Chapter 22: with translation of chapter title

What a rare guest!

Mu Yuanzhi said to the four of them: "Go rest, you don't need to attend to me, don't ruin your health."

"Master, this won't do!" Xiao Nianzi was the first to object.

How can the master have no one attending? Besides, the Fourth Prince is coming; they also need to serve tea.

"This is an order, go back quickly." Mu Yuanzhi had no time to say more; she still had to deal with troublesome people.

Xiao Yunzi nodded, he reached out to stop Hongdou and the others who still wanted to speak: "We servants will take our leave first."

The others had no choice but to comply; they bowed and withdrew, their hearts filled with warmth.

The master truly thinks too much for us servants; we haven't chosen the wrong person to follow.

At the same time they also understood that the master had already acknowledged them as people of Weiyang Palace, no longer suspecting they were sent by the Fourth Prince; some things go without saying, this is the unspoken understanding between master and servants.

As the four retreated, an unexpected guest arrived.

The gold-phoenix-patterned silver boots stepped over the threshold; the thin, light silver sheets and threads were personally polished and assembled by Mu Yuanzhi. Wearing them for marching and battle, they are light, protect the legs, and display her noble status; originally they should be matched with armor of the same style, but now she doesn't want to be a fool.

In her previous life, that unfinished set of armor, when she was last locked up in Yong Lane, he personally threw it away.

"It's not easy to see you." Pei Shangque's brows furrowed slightly.

The Second Prince, who never frivolously smiles, is by nature solitary, always giving off an aloof vibe; his already sharp features, with a hint of gloom added, become even more unapproachable.

The former Mu Yuanzhi was the only one daring to romp with him; she took ten years to open his heart and pull him out of depression, but Pei Yunxi managed to get on very good terms with him in less than ten days.

He said Pei Yunxi was his happy fruit.

Hehe, go ahead and eat it; eat this poisonous fruit and die!

"Since you're here, we can meet; isn't Brother Que's leg not broken?" Mu Yuanzhi smiled, sitting in the main seat, lazily glancing over.

Perhaps he hadn't expected Mu Yuanzhi to speak to him like that; Pei Shangque's ink-dark brows and eyes slightly lifted, his eyes full of surprise, his Adam's apple rolled, and in the end he said nothing, just sat down.

He picked up the tea cup beside him and found it empty.

"Sorry, my palace servants are busy finishing the aftermath of the palace search; they have no time to serve you tea."

Pei Shangque glanced around without much emotion, his gaze landing on Mu Yuanzhi, he looked her up and down for a moment: "Are you injured?"

"What do you mean by when?"

Upon hearing that, Pei Shangque narrowed his eyes, did not continue the topic, and said: "Father Emperor has allowed you to enter the Ministry of Works, but you must go with me; you cannot go alone."

Wanting her to continue researching new weapons while fearing harm to the precious little princess? Wanting both.

Fine, she also wanted to empty the Ministry of Works' stores; before she thought she could come and go freely, no need to move everything back to the sleeping palace to take up space, but now it's different—only what's in her own hands is truly hers.

Mu Yuanzhi and Pei Shangque arrived at the Ministry of Works, and Pei Yunxi came out happily to greet them.

……

Had I known Pei Yunxi was also there, she wouldn't have come today at all.

Pei Shangque seemed unaware of Mu Yuanzhi's displeasure, walking straight to Pei Yunxi: "You didn't move things around, did you?"

"Of course, I wouldn't dare to move things around carelessly anymore; last time I almost lost my life." Pei Yunxi stuck out her tongue, glanced at Mu Yuanzhi while saying this, then hastily waved her hands and shook her head: "Sister Yuanzhi, don't misunderstand; I'm not blaming you, we've already let go of past grievances, and I don't blame you either."

Mu Yuanzhi: "Thank you, little sister, for your magnanimity, forgiving me again."

She said it perfunctorily while walking, not wanting to be near Pei Yunxi even for a moment.

Pei Yunxi fidgeted with her handkerchief, at a loss, looking at Pei Shangque: "Brother Que, did I say something wrong?"

"No need to mind her; she has a bad temper."

Pei Shangque was about to lift his foot to enter the affairs hall when the door swung shut from inside with a bang; he reacted slowly and almost got his nose caught.

Indeed, she has a bad temper.

Pei Yunxi asked anxiously: "Brother Que, are you alright?"

Pei Shangque shook his head, pushed the door open and entered: "I will be responsible for supervising you."

Mu Yuanzhi didn't even glance at them, said nothing, and began to tinker with what she hadn't finished before.

"First make the arrows I need to use." Pei Shangque said.

Mu Yuanzhi had no choice but to put down what she was holding and go get the materials for the special-grade arrows.

Pei Yunxi watched from the side, her gaze following Mu Yuanzhi's movements; both Mu Yuanzhi and Pei Shangque focused on the arrows, not noticing Pei Yunxi's odd expression.

The arrows themselves are small; to hide explosives inside, the amount cannot be off by even a hair. Mu Yuanzhi concentrated fully, with no spare attention for anything else; Pei Shangque tried to help several times, but Mu Yuanzhi unintentionally blocked him.

When Mu Yuanzhi measured the dosage, she was especially careful; although the wound on her hand had mostly healed, it hadn't regained its former dexterity, so to avoid mistakes she double-checked repeatedly.

"Your hand is injured?" Even if Pei Shangque were slow, he could see it.

"Don't waste words disturbing me." Mu Yuanzhi said while weighing, even her scolding was soft.

Pei Shangque felt this was a bit like the sister he knew; his sister shouldn't be all thorns.

Mu Yuanzhi confirmed repeatedly several times before beginning assembly.

"Sister, aren't you wearing gloves?"

When Mu Yuanzhi got busy, she indeed forgot to wear gloves, often pricking her hand; Pei Yunxi's reminder she didn't think much about, she just picked them up and put them on, then continued.

As soon as her gloves touched the arrow, a spark flashed.

?!

Something's off.

Mu Yuanzhi was about to disassemble it.

Boom——!!!

"Ah!"

The explosion sound accompanied Pei Yunxi's sharp scream; the entire affairs hall shook!

Pei Shangque immediately pulled Pei Yunxi beside him into his arms; Pei Yunxi, both startled and frightened, clung tightly to his hand.

Smoke filled the sky; he couldn't see his surroundings clearly, so he shouted loudly: "Yuanzhi? Are you alright?"

The power of a single arrow is limited, let alone one that hasn't even been assembled; the power of this explosion should be very small," Pei Shangjue thought.

The Ministry of Works staff who had rushed over upon hearing the news kicked the door open, and seeing Pei Shangjue and Pei Yunxi covered in dirt and soot, they were so frightened their hearts almost stopped.

"Your Highnesses, are you injured anywhere?!" the Minister of Works exclaimed, not even having time to wipe his cold sweat, as he hurriedly asked.

The Vice Minister of Works barked at the others: "Hurry and summon the Imperial Physician!"

"It's fine." Pei Shangjue waved away the lingering smoke, intending to go find Mu Yuanzhi, but his waist suddenly tightened, and he hastily looked down at Pei Yunxi in his arms.

Pei Yunxi trembled with fear, her face turning deathly pale, "How terrifying… fire… fire…"

Pei Shangjue recalled that Pei Yunxi had been injured by hidden weapons before, and a surge of guilt and heartache washed over him; he held Pei Yunxi tightly and carried her outside, shouting to the others: "Quickly go check on Princess Yuanzhi!"