Chapter 23

These people just realized there was still a princess inside.

Windows opened one after another, smoke cleared, and the Vice Minister of Works finally spotted Mu Yuanzhi collapsed on the ground; she looked as if she had been fished out of ashes.

She couldn't be dead, could she!?

Oh no, although it's again because of this willful princess's mistake, if something happens to someone here, his official hat is surely in jeopardy!

He hurried forward to check her breath and let out a sigh of relief.

Good, she's still breathing.

What are you staring at? Come help!

Yes, yes, yes!

Mu Yuanzhi groaned awake, and before opening her eyes she heard all kinds of noisy clamor.

Father Emperor barring her from the Ministry of Works was right; second brother, you shouldn't have pleaded for her—little sister was terrified out of her wits and doesn't even know how many nights of nightmares she'll have!

Pei Shangling's words came rapid-fire like firecrackers, and Mu Yuanzhi, just regaining consciousness, instantly recognized them.

Ling'er, shut up, don't disturb the physician's examination.

Your Highnesses, Princess Mu Yuanzhi only has superficial burns plus fractures in both hands, no internal injuries, nothing to worry overly about," said the senior physician, "but the scar on her neck will likely need a lot of gold dragon gall herb, and the Imperial Medical Institute doesn't have that much in stock.

Did you hear, Mother Consort? It's no big deal, why are you nervous? It's just a fracture, not a break—if little sister has a relapse of fright, that would be serious!" Pei Shangling snorted coldly.

Mu Yuanzhi smirked inwardly—she only had burns and fractures, while little sister was truly frightened!

Ling'er! Watch what you say, lest Father Emperor hear it!" Consort De spoke up again in reproach.

Indeed, Consort De rebuked Pei Shangling only because she feared the Son of Heaven would hear, thinking he disregarded sibling affection.

I don't know when it started, but Mu Yuanzhi no longer calls Mother Consort and Father Emperor in her heart.

They had long been strangers, wearing familiar faces.

Little sister Zhi is awake!" Pei Shangyan was the first to notice Mu Yuanzhi's eyes moving; overjoyed, he shoved Pei Shangling aside and asked, "Little sister Zhi, how do you feel?"

Meeting Pei Shangyan's concerned gaze as she opened her eyes, Mu Yuanzhi felt only weary, which spoiled her mood.

I won't die.

The Crown Prince is worrying about you, and you're putting on airs for whom? If you weren't insisting on messing with all this nonsense, you wouldn't harm others and yourself, and little sister wouldn't have been so badly hurt by you!" Pei Shangling pointed at Mu Yuanzhi and shouted, gritting his teeth.

Consort De hurried to pull him: "Ling'er, say less!"

This nonsense is what your second brother urgently needs." Mu Yuanzhi glanced at the mute-like Pei Jue, who was still holding Pei Yunxi to comfort her.

Pei Yunxi, frightened out of her wits, could only bury herself in Pei Jue's embrace.

Seeing Pei Yunxi, Mu Yuanzhi understood—no wonder these people had time to come see if she was dead; it turned out Pei Yunxi was here too.

Killing two birds with one stone—she could keep company with the poor, helpless little sister while blaming her as the "instigator".

Also, keep an eye on your little sister and don't come cause trouble in the Ministry of Works, or next time the whole place might blow up." After saying that, Mu Yuanzhi closed her eyes; she was exhausted, her body ached, and she wanted to nap a while.

Anyone could tell with their toes that this little explosion was designed by Pei Yunxi, but she can't get up to look for evidence now; whatever, we'll talk after she recovers—anyway, Pei Yunxi is so sharp she might not leave any traces.

What do you mean, Mu Yuanzhi? You wouldn't dare say little sister tampered with things, would you?!" Pei Shangling exploded again.

I didn't say that; you did." Mu Yuanzhi kept her eyes shut, not wanting to look at Pei Shangling's stupid face.

Mu Yuanzhi you!" Pei Shangling's anger flared; he lunged forward and yanked Mu Yuanzhi up from the bed!

Everyone gasped—no one expected Pei Shangling to suddenly resort to violence; with injuries already, Mu Yuanzhi couldn't dodge, and being hauled up by him worsened her fractured hand, the tearing drag making her break out in cold sweat and feel dizzy.

The unhealed burn on her neck split further, oozing blood.

Fourth Brother, you're crazy!" Pei Shangyan felt a chill in his chest and shoved Pei Shangling away.

He couldn't fathom where his fourth brother's such great malice toward Little Sister Zhi came from, or when it started.

Clearly they weren't like this before; their sibling relationship had obviously been very close!

Ling'er, what are you doing to your sister—are you drunk and raving?" Consort De scolded harshly.

Everyone knows Pei Shangling hasn't drunk a drop, not a whiff of alcohol; Consort De saying this is merely trying to excuse her son.

Pei Shangyan's push used fifty percent of his strength; Pei Shangling staggered back, bumping into Pei Yunxi who had come forward, and his furious expression instantly softened as he anxiously pulled her: "Little sister, are you alright?"

He spoke softly, as if afraid of startling her.

I'm fine, Elder Brother Ling; don't blame Sister Zhi—she hurt herself through improper handling as well." Pei Yunxi said, trying to keep the peace.

Why do you always speak up for her? She's always like this—stay away from her from now on!

Thanks, everyone stay away from me—I need to rest." Mu Yuanzhi didn't want to keep looking at these idiots standing around annoying her.

She gritted her teeth against the pain and told the senior physician: "Please, Physician Zhou, reset and refix my bones."

The senior physician nodded eagerly: "All right, I'll take care of it."

Pei Shangling snorted coldly, flicked his sleeves and left; Pei Shangyan chased after him: "Fourth Brother!"

Pei Yunxi naturally followed; before leaving, she glanced back at Mu Yuanzhi, looking very uneasy.

Consort De wanted to comfort Mu Yuanzhi with a few words, but seeing that Mu Yuanzhi hadn't glanced at her upon waking, nor called her Mother Consort, she felt uneasy and withdrew silently.

Only Pei Jue remained seated, motionless like a statue, his expression unchanging.

The senior physician reset Mu Yuanzhi's bones, fixed them, re-dressed the split wound with medicine and bandages, gave a few careful instructions, then withdrew.

He shook his head inwardly—such a fine young lady constantly covered in injuries, what a pity.

"Brother Jue, why aren't you leaving yet?" Mu Yuanzhi's pale lips made speaking an effort; probably the aftereffects of her tendon and bone injuries had kicked in, leaving her utterly exhausted and unwilling to move.

Pei Jue rose and walked to Mu Yuanzhi's bedside, about to speak but hesitating; finally, under her impatient gaze, he said: "Today, before we arrived, only the little sister had been to the Office of Works; someone saw her studying your gloves."

Upon hearing that, Mu Yuanzhi's eyes turned icy as she looked up at him: "How could you just sit there like a dead man and not say anything earlier?"

Pei Jue's face looked grim, as if a stone weighed on his chest, making it hard to breathe: "Can you not speak to me like that?"

"Sure, you immediately repeat exactly what you just said to everyone else, then go properly investigate Pei Yunxi—can you do that?"

"Pei Jue, can you?!"