Volume One, Chapter 16: Shamelessly Refusing to Leave

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Gu Rongjin’s appearance swept away the jumble of negative emotions in Mu Yuanzhi’s heart. With a deft twist, she slipped out of Xiao Yichen’s arms, then hurriedly moved to the opposite side and sat down, guarding herself against him as though he were a wolf.

A chill instantly gathered in Xiao Yichen’s eyes. She was actually looking at him as if he were some ferocious beast!

By then, Gu Rongjin had already climbed in through the carriage window. He sat down naturally beside Mu Yuanzhi and looked provocatively at Xiao Yichen.

“Why so silent, Chief Minister Xiao? What exactly are you doing, holding my betrothed in your arms?”

He deliberately emphasized the word “betrothed,” pleased to see Xiao Yichen’s expression grow even darker.

Xiao Yichen glanced at Mu Yuanzhi, who had edged closer to Gu Rongjin. The fury in his chest surged violently. Yet when he spoke, his sarcasm was directed at Mu Yuanzhi.

“When did the princess become so intimate with Prince Jin? As of today, you are still my fiancée.”

Mu Yuanzhi could not understand what Xiao Yichen was angry about. If she married someone else, she would no longer stand in the way of him and Pei Yunxi. What was there for him to resent?

Did he think she was not even worthy of marrying a wastrel like Xiao Yichen?

That must be it. After all, he loathed her. He had once cursed that she and Pei Yunxi were as different as clouds and mud. Someone as filthy as she was had no right to aspire to become the Princess of Pingnan’s wife.

At the thought, Mu Yuanzhi’s temper flared as well.

“My future husband and I treat each other with courtesy because we are bound by a marriage contract. Chief Minister Xiao is different. Before our engagement was even dissolved, you were already exchanging flirtatious glances with my younger sister and wearing clothes she embroidered herself.”

The words “future husband” drifted into Gu Rongjin’s ears. He could not suppress the smile at the corners of his mouth, and he raised his brows at Xiao Yichen with triumphant delight.

Xiao Yichen clenched the sword at his waist until it creaked.

Even if she was jealous, she had no right to provoke him like this!

Xiao Yichen curved his lips into a contemptuous smile.

“Since we are all free to marry whomever we please, I hope that when I marry the legitimate princess, Prince Jin and his princess consort will offer us their heartfelt congratulations.”

He had deliberately said “legitimate princess” to strike at Mu Yuanzhi’s sorest spot. He knew she hated hearing those words.

Mu Yuanzhi had long since grown numb to it. She simply issued him an order to leave.

“My carriage is headed for the imperial palace, and that is not on your way, Chief Minister Xiao. Please make your own arrangements.”

The imperial palace and the Chief Minister’s residence lay in opposite directions. The same was true of Prince Pingnan’s residence, yet Mu Yuanzhi was singling out Xiao Yichen and ordering only him out of the carriage.

Xiao Yichen, however, stayed put, entirely unlike his usual self.

“Since the carriage is headed for the imperial palace, it naturally is not on the way to Prince Pingnan’s residence either.”

Mu Yuanzhi was speechless. She had no idea what madness had seized Xiao Yichen. Had he not always avoided her as though she carried a plague? Why was he shamelessly refusing to leave today? Was he deliberately staying to watch her make a fool of herself?

Gu Rongjin’s ears twitched. His hearing was exceptionally keen, and he had caught the sound of approaching footsteps. A smile curved his lips.

“Chief Minister Xiao, aren’t you afraid your Yunxi will be angry if you keep loitering here? She’s coming after you.”

Xiao Yichen looked doubtful, but his gaze clearly shifted. He lifted the curtain and, sure enough, saw a graceful figure hurrying toward them in the distance.

He gave a cold snort, swept his sleeve, and climbed down from the carriage.

The moment Xiao Yichen left, Gu Rongjin prepared to go as well. He reminded Mu Yuanzhi, “Future wife, your husband has business to attend to, so I won’t escort you back to the palace.”

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Although Mu Yuanzhi had been the one to call him her future husband earlier, hearing him return the favor now inexplicably made the tips of her ears turn red. To conceal her strange reaction, she snorted.

“Where are you going at this hour? The Fragrant Orchid House?”

“Not even married yet, and you’re already checking up on me? Little Yuanzhi, do you love your brother that much?”

Gu Rongjin covered his heart, looking utterly overwhelmed by her affection.

“Get lost!”

“Gladly!”

Just as he had come, Gu Rongjin sprang out through the carriage window.

Mu Yuanzhi immediately lifted the curtain and stuck her head out to look, but Gu Rongjin’s figure had already vanished.

So his martial arts really were unfathomably profound?

She was about to let the curtain fall when, from the corner of her eye, she saw Pei Yunxi waving at her in the distance. Xiao Yichen was looking over as well.

What terrible luck!

Mu Yuanzhi dropped the curtain with a vicious snap.

When Pei Yunxi received no response from her, she looked crestfallen.

“Is Sister Yuanzhi angry with me?”

“Don’t overthink it. It has nothing to do with you.” Xiao Yichen stroked Pei Yunxi’s head in comfort.

“Then… Brother Yichen, do you really not like Sister Yuanzhi?” Pei Yunxi asked again.

Earlier, she had felt uneasy when she saw him leave the banquet ahead of everyone else. When she discovered that he had indeed entered Mu Yuanzhi’s carriage, her heart had ached terribly. She was afraid he might come to like Mu Yuanzhi.

“Don’t think too much about it. My marriage to her was nothing more than a mistake.” Xiao Yichen’s voice was gentle. “I’ll escort you back to the palace.”

Pei Yunxi nodded, her cheeks flushing.

Hearing him say that, she felt reassured.

She had always known that he detested Mu Yuanzhi’s spoiled and willful nature. She herself was gentle and considerate—the kind of woman he liked best.

* * *

Palace of Weiyang.

Hongdou and Linglong were both bursting with things to say, yet neither knew whether they should speak. In the end, Hongdou could not hold back any longer and asked impatiently, “Mistress, why did you agree to this marriage? Prince Jin is a frivolous wastrel who spends every day visiting brothels!”

“That’s right, Your Highness. If you marry him, I’m afraid your life will be even worse than it is now!” Since Hongdou had said so much, Linglong no longer feared speaking her mind.

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Even worse than it was now? Not necessarily.

At the very least, Prince Pingnan’s family treated her better than the people within the palace did.

“Let him visit them if he likes.”

“Mistress!” Hongdou was as anxious as an ant on a hot pan.

Linglong seemed to have thought of something. Hesitantly, she asked, “Mistress, forgive this servant for being so bold, but are you trying to secure Prince Pingnan as your backer?”

Prince Pingnan was one of the four vassal princes. Although the emperor’s campaign to reduce the power of the feudal lords had greatly weakened their influence, each still held sway over his own territory. If their mistress married into his family, she would go to his fief and leave the capital behind. It was indeed an excellent plan.

Mu Yuanzhi lifted her eyes to Linglong, her gaze profound.

“You’re quite clever.”

Hongdou seemed to understand as well. Without noticing the change in Mu Yuanzhi’s expression, she asked, “Mistress, do you want to leave the palace?!”

“Who sent you to sound me out? The Fourth Prince?”

The atmosphere around Mu Yuanzhi turned cold.

The two maids hurriedly fell to their knees, frightened enough to swear by Heaven and Earth.

“Mistress, please see clearly! Although we once served in His Highness the Fourth Prince’s palace, we now belong to you. We would never dare commit such a treacherous act of serving two masters!”

Mu Yuanzhi cast them a sidelong glance, neither accepting nor rejecting their explanation.

“Get up. Do not kneel at every little thing. I hate that sort of behavior most.”

Hongdou and Linglong exchanged a glance before rising uneasily.

“You may leave.”

“Yes…”

The two girls withdrew dejectedly, secretly wiping away their tears.

Mu Yuanzhi sighed as she looked at the diagrams of concealed weapons spread across her writing desk.

Leaving the palace was easier said than done. Her skill at crafting hidden weapons was extraordinary, and she also knew how to make poisons. The emperor must be wary of her. As long as she remained alive, escaping the imperial family would be nearly impossible.

Prince Pingnan’s fief was the closest to the capital. That was likely one of the reasons the emperor had agreed to this marriage.

And Mu Yuanzhi herself truly did want a powerful backer like Prince Pingnan.

As for Gu Rongjin…

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