The Kingdom of Twilight derives its name from the "twilight" in "Twilight Chariot" and the "mist" in "moonlight." Twilight Chariot was the founder of the Kingdom, a benevolent ruler. During his more than twenty years on the throne, the Kingdom enjoyed peace and prosperity, free from war and famine. Its people were well-fed and clothed, and doors were left unlocked at night. Momo was the woman Twilight Chariot loved most in his life; she bore him two sons and a daughter: Mu Fei, Mu Ming, and Mu Jing.
The land of Mu'ai is small and sparsely populated. In order to prevent foreign invasion, Mu Chi ordered all the people of Mu'ai, regardless of age or gender, to learn martial arts. It can be said that the entire Mu'ai Kingdom is a nation of soldiers.
During his reign, Mu Chi declared that any of his sons, regardless of age or gender, who were capable of protecting the territory of Mu Ai Kingdom and ensuring a peaceful life for its people, could inherit his throne.
When Mu Chi passed away, his eldest son Mu Fei was twenty years old, Mu Ming was fifteen, and Mu Jing was ten. With the recommendation of the ministers, Mu Fei succeeded Mu Chi to the throne.
Eight years have passed in the blink of an eye. During these eight years, Mu Fei has always upheld his father's will and devoted himself to governing the country. In these eight years, Mu Ai Kingdom has never taken the initiative to invade any small country, let alone the powerful Zi Ling Dynasty.
However, a few months ago, for unknown reasons, the Kingdom of Twilight suddenly launched a surprise attack on the border of the Ziling Dynasty. Although the Kingdom of Twilight's army numbered only 20,000, its entire population was militarily trained and skilled in martial arts. Even though the Ziling Dynasty dispatched 100,000 elite soldiers, they were repeatedly defeated. It was only after the Fourth Prince personally took to the battlefield that the war was quelled.
"If it's an assassination, why expose your identity?" The purple-clad youth scratched his head and asked, puzzled.
A meaningful smile played on the Fourth Prince's lips. The purple-clad youth's question had enlightened him. However, he didn't respond, but waited for the purple-clad youth to unravel the mystery himself.
"I dare to guess that there are two possibilities. First, the assassins from the Twilight Kingdom harbor a grudge against Your Highness and want to take your life," the purple-clad youth said with piercing eyes.
"Oh?" The Fourth Prince looked serious, seemingly disagreeing with the purple-clad youth's speculation.
“But that possibility seems unlikely. If the assassin wanted to kill the prince directly, given his martial arts skills, the poisoned dart should have hit the prince's heart. However, the dart struck the girl in the center of her back.” The purple-clad youth flicked the dart with his finger as he spoke.
The Fourth Prince took a sip of tea, and a smile of unknown meaning appeared on his lips once again.
“Furthermore, the assassin chose to carry out the assassination during the day, clearly to attract attention.” The purple-clad youth stepped forward.
"Therefore, I believe that the assassin had only one purpose in trying to kill the prince," the purple-clad youth said calmly, toying with his throwing knives.
The Fourth Prince nodded slightly, signaling the purple-clad youth to continue.
"Someone is deliberately trying to sow discord between the two countries!" The purple-clad youth felt his analysis was flawless and looked smug.
"As expected of Mo Yun's son!" From the Fourth Prince's eyes, it was clear that he greatly admired the young man in purple before him.
“Your analysis is reasonable, but you’ve overlooked the most crucial point,” the Fourth Prince said slowly.
"The most crucial part?" The purple-clad youth looked at the Fourth Prince with surprise.
A knock on the door interrupted their conversation.
"Chuan'er! I heard you're injured. Where are you hurt? Let your mother take a look." Despite the presence of outsiders, Consort Zheng tearfully examined the Fourth Prince from head to toe.
"Mother, I am perfectly fine and unharmed," the Fourth Prince reassured Consort Zheng.
"Guard Mo, you may step back now!" The Fourth Prince gave the purple-clad youth a meaningful look.
"Even if you weren't injured, you must have been frightened! Let me massage your temples to calm you down!" Before the young man in purple could leave, Consort Zheng pressed the Fourth Prince down into a chair and gently massaged his temples with her plump fingers in an intimate manner.
Seeing this, the purple-clad youth shook his head and retreated helplessly.
The young man in purple was pondering the Fourth Prince's words when he suddenly heard the door open beside him. He looked and saw Chu Xiyin looking haggard.
"Is Miss Xiyin's injury any better?" the purple-clad youth asked.
"Feeling better. Who are you?" Chu Xiyin looked at the handsome young man in purple in front of her. The young man seemed somewhat familiar, but she couldn't remember where she had seen him before.
"My name is Mo Cong, and I am the personal bodyguard of the Fourth Prince," the purple-clad youth replied with a smile.
No wonder! When I was injured yesterday, I saw a young man in purple chasing after the man in black.
How do you know my name?
"My sister mentioned you the other day," the purple-clad youth said with a smile.
This young man also shares the surname Mo. Of all the women with the surname Mo she knew in the Ziling Dynasty, only Mo Tong was truly acquainted. Could it be?
"Your sister is Mo Tong?"
"Haha! Exactly!"
"Is she alright?" Chu Xiyin recalled the reluctant expression on Mo Tong's face when they parted that day.
“She’s fine. But…” The boy in purple hesitated for a moment, then said, “I didn’t tell her about your injury. I was afraid…”
"Yes, I understand. I'll go see her when I have the chance."
"I... need to go to the outhouse, so I won't disturb Guard Mo any longer," Chu Xiyin said with an awkward smile.
"Why did my period have to come at this time of year?! I've already lost too much blood in my back, and now I'm bleeding so much down there, it's unbearable!" Chu Xiyin complained inwardly.
Since there were no sanitary napkins, Chu Xiyin temporarily found some clean cloth to use as a substitute.
Luckily, these pants are big enough; otherwise, with so many layers of padding, people would definitely have noticed.
No way! I have to figure out how to make sanitary napkins myself. Haha! Maybe I can even make a fortune.
After leaving the outhouse, Chu Xiyin felt extremely uncomfortable in her lower body. Because the padding was too thick, she could walk awkwardly.
“Xi Yin…”
Chu Xiyin was fidgeting awkwardly. When she heard the Fourth Prince call her, for some reason, her face suddenly turned bright red.
"Why are you alone? Where is Chunhua?" The Fourth Prince walked quickly toward Chu Xiyin with concern.
“She went to prepare breakfast for me, and I…” Chu Xiyin pointed to the outhouse and stammered, “So…so…”
"I understand. I'll help you back to your room to rest," the Fourth Prince said, affectionately ruffling Chu Xiyin's hair.
"Why don't you carry me on your back?" Chu Xiyin really didn't want to walk; it was uncomfortable on her back and in her lower body as well.
The Fourth Prince was somewhat at a loss. It was broad daylight, and in front of everyone, that she wanted him to carry her. It was truly embarrassing.
"Fine, if you don't want to, then forget it!" Chu Xiyin pouted.
The Fourth Prince smiled and shook his head; he really couldn't do anything about her.
Chu Xiyin leaned on his back with a smug look on her face.
"Am I heavy?" Chu Xiyin pressed her index finger against the Fourth Prince's face. If he dared to say she was heavy, she would poke him hard on the face with that finger.
"Yes," the Fourth Prince answered without hesitation.
Chu Xiyin was about to poke him with her finger.
"You hold a very important place in my heart..." the Fourth Prince said firmly.
Chu Xiyin was suddenly stunned, her index finger freezing on his face. If these words had come from any other man, she would never have believed them. But this man in front of her made her believe him for no reason.
"Aren't you going to ask why?" The Fourth Prince turned his head and asked.
Chu Xiyin shook her head and said, "Your words are enough."
Chu Xiyin buried her head in the Fourth Prince's shoulder, a tear sliding down her cheek and onto his neck. If Yichuan had said those words to her back then, she certainly wouldn't have let him leave.
"Actually, the first time I saw you at Mo Yun's place, I had a feeling of déjà vu that I had never experienced before. It was as if we had known each other for a long time. To be honest, I have never felt this way about any other woman before. When I see you, I can't help but want to get close to you. I'm afraid to see you sad, afraid to see you hurt, and I panic if I can't see you for a moment. I don't know if this feeling can be called love, but I'm sure that you hold a very important place in my heart..." Unexpectedly, the usually taciturn Fourth Prince suddenly said so much.
"I know, please stop talking, I know everything..."
Don't be too good to her; she still can't tell whether he's her Yichuan or the Fourth Prince of the Ziling Dynasty. If things continue like this, she won't be able to leave him!
The Fourth Prince remained silent, looking embarrassed, wondering if he had been too blunt and made her shy...
Upon arriving at the room, the Fourth Prince carefully placed Chu Xiyin on the bed.
"Rest well! If you need anything, just tell Chunhua to take care of it." The awkward atmosphere left the Fourth Prince unsure what to do. He was about to turn and leave when Chu Xiyin suddenly spoke, "Wait..."
Chapter 21: The Pursuit of the Assassin (Part 2)
The Fourth Prince turned around, a hint of joy shining through his melancholy eyes.
"I need your help!" Chu Xiyin said, blushing. "Prepare ten catties of cotton, thirty rolls of gauze, and as many needles, thread, and tape as you can. Also, I'd like to borrow all the maids in your household." After all, she couldn't possibly complete this sanitary napkin production operation by herself.
"I can send someone to deliver the items in front of you right away, but as for all the maids in this mansion, I'm afraid I can't send the ones from my mother's place," the Fourth Prince said, frowning.
"Besides the maids from the Dowager's quarters, could we borrow any other maids? We can only borrow them for one day at most."
Chu Xiyin's pitiful appearance made it impossible for the Fourth Prince to refuse.
"Understood. Have Steward Zhang make proper arrangements tomorrow. Remember, if there's anything, tell Chunhua to do it. Once you've recovered..." The Fourth Prince suddenly stopped, a faint blush rising on his fair face. To avoid being noticed by Chu Xiyin, he quickly turned around and left the room.
Chu Xiyin was very annoyed. She hated it when people would stop talking halfway through their sentences, it was so torturous!
"Oh, Miss Chu, why are you getting angry all by yourself in your room?"
Hearing the sound, Chu Xiyin looked up and saw Hua Shao elegantly entering the room carrying large and small bags of supplements.
"Young Master Hua!" Seeing that familiar face, Chu Xiyin was inexplicably excited.
"Tsk tsk tsk, look at you, sit still and don't move around." Hua Shao put down what he was holding and pressed Chu Xiyin down to stop her from moving.
"Lord Qi, if you keep standing outside, we'll have to close the door!" Hua Shao deliberately cleared his throat and shouted towards the door.
Lord Qi? Could it be that Qi Yu has also come?
Chu Xiyin looked towards the doorway, where a man's foot was faintly visible.
Qi Yu hesitated for a moment at the door before slowly walking in.
"Qi Yu!" If Hua Shao hadn't been holding Chu Xiyin's shoulder, she probably would have stood up again in excitement.
Qi Yu looked at Chu Xiyin, his eyes filled with guilt. He moved his lips, as if to say something, but ultimately said nothing.
Chu Xiyin hated men who were indecisive and hesitant to speak.
The Fourth Prince left halfway through his sentence, which was already enough to confuse her, and now this mute has appeared, which is really infuriating!
Chu Xiyin's smile faded, she rolled her eyes at Qi Yu, and said, "Lord Qi, have you done something wrong that makes you afraid to see me?"
Thinking of the day he knocked Chu Xiyin unconscious, Qi Yu felt extremely guilty.
"I'm sorry!" After a long silence, Qi Yu managed to utter these three words.
"I'm sorry?" Chu Xiyin asked coldly.
“You have to accept his apology. Because he really did something to wrong you…” Hua Shao smoothed his hair and stared at Qi Yu as he spoke.
"What do you mean by that?" Chu Xiyin looked at Hua Shao, a nameless anger rising in her eyes.
“Ask him…” Hua Shao stepped back and pointed at Qi Yu.
Qi Yu frowned, but remained silent.