Chapter 16: Shamelessly Clinging On

Gu Rongjin's appearance swept away Mu Yuanzhi's tangled negative emotions; she deftly slipped out of Xiao Yichen's embrace and quickly sat opposite, guarding against him as if against a wolf.

Xiao Yichen's eyes turned icy; she stared at him as if he were a raging flood and ferocious beast.

At this moment, Gu Rongjin had already entered through the carriage window; he naturally sat beside Mu Yuanzhi, provocatively looking at Xiao Yichen, "Speak, Xiao Prime Minister, you're embracing my future wife before the wedding—what do you intend?"

He stressed the word 'wife', pleased to see Xiao Yichen's face darken further.

Xiao Yichen glanced at Mu Yuanzhi, who had shifted toward Gu Rongjin; his anger surged. He spoke, but mocked her: "Princess, when did you become so close with Heir Gu? Clearly, as of today, you are still my fiancée."

Mu Yuanzhi didn't understand why Xiao Yichen was angry; if she married someone else, she wouldn't get in the way of his and Pei Yunxi's affair—what is he upset about?

Does he think she isn't even fit to marry a playboy like Xiao Yichen?

After all, he utterly despises her; he once scolded her, saying she and Pei Yunxi are worlds apart—so someone like her, lowly mud, shouldn't aspire to the Pingnan heir.

Thinking this, Mu Yuanzhi's anger flared: "I and my future husband, bound by our engagement, treat each other with respect; but you, Xiao Prime Minister, are different—before our engagement was even dissolved, you were flirting with my sister, wearing the clothes she embroidered herself."

The words 'future husband' reached Gu Rongjin's ears; he couldn't keep the smile from his lips, his spirits soaring as he raised his eyebrows at Xiao Yichen.

Xiao Yichen gripped the sword at his waist so hard it creaked.

Even if she's jealous, she shouldn't provoke him like this!

Xiao Yichen gave a slight, disdainful smile: "Since we're all free to marry now, when I, the humble official, marry the orthodox princess, I hope Heir Gu and his consort will sincerely congratulate."

He deliberately said 'orthodox princess' to sting Mu Yuanzhi, knowing she couldn't bear to hear it.

Mu Yuanzhi, long numb, issued an eviction order: "This carriage is headed for the imperial palace; it's not on your way, Prime Minister Xiao—please go your own way."

The imperial palace and the Prime Minister's residence lie in opposite directions; the Pingnan Prince's mansion is likewise elsewhere, yet Mu Yuanzhi alone insists on making Xiao Yichen get off the carriage.

Xiao Yichen, however, acted against type and clung to staying: "Since the carriage is headed for the imperial palace, naturally the Pingnan Prince's mansion is also not on the way."

Mu Yuanzhi relented; she didn't know what madness had possessed Xiao Yichen—he usually avoids her like the plague, yet today he stubbornly refuses to leave; is he deliberately trying to see her embarrassed?

Gu Rongjin twitched his ears; his sharp hearing caught footsteps nearby, and he smiled: "Prime Minister Xiao, clinging here and refusing to leave, aren't you afraid your sister Yunxi will be angry? She's come after you."

Xiao Yichen was half-believing, half-doubting; his eyes shifted, he lifted the curtain—and sure enough, saw a graceful figure approaching from afar.

He let out a cold snort, flicked his sleeves, and stepped down from the carriage.

After Xiao Yichen left, Gu Rongjin also prepared to depart; he told Mu Yuanzhi: "Future daughter-in-law, the husband has other business and won't see you back to the palace."

Although just now Mu Yuanzhi herself had said 'future husband', hearing Gu Rongjin's 'reciprocity' made her ears inexplicably red; to hide her strange feelings, she muttered: "So late, where are you off to—the Joy Red Chamber?"

'Not even married yet and you're checking up on her? Little Mu Zhiyan, you love your brother so much?' Gu Rongjin covered his heart, looking flattered and startled.

'Get lost!'

'Fine!'

Just as when he arrived, Gu Rongjin leapt out of the carriage window.

Mu Yuanzhi immediately lifted the lowered carriage curtain, peered out, and already couldn't see Gu Rongjin's figure.

Indeed, his martial arts are unfathomable?

She was about to lower the curtain when, out of the corner of her eye, she saw Pei Yunxi waving at her from afar, and Xiao Yichen also looked over.

'What bad luck!'

Mu Yuanzhi fiercely lowered the curtain.

Not receiving a response from Mu Yuanzhi, Pei Yunxi felt dejected: 'Sister Mu Zhiyan, are you angry with me……'

'Don't overthink it, it's not your concern.' Xiao Yichen patted Pei Yunxi's head to comfort her.

'Then… Brother Xiao, do you really not like Sister Mu Zhiyan?' Pei Yunxi asked again.

She had just seen him leave early and felt a bad premonition; seeing him indeed board Mu Yuanzhi's carriage, her heart felt awful, fearing he might fall for Mu Yuanzhi.

'Don't overthink it, my marriage to her is merely a mistake.' Xiao Yichen spoke gently: 'I'll send you back to the palace.'

Pei Yunxi blushed and nodded.

Hearing him say that, she felt reassured.

She had always known he disliked Mu Yuanzhi's spoiled, willful nature, while she herself was gentle and understanding—the type he liked most.

Weiyang Palace.

Hongdou and Linglong had much to say, unsure whether to speak; finally Hongdou couldn't hold back and eagerly asked: 'Master, why did you agree to this marriage? That Heir Gu is a frivolous rogue who spends his days wandering brothels!'

'Yes, Princess, marrying him might make your life worse than now!' Linglong, seeing Hongdou say that, wasn't afraid to speak either.

'Worse than now? Not necessarily.'

'At least the Pingnan Prince's family treats her better than the people inside the palace gates.'

'Let him wander if he likes to wander.'

'Master!' Hongdou was as anxious as an ant on a hot pan.

Linglong seemed to think of something, uncertainly asked: 'Master, may I boldly ask: are you seeking to obtain the Pingnan Prince as a backer?'

The Pingnan Prince is one of the four great vassal kings; although the emperor has reduced their fiefdoms, their power is not what it once was, yet they still dominate a region; if the master marries into that family and goes to the fief, she will also be far from the capital—truly a good plan.

Mu Yuanzhi lifted her gaze to Linglong, her eyes deep: 'You're quite clever.'

Hongdou seemed to understand too; she, not noticing Mu Yuanzhi's change in expression, asked: 'Master, do you want to leave the imperial palace?!'

'Who sent you to test me? The Fourth Prince?' Mu Yuanzhi's entire aura turned cold.

The two maids hurriedly knelt, trembling and swearing to heaven: 'Master, you see clearly; although we once served in the Fourth Prince's palace, we are now yours, and we would never dare to do such a thing of betraying from within.'

Mu Yuanzhi glanced at them, noncommittal: 'Get up; don't kneel at the drop of a hat—I hate that.'

Hongdou and Linglong exchanged a look, uneasy, and rose to their feet.

'You may go now.'

'Yes……'

The two maids withdrew in dejection, secretly wiping tears.

Mu Yuanzhi sighed over the secret-weapon diagrams on the desk.

Leaving the palace is no easy feat; she is highly skilled at crafting secret weapons and also at making poison; the emperor must be wary of her—as long as she lives, it's hard to escape the imperial household.

The fief of Prince Pingnan is the nearest to the capital; this should also be one of the reasons Father Emperor agreed to this marriage.

She herself also indeed wanted to find a backer like Prince Pingnan.

As for Gu Rongjin...