Afu opened the door and window very cautiously, looked around to make sure no one was eavesdropping, and then whispered in Shuhua's ear.
"Girl, haven't you noticed that Mr. Mu has always treated you very differently? He respects you far more than Your Majesty."
Shuhua really didn't realize it. She felt that what Afu wanted to say was much more than this: "Just say it."
Afu is very confused: "My maid feels that I shouldn't tell you, because this is not your problem. You are aboveboard and unfocused, so of course you won't pay attention to this. But if I don't tell you, the unpleasantness today will happen again in the future."
"Mr. Mu may have always been in love with you, and it is because of you that he is willing to assist His Majesty."
As a conscientious maid, Afu had seen Mu Yusheng's infatuated, forbearing, desperate and lonely eyes many times.
Although he tried his best to hide it, he couldn't hide it from those who wanted to.
"Your Majesty is not as kind, generous and selfless as he appears. He is jealous that you talk to all other men, including Mr. Mu."
"He doesn't need Mr. Mu now, so don't mention it again. Just treat Mr. Mu as dead. This is good for everyone."
Afu's words came to an abrupt end, because a female official soon appeared at the door, looked at them with a smile and saluted: "Girl, your Majesty ordered me to give you two pots of four-season osmanthus."
The four-season osmanthus cultivated in the imperial flower room blooms in perfect bloom. Planted in a simple pottery pot, it is elegant and fragrant.
It reminded Shuhua of the early years when she and Murong Hao traveled to Xishan on a moonlit night and talked and drank together.
She thought sadly, why couldn't time stay at that time?
The female officer observed the words and said: "Don't you like these Siguigui, miss?"
Shuhua smiled and said: "Of course I do, I just suddenly remembered the early years. His Majesty has not written poetry for a long time. Please bring a message for me and say that I want him to write a poem for me. The theme is osmanthus."
The female officer responded with a smile.
But Shuhua never received this osmanthus poem.
Three days later, Murong Hao came to visit in person and said apologetically: "I'm really too busy... things have been so chaotic since I ascended the throne. I can't calm down. As soon as I feel something, I will be interrupted by trivial matters."
Shuhua knew that he was busy and hard-working, so he couldn't help but feel comforted: "Only when you have leisure can you have elegance. This is how it is."
"Indeed." Murong Hao held her hand and whispered: "Miscellaneous chores are annoying. I'm thinking, if I become a mediocre person and can no longer write poems and songs, will you dislike me? "
Shuhua said: "Of course not. Although I like you because of your talent, I will not dislike you because you don't write poetry. He is a great talent who manages the country well and makes the people live in peace and prosperity."
She spoke from the bottom of her heart, but Murong Hao didn't believe it. He smiled very reluctantly - what if the tricks and strategies that outperformed other princes also came from Mu Yusheng?
She must look down on him completely, right?
He is nothing but a thief and a liar.
Who likes thieves and liars?
He wouldn't like her, and Shuhua wouldn't like her either. She was too upright, pure and bright.
Murong Hao left quickly, saying that he had too many things to do, and then suddenly said that he wanted to advance the wedding date, and more treasures were sent to him like water.
He often came over to visit her suddenly late at night, after Shuhua had gone to bed.
He was not allowed to wake her up, just look at her through the window, and then leave quietly.
Shuhua wanted to chat with him several times, but never had the chance.
He sent many personal guards over and surrounded the Feng Yuling Mansion into an iron barrel. He said that someone was rebelling against the party and asked Shuhua not to go out easily.
He sent many female officials over, and Shuhua was surrounded by water.
The female officers were very lively and enthusiastic, very entertaining, and took good care of Shuhua.
Shuhua didn't like it. She felt suffocated and couldn't breathe.
She just wanted to be as relaxed and comfortable as before and be able to talk to Afu casually.
But Afu fell ill due to a cold and had a high fever until she was confused.
Murong Hao was very concerned about this matter and sent the best doctor here, but it was of no use.
Afu died on a spring night when the roses were beginning to bloom.
She held Shuhua's hand tightly and moved her lips, as if she had countless things to say but couldn't.
Afu died with eyes closed.
Shuhua's tears were all gone. She had no playmate. Afu was given to her by the old emperor. She was smart, witty, and knowledgeable. He taught her the rules and etiquette of the capital and listened to her random thoughts.
She personally washed and changed Afu's clothes and kept vigil overnight. The female official sent by Murong Hao objected fiercely, saying that it was against the rules and unlucky because the wedding was coming soon.
She angrily drove the female officer away, locked herself in Afu's room, and held Afu's hand tightly without letting go.
She fell into a drowsy sleep, and in the twilight, someone broke her hand to separate her from Afu.
Thinking it was her old mother, she cried and held the hand: "Aniang, why do people who I think are good always disappear suddenly? The late emperor is like this, Mu Yusheng is like this, and Afu is like this."
The hand held her tightly until she was sore and conscious.
Shuhua opened his eyes and saw Mu Yusheng, who was so thin that he looked disfigured.
He stood in front of her, holding her hand tightly, his speaking eyes full of pity and pain.
"Mu Yusheng?" Shuhua thought he was dreaming, "Is it really you? Are you not a ghost?"
Mu Yusheng was shaking uncontrollably. He gestured to show that it was really him and that he was still alive.
Shuhua had many things to ask, but she didn't know where to start. In the end, she just said: "Just stay alive."
"Miss Shu, Afu was poisoned to death because she talked too much. Those imperial doctors are all poison doctors."
The fifth prince came out of the shadows and inserted the silver needle into Afu's body. When he pulled it out, the silver needle turned black.
"Miss Shu, I think you should know that the real person who follows your heart is not Murong Hao, but Mu Yusheng.
He has always been the one who has communicated, chatted and heart-to-heart with you and made you feel like you were a close friend. Murong Hao is just a shameless person who deceives the world and steals his reputation!
You see, without Mu Yusheng, he couldn't write even a single line of poetry! I don’t even dare to talk to you more, I just want to complete the wedding as soon as possible and complete the deception. "
The fifth prince smiled cruelly and threw out a stack of manuscripts.
Shuhua bent down to pick up the manuscript and read it under the dim light of the lamp. She understood everything without saying anything.
She was shaking uncontrollably and chatting her teeth. She looked at Mu Yusheng, angry and sad.
"What do you think I am?"
She slammed the manuscripts into Mu Yusheng's face, feeling stupid and pitiful. "Why do you have the nerve to be in front of me again?"
Mu Yusheng lowered his head and closed his eyes, trembling.
The sharp paper scratched his pale face, and blood flowed down and dripped on the white manuscript, like a broken fallen flower.
The door was smashed open, and Murong Hao led people in. His eyes were cold and murderous: "Tell me, what's going on?"
He stretched out his hand toward Shuhua: "Come here, come to me!" (End of Chapter)
