Volume One, Chapter Five: Is Everything Still the Same as Before?

Mu Yuanzhi was actually avoiding him as if he were a plague!

“Fourth Brother, why are you so angry? You’re making our little sister think you don’t want to give her the bell!” Pei Shangyan noticed Pei Yunxi’s pale, embarrassed face and stepped in to block Pei Shangling, who was about to chase after Mu Yuanzhi.

Pei Shangling’s eyes were still bloodshot and swollen. “That’s not what I meant,” he said.

Pei Shangyan patted him on the shoulder, signaling him to calm down.

Unconsciously, Pei Shangling clenched his fists tightly, gritting his teeth. “If little sister likes it, I can get her a better one to replace it. But for Mu Yuanzhi to humiliate me like this—without even an explanation!” The thought ignited a furious blaze that surged to his temples.

It was unbearable!

Hearing Pei Shangling’s words, Pei Yunxi relaxed, showing maturity. “Maybe Sister Yuanzhi is just sulking. When she cools off in a few days, I’ll return the bell. Such a precious and meaningful gift, I can’t keep it.”

“Keep it,” Pei Shangling said, his eyes still fixed on Mu Yuanzhi’s retreating figure. His shoulders trembled with anger as he swept his sleeve and turned away, his silhouette dark and menacing—an aura warning strangers to stay clear.

“Little sister, don’t overthink it. Your Fourth Brother isn’t targeting you; he’s always had a bad temper.”

“Mm, I’m not overthinking.”

Pei Yunxi had never seen Pei Shangling so furious. She was distracted, pondering until the family recognition ceremony ended, when she suddenly realized that Father had not mentioned the marriage arrangement.

He had promised that today’s ceremony would finalize the engagement in her favor!

“Crown Prince!”

Pei Shangyan, facing away from Pei Yunxi, momentarily thought it was Mu Yuanzhi calling him. When he realized it was Pei Yunxi, an inexplicable sense of disappointment crept in, unnoticed even by himself.

Pei Yunxi hesitated, her face shy and timid as she glanced toward Xiao Yichen not far away, unsure of where to place her hands.

Seeing this, Pei Shangyan immediately understood what little sister wanted to ask. Affectionately, he patted her head. “Father will surely choose a better day to discuss the marriage switch. I know you like Xiao Yichen, and luckily, he doesn’t have feelings for Sister Zhi. Father will make sure you two end up together.”

Though the cloak incident was minor, changing the engagement at such a critical moment could harm little sister’s reputation, which was why Father was cautious.

“Alright, I understand. I’ll follow Father and Crown Prince’s wishes,” Pei Yunxi said softly, smiling with lowered eyes.

*

“His Majesty said everything concerning the princess remains the same as before,” the chief eunuch leading her said with a smile.

The same as before?

Mu Yuanzhi looked up and took in the unfamiliar palace before her—the Weiyang Palace.

She could never return to the past.

Her former chamber was called the Changle Palace, meaning ‘Eternal Joy,’ a beautiful blessing in ancient Chinese.

That palace, built especially for her, bloomed with plum blossoms personally planted by her brothers. The walls were painted with precious Sichuan pepper to keep out the cold. In winter, the entire front courtyard was a warm and lovely blend of pink and white.

But just because Pei Yunxi said she wanted to live there for its beauty, her palace was taken from her.

Father ordered her to move to the only old palace that was vacant, temporarily renaming it Weiyang Palace. He insisted that having both Changle and Weiyang together was a good omen.

But it was a world of difference!

In her previous life, she had refused to accept this, causing a long fuss. In a fit of anger, Father banished her to the haunted abandoned palace, threatening to lock her away in the Eternal Alley if she continued to cause trouble.

Mu Yuanzhi withdrew her thoughts, expressionless as she stepped through the palace gates. A musty, damp smell greeted her.

The chief eunuch’s smile faltered awkwardly. Laughing nervously, he said, “The family recognition ceremony has kept this old servant busy and confused. I’ll send someone to clean it up. A new batch of palace staff will arrive later to serve the princess.”

“No matter,” Mu Yuanzhi said calmly, offering no reproach.

From now on, there would only be more neglect.

“Princess, please rest in your chambers first. Later, the imperial physicians will come to take your pulse. Daily necessities will be delivered gradually. Please rest assured,” the eunuch said with an unchanged smile.

“Thank you, eunuch.”

“You’re too polite, Princess. Without other orders, I must hurry to the Little Princess’s Changle Palace.” Mentioning Changle Palace brought a genuine warmth to his smile.

The chief eunuch looked eager to leave, unwilling to stay even a moment longer, but Mu Yuanzhi pretended not to notice.

Even the old palace servants who had cared for her since childhood now favored Pei Yunxi.

“Cough…” The thin prison garment was too little; Mu Yuanzhi had almost reached her limit. She quickly returned to her chambers.

This palace, long uninhabited, had cold beds and cold rooms. The vast Weiyang Palace was bleak and desolate.

Dragging her weary body to the small kitchen, she tried to make a bowl of ginger soup but found no ginger, no warm stove or coals. She lost track of time in the silent chill until voices finally came from outside.

New palace servants had arrived—four in total, two eunuchs and two maids.

Mu Yuanzhi used to have more personal attendants than that.

“Your Highness, Linglong at your service,” said one.

“Your Highness, Hongdou at your service,” said another.

The two young eunuchs then introduced themselves as Xiaoyunzi and Xiaonianzi.

Mu Yuanzhi recognized them all as servants from Fourth Brother’s palace. Could they have been sent to watch her?

“Hm.” Mu Yuanzhi nodded without emotion. “Go to your duties.”

“Yes, Your Highness!” They bowed and left in unison.

After waiting a long time with no sign of the imperial physicians, she sent someone to inquire.

Hongdou returned alone, hesitant and with lowered head. Mu Yuanzhi frowned at her solitary figure. “Speak.”

Summoning courage, Hongdou looked up. “Princess, it seems the Little Princess caught a cold. All the imperial physicians were dispatched to Changle Palace by His Majesty. I’m afraid… they won’t be able to come here anytime soon.”

To call in all the imperial doctors for a cold? Mu Yuanzhi sneered inwardly. Her so-called good sister was surely deliberately sending all the doctors away to avoid tending to her injuries.

Helpless, though, she knew some medicine.

Mu Yuanzhi fetched paper and brush, writing two prescriptions—one to dispel cold and warm the stomach, the other to heal external wounds—and told Hongdou to take them directly to the imperial hospital.

“Also, go urge the Internal Affairs Department. Tell them Weiyang Palace lacks firewood and the mistress is near death,” she instructed.

Hongdou glanced quickly at Mu Yuanzhi, who indeed looked ill, the sight of her bloodied wounds chilling to the bone.

“I’ll go at once!” Hongdou bowed deeply and hurried away.

Mu Yuanzhi looked up at the equally cold moon, suddenly remembering today was the Lantern Festival. In past years, she would have been reunited in joy with Father and brothers, but now she faced the moon alone.

Bang!

A heavy, unusual thud came from the backyard, instantly putting Mu Yuanzhi on high alert.