Chapter 207

Azi spoke crisply, her whole demeanor cold, even her greetings sounded stiff.

"Hello." Mu Yuanzhi gave a perfunctory smile.

"Young Master, may I have a word?" Azi said.

"Wait for me in the pavilion." Gu Rongjin said.

Though called a subordinate, Mu Yuanzhi saw that Azi wasn't very respectful when speaking to Gu Rongjin, suggesting her status in Frost Descent might not be low.

Mu Yuanzhi didn't understand Frost Descent; to her it was like a mystery, and sometimes she was quite curious.

"Xiao Yuanzhi, I have something to do first; I'll come find you later." Gu Rongjin ruffled Mu Yuanzhi's head and left.

Azi was already ahead, walking quickly with her sword in hand; Gu Rongjin had to jog to catch up.

"Who is that, senior sister?" Qilin asked, having appeared from nowhere.

Mu Yuanzhi: "Subordinate."

"Subordinate?" Qilin eyed the two retreating figures dubiously, "They look more like a boss."

The more he looked, the deeper his frown grew: "Senior sister, this girl is quite pretty."

"What do you want to say?"

"Nothing, but having such a pretty girl around all the time, shouldn't you be on guard?" Qilin said.

"I thought you were going to say something else; you're overthinking." Mu Yuanzhi smiled helplessly: "Does Gu Rongjin's side only allow men?"

Qilin: "I'm reminding you, not that I don't trust my master—I just don't trust others."

"Enough, stop drifting off; I'm a bit sleepy and want to go rest." Mu Yuanzhi yawned.

From the journey's fatigue, she still hadn't rested well.

"Go."

If the senior sister won't go, he will!

Qilin then looked over and followed Gu Rongjin and Zi.

"Someone's following us." Zi cautiously took out a hidden weapon.

Gu Rongjin blocked her hand, "It's just my disciple."

"Why is he following us?" Zi asked, puzzled.

Gu Rongjin shrugged, "Who knows? That kid's brain is weird, or maybe he's just doing it for fun."

"Aren't you afraid he'll hear us, Young Master?"

"If they hear, they hear; I'm not afraid of them hearing what we say, after all we're family."

"Family..." Zi frowned, her eyes flickering as she looked at Gu Rongjin.

Gu Rongjin puzzled, "Why are you looking at me like that?"

"Nothing, let's talk business."

Qilin was neither far nor near, but couldn't clearly hear what they were saying.

He was a bit anxious.

What are they talking about in the middle of the night?

Is there something that needs to be said so secretly?

Weren't they supposed to have no secrets between them?

Qilin crossed his arms, hiding, staring without blinking.

Do they need to stand so close to talk? They don't even avoid suspicion!

The more Qilin watched, the more irritated he became; he decided he would interrogate Gu Rongjin properly tomorrow.

The next day, Qilin had originally wanted to go find Gu Rongjin first, but Mu Yuanzhi called out to stop him.

"Qilin, have you seen the National Teacher?"

Yesterday, just arrived, Mu Yuanzhi hadn't rested well, and actually forgot such an important person.

"Xiao Yang has returned to the capital," said Gu Rongjin.

"What?!" Qilin exclaimed in shock: "Ji Shihuai actually let him go?"

"Because the emperor promised to release Ji Shi'an," said Gu Rongjin.

Mu Yuanzhi: "What does that mean? Isn't Ji Shi'an the future crown princess? A hostage exchange?"

"You could say that."

"So you're saying you've openly turned against the emperor?!" Mu Yuanzhi asked in shock.

Gu Rongjin: "It's not us; for now it's just Ji Shihuai."

"Don't kid yourself; the emperor surely already knows you're in cahoots." Mu Yuanzhi said.

Gu Rongjin shrugged.

"But the emperor actually agreed to release Ji Shi'an—that's beyond my expectations." Mu Yuanzhi found it unbelievable.

Ji Shi'an can now be said to be the rebel's sister; isn't that a huge bargaining chip?

"You underestimate the National Teacher's weight in the emperor's heart." Gu Rongjin was not surprised: "To the emperor, a rebel sister used as a bargaining chip is far less important than the empire's National Teacher, and he also gets along well with the National Teacher."

Mu Yuanzhi: "Does the emperor know the National Teacher and you are in cahoots?"

Gu Rongjin: "Of course he doesn't know! If he did, we'd be done for."

"Then wouldn't my master be in danger if he returns?" Qilin said.

"The National Teacher has his own methods!"

"Was Miss Zi's visit yesterday about this matter?" Mu Yuanzhi asked.

Gu Rongjin nodded: "Exactly, you're really smart!"

"I'm telling you, Gu Rongjin, don't get too close to other girls, aren't you afraid my senior sister will be jealous?" Qilin asked, hands on hips.

Hearing this, Gu Rongjin hurriedly looked at Mu Yuanzhi: "Little Yuanzhi, don't misunderstand—I and A Zi are merely an ordinary superior-subordinate and friends relationship!"

"I didn't misunderstand." Seeing Gu Rongjin so eager to explain, Mu Yuanzhi was in a good mood.

"It's fine as long as there's no misunderstanding—don't listen to Qilin trying to sow discord." Gu Rongjin said, glaring at Qilin.

"Where am I sowing discord? If you haven't done anything, you have nothing to fear." Qilin pointed at his own eyes: "I'll be keeping an eye on you!"

"Young Master!"

"Speak of Cao Cao and he appears!"

Qilin gave Gu Rongjin a sideways glance: "How are you here again? You guys have so much going on."

A Zi seemed unable to hear Qilin's sarcastic remarks, walking straight up to Gu Rongjin and leaning in to whisper a few words in his ear.

Seeing this made Qilin's eyes widen; he pointed at them and anxiously told Mu Yuanzhi: "Senior Sister, look!"

Mu Yuanzhi then said: "When Xiao Nianzi and Xiao Yunzi talk to me, they do the same."

"Xiao Nianzi and Xiao Yunzi are eunuchs!" Qilin stamped his feet anxiously.

This is clearly an intimate way of speaking! Men and women should be kept apart! Don't you know to avoid suspicion?!

Mu Yuanzhi pressed her lips, not sure whether it was Qilin constantly chattering in her ear that made her a bit concerned.

"I need to look into this A Zi!"

After A Zi finished speaking with Gu Rongjin, she glanced over and then left.

That glance made Qilin angry.

"Senior Sister, I think she's provoking you!" Qilin said.

"You really shouldn't be so jumpy." Mu Yuanzhi said this to Qilin, and also to herself.

"Just wait—I'll dig up dirt on her!"

Gu Rongjin saw Qilin storm off angrily, smiling as he asked Mu Yuanzhi: "What's up with that little brat? Why is he so angry?"

Mu Yuanzhi didn't answer, instead asking back: "What were you two whispering about just now?"

"Don't misunderstand, it's just information—she's used to conveying it this way." Gu Rongjin hurriedly explained.

Mu Yuanzhi raised an eyebrow: "I didn't say anything either."

"I'm not trying to avoid a misunderstanding—I'll tell her later not to speak like that anymore!" Gu Rongjin said.

Mu Yuanzhi couldn't help but chuckle: "Don't you think you're making a mountain out of a molehill?"

"Not at all—I really don't want my wife to misunderstand." Gu Rongjin laughed, pulling Mu Yuanzhi close: "But I'd be happy if you were jealous."