After arriving at the prince’s quarters, Zhong Zheng Lin went directly to the study. There, he heard that Tian Fu Shan had a matter to report to him.

“What matter?”

They have stayed at Bibo Pavilion for an hour before the whole party moved to the tavern by the West Lake. It was currently a mealtime. The five-storey building was practically packed with guests.

Mu Xi Yao was facing the lotus pond outside the window, slowly drawing the veins of the lotus leaves and the morning dew above. Gui momo came to her with a face full of smiles and told her in a low voice: “Mistress, his sixth Highness has sent you interesting objects. He wants you to open them personally.”

Zhong Zheng Lin stood there watching her for a while. In the end, he still could not help himself and went toward her. Upon seeing this, Wei Zhen had all the servant girls and guards nearby retreat and then remained outside the pavilion, as to avoid ruining his Highness’s mood.  

Zhong Zheng Lin nodded his head when he learnt that Mu Xi Yao would enter his residence as shufei. After all, Mu Jin Zhen’s official rank rendered higher rank impossible. The shufei title was already the limit.

On the second day of Xizhao festival, the noble consort started investigation about the dormant spiders’ origin. They soon found out the connection with Yuzhou xiunus due to the uniqueness of these spiders. Together with the assistance of the Palace Punishment Department, the culprits were caught soon afterwards.

The Festival Of Xizhao.

Today, xiunus had lectures only for half a day. They could spend the rest of time either by resting or dress themselves for the coming poetry banquet held in the Imperial Garden that starts at the hour of You¹.

As the first round of selection approached, Zong Zheng Lin’s inner turmoil only grew, as if an urgent matter was right before his eyes, demanding a solution.

He had no clue how to handle the situation with that woman. All he knew was her surname was Mu, and she currently resided at her maternal grandparent’s house in the capital. The secret guards didn’t have her portrait, and there were two Miss Mus living together in the same courtyard, making it impossible to determine which one their Master was looking for.