Chapter 12

Chapter Twelve: Whatever You Want to Do, I’ll Help You Ling Jiayue walked to the gate and saw Mu Yuheng standing in front of the carriage with his hands behind his back. Although he had his back to her, his tall, striking figure was exceptionally handsome, drawing sidelong glances from the young women passing by the Ling Residence. What a libertine who attracts every bee and butterfly, Ling Jiayue thought. Seeing that his master was waiting for Ling Jiayue, Feng Yan tactfully withdrew. Ling Jiayue, however, refused to let him leave. “Feng Yan, go fetch the paper and brush from the carriage. I’ll ‘properly’ explain your master’s health regimen to you.” Perhaps the sound of Ling Jiayue grinding her teeth was too obvious, because Mu Yuheng could not help letting out a soft laugh. Feng Yan scratched his head as he looked at Mu Yuheng, unsure what to do. Only then did Mu Yuheng speak up to rescue him. “You may withdraw. I have something to say to Miss Ling.” Ling Jiayue rolled her eyes at that and thought, He’s nothing but a libertine who attracts every bee and butterfly. What could he possibly have to say to me? Mu Yuheng looked at Ling Jiayue, a rare gentleness in his voice. “I wonder if I might have the honor of inviting Miss Ling on an outing.” “No.” Ling Jiayue rejected him without a second thought. “Is that so?” Mu Yuheng said with a smile. “Yes. I’m not going. Absolutely not.” Ling Jiayue had no desire whatsoever to spend time with the libertine who had made improper advances toward her that morning, so she refused him immediately. “In that case, we can talk here. I’m a man, so it doesn’t matter to me, but as for your reputation, Miss Ling…” Ling Jiayue thought in frustration that she had only just broken off her engagement with the Third Prince. Now she was standing in the street talking with the Seventh Prince. It seemed impossible to clear her name no matter what she did. She herself was not afraid, but Madam Liu could not withstand such a storm. “Forget it. I’ll go with you.” Mu Yuheng smiled like a cat that had just stolen a fish. “In that case, please grace my carriage, Miss Ling.” He made an inviting gesture, courteously asking Ling Jiayue to board the carriage. Ling Jiayue looked left and right, making sure that no one on the street was paying much attention to her, before climbing aboard Mu Yuheng’s carriage. Mu Yuheng’s smile deepened. He gave Feng Yan a meaningful glance, then boarded as well. After watching the two masters enter the carriage, Feng Yan took his place at the front and conscientiously assumed the role of coachman. Inside the carriage, Ling Jiayue sat as far away from Mu Yuheng as possible, as though she were afraid he might make improper advances toward her again. Although she had already experienced love between a man and a woman in her previous life, since her rebirth, all she had thought about was taking revenge and settling old scores. There was no room in her heart for romance. Mu Yuheng did not mind. He simply closed his eyes to rest and did not speak to Ling Jiayue. Following his master’s instructions, Feng Yan drove the carriage toward a less crowded area. Ling Jiayue, however, could not sit still any longer. She opened her mouth and demanded, “What does the Seventh Prince intend to do?” Mu Yuheng opened his eyes and leaned lazily against the carriage wall. “Miss Ling, there is no need to be nervous. I acted on impulse this morning. Please don’t take it to heart.” Ling Jiayue did not believe him. “Since that is the case, if the Seventh Prince has nothing else to say, please send me home.” Mu Yuheng continued leaning lazily against the carriage wall. “There’s no hurry. Your injury had not yet healed when you hurried out of the residence that day to treat those merchants. You did that because you wanted to establish a reputation for possessing unparalleled medical arts, didn’t you?” Ling Jiayue’s heart jolted. She looked at Mu Yuheng and said, “I don’t know what the Seventh Prince means. I merely agreed to treat someone, so how could you misunderstand me like this? Besides, when you asked me to make a house call, didn’t I go?” Mu Yuheng smiled. “There’s no need to be so nervous, Miss Ling. I went to the Prime Minister’s Residence today to present gifts precisely so that I could help you establish a reputation for possessing unparalleled medical arts. How could the reputations of a group of merchants compare with the usefulness of my name?” Ling Jiayue studied Mu Yuheng, but she could not understand him. Although this man had saved her life, he had also made improper advances toward her that very morning and said those things to her. She had no feelings of love for him, but it was still better to maintain some distance. After all, she had only just broken off her engagement. She should not become too close to him. Having made up her mind, Ling Jiayue said to Mu Yuheng, “Thank you for your kindness, Seventh Prince, but this is merely my private affair. Are you perhaps too idle? You should pay more attention to state affairs. A trifling matter like this is truly not worth your concern.” “Oh? Is that so?” “Yes, it is. If you truly have nothing else to do, please allow me to take my leave.” After saying this, Ling Jiayue rose, preparing to get off the carriage. Suddenly, the carriage jolted violently. Ling Jiayue lost her footing and fell straight into Mu Yuheng’s arms. With a beautiful woman in his arms, Seventh Prince Mu Yuheng naturally had no intention of refusing her. He opened his arms and held Ling Jiayue tightly, preventing her from being thrown against anything by the jolting carriage. After a while, the carriage came to a steady stop. Feng Yan reined in the two horses and called out apologetically, “This subordinate deserves death! I allowed the carriage to jolt and startled Your Highness and Miss Ling. Please punish me, Your Highness.” Ling Jiayue was still held tightly in Mu Yuheng’s arms. Hearing Feng Yan’s words, her face flushed even more deeply with embarrassment. In both her lives combined, she had never been held in a man’s arms like this. Even that emperor had never embraced her with such tenderness. Ling Jiayue’s shy appearance made Mu Yuheng’s lower abdomen tighten. He felt as though a ball of fire were burning there, and he unconsciously swallowed. For a time, the two of them were each lost in their own thoughts, and neither paid any attention to Feng Yan outside the carriage. After receiving no response from the Seventh Prince for some time, Feng Yan raised his voice and asked, “Your Highness, Miss Ling, are you both all right?” Only then did Mu Yuheng come back to himself. He said to Feng Yan outside, “It’s nothing. Just continue driving.” Hearing this, Feng Yan finally relaxed and continued on his way. “Let go of me!” Ling Jiayue said. Mu Yuheng obediently released her. “If the Seventh Prince has nothing else to say, then I shall take my leave!” “Ling Jiayue.” Hearing Mu Yuheng call her name, Ling Jiayue could not help stopping. “Seventh Prince, do you have any further instructions?” Mu Yuheng gazed quietly at Ling Jiayue. “Whatever you want to do, I will help you.” Ling Jiayue smiled. “Thank you for your kindness, Seventh Prince, but you cannot give me what I want.” I want to avenge the sea of blood that separates me from my enemies. I want to kill them with my own hands. You cannot give me those things. Thinking of her family and her soldiers—so many lives—Ling Jiayue clenched her fists. Her gaze grew even more resolute. Mu Yuheng looked at the woman before him. She was only sixteen, and her shoulders appeared delicate, yet they seemed to bear the weight of a thousand-jin burden. His heart filled with even greater sympathy for her, and his gaze softened further. “No matter what you want, I will help you obtain it,” Mu Yuheng said softly as he looked at her. Ling Jiayue, however, said, “Seventh Prince, what exactly are you trying to do? You may have saved my life twice, but you also made improper advances toward me this morning. Although I am grateful for saving my life, I am not that kind of woman. Besides, I also cured your poison. Consider that repayment for saving me.”