Chapter 125: Find a Good Second Husband for Yuanzhi

Speaking of this, Pei Shangyan couldn't help but feel a little envious of his brothers.

"Hard to say, Father Emperor loves to control us so much; wasn't Yuanzhi forced to marry Gu Rongjin in the first place?" Pei Shangling said.

But no one echoed his words.

After all, they could all see that Mu Yuanzhi and Gu Rongjin are now very close, even closer than their feelings for the brothers they've grown up with.

Could this be romantic love? Does she really like Gu Rongjin that much?

"What's so good about Gu Rongjin?!" Seeing no one speak up, Pei Shangling suddenly flared: "His family almost rebelled! He himself isn't a good person either—Yuanzhi will sooner or later be killed by him!"

Even now he still hasn't given up on letting Mu Yuanzhi remarry.

Pei Shangjue: "If it really was him who did it, he is indeed a dangerous person."

"No matter what, Father Emperor's complete weakening of the fiefdoms is a settled matter—just a question of time. For Yuanzhi to marry into Pingnan Wangfu is not a long‑term plan."

This is the consensus of the three of them.

"But what can we do? I've told her to marry the National Teacher or the General Who Suppresses Rebellion, but she refuses both. Could there really be a third marriageable man in Jingcheng?" Thinking this, Pei Shangling was left feeling lost.

Unless we wait for the younger generation's sons to grow up—but there aren't many outstanding talents among them either.

Pei Shangyan: "Perhaps among this time's foreign envoys there is someone we could choose?"

"I don't agree to letting Yuanzhi marry far away!" Pei Shangling said. "How would we handle her being bullied if she went that far?"

Pei Shangjue: "As long as he isn't an imperial prince or noble, we can totally let him become a son‑in‑law living here."

Pei Shangling suddenly realized: "Exactly right! I've already started looking forward to this imperial consort‑selection banquet!"

Pei Shangyan also wasn't so opposed anymore—at least perhaps he could pick a good second husband for Yuanzhi's remarriage.

Meanwhile, Mu Yuanzhi, far away at the Princess's residence, had no idea that those few people had again arranged her lifelong affair. She was about to go out to see how the reconstruction of Pingnan Wangfu was progressing; although they were rushing the work, it probably wouldn't be finished before her birthday.

That Qilin fellow still hasn't come back, but he sends a letter every day, afraid she'll worry—so he still has a bit of conscience.

Because the Son of Heaven is holding the Crown Princess consort‑selection banquet and the princess's birthday feast, inviting envoys from all nations, Jingcheng has been bustling lately, with not a few merchants and travelers from all over the world.

Gu Rongjin didn't feel at ease letting her go out alone, so he always accompanied her.

"You've been kind of idle lately, haven't you?" Mu Yuanzhi asked.

"No kidding! Since I don't have to go to the Joyful Red Pavilion anymore, I'm naturally bored stiff!" Gu Rongjin laughed.

"If you want to go, you can go—no one's stopping you." Mu Yuanzhi said.

"Really? But why do I smell a knocked‑over vinegar jar somewhere?" Gu Rongjin laughed, asking for a beating.

Mu Yuanzhi gave him a white‑eye look and huffed: "Who would be jealous of you? Don't get too full of yourself, Gu Rongjin!"

"Still saying you're not jealous, yet you call him Gu Rongjin—normally you call him 'Brother Rongjin'!" Gu Rongjin went to the other side of Mu Yuanzhi, whose face was turned away, and clucked: "Tsk tsk, your little face is all sunk in, like you're about to cry."

"You really need a beating every three days!" Mu Yuanzhi shouted, angry and striking out.

"How is this domestic violence? With so many commoners watching the princess hit the Prince Consort, the influence would be awful!" Gu Rongjin, adept at blocking with his fan, clearly was used to defending himself.

He could even predict where Mu Yuanzhi would strike him first—although, truth be told, her hits don't hurt at all.

After Gu Rongjin shouted that, quite a few passersby actually turned to look, pointing and whispering.

Mu Yuanzhi had no way to deal with him, so she just walked straight away.

"Honey, don't be angry! Madam! Little Yuanzhi!" Gu Rongjin tried all sorts of ways to coax: "How can my little sister be so quick to anger?"

"Who's angry? I'm not going to tell you, you old good‑for‑nothing." She had no interest in being a spectacle.

"Where am I old? I'm still young—I'm just a few years older than you, not some yellow‑faced old man!"

Mu Yuanzhi couldn't help but laugh: "What's a 'yellow‑faced man'?"

"Isn't the counterpart of a 'yellow‑faced woman' a 'yellow‑faced man'?"

The two talked and laughed all the way to Pingnan Wangfu; just as the Prince of Pingnan had stepped out, the artisans came to report, and Gu Rongjin felt he'd narrowly escaped disaster—he really didn't want to listen to the old man's nagging.

"Why do you look like you've just unloaded a heavy burden?" Mu Yuanzhi curiously asked Gu Rongjin.

"You don't know—my father is too nagging. When I was a carefree young noble, he'd nag me every day; even now that I'm not, and I've married such a fine wife, he still nags on."

Hearing that, Mu Yuanzhi showed an envious expression.

Their father‑son relationship is really good.

If their parents were still alive, would they be like that too?

At least she doesn't have to go into the palace, meet those Pei family members, and give her all only to end up dying miserably.

Noticing Mu Yuanzhi's change in mood, Gu Rongjin immediately hugged his wife to comfort her: "You also have family now, you know—I am your family."

Family?

In her previous life, the two words "family" had shackled her, bringing endless calamity.

She no longer dares to seek family.

Seeing Mu Yuanzhi still unhappy, Gu Rongjin held her even tighter without realizing: "Little Yuanzhi, you still don't regard me as family? Aren't I your husband?"

"Husband? You can also divorce."

"What divorce!" Gu Rongjin's eyes darkened instantly and his face sank upon hearing it: "You're saying that again! I also have a temper!"

Mu Yuanzhi just smiled: "Of course I was joking."

"Cut it out, your expression just now was so serious!" Gu Rongjin didn't believe it, staring hard at Mu Yuanzhi's eyes, trying to read some other emotion from them.

Such as affection for him.

However, Mu Yuanzhi simply closed her eyes, not letting him look.

Gu Rongjin not only didn't get angry, he actually laughed: "Your gaze got away—I just knew you must like me!"

"Narcissism—who likes you?" Mu Yuanzhi firmly refused to admit.

How could she possibly still like someone else? Liking is too heavy; she thinks spending a lifetime with Gu Rongjin is a fine choice, but that doesn't mean she'll still like others.

She wanted to jump out of Gu Rongjin's embrace, but she couldn't—he held her too tightly.

"Don't even think of escaping—if you fled to the ends of the earth, I'd chase you." Gu Rongjin domineeringly tightened his arms, completely locking Mu Yuanzhi in the crook of his arm, heedless of the many onlookers, and suddenly declared: "I like you, little Yuanzhi."

Mu Yuanzhi's heart, long cool, warmed up a little, then cooled again.

She didn't dare let her heart flutter, for the price of a fluttering heart was death with nowhere to be buried.

"But I..."

Not wanting to hear Mu Yuanzhi's insincere, mood‑killing words, Gu Rongjin lowered his head and kissed her.

?!

This person in public is really too much! Mu Yuanzhi didn't think, just reached out to push.