Chapter 21 – Tyrant VS National Teacher (21)
Looking at Mo Yi’s appearance, Mu Jin could only sniff and lower his eyelids, forcing himself to endure the embarrassment as he said, “In any case, you’re not allowed to do that. How can you eat such things?”
Little did he know that after he finished speaking, the man opposite him approached even more, leaning in to whisper in his ear with a light laugh, “Why can’t you eat it? I find the taste quite delightful. How about you try it yourself, Brother Jin?”
Hearing Mo Yi say such things, Mu Jin was shocked, his eyes widening. He felt completely unaware of what had happened to Mo Yi during the three years he was away, causing him to become like this.
Although Mo Yi’s charm remained, it was undeniably too shameless.
While Mu Jin was distressed on his own, he didn’t realize that he, with his adorable appearance, was making the man beside him lose control. Unable to restrain himself, the man once again pounced on Mu Jin, who was still in a daze.
Although Mo Yi didn’t go to the extreme of making him taste it, watching the other person eat it cleanly, Mu Jin felt that he could no longer face his own integrity.
The two of them bantered for a while, causing Mu Jin to rest for quite some time. It was only when the sun was high that he finally got up from the bed. However, he didn’t stay in Prince Jing’s mansion for long. After having lunch, he planned to leave and return to Xuan Qing Temple.
Although Mo Yi didn’t want to let him go, it was a special time. Mu Jin knew that people from the Fifth Prince’s side might come looking for him, so he had to stay at Xuan Qing Temple to avoid arousing their suspicion.
However, he did promise Mo Yi that they would meet every night. Before leaving, he was once again taken advantage of by the man, but finally managed to break free from Prince Jing’s mansion.
Naturally, Mu Jin couldn’t leave through the front door, but in a world where martial arts and a bit of cultivation were possible, jumping over rooftops and walls was not a problem.
However, while quietly leaving, Mu Jin noticed that someone seemed to have been lingering around Prince Jing’s mansion all along.
The person was dressed in white, seemingly a young master from a wealthy family based on his attire. He had a petite figure, delicate features, and was accompanied by a maid, rather than the usual young male servant. What was especially odd was that, as the New Year approached, he was holding a folding fan in his hand.
Although his appearance seemed elegant, it appeared overly deliberate. On the surface, he pretended to be passing by, checking various stalls near the mansion, but his eyes kept stealing glances at Prince Jing’s mansion gate.
Such strangeness naturally caught Mu Jin’s attention. Upon closer inspection, he recognized the person as none other than the female lead, Luo Yushu.
In these years, Mu Jin hadn’t relaxed his surveillance of the female lead. After all, she was not a docile character, and combined with the protagonist’s aura, who knew what trouble she might stir up. Therefore, he had instructed Agent 003 to keep a close eye on Luo Yushu’s movements.
So Mu Jin knew that since the age of thirteen or fourteen, the female lead had been quite ambitious. Spoiled by Prime Minister Luo Yuanju’s favor, she had been living a comfortable life.
Now it seemed that the original plot was unfolding just as expected. Luo Yushu often dressed as a man when going out, forming connections with many prominent young masters in the capital.
Although Luo Yushu always wore male clothing, she didn’t deliberately conceal her identity, showing numerous signs. Yet, she was praised for her carefree attitude and became an object of admiration for many young talents.
However, Mu Jin refrained from commenting on whether these relationships with young talents were coincidental or intentional.
If it were just about having fun and making friends with handsome young men, Mu Jin would have considered it the female lead’s personal matter, not something truly evil. But unexpectedly, Luo Yushu had a bold side.
Despite being favored, she was a legitimate daughter of the Luo family, with a legitimate sister named Luo Jinxiu.
Luo Jinxiu was beautiful and graceful, possessing both talent and virtue. She was simple and kind-hearted, much like her deceased mother. Although Luo Jinxiu didn’t like to show herself in public, she was indeed an outstanding individual.
When the Fifth Prince, Mo Dun, came of age to choose a consort, the Empress Dowager invited daughters of noble families to the palace for a banquet.
Due to her status as an illegitimate daughter, Luo Yushu was not eligible to participate in the palace banquet, causing her discontent. After all, she had always hoped to become the most honored woman in the world, and the opportunity for the Fifth Prince to ascend the throne was considerable.
Mu Jin initially thought that the female lead’s discontent was just internal grumbling. He didn’t expect her to go so far as to harm her own legitimate sister.
Not only did she push Luo Jinxiu into the water when no one was looking, but she also put a strong drug in her soup, intending to take advantage of the opportunity to ruin her sister’s reputation.
Fortunately, Mu Jin had learned about the female lead’s actions through Agent 003 beforehand. Although the incident of Luo Jinxiu falling into the water was sudden and couldn’t be stopped in time, Mu Jin didn’t want to intervene.
After all, if Luo Yushu truly attended the palace banquet and caught the eye of the Fifth Prince Mo Dun, it might not be a good thing. However, when Luo Yushu attempted to poison her sister, Mu Jin discreetly intervened, preventing her from succeeding.
However, Luo Jinxiu did indeed develop a high fever for several days after falling into the water, causing her to miss the Empress Dowager’s banquet.
After that palace banquet, even though Luo Yushu couldn’t attend that day, she coincidentally encountered the Fifth Prince Mo Dun a few days later.
On regular days, the two of them seemed to have a close relationship, and Mo Dun appeared quite fond of Luo Yushu. During the Lantern Festival, Mo Dun even spent a considerable amount to reserve the largest dragon boat on Mirror Lake, hosting a banquet for Luo Yushu alone.
Luo Yushu eagerly attended, not only not refusing his invitation but also flaunting her victory in front of Luo Jinxiu.
Observing this, Mu Jin thought that the female lead believed Mo Dun would inherit the throne, intending to focus her attention on him. However, he didn’t expect Luo Yushu to be quite audacious.
Not only did she have ambiguous interactions with Mo Dun, but seeing the female lead’s current appearance, dressed in male attire but still meticulously adorned, she seemed to be waiting for an opportunity to have another “chance encounter” with Mo Yi.
This woman, vacillating and greedy!
A cold light flashed in Mu Jin’s eyes, realizing that she had set her sights on his man. Truly overestimating herself.
However, Mo Dun and Luo Yushu, one arrogant and the other ruthless, were a well-matched pair.
Thinking of this, Mu Jin left without revealing his emotions. Returning to Xuan Qing Temple, he was soon visited by the Fifth Prince Mo Dun.
Truly sending a pillow to a sleepy person, Mu Jin smirked when he heard the servant’s report. Changing out of last night’s clothes, he calmly entered the hall.
As Mo Dun grew older, he became increasingly reckless in his actions. He indulged in lust and had amassed numerous concubines despite not having an official consort. Seeing Mo Dun’s seemingly gentle exterior and increasingly absurd actions, Mu Jin felt a growing impatience. Although he still looked down on Mo Yi, considering him low-born and not a worthy opponent, he came to seek advice from Mu Jin. After all, Mu Jin’s suggestions over the years had been quite good, even earning him praise from the emperor.
After exchanging pleasantries, Mo Dun got to the point, expressing his troubles and the warnings he received from the Marquis of Anping the previous day. He hoped Mu Jin could provide some advice.
After listening to Mo Dun’s words, Mu Jin immediately thought of the cunning old fox, Marquis of Anping. To secure Mo Yi’s throne, the hidden danger of Marquis of Anping also needed to be eliminated.
Over the years, Prime Minister Luo had indeed considered Mo Dun as a likely candidate to inherit the throne. However, he remained cautious until the Emperor made a clear statement. Despite his seemingly impartial demeanor, he secretly allied with the Marquis of Anping, leaving little evidence.
However, Mu Jin didn’t intend to let Mo Dun enjoy such leisure and profit. Since Prime Minister Luo doted on his illegitimate daughter so much, Mu Jin decided to make the whole city aware of Luo Yushu while keeping Luo Jinxiu in the shadows.
Moreover, there was an ambiguous relationship between Luo Yushu and the Fifth Prince. It might be a good opportunity to help them settle down.
Thus, Mu Jin addressed the Fifth Prince, “Now that the Third Prince has returned to the capital in glory, he poses a threat to Your Highness. Without military power in your hands, controlling the court is even more crucial. We need more significant assistance.”
Upon hearing this, Mo Yi immediately became alert and asked, “What do you suggest, Brother Jin?”
Mu Jin didn’t beat around the bush and, after a brief pause, said, “The fastest way is undoubtedly a marriage alliance. I remember that the daughter of Prime Minister Luo, Luo Yushu, is highly talented. What do you think, Your Highness?”
Mo Dun had always thought highly of Luo Yushu’s beauty, but he considered her just a illegitimate daughter. Moreover, after consulting with the Empress Dowager, his mother also favored Prime Minister Luo’s legitimate daughter. Therefore, he had not taken any action.
Thinking this way, Mo Dun asked, and Mu Jin replied, “Your Highness may not be aware, but Luo Yushu is Prime Minister Luo’s true love, holding an extraordinary status in the Luo family.”
“She is Prime Minister’s beloved daughter, surpassing even the legitimate daughter of the Luo family. If you can marry Luo Yushu, it will be like grasping Prime Minister Luo’s weakness. Then, Prime Minister will naturally stand on Your Highness’s side.”