Chapter 60
Mu Qing was momentarily stunned. Why did that sentence sound just a little… off?
Still, she figured any breakthrough was a good thing, so she tried to sit up and hear what Miss Yanran had in mind.
But the moment she stirred, her husband tightened his hold around her.
Miss Yanran couldn’t help but let out a soft laugh. Even someone as rough-edged as Ying Shisan turned his head awkwardly to “avert his eyes.”
The reactions of the two onlookers made Mu Qing feel extremely embarrassed. She tried to gently push her husband away—but of course, he didn’t budge.
Anxious and blushing, she whispered, “Husband, let me go. I’m fine now… everyone’s watching.”
Her husband, however, remained utterly composed and said matter-of-factly, “Let them look. We are husband and wife. Since you’re unwell, as your husband, of course I must take care of you… No need to be concerned. Just rest and listen to what Sister has to say.”
He was completely firm on the matter, his arms strong and secure around her. Even if Mu Qing had wanted to struggle free, she simply couldn’t—this was the first time she had so clearly felt just how vast the physical difference between men and women could be.
Today, she’d gotten a full taste of it. A very complicated feeling indeed.
Resigned, Mu Qing settled into her husband’s embrace and even adjusted herself into a more comfortable position. Her husband, quite satisfied with this, gestured for Miss Yanran to go on.
Miss Yanran looked at the two of them, smiling once again, but she was someone who knew her limits. After chuckling for a while, she stopped delaying and finally began to explain her idea.
It turned out she was suggesting they use a honey trap.
And the “honey” was… Mu Qing herself.
At first, Mu Qing thought the idea was downright absurd. After all, she was still, at least nominally, her husband’s wife… True, married women could also have their appeal—she’d heard of that.
But she hadn’t expected the Second Prince to actually be into that kind of thing.
Since the intel came from Miss Yanran, there was no doubt about its accuracy.
To know something even the original novel hadn’t mentioned—once again, Mu Qing found herself in awe of Miss Yanran’s vast and terrifying intelligence network.
Still, awe was one thing, shock was another… Alright, to be honest, learning about the Second Prince’s particular preferences made her a bit nauseated. But setting aside her revulsion, she had to admit—Miss Yanran’s plan wasn’t a bad angle of attack.
Their side had already been hit pretty hard. If they didn’t strike back soon, it would be hard to swallow.
More importantly, given Xiao Wu’s current condition, he might suffer long-term consequences.
Thinking about how this child had been born with physical deficiencies and had now suffered such an unwarranted calamity filled Mu Qing with rage.
And when she got angry enough, her sense of justice kicked into overdrive. That’s when she could really do something “heroic.”
Besides, the idea of seducing that so-called Second Prince… actually seemed kind of interesting.
She wondered if he would fall for it. After all, her “feminine charms” didn’t exactly seem maxed out…
Which was definitely a headache.
If her skill tree wasn’t fully leveled up, how could she complete such a high-difficulty quest?
But once she accepted the premise, Mu Qing immediately began strategizing how to execute it—in a way, she was a doer by nature. She never wasted time asking “why”; she always focused on “how.” A side effect, no doubt, from her years as a corporate drone.
Her execution was a little too efficient. Whether that was good or bad… who could say?
In any case, it would get the job done.
While she was absorbed in these thoughts, she didn’t expect her husband to suddenly take her hand, gently turn her face toward him, and say quietly, “Stop thinking about it. I won’t allow you to go.”
…Huh?
Wait, what?
Mu Qing blinked, quickly realizing—this kind of thing really wouldn’t be easy to pull off without her husband’s approval. After all… she was technically his wife.
Even if she personally didn’t feel it was a big deal, judging from her husband’s expression, this was clearly something he took very seriously.
He looked like he absolutely wouldn’t accept it.
So…
Mu Qing sighed and decided to reason with him. “Since Sister Yanran brought up the idea, I’m sure she’s considered it thoroughly… Don’t you trust her? She’s not the type to speak thoughtlessly.”
She was really putting Miss Yanran on a pedestal here, and the lady in question looked a bit embarrassed.
But before she could say anything, Mu Qing’s husband cut in.
“I naturally trust Sister,” he said, firmly. “But I still cannot agree to this plan. I will not allow Miao-niang to face any risk… The Second Prince is not as simple as he appears.”
He tightened his grip on her hand and paused briefly before continuing, “You may not know his true nature, which is understandable. Even the Third Prince may not know… Even I don’t know…”
At that, his voice faltered slightly. This was a side of him Mu Qing had never seen before.
In her mind, her husband had always been unshakable—a man who kept his emotions locked away, whose every move was measured and powerful enough to destroy his enemies.
She’d never imagined he could wear such an expression of defeat.
Not even when he spoke of his mother’s tragic fate—then, his emotions had been sorrow and rage. But now… this was genuine discouragement.
Which only proved how dangerous the Second Prince truly was.
Mu Qing began to wonder if the Third Prince still stood a chance like he had in the original story.
With that thought, she realized the source material might be growing more and more unreliable. Good thing she hadn’t recklessly told them the Third Prince was the final victor.
Still, something felt off… but since her husband had already flatly vetoed the honey trap plan, there was nothing to be done.
They’d have to think of something else.
Miss Yanran was silent for a moment, then said, “What if I go instead?”
Mu Qing immediately shook her head. “No. If the Second Prince is really as dangerous as my husband says, it’ll still be too risky for you. We need to find another plan.”
Her husband nodded. “Indeed. Miao-niang is absolutely right. That Second Prince is not what he seems. Neither Miao-niang nor Sister is worth risking over this.”
At that, Miss Yanran also fell silent.
She had come from the world of brothels—though it had given her access to countless secrets, it also shaped her thinking in certain ways.
It was true that skilled women could manipulate all sorts of men—but only if those men were ordinary.
If the Second Prince was truly like her husband said—a wolf in sheep’s clothing—then using this plan could mean losing both the “beauty” and the battle.
Since that approach wouldn’t work, only one option remained—confrontation.
Mu Qing thought for a moment, then asked directly, “You’ve both been in the capital for some time. Have either of you entered the palace? Do you know… how His Majesty’s health is?”
