Chapter 19: Looks like I'll have to let the Imperial Court of Justice teach you how to behave

"I have no misunderstanding with you." Mu Yuanzhi chuckled, "I'm asking you why you happened to see it?"

"I saw it after my meal while digesting, I was frightened and hurried to find Father Emperor!" Pei Yunxi was somewhat anxious, also carrying the grievance of being questioned by Mu Yuanzhi, looking quite pitiful.

Upon seeing her like that, Pei Shangling felt heartbroken, angrily said to Mu Yuanzhi: "Little sister is concerned about you, who are you putting on this fierce front for?!"

Brain-dead! Mu Yuanzhi just knew that at yesterday's family banquet, Pei Shangling's reason for opposing her marriage to Gu Rongjin wasn't because he thought Gu Rongjin wasn't good enough for her, but because he felt it would make him lose face.

He had long since changed; he was no longer her Ling older brother.

"Just based on her words you want to search my sleeping quarters—don't you think that's absurd?!" Mu Yuanzhi loudly questioned Pei Shangling.

Searching the palace is a major matter; can the dignity of the palace's master be trampled at will?

"It's even more absurd that you disregard the safety of the entire palace!" Pei Shangling remained unmoved, "Besides, it's an imperial order from Father Emperor—you must comply even if you don't want to."

As expected, whatever Pei Yunxi says goes; these brainless people don't think at all.

"What if nothing is found?" Mu Yuanzhi countered sharply.

"If nothing is found, naturally the assassin escaped." Pei Shangling shrugged.

Hah, so Pei Yunxi is forever invincible!

"Sister Yuanzhi, don't be angry; even if we switched to Changle Palace or Ling older brother's quarters, we'd still search thoroughly—for everyone's safety."

Upon Pei Yunxi's such reasonable words, it instead made Mu Yuanzhi seem unreasonable!

Pei Shangling's patience was clearly exhausted; he barked a single "Search!" and the entire imperial guard filed in.

These people were like locusts passing through, ransacking Weiyang Palace with full force, overturning boxes and cabinets, throwing valuable and worthless items everywhere.

"Stop! Don't touch this! This is the Princess's personal item!"

"Be careful!"

No matter how the servants shouted in defense, the imperial guard didn't stop; even Hongdou was shoved to the ground.

Mu Yuanzhi hurried over to help her up, frowning, asking: "Are you hurt anywhere?"

"I'm fine, master, but they're going too far!" Hongdou said, then cried bitterly; the master, noble as a princess, has her belongings tossed about randomly, yet no one speaks up for her to uphold justice!

The Fourth Prince is leading the palace search, Xiao Shifu remains silent, everyone only bullies Weiyang Palace because it has no one to back it up!

"Don't cry, crying won't solve anything." Mu Yuanzhi used her sleeve to wipe Hongdou's face twice.

She had long learned not to cry when faced with trouble; even if she cried her heart out, no one would care.

Hongdou wanted to cry even more because of Mu Yuanzhi's warm gesture; she forced back her tears and nodded firmly: "I understand, maid."

Mu Yuanzhi coldly watched it all; "Search, search," she thought, "let's see if they can actually dig out an assassin!"

Pei Yunxi anxiously craned her neck to watch the guards search the palace.

She also came this time hoping to find the dead cat Lu Zhu; she was certain the cat was dead, surely buried by Mu Yuanzhi somewhere!

"Report! Fourth Prince, we've found something!" A guard came forward holding a blood-stained cloth, while another guard behind him clutched a heap of rotting flesh.

"What is this?!" Pei Shangling widened his eyes.

Mu Yuanzhi's pupils contracted sharply; she clenched her fists, nails digging into her palms.

Lu Zhu...

Even in death it finds no peace!

Who searches for an assassin by digging three feet underground? This must be Pei Yunxi's doing!

Mu Yuanzhi took a deep breath to steady her emotions, trying not to show any abnormality.

Seeing what the two guards held, Pei Yunxi gasped: "Could this be Lu Zhu?!"

Upon hearing that, Pei Shangling grabbed Mu Yuanzhi's hand without hesitation: "Did you kill my little sister's cat?!"

"My little sister's cat? This is clearly her cat!"

Mu Yuanzhi fiercely shook off Pei Shangling's hand: "It's just a stray cat; I don't know what animal bit it to death, I felt sorry for it and buried it in the backyard."

"How kind of you!" Pei Shangling didn't believe her at all.

"Really not Lu Zhu?" Pei Yunxi looked on the verge of tears.

Xiao Yichen steadied the swaying Pei Yunxi and comforted her.

Pei Yunxi felt regretful; she had miscalculated, never expecting the dead cat to have rotted beyond recognition, wasting the opportunity in vain, and giving Mu Yuanzhi an excuse to exonerate herself!

"Of course not; I buried it myself." Mu Yuanzhi then turned to the two guards: "Then you lot, why dig underground searching for an assassin? Do you think the assassin uses earth-escape techniques?"

The two guards lowered their heads, stammering.

"Enough, no need to ask about such trivial matters!" Pei Shangling shouted sharply, then yelled inside: "Have you found the assassin?!"

Mu Yuanzhi snorted coldly, crossed her arms, and silently watched them continue their act.

The guards searching the palace returned one after another, having found no assassin.

"Are you satisfied, Fourth Prince?" Mu Yuanzhi sneered.

Pei Shangling said nothing; the previously noisy Weiyang Palace fell silent, only the crackle of torches audible.

Pei Yunxi spoke unwillingly: "Ling older brother, I heard the arsonist in the fire case might be a defector once struck down by General Mu."

"What do you mean?" Mu Yuanzhi gave him a sharp look.

Pei Yunxi, frightened, hurriedly hid behind Xiao Yichen and Pei Shangling: "I, I didn't mean anything."

"It's information I, a minor official, received and told Princess Yunxi." Xiao Yichen stepped forward to shield Pei Yunxi, adopting a protective stance, as if fearing Mu Yuanzhi might suddenly lash out at her.

Pei Shangling snorted coldly: "Since it's your father's old subordinate, hiding it in your quarters seems hardly wrong."

"Well, looks like you're starting to frame people with baseless accusations now?" Mu Yuanzhi admired, "Turns out there's something even bigger waiting for her."

"Princess Yuanzhi, you're still young; don't let scheming people use you." Xiao Yichen's clear, cold eyes were full of complex emotions.

"I may be young, but compared to some people, at least my brain isn't broken." Mu Yuanzhi glanced at Xiao Yichen and Pei Shangling, sneering.

Pei Shangling exploded: "Mu Yuanzhi, don't think you can get away with just sharp talk; today's various evidences, if you don't confess, you'll be sent to the Imperial Court of Justice!"

"What exactly do you mean by 'various evidences'? Mere hearsay, catching wind and shadow?"

Facing a group of domineering people, Mu Yuanzhi maintained her aura, showing no fear.

The Imperial Court of Justice is no place for people to stay; its jailers are burly and strong, with plenty of strength and means to interrogate criminals, not comparable to the granny in Yong Lane; going in once, she'd probably lose a layer of skin!

"You feeling guilty?" Pei Shangling approached Mu Yuanzhi: "It seems going to Yong Lane can't change the nastiness in your nature; then I'll have the Imperial Court of Justice teach you how to be a person! Come on, seize her!"