Chapter 20

Here!!

The mighty response scared several servants of Weiyang Palace so much their legs went weak, and they could barely stand.

"Who dares!" Mu Yuanzhi's aura was overwhelming, not losing to Pei Shangling in the slightest.

These imperial guards, for a moment, dared not move at all, staring at each other, not knowing what to do.

They had never seen Princess Mu Yuanzhi display such an imposing presence!

Pei Shangling gritted his teeth: "You have such a big airs, Mu Yuanzhi!"

He waved his hand forcefully: "Seize her! I'll go ask the Father Emperor for an edict!"

Because of nervousness and anger, Mu Yuanzhi's chest rose and fell heavily.

She had felt the same way when she was young, except then it was Pei Shangling who confronted a gang of vicious bandits for her sake.

They sneaked out of the palace, encountered mountain bandits blocking the road and robbing; she almost got abducted by the bandits, and at that time, the ten-year-old Pei Shangling, wielding two swords heavier than himself, charged forward, he went berserk and actually scared the bandits away.

She thought then that her Ling brother was her hero, a pity his hero died when she was sixteen.

This person is no longer her Ling brother.

Seeing that his subordinates dared not move, the commander of the imperial guards stepped forward to receive orders!

"Princess Mu Yuanzhi, this lowly officer has offended you!"

He was skilled in martial arts, and he immediately twisted Mu Yuanzhi's arms behind her back; she couldn't break free and could only be humiliated as she was held.

Scenes from Yong Lane replayed like a lantern show—insults, oppression, whippings… She seemed to see Xiao Yichen walking toward her with a small knife, slicing her body piece by piece, death by a thousand cuts…

Mu Yuanzhi closed her eyes, and those scenes that gave her nightmares kept flashing from before her eyes into her mind, impossible to dispel.

"Impudence! Who gave you the nerve to bully the princess!"

Amid the waves of grief, a clear, ringing voice sounded, like driftwood brushing beside the nearly drowning Mu Yuanzhi, and like sunlight surrounding her, warm and reassuring.

She opened her eyes, and all she saw was Gu Rongjin's face, radiant as stars.

Gu Rongjin strutted over with arrogance, and Pei Shangling didn't know where Gu Rongjin got the confidence to act so boldly in his presence, until he saw Granny Zhang coming along as well.

How did Granny Zhang come?!

Although Pei Shangling seldom saw Granny Zhang, her stern, unsmiling face, as tight as constipation, left a deep impression on him; relying on her decades of service to the Grand Empress Dowager, she would hold her nostrils high at the sight of any prince, making him furious yet unable to lash out.

Since the Grand Empress Dowager had not concerned herself with worldly affairs for years, Granny Zhang's appearance essentially meant the Grand Empress Dowager herself had arrived, and everyone politely made way.

The imperial guard commander holding Mu Yuanzhi didn't know when he loosened his grip, and he actually broke into a sweat.

"You dare touch someone belonging to this prince? If you want to be transferred to guard the gate, just say so!" Gu Rongjin glared at the imperial guard commander, then leaned close to Mu Yuanzhi, smiling as he comforted: "Don't be afraid, lady, your husband has come."

"Shut up!"

With so many people around, he really isn't shy!

All the stirring in Mu Yuanzhi's heart was completely erased by those words.

"I brought reinforcements for you, so why are you scolding people?" Gu Rongjin felt wronged and reached out to pull Mu Yuanzhi.

Mu Yuanzhi certainly wouldn't let him pull her: "Don't call me lady in front of so many people!"

"Fine, I'll call you that in private." Gu Rongjin spoke in a very agreeable tone.

Xiao Yichen's deep eyes fell upon the two people tugging at each other, then grew darker.

Pei Shangling's sharp eyes flicked over them, then he asked Granny Zhang: "Granny Zhang, what brings you here?"

Granny Zhang politely smiled and said, "Replying to the Fourth Prince, the Grand Empress Dowager is unwell, having heard that Princess Mu Yuanzhi knows a bit of medicine, she wished to have her attend to her illness."

"The great-grand grandmother is ill; we should summon all the physicians from the Imperial Medical Institute to see her, no negligence allowed!" Pei Shangling said.

Pei Yunxi quickly nodded: "Little Xi will also go see the great-grand grandmother; Little Xi knows massage, and the Father Emperor said it's very effective for his headache!"

"Right, little sister is quite capable..."

"No need." Granny Zhang interrupted them, saying, "The Grand Empress Dowager only wants to see Princess Mu Yuanzhi; other miscellaneous people had better not disturb her."

As she said that, she clearly glanced at Pei Yunxi.

Pei Yunxi's face turned deathly pale instantly; seeing this, Pei Shangling wished he could slap that old servant, wondering how she dared!

"Granny Zhang, who are you calling miscellaneous?" Pei Shangling, who has a short temper.

Just a servant, yet he dares to give his master a dirty look?!

Mu Yuanzhi chuckled: "Granny Zhang didn't name anyone; who is Ling brother projecting onto? Do you also think that person is miscellaneous?"

"You!" Pei Shangling lifted his head and took a deep breath.

Granny Zhang said neither humbly nor arrogantly: "This old servant is still waiting to return and report; I'll first take Princess Mu Yuanzhi away."

Having said that, she left without waiting for others' reactions, and Mu Yuanzhi naturally followed behind, striding away.

The servants of Weiyang Palace immediately breathed a sigh of relief.

Fortunately, the Grand Empress Dowager came to the rescue!

"Wait a moment!"

Gu Rongjin suddenly spoke up: "Today we caused a ruckus in Weiyang Palace and gained nothing, yet everything hinges on a single word from Princess Yunxi; wouldn't the inner palace then become a place where everyone feels endangered? Today I said I saw an assassin, tomorrow he'll say he saw an assassin—what are we to do?"

Pei Shangling couldn't tolerate anyone speaking ill of Pei Yunxi: "Little sister is just being kind-hearted; what does Prince Jin intend to do?"

"Princess Yunxi is also worried about her sister's safety." Xiao Yichen also hurriedly spoke up to defend Pei Yunxi.

Not far away, Mu Yuanzhi chuckled inwardly; Gu Rongjin hadn't even said anything yet, and already one or two people were getting so worked up.

Now, hearing the voices of Pei Shangling and Xiao Yichen annoyed her, and she walked away even faster than Granny Zhang.

"Nothing much, just saying—I'm merely an insignificant prince, no need to mind me." Gu Rongjin lightly waved his fan, leisurely walking off; when he passed Xiao Yichen, he paused and, in a lilting tone, teased: "The cabinet will probably end up eating bitter fruit over this case—no, it's more like losing the wife and losing the troops, eating bitter fruit on both ends."

Who this 'lady' refers to is obvious to anyone with eyes.

Xiao Yichen stared at Gu Rongjin, his dark eyes deep; he lowered his voice, speaking so only the two could hear: "Prince Jin, you're so pleased with yourself—aren't you afraid Princess Mu Yuanzhi will learn of your shameful secrets?"

A flash of killing intent flickered in the depths of Gu Rongjin's eyes and vanished: "I advise you to watch your words!"

"You're worked up." Xiao Yichen curled his lips in a smile, as if he had already seen through Gu Rongjin inside and out, victory firmly in his grasp.

"What's the rush? Xiao Shoufu is so respectable, but it's not certain my wife will deal with you." Gu Rongjin's folded fan slapped Xiao Yichen's face that had frozen in an instant.

Xiao Yichen stared intently at Gu Rongjin's smug back, his thoughts drifting back to last night.

He followed the signal flare to the Ministry of Justice's residence, amidst a sea of fire he saw a group of people, but the flames were too fierce; by the time he tried to make them out, they vanished in the blink of an eye.

At the center of that group was a figure like an Asura demon risen from hell, a pair of bloodthirsty eyes that he could not forget for a long time.

Xiao Yichen clenched his fists; if that person really was Gu Rongjin, he would never allow Mu Yuanzhi to marry someone like him!