“Guo’er is so good to her stupid younger brother, preparing such a fine meal for him.”
Xuanyuan Mie unceremoniously devoured all the dishes on the table, speaking sourly as he did.
Tang Guo couldn’t help but laugh. “I knew he wouldn’t come. This meal was nominally prepared for him, but in the end, didn’t every bite end up in your stomach, Ah Mie?”
“I know,” Xuanyuan Mie put down his chopsticks and held her hand. “If it weren’t meant for me, Guo’er wouldn’t have gone to all the trouble to prepare it herself.”
He knew how to appreciate kindness. When Guo’er treated him well, it truly felt like it could take his life.
Tang Guo retrieved the small dog-shaped sachet from Xuanyuan Mie, lowered her gaze, and said, “Ah Mie, it’s time to start. The truth should finally come to light. From now on, our relationship can be openly acknowledged.”
“We can also tell the entire world that the person who has always been by my side is you, Xuanyuan Mie, and not him, Xuanyuan Mo.”
“And the one who brought all of this to pass is Xuanyuan Mo,” Tang Guo raised her eyes, smiling faintly as she looked at Xuanyuan Mie. “Ah Mie, you mustn’t make the same mistakes as Xuanyuan Mo. If you do, I will never forgive you.”
“I would never make such a mistake, Guo’er.” He held her in his arms. How could he possibly be so stupid?
Soon, he would become the most infamous adulterer in the entire world. Why did that thought make him feel just a little excited?
For two consecutive months, Tang Guo had tried to summon Xuanyuan Mo, but without success. Everyone in the palace believed that the Imperial Concubine had fallen out of favor. And yet, when it came time to share the emperor’s nights, Xuanyuan Mo still divided his time evenly with the Imperial Concubine. It was truly perplexing.
Xuanyuan Mo was feeling restless. Although Eunuch Li hadn’t come to inform him of the Imperial Concubine’s summons, there were countless eyes and ears in the palace, and he had heard the rumors.
Sometimes, during the day, he did consider going.
That night, he entered the hidden chamber. Based on the schedule, today was the Imperial Concubine’s turn, and he couldn’t openly visit the Empress’s palace.
Originally, he could have used the secret passage to go directly to the Empress’s palace without encountering Xuanyuan Mie. However, this time, he waited for a while until Xuanyuan Mie appeared.
With a complicated expression, he said, “Elder Brother, tonight, please explain to the Imperial Concubine why I didn’t come during the day.”
He immediately regretted saying it. The remark was unnecessary. His brilliant elder brother would undoubtedly handle the matter flawlessly.
“There’s no need for your reminder, younger brother. I’m perfectly capable of comforting my own woman,” Xuanyuan Mie replied as he strode past Xuanyuan Mo. The sachet hanging from his waist swung gently. Before Xuanyuan Mo could look away, he suddenly called out, “Wait.”
Xuanyuan Mie, of course, stopped as he wished and turned back with a puzzled expression. “Is there something else, younger brother?”
Xuanyuan Mo stared at the small dog embroidered on the sachet. He wasn’t looking at the dog itself but at the pattern in the background, which made him feel disoriented.
“Elder Brother, where did you get this sachet?”
He couldn’t help but grab the sachet. The background design was at least more than half identical to the one he had secretly taken from An Ningxiang’s boudoir. The pattern was exceptionally unique, resembling a totem of a particular ethnic group. He was certain he wasn’t mistaken.
Xuanyuan Mie slapped Xuanyuan Mo’s hand away. “Look, but don’t touch. Of course, it was given to me by my woman. If you want one, go ask your woman to make you one.” With that, he strode away. Xuanyuan Mo didn’t even have time to stop him.
Xuanyuan Mo, now absent-minded, hurried back to his sleeping quarters to retrieve the hidden sachet. He carefully examined it. The totem patterns were more than half identical, though some of the edges were slightly different.
He didn’t understand embroidery, but he had eyes. The sachet his elder brother carried was far more intricate and complete, while An Ningxiang’s work seemed to have only scratched the surface, missing the underlying essence.
This realization hit Xuanyuan Mo like an explosion in his mind.
He hid the sachet without a trace of emotion and headed to An Ningxiang’s palace.
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