Chapter Seventy-Five: Borrowing Lodging

  Hmph!

  This time, Shen Han finally couldn't hold back, and directly spat out a mouthful of tea water. Mu Siyao seemed to have anticipated her reaction, and immediately shifted his body to the side, dodging Shen Han's tea spray with ease. Shen Han was so angry that she wiped her mouth with her sleeve, stood up, pointed at Mu Siyao's nose, and shouted: "Mu Siyao, if you dare to make fun of me like this again, I will..."

  "What's certain?"

  Mu Siyou didn't think much of it, and simply stood up straight, slightly tilting her head to avoid being poked by her finger. At this moment, she was face to face with Shen Han, their breathing almost touching, and the distance between them made Shen Han's face flush like a tomato as she involuntarily took a step back, pulling away from the proximity that made her heart skip a beat.

  Someone who deliberately created this scene is now smiling harmlessly, shrugging his shoulders and seeming to say seriously: "Besides, how do you know I'm joking this time? Or... maybe I've never joked with you?"

  He was so stunned by his words that Shen Huan couldn't say a word, and could only stare blankly at Mu Siyao's face, which was smiling warmly, getting closer and closer until it was about to touch hers. It wasn't until then that Shen Huan noticed how ambiguous their posture was, and immediately sat back stiffly in her chair. Before she could even catch her breath, a very dissatisfied voice rang out: "Hey, what are you doing? If you get any dirty water on Brother Mu's body, just you wait and see how I'll deal with you."

  Shen Huan turned her head to look, and saw that Princess Huai'an, who had been sitting not far from them earlier, as well as the maid named Ruyi whom she had met that day. At this moment, Princess Huai'an was no longer disguising her disgust towards Shen Huan, staring at her with wide eyes while using her handkerchief to pretend to wipe away something on Mu Siyao's chest. Seeing this, Shen Huan couldn't help but curl up the corner of her mouth and mock in her heart: "You think you're so great just because you're a princess? Mu Siyao clearly doesn't like you, yet you're still clinging onto him. Men aren't always willing to accept women who throw themselves at them. Look at your pathetic appearance, stretching out your claws to try and seduce him."

  "Oh?"

  Shen Han didn't know what attitude Mu Siyao had towards the princess, so she naturally couldn't express her opinion. She simply looked directly at Mu Siyao and dragged out the tone of her "oh" sound. Mu Siyao, on the other hand, was smiling warmly at her. Seeing this, the fire in Princess Huian's heart burned even more fiercely. A woman's jealousy is terrifying, and this woman wasn't just any ordinary woman - she was a princess with the power to decide life and death.

  "Mu Si Yao pays respects to the princess..."

  "Brother Mo..."

  Princess Huian probably didn't expect that Mushi Yao would suddenly turn cold, and when facing her, he respectfully bowed to her with the demeanor of a lower official. Although Mushi Yao had done so before, but after scolding Shen Han, it was all for him, Mushi Yao's actions at this moment were a deep blow to Princess Huian, she instantly turned red-eyed, tears swirling in her eyes, even Shen Han couldn't help but feel a moment of sympathy.

  But Mu Siyao showed no signs of softening, instead speaking calmly: "I'm having tea with a friend here. If we disturbed Your Highness's leisure time, I'll apologize on her behalf. Please don't blame her."

  He spoke without being too outspoken, although it was a sentence of concern and blame, but every word was reasonable. It seemed as if Shen Han hadn't splashed water on him at all, but rather the princess had disturbed his gathering with friends. The words couldn't be spoken too directly, yet he didn't give Princess Huai'an any face either, making her somewhat unable to get out of this situation now. Shen Han was also very surprised, looking at him and Princess Huai'an, unsure if she should say something to express some apology.

  While Princess Huai'an was publicly blamed by Mu Siyao, she wasn't deaf to the meaning behind those words. Naturally, she felt wronged and resentful in her heart. Her gaze at Shen Huan also contained a few more parts of grievance. Shen Huan helplessly withdrew his line of sight, not looking at her again, lest he add to his own troubles. After all, he had lived for two lifetimes and couldn't be bothered with the newly sprouted feelings of a young girl.

  "Sorry to disturb Brother Mo while he's having tea, Huai An left first."

  Mu Si Yao smiled and nodded slightly, neither speaking nor trying to retain her. Seeing this, Princess Huai An felt even more humiliated and embarrassed, immediately turning around and leaving...

  "Why like this? Frankly speaking, she is just a little girl who has not grown up yet."

  "Shen Han, many times your temporary softness brings to the other party, apart from temporary happiness, is permanent harm. I believe you understand this principle, otherwise...you wouldn't have insisted on leaving the Zhao family either. After all, from the beginning, you really wanted to make the Zhao family your future home."

  Shen Han understood what Mu Siyao meant, and didn't continue to dwell on this issue. At the same time, she was secretly relieved that if it wasn't for Princess Huan An suddenly jumping out and intervening, she would have been tormented to death by the question Mu Siyao had raised earlier.

  Sometimes, one has to admit that the phrase "a blessing in disguise" is something that predecessors have gained through personal experience.

  "But she's a princess, you're not worried that she'll..."

  "What can she do to me even if I refuse to yield? Can't let His Majesty... "

  Mo Siyao made a throat-slitting gesture, accompanied by the smile on his face that didn't reveal his true emotions. Shen Huan didn't know whether Mo Siyao's current mood was really one of helplessness. Many times, being loved isn't a kind of happiness, especially when it comes to this kind of high-pressure love affair, where you're not even sure if the other person truly loves you, or maybe they just have a temporary infatuation. In the end, you sacrifice everything for them, but they may not necessarily be grateful to you.

  So... Shen Huan said she would rather die than get involved in any palace affairs.

  "Mu Siyao, you're really fearless of heaven and earth"

  "What am I afraid of?"

  "It's okay, as long as you have your own principles in doing things."

  "Deeply hidden..."

  Seeing him suddenly becoming serious again, Shen Huan's thoughts were also brought up, and she couldn't help but think to herself: Always inexplicably becoming serious, it's affecting me too, making me startled.

  "What?"

  "To be honest with you, I... am just like you, really hating this kind of life right now"

  Upon hearing this, Shen Huan was somewhat surprised. He was the most trusted person by the crown prince's side. As far as she knew, they had almost grown up together since childhood. The crown prince's own brothers might not be closer to him than Mu Siyao. How could he possibly dislike his current life? It can be said that he had everything he wanted, with every wish fulfilled.

  "You might find it strange that with people from my household in the imperial court and myself being a favorite of the crown prince, I would be dissatisfied with my current life?"

  Nodding, Shen Huan didn't pretend to hide his thoughts at this moment. Anyway, he had already seen through him, and there was no need to cover it up. Since the topic was opened by himself, no matter what he said, he would continue to talk about it. This point Shen Huan could affirm.

  Indeed, Mu Ziyu smiled somewhat self-deprecatingly: "Actually, what people see is only the surface. Who would know the true value and danger of such an identity?"

  Upon hearing this, Shen Huan immediately reacted and realized that for Mu Siyao, such a seemingly glorious identity was actually carrying something behind it. It was a symbol of power, but at the same time, it was also a knife hanging over his neck, and he had no idea when that knife would be pushed forward by several inches towards his neck.

  "There's a saying that being with a king is like being with a tiger. Do you really think the prince can protect me for my whole life? What a joke! Who knows, maybe one day he'll be the one to take my life. The struggle between factions has never stopped throughout history. He doesn't even acknowledge his own brothers, let alone someone as lowly as me."

  These words are somewhat cold-blooded, but Shen Huan knew that they were not false. Otherwise... since ancient times, every change of dynasty, can you say which one was not achieved by stepping on the blood of many people? The old emperor's death, the new prince's struggle for power, is nothing more than a knife hanging from their necks, it just depends on your luck.

  If you're unlucky, you'll be killed instantly. If you're lucky and the prince you chose inherits the throne, you'll become a meritorious official. However, history has shown us that being a meritorious official who overshadows the ruler is a very delicate matter. The bloody lessons of history tell us that becoming a meritorious official who stands above everyone else requires a high level of skill.

  "Alas, you be careful yourself, if... Of course, I know it's not easy, I'm just saying if, if possible to withdraw, the sooner the better."

  Shen Han saw a worried look on his face, and Mu Siyao's heart, which was shrouded in dark clouds, suddenly seemed to be washed away by a gust of wind, and he burst out laughing. At this moment, he looked like a simple-minded child, and Shen Han was taken aback by that smile.

  "Thank you for your concern."

  "You're welcome"

  "What's your plan then?"

  "Me?"

  Mu Ziyu stretched out his hand to hold down his chin, quietly watching the pedestrians on the street, as if saying something ordinary that couldn't be more ordinary: "As I understand you, you must not want to return to the Zhao family in such a situation."

  Upon hearing this, Shen Huan was slightly taken aback. She looked at Mu Siyao, who had spoken the words so naturally, and her small heart fluttered a little. In all the time she had been in this world, who would have dared to say they understood her? And yet, the man before her, who hadn't interacted with her much and didn't speak much, always seemed to appear when she needed help. At that moment, he was looking elsewhere, seemingly speaking offhand, but his words struck a chord in Shen Huan's sensitive heart.

  "What's wrong?"

  "Nothing, you're right, I don't really want to go back, but I don't know where to go either. Can you recommend a relatively safe inn?"

  "Pffft, you think Beijing is like those black spots? Which inn isn't safe?"

  "Hmm... then take me to find one, I'll stay in a hostel tonight."

  "Are you sure?"

  He withdrew his gaze, but still tilted his head to look at her, with an expression of obvious disbelief on his face. This provoked Shen Huan to raise her chin and glare back at him: "Why the uncertainty?"

  "Hehe, finally a bit like the Shen Han I know."

  "What did you say?"

  "There's nothing, but you just now looked so worried like a resentful wife, it makes me very uncomfortable."

  "Mu Si Yao... Do you know or not, many times what you say is really annoying"

  Upon hearing this, Mu Siyao couldn't help but laugh and looked at Shen Huan with a half-serious expression, winking at her: "But I only let you dislike me"

  Seeing Shen Huan's obvious daze, Mu Siyao laughed again and stopped teasing her. Instead, she stood up and said: "Let's go, I'll find the safest place for you to stay."