The princess regretted it.

In the side hall of the Prime Minister's residence, Prime Minister Mu and Mu Zixuan arrived. As they slowly entered, a young man in a navy blue brocade robe caught their eye. Standing quietly with his back to the door, the young man stood before the wall painting in the side hall, his posture as straight as a pine tree, as if blending seamlessly into the painting. The navy blue brocade robe was of luxurious texture, its intricate patterns shimmering faintly in the light, highlighting his noble status.

Hearing the gentle sound of footsteps behind him, the young man gracefully turned. His brows were as sharp as swords, imposing his presence. His eyes, long and narrow, tilted slightly upward, seemed captivating; yet his gaze was clear and bright. His skin was as white as snow, a whiteness not pallid but tinged with a gentle radiance. The red mole between his eyebrows accentuated his beauty, making it difficult to distinguish between male and female. This strikingly handsome face, like a masterpiece meticulously crafted by a master, was perfectly balanced, with every line perfectly balanced. Anyone who saw him couldn't help but exclaim, "What a handsome young man!"

Upon seeing Prime Minister Mu enter the side hall, the young man hurried forward, bowed, and saluted, saying, "Junior Chuzhou greets the old master." As he bowed, his sleeves swayed gently, like a gentle breeze, imbued with a unique charm. His movements were graceful and respectful, and the slight bow he made revealed his humility. He was a gentleman, a gentle and refined man, his words and deeds as gentle as jade.

Prime Minister Mu made a gesture of support and smiled lovingly: "Chu Zhou, no need to be so polite!"

Chu Zhou stood up, bowed his head slightly, and said respectfully, "Thank you, old master."

Prime Minister Mu smiled slightly and nodded gently. He looked Zhong Chuzhou up and down carefully with a sharp gaze, his eyes full of admiration. He slowly said: "Chuzhou, it's been a long time since we last met. You have become more calm and solemn. Come, sit down and talk slowly." After that, he turned around and walked towards the main seat with steady steps.

Behind him, Mu Zixuan quietly stepped forward, gently touched Zhong Chuzhou with his shoulder, and said in a low voice: "Cousin, why did you think of my home today?"

Zhong Chuzhou merely curved his captivating almond-shaped eyes slightly, his lips curled up in a faint smile, but he didn't answer. Then, he steadily walked to the floor below the Prime Minister and calmly took his seat. His posture was upright, his demeanor extraordinary, like a standing pine tree.

Mu Zixuan pursed his lips, secretly made a face at Zhong Chuzhou's back, then slowly walked to the chair next to Zhong Chuzhou and slowly sat down.

Prime Minister Mu stared at Zhong Chuzhou with a warm smile on his face and asked, "Chuzhou! Is your grandfather in good health recently?"

Zhong Chuzhou quickly replied respectfully, "Thank you for your concern, Grandpa. Grandpa is still in good health. He still has the habit of getting up early every morning to stretch his muscles. Grandpa also often misses you, Grandpa."

......

The two of them chatted back and forth, gossiping about their families. Mu Zixuan watched from the sidelines as Zhong Chuzhou respectfully answered every question, and inwardly rolled his eyes. Ever since he was little, this cousin had acted like two completely different people in front of the elders and in front of him. He was always well-behaved, sensible, and well-mannered in front of the elders, but in front of him, he was a complete scheming scoundrel. He was so good at disguising himself that every time he made a mistake, even though it was clearly his fault, he was always the one to get scolded, while he always managed to escape unscathed.

Furthermore, outsiders all said he was a dandy, idle and idle all day. He could be found either strolling the bustling streets or chatting and laughing in the bustling taverns. Because of his facade in front of the family elders, they all assumed he was merely a young man with undecided character, and that he was a self-disciplined person, never frequenting prostitutes. As for how cunning, calculating, and treacherous he truly was, Mu Zixuan thought few knew. Yet, he was extremely protective, having always done so in front of others. Mu Zixuan muttered to himself, this cousin truly was a love-hate relationship.

"Chu Zhou came here today, but what's the important matter?" After a burst of hearty laughter, Prime Minister Mu changed the topic and asked.

Zhong Chuzhou quickly replied respectfully, "Today, there's nothing important. It's just that Grandmother has been quite concerned about Aunt lately. It just so happened that she found something Aunt loved a few days ago, so she asked me to bring it to her. It's a bit abrupt for me to come here today, so I hope Old Master will forgive me."

Prime Minister Mu nodded slightly and said, "In that case, let Zixuan take you to your aunt's yard to meet your aunt."

When Mu Zixuan heard this, he curled his lips, revealing an expression of "I knew it", and stood up reluctantly, muttering, "Let's go, cousin."

Zhong Chuzhou stood up and saluted respectfully: "Thank you, old master!"

Then he followed Mu Zixuan out of the side hall. Mu Zixuan complained quietly as he walked, "Every time you come, I'm miserable. Not only do I have to accompany you, but afterwards you have to drag me out to compare me with you."

Zhong Chuzhou chuckled and asked, "Why? You don't want to accompany me?"

Mu Zixuan snorted and complained, "Of course I'm not happy. You knew Jin'an would come to the house today, and I came to accompany you, so I didn't even have time to accompany Jin'an! Jin'an finally came here."

Zhong Chuzhou patted Mu Zixuan's shoulder and said soothingly, "Okay, don't be angry. Next time, I'll take you to a fun place. For example, I'll take you to the newly opened theater and listen to the most famous actors perform. How about that?"

Mu Zixuan's eyes lit up and he said excitedly, "Really? That's a deal. You can't break your promise."

Zhong Chuzhou smiled and glanced at him sideways, saying, "Tsk, you don't believe me. When have I ever joked with you?"

Mu Zixuan chuckled, two dimples appeared on his face, and his round puppy eyes became curved.

Zhong Chuzhou lowered his head and chuckled softly. Then, his eyes moved as he casually said, "You just said Jin'an is here, so my aunt should be in Ning'an Hall right now. Since I'm here, I have to pay my respects to Old Madam Xue. Please accompany me to Ning'an Hall! This way, my aunt won't have to travel back and forth."

Mu Zixuan thought what he said made sense, but he also felt something was wrong. He hesitated and said, "Cousin, Jin'an should be in Ning'an Hall right now. Would it be inappropriate for me to take you there rashly? Jin'an is a girl after all. What if she feels uncomfortable?"

Zhong Chuzhou's eyes flickered, and he smiled and said, "Come to think of it, didn't you, Jin An, and I often play together when we were little? You're my cousin after all. What's wrong with that? Besides, I'm just going to say hello, I won't disturb you for too long."

Mu Zixuan thought about it and agreed. Since they were kids, Jin'an always liked to play with Zhong Chuzhou because he was so good-looking, spending more time with him than with him. He figured Jin'an probably still remembered him. So, he could just go directly to Ning'an Hall and let someone know. Mother and the others would make the arrangements.

Thinking of this, Mu Zixuan took Zhong Chuzhou directly to Ning'an Hall.