Chapter 10: A Forceful Kiss and You Think You Can Have Her? Why Not Two…

“This flavor is truly amazing, I’ve never had radish soup that tasted so authentic anywhere else!”

Gu Sui exclaimed, his clear voice interrupting Mu Jiulu’s thoughts.

Gu Sui quickly began eating the other dishes as well. His movements were a bit hurried, but not abrupt, inadvertently adding a unique youthful air to him.

She had seen him in formal attire, elegant and proper when receiving guests.

She had also seen him just after waking up, casually trying to steal a fried egg from her.

He was always restrained in public, and it was only after spending time together that she got to see his true self behind that facade.

“Slow down, no one’s fighting you for it. Look at you, the dignified young master of the Gu family, with so little composure.”

Mu Jiulu spoke up. Gu Sui, who had nearly choked, chewed a couple more times before swallowing and responding.

“It’s because I’m too hungry. Let me tell you, the food in the imperial palace is really not fit for human consumption. You can’t even serve yourself dishes, sigh…”

Gu Sui complained, and Mu Jiulu snorted with laughter.

“This prince has eaten it for twenty years.”

Gu Sui: “……”

“I didn’t mean you’re not human! Uh, let me rephrase – the food in Yongning Palace is not fit for human consumption, is that better?”

The young man scratched his head, his rushed attempt to correct his words was utterly adorable.

But Mu Jiulu only glanced at him once before quickly averting her gaze.

Can’t praise him, it’ll make him arrogant.

Gu Sui soon filled his stomach and sighed that this restaurant not only had accurate information, but also nailed the flavors quite well.

Mu Jiulu, who had remained quiet all this time, finally spoke again.

“Finished eating?”

“Mm-hmm.”

The Regent looked at him with an ambiguous smile, her eyes full of mischief.

“Didn’t you say you wanted to treat this prince to a meal to repay the life-saving favor? How come you ended up eating it all?”

Gu Sui: “……”

He looked at the empty plates and cups on the table, feeling a bit wronged.

He had told her several times to eat more!

But she kept just drinking soup, whose fault is that?!

He was so hungry that once he started eating, he couldn’t stop. He didn’t expect to end up eating so much.

“This prince wanted to eat, but you didn’t give this prince a chance.”

Didn’t even know to actively put food in her bowl, so clueless!

The Regent secretly grumbled in her heart, while Gu Sui said with a pained expression:

“What should we do then? Should we order another serving?”

Another thousand-some taels!

Will Mother scold him for being wasteful when he gets back?

The vivid changes in expression on Gu Sui’s face fell into view. Mu Jiulu suppressed the urge in her heart and leveled out the fluctuations in her tone.

“No need. This prince has many official duties and must return to the office soon. This life-saving favor will be remembered for now.”

There will be time for you to repay it in the future.

Gu Sui, who had saved over a thousand taels, was both relieved and reluctant at this moment.

“You’re leaving already?”

The noble and aloof Regent nodded.

Gu Sui: “Then when are we going to complete the final process of the marriage proposal?”

Mu Jiulu raised an eyebrow: “I said, when this prince’s body has recovered.”

Gu Sui felt sullen: “I think your body looks quite fine. Weren’t you able to save me just now? How come you can’t fight now?”

Mu Jiulu said righteously: “That Poison Wolf was just an assassin with mediocre skills, how can he compare to Young Master Gu, the Wolf Slayer General? Of course this prince needs more time to recuperate.”

Gu Sui: You don’t need to recuperate! You’re really overestimating me!!!

He was screaming inside, but had to close his opened mouth.

He couldn’t just outright say that he was now so weak he couldn’t even defeat a mediocre Poison Wolf assassin.

She had lost her memories now and was only the Regent. What if she found something amiss and killed him as some kind of monster?

Lost in his chaotic thoughts, Gu Sui ran a hand through his hair, a hint of irritation rising in his delicate brows and eyes.

“Then when exactly will you be fully recovered? Give me a specific time.”

Mu Jiulu: “That depends on this prince’s mood.”

Gu Sui gritted his teeth and said with a strained expression.

“That person in the palace is still thinking of me. If you drag this out for too long…”

Mu Jiulu gazed at him with curved lips, unhurried and unworried.

“If you want to call me Ninth Aunt, this prince will be waiting for you to come pay respects with tea.”

Hah, I’ll throw that teacup right at you!

Gu Sui was thoroughly defeated. He slumped on the table in frustration, thinking to himself that his amnesiac ex-girlfriend was too difficult to deal with!

This was even worse than having a Mu Jiulu who remembered everything!

Even if he had to face the crematorium of their breakup a year ago, it would be better than her current impenetrable defense.

Ah, so difficult!

However, giving up easily wasn’t his style.

Gu Sui suddenly raised his head, his gaze fixed on Mu Jiulu’s face. He straightened up and quickly leaned towards her, planting a kiss on her lips.

Mu Jiulu: “???”

Gu Sui seemed unwilling to give her any chance to react. He pulled away immediately and quickly sat back down in his chair, his expression serious.

“I don’t care, you have to be mine anyway.”

Mu Jiulu’s pitch-black eyes stared at him. At first, Gu Sui raised his chin, meeting her gaze frankly.

But as Mu Jiulu remained silent, this wordless confrontation made Gu Sui increasingly uneasy.

Is she thinking about how to kill me?

“I’ll go pay the bill first!”

Gu Sui decided to give the forcefully kissed Regent some time to cool down, considerately leaving the private room.

Bang–

After the door closed, the sound of hurried footsteps going downstairs gradually faded away.

Inside the room, a low laugh slowly spilled out, brimming with undisguised joy.

But Mu Jiulu quickly stopped laughing, her thumb brushing over her lips.

Hmph, think you can have her with just one kiss?

Is she such a shallow person?

Why not make it two!

It should be that… French deep kiss he used to insist was romantic!

Mu Jiulu’s mind was filled with wild fantasies, all of which were too explicit to pass censorship. The corners of her lips that she had just pressed down couldn’t help but curl up again.

Downstairs, Gu Sui, who had fled in panic, calmed his racing heart before approaching the counter to pay the bill.

“Young master need not pay. The Regent’s expenses are all charged to the prince’s mansion account, settled monthly.”

Gu Sui: “Huh?”

So this meal wasn’t treated by him at all, but rather Mu Jiulu treated him?

That’s quite embarrassing.

“How about I still pay for it?”

The accountant said anxiously: “That won’t do.”

“Jiang, the housekeeper of the prince’s mansion, is very meticulous in checking the accounts. She keeps track of every bit, whether more or less. If there’s one entry that doesn’t match up, this small one won’t be able to explain it.”

Since she put it that way, Gu Sui had no choice but to stuff the bank notes he had taken out back in.

At worst, he could treat her back next time when repaying the life-saving favor.

After the meal, Mu Jiulu went to the government office, while Gu Sui returned home. Coincidentally, he ran into Gu Tingsong right at the entrance.

“Sui’er! Let Mother take a good look, you’re not hurt, are you?”

Upon hearing that her son had been assassinated at the palace gates, Gu Tingsong rushed to deal with it immediately.

In less than half a day, those who had accepted bribes and allowed the Poison Wolf to infiltrate the palace all paid with their lives, giving him an explanation.

Gu Sui was naturally touched, and supported Gu Tingsong as they entered the mansion together.

“It’s nothing, thanks to the Regent who appeared in time and saved my life.”

Gu Sui was trying to score some points for Mu Jiulu, but unexpectedly, Gu Tingsong scoffed at this.

“Hah, with my son’s martial arts skills, dealing with a Poison Wolf would be more than enough. Why would he need her to save him? She’s just trying to curry favor, with ulterior motives!”

Gu Sui: “……”

“Mother, there’s something I feel I need to tell you.”

“What is it? Are you injured after all? Quick, let Mother see how serious it is…”

“No, Mother, don’t get excited.” Gu Sui hurriedly reassured her.

“It’s just that, I seem to have forgotten my martial arts skills along with my memories.”

Hearing this, Gu Tingsong immediately grasped Gu Sui’s pulse, her brows furrowing.

“Forgotten your martial arts? But your internal energy is still there.”

“But I’ve forgotten how to use it.”

Gu Sui said softly, lowering his gaze. Gu Tingsong immediately felt heartbroken.

“It’s alright, it’s a new beginning anyway. Mother will teach you again. My son is clever, you’ll surely learn quickly.”

Gu Tingsong felt that even if her son had forgotten his martial arts, it couldn’t outweigh the warmth of his emotions and desires.

Those repeated calls of “Mother” nearly melted her heart.

With Gu Tingsong, an expert, as his teacher, Gu Sui felt he should be able to learn easily.

However, unexpectedly, no matter which method Gu Tingsong described, he found it difficult to mobilize the internal energy stored in his dantian.

“Why is this happening? Sui’er, do you feel any discomfort anywhere?”

Gu Sui hadn’t expected this either. He pursed his lips and shook his head.

“Tsk, strange. Could it be some kind of aftereffect, requiring even internal energy to be retrained?”

Gu Tingsong muttered, her expression gravely serious.

“Don’t worry, Sui’er. Let Mother consult the Imperial Preceptor before helping you resolve this. In the meantime, you must have Sui Yu and Yun Mu accompany you at all times. You absolutely cannot go out alone.”

Gu Sui: “……”

Fine, at least his safety is guaranteed.

“Mother, so the Regent really did help me today. You shouldn’t have too much prejudice against her.”

Gu Sui seized the opportunity. Gu Tingsong’s lips moved, showing some hesitation.

“Mother will remember this favor and won’t let you owe a debt of gratitude. But Sui’er, why did you have to set your sights on her of all people?”

“There’s no particular reason, I just like her.”

Gu Tingsong felt a headache coming on.

“Let’s not talk about this for now. What did the Grand Empress Dowager say to you in the palace today? Did you suffer any grievances there?”

Hearing this, Gu Sui composed himself and recounted in detail the grand promises the old man in Yongning Palace had made to him. Gu Tingsong was even angrier than he had anticipated.

“Damn it all, how dare he set his sights on my son! Does he not want to live peacefully anymore?”

Gu Sui was utterly shocked. He really hadn’t expected his mother to dare curse even the Grand Empress Dowager!

“No wonder the Emperor doesn’t favor him. A fool with ambition but no brains, does he think he can control me just by having you enter the palace?”

Gu Tingsong was so angry her eyebrows stood on end, her face full of ferocity.

“He doesn’t even consider that if I truly had treasonous intentions, with my son’s intelligence and talent, controlling a ten-year-old emperor would be a piece of cake! Is he not afraid of handing over the Mu family’s empire on a silver platter?”

“Mother! It’s best to keep your voice down when saying such things.”

Only then did Gu Tingsong suppress some of her anger, though her expression remained very serious.

“Sui’er, you must not enter the palace. It’s not a good place, do you understand?”

“I know, so about that Regent’s mansion…”

Gu Tingsong: “…Sui’er, can’t you choose someone else?”

She hesitated. There was hope. Gu Sui pondered for a moment before speaking.

“Then Mother, what do you think of Princess Shu?”

Gu Tingsong’s voice was so loud it startled birds from the trees.

“She’s even worse! She’s not even as good as the Regent! No way!”

Gu Sui’s eyes curved in a smile: See, it has to be Mu Jiulu.

Gu Tingsong: “……”

*

“Achoo!”

Mu Congfeng, who had been summoned to the government office by her imperial sister, sneezed unexpectedly, causing the person in front of her to glance at her.

“What mischief have you been up to now that people are talking about you?”

“How is that possible? Surely it’s some young man in the mansion missing me. Imperial Sister, why did you call for me?”

Mu Jiulu gave her a task.

“That person in Yongning Palace has been a bit idle lately. Find something for him to do.”

Mu Congfeng smiled helplessly: “Come on, Imperial Sister, not again. That old man is already driving my harem crazy.”

Mu Jiulu said coldly: “That’s about all he’s capable of.”

While her sister Mu Congfeng might not excel in other areas, she had a unique talent for this matter. Mu Jiulu felt at ease entrusting this task to her.

After handling some government affairs at the office, she returned to the prince’s mansion in the evening.

Jiang Fu, holding the little kitten sent back by Yan Wu, inquired about how to care for it.

Mu Jiulu glanced at the cat, the scene of Gu Sui falling into her arms in the carriage flashing through her mind.

“Raise it well.”

Jiang Fu, who had already become familiar with this little fluffball over the afternoon, brightened at these words.

The Mistress has indeed become more humane, even starting to keep pets!

“Then, Mistress, does this cat have a name?”

Jiang Fu asked. Mu Jiulu’s hand movements paused for a moment. After a while, she parted her lips slightly.

“Sui Sui.”

Before Jiang Fu could speak, she saw her Mistress nod with apparent satisfaction and repeat.

“Mm, let’s call it Sui Sui.”

Mu Jiulu pinched the little kitten’s nape again.

“Meow, meow!”

“Has it been fed?”

Jiang Fu: “In response to the Mistress, it was fed one and a half cups of milk this afternoon.”

Mu Jiulu continued to pinch the soft, boneless little Sui Sui, and upon hearing this, her eyes showed disdain as she said.

“Such a glutton.”

Jiang Fu: “……”

It needs to grow, you know.

“Have someone set up a nest in the main courtyard, and assign a person to take care of it.”

Jiang Fu: So does the Mistress want to keep it or not?

***

Turns Out He’s Been Secretly in Love with Me (Female-dominant)

One-line summary: He acts like he doesn’t like her but is actually playing hard to get.

Synopsis:

Xu Muzhou like her. He has liked her for a very long time, and through repeated schemes, he finally closed the distance with her.

But this is still far from enough.

He wants to be the one who stands out among her many suitors, to fight for her attention, and to make her take the initiative to pursue him.

_____

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