The servants retreated to their quarters. The lanterns dimmed one by one. The outer courtyards became silent beneath the moonlight.
The moment Jin Mulan returned to their room, she immediately removed the maid outfit with visible relief before changing back into her usual noble robes.
Jin Mulan:- "I am never wearing that thing again."
Luo He sat nearby watching her quietly.
And that was when she noticed it.
Something slightly different in his expression.
Not mockery. Not teasing. Interest.
The realization made Jin Mulan pause briefly.
Jin Mulan:- "What are you thinking about?"
Luo He:- "Nothing special."
Jin Mulan:- "That was absolutely not 'nothing.' "
Luo He:- "It may have been a little something."
Jin Mulan narrowed her eyes at him suspiciously. Then later that night, long after the mansion had gone quiet.
She quietly opened one of the nearby cabinets again. And after several moments of internal suffering, changed back into the maid outfit.
When she stepped out again, Luo He looked genuinely surprised for once.
Luo He:- "You wore it again."
Jin Mulan immediately folded her arms to hide her embarrassment.
Jin Mulan:- "Do not misunderstand. I simply refuse to let some imaginary maid steal my husband's attention."
Luo He burst into laughter.
Luo He:- "So this is territorial behavior now?"
Jin Mulan:- "Yes."
She said with absolute confidence.
Luo He:- "At least you're honest."
Despite her complaints, the faint redness on her face gave away how embarrassed she actually felt standing there dressed like that again.
Especially because Luo He clearly liked it far more than he should have. Luo He leaned back slightly against the bed while watching her.
Luo He:- "You know, I was genuinely considered hiring another few cute maids after tonight."
Jin Mulan immediately grabbed a pillow and threw it directly at his face.
Jin Mulan:- "You shameless man."
Luo He caught the pillow effortlessly before grinning.
Luo He:- "I'm simply appreciating dedication to household aesthetics."
Jin Mulan:- "You are impossible."
Jin Mulan tried glaring at him seriously.
Unfortunately she failed completely once Luo He started laughing again.
The strange warmth between them slowly replaced the teasing atmosphere.
Then Luo He's eyes slowly traveled over her maid outfit once more. That only made Jin Mulan even more embarrassed.
Jin Mulan:- "Stop looking at me like that."
Luo He:- "Like what?"
Jin Mulan:- "Like you are planning something stupid."
Luo He smiled slowly.
Luo He:- "Too late for that."
Jin Mulan:- "I knew it the moment I saw the way you looked at me."
He walked toward her calmly before lightly pulling her closer by the waist.
Luo He:- "You had fun."
Jin Mulan tried looking away proudly.
Jin Mulan:- "Maybe a little."
Luo He:- "Dangerous answer."
Jin Mulan:- "Why?"
Luo He:- "Because now I'll want this uniform to reappear occasionally."
Jin Mulan looked horrified immediately.
Jin Mulan:- "Absolutely not."
Luo He:- "Negotiations can officially begin tomorrow."
Jin Mulan:- "I have married a demon."
Luo He:- "A talented demon."
Outside, the mansion remained peaceful and silent beneath the night sky. While lanternlight flickered softly through the curtains.
And for once no servants overheard anything embarrassing. Because Luo He had prepared in advance.
Resting quietly atop the dressing table sat a small seashell no larger than a thumb, glowing faintly with soft golden light.
The moment it was activated every sound inside the room disappeared completely.
Beyond the closed doors, the mansion slept peacefully through the night. Completely unaware of the chaos, laughter, and affection hidden safely behind the locked doors due to the unbelievable silence.
The next morning, the atmosphere inside the mansion felt noticeably different. The playful warmth from the previous night had faded. In its place remained preparation.
Servants moved quietly through the halls carrying supplies, weapons, travel packs, and sealed chests of gold while the pale light of dawn slowly spread across the capital.
The courtyard itself had become unusually silent. Luo He stood near the dark cloud shuttle dressed in black robes lined with dark golden patterns. His expression was calm. Too calm.
Jin Mulan recognized that look immediately. Whenever Luo He stopped joking entirely, something dangerous usually followed soon afterward.
Fei stood before him fully armed beside the massive warhorse. The creature had grown monstrous compared to ordinary horses, nearly three times their size.
Its black muscles shifting beneath thick armor plating while steam escaped from its nostrils into the cold morning air.
Behind him stood Bing holding Little Lin quietly in her arms. Luo He looked toward Fei and finally spoke. "Listen carefully," he said calmly.
Fei straightened immediately. "Yes, Master." He said with reverently. "You are returning to the Count's mansion immediately if we don't come back before night." He said. Fei nodded silently.
"Take Bing. Take Little Lin." Luo He's eyes narrowed slightly afterward. "And if anything stands in your way… cut through it without mercy."
The courtyard became quieter. "I do not care whether it's soldiers, martial artists, assassins, or entire armies," Luo He continued casually. "Kill without hesitation and continue moving."
Even Bing looked slightly pale hearing those words spoken so casually. Fei, however, only lowered his head respectfully. "This disciple understands."
He said respectfully.
Luo He stepped closer afterward. "This journey is dangerous," he said quietly. "We may not return the same way we left." The meaning behind those words was obvious.
This was no ordinary political gathering anymore. The Emperor was dying. The Crown Prince would soon hold power. And royal succession was rarely peaceful.
Fei suddenly dropped to one knee.
"If anything happens to you, Master…" His voice tightened slightly. "I swear I will avenge you even if I must slaughter everyone responsible."
Luo He immediately looked annoyed.
"Don't." Fei froze slightly. "Revenge is worthless if the people I care about die while you chase it." Luo He glanced briefly toward Bing and Little Lin.
"Keep them alive instead." That answer affected Fei far more deeply than any dramatic speech could have. Because Luo He trusted him with what truly mattered.
Fei lowered his head deeply. "Forgive this deciples stupidity master." Nearby, Bing quietly tightened her hold around Little Lin while watching Luo He silently.
Even now the man still sounded more concerned about everyone else surviving than himself. Jin Mulan crossed her arms while leaning lightly against one of the stone pillars nearby.
"You're acting as though we're marching into war," she said. Luo He smiled faintly.
"Politics between royal families is usually worse."
Jin Mulan sighed quietly at that answer.
Then Luo He slowly looked toward the distant imperial palace visible beyond the capital rooftops. And his grin returned. Not the relaxed grin from last night.
Something sharper. More dangerous.
Jin Mulan narrowed her eyes immediately. "That expression means trouble." She said. Luo He looked genuinely offended.
"I'm wounded you think so little of me."
He said calmly taking her hand out of affection. "You once started a political incident because someone insulted your cooking."
"Did I ? I don't even remember." He said calmly. Jin Mulan rubbed her forehead tiredly. "What are you planning now?" She said.
"To respectfully greet the Crown Prince." He said proudly. Jin Mulan stared at him silently for several seconds. "You are absolutely planning to mock him." She said in a boring tone. "Naturally." Luo He answered.
She sighed heavily before tightly holding his hand. "One day your confidence is going to get me killed." Luo He pulled her beside him effortlessly. "Then at least you'll die entertained." He said happily.
"That is still not comforting." She said.
"You married me despite multiple warnings, so this is what you get." He said proudly. "Yes, unfortunately true." She said with another sigh and followed him.