Chapter 13

It's Gu Rongjin!

Gu Rongjin loosened his grip, and only then could the breathless Mu Yuanzhi escape the crook of his arm.

Without profound martial skill, the rescue just now would have been impossible, yet Gu Rongjin, famed as Jingcheng's top playboy and a failure in both civil and military arts, how did he manage it?!

Not only Mu Yuanzhi was puzzled; everyone present was confused, and for a moment it was dead silent.

"Hahaha, I didn't expect my strength to increase after drinking; could this be the legendary drunken fist?" Gu Rongjin smiled as always, frivolously pleased with himself.

As soon as he spoke, everyone withdrew their gazes, thinking the Prince of Pingnan's heir hid his talents, but it was just luck.

The atmosphere became lively again.

"Oh come on, you clearly just got lucky!" Pei Shangling sneered.

"You're just jealous." Gu Rongjin snapped open his fan, fanning elegantly: "How could such a word as 'dog shit' come from Your Highness's jade lips?"

As he spoke, he closed his fan and lifted Mu Yuanzhi's chin: "You agree, right, Xiao Yuanzhi?"

Mu Yuanzhi swatted away the fan, not angry but grateful, smiling: "Thanks for helping, Brother Rongjin."

Gu Rongjin blinked, blinked again, disbelief filling his eyes, even his speech stuttered: "You, you what did you call me?"

This little girl never looked at him without contempt, wanting to kick him into the trash; today she must have bumped her head to actually call him brother.

He still remembered when, as a child, he once entered the palace, holding a fun shuttlecock, wanting to play cuju with her, coaxing her to call him brother; the result was that this little girl not only refused, but snatched his shuttlecock and hurled it at him, leaving him dusty and embarrassed as he fled.

From then on, whenever they met they were at odds; today he actually heard her say "Brother Rongjin" without any sarcasm.

How strange.

"I won't say it twice." Mu Yuanzhi let out a proud snort from her nose and turned to leave.

Perhaps because they never got along growing up, suddenly receiving his favor left her a bit at a loss.

"I didn't hear you, say it again!" Gu Rongjin, thick-skinned, chased after her.

No one noticed that Pei Shangyan and Pei Shangling's expressions had changed.

When did Little Sister Yuanzhi/Mu Yuanzhi become so close with Gu Rongjin?

Isn't she the one who most despises Gu Rongjin, that idle playboy?

And she even calls him Brother Rongjin!

How long has it been since I last saw that inadvertent charm of hers? It feels like something from a past life.

Pei Shangling was the first to lose his composure, grabbing Gu Rongjin: "My little sister isn't some loose woman from the pleasure quarters—keep your distance!"

"Isn't your little sister Pei Yunxi? I didn't get close to her!" Gu Rongjin asked, bewildered.

Pei Shangling was left speechless by the question; in his moment of agitation he had blurted out "little sister"—he was really addled by these two.

After that brief hesitation, he let Gu Rongjin slip away, then shamelessly sat down beside his sister.

"Xiao Yuanzhi, would it be alright if Brother Rongjin sat beside you?"

Gu Rongjin is the type who, given a little encouragement, will run wild; he boasts of being a master of love, having passed through a myriad of flowers, having plucked ten thousand blossoms!

"All right." Mu Yuanzhi did not refuse.

Having Gu Rongjin sit beside her meant one less annoying person to endure—why not?

In her past life she disliked Gu Rongjin because she admired strength, thinking him unlearned and hopeless, far inferior to her talented brothers who excelled in both civil and military arts; yet in the end Gu Rongjin had never harmed her, even extending help several times, but she couldn't bring herself to accept it.

In her peripheral vision she caught him and felt he seemed to be missing some ornament.

"Do you usually wear a jade hairpin?"

"Huh?" Gu Rongjin lounged, propping his chin on one hand, lazily replying, "Seems so. Why, you're suddenly so interested in me?"

Mu Yuanzhi's mouth twitched; she barely restrained herself from rolling her eyes.

"It either is or it isn't—what's with this 'seems'?"

Mu Yuanzhi couldn't help but sneak another glance at Gu Rongjin.

Is it him?

That earlier embrace felt somewhat familiar…

But she remembered Gu Rongjin couldn't swim.

Unless he was really hiding something.

Recalling the recent fright, Mu Yuanzhi's doubts grew; Gu Rongjin surely knew martial arts, and his skill was likely not poor.

He might not be as simple as he appears.

"What are you sneaking a look at me for? If you want to look, do it openly—come on, Brother Rongjin will let you look."

"Shut up!"

"His Majesty approaches!"

Everyone rose to perform the rites, welcoming the Son of Heaven.

Two figures appeared first before the crowd; beside the Son of Heaven was Pei Yunxi, wearing a robe of emerald clouds and misty rain, her smile sweet, her bright eyes scanning everyone as if smiling at each, gentle and lovely.

She sat beside the Son of Heaven, and when seated she naturally took the place at his side, with Consort De on the other side.

This seat used to be Mu Yuanzhi's; her residence under Consort De's knee was also because Consort De was the most favored concubine, the empress having died early, the Son of Heaven not having appointed a new empress for years, and Consort De managing the six palaces, little different from the empress.

Only those greatly favored can sit at the Son of Heaven's side; now Mu Yuanzhi can only sit far away, a disparity she had experienced countless times in her past life, and she has grown accustomed to it.

"Where is the Second Prince?" the Son of Heaven glanced around, noticing an empty seat—his second son was missing.

"Father Emperor, Second Brother said he was unwell and didn't come," Pei Yunxi said with a smile, glancing at Mu Yuanzhi with a hint of showing off.

Everyone knows the Second Prince's character is reclusive; he'd rather stay in the army camp practicing martial arts than attend such gatherings, and formerly only Mu Yuanzhi could get a few words of concern from him, but now this position has also been taken by Pei Yunxi.

After leaving Yong Alley, Mu Yuanzhi hadn't even seen a glimpse of her second brother.

The Son of Heaven snorted displeased: "It's just you speaking for him—he's not unwell, he just doesn't want to come."

"No, Second Brother even had Xiao Xi apologize to Father Emperor on his behalf."

Pei Yunxi's coquettish tone kept the Son of Heaven smiling, prolonging the lively atmosphere; everyone praised this little princess who knew how to win the Son of Heaven's favor.

Mu Yuanzhi seemed to carry her own barrier; any hustle and bustle had nothing to do with her, she just buried herself in eating; if it weren't for Gu Rongjin beside her constantly teasing her intentionally or unintentionally, she could have stayed silent the whole event.

「Xiao Yuanzhi, you look like a cat when you eat! 」

「Xiao Yuanzhi, you haven't scolded anyone while facing me for two hours already. 」

「Xiao Yuanzhi……」

「Can't you shut up for a moment! 」 Mu Yuanzhi really couldn't stand it!