Volume One, Chapter 12: Are You Being Unreasonable Too?

“Did you see it with your own eyes?”

“I did not see it myself,” Linglong shook her head, biting her lip. “But it was His Highness the Crown Prince who carried the young mistress back.”

Such a flustered Crown Prince was a rare sight; the last time she had seen him like this was when the little princess was injured.

Therefore, Linglong naturally assumed it was the Crown Prince who had saved Mu Yuanzhi.

Hongdou chimed in from the side, “Everyone says it was His Highness the Crown Prince who saved you.”

Everyone says? So no one actually saw the person who saved her?

Mu Yuanzhi stubbornly believed it had to be someone else, for Pei Shangyan did not wear such a jade hairpin and never did.

Who was the nameless savior? Was it because they did not want recognition, or was it inconvenient?

Mu Yuanzhi sank into deep thought.

*

The Emperor held a family banquet once a month, a tradition left by the late Emperor, symbolizing harmony and love within the family.

With many royal relatives present, the banquet was lively; except for the third and fifth princes who were on diplomatic missions abroad, attendance was nearly perfect.

Mu Yuanzhi arrived neither too early nor too late, wishing not to draw undue attention. Unlike the other noble ladies adorned in elegant attire, she wore a simple white fitted outfit, her ponytail neatly tied high, exuding a sharp and heroic aura.

“Is that Princess Yuanzhi?”

“Is it? She looks like a completely different person.”

“So impressive and commanding!”

Many were amazed by Mu Yuanzhi’s seemingly transformed demeanor.

From their impression, this spoiled and willful princess would usually trail behind the princes like a little shadow. Now, she gave off the aura of a distant, untouchable high mountain flower.

How refreshing!

Pei Shangyan stared blankly at Mu Yuanzhi approaching him. This sister he had been with day in and day out felt utterly unfamiliar.

Though she was vastly different from the sister in his memory, there was no sense of discord. In fact, he felt this version of Sister Zhi was the true her.

This strange feeling stirred an inexplicable unease in Pei Shangyan.

In truth, Sister Zhi had never been close to him; it was all his wishful thinking. She had always been out of reach.

He shook his head, dismissing this absurd illusion.

Mu Yuanzhi’s arrival caused quite a stir, which displeased Princess Lanting, who had been planning to curry favor with Pei Yunxi. She never liked Mu Yuanzhi, as she had feelings for Xiao Yichen, making Mu Yuanzhi a detested rival.

But Mu Yuanzhi was a princess, so Princess Lanting dared not act rashly. However, things were different now—everyone knew Mu Yuanzhi had fallen out of favor, merely an unnoticed adopted daughter, while she was the daughter of a prince.

“Mu Yuanzhi, why are you here? This is a family banquet. Haven’t you already been removed from the Jade Butterfly?”

Princess Lanting’s words drew renewed attention to Mu Yuanzhi.

The Jade Butterfly was the imperial genealogy; being removed from it meant no longer considered part of the royal family.

Mu Yuanzhi had never truly been a royal by blood, so her removal was only natural. She never expected that her father had struck her off the list so early; she had thought it was only after her relationship with Pei Yunxi deteriorated beyond repair that the Emperor had disowned her.

In fact, she should have known when he publicly declared her as only an adopted daughter.

Her father wanted a daughter, but if not her, then someone else—it didn’t matter. But Pei Yunxi was his biological son, which was entirely different.

Mu Yuanzhi steadied her breath, refusing to let her heart weaken again.

She ignored Princess Lanting and walked straight past her. The latter was furious. Xiao Chuchu, a close friend of Princess Lanting, who also disliked Mu Yuanzhi, joined in mockingly, “I’m talking to you, Mu Yuanzhi! How dare you show your face here? Do you think you’re worthy?!”

Xiao Chuchu deliberately emphasized the “Mu,” reminding Mu Yuanzhi that she did not share the Pei surname.

Only then did Mu Yuanzhi look directly at Xiao Chuchu, her so-called future sister-in-law in name only. They had never gotten along since childhood because Xiao Chuchu accused her of trying to steal her brother. Later, since Xiao Yichen did not like Mu Yuanzhi, Xiao Chuchu’s hatred only grew.

“What about you, Xiao Chuchu? What right do you have to be here? Isn’t it only because you’re my future sister-in-law? If I’m unworthy, then you have even less standing. You should leave immediately, shouldn’t you?” Mu Yuanzhi smiled mockingly.

Thanks to her, Xiao Chuchu had received many benefits—rare imperial tributes and treasures that only royal members could possess. She had sent piles of them to the Prime Minister’s Mansion to curry favor with Xiao Yichen.

The national treasures Xiao Chuchu flaunted—the vermilion hairpin, the Western Region’s golden hairpin, the Southern Territories’ luminous pearls—none would have been possible without Mu Yuanzhi’s help!

“You!” Xiao Chuchu was both angry and embarrassed; her face turned pale and flushed as she raised her hand to slap Mu Yuanzhi.

Mu Yuanzhi’s eyes were sharp and quick; she grabbed Xiao Chuchu’s wrist without hesitation and said bluntly, “I tolerated you before for your brother’s sake. If you provoke me again, I won’t hold back!”

“Let go of me! Mu Yuanzhi, how dare you hit someone?!” Xiao Chuchu cried foul.

Pei Shangyan looked disapprovingly at Mu Yuanzhi. “Sister Zhi, Chuchu is younger than you. She doesn’t know better. Don’t you understand either?”

“Are you blind? She was the one who tried to hit me first. I didn’t punish her for hitting a princess—considering that, I was merciful,” Mu Yuanzhi said without looking at Pei Shangyan.

He only knew how to say she was immature, even when it wasn’t her fault.

She never cared about being a princess, but since the title existed, it was useless not to use it; having one rank higher was enough to suppress others.

Pei Shangyan pressed his thin lips together and said no more.

In the past, when he said this, Sister Zhi would have calmed down. But now…

Just thinking of Mu Yuanzhi’s fierce glare earlier made him feel a pang of sadness.

He only wanted the family banquet to proceed without chaos so that the Emperor wouldn’t blame her.

Xiao Chuchu was truly afraid Mu Yuanzhi would take trivial matters too seriously. She was about to call on Xiao Yichen to defend her when her wrist suddenly loosened, and Mu Yuanzhi forcefully threw her off!

Fuming, Xiao Chuchu quickly feigned losing her balance and stealthily grabbed a palace maid holding hot tea. The maid staggered toward Mu Yuanzhi, and the tray in her hands was about to crash down on her, spilling the hot tea—

In a flash, gasps erupted, and Xiao Chuchu shrieked as she dodged.

“Be careful, Sister Zhi!” Pei Shangyan shouted anxiously, rushing to pull Xiao Chuchu away.

Mu Yuanzhi hadn’t reacted when a hand suddenly pressed against her waist, pulling her sharply aside. The approaching teacup was caught by another hand moving like a shadow, deflecting the hot tea, which spilled harmlessly onto the floor.

Without warning, she collided against a broad chest, her heart still racing. She looked up into a pair of bright, charming peach blossom eyes. The man raised an eyebrow and teased, “Tsk, tsk, your reflexes are far too slow. What would you do without me, this prince?”