Chapter 208

"Who's eating your vinegar? Don't go putting gold on your own face." Mu Yuanzhi huffed.

"Being jealous means you care about me; not being jealous means you trust me; either way I'm happy!" Gu Rongjin hugged Mu Yuanzhi tightly, his tone suddenly turning serious: "Don't worry, little Yuanzhi, this tumultuous life is only temporary; soon I can give you a stable future."

Leaning against Gu Rongjin's chest, Mu Yuanzhi nodded: "No matter what decision you make, I'll support you."

She had long since decided to walk hand in hand with him for a lifetime.

"So many people, so many days, and yet we haven't even found a trace!" the Emperor angrily slammed the table.

The military commander below, head bowed, clasped his hands and said: "Your Majesty, this is all because of Premier Xiao; if not for him, the guards at the city gate that day would have already stopped Princess Yuanzhi!"

Xiao Yichen snorted coldly: "Commander, you're good at making excuses—could it not be because you neglected your duty that you couldn't even hold the city gate? On what basis do you claim that the person your men stopped was Princess Yuanzhi?"

"May I ask, Premier Xiao, how did Princess Yuanzhi leave the Pingnan Wangfu? Do you dare to say?"

"Isn't this also your responsibility, Commander? How can you blame it on me? Is the Imperial Guard's work always this childish?"

"You!"

"Enough!" the Emperor shouted angrily, his gaze shifting to Xiao Yichen, his eyes flickering before he said: "I didn't come here to listen to you pass the buck!"

"Please calm your anger, Your Majesty!" the two said in unison.

"Your Majesty!"

The chief eunuch hurried in: "Your Majesty! The National Teacher has returned!"

The Emperor was overjoyed: "Summon him quickly!"

After saying that, he looked at the two, then his expression hardened: "You all withdraw for now and think hard about how to find someone!"

"Yes!"

As Xiao Yichen was leaving, he happened to brush past the National Teacher; the National Teacher nodded at him, and he stared for a moment before returning the nod.

He stared at the National Teacher's back for a good while before turning and leaving.

"Your servant pays homage to Your Majesty!"

"No need for excessive courtesy." The Emperor stepped down from the jade steps, examined the National Teacher closely, then said: "Simple Yu, during your absence I always felt something was missing, and I've felt ill at ease all over."

"Your Majesty flatters me."

"It's not flattery; without you, the entire Directorate of Astronomy has no one usable." The Emperor sighed deeply: "No one shares my burdens; neither the Crown Prince nor Premier Xiao understands my heart as you do."

He patted the National Teacher's shoulder.

"I am overwhelmed by your favor."

"Has that rebel Qi Shihuai given you any trouble?" Upon mentioning him, the Emperor's anger flared again: "Fortunately I had guarded against him early; otherwise, handing the imperial army to him would be like handing over the realm!"

The National Teacher barely furrowed his brow, saying: "I'm fine, Your Majesty's concern weighs on me."

"Quickly tell me about the rebels' situation!"

"Qi Shihuai doesn't have many troops under him; Your Majesty need not worry—he only dares to harbor such treasonous intentions because he leans on Gu Rongjin's Shuangjiang." The National Teacher said, "And the Jia Prince is merely a hostage prince, not worth fearing; they court him just to have a pretext."

"If that's true, then I already knew!" the Emperor snorted coldly: "His tiger tally is in my hands—where would he get troops? How many?"

"Around thirty thousand."

"A mere thirty thousand troops—less than a tenth of the imperial army." Hearing this, the Emperor relaxed considerably, patting the National Teacher's shoulder and asking: "Minister, have you calculated their odds of victory?"

"Dire." the National Teacher said.

Upon hearing this, the Emperor's face completely brightened: "Surely you are my reassurance!"

"When I returned, I heard that Princess Yuanzhi had gone missing?"

"She's gone off following her husband, come what may!" the Emperor clenched his fists: "Actually consorting with rebels, sharing their den—what a waste of my nurturing!"

The National Teacher frowned: "Princess Yuanzhi is skilled in concealed-weapon design; with her around, I worry..."

"That is precisely what worries me most." The Emperor's expression grew stern again: "The rebels' forces are nothing to fear, but my daughter is truly outstanding; in the past she won against greater numbers, and that was entirely thanks to her efforts."

Thinking this, the Emperor somewhat regretted marrying Mu Yuanzhi to Gu Rongjin, as it was tantamount to personally handing a powerful weapon to the enemy!

Had he discovered earlier that Gu Rongjin was the leader of Shuangjiang, he would never have consented to this marriage!

"I believe the urgent priority is to devote all efforts to retrieving Princess Yuanzhi." the National Teacher said.

"You and I think alike; I will certainly bring her back as soon as possible. Simple Yu, who do you think should be sent?" the Emperor asked.

"As heir apparent, the Crown Prince cannot leave the capital; I think it would be better to let Premier Xiao and the Fourth Prince go together."

"Premier Xiao and the Fourth Prince together?"

"They once had a close relationship with the Princess; their chances of succeeding in persuasion would certainly be high. If Your Majesty sent others and a fight broke out, it would be all harm and no benefit."

The Emperor pondered for a while and felt the National Teacher's words made sense.

To make amends for her, he could give this daughter a chance.

"Then do as you say."

Having received the order, Pei Shangling couldn't sit still for a moment and went to find Xiao Yichen.

Ever since he learned that Qi Shihuai and Gu Rongjin were rebelling, and that his foolish sister was still meddling, he has been unable to eat by day or sleep by night!

You know this is a capital crime punishable by beheading and extermination of nine kin!

"I already knew Gu Rongjin was no good, but Ah Zhi wouldn't listen!" Pei Shangling arrived at the Premier's residence, saw Xiao Yichen, and his first words were a curse at Gu Rongjin.

Xiao Yichen remained silent, which struck Pei Shangling as odd: "Why aren't you speaking?"

"What should I say?" Xiao Yichen retorted coldly.

"Weren't you the first to notice something wrong with Gu Rongjin?" Pei Shangling asked excitedly, then paused, looking at Xiao Yichen in disbelief: "Could it really be you who let Ah Zhi go?!"

Xiao Yichen said nothing, as usual keeping a poker face.

Pei Shangling, agitated, grabbed Xiao Yichen's collar: "Are you crazy? Do you know what you're doing?!"

"Do you also not know what would happen if Ah Zhi stayed in the capital? What do you think the Emperor would do?!" Xiao Yichen shoved Pei Shangling away hard, then straightened his collar.

Pei Shangling stared at Xiao Yichen, panting, humming with his mouth shut, saying nothing further.

Perhaps Xiao Yichen is right; given the Father Emperor's temperament and Ah Zhi's nature, Ah Zhi staying in the capital would indeed be dangerous.

Do you think it's safe once you're with the rebels?

"She left, that's treason—there's no room for argument!" Pei Shangling flicked her sleeves and said.

"That's her own choice." Xiao Yichen helplessly closed his eyes.

"Anyway, I'll bring her back; once I wipe out the rebels in one fell swoop, I'll plead with the Father Emperor, and even if I stake my life, I'll protect her!"