Chapter 16: Each with Their Own Thoughts

  Pushing open the door, Xue Lengyu didn't dare to look around proudly with his head held high, but instead lowered his head and walked into the courtyard.

  This is a pretty big yard, entering the gate, there are rows of houses on the left side, and on the right side, there is a wide and spacious playground. On one side of the playground, several tall trees stand, looking like they might be ginkgoes. On one side of the yard, there are stone tables and chairs. The overall layout is simple and clear, being both generous and dignified.

  In the courtyard, Xue Lengyu saw that man standing with his upper body exposed. His hair was tied back with a black ribbon, wearing tight-fitting pants, as if he had just finished practicing martial arts. His robust upper body was covered in sweat droplets.

  By Li Mu's side stood a slender and handsome young man with no expression on his face, standing like a spear. On the other side stood several maidservants holding towels and tea, including Xiao Si.

  Xue Lengyu stepped forward and didn't dare to look up at Li Mu's face, bowing her head: "Servant Xue Lengyu, paying respects to Your Highness."

  Li Mu had finished his exercise, stretched out his hand, and a small maid hurriedly presented him with a towel. He took it in his hand, wiping the sweat from his body as he slowly walked towards Xue Lengyu, sizing him up.

  Li Mu didn't speak, and Xue Lengyu also didn't dare to get up or make a sound. She could only bow her head low. Thinking that if she had known earlier, it would have been better to kneel down, maybe it would have been easier.

  Li Mu slowly walked to Xue Leng Yu's side, handed the towel to the maid beside him, then opened his hands, and several small servants hurried forward to help him put on his clothes.

  "Don't be polite." Li Mu said casually while tying his belt.

  "Thank you, Your Highness." Xue Lengyu stood up straight, still not lifting her head. Last night's encounter was vague, but she had a general idea of what the man in front of her looked like - not only was he not ugly, but he could be considered stylish and handsome. However, Xue Lengyu didn't have any thoughts about it, nor did she feel anything stirring within her. The previous Mu Rong Haoxuan was already like this, let alone this Li Mu.

  Li Mu looked at Xue Lengyu coldly for a while before speaking: "Did the princess let you come? What did she say?"

  Xue Lengyu said: "The princess told me to take good care of the king."

  "Is that all?" Li Mu asked.

  "Yes." Xue Lengyu said.

  "You said you just entered the Wang Fu?" Li Mu asked.

  "Yes." Xue Lengyu said: "The servant is just entering the mansion yesterday."

  "En." Li Mu turned around, a maid timely presented tea, took it and drank a mouthful: "Are you willing to come here with me?"

  "I'm willing." Xue Lengyu gritted his teeth. How could he not be willing with such a direct question?

  "That's good." Li Mu said: "Since you're willing, then keep it. The Wang Fu has its own rules, stick to your own place, do you understand?"

  "Yes." Xue Lengyu hastily said. Defend one's own territory, that would be the best, things beyond her territory, she didn't want to get involved either.

  Li Mu looked at Xue Lengyu again, and according to reason, this maid hadn't done anything to displease him. From the moment she came in until now, not only had she not flirted with him, but she hadn't even dared to look up at him. Yet somehow, just thinking about her being sent from the Wang princess's quarters made him feel unwell.

  Li Mu wouldn't be unaware of what the princess was thinking, so after meeting Xue Lengyu at the hot spring last night, he had his heart set on this girl being here to seduce him. However, from last night till now, Xue Lengyu has been avoiding him, which is quite unusual.

  Li Mu sneered and said, "Do you want to refuse but still welcome? I won't let you have your way. Let's see how long you can pretend."

  Li Mu put on his clothes, had some tea, and then a servant came up to ask: "Master, where will you have breakfast today?"

  Li Mu thought for a moment and said, "Let's go to Die Fei's place."

  "Yes." The little servant replied and quickly ran to spread the word. Li Mu slowly got up after drinking another cup of tea.

  Li Mu stood up and prepared to leave, the maids and servants beside him hurriedly led the way, following behind. The young man holding a sword by his side still didn't say a word, closely following Li Mu's side, seemingly a personal bodyguard.

  This way, only Xue Lengyu didn't know what to do with herself. Follow? Stay?

  Li Mu glanced at Xue Lengyu, who was standing still and unsure of what to do, and said lightly: "You come too. You are the king's concubine's person, I also can't not give the king's concubine this face. From now on you will follow me and attend to me at all times."

  "Yes." Xue Lengyu's response made everyone want to cry. This remark sounded like it was considerate of the princess, but for her, it was really not good news at all.

  A long line of people walked from Li Mu's Fengyuan to the small courtyard where Diefei temporarily lived.

  Diefei has not been in the mansion for long, and the garden specially built for her is still under construction. For now, she is arranged to stay in a separate courtyard very close to Fengyuan. She is considered one of the most favored concubines in the mansion at present, so in terms of treatment, although her rank is not as high as that of Wangfei, but in the hearts of the lower-ranking servants, they dare not slack off in the slightest.

  When Li Mu told Xue Lengyu to follow him, the maids behind him couldn't help but glance at her with a mixture of sympathy and disdain. It was obvious why the princess had sent a maid to the king, and although they were puzzled as to why the king would keep Xue Lengyu, they probably wouldn't give her a good face either. And taking Xue Lengyu along to see Butterfly Concubine was even more ill-intentioned.

  Xue Lengyu also felt the gaze of others, didn't think much and just smiled back, thinking they would be colleagues in the future. Gentle and pure, without any impurities. Originally, she didn't think there were any conflicts of interest between them, nor did it make sense for there to be any contradictions.

  The man who had been quietly and calmly by Li Mu's side was in the habit of taking a glance at his surroundings before leaving, and happened to catch Xue Leng Yu's polite smile, which made him pause for a moment.

  Such a smile shouldn't be on Xue Lengyu's face. At least, in this deep mansion, such a smile has not been seen for a long time.

  Xue Lengyu saw his slight pause, their eyes met, and she could only smile and nod. In her opinion, they were just bodyguards and secretaries, with different revolutionary positions. Even if she was not long in the job and not high in position, everyone was not much different from each other.

  Xue Lengyu thought she had smiled appropriately at everyone, and then followed Li Mu's side. Since Li Mu let her stick close to him, she would stick close to him, as long as she didn't have to serve him in bed. However, looking at how infatuated he was with Die Fei now, it seemed that he wouldn't even notice her.

  The butterfly queen had already stood at the door, dressed up and ready to welcome Li Mu. Just now, a young servant came to report that the king was coming for breakfast, and she immediately smiled on her face, and the hanging heart finally fell.

  At her side, Xiao Yutou Zi Xue smiled and said to the Butterfly Empress: "Your Majesty, you can rest assured now."

  The butterfly queen snorted and pretended to be angry: "You little girl are getting more and more presumptuous, what do I have to worry about?"

  "Your Ladyship, I've been following you for so long, how could I not know what's on your mind? Yesterday, the Prince was in the mansion but didn't come to see you. And now, early this morning, I heard that he left a palace maid sent by the Princess to attend to him. Can you really not be worried?"