Chapter 155: with translation of chapter title

The attendant didn't notice Pei Yunxi's face freeze, and continued: "The premier is heading to the Black Sea, about to depart, so he has no time to explain to you, Princess."

At this point, going to the Black Sea is just for Mu Yuanzhi, right?!

Even if she were an idiot she could figure it out!

Because he was busy chasing Mu Yuanzhi, he had no time to pay attention to her…

Pei Yunxi clenched the jade bracelet in her hand tightly; the icy bracelet was like Xiao Yichen's heart, no matter how she warmed it, it wouldn't heat up.

She has already been so accommodating, why is he still like this!

Mu Yuanzhi!

Pei Yunxi, filled with resentment to the extreme, turned and went back to her room without a word.

The attendant didn't know which of his words was wrong, utterly confused.

The sky was high and the clouds wide; a carriage leisurely drove out of Jingcheng.

Mu Yuanzhi, who rarely left the capital, was curious about everything outside, occasionally lifting the carriage curtain to look out.

Is this the outside world?

It seems I haven't seen it in a very long time.

Mu Yuanzhi felt moved inside.

The only time she ever left the capital in her life was when, as a child, she sneaked out with Pei Shangling, and that time they encountered bandits, and Pei Shangling rescued her.

And after that, she never left the capital again, not even until her death.

"Senior sister! What's wrong? Aren't you happy to be out?" Qilin leaned beside Mu Yuanzhi, tilting his head: "You were just happy a moment ago; did you think of something?"

He asked with concern.

Upon hearing that, Mu Yuanzhi quickly composed herself, put away all her unhappiness, and smiled at Qilin: "You got it wrong; I'm very happy."

"Really?" Qilin looked at Mu Yuanzhi's renewed smile, which didn't seem fake, and reluctantly relaxed, chattering with her about local customs.

Qilin is a person who came from the distant Juechen Valley to Jingcheng; along the way he wandered everywhere, staying many days at each place, so he is fairly familiar with this area.

Mu Yuanzhi listened with relish; the two senior siblings chatted and laughed, and a cheerful atmosphere filled the carriage.

The National Teacher Yang Jianyu, meditating with eyes closed on the carriage, didn't dislike their noise at all; from the slight upturn of his mouth, he seemed in a good mood too, but he wouldn't join their horseplay, instead silently observing them like an elder.

Qilin inadvertently turned his head and again saw the National Teacher's fatherly expression, muttering to Mu Yuanzhi: "This National Teacher doesn't look much older than us, does he? Why does he look so mature?"

"Don't talk about people in front of them," Mu Yuanzhi said in a lowered voice, annoyed.

Qilin shrugged, unconvinced: "I haven't even asked him myself yet."

……

This idiot!

At that moment, a light laugh came from the National Teacher.

He opened his eyes, his clear gaze rippling with a gentle smile, and said: "Young Master Qilin, you're mistaken; I am actually much older than you."

"Really?" Qilin didn't believe it.

Mu Yuanzhi actually didn't believe it either; how much older could the National Teacher be than them?

National Teacher: "It's naturally true; I am of the same generation as the Emperor."

"Go on, brag!" Qilin didn't believe it at all.

The Emperor must be in his forties, right?

Mu Yuanzhi took another look at the National Teacher; no matter how she looked, she didn't think he was of the same generation as the Emperor.

She thought he was at most ten years older than her, no more.

"I never lie," the National Teacher laughed. "But seeing your reaction still makes me happy; it shows I've taken good care of myself."

"What's your secret, National Teacher?" Mu Yuanzhi couldn't help asking curiously.

If it's true, the National Teacher's youth-preserving technique is too amazing!

Qilin suddenly suspicious: "You couldn't be absorbing the essence of heaven, earth, sun, and moon, could you? Or do you have some secret art?"

"I can't say that either," the National Teacher smiled mysteriously. "Unless you join my sect, then I'll tell you the secret."

"I'll join, I'll join!" Qilin, who had already joined two sects, immediately agreed.

Mu Yuanzhi felt somewhat helpless: "You really are…"

"Senior sister, we won't lose out, we won't lose out."

Qilin sat down right beside the National Teacher and eagerly asked: "Master, can you tell us now?"

"Becoming a disciple formally requires ceremony; we'll hold an initiation banquet after we return to the capital, and then I'll speak once you're officially my disciple."

"Alright, anyway I'm not in a hurry!" Qilin agreed readily, then started calling "Master, master" in a singsong way.

And the National Teacher, his mood clearly improved quite a bit.

Mu Yuanzhi inevitably wondered whether the National Teacher was just stringing Qilin along.

Actually, is he just trying to trick someone into becoming his disciple?

But someone of the National Teacher's stature wanting a disciple would surely have many people lining up, right?

Could it be that he has taken a liking to Qilin's extraordinary talent?

Still, it's not bad; Qilin getting to know more people is good, and he can learn new skills from the National Teacher.

The carriage traveled all day, stopping at an inn in the evening.

The magistrate, responsible for receiving them, bowed respectfully: "Your subordinate greets the Princess, the National Teacher, and the Grand Master of Golden Purple Light! The relay station has prepared food and lodging; please follow me, your subordinate."

Outside the inn, the magistrate who had been waiting here early rushed over in a fluster as soon as he saw the people alight from the carriage.

Mu Yuanzhi felt suspicious; they hadn't made a big show this time, nor had they notified the relay station, otherwise they wouldn't have looked for an inn.

The National Teacher smiled and nodded: "I don't know how Magistrate, you knew we would come here."

The magistrate also smiled: "In reply to the National Teacher, I am fortunate to have received the Emperor's secret edict, and am responsible for the safety of the three honored guests tonight."

Even a small county magistrate can obtain the Son of Heaven's secret edict?

Mu Yuanzhi found it increasingly suspicious; she exchanged a glance with the National Teacher, and neither of them moved or made a sound.

This county magistrate probably feared that Mu Yuanzhi and her companions wouldn't believe he was really a county magistrate, so he produced his fish tally to prove he was indeed the local magistrate.

The National Teacher examined the fish tally, confirmed it was correct, and then returned it to him.

Qilin didn't understand either, but he went over to take a look.

Since he's a court-appointed official, there shouldn't be any trouble, right?" he thought.

The three of them therefore gave up staying at an inn and followed the county magistrate to stay at the relay station.

"What does the National Teacher think of this county magistrate?" Mu Yuanzhi whispered to the National Teacher accompanying them.

"Just wait and see." The National Teacher only gave a faint smile.

Just wait and see?

That means the National Teacher also finds this county magistrate suspicious!

"Sharing a room with my senior sister is fine; I'll just sleep by the door." Qilin said.

He had no intention of staying in the room assigned to him; being out and about, one must naturally be careful in everything.

Mu Yuanzhi had wanted to refuse, but the National Teacher nodded and said, "Just follow what Qilin said."

"Can you sleep soundly by the door?" Mu Yuanzhi felt a pang of sympathy for her junior brother.

"It's fine, senior sister. Although I'm a light sleeper, I fall asleep as soon as I lie down! As long as there's no disturbance, I can sleep soundly through the night!"

"All right…" Mu Yuanzhi reluctantly agreed.

That night, Mu Yuanzhi also slept lightly, tossing and turning, unable to fall asleep. If she had known, she would have ignored the county magistrate and gone straight to an inn.