Regent, please maintain your aloof image.

Joyful Gathering

Inside the private room, Mu Jinchen was drinking tea when Seventeen walked in and said, "Master, we haven't found the Princess."

Mu Jinchen frowned and put down his teacup. "Didn't they say she came to Yangzhou?"

"The princess did come to Yangzhou, but it seems she only stayed for three days. On the first day, she went to the orphanage and also visited Juhuanxi. On the second day, she went to the Gu residence. On the third day, she inspected the shops and then left."

"We can find out where she went."

"Not found".

Mu Jinchen was silent for a moment, then said, "Call Gu Mingxuan's wife here."

"Yes".

Coincidentally, Xu Linlin happened to be here today, so she came in shortly afterward.

When she saw Mu Jinchen's appearance, she had to admit that she was amazed, but she quickly regained her composure and politely asked, "I wonder what business you have with me, young master?"

"You are Xu Linlin."

Xu Linlin was somewhat surprised, "Young Master knows me."

Mu Jinchen did not answer, but asked, "Where did Rou'er go?"

"Young master is..."

"Rou'er's husband, Mu Jinchen."

Xu Linlin exclaimed in shock, "You are the Regent!"

Mu Jinchen remained silent.

Xu Linlin was furious when she thought about what he had done to Su Qianrou, so she said sarcastically, "How come the Regent has time to come to Yangzhou? Could it be that he brought his concubine here for a visit? I wonder what kind of celestial beauty she is that has won the Regent's favor so much."

"I have come to find Rou'er."

"Has Your Majesty forgotten that you and Qian Rou have already divorced? It might not be appropriate to still call her Rou'er."

Mu Jinchen knew she was standing up for Su Qianrou, so he didn't take her rudeness to heart. "There's been a misunderstanding between me and Rou'er. Please tell me where she is now."

"It's a misunderstanding. Does the Regent mean that he didn't take a concubine, or that he didn't do anything to wrong Qian Rou?"

“The prince has indeed not done anything to wrong the princess,” Yingfeng said.

Xu Linlin chuckled and said, "I thought the Regent was a good man, but now it seems he's a hypocrite."

"Madam Gu, please be careful with your words."

"Am I wrong? If it weren't for him, why would Qianrou have to leave her hometown and wander alone in a foreign land? And now you still have the nerve to come looking for Qianrou? Come on, Juhuanxi doesn't welcome you."

"It is my fault for not investigating the matter thoroughly, which has saddened Rou'er."

Xu Linlin snorted coldly, "Now you know you regret it? Why didn't you think about whether Qianrou would be sad when you did it?"

Mu Jinchen remained silent.

Yingfeng then said, "Madam Gu, the Prince did not expect that woman to be so bold as to deceive him. After the Prince learned the truth, he immediately went to find the Princess Consort, but the Princess Consort had left the capital. Later, he learned that the Princess Consort had come to Yangzhou, and the Prince rushed over without stopping, but still could not find the Princess Consort. Therefore, please tell us where the Princess Consort is now."

"Wait, what truth?"

“Well…” Yingfeng then recounted the whole story.

"So, nothing happened between the Regent and that woman."

"right".

“Isn’t the Regent supposed to be shrewd, capable, and exceptionally intelligent? How could he be fooled by a country girl?” Xu Linlin looked at Mu Jinchen.

Mu Jinchen did not refute her, because she was right. This time, he had indeed been blinded by his own limited perspective. "Please tell me where Rou'er has gone."

"do not know".

"How can I take care of my wife before she will tell me?"

“It’s not that I don’t want to tell you, but I really don’t know. Qianrou only said that she had something very important to do, but she didn’t say where she was going.”

Mu Jinchen scrutinized her, wanting to know if what she said was true. To his disappointment, she didn't seem to be lying, so he asked, "When did she leave?"

"This morning."

"By water or by land?"

Xu Linlin didn't quite believe his words about "land route," so she didn't tell the truth.

"Thank you," Mu Jinchen said, then got up and left.

Xu Linlin watched him leave, her eyes filled with complex emotions.

After spending three days in Yangzhou without any news of Su Qianrou, Mu Jinchen returned to the capital.

Regent's House

When Mu Jinchen arrived at Yanxi Palace, looking at the familiar layout, Su Qianrou's image involuntarily appeared in his mind. He recalled the bits and pieces of their past, which were so beautiful and unforgettable.

At this moment, Mu Xinchen walked over and called out, "Fifth Brother."

Interrupted from his reverie, Mu Jinchen remained silent and walked to the front to sit down.

Mu Xinchen followed and said, "Fifth Brother, are you thinking about Fifth Sister-in-law again?"

Mu Jinchen didn't answer, but asked, "What are you doing here?"

"A new teahouse has opened in the west of the city. I heard the tea is pretty good. I've invited Xiao Yan and the others to go and taste the tea. Would you like to come with us?"

"I'm not going."

"No, I've already said I'll definitely take you with me. If you don't go, Xiao Yan and the others will laugh at me."

"What does this have to do with me?"

"I'll lose face if you don't go, but it's fine if you just show your face."

"I'm busy," Mu Jinchen said, getting up and leaving.

Fifth Brother.

Mu Jinchen ignored him and left.

Mu Xinchen looked at him with concern.

He's become a completely different person these past few months, cold and taciturn. Although he was like this before, he's never been like this before, like a walking corpse, lifeless. If Mu Zexuan and Yun Yue didn't need him, he probably would have given up long ago.

Soon, another year began. Mu Jinchen arrived at the Nine-Story Pagoda, gazing at the myriad lights of the city, lost in thought.

Yingfeng looked at him, his lonely and desolate figure truly heartbreaking. "Your Highness, it's late, go back."

"Still no news of Rou'er?" Mu Jinchen asked.

"The princess is deliberately concealing her whereabouts, and Yingyue is best at hiding her tracks, so finding the princess will probably not be easy."

Mu Jinchen was well aware of this, but he was still unwilling to give up and "continued searching."

"Yes".

Over the next five years, Mu Jinchen went to more than a dozen places, but unfortunately he returned disappointed each time. Even so, as long as there was even the slightest news about Su Qianrou, he would rush over without stopping, afraid of missing her again.