Qing?
She quickly helped Qiu Qing up, and as if knowing what she wanted to ask, Qiu Qing said, "Princess Consort, please don't worry, Zhu Zhu is fine. I've already applied medicine to her feet and brewed her ginger soup. She's resting."
Only then did Song Chaoyu nod and enter the courtyard.
"This subordinate has committed a crime and is willing to accept punishment!"
However, as soon as Song Chaoyu entered the courtyard, she suddenly heard Ping Jiang's voice from behind her.
She turned back in surprise and saw Ping Jiang kneeling on the ground without a word. He then unbuckled his weapon and took off his outer garment.
Song Chaoyu was stunned and watched as Mu Changxi pushed his wheelchair towards Ping Jiang.
Facing Ping Jiang, his eyes were as cold as ice. "I am not unaware of how you usually treat the Princess Consort. But you couldn't even protect her person. What use do I have for you by my side?"
Ping Jiang was indeed at fault, but it wasn't as serious as Mu Changxi made it out to be.
Song Chaoyu did not step forward to persuade Mu Changxi. These were matters between him and his subordinate, and Song Chaoyu could not undermine Mu Changxi's authority.
Mu Changxi nodded at Ping Jiang. "Since you are punishing yourself, you shall deal with each other. If you hadn't been by my side for so many years, you would know the consequences of your actions!"
"Yes, this subordinate understands!"
There was no hint of defiance in Ping Jiang's eyes. He obediently had a wooden staff brought over, then prostrated himself on the ground.
The guards who followed Ping Jiang also followed his example, prostrating themselves on the ground, preparing to receive their punishment.
Song Chaoyu sighed softly and stepped forward to push Mu Changxi's wheelchair. "If you punish them all, who will protect us tomorrow?"
"Ayu, there's no need to worry."
As if at all times, Mu Changxi was calm and assured. "They know their limits. If Ping Jiang cannot protect us tomorrow after this punishment, then he needn't follow me."
Song Chaoyu nodded, knowing she should trust Mu Changxi.
She pushed Mu Changxi into the room. Mu Changxi simply said, "I'm tired and want to rest for a while. Close the door."
Indeed, since arriving in Haizhou City, he had barely rested.
Song Chaoyu went to close the door, and the next moment, she felt Mu Changxi embrace her from behind!
His aura enveloped Song Chaoyu in an instant,
making her heart inexplicably soften. "I'm fine, aren't I? This won't happen again."
"Ayu, don't speak."
Mu Changxi rarely acted like this. His body seemed to be trembling slightly. "I almost thought I was going to lose you. Ayu, I know very well how you would act in that situation. You would rather die than yield to Mu Hansu. But I'm afraid you would choose to leave me forever. Ayu, I'm truly scared!"
This was the first time Song Chaoyu had seen such a vulnerable Mu Changxi.
She suddenly realized that she was probably more important to Mu Changxi than she had imagined.
Song Chaoyu allowed Mu Changxi to hold her like this, remaining silent.
Mu Changxi understood her, so she couldn't guarantee that if a similar situation arose next time, she would choose to protect herself.
But at least now, she felt closer to Mu Changxi.
She began to feel that perhaps becoming this Princess Consort of Chang was a good thing for both her and Mu Changxi.
—
Song Chaoyu didn't know how long Mu Changxi held her like this.
She only knew that when Mu Changxi released her, his body finally stopped trembling.
He looked at Song Chaoyu earnestly. "Ayu, I need to tell you something. You might have already guessed it, but I must say it."