Chapter 2: with translation of chapter title

He thought she had been pampered in the palace for sixteen years, arrogant and willful, suddenly locked up in this kind of place suffering; these few days in the Eternal Lane she certainly couldn't bear it.

How innocent the little sister is? Thinking of the younger sister's pitiful helplessness, Pei Shangyan's pity for Mu Yuanzhi faded a bit.

「Little sister Zhi, the little sister's injury is no less than yours; don't let jealousy arise again, go and make proper amends to her, she is kind-hearted, she will surely forgive you。」

Jealousy? Mu Yuanzhi had indeed been very jealous of Pei Yunxi.

Father Emperor had only sons; as the sole princess, even though she was adopted, she was doubly beloved.

But an adopted daughter remains just an adopted daughter; Pei Yunxi, the true princess, is their heart's treasure, she is no longer their obedient daughter and good sister……

Blame her for overreaching, trying to take back the affection that originally belonged solely to her, but her actions never included harming Pei Yunxi; from beginning to end, it was Pei Yunxi who framed her!

But no one believed her; they thought her skill in making concealed weapons indicated a dark psyche, yet the concealed weapons she developed are an important barrier protecting the imperial city!

Those praises of her talent became distorted and changed after Pei Yunxi appeared.

"Thank you, Crown Prince." Mu Yuanzhi pushed Pei Shangyan away without a trace, stubbornly relying on her unsteady steps to straighten herself with effort,

As always, she called him Crown Prince, but her words and bearing were aloof, keeping people at a distance.

Pei Shangyan finally sensed the discord; previously, even if she just scraped a bit of skin, little sister Zhi would act aggrieved, clinging to him and begging him to coax her, but now she can barely stand yet still stubbornly puts on a strong front.

Pei Yuanzhi receives the edict.

Mu Yuanzhi lowered her eyes, calmly knelt to receive the edict; in the icy snow, as soon as her knees touched the ground, her whole body shivered from the cold, her knees also scraped, the thin prison garb contacting the snow made it bone-chillingly cold.

Pei Shangyan finished reading the edict, about to pull Mu Yuanzhi up, she gathered her breath and struggled to stand, dragging her unsteady steps as she slowly walked out.

Watching Mu Yuanzhi's stubborn back, Pei Shangyan recalled how she had earnestly promised when she begged him.

An indescribable feeling welled up in Pei Shangyan's heart.

After he regained his composure, Mu Yuanzhi was already far away; he shouted toward her thin, frail back: 'Little sister Zhi, Father Emperor awaits you at the Heavenly Sacrifice Altar.'

Mu Yuanzhi understood; Father Emperor wanted her to publicly apologize to his precious daughter—fine!

The eunuch on guard outside looked at Mu Yuanzhi indifferently; the sedan chair beside him was empty, and he didn't invite her to sit, though just days ago they had fawned over her as princess.

Those inside the palace gates flattered and belittled; Mu Yuanzhi had grown accustomed to it, too lazy to quarrel with a eunuch.

Along the way, palace servants saw her and whispered; usually they would withdraw respectfully from a distance, but now that they knew her standing in Father Emperor's heart was so slight, they naturally lost respect.

Who favored person would be locked up in the Eternal Lane? That's a place specifically for imprisoning criminals and servants!

Mu Yuanzhi walked straight ahead toward the Heavenly Sacrifice Altar.

Suddenly, a shadow appeared in her vision.

Mu Yuanzhi lifted her gaze and met a pair of deep, dark eyes.

"Princess."

Mu Yuanzhi's heart tightened for no reason; seeing Xiao Yichen again, her fingertips couldn't help trembling.

This was her fiancé, the dream of countless young women in Jingcheng, the young and accomplished Senior Grand Secretary Xiao Yichen, a man she had once loved deeply and also hated deeply.

"Senior Grand Secretary Xiao." A sour feeling rose from her heart to her throat; Mu Yuanzhi merely replied lightly, not even bothering to force a polite smile.

Nothing is more sorrowful than a heart dead.

Xiao Yichen's eyes flashed with fleeting surprise, his gaze scanning her inch by inch.

No wonder he found it strange; usually upon seeing her he would always pester her, calling Chen gege before and after, clinging to him to talk endlessly.

Before, Mu Yuanzhi thought he liked quiet and thus found her annoying, but later she saw Pei Yunxi circling him, chattering nonstop, and when he smiled indulgently, she suddenly realized: for someone he dislikes, even their breathing is wrong.

It wasn't that he liked quiet; it was simply that he didn't like her.

The ridiculous thing is that in her past life she hit a south wall and didn't turn back, insisting on competing with Pei Yunxi for superiority, only to earn his personal punishment—flaying!

He cruelly slashed her skin with a small knife, his tone icy as he said it was all she deserved; she had nearly ruined his precious beloved.

Xiao Yichen will never know that the one who nearly suffered disfigurement was her, not Pei Yunxi who set the trap for her.

The past events were too painful; Mu Yuanzhi's breathing became somewhat labored.

Xiao Yichen thought she was cold, and took off his own cloak to cover her.

Xiao Yichen's aura instantly enveloped Mu Yuanzhi; her heart churned, complex emotions spread, quickly forming a faint nausea, she wanted to vomit.

Almost instinctively, Mu Yuanzhi reached to take it off, but his hand was a step faster, his broad palm pressing onto her hand, and an icy-cold voice came from above her head: 'Princess, you will see His Majesty later; do not lose your composure.'

What Xiao Yichen said was the truth; Mu Yuanzhi lowered her head and glanced at the cloak again, curling her lips into a smile. She silently drew back her hand and nodded at him.

She recognized this cloak; it was personally embroidered by Pei Yunxi for Xiao Yichen. In her previous life, upon learning of it she flew into a jealous rage and wanted to burn it, and for that he first laid hands on her, shoving her into the desk where a candle scorched her wrist, and he never offered an apology.

On the contrary, the garments she embroidered for him, he never wore.

Such a deeply affectionate garment, she might as well wear it to attend Pei Yunxi's solemn recognition ceremony.

That way, everyone's little princess will surely be delighted!

Seeing Mu Yuanzhi not linger, Xiao Yichen turned to leave, suppressing the doubt in his heart, he said to her: 'Princess, your movement is inconvenient; let me call a top-class soft sedan for you.'

"No need for you to trouble yourself, Prime Minister Xiao." Mu Yuanzhi said without turning her head.

She knew Xiao Yichen's concern for her was merely out of his duty as the Prince Consort‑designate; after the recognition ceremony, that Prince Consort‑designate would belong to Pei Yunxi, and he would not even bother to feign such concern for her.

After all, when the marriage was bestowed, the edict only named a princess, not which one, so it naturally followed that it would be passed on to Pei Yunxi.

The empire's finest young man, Xiao Yichen, the Father Emperor certainly did not wish him to marry her, intending to keep him for his own daughter.

Xiao Yichen naturally did not press the matter further; his gaze lingered on Mu Yuanzhi, full of puzzlement, but he soon grew too lazy to think about it.

After all, she was merely momentarily annoyed; within half a day she would come running pitter‑patter to cling to him, as she always does, spoiled and willful as she is, never caring for others' feelings.

This time let her suffer a bit, so she learns her lesson; otherwise her disposition will only worsen, eventually harming both others and herself.