The Cousin Is About to Marry，The Abstinent Young Lord Loses Control-Chapter 225 - 224: Diverting Attention

Yuan Changan said in the letter to Ji Mingzhu not to act rashly.

He also mentioned that the Hidden Guard assigned by Xie Yunzhen was just outside, continually watching the movements within the villa.

Telling her not to be afraid.

Not to rush.

To wait patiently for the right opportunity.

Regarding who Xie Yunzhen was, Ji Mingzhu had often heard her aunt mention him when she was young.

He was from the Duke Mansion.

Skilled in both civil and martial arts, he was greatly valued by the Royal Family; even as a child, he became a study companion to the Crown Prince.

Currently, it seemed that Xie Yunzhen and Yuan Changan were of the same mind.

With Mrs. Guan acting as a link, Ji Mingzhu’s trust in Yuan Changan instantly soared.

Once calm, another question popped into her mind.

Why did Xie Yunzhen send someone to protect her?

After all, she was already married, and if she needed protection, this matter should be left to her husband.

Her heart raced quickly, a bold guess broke into her mind.

Could Xie Yunzhen be her husband?

The person delivering the letter respectfully called her ’Madam’; if she wasn’t mistaken, that must be Xie Yunzhen’s Hidden Guard.

Ji Mingzhu didn’t dare think deeper.

Fearing that if she had guessed wrong, she’d end up causing a joke.

Xie Yunzhen was the only son of Princess An He and the Princely Heir of the Duke Mansion, as her aunt had said he was akin to a favored child of heaven.

With her status, could she truly marry Xie Yunzhen?

Ji Mingzhu quietly got out of bed, looking at herself in the bronze mirror repeatedly.

Her appearance differed somewhat from her memory.

Her bangs had grown longer, and the youthful innocence was gone from her face.

Standing up straight, chest out and head high, she realized at some point she had grown into a mature woman.

Her figure no longer thin, her chest curving prominently.

Altogether, vastly different from a young girl untouched by worldly matters.

Ji Mingzhu deeply acknowledged that she had indeed lost a segment of memory.

That segment lasted a long, long time. 𝘧𝓇𝑒𝑒𝑤ℯ𝑏𝓃𝘰𝑣ℯ𝘭.𝘤ℴ𝘮

Long enough to span the crucial periods of her youth to becoming a married woman.

She cradled her face, watching the reflection in the mirror make the same gesture.

Her face was passable, but certainly, Xie Yunzhen and the elders of the Duke Mansion weren’t the sort to be captivated by appearances.

Could they truly see her in such a light, and make her the legitimate wife?

Perhaps not...

Ji Mingzhu’s cheeks flushed, ashamed of the previously entertained thoughts.

Fortunately, no one knows, or else she’d want to find a place to hide!

Unable to make sense of it all, Ji Mingzhu temporarily gave up pondering this matter.

However, there’s one thing she could be certain of.

The owner of this courtyard was not her husband!

No wonder he’d always avoid her questions, never directly responding.

She quietly returned to the bed.

Frustratedly, Ji Mingzhu pounded the pillow; had she known earlier, she should’ve asked the Hidden Guard more questions.

Then she wouldn’t have had to guess randomly!

Who knows if he’d come again to deliver letters; if there’s another chance, she definitely must seek clarity.

Although words from the Hidden Guard may not be entirely credible, it’s far better than her blindly guessing!

...

The villa was heavily guarded.

But compared to a place with layers of guards like the Imperial Palace, reaching there was simpler.

Xie Yunzhen’s Hidden Guards weren’t amateurs.

Previously hesitant to act due to other considerations.

But now with Yuan Changan’s support for them sneaking into the villa to gather information, the concerns were fewer.

After meeting Ji Mingzhu, they relayed her situation to Yuan Changan.

Learning she had recovered and could move around, Yuan Changan felt somewhat relieved.

Mingzhu wasn’t a reckless person; seeing the letter, gaining confidence, she remained composed.

Just as Yuan Changan had suspected, Ji Mingzhu truly kept her composure.

She no longer attempted to leave the villa.

Nor did she bring up the matter of seeing Mrs. Guan again.

With the front-line tense and spies at court yet to be fully eradicated.

The new emperor dared not relax for even a moment, lest he missteps and loses the flourishing realm.

Keen to cultivate feelings with Ji Mingzhu, but in truth, he couldn’t carve out the time.

Even standing at the peak of power as an emperor, in such times, he found himself constrained.

Unable to act at will.

Do what he desired.

Yuan Changan requested another audience with the Emperor, this time concerning the front-line matters.

During the previous emperor’s reign, wars had persisted at the border.

Over the years, the national treasury had grown sparse.

Now, the front-line remained tense; a shortage of provisions could lead to major issues.

Yuan Changan entered the palace under this pretext.

He had a plan to relieve the court’s urgent needs.

Being official business, the new emperor couldn’t block his entry to the palace.

Even knowing well that Yuan Changan might be there to undermine him.

After all, he harbored feelings for Mingzhu as well.

Just that scholars had a thin skin, combined with Yuan Family’s tradition teaching their descendants not to compete or contend, to approach life calmly.

Forcefully seizing a wife isn’t something Yuan Changan could bring himself to do.

This sealed his fate with Mingzhu as nothing more.

He calmly placed the Imperial Brush back in its place, leaning against the Dragon Chair, awaiting Yuan Changan’s arrival.

Fingers tapping the armrest, the new emperor speculated internally; would Yuan Changan directly ask him for her?

After all, this was an opportune moment to exploit weaknesses.

Yuan Changan was summoned into the palace.

He held no official position, dressed in a robe of crimson and blue, accompanied by a corresponding cloak.

A white fur collar around his neck highlighted an elegant demeanor, impeccable in appearance.

No wonder Mingzhu initially favored Yuan Changan.

The new emperor thought thus.

Yuan Changan made his salute, and at the emperor’s gesture, he sat on the side chair.

His demeanor appeared composed, seemingly in no rush.

Even after the eunuch served tea, he calmly drank a cup.

Then he said, "With Young Master’s advice, the dam in the south was reinforced, hence the recent flooding didn’t affect the people’s livelihood."

The new emperor raised an eyebrow, aware that the order to strengthen the dam was personally executed, naturally knowing who deserved credit.

"What insights does Young Master Yuan have to share?"

Yuan Changan gazed at the rising fragrant incense within the hall, saying, "The south has many affluent families; if the Young Master’s outstanding achievements were widely publicized, surely many would be willing to donate grain and money to support the front-line."

The new emperor’s lips curved in amusement, "If I ask them to donate, could they refuse?"

Yuan Changan did not follow the lead.

Following his original thoughts, he respectfully suggested, "The deeds of the Young Master’s wife in aiding the orphanage have long been disseminated; if she were to spearhead and travel south to orchestrate a fundraising banquet, it would surely ease the pressure on the treasury."

After speaking, Yuan Changan added, "The primary battlefront lies in the west; delivering the provisions directly there could save time and effort."

The new emperor’s eyes shifted slightly, "It’s not appropriate to send a weak woman on such a tough task."

Yuan Changan nodded, "The emperor is right; perhaps it’s better to have the Empress handle this matter."

"The mother of the nation, a paragon for women across the land, perhaps not physically strong, but her influence is undoubtedly immense, hardly aligning with the term ’weak woman’."

The Empress is pregnant with the imperial heir, and she’s already showing.

Being the new emperor’s legitimate child, he couldn’t help but be deeply attentive.

To ensure the Empress well-nurtures her pregnancy, he specifically arranged for female officials to assist in handling various matters.

The proposal from Yuan Changan, the new emperor didn’t fully agree.

But not agreeing would appear insincere.

He gave Yuan Changan a meaningful look, "Is it really that simple?"

Yuan Changan nodded, "Just that simple."

This couple working in tandem, worrying and toiling over the war efforts, naturally spent a lot of time together, thus limiting the emperor’s frequent departures from the palace.

Giving Mingzhu her much-needed breath of ease.

Yuan Changan rubbed his fingers together, needing to further ignite flames, diverting the new emperor’s attention.

In this way, he could smoothly bring Mingzhu to Xie Yunzhen’s side.