"The Prince has just recovered and is still somewhat weak. This nap was specifically instructed by the divine healer. I cannot comply with your request!" Qing Yan's voice carried a hint of anger. Though he referred to himself as a servant, in reality, the only person who could speak to him so directly was Murong Jing He. Muye Luo Mei certainly did not have that privilege.
Luo Mei's expression turned cold. Even Murong Jing He had to show her respect, yet now she was being obstructed by a mere servant. How could she swallow this insult? With a swift motion, she drew her long sword from her waist, pointing it directly at Qing Yan.
Though Luo Mei stood below the steps and Qing Yan was above, the emergence of her sword only heightened her imposing presence.
"If you do not step aside, I will spill your blood here today," she said coldly. Then, raising her voice, she called into the house, "Murong Jing He, if you do not come out now, do not blame me for killing your favored servant."
Even someone as composed as Qing Yan could not help but show a slight change in expression. His hand, resting at his side, curled slightly within his sleeve, forming a snake's head stance.
Just as the situation was about to erupt, a lazy voice came from within the house: "Qing Yan, why haven't you invited General Muye in yet?" This was followed by a loud yawn. "Since the General doesn't wish to rest, why force her? That would be quite impolite."
Qing Yan's tense demeanor instantly relaxed. He returned to his usual respectful stance, stepped aside, and slightly bowed, saying, "Please, General." His tone was calm, without offering any apology for his earlier actions.
Luo Mei snorted coldly, then turned to signal two red-clad, sword-bearing women to wait outside. She entered with another woman dressed in white, who was none other than Adai, holding a small, fiery red creature. Qing Yan summoned a maid to take their cloaks and shake the snow from their hair and clothing before preparing hot soup.
Murong Jing He had clearly just risen. He stood by the bed in white inner garments, yawning repeatedly, while Mei Lin was helping him put on his outer robe. Once everything outside was in order, he shuffled out in soft-soled shoes.
Though he kept yawning, his overall vitality was much improved, causing both women to brighten at the sight. Mei Lin did not come out, instead returning to the couch to continue her embroidery. She had no desire to confront Luo Mei directly, knowing full well that she would undoubtedly come out worse for wear.
"Sit down!" Murong Jing He gestured to the thickly padded chairs inside, smiling as he himself sat in the main seat. Seeing the two women still standing, he continued, "I hear the battlefront is tense. How does General Muye find time to visit me here in the remote, cold north?"
"You have the nerve to ask? If not for you, I wouldn't have been summoned back to the capital. Do you not know that changing generals before a battle is a military taboo?" Luo Mei retorted bitterly, clearly aggrieved by the situation. Seeing his continued nonchalance, her anger flared, and she pushed Adai towards him. "The Emperor has commanded me to escort your favorite woman to you."
Caught off guard, Adai stumbled into Murong Jing He's arms, her face instantly flushing red as she softly called him "Your Highness" and tried to stand. But holding the small red creature made it difficult, and she struggled without success. Murong Jing He chuckled and embraced her, but his gaze remained on Luo Mei. "Such a minor task didn't require the esteemed General Muye. I could have sent someone to fetch her myself."
Luo Mei shot him a glare, her gaze shifting to Mei Lin in the inner room. She sneered, "Send someone? I think you're so captivated here that you've forgotten everyone else."
Murong Jing He was playing with Adai's hair when he followed her gaze and saw Mei Lin, her head bowed, focused on her embroidery, seemingly unconcerned with what was happening outside. He felt a pang of discomfort. Setting Adai upright, he called out to Qing Yan, who stood outside, "Take Miss Adai to the rear courtyard to rest."
Adai's face showed clear disappointment, but she dared not protest. She gracefully curtsied and followed Qing Yan out.
With only the three of them left in the room, Luo Mei turned to close the door before pointing at Mei Lin in the inner room and quietly demanding of Murong Jing He, "How is she still alive?" Everyone in the court knew that Mei Lin was a spy planted by Murong Xuanlie, responsible for gravely injuring the Prince of Jingbei. Because of this, the Emperor had issued a nationwide warrant for her capture.
Murong Jing He smiled faintly and replied, "Why shouldn't she be alive?"
Luo Mei frowned, "Jing He, you’re being reckless. Do you realize how much trouble it would cause if the Emperor found out she’s safe and sound in the Prince of Jingbei's mansion?" Her tone was stern, but it was full of concern, which softened Murong Jing He's expression.
"Mei Lin, return to your room," he said to the woman in the inner room, not wanting her to overhear what came next.
Mei Lin's grip tightened around the sachet she was holding, the needle pricking her hand and making her wince. She thought that after staying here for so long, her old room must be freezing; perhaps it would be better to go to the old healer's place for warmth. With that thought, she had already reached the outer room, respectfully curtsied to the two of them, and was about to leave.
"Wait a moment," Luo Mei suddenly called out, stepping forward to snatch the nearly completed rose-colored sachet from Mei Lin's hand. Embroidered on it was the character "Jing." Luo Mei sneered and threw it at Murong Jing He. "So this was made for you. How skillful."
Murong Jing He picked up the sachet, glanced at it, and remarked, "It's quite ugly." Then he casually tossed it into the nearby brazier, where it instantly caught fire. He then looked at the stunned Mei Lin, who was staring at the brazier, and said coldly, "I can't take such things with me. Don't make any more."
The brazier had been brought in specifically because Mei Lin, bored, had wanted to roast something, even though the room was already heated by the floor.
As the sachet was thrown into the fire, Mei Lin's first thought was that she had been foolish to have a brazier in the room. Only after did she focus on the person who had taken her sachet. She thought that if the woman in front of her hadn't taken it, even if he didn't like it, he wouldn't have burned it, and she could have kept it herself.
Perhaps from the moment the woman appeared, a sense of frustration had started to build in her heart, and now, with this latest development, it had grown even stronger, causing her heart to ache as if it were about to split. Her mind went blank, and all she could think of was releasing her pent-up anger.
A sharp pain on her face and forehead snapped her back to reality. She realized she had fallen to the ground, feeling cold liquid trickle down her face.
Murong Jing He had somehow risen from his seat and was now standing in front of Luo Mei, looking at her with eyes as cold as ice, his face full of fury. Through his shoulder, she could see Luo Mei's left cheek, swollen and red, her eyes filled with disbelief.
It was possible that, in her rage, she had struck Luo Mei, and then he had hit her. Perhaps that's what happened... perhaps that's all it was.
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