Chapter 126

Knowing when to stop, Gu Rongjin naturally didn't keep pushing further; he released Mu Yuanzhi with lingering desire, the sweetness in his mouth leaving him with endless aftertaste.

Mu Yuanzhi quickly straightened her clothes, the reddened lips from the kiss she bit uncomfortably, her face as bright and tempting as a red apple.

She turned and walked away, this time truly ignoring Gu Rongjin.

"Don't go, Princess!" Having tasted the sweetness, Gu Rongjin began to yield.

In Jingcheng, the common folk had grown accustomed to the Prince Consort and the Princess constantly staging their chase‑and‑flirt drama; although it seemed a tad improper, who could blame them for being so lovingly married?

Who would have thought that Mu Yuanzhi marrying the Marquis Gu would turn out so harmonious; they had expected Jingcheng to be thrown into chaos, yet the commotion proved merely a laughable farce.

When Qilin returned to the capital, along the way he heard countless versions of the stories about his senior sister and her husband; over tea and meals everyone seemed to enjoy gossiping about these royal tidbits.

Gossip is something everyone loves to hear, let alone royal gossip; people idle away chatting wildly, even turning them into plays, of course changing the names to different ones that are still instantly recognizable.

"Fortunately I made it back before my senior sister's birthday!" Gazing at the capital's gate, Qilin felt a surge of excitement.

He had already missed countless of his senior sister's birthdays; missing this one would truly be a regret!

"Qilin?"

A familiar voice sounded from behind; Qilin's expression sank instantly, he turned, and sure enough it was Pei Shangling's face that made him want to beat him up.

What bad luck—why do I run into him every time I enter the capital?!

Pei Shangling also hadn't expected to see Qilin on the street; he recalled not having seen this brat for a while.

Perhaps it was because of that nightmare, or perhaps because his younger sister had once used gu poison on him; now whenever Pei Shangling sees Qilin he feels a strange sensation.

Qilin couldn't care less about subtleties; seeing Pei Shangling annoyed him, his fists clenched, he longed to give that dead man a good beating.

He gave him a sideways glance and walked straight away.

"Are you looking for Mu Yuanzhi?" Pei Shangling called after him.

"What else? Could I be looking for you?" Qilin snorted, arms crossed, fuming: "A good dog doesn't block the road!"

"You!" Pei Shangling's temper flared instantly, though it came and went quickly.

He was in the wrong first, so he couldn't make things difficult; besides, out of consideration for Mu Yuanzhi, he couldn't possibly give Qilin a hard time, so he forgave his rudeness.

Qilin walked away quickly, but he could sense someone following him—naturally it was Pei Shangling.

Are you sick? Why are you tailing him?

This time he's come back to find Pei Yunxi!

He had found a method—a way to stay here and protect his senior sister while making Pei Yunxi suffer, namely the gu poison he excelled at.

Qilin patted the other gourd hanging at his neck.

The worst thing about this gu poison isn't anything else—it's that it differs from ordinary gu: even if you see it you won't notice, and those infected can't tell they're poisoned; on the first and fifteenth of each lunar month their meridians reverse flow, causing unbearable agony until they can't endure it and kill themselves.

Gu poison is naturally vicious, so he doesn't want his senior sister to know he plans to use it on someone—even if the target is the utterly wicked Pei Yunxi—he doesn't wish to burden her mentally; his senior sister is a good person, perhaps she wouldn't want to poison anyone.

In short, he should bear all of this himself.

As he thought, his steps unconsciously slowed, and Pei Shangling was already beside him without him noticing.

Pei Shangling had long noticed Qilin's unusualness.

What's inside this gourd?

Pei Shangling suddenly became alert and curious.

This brat suddenly vanished, and now he's returned with an extra gourd—truly hard not to pay attention to.

Lost in thought, Qilin finally noticed Pei Shangling's presence and glared fiercely: "Don't get so close to me!"

Disgusting!

Pei Shangling suppressed his displeasure and asked: "What medicine is in your gourd?"

Qilin's eyes widened, he pressed his lips, and stammered: "What, what business is it of yours?!"

Truly a brat who can't keep a secret; Pei Shangling chuckled inwardly.

Just that brief exchange already revealed to him that something was indeed odd.

No wonder this foolish brat was once spun around by his lies; that someone like him could still be alive this big—is it a miracle or does he actually have some skill?

To avoid startling the snake, Pei Shangling didn't press further; instead he returned and sent people to closely watch Qilin, to see what this brat was really up to.

Soon it was the day of the banquet; the capital bustled, the emperor held a feast in Shanglin Park, the joyous atmosphere drifted to every corner of Jingcheng, let alone Changle Palace.

Pei Yunxi was still under house arrest, and she simply couldn't stay put.

No, she had to go out!

On a day like this, how could she be confined in Changle Palace?

With so many nations and delegations arriving, as a blood‑related princess how could she be absent? Let Mu Yuanzhi steal the spotlight that should be hers!

Absolutely not!

"Master, you want to go out?" Xueer worried: "But your house arrest hasn't been lifted—if His Majesty finds out…"

The consequences are unthinkable!

"What's there to fear? I'm the Father Emperor's own daughter! Besides, with all those envoys present, Father Emperor surely won't get angry?" Pei Yunxi said matter‑of‑factly, "And today is the Crown Prince's bride‑selection banquet; Father Emperor will certainly be pleased, maybe seeing me will make him even happier, and when he's pleased he definitely won't quibble over details!"

Pei Yunxi believed the reason her house arrest hadn't been lifted yet was that the Father Emperor was too busy arranging the Crown Prince's bride selection, leaving him no time to consider releasing her early.

Although thinking that made her feel unvalued, she herself knew her shameful deeds had been exposed; the Father Emperor's temporary annoyance was understandable, he hadn't punished her severely, and of course he still doted on her.

So being a little spoiled by favor isn't a problem, right?

Though Xueer thought it reasonable, she still felt it too risky and suggested: "Why not let the Crown Prince go ask Father Emperor?"

"What time is it now? The Crown Prince has no spare time; besides, asking him is certainly no substitute for seeing him in person! Meeting face to face gives three parts of feeling!"

Xueer could only nod: "You're right, Master; you've always been smarter than me."

"Come over and do my hair and makeup—quickly!"

She still had to pick an outfit; she must dress to be the most eye‑catching, so Mu Yuanzhi and those foreign women won't look down on her!

And she hasn't seen her brother Chen in ages—he must surely miss her!