Chapter 218: How could the grand premier of the cabinet be such a despicable rat?

"Hey, Pei Shangling, are you still alive?"

Hearing another loud noise from the kitchen, the Qilin came over, and a few guards came with it.

He pushed open the door and found Xiao Yichen unharmed inside, and couldn't help frowning: "A lure-the-tiger-away-from-the-mountain scheme?!"

Not good!

The Qilin quickly ran off, telling the few guards: "Watch him well!"

"Yes!"

Qilin, don't go!

It's rare to see a living person; Pei Shangling was unwilling to let the Qilin just leave like that.

Leaving these few guards behind is like dealing with someone who's impervious to reason!

However, the Qilin had already vanished in a puff of smoke, and couldn't be bothered to deal with him.

Pei Shangling felt both annoyed and defeated.

Clearly, when we first met, this little brat was still calling me 'brother' front and back; if he had sincerely tried to get along with this little brat back then, perhaps his situation would be much better now.

Pei Shangling glanced outside, wondering if Xiao Yichen had really come.

If that guy came, why didn't he come to rescue him? Did he go look for A Zhi?

Idiot, of course you rescue people first and then make plans!

Rushing to look for A Zhi will only get you killed.

Could it be…?

"Hey, I have a question for you: where is Heir Apparent Jin?"

Those few guards were unmoved by Pei Shangling's words.

"Why don't you take this palace as a hostage to go negotiate with His Majesty?" Pei Shangling asked again.

The guards looked at each other, and one with a blank expression said: "Miss Mu says you're not qualified to be a hostage."

Upon hearing this, Pei Shangling immediately became angry.

What do you mean he's not qualified to be a hostage?

As a proper Fourth Prince, isn't he qualified enough?

Could it be that he has no status at all in front of the Father Emperor?!

Impossible!

Surely A Zhi has some other plan; Pei Shangling consoled himself.

But what's most important now is what Xiao Yichen's plan is like.

At this moment, after Xiao Yichen lured the Qilin away, he went to look for Mu Yuanzhi's trail.

The layout of the courtyards here is intricate, unlike typical Central Plains courtyard architecture; he also needed to be careful not to be discovered by patrolling guards, facing obstruction at every step.

The Qilin should already know this is a lure-the-tiger-away-from-the-mountain scheme; it's just unknown how long it can drag on.

A Zhi, where are you?

"Who's up there?!"

A strange woman's question came from the room below, and Xiao Yichen frowned.

A woman with such good hearing?

Xiao Yichen remained completely still, making no further sound.

He thought only Gu Rongjin and Gu Rongjin's disciple Qilin had such keen hearing, but he didn't expect there to be others.

Xiao Yichen pondered for a moment, then leapt through the window.

At that moment, a dagger was flung at him; Xiao Yichen barely dodged, drew his sword, and blocked the successive hidden-weapon attacks!

Great skill!

Too bad there are many openings!

Xiao Yichen quickly saw that the woman before him was injured; otherwise he might not be fighting so easily now.

"Xiao Yichen?!" A Zi recognized Xiao Yichen.

Xiao Yichen, however, didn't know A Zi: "You know me?"

A Zi curled her lips: "Walking into the net."

"Who exactly are you?" Xiao Yichen flashed behind A Zi, placing his blade at her neck.

A Zi merely furrowed her brows, not showing fear.

"Who I am is none of your business; you're here to look for Mu Yuanzhi, right?" A Zi asked.

"Tell me where she is, and I'll spare your life." Xiao Yichen said, moving the blade a fraction closer, drawing a line of blood.

A Zi seemed certain that Xiao Yichen wouldn't kill her, remaining calm and unhurried.

You can't take her away.

"This has nothing to do with you!" Xiao Yichen remained unmoved.

"What if I meant to cooperate with you?" A Zi threw out an enticing topic.

Xiao Yichen didn't believe her: "What reason do I have to trust you?"

"Because you have no choice; the Qilin will soon come after you, you can't beat him, let alone with Qi Shihuai and me here, but if you cooperate with me, it's different—I can lure the Qilin away, then you can take Mu Yuanzhi and leave."

Xiao Yichen naturally knew he couldn't take on many with few; coming here alone, he had already prepared for the worst.

"Either way it's a gamble; if you don't trust me, you'll lose miserably." A Zi continued to coax.

Xiao Yichen still didn't readily believe, and asked: "Give me a reason to cooperate."

"Because I like Gu Rongjin." A Zi said.

That answer was flawless, and Xiao Yichen immediately sheathed his sword.

"You want your love rival to leave…… Do you think that way Gu Rongjin will like you?" Xiao Yichen smiled.

A Zi wasn't angry: "This isn't something you should be thinking about, Senior Grand Secretary Xiao—do you want to cooperate or not?"

"Of course." Xiao Yichen had no reason not to cooperate.

A Zi curled her lips in satisfaction: "I'll lure the Qilin away; you go to the Back Mountain hot springs to find Mu Yuanzhi—at this time she should be taking a medicinal bath."

"Is she injured?" Xiao Yichen's tone held barely concealed worry.

A Zi let out a scoff: "You'll know once you go."

She said, pushing the door open, and just then the Qilin came over: "Have you seen Xiao Yichen?!"

A Zi pointed in the direction completely opposite the hot springs: "He ran that way!"

"Why don't you go after him? Forget it, you injured weakling, just rest—rest up early and leave early." The Qilin said bluntly.

A Zi watched the Qilin's disappearing back and curled her lips: "I won't leave; the one who leaves is someone else."

She turned to Xiao Yichen, who was hiding in her room, and said: "Hurry, that little brat might come back at any moment."

Xiao Yichen didn't waste words and went to the Back Mountain.

The Back Mountain was vast; Xiao Yichen listened carefully for the sound of hot spring water, and soon he found the direction of the flowing water.

The tree shadows were sparse; as he approached, he could see a lovely figure bathing in the hot spring water.

Mu Yuanzhi!

From his angle he could only see a head of black hair spread out, blending with the hot spring water.

Xiao Yichen stared a bit, momentarily forgetting the propriety of not gazing lustfully, and even unconsciously took a step forward.

His boot came down hard on a dry twig, making a noticeable crack.

Mu Yuanzhi instantly became alert, nimbly turning and submerging her whole body in the hot spring water, leaving only her head above the surface: "Who!"

The exposed Xiao Yichen had no choice but to reveal himself: "It's me."

Xiao Yichen?!

Mu Yuanzhi moved back without a trace, her concealed weapons all on the shore.

"I never thought the esteemed Senior Grand Secretary would be such a contemptible person, sneaking into a private residence to peep at a woman bathing." Mu Yuanzhi mocked.

Xiao Yichen's face rarely flushed crimson; he had indeed been staring, but he hadn't actually seen anything.

He cleared his throat, lowering his voice as if to cover up: "Can a den of bandits also be called a civilian residence?"

"You don't deny you were peeping at someone bathing?" Mu Yuanzhi curled her lips in full mockery.

She was slowly moving, her back already against the shore, so she could reach her concealed weapon with just a hand.

Perhaps the mist swirling over the hot spring was too alluring, for Xiao Yichen failed to notice Mu Yuanzhi's movement.