Starting with being handed over to the Imperial Concubine, building a family with a thousand-year hi

On the first floor of the library, Su Mu retrieved the travelogue and had Xiao Jingye sit in his usual chair. Consort De stood quietly to the side, her gaze seemingly listening to a story, yet also drifting towards the door, somewhat lost in thought.

Consort De patiently waited for Su Mu to finish reading this volume before speaking:

"Xu Qian'er, take the Sixth Prince to play in the backyard."

Xu Qian'er, who had been waiting in the courtyard, hurried in, took Xiao Jingye's hand, and led him out. In the courtyard, Yu Tian and two palace maids were playing with the Sixth Prince.

"The Sixth Prince has been staying in Shude Palace while recovering from his injuries, and he's not allowed to go anywhere. He must be so bored." Consort De looked at Xiao Jingye in the courtyard and said calmly, "This morning he said he dreamed about you and insisted on coming to see you. I didn't realize he was still such a sentimental child."

Su Mu remained silent.

He didn't respond because he didn't know how to respond.

"As the saying goes, the kindness of raising is greater than the kindness of giving birth," Consort De continued meaningfully. "You raised the Sixth Prince from a young age, and this attachment is something you've nurtured over time."

Su Mu remained silent, waiting for Consort De to continue.

"It's a pity you're an exception. Otherwise, given your past relationship with Xu Qian'er, you could have been a perfect match."

Upon hearing this, Su Mu's expression remained unchanged. He had already guessed that Consort De must know about the past private dealings between "Little Su" and Xu Qian'er. Consort De's initiative to expose this today must mean she has other plans.

"I was unaware of this before, but I recently heard that Xu Qian'er seems to be from the General's Mansion." Consort De's tone remained calm. "It was because she was on duty at Shude Palace that the assassin had the opportunity to carry out the assassination. Without an inside accomplice, even with the ability to become invisible, it would be difficult to approach undetected—although the treasure can conceal its form, it inevitably disturbs the airflow when it moves."

"The General's Mansion?"

Su Mu could only pretend not to know. He had thought that Consort De only suspected Xu Qian'er, and whether she was truly sure that she was related to the General's Mansion was still unknown.

It would be strange not to believe it. Not long after Xu Qian'er was transferred to Shude Palace, Consort De was assassinated. Not to mention someone as intelligent as her, even others would probably be suspicious. Moreover, Consort De just mentioned "remembering old feelings," so she must... already have doubts about me.

The reason why Consort De suspected him was probably because she did not speak up for him when he was given one hundred lashes, and she was worried that he would hold a grudge.

"That assassin probably didn't expect me to be so alert, nor did she expect my senses to be so sharp, so her sword didn't hit a vital spot, only injuring my arm," Consort De said as if chatting with an old friend. "It's a pity that my counterattack with that palm strike didn't kill her on the spot, but instead gave her a chance to escape. As for the palace guards, they were even more disappointing, unable to even catch a seriously wounded assassin. I don't know if she has already escaped from the palace, or if she is still hiding somewhere in the palace."

"Whether Your Majesty believes it or not is none of my business." Su Mu understood that it would be difficult to clear his name with words alone, and he did not expect Consort De to believe him easily.

"Do you think I'm being paranoid?" Consort De's words seemed to contain a hint of inquiry.

"This servant wouldn't dare." Su Mu paused for a moment, then added, "If Your Majesty believes Xu Qian'er has a problem, then either kill her or expel her from Shude Palace."

"I thought you were a sentimental person," Consort De said with a hint of sarcasm.

"Now that I'm in this body, I should give up these thoughts." Su Mu shook his head, looking helpless.

"Do you truly have no more feelings for Xu Qian'er?" Consort De pressed.

"Heaven and earth bear witness." Su Mu wasn't acting; he genuinely thought so.

"Very well." A faint smile appeared on Consort De's face. "In that case, please do me a favor, Eunuch Su."

Upon hearing this, Su Mu frowned slightly. He knew that Consort De's previous words were merely a prelude; the real drama was just beginning.

"Find conclusive evidence to prove that Xu Qian'er is from the General's Mansion." Before Su Mu could respond, Consort De said directly, "It would be even better if we could find concrete evidence linking her to the assassins."

"Since someone has already identified her as working for the General's Mansion, why not let the person who reported her investigate?" Su Mu continued. "If that person knows the clues, wouldn't it be much easier to investigate?"

"That person is just making baseless accusations and can't produce any real evidence," Consort De said solemnly. "Since he is a spy for the General's Mansion, he must act in secrecy. We need irrefutable proof."

"This servant has been punished to guard the library and is not allowed to go out, so I'm afraid... I'm willing but unable," Su Mu politely declined. He really didn't want to get involved in this fierce battle.

"You just need to do your best." After saying that, Consort De stood up and walked towards the courtyard outside the door.

She took the Sixth Prince Xiao Jingye's hand and instructed Xu Qian'er, "Xiao Su's food here is meager, lacking in oil and meat. Go to the Imperial Kitchen and fetch some rice, grains, meat, and vegetables in my name and send them over."

"Yes, sir." Xu Qian'er hurriedly left. Consort De then left the library with the Sixth Prince and a palace maid.

Su Mu knew perfectly well that Consort De was deliberately creating opportunities for herself and Xu Qian'er to be alone together.

After about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, Xu Qian'er returned to the library with a young eunuch from the Imperial Kitchen. Each of them carried two large cloth bags. After delivering the ingredients to the kitchen, the young eunuch bowed and withdrew.

Xu Qian'er did not leave immediately.

Yu Tian was organizing ingredients in the kitchen, while Su Mu led Xu Qian'er to sit down under an old tree in the courtyard.

"How have you been?"

Xu Qian'er expressed her concern in a low voice.

"It's alright," Su Mu replied. "Although it's not as comfortable as Shude Palace, and the food is a bit worse, the advantage is that I don't have to serve anyone, so it's peaceful and comfortable."

"What did Consort De say to you in the pavilion just now?" Xu Qian'er asked again, "Was it... about me?"

"How could I, a mere eunuch, concern myself with my master's affairs?" Su Mu retorted.

"Uh..." Xu Qian'er was speechless for a moment.

"Speaking of the assassin," Su Mu said casually, "Her Majesty Consort De believes that the assassin is from the General's Mansion."

"It's not just Consort De; many people in the palace think the same way." Xu Qian'er came back to her senses. "It's common knowledge that Consort De and the Empress are not on good terms."

"Consort De also suspects that the General's Mansion has planted a spy in Shude Palace," Su Mu said bluntly. "She said that person might be you."

"How could that be!" Xu Qian'er denied it without even thinking.

"That's good." Su Mu said no more.

If Consort De asked, he could say that he had "tried his best to test her." As for whether Xu Qian'er would become alert or take action, he had no intention of reminding her—he really did not want to get involved in this conflict.

"Consort De deliberately left us alone. Don't you... want to take this opportunity to do something to show your loyalty to her?" Xu Qian'er asked tentatively.

"Thank you for your kindness, Your Highness." Su Mu could of course understand the implication in her words, but he was no longer the "Little Su" he used to be, and had neither the heart nor the strength to rekindle their old romance.

"I should go back now."

"Um."

Xu Qian'er left alone, and Su Mu did not see her off.

At noon, Cheng Ping'an arrived at the library from the Martial Arts Academy. He had just broken through to the Innate Realm and couldn't wait to share the good news with his adoptive father.