“What brings you here? Have you finished with your matters?”
Gu Beichen lowered his eyes slightly, seeing Murong Jinyun’s solicitous gaze. For a moment, he didn’t know how to respond.
He coughed lightly, unable to hide his embarrassment, “I’m finished. The wind is strong outside, let’s go inside.”
“Okay.” Murong Jinyun’s lips still held a faint smile. She reached out, took Gu Beichen’s hand, and walked towards the house.
Gu Beichen stared at their clasped hands, suppressing the urge to pull his away. He allowed Murong Jinyun to lead him inside.
After serving tea, the maid, with keen insight, withdrew, leaving the space to the two of them.
Gu Beichen picked up his teacup and took a gentle sip. He found the tea didn’t quite suit his taste, and then he put the cup down.
“What’s wrong? Is the tea not to your liking?”
Murong Jinyun noticed the anomaly in Gu Beichen’s expression and asked with concern, afraid that some aspect wasn’t to Gu Beichen’s satisfaction.
She realized how anxious she had become, especially when facing Gu Beichen. Her heart always fluttered with an inexplicable nervousness.
She was also worried that Gu Beichen might ask her questions she couldn’t handle. Consequently, every move Gu Beichen made could startle her.
“No, it’s fine.”
Gu Beichen replied indifferently. An awkward atmosphere permeated the air. The main reason was that after learning the truth, he truly didn’t know how to face Murong Jinyun anymore.
He knew that Murong Jinyun approached him with unclear motives, yet he couldn’t bring himself to hate her. He knew he shouldn’t develop feelings for Murong Jinyun, but he still couldn’t control his emotions.
He could only find ways to avoid her, repeatedly telling himself not to overthink things. Only then could his heart find some solace, and his attitude towards Murong Jinyun naturally became somewhat distant.
“The small kitchen made some pastries, they taste quite good. I’ll go get you some to try.”
As soon as Murong Jinyun finished speaking, she stood up hastily and walked out, as if fleeing.
Gu Beichen’s hand, raised in mid-air, felt incredibly awkward. After Murong Jinyun disappeared from his sight, he slowly lowered his hand.
He sighed helplessly, truly unable to understand how such a thing could happen to him. He wished he hadn’t been told in the first place.
He understood everything clearly now, yet he was forced to continue pretending ignorance. Wasn’t this deliberately making things difficult for him?
He now didn’t know how to face Murong Jinyun. If he moved closer, he feared he wouldn’t be able to control his heart and would make a mistake. However, if he remained too distant from Murong Jinyun, he worried she might notice something amiss.
If he caused trouble and delayed Ling Mohan’s important matters, he would become a sinner to the entire Dongchu and the entire Zhennan Royal Residence. He was caught in the middle, in a dilemma, where even breathing or speaking required careful consideration before acting.
In less than the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, Murong Jinyun returned with several plates of pastries. She placed a delicate plum blossom cake into Gu Beichen’s hand.
“The plum blossoms in the courtyard bloomed early this year, so I picked some to make plum blossom cakes. Try them and see if they suit your taste?”
Gu Beichen lowered his eyes to look at the plum blossom cake in his hand. After a moment’s hesitation, under Murong Jinyun’s expectant gaze, he took a gentle bite.
It melted in his mouth, and the faint fragrance of plum blossoms spread through his mouth. Although it was a bit sweet, it didn’t feel overly cloying. Even he, who usually disliked sweets, couldn’t help but finish the entire plum blossom cake.
“Is it delicious? Try this one too. This is pea cake, made differently from how you make it in Dongchu. Try to see if our Xiliang method tastes good.”
As soon as the plum blossom cake in his hand was finished, Murong Jinyun immediately placed another piece into his hand.
Gu Beichen looked at the pastry in his hand and wanted to refuse. However, he felt uneasy under Murong Jinyun’s gaze and still put the pastry into his mouth.
“Is it good?” Murong Jinyun asked impatiently again, afraid it wasn’t to Gu Beichen’s liking.
“It’s quite good. Please sit down. You don’t need to take such meticulous care of me.”
Being fussed over with such attentive care by Murong Jinyun made him extremely uncomfortable. Gu Beichen reached out and pulled Murong Jinyun to sit on a nearby chair.
“It’s alright, I…”
“We are about to get married, and after marriage, we will be husband and wife. Husband and wife should support and respect each other, not just you taking care of me alone.”
Gu Beichen spoke before Murong Jinyun could finish. Since their marriage was already a foregone conclusion, he had made up his mind. Regardless of the eventual outcome, he wouldn’t wrong Murong Jinyun at this moment.
Moreover, he hoped Murong Jinyun could realize her mistakes in time and not continue down the wrong path.
He also didn’t want them to end up facing each other with weapons, like mortal enemies. These were all outcomes he did not wish to see.
At this moment, he couldn’t ascertain Murong Jinyun’s true thoughts. He could only proceed according to Ling Mohan’s plan, taking it one step at a time. Stabilizing the current situation was the most important thing.
Murong Jinyun paused slightly. What Gu Beichen had just said was something she had never heard before.
Although she was a princess of a kingdom, women’s status was still incomparable to men’s. Even as a princess, she had to follow her husband after marriage and rely on him for her livelihood.
It was the first time she had heard such words about equality, mutual respect, and support between husband and wife, especially from her future husband.
For a fleeting moment, she wondered if she had misheard.
“Have you truly thought it through? Do you want to marry me?”
Murong Jinyun’s sudden question made Gu Beichen’s heart clench. His heart leaped into his throat, thinking Murong Jinyun had discovered something.
“Why do you ask? Our wedding date is approaching, and you’re asking this now. Perhaps you’ve changed your mind and don’t want to marry me?”
Gu Beichen used some playful words to mask his embarrassment. Though his expression remained calm and composed, his heart was filled with tension.
“Of course not. I’ve been looking for you for so long because I want to marry you and be your wife. I’ve waited for this day for a long time. Now that it’s finally about to come true, I certainly won’t go back on my word… I’m just worried about you. Do you truly want to marry me…”