Chapter 97: Build One Just Like It

Ningning: 【My dear little treasure, if I had known you were going to be made a princess, I would have come myself! It's such a pity I missed this occasion.】

Ningning: 【Right~ little treasure, what do they call you over there?】

Mu Youyu: 【It's fine, Ningning, not a pity! The king gave me the title Mingxi Princess and granted me a castle; if there's a chance, I'll take you there to play.】

Her fingertips tapped lightly on the screen; just as she hit send, the doorbell rang.

A few seconds later, Mu Xi's tall figure appeared at the doorway, holding a white porcelain bowl.

「Just finished tidying up and you're already on your phone? Drink the hot milk first. 」 He took two steps to the bedside, handed the bowl to his sister, and sat down on the edge of the bed.

「Big brother! 」

Mu Youyu heard about the hot milk, and her cheeks puffed slightly.

She drew out her tone, her voice tinged with coquettishness: 「I want something cold! Isn't there still frozen yogurt in the fridge? 」

This morning, while tidying up, she had already sneakily taken two bottles of frozen yogurt.

So Mu Xi didn't pick up on her comment; he just reached out and gently rubbed the top of her head.

His gaze fell on her lower leg resting on the blanket, his voice softened with concern: 「You've been standing most of the day—are your legs sore? 」

Mu Youyu then sat up properly, set down her phone, lifted the bowl and took a sip: 「I'm fine; it's just that when the king announced the ennoblement, I felt a bit dazed. 」

She recalled her grandfather's gaze back then and couldn't help laughing: 「At first I thought it was Grandpa and Brother Xinxin who had arranged it! Later, when Grandpa took me to see the king, he even secretly asked if I had known all along! 」

It wasn't arranged by Grandpa.

After entering the royal palace, she overheard the king and queen's conversation and realized it had been planned by Jun Chenling, the king, and the queen.

Even Mu Xin was unaware!

Mu Xi heard it and didn't make a fuss about her sister's sudden new status: 「As long as the treasure accepts it, that's fine—my treasure has always deserved to be a princess. 」

「Grandpa was just muttering in the study, saying the king shouldn't have changed the treasure's surname here……」

He said this, the corners of his mouth lifting in a faint smile, and handed her the box he was holding.

「I've had the castle's blueprints redrawn and bound; if you find any part of the layout uncomfortable and want to change it, just let me know anytime and I'll have it arranged. 」

Mu Youyu opened the box; inside was a finely crafted vellum scroll.

The castle's outline was drawn delicately, with each area clearly marked.

Its total area is roughly the same as the Duke's Mansion.

「Big brother, no need to change it—just leave it as is. 」 She glanced at it and then replied.

Even if she changed it, she wouldn't have the chance to stay there long.

After all, she has to return home before school starts next month.

「Alright, I'll take you to look around the castle tomorrow. 」

「Okay! 」

Mu Xi took the empty bowl from her hand: 「Treasure, get some rest early—good night. 」

「Big brother, good night! 」

Mu Xi walked out the door.

Mu Youyu replied to Jiang Liangjin and Lin Ning's messages, then was about to lie down when her phone buzzed.

She opened it and saw it was a message from Feng Cen.

Feng Cen is a person from A City, ranked third among the city's four great noble families.

Liu Wanwan is a friend she's known since childhood, and also a friend she met in her first year at Sheng Luo Middle School.

She is one year ahead of her.

Sheng Luo Middle School is an aristocratic high school; although its management isn't as strict as Lan Lin or Nan Feng's, it holds frequent exams.

However, first-year students only have monthly exams, while second- and third-year students have both weekly and monthly exams, so there's never a break.

Although Feng Cen has the nickname of "female school tyrant" at Sheng Luo, her academic performance has always been excellent; in the sophomore division she consistently ranks in the top five of her grade.

Cen: 【Little Youyou!!! Are you in Y Country?】

Mu Youyu replied: 【Yes.】

Cen: 【Can I come over to play with you next Saturday? I'm on break and all I have is dance class, dance class—I'm so bored. Wanwan will be going out with Sheng Ling then, and she won't keep me company!!!!】

Mu Youyu looked at the string of exclamation marks on the screen, couldn't help laughing, and replied: 【If you want to come, I'll send you my location.】

Cen: 【I want to come! Youyou I love you!! I'll definitely be there Saturday!!!】

Mu Youyu tapped the screen and replied: 【Okay, Cen Cen, when you arrive send me a message and I'll come pick you up.】

Cen: 【Received!】

The next day.

Mu Youyu had just finished washing up and gone downstairs when she saw Mu Xi and Jiang Liangjin sitting in the dining room, each with an untouched breakfast in front of them.

Yet their gazes both fell on her at the same time.

「Little treasure, are you awake? 」

Jiang Liangjin was the first to rise, pushing the warmed milk toward her: 「Let's have some breakfast first. 」

Mu Xi chimed in: 「After you finish, big brother will take you to tour your castle. 」

「Okay! 」

Mu Youyu walked a few steps to the table and sat between them, curiously turning to Jiang Liangjin: 「Ah Jin, when did you arrive? 」

「Just arrived. 」 Jiang Liangjin replied gently.

Song Huaixian had specifically told him about this location.

So he bought a villa not far from here, reachable by car in about ten minutes.

He had first sent a message to Mu Xi to be allowed in.

Mu Youyu didn't ask further, and the three of them ate breakfast obediently, then headed to Mingxi Castle.

The car had been driving for about twenty minutes when a magnificent castle came into view.

Mu Youyu immediately sat up straight, lifted her gaze, and could see outside clearly through the car window.

The main body of Mingxi Castle used light gray, with symmetrical towers guarding the central keep, and the tops were pointed.

The architectural style blended classical and modern elements.

The castle's carved gold doors swung open inward, the door being more than twice the size of the Mu Family's Jingxi Estate!

Mu Youyu got out of the car following the two people.

She looked at the castle walls, spotless with not a trace, even the window sills bright enough to reflect, and couldn't help exclaiming: "So new,

Jiang Liangjin casually turned his head to look at her, "If Youbao likes it, I'll have someone build an identical one in C City."

Mu Youyu immediately shook her head, "Forget it; even if it were built, I wouldn't stay there much."

Mu Xi: "……"

He explained, "This castle was completed last year, though no one has lived in it, but people are sent to clean it every few days, so it's very new. Now that you're coming to stay, they'll just clean it even more thoroughly."

This was also what he heard from his maternal grandfather.

Mu Youyu showed an "I see" smile, then followed the few people forward.

The attendants had already lined up neatly; seeing her approach the castle's main gate, they all saluted her in unison, their voices respectful: "Welcome, Princess!"

Mu Xi was quite satisfied.

Mu Youyu took a moment to notice, then realized some of the attendants were ones she had seen at the Duke's Mansion, or were from the imperial palace.

However, having so many people here wasn't really useful for her.

She had those few rise, and then continued walking inside with the two.

The castle hall was spacious and bright, with crystal chandeliers hanging from the ceiling and several landscape oil paintings on the walls.

They walked while admiring for about ten minutes.

Mu Youyu's gaze was drawn to a carved door at the end of the corridor.

"What's in here?" she asked Mu Xi and Jiang Liangjin behind her, her steps unconsciously moving toward that door.

Mu Xi stepped forward to examine the lock, "It should be a storage room where the castle's old items were kept; I've never been inside either."

He had also heard from his maternal grandfather that it was built last year, and then there was a blueprint.

"Shall we go in and look?" Jiang Liangjin asked.

Seeing her nod, Jiang Liangjin hooked his fingertip on the door handle and gave a light push, helping her open the door.

Inside there was no odd smell, the space was quite large, filled with neatly arranged furniture, and a bookcase stood in the corner.

Mu Youyu looked around, seeing nothing special, and instinctively walked to the bookcase.

The bookcase wasn't particularly tall, but it was wiped clean, with old books neatly placed behind its glass doors.

And right in the center of the top of the bookcase sat a silver photo frame, perfectly aligned.

Seeing her curiosity, Jiang Liangjin helped her pick it up and handed it to her.

Mu Youyu immediately took it.

The frame was very clean, with not a speck of dust.

The background was not unfamiliar; it was indeed the imperial garden.

In the center of the picture, Jun Chenling wore a gold tailcoat, his head slightly turned, his dark green eyes holding a rare smile, the corners of his mouth forming a gentle arc, even his light gold hair strands seeming soft.

His right hand rested on Mu Xin's shoulder, fingertips lightly pinching the shoulder seam of her black formal attire, as if teasing something.

Meanwhile, Mu Xin beside him still retained a youthful slimness, her black casual outfit making her skin look cold white, her ice-blue eyes devoid of any curvature, though the corners of her mouth were also slightly raised.