My Darling, Coax Me.

CHAPTER 108: Xie Muyun x Yan Heng 

　　After Xie Muyun came of age, her father and mother rarely interfered with her life. They never pressured her to marry like other women, believing that marriage was the only path for a woman. Her mother, the most gentle and open-minded mother in the world, never believed that marriage and finding a good husband were the only ways for a woman to live a fulfilling life. She taught Xie Muyun many things and gave her the greatest freedom, allowing her to pursue her own dreams. Her father, on the other hand, was strict with her from a young age, never showing any leniency just because she was a girl. However, when she grew up, he practically ignored her. His only request was that she stop bothering her mother.

　　Xie Muyun was the most esteemed and free-spirited princess in the Great Jin Dynasty. She had everything she desired, from wind to rain. By the time she reached fifteen years old, she had perfectly inherited her father's domineering, assertive, and decisive nature. At the same time, she was also headstrong and untamed, never conforming to the norms. She was intelligent from a young age, excelling in horseback riding and archery, and was equally adept at embroidery, calligraphy, music, and chess. She was outstanding in every aspect.

　　She could also be exceptionally proud and outstanding. By the time she turned fifteen, instead of remaining as a noble Princess in the Palace, she entered the Dali Temple as a princess and served under Marshal Zhui Bo from her own courtyard. She specialized in handling perplexing cases, known for her sharp wit in exposing evil, and even took a keen interest in dissecting corpses.

　　When this news broke, the Court was in an uproar. Ministers submitted countless memorials protesting against a Princess, a woman, acting so brazenly and entering the Dali Temple. These old-fashioned officials repeated the same arguments, but Xie Muyun paid them no mind. What did it matter if she was a woman? Or a Princess? The Great Jin Dynasty welcomed talent regardless of gender. Look at Shen Chunxiang, her aunt, who was a female General—what made her any different? Moreover, since uncle Chen Zhan, the first Minister of Dali Temple, had agreed, the ministers had no grounds to object. Of course, the most important factor was her father's support. With his approval, not a single minister dared to oppose her.

　　A cool breeze gently blew, and a brilliant sunrise slowly rose in the sky, the air still carrying a hint of coolness.

　　With a sharp ‘whizz,’ a swift arrow pierced the lingering mist, striking the bullseye.

　　A soft, pleasant young woman's voice called out, “Muyun, how have you been doing at the Dali Temple these past few days? Are you settling in alright?” It was Xiao Jinyue, who had just returned from Anzhou.

　　Since her mother returned to Xiao's family five years ago, Xiao Jinyue had finally been able to enjoy a reunion with her parents, and her personality had become much brighter. When she was younger, Xiao Jinyue didn't understand why other couples divorced because they no longer loved each other, but her parents clearly loved each other deeply. Why had they been separated for so many years? As she grew older, Xiao Jinyue gradually understood that sometimes, even with deep love, some pain is inexpressible, unbearable. But thankfully, her parents were finally back together, living in harmony and love. During the Anzhou flood, her father was sent to oversee the relief efforts, and she and her mother accompanied him, returning home only a few days ago. (T/N: I'm literally screaming with happiness at this part! So, now she's 17 minus 5 years, which equals 12. Her mom basically came home when she was 12 years old! I'm truly happy! 😁)

　　Although Xie Muyun hadn't been at the Dali Temple for long, currently assisting her uncle with various tasks, she was still happy and content. “I'm doing very well at the Dali Temple. A few days ago, I even handled a long-unsolved case. The officials had been investigating for days without any progress, but this Princess solved it quickly!”

　　“Oh? What do you mean?” Xiao Jinyue asked, intrigued.

　　Xie Muyun then excitedly recounted the case to her.

　　Actually, the so-called unsolved case was just stuck on one crucial point.

　　The case was simple, in a way. A wealthy merchant on the outskirts of the Capital died suddenly, and suspicion fell on someone coveting his estate, implying murder. Initially, there was a witness who identified a suspect. However, within half a month, the suspect claimed he wasn't the real killer, alleging that the victim had been aided in his death by someone else. The initial witness then recanted their testimony, and a farmer named Zhang San, who had a dispute with the victim on that day and hindered his ability to defend himself, was apprehended. All the evidence seemed to point to Zhang San as the true killer, and the original suspect was cleared as the victim was already dead when the suspect was present.

　　But the matter was full of inconsistencies. The witness recanting their testimony, and the seemingly self-incriminating Zhang San—anyone with sharp eyes could sense something was amiss, yet no one could figure out the mystery.

　　“Later, I investigated the suspect's background. Guess what?” Xie Muyun smirked. “It turns out he's the nephew of an official from Qingzhou, with powerful connections in the Capital. The mystery wasn't unsolvable; it's that the lower officials dared not investigate!”

　　Xiao Jinyue: “So you uncovered the discrepancy?”

　　“Of course!” Xie Muyun raised an eyebrow proudly, speaking of the matter. “Do you know about examining bones to determine the cause of death? The ‘Collected Cases of Injustice Cleared’ by forensic scientist Song Ci mentions a method: clean the bones, place them in two liters of alcohol and five liters of vinegar, then steam them for an hour. If the broken bones turn red, it means they were broken while the person was alive; if not, it means they were broken after death. I had someone exhume the victim's remains and follow this method. The victim's bones showed no redness, indicating that Zhang San did not break the victim's ribs. The rib fracture was a fabricated lie.”

　　“With this evidence, further investigation became straightforward, and the case was quickly solved.” 

　　Xiao Jinyue guessed, “The real killer was the original suspect, right?” 

　　Xie Muyun: “Exactly! The victim's ribs were broken again after death. The witness and Zhang San were both bought off by the killer's family.”

　　Xiao Jinyue knew that Xie Muyun had read the ‘Collected Cases of Injustice Cleared’ countless times, the pages even curled from repeated handling. Besides that, Xie Muyun had memorized the laws of the Great Jin Dynasty. She genuinely loved these things; talking about them seemed to never tire her.

　　The clear, bright sunlight fell on Xie Muyun's face, making her beautiful and striking features even clearer. Her lips curved slightly, her bright eyes shining like shimmering light. Her nose was delicately upturned, her chin small and white, lifted slightly. Her radiant eyes were like a phoenix fluttering in a room, blazing with brilliance.

　　Xiao Jinyue once asked Xie Muyun why she wanted to go to the Dali Temple. Xie Muyun blurted out, “Of course, because I love it, and—”

　　Xie Muyun's gaze drifted to the distance, a proud and unrestrained smile playing on her lips. “Is there anyone in the world more suited to enter the Dali Temple than I? My father is the Emperor, my mother the Empress, my brother the Crown Prince. Only I, Xie Muyun, can take the position of Dali Temple Chief and stand fearless against powerful officials and influence. Impartial and just, I will work for the common people, uncover the truth of the world, deliver justice to the people, and ensure that justice prevails.”

　　Her clear and confident voice declared firmly, “Because I am the ultimate authority.” 

　　The once willful and unreasonable little Princess had grown into a talented, intelligent, and idealistic young woman, relentlessly pursuing her goals. Her excellence was undeniable.

　　After discussing the case, Xie Muyun put down her bow and arrow, turning to Xiao Jinyue. “You and your parents were in Anzhou for so long, you must have experienced a lot. Tell me about it.” 

　　Xiao Jinyue smiled and nodded. “Okay, I'll tell you slowly.” 

　　A pleasant, cool breeze blew as the two walked and talked.  

　　A group of eunuchs, hurrying along, saw them and stepped aside, bowing respectfully. The lead eunuch was Xiao Xiangzi, who served in the Imperial Palace. Xie Muyun called him over. “Xiao Xiangzi, you seem in a hurry. What's the matter?”

　　Xiao Xiangzi had served in the Imperial Palace for a long time and had witnessed this young Princess's methods. He immediately replied, “Reporting to Her Highness the Princess, the Marquis of the North has returned to the Capital. He's not accustomed to the Capital's tea, so I've obtained some northern Maojian tea that's just arrived and am on my way to deliver it.” 

　　Hearing that the Marquis of Dingbei had returned to the Capital, Xie Muyun immediately lost interest, pursing her lips in displeasure and waving her hand to dismiss Xiao Xiangzi and his group. 

　　This was the Marquis's place of residence; he occasionally returned to the Capital to report for duty. Each time he returned, he only brought his sickly son with him, clearly showing favoritism.

　　The first time she heard that the Marquis of Dingbei was in the Capital, Xie Muyun excitedly went to her father's Palace, only to see the old Marquis and his chubby young son. Subsequent visits yielded the same result—only the two of them, never anyone else. After repeated disappointments, Xie Muyun stopped going. 

　　She knew it was the old Marquis's intention to only bring his youngest son.

　　It's just unexpected that the Marquis of Dingbei, an old man, is becoming more and more irritable with age, and even dares to challenge the Palace tea. 

　　However, she wasn't interested, so she continued walking with Xiao Jinyue, intending to find her mother. 

　　Seeing the Princess leave, Xiao Xiangzi shook his head. He suddenly realized that he hadn't been entirely accurate just now. The Marquis who had arrived was indeed from the north, but it was not the Marquis of Dingbei...  

　　But the Princess probably wouldn't care about that. Thinking this, Xiao Xiangzi also hurried away.

　　——

　　After finally having a day of rest, Xie Muyun intended to go see her mother and act spoiled, but her mother wasn't there. She heard from the Palace servants that she was with her father, receiving the Marquis of Dingbei! 

　　Why did even her mother go? The previous times the Marquis of Dingbei returned, her mother hadn't gone! 

　　After lunch, Xiao Jinyue left the Palace to go home and organize the books she brought back from Anzhou. Without Xiao Jinyue's company, Xie Muyun felt even more helpless and went to the Imperial Garden to clear her head.

　　Only a few palace servants were pruning flowers outside the gate of Mu Xin's residence. They bowed when they saw her. Xie Muyun took a famous book, ‘Collected Cases of Examining Corpses,’ to Shanxin pavilion and began to read. Her slender white fingers traced the pages as she quickly became engrossed. But after reading for a while, Xie Muyun finished the last page, closed the book, and felt listless. She turned sideways, her eyes unfocused as she stared at the still water outside the pavilion, aimlessly wondering if her mother had returned to the Palace.

　　That Marquis of Dingbei is really putting on airs, even managing to get her mother involved. It's all that old man's fault; she finally had a day off, and she couldn't even see her mother... 

　　The more Xie Muyun thought about it, the more unhappy she became. The more she thought about the Marquis of Dingbei's favoritism towards his younger son, the more irritated she felt—otherwise, she wouldn't have gone nine years without seeing her older brother once... 

　　Standing facing the lake, Xie Muyun's rosy, soft lips were pursed, her unhappy expression looking like a proud little piglet from the side.

　　Suddenly, a steady and powerful footstep approached from behind, and then the Palace guards outside the gate spoke to stop the person, “Her Highness the Princess is resting; no unauthorized entry is allowed.” 

　　A voice, clear and melodious like the sound of jade splashing in a stream, carried through the air, “Please forgive me, Princess, but the envoy from Dingbei, Yan Heng, requests an audience.” 

　　The voice, carried on a cool breeze, reached Xie Muyun's ears. Her body paused, her mind seemingly struggling to recall the name. After a long moment, she slowly turned around, her gaze falling on the entrance.

　　Standing beneath the pavilion was a tall and straight young man, dressed in a round-necked dark brown robe. His brow bones were strong and sharp, his eyes as black as ink, and his nose high and his lips thin. 

　　Despite the Palace guards trying to block him, he stood there quietly, exuding the sharp and calm aura of a seasoned General, even calmer and more imposing than the vast lake. A breeze lifted a strand of his hair as he looked up at her, his icy black eyes slowly rising. 

　　Xie Muyun met his gaze and finally understood. The Marquis who had come from the north this time was not the Marquis of Dingbei, but his twenty-one-year-old son and envoy, Yan Heng.

　　He was also her older brother, Yan Heng, whom she hadn't seen in nine years. 

　　The surrounding sounds seemed to fade away. Xie Muyun looked at the handsome young man below, paused, then her eyes unconsciously lit up with a surprised smile, and she unconsciously exclaimed in a somewhat high-pitched tone, “Big Brother?!” 

　　The moment the words left her lips, she realized she had been too exuberant, a behavior unbecoming of a Princess. She quickly composed herself, cleared her throat, and said softly, “So the newly appointed envoy of Dingbei is you.”

　　She put on a serious expression. “Long time no see.” Then she waved her hand, signaling for the guards to move aside. 

　　Yan Heng walked up the steps, one step at a time, soon reaching her side. He turned to look at her, his brow arching slightly, his voice somewhat low and disappointed as he drawled, “Tsk tsk tsk, you little brat, you've grown up and become so distant with me? I thought you'd still be the same as when you were little, spinning around with joy when you saw me.”

　　“Ungrateful, I even carried you back then, it was exhausting!” 

　　Xie Muyun: “...” 

　　Yan Heng's voice was low and melancholic, “And I even gave my most beloved little dagger to you, little devil.” 

　　Xie Muyun still wore that dagger, carrying it with her every day. Hearing his increasingly mournful tone, Xie Muyun couldn't help but interrupt, “I'm not distant! I'm not! Seeing you... tsk tsk tsk,” Xie Muyun admitted honestly, “This Princess is very happy.” 

　　“Mm.”

　　Yan Heng looked at her, “I'm very happy too.” 

　　Nine whole years. He never imagined their parting would last so long. 

　　During those years, he trained in the military camps, fought and risked his life on the battlefield, achieving one feat after another, finally reaching his current position. But he still felt that nine years was too long. 

　　So long that... his little chubby sister had grown up like this.

　　Looking at her unrestrainedly joyful face, she was still the same as before, never hiding her emotions. Yan Heng's brow rose, then he suddenly assumed a composed and casual air, his tone calm and playful. “I said I'd come back to see you, and I did. This subject never lies to children.” 

　　Children. 

　　He used to call her a little brat, but she's grown up now! 

　　Xie Muyun was indignant, hands on her hips. “I'm not a child anymore!” 

　　“Alright, you're not a child.”

　　Yan Heng laughed, immediately surrendering. Then, very formally and respectfully, he bowed to her. It was as if he had been born to serve her, a natural subject before her, “This minister, Yan Heng, greets Her Highness the Princess.” 

　　The wind blew, and the lake surface rippled gently. 

　　Xie Muyun was happy again, unable to suppress the corners of her mouth, she couldn't help but secretly raise them, “Mm, get up.” 

　　The next moment, he stood up and walked in front of her, his gaze full of affection as he looked at her. 

　　“Mm? What's wrong?” 

　　Yan Heng feigned profoundness, “I was going to touch your face, but then I remembered you're not the chubby little brat you used to be.”

　　“Is that so... alright, let you touch me.” The unruly Xie Muyun was unusually gentle and accommodating. With a wave of her hand, she dismissed all the Palace servants, then closed her bright eyes. 

　　Yan Heng's eyes held a smile as he looked down at her delicate face for a long time, but ultimately withdrew his hand, saying, “Next time.” 

　　There were too many people in the Palace, and their current status made it inconvenient. 

　　Xie Muyun opened her eyes, “Next time? There won't be another chance, so no touching then?” 

　　“There will be,” Yan Heng said with a smile, his voice filled with certainty.

　　“Alright.” Looking at the sky—a clear blue expanse, a gentle breeze, beautiful weather—Xie Muyun left the pavilion first, and excitedly said to him, “It's your first time in the Capital, this Princess will take you out of the Palace for a good stroll.” 

　　Yan Heng: “Is that alright?” 

　　Xie Muyun: “Of course it is.” 

　　Yan Heng: “But His Majesty has granted a banquet, if I can't return in time, I'll be greatly at fault.” 

　　Xie Muyun didn't care, “It's fine, it's just a scolding from my father, that's all.”

　　Yan Heng's eyes held expectation: “...Can't you protect me? You promised to protect me when we were little.” 

　　Xie Muyun turned her head, revealing her white teeth. “I'm sorry, this Princess is just a small Minister of Dali Temple now, unable to protect you. You're on your own.” 

　　Yan Heng, behind her, stroked his chin thoughtfully. “Then perhaps I shouldn't leave the Palace after all.” 

　　Xie Muyun was angry again, “No! Way!” 

　　“So this is alright?” 

　　“Yes!”

　　Yan Heng clicked his tongue twice. “Tsk tsk...the little princess is still so domineering.” 

　　Xie Muyun: “Don't waste time, let's go!” 

　　Yan Heng: “Oh.”

-The End- 

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T/N: OMG, you guys, we FINALLY finished the last chapter! Huge thanks to SimMi—you're a lifesaver! Seriously, thank you for all your hard work; I owe you big time! 😭🙏

Yay! Xiao Qibai and the princess are officially back together!!! The feels! This is exactly the ending I was hoping for! And Shen Chunxiang becoming a General? Amazing! Go girl, female General power! 💪

To be honest, even with limited info, I cried more over their happy ending than Xie Muyun and Yan Heng's. 😂 But hey, we all got our happily ever after! SimMi, speaking for all the readers, THANK YOU! You're a rockstar! 🥰

Sorry for the delay—so much proofreading and wrestling with tricky phrases! But I can finally scream it from the rooftops: WE'RE DONE WITH THIS NOVEL!!! PARTY TIME! 🎉🥳

.......

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