While Huayi was lost in thought, Mu Xiaoxiao had already sent someone to her room. Lying in bed, she thought about asking Hei Zi why Huayi had him capture her, what benefit was there? Talking about the “Sheng Gang’s” orders… a mission? The first task was to disguise as a man and visit Moon Tower, but apart from meeting Xie Xiaobai, she hadn’t done much. The second task was to follow Xiaoyue southward, during which she wasn’t asked to do anything bad, just encountering Xiaotiantian, making her life a bit more miserable. So, what was he trying to do? Wait… meeting Xie Xiaobai, Xiaoyue, Xiaotiantian… could Gu Gan’s words about saving Xiaotiantian be related to Huayi?
Mu Xiaoxiao was scared silent by this speculation, lying paralyzed in bed, limbs weak, mind numb.
Selling Cloth
Lan Xiachen stood in the hall, staring at Huayi. His eyes were on the ground, his expression calm, seemingly emotionless, yet his lowered gaze made Lan Xiachen’s heart ache…
How could someone be like this? A beautiful existence, yet seemingly bearing all the world’s loneliness. Huayi, do you laugh? Can you laugh from the bottom of your heart?
Then, she actually saw Huayi smile, very faintly, looking up at the circular door leading to the backyard, smiling softly and walking away. Lan Xiachen thought he was going to find Mu Xiaoxiao.
Mu Xiaoxiao, why does everyone like you? Brother Jin does, and even this tranquil beauty likes you. You like to laugh? Your eyes crescent when you smile? You speak amusingly, act crazy? So, if I become like you, will they like me too?
Lan Xiachen suddenly laughed, such a bleak laugh…
Huayi walked to Mu Xiaoxiao’s room, approaching her bed. She was lying down, eyes wide open. He helped cover her with a blanket, sat on the bed’s edge, and softly asked: “Are you cold?”
“No.”
“Hungry?”
“No.”
“Sleepy?”
“No.”
“Unhappy?”
“No… I’m happy!”
“Heh, Xiaoxiao finally said something different. I almost thought you were selling cloth.”
Not usually one for jokes, he forced out this cold humor to amuse Mu Xiaoxiao, but it wasn’t appreciated… A faint laugh just hung in the air.
Lan Xiachen entered, glaring at Mu Xiaoxiao: “She’s not selling cloth, she’s a madwoman. Always chattering and crazy, now refusing to speak, deliberately making trouble!”
Huayi’s eyes were gentle, smiling: “Xiaoxiao is just mischievous.” The doting in his eyes made Lan Xiachen jealous. She turned and ran away.
Huayi knew Mu Xiaoxiao was unhappy, surely because of seeing Li Desheng. Mu Xiaoxiao was guileless, her attitude change too obvious for anyone to miss. But would she not even give him the most basic trust? Just because of seeing someone, she would condemn him without asking?
Vast Search for Someone
But would she not even give him the most basic trust? Just because of seeing someone, she would condemn him without asking? What about their past affection? On their wedding night, who accompanied her drinking? Who lay with her on the grass? I gave you my purest smile, my unguarded heart, I softened my cold and proud nature for you. But can’t all these special treatments earn even a bit of your trust? Or did Li Desheng do something to you during your kidnapping? If that’s true, I won’t let Chen Mengjiao off easily. Rest assured, Xiaoxiao, I’ll always take care of you.
Huayi thought to himself, a satisfied smile at the corner of his mouth. He said: “Xiaoxiao, you’re tired. Sleep a bit, I’ll go now.
Mu Xiaoxiao couldn’t sleep at all! She had just seen Hei Zi! Mu Xiaoxiao had almost forgotten about being kidnapped, as she was a child with poor memory. However, seeing Hei Zi appear in the entourage of the person in flower-colored clothing, even the naive Mu Xiaoxiao knew something was wrong. Connecting the kidnapping incident, this string of events also involved Xie Xiaobai, Moonlight Beauty, and Little Tiantian – ah, it was Little Tiantian! Yes, it must be Little Tiantian! Gu Gan had said that Chen Taihou took advantage of Little Tiantian’s absence from the capital to kill his birth mother and control the imperial city, wanting Little Tiantian to walk into a trap! So what role did the person in flower-colored clothing play? How had she been deceived and unknowingly become his assistant? If it weren’t for searching for me, Little Tiantian would be fine – it’s all because of me…
Mu Xiaoxiao deeply blamed herself, but her pure heart still held a glimmer of hope for human nature. She wanted to find Hei Zi and get to the bottom of things, to finally put her mind at rest. So, she got out of bed and went to look for Hei Zi. But in such a large mansion, where could she find Hei Zi? Mu Xiaoxiao was frustrated by her poor memory, only remembering the nickname she had given, but unable to recall the real name, which made inquiries impossible. She would have to search one by one…
Eavesdropping
Turning and turning, Mu Xiaoxiao was almost dizzy. She saw servant after servant, but no sign of Hei Zi. Everyone bowed respectfully, but Mu Xiaoxiao just stared into the men’s eyes. Soon, a rumor spread among the servants: the master’s favorite is actually a fickle woman!
Mu Xiaoxiao turned another courtyard gate and overheard two maids behind a rockery.
“Hmph, the master is so handsome, and this shameless woman is still not satisfied, trying to seduce the servants everywhere!”
“Exactly! I bet that woman is blind, unable to tell good from bad!”
“No way! I heard that Xiaoxiao has been staring at the midwife since birth and smiling at men. She’s been craving male attention since childhood!”
Mu Xiaoxiao thought, hey, aren’t they talking about me! Damn little girls, I’ll… forget it, finding Hei Zi is more important. I’m not planning to be the lady of this house anyway, and I can’t be bothered with irrelevant people! So Mu Xiaoxiao slipped into a cave in the rockery, planning to wait until the others left. As soon as she entered the cave, she felt a warm air. Just like the famous Yan’an cave dwellings that are warm in winter and cool in summer! Mu Xiaoxiao was delighted, having heard about the Yan’an cave dwellings and now experiencing it in ancient times.
The cave was dark, and Mu Xiaoxiao felt her way along the wall. The wall felt damp, and she heard water dripping ahead, which reminded her of an advertisement slogan “Nongfu Spring is a bit sweet”. “Haha, I’m about to see a real mountain spring!”
Drawn by the spring, Mu Xiaoxiao continued walking without much thought. But after walking for a while, even her slow brain realized something was strange: the rockery looked small from the outside, so why had she been walking for so long? Where was this leading? The person in flower-colored clothing has many secrets! Mu Xiaoxiao thought. He was no longer the person she knew – no longer coldly aloof or showing a helpless expression, now only smiling a cold, fake smile that could freeze someone’s limbs and send chills down their spine!
Mu Xiaoxiao grew more panicked, forgetting about Nongfu Spring and just wanting to get out. Then she heard the voice of the person in flower-colored clothing!
The person in flower-colored clothing suddenly laughed, like a child. He said: “If I hadn’t met Xiao Xiao first, I might have fallen for you… I would have been much happier…”
