0p0 Chapter 231 It really was him!
Chapter 231 It really was him!
Inside the Moon Pavilion, the atmosphere was also somewhat strange.
Mu Qing and Mu Hua probably couldn't understand how she could have fallen asleep so quickly, when she was just talking to her young lady. Wasn't that a bit too far-fetched?
Mu Xin Nuan looked at Duanmu Chu Ze who had suddenly appeared, or more accurately, at the silver mask he was holding!
It's him! It really is him!
Mu Xin Nuan's breath hitched, as if something was slowly blooming in her heart, then quietly closing again. Yet, it seemed as if a captivating fragrance was spreading in her heart, until she thought she had truly smelled some strange scent.
"You, you could actually be?"
“That’s right! I am the silver-masked youth! I was the one who secretly helped you when you were attacked on the street.” Duanmu Chuze’s face was adorned with a faint smile, elegant and gentle, with a hint of amusement, as if he was quite pleased to see Mu Xin Nuan’s surprised expression.
Mu Xin Nuan was indeed very surprised, and couldn't help but think of some details from that night. She had indeed sensed that something was amiss back then, but she couldn't figure it out. Now that she thought about it, the voice that shouted back then was clearly not right. Could it have been him?
Did he already know what he was going to do at that time? Did he know that he was playing along with a scheme, which is why he went to great lengths to help?
Mu Xin Nuan finally managed to calm herself down. "Your Highness, why did you disguise yourself as a man in a silver mask and repeatedly sneak into the Mu residence at night?"
"No! I didn't sneak into the Mu residence at night. From beginning to end, the only person I've been interested in is you!"
Hearing his blunt and undisguised words, Mu Xin Nuan blushed. "Please, Your Highness, have some self-respect. My parents have already begun arranging marriages for me. Please, Your Highness, do not tarnish my reputation."
"Is that so? But didn't you just say today that your feelings for Chu Rong are not romantic?"
Mu Xinnuan felt slightly embarrassed and secretly cursed Duanmu Jing several times. How could this little princess sell herself out as soon as she turned around?
"Your Highness, I am not yet of marriageable age, so please refrain from saying anything that is appropriate."
"What? Am I wrong? Or do you actually have feelings for your older cousin, Li Haoran?"
Mu Xin Nuan wondered if it was just her imagination, but she felt that Duanmu Chu Ze's voice sounded somewhat gloomy when he said those words, as if he was a little unhappy.
"Your Highness, my eldest cousin is already engaged. Please be careful with your words," Mu Xin Nuan said coldly.
Seeing her cold expression, a sly smile flashed across Duanmu Chuze's face. "Are you so angry because I mentioned Li Haoran, or because he got engaged, which caused you to lose your chance?"
"You!" Mu Xin Nuan was furious, but she really didn't know how to argue with him, so she could only stomp her foot. "Your Highness, how can you be so preoccupied with such things? Why is the affection between my cousin and me so despicable in your mouth? Does Your Highness not have any cousins or anything like that? How can you be so frivolous?"
Duanmu Chuze's smile deepened, like a sudden ray of warm sunshine, and he laughed, "Little Nuan, I knew that the only truly special man in your heart was me, wasn't he?"
Upon hearing this, Mu Xin Nuan's face flushed even more. "You! How could you be so reckless? You, you get out of here!"
Duanmu Chuze was not about to listen to her. However, he only smiled with a hint of cunning and did not do anything excessive.
"Little Nuan, have you missed me these past few days since I last visited?"
Why would I miss you?
"Little Anuan, don't you want to know what I've been doing these past few days? Why did I suddenly disappear after saying I would marry you that day?"
Mu Xin Nuan's heart skipped a beat. It would be a lie to say she didn't want to know! However, the etiquette and rules of a well-bred young lady did not allow her to say that she wanted to know, so she simply lowered her head and remained silent.
“There’s been some unusual activity in the army. I received a secret decree from my father, and I’ve been away from the capital for over half a month. If it weren’t for thinking of you, I wouldn’t have rushed back to the capital overnight. Little A’Nuan, isn’t that enough to show how much I care about you?”
"You?" Mu Xin Nuan glared at him, but seeing his bright and innocent smile, she didn't know whether to be angry or ashamed.
"Ah Nuan, including that first time we met outside the city, I've saved you twice in total. Don't you really intend to repay me with your body?"
Mu Xin Nuan seemed to feel her heartbeat quickening. After frowning slightly, she looked up and stared at him directly.
Their eyes met, neither flinching nor avoiding each other, but there seemed to be something more resolute in their gazes.
"Your Highness, I am unworthy of your celestial beauty. Moreover, although I am of humble birth, I do not wish to become a concubine and be constantly restrained by others. I beg Your Highness to spare my life. I will never forget your life-saving grace. In the future, I will certainly repay you handsomely."
Duanmu Chuze's eyes flashed. "To be someone's concubine? When did I ever say I wanted to take you as a concubine?"
Mu Xin Nuan's body stiffened, then her face turned pale. Not as a concubine? Could it be that he actually intended to take her into his household as a concubine? Wouldn't that be...?
When Duanmu Chuze saw her expression change drastically, he knew she had misunderstood. He slapped his forehead and smiled bitterly, "No wonder your Mu family objected so strongly that day. It turns out I didn't explain myself clearly."
Mu Xin Nuan tilted her head, clearly still not understanding what he meant.
"Little Anuan, since I've been in love with you for so long, how could I possibly make you a concubine? I love you, so naturally I want to marry you!"
"Will you marry me?"
"Of course! I will marry you as my principal wife, Princess Chang Le." Duanmu Chuze's smile faded, replaced by a solemn and serious expression.
Mu Xinnuan blinked, clearly thinking she had misheard!
She was merely the daughter of a minor count; how could she possibly be qualified to become his principal wife? Wasn't this a mismatch in social standing?
"Why does Your Highness have to joke about me?" Mu Xin Nuan smiled self-deprecatingly. "My status is so lowly, how could I possibly be worthy of Your Highness's nobility? Please, Your Highness, stop teasing me. In this capital, which noble family or aristocratic young lady isn't at Your Highness's disposal? Why do you always have to tease me?"
As Mu Xin Nuan spoke, she turned around and faced away from him, gently closing her eyes. This kind of joke was really not funny!
"You think I'm joking with you?" The smile on Duanmu Chuze's face vanished, replaced by a noticeably colder and more ruthless expression.