Chapter 123: Does she consider you her brother?

Xiao Nianzi and Xiao Yunzi exchanged a look, then refused to make way.

They remembered their master saying, "A true hero does not suffer a loss right before him."

This is the princess's manor; they really had no reason to stop Pei Shangling from moving about freely, unless he insisted on forcing his way into the master's courtyard.

That brief delay was enough for Mu Yuanzhi to disappear; Pei Shangling could search and still not find her.

Would she return to her own quarters?

Pei Shangling wanted to go, but Xiao Yichen, who had been leaning against a nearby tree trunk at some point, said, "Don't bother; she knows you're coming, so she won't return to her own quarters."

"She's still in the princess's manor, right?" Pei Shangling said, unwilling to relent.

After searching the whole princess's manor, he refused to believe he couldn't find her!

"She must have already left the manor through the back gate," Xiao Yichen said firmly.

"You're so certain?" Pei Shangling said doubtfully.

Xiao Yichen was certainly sure—how many times had their chase-and-escape game played out here? If she didn't want to see him, she would just leave the manor.

Pei Shangling sighed and bit his lip; he had originally had much to say to her, but now he couldn't get a word in edgewise, all because of the meddling Xiao Yichen!

"Don't waste your effort," Xiao Yichen said coldly. "She doesn't want to hear you speak."

"What cold remarks are you making here? Just because she ignores you, you think you should also ignore me to feel balanced? Who are you? I'm her brother!" Pei Shangling snorted.

"Brother? Does she consider you her brother, Fourth Prince?" Xiao Yichen asked mockingly.

……Pei Shangling was left fuming.

Yuanzhi now calls him Fourth Prince…

She hasn't called him Ling-gege in a long time.

When did that start?

Pei Shangling could no longer recall; it seemed that after leaving Forever Lane, even when she called him Ling-gege, it lacked the former closeness, and later she simply called him Fourth Prince, becoming distant.

Has he long ceased to be a brother in her heart?

Just thinking about this, a huge sense of helplessness washed over him, leaving Pei Shangling breathless; he left with his head down, too dispirited even to retort to Xiao Yichen.

Xiao Yichen felt no joy at winning; what's the use of winning a verbal sparring?

Yuanzhi still ignored him.

What exactly must happen for her to accept him again?

Xiao Yichen was absentminded, standing there alone until night fell, when he could hear laughter and voices coming from Mu Yuanzhi's courtyard.

One voice was hers, the other was Gu Rongjin's.

By the time Xiao Yichen reacted, he was already outside Mu Yuanzhi's courtyard, seeing Gu Rongjin and Mu Yuanzhi chatting and laughing at the gate, commenting on a letter whose contents were unknown.

So harmonious.

Soon, Mu Yuanzhi noticed someone there; looking up, she saw it was indeed that annoying person!

Gu Rongjin had of course noticed long ago, but he treated Xiao Yichen as nothing— a defeated subordinate not worth mentioning!

"Don't bother with boring people, let's go inside so he can't see us." Gu Rongjin took Mu Yuanzhi's hand and led her inside, saying, "You say Qilin clings to you so much, I'm even a bit jealous!"

"You're jealous over a child's petty spite?" Mu Yuanzhi gave him a sideways glance. "Qilin is really just my younger brother."

"Even a child's jealousy is not off-limits; even if it were my child's jealousy, I'd still indulge!" Gu Rongjin answered righteously.

Mu Yuanzhi's face flushed; she shook off Gu Rongjin's hand and walked away on her own, saying, "I don't know what nonsense you're spouting!"

"Don't be shy, Little Yuanzhi—I've even thought of a name for our future child!" Gu Rongjin said with a serious expression, "I'm quite serious; I've had it planned for a long time!"

Xiao Yichen, standing outside, heard every word clearly; his hand unconsciously clenched into a fist, gripping tightly without letting go.

Not long ago, when she used to linger around him, she had said she already thought of a name for their child, her smile sweet and bashful; hearing it, he felt she was shameless.

Now it was his turn to shamelessly wonder whether they would still have a child together.

Yuanzhi…

Xiao Yichen felt deeply resentful; she should have been his, yet somehow she ended up benefiting Gu Rongjin instead.

Clearly Gu Rongjin had no chance of a comeback, yet somehow he managed to regain a city and exchange it for the emperor's trust.

Gu Rongjin must be a wicked man, and the Pingnan Prince's mansion indeed harbors rebellious intentions.

Given time, he could certainly uproot the Gu family root and branch—if the emperor still harbors the intent to weaken the fiefdoms.

Thinking this, Xiao Yichen's mood relaxed; he turned and vanished into the night.

In the courtyard, Gu Rongjin and Mu Yuanzhi sat on a swing, enjoying the night scenery, a rare moment of tranquility.

Mu Yuanzhi suddenly remembered something she had forgotten to ask Gu Rongjin: "That family letter—why did you give it to me? Wouldn't not burning it be disadvantageous to you?"

"Because I want to give you an amulet," Gu Rongjin said, looking at Mu Yuanzhi's face seriously. "With it, the people of Frost's Descent will protect you."

"Why?" Mu Yuanzhi asked, not understanding.

"Given my standing, it's not too much to protect the boss's woman, right?"

Mu Yuanzhi let out a puffed laugh.

"What are you laughing at? Shouldn't you be moved?" Gu Rongjin was speechless.

"But your words really sound like something a mountain bandit would say." Mu Yuanzhi didn't want to laugh, but she couldn't hold it in.

Gu Rongjin ground his teeth, then pulled Mu Yuanzhi into his embrace: "You, this chief lady of the stronghold, are too arrogant!"

"What, you want to commit domestic violence now?" Mu Yuanzhi snorted.

"How could I? I only feel pity for my lady."

"I got goosebumps!"

"Where? Let me, your husband, have a look."

"Get lost, don't play the hooligan!"

"How could a married couple's affairs be considered hooliganism?"

The laughter and chatter in the courtyard continued; as long as Gu Rongjin was present, Mu Yuanzhi could be temporarily carefree.

The emperor combined the crown prince's bride-selection banquet with Mu Yuanzhi's birthday celebration; upon hearing the news, Pei Yunxi was furious, and she paced anxiously in Changle Palace.

Originally unable to return to the princess's residence, she constantly worried that Mu Yuanzhi would take the opportunity to seduce her brother Chen; yet she ended up hearing such news anyway.

Has Father Emperor now renewed his favor toward Mu Yuanzhi?!

Could it be that Father Emperor no longer wants her?

Pei Yunxi was panic-stricken, wishing she could immediately go outside to find Father Emperor.

"My lady, don't worry, I, your servant, think the main point of this matter still lies with the Crown Prince; Mu Yuanzhi is just incidental!" Xueer now privately calls Mu Yuanzhi without any honorific.

Pei Yunxi sat down, displeased: "It could totally be avoided!"

"Of course it's to placate her."

Even though Xueer now knows what Pei Yunxi has done, she still believes it's all because Mu Yuanzhi was too overbearing, prompting her master to retaliate; self-defense is not wrong—she would do the same in her place!

"Really?" Pei Yunxi clutched the handkerchief in her hand, "But such a grand affair, and I'm still confined here!"

"Perhaps His Majesty will pardon you shortly."