Chapter 101: then translation of title

Gu Rongjin was quick-eyed and quick-handed, grabbing Mu Yuanzhi's both hands, his smile helpless yet indulgent.

"You deserve a beating." Mu Yuanzhi huffed.

"You're really disobedient; now that I let go, you're not allowed to hit me again." Gu Rongjin coaxed in a gentle tone.

"Fine, I won't mess with you anymore; I have to pack up." Mu Yuanzhi promised.

She couldn't stand staying in this lousy princess manor even a moment longer.

Gu Rongjin, half-believing, half-doubting, released his hand; seeing Mu Yuanzhi truly had no intention of fighting him anymore, he also followed her and continued packing.

However, as soon as they stepped out the door, someone came stumbling and crawling to report: "Princess, Prince Consort, Pingnan Wangfu is on fire!"

"What?!" Gu Rongjin stared incredulously at Mu Yuanzhi, "How is my father? Is he alright?"

"The lord is fine, no casualties, just that the manor is burning a bit..." the messenger trailed off.

Mu Yuanzhi frowned deeply: "Did you run into enemies?"

"My enemies, aside from Xiao Yichen, are all dead; where would new enemies come from?" Besides Xiao Yichen, that mad dog chasing him and biting, he truly had no living foes.

Mu Yuanzhi: "Let's go back and have a look."

As for the things they had packed, they could only put them back.

Pingnan Wangfu is some distance from the princess manor; Mu Yuanzhi and Gu Rongjin went over, the fire not yet extinguished, everyone bustling in and out to fight the flames, thick smoke rolling, onlookers dared not get too close.

"This kind of blaze, the manor probably can't be saved." Mu Yuanzhi sighed.

Why, out of the blue, did the fire start just as they were returning to the manor? Did someone not want them to come back and live there?

No casualties, it doesn't look like an act of vengeance.

After all, it's his second home since childhood; Gu Rongjin gazed at the Pingnan Wangfu crackling and burning fiercely, feeling deep anguish, his face scrunched up.

"Where is my father?" Gu Rongjin casually grabbed a guard to ask.

"Your Lordship, the lord suffered a fright and is resting at the nearby inn; the imperial physician has already gone to see him." the guard said.

Gu Rongjin nodded; as long as the old man is truly unharmed, that's good.

"Aren't you going to see your father?" Mu Yuanzhi asked.

"What's there to see? He's fine, isn't he?" Gu Rongjin waved his hand.

"..." Truly, a kind father and filial son.

Gu Rongjin: "I'll go inside to have a look."

"You're crazy!" Mu Yuanzhi hurriedly grabbed Gu Rongjin.

Gu Rongjin smiled at her: "Don't worry, this little fire can't do anything to me."

"You've burned down your house and still call it a small fire?!"

"Have you forgotten how the Ministry of Justice official's residence was destroyed?" Gu Rongjin patted Mu Yuanzhi's cheek, "Be good and wait here for me."

Having said that, he flashed into the sea of fire.

Though he said that, Mu Yuanzhi was still worried; this is a fire scene!

How does this guy keep doing such dangerous things?!

Mu Yuanzhi waited anxiously outside; the fire was gradually brought under control, yet among those rushing in and out to fight the blaze, Gu Rongjin's figure never appeared.

Why hasn't he come out yet?

Hasn't it been almost an hour?

Could there be danger?

"Make way, make way! Injured!"

In the fire scene, two people carried out a makeshift stretcher, on which lay a person whose face was obscured by thick smoke.

Mu Yuanzhi's heart clenched suddenly.

Could it be Gu Rongjin?!

She wanted to go over, but was stopped: "Your Highness, don't go over! It's dangerous!"

"Who is injured?" Mu Yuanzhi asked anxiously.

The person on the stretcher, the more you look, the more his build resembles Gu Rongjin's!

"It's..."

"Little Yuanzhi!"

From behind came Gu Rongjin's voice; Mu Yuanzhi whirled around, seeing him unharmed before she breathed a sigh of relief: "You scared me to death!"

"Didn't I say not to worry?" Gu Rongjin spread his arms and twirled, unconcerned, "Nothing happened!"

"But you care so much about me, I'm overjoyed." Gu Rongjin smiled ever more radiantly, not at all like someone just emerged from the fire.

Mu Yuanzhi gave him an annoyed glance and asked, "Did you find any clues?"

"I already have a lead." Gu Rongjin said.

Seeing no trace of anger on his face, Mu Yuanzhi frowned suspiciously: "What lead?"

"It's that secret little partner of mine who did it." Gu Rongjin said firmly, lowering his voice: "So I wouldn't look like the culprit in the Ministry of Justice official's case, right?"

Although the method is rather crude and even cost him a manor, perhaps it might have some effect?

"Was it Qi Shihuai who set the fire?" Mu Yuanzhi immediately thought.

"I didn't say anything at all." Gu Rongjin shrugged.

"This place has no silver three hundred li," Mu Yuanzhi realized it must be him.

Put that way, it makes sense why only the buildings were burned, no one hurt—perhaps to lure people away on purpose?

"Come to think of it, the manor's burned down; where are we to live?" Mu Yuanzhi rubbed her forehead.

"Where else could we stay? The princess manor, of course; we can't possibly live in Weiyang Palace, can an outsider official reside in the palace?"

Thinking it over, Gu Rongjin felt it feasible: "Doesn't the Qilin also live in the palace? If he can, why can't I?"

Mu Yuanzhi glanced at him. "This needs the Father Emperor to decide."

"Let's go to the palace first."

Pei Yunxi came to Pei Shangling's sleeping palace; having to wait this long for the first time, she felt somewhat uneasy.

The palace attendant said Older Brother Ling was sleeping, but what time is it now—how can he still be asleep?

And she's been here this long—how can he still sleep peacefully?

Normally, as soon as she arrives, he'd drop whatever he's doing at once.

This unusual situation made Pei Yunxi feel slightly uneasy.

Just as Pei Yunxi was growing impatient waiting, Pei Shangling finally came out.

"Little sister, how did you come?"

Pei Shangling looked unwell, not at all like someone who had slept until now.

"Can't I just come to see Older Brother Ling?" Pei Yunxi raised a sweet smile.

"No." Pei Shangling said absentmindedly.

He used the Crown Prince Elder Brother's dream‑invoking pillow, yet hadn't had half a dream; unwilling to give up, he tried many times—let alone dreaming, he couldn't even sleep!

Just like last night, he lay with his eyes open until dawn, a rare bout of insomnia.

He was wondering whether he might only be able to sleep and dream in the Imperial Observatory.

He had originally planned to go to the Imperial Observatory today to find the National Teacher, but Pei Yunxi came.

Pei Yunxi found it strange: she had gotten married last night, yet Older Brother Ling had nothing to ask her, nor did he care how her newlywed life was going.

How could she so casually bring up a bunch of things, even dragging that little Qilin troublemaker into it?

Pei Yunxi subtly signaled Xueer, who instantly understood and began speaking up for Pei Yunxi: "Fourth Prince has slept until now; yesterday my master couldn't sleep all night!"

"Xueer! Don't talk nonsense!" Pei Yunxi feigned a stern rebuke.

"What's wrong? Weren't you just married last night?"