The next day, Zha Muxi still brought Song Wen along to treat Mo Xuanjing. Even though her expression remained icy as ever, Mo Xuanjing looked at her with a gaze full of lingering affection.
Standing nearby, Song Wen felt a slight shock in his heart. It seemed the Princess Consort was extremely important to the Prince.
Mo Xuanjing kept trying to strike up a conversation, but Zha Muxi showed little interest, offering only perfunctory replies.
Noticing her perfunctory attitude and perhaps wanting to please her, Mo Xuanjing suddenly said, "Tomorrow, we will set off for the Capital."
Sure enough, Zha Muxi's eyes instantly lit up, shining like stars, so captivating that one couldn't look away.
Mo Xuanjing gave a bitter inward laugh. Indeed, only returning to the Capital could evoke such a change in her emotions. Was she really that impatient to obtain a divorce from him?
After Zha Muxi finished applying the acupuncture, more than half of the poison in Mo Xuanjing's body had been cleared out. Just one final session would be enough to cure him completely.
Zha Muxi had woken up at the crack of dawn precisely to finish this last treatment quickly so she could keep her distance from the male lead.
Mo Xuanjing naturally knew what she was thinking and felt his heart bleeding, yet seeing her made him involuntarily bubble with excitement.
"Would you like to stay for breakfast?" Mo Xuanjing carefully weighed his words before speaking in a slow voice.
Zha Muxi raised her head to look at him, feeling somewhat exasperated. Why was Mo Xuanjing dragging his feet? He had to remember: what he was losing was merely love, but if she didn't hurry back, what she would lose was her life!
"No need, I've already eaten," Zha Muxi ruthlessly refused, using her eyes to urge Mo Xuanjing to hurry up and eat.
Mo Xuanjing had no choice but to finish his meal quickly and announce their departure for the Capital. Only then did he see the first genuine smile Zha Muxi had shown in days. She looked so breathtakingly lovely!
"Brother Mo, I want to ride a horse, but I'm not very good at it. Could I..." Ye Shuxin looked at Mo Xuanjing with a pitiful expression, only to see him anxiously turning his gaze toward Zha Muxi. "Princess Consort, would you like to ride a horse?"
*It's her again, I'm going to die of anger. Just wait, Zha Muxi.* Ye Shuxin was furious inside, but she still managed to put on a sweet smile and said, "That's right, Sister Princess Consort, would you like to ride with us?"
"No thanks, I'll pass," Zha Muxi hastily refused, then practically bolted into the carriage as if running for her life. What a joke, under a blazing sun like that, she was actually being asked to ride a horse! They must have been jealous of her peerless beauty. Goodness gracious, humans were truly terrifying!
Seeing Zha Muxi run off so quickly, Mo Xuanjing lost all inclination to entertain the idea. He turned back to Ye Shuxin and said, "Xinxin, for safety's sake, you'd better ride in the carriage."
"Prince, but I'm not..." Afraid. Ye Shuxin wanted to act spoiled; she had done it this way before, and the Prince would always agree.
"Xinxin," Mo Xuanjing said in a cold voice.
Ye Shuxin had never seen Mo Xuanjing wear such an expression before. Shocked into silence, she had no choice but to comply. "Alright, Brother Mo, don't be angry, Xinxin will listen to you."
In the past, Mo Xuanjing couldn't bear to see Ye Shuxin frown even slightly, and her fragile, delicate demeanor used to make his urge to protect her burst to the limits. Now, seeing her act this way, he only felt deeply irritated. Why couldn't she be more like Zha Muxi?
"Good, be a good girl and go."
Ye Shuxin turned around, a sweet smile still plastered on her face, while inside she was seething with rage. Why did this damned Zha Muxi have to return alive and steal her Brother Mo away from her?
Zha Muxi's carriage was parked close by, and she had heard their entire conversation loud and clear, including the unmistakable impatience in Mo Xuanjing's tone. It filled her with endless reflections: when someone loves you, every little thing you do is cherished; when they stop loving you, everything you do becomes a nuisance.
The journey back to the Capital went extremely smoothly, and within half a month, they arrived. As expected of the most bustling center of the Mo Kingdom, the streets were packed with a bustling crowd of pedestrians, voices raised in a clamor, unfolding a vibrant and lively scene of a prosperous era.
Upon returning to the Prince's Estate, just as she was about to step down from the carriage, she caught sight of a lean yet powerful hand, long-fingered and with distinct knuckles, resting quietly right in front of her.
Zha Muxi looked at Mo Xuanjing in surprise, only to find him staring right back at her without a trace of evasion. A faint smile played at the corners of his lips, and his fathomless pupils melted into a gentle warmth.
With so many people watching, Zha Muxi had no choice but to place her hand in his. If she were to swat it away, it would deal a blow to the imperial family's prestige; who knows, by tomorrow the entire Capital might be buzzing with rumors that she bore a bitter grudge and rudely gave the Prince the cold shoulder.
Mo Xuanjing flashed a triumphant, mischievous grin, feeling overjoyed in his heart.
The onlookers were utterly shocked at the sight. When had the relationship between the Prince and the Princess Consort ever been this good? Wasn't it said that the Prince had chosen Miss Xinxin? Why was the Prince personally stepping forward to receive the Princess Consort now?
Suddenly, Zha Muxi stopped in her tracks. "Prince, do you have a moment? I'd like to discuss something with you."
Mo Xuanjing's heart skipped a beat, and his first instinct was to say he was busy.
Zha Muxi quickly spoke up, "I want to go home and visit my family."
Only then did Mo Xuanjing put his mind at ease, though anxiety gripped him once more. After all, how was he supposed to explain that incident to Xier's family? Ah, the road to winning back one's wife was long and arduous!
"Alright, I'll send people to escort you back. However, His Imperial Majesty is hosting a celebration banquet for me tonight. Will you be attending?"
"Mm." Zha Muxi nodded.
"If you don't wish to attend, that's completely fine. Then... wait, what did you just say? You agreed to attend?" Mo Xuanjing wore a silly grin, and looking at him now, nobody would ever guess he was the renowned God of War Prince of the Mo Kingdom. True love really could turn a person into a fool.
Zha Muxi smiled faintly. "Yes, I will attend tonight." What a joke—if she didn't show up tonight, tomorrow the rumors about her would be flying everywhere.
Watching him continue to stand there foolishly, Zha Muxi could only say with resignation, "Prince, I'll be leaving first."
A trace of delight flickered in Mo Xuanjing's eyes. "Alright, come back early. Today, I'll enter the palace with you." Zha Muxi nodded and walked away.
Watching her retreating figure, Mo Xuanjing couldn't help letting out a bitter laugh. In the past, it was always she who watched his back as he left; now, the roles had reversed, and he was the one watching her walk further and further away, as if no matter what he did, he could never win back her heart. And then there was the matter of Xier's family. But no matter what, even if it cost him his life, he would beg for their forgiveness.
"Master, Young Master, the Young Miss is back!" Rutong called out happily.
Zha Muxi smiled as well. "Rutong, it's been so long, why are you still so clumsy?"
Rutong felt a bit embarrassed. "This servant was just too happy at the sight of the Young Miss and lost her composure!"
Years ago, Rutong had been selling herself to bury her father when she was bullied by some unprincipled relatives. The original owner happened to pass by and helped her out on a whim, never expecting to gain such a loyal servant in return.
Zha Muxi wanted to say something more, but she caught sight of two figures rushing frantically toward her. The Zha Family, who always valued decorum above all else, completely forgot about maintaining their dignity, caring only about grabbing Zha Muxi's hands to check if she had suffered any injuries. The newcomers were none other than Zha Muxi's father, Zha Zhengcheng, and her older brother, Zha Yanyu.
No matter how the two men looked at her, they felt Zha Muxi had lost a lot of weight. She must have eaten poorly and slept in the cold. That damned Prince actually dared to abandon his wife; she must have been terrified back then. As they thought about it, the eye rims of both men turned red.
Yet Zha Muxi just chuckled. "Father, are you growing wrinkles? And Brother, you're getting more handsome by the day. There must be countless people out there wishing to become my sister-in-law."
The two men had been steeped in sorrow, but Zha Muxi's abrupt diversion made them both burst into laughter.
Zha Zhengcheng chuckled through his annoyance, "I am nothing of the sort! When your brother and I go out together, it's hard to tell which of us is the father!"
Both brother and sister simultaneously put on expressions of utter cringe.
"Little Sister, stop teasing Father. There are only two things Father cares about most: the common people and refusing to get old. Tease him any more, and be careful he doesn't have all your favorite dishes taken away."
Zha Muxi feigned extreme horror, running a few steps away as she shouted, "You wouldn't dare! Father gave those to me, so they're mine."
Zha Zhengcheng and Zha Yanyu exchanged a smile, tacitly choosing not to ask Zha Muxi about that matter.
"Mmm, this is so good. Father, I honestly love you to death," Zha Muxi said happily.
"Heh, the moment you have a father, you forget your brother. I wonder who it is that always slips you pocket money? Sigh, don't mind me, I'm just a brother whose sister doesn't love him," Zha Yanyu said with a sorrowful expression.
Oh dear, why did this feel a bit like green tea behavior?
Suddenly, Zha Zhengcheng wore a look of deep sorrow, as if he had suffered a devastating blow. "Xier, it's fine, go show your brother some attention. Ever since your mother passed away, I've raised you two all by myself. Your bond is the most important one; for a father like me to rank second in Xier's heart is already quite enough."
Ah, so it was genetic. Then it was fine.
"That's a given! When I was little, Xier was the most attached to me."
"Every time I came back from court, Xier would be waiting for me at the door."
"Whenever there was something delicious, Xier always thought of me first."
"Xier..."
Zha Muxi tried her best to lower her presence, cracking sunflower seeds while watching two men who usually commanded wind and rain outside bicker like children, trading remarks back and forth.
Suddenly, both of them turned their heads to look at Zha Muxi and asked in unison, "Xier, who is more important?"