Chapter 121

The Son of Heaven seems determined to make Qilin an official, thinking that would silence their master and disciple?

Although the Bureau of Astronomy would presumably be better than the Imperial Medical Institute, leaving the capital is still the best plan.

"Father Emperor, Qilin truly isn't suited for office; he doesn't want to be an official, and he told me he wants to return to Juechen Valley." Mu Yuanzhi said.

The Son of Heaven however said: "You, not being a fish, how can you know the joy of fish? Perhaps after gaining an official post he won't want to return."

"Staying here is too dangerous."

Mu Yuanzhi's words instantly froze the air.

She knows, but she must speak; she must make the Son of Heaven understand that this matter isn't something that can be brushed over lightly.

The Son of Heaven remained silent, his hand stopping mid‑stroke.

"Are you resenting me?" the Son of Heaven asked after a long pause.

"I, your subject, dare not; I merely feel that a grievance has a head and a debt has an owner—since I cannot escape my creditor, I'd rather avoid provoking them if I can't win." She of course knew that making a big fuss would be useless; without crucial evidence, the Son of Heaven shielding Pei Yunxi would be easy.

It's impossible for her to stay completely silent; she's no pushover.

Mu Yuanzhi had already prepared herself; no matter how furious the Son of Heaven became, there was no grounds to punish her—could they really throw her into Forever Alley for no reason?

The Son of Heaven looked at Mu Yuanzhi; her gaze was bright and fearless, showing no timidity or resentment, only steadfast resolve to defend her rights.

His daughter was truly different now—no longer a clingy little brat who only fawned behind him, nor a pitiful soul who would whine at the slightest grievance.

The Son of Heaven picked up his brush again and said: "Just give him a nominal post; he needn't stay in the capital or do anything."

He paused, then added: "As for Pei Yunxi, if she's at fault, she ought to be punished so she'll learn."

He had said the same thing to the Virtuous Consort before, saying that if Mu Yuanzhi were at fault, she ought to be punished so she'd learn.

He never expected that one day this saying would be applied to his little Yunxi, and the Son of Heaven looked somewhat frustrated, wishing iron could become steel.

Mu Yuanzhi raised an eyebrow, curious how the Son of Heaven would punish his precious daughter—whether by continued house arrest or by making her kneel at the ancestral temple.

Anyway, it wouldn't be a severe punishment—being locked away in Forever Alley was a special fate only a discarded daughter like her would suffer! Mu Yuanzhi thought sarcastically.

"Just confine her to house arrest and make her copy texts for a month, not allowed to leave." the Son of Heaven declared with a wave of his hand.

Sure enough, house arrest and copying texts—such a minor punishment, not even willing to make her kneel—truly a doting father!

Mu Yuanzhi left Xuanshi Hall and went straight to Wuming Palace; Qilin's house arrest had been lifted, he was clamoring to see her, so she came.

"Senior Sister!" Qilin happily rushed over and grabbed her arm, "Great, I had thought I wouldn't know when I'd get to see you again!"

He had a lot to say, but seeing Mu Yuanzhi deep in thought, he held back and first asked: "What's wrong?"

So Mu Yuanzhi sat down and told Qilin the whole story.

After hearing it, Qilin slammed the table in anger: "This is utterly outrageous!"

He jumped up, fuming: "They're trying to take lives, yet they just brush it off lightly? Indeed, to His Majesty the Son of Heaven, other people's lives are worth nothing!"

Mu Yuanzhi gestured for him to lower his voice, wary of ears on the wall.

Qilin lowered his voice, puzzled, asking: "What is the Southern Border Red Spider again? Who did she use it to harm?"

Mu Yuanzhi had not previously told Qilin about this; she was afraid that if he heard it he would become agitated.

She then casually said that Pei Yunxi had inadvertently harmed someone, poisoning herself, and to cure it she had herself test the poison; as for the blood exchange, she didn't mention it, lest he worry and act impulsively.

Even just that was enough to make Qilin angry, he slammed the table and stood up: "How despicable! They simply didn't treat senior sister you as a person! Even more despicable is that even though the Son of Heaven already knows the cause of the matter, he still does nothing!"

He paced back and forth, then suddenly stopped and made up his mind: "No, I can't go back; if I go back, senior sister you'll be in danger again—what should we do?"

But he immediately overturned that decision: "But if I stay here I'll just be a burden to you!"

What should we do?!

While he was troubled, palace attendants came outside to announce an imperial edict.

It was an edict appointing Qilin as a Grandee of the Golden Purple.

The Chief Eunuch read it out above, while Qilin below looked puzzled, using lip movements to ask Mu Yuanzhi what a Grandee of the Golden Purple was.

"An idle official." Mu Yuanzhi answered by lip movement.

Qilin nodded, "Whatever, as long as he doesn't have to do anything."

He received the edict, gave thanks, and paid a certain amount of silver to send the Chief Eunuch away.

"Senior sister, you just said I really don't have to stay in the capital, right?"

"Yes, you can set off right away."

"But I haven't decided yet..." Qilin's eyes rolled, and he came up with a plan: "I've thought of a foolproof scheme! As expected of me! Brilliant!"

Mu Yuanzhi: "What foolproof scheme?"

"Senior sister, just wait here for good news; I will definitely return before your birthday!" Qilin said, patting Mu Yuanzhi's shoulder firmly.

"Where are you going alone? I'll have Gu Rongjin accompany you." Mu Yuanzhi said, uneasy.

"Senior sister, your husband is my master, not my bodyguard; how can you assign him to escort me?" Qilin shrugged: "Besides, I came to the capital alone and was fine."

"Times are different now; you're being watched, so unless you stay in Juechen Valley, I won't be at ease." Mu Yuanzhi's expression was grave and sincere.

Qilin also didn't want Mu Yuanzhi to worry, so he had no choice but to agree.

"Why don't you ever ask my opinion?"

Gu Rongjin, waiting anxiously in the princess's residence for Mu Yuanzhi's return, received this "bad news"!

"Little Yuanzhi, I can't leave the capital!" Gu Rongjin drew his killer's mace.

It's not that he doesn't want to look after his cheap disciple and cheap younger brother, but having to be away from Mu Yuanzhi for so long makes him uneasy.

"Qilin, where are you going?" Mu Yuanzhi, anxious, actually forgot that Gu Rongjin cannot leave Jingcheng.

Qilin blinked: "Maybe it's Southern Border, maybe it's Miao region, or some other place like the Black Sea."

He isn't sure where to go look, but he's certain he'll find it!

"Look, this little brat doesn't even know where he's going, yet he says he'll return before your birthday—what a lying man's mouth!" Gu Rongjin shook his head.

"You're a man too, cut it out!" Qilin snorted coldly, "I've never lied!"

"That shows you're not smart enough." Gu Rongjin said disdainfully, "In that case, I'll send people to escort him, send a few elites; although they are far inferior to me by more than a little, they are more than enough to protect the Qilin."

The Qilin looked at Mu Yuanzhi: "Senior sister, this should put your mind at ease, right?"

Mu Yuanzhi finally nodded: "But are the people you sent willing to be bodyguards?"

"I told them that this newly appointed third-rank little ghost has catnip, so they should follow and investigate thoroughly!" Gu Rongjin laughed.

"......" Mu Yuanzhi was left speechless.