Chapter 231: Pei Yunxi Causes a Scene at the City Gate

Mu Yuanzhi watched them make a fuss with a smile, the Qilin rolled its eyes at Gu Rongjin and was about to leave when a guard came in to report:

Young Master Gu, Madame Gu, outside the city gate a woman claiming to be Princess Yunxi is causing a disturbance, saying she wants to see Premier Xiao; the guards saw the crowd gathering and discussing, so they didn't arrest her directly.

Mu Yuanzhi was speechless: "She really acts like a madwoman."

Gu Rongjin: "Her plan is truly clever—first, she doesn't have to sneak into the city and risk being caught; second, she can't deliberately inquire where we're stationed; third, it lets everyone watch the show."

"She must have guessed we wouldn't let her words spread unchecked?" Mu Yuanzhi said.

The Qilin: "Wasn't she supposed to have a miscarriage? Why isn't she resting at home? Isn't she afraid of dying from all this travel?"

The guard said: "That woman is sporting a big belly."

The Qilin doubted: "A fake belly?"

"Whether it's real or fake, Xiao Yichen surely knows; she doesn't need to play mysterious," Mu Yuanzhi said.

Gu Rongjin: "Shall we go meet her ourselves?"

Mu Yuanzhi curled her lips and smiled: "Of course, otherwise it would be embarrassing for the Princess to perform a one-woman show alone."

By the time they arrived at the city gate, a crowd of onlookers had already gathered—people wanting to enter, those wanting to leave, and townsfolk who had heard the news and come to watch.

Before Mu Yuanzhi even got close, she could hear Pei Yunxi wailing without shame: "Everyone, judge for yourselves! I'm a pregnant woman who has traveled a thousand miles to see my husband—have I done something wrong?!"

The onlookers pointed and whispered, while Pei Yunxi, thick‑skinned, continued her lament: "Nowadays I can't even see my husband, let alone enter the city gate! Clearly my sister—why won't she let me see my husband?!"

"What's going on?"

"I don't know? I'm not really aware of what's happening in the capital..."

"She looks so pitiful—why not let her through the gate?"

"Didn't Prince Jia issue an imperial edict saying anyone who comes to seek refuge will be treated with extra courtesy?"

"Or are the two sisters not on good terms?"

The ordinary folk of these remote cities clearly aren't aware of the big uproar in the capital; based solely on Pei Yunxi's one‑sided account they start discussing it.

Pei Yunxi gave a sly chuckle, then continued her earnest wailing performance.

If it were before, she would never have had the nerve to wail and make a scene like this; but after everything she's been through, her mindset has changed—so long as she achieves her goal, she doesn't mind acting like a shrew here, and she would unhesitatingly do even more embarrassing things.

After all, she risked her life to leave the capital, endured a grueling journey to get here! She must see Xiao Yichen! She must see him!

She still doesn't believe that, under everyone's eyes, Mu Yuanzhi and the others could do anything to her!

"The capital really seems doomed—even a murderer can walk out of the Imperial Court of Justice's great prison."

When Mu Yuanzhi's voice rang out, Pei Yunxi blinked in disbelief.

It had been so long since she'd heard that voice; Pei Yunxi felt her last meeting with Mu Yuanzhi was ages ago.

The crowd made way, and Mu Yuanzhi and Gu Rongjin arrived together, the Qilin following behind, with many soldiers trailing as well.

She sized up the dust‑covered Pei Yunxi from head to toe, her gaze landing on the woman's prominently swollen belly.

She thought, "This woman is still as good at playing the pitiful one, deliberately making herself look miserable to gain entry to the city."

"Or has this woman's brain been addled? She actually walked right into their hands—does she really think they dare not do anything to her?"

Seeing Mu Yuanzhi full of vigor, still dressed regally with guards attending her comings and goings, and Gu Rongjin present, Pei Yunxi felt a surge of indignation.

"They're nothing but a bunch of rebels, yet they live so carefree and unrestrained!"

"And what about her?"

Fleeing in panic, if she hadn't secretly hidden a lot of gold, silver, and jewels to bribe her way along, she would likely have died on the road; as it was, she came within a hair's breadth of being captured by bandits—truly a narrow escape from death.

"Older sister..."

Pei Yunxi uttered that title after a long time, her voice bleak and miserable.

Mu Yuanzhi made a gagging gesture and sneered: "Don't call me sister—after trying to kill me so many times, you still have the cheek to pretend we're close sisters here?"

Her words instantly set the crowd ablaze.

Just moments ago they wondered if they'd misheard, but now Princess Zhiyan declares that the woman who came from afar, Princess Yunxi, is a murderer? Or that she wants to kill her own sister?

"Is it true or false?"

"This is too shocking to hear!"

Everyone's expression toward Pei Yunxi shifted, given that Mu Yuanzhi has frequently come out personally to offer free medical care and distribute grain to the poor—something everyone knows.

Now that Princess Zhiyan herself says this, its credibility ought to be high.

Pei Yunxi, relying on the fact that this isn't the capital, flatly denied: "Why would you say that, older sister? Is it because I married your former fiancé that you're angry with me? But I really haven't harmed you—I'm pregnant, and the doctor said I shouldn't get agitated."

"Doesn't performing this outdated farce again make you feel sick?" Mu Yuanzhi said helplessly.

Gu Rongjin timely produced the Imperial Court of Justice's verdict from his sleeve and flung it open: "Shall I read this to you again?"

Seeing the Imperial Court of Justice's verdict, Pei Yunxi turned pale with shock—how does Gu Rongjin have everything?

She remembered that the Imperial Court of Justice's verdict was kept with Xiao Yichen!

Pei Yunxi incredulously turned her head to look at Pei Yunxi—had he really defected? Giving the Imperial Court of Justice's verdict to Mu Yuanzhi?!

Just because Mu Yuanzhi is here, would he rather become a rebel?!

Pei Yunxi was struck by a bolt from the blue, her face full of disbelief, shaking her head desperately.

Many commoners are illiterate, but there were certainly literate people in the crowd, who read the verdict aloud for everyone: "Criminal Pei Yunxi, who harmed her kin, slaughtered innocents, poisoned the Grand Empress Dowager, whose conduct was heinous—having received the emperor's assent, she is stripped of her princess title, effective immediately reduced to commoner, and exiled!"

With each word read, Pei Yunxi's face paled a shade; by the end she trembled all over, dizzy and nauseated, the stares directed at her feeling like sharp pains.

She had thought she'd grown accustomed to it, but when there was nowhere to hide, she still panicked and felt fear.

Everyone was shocked, and after the shock came anger—some even hurled rotten eggs at Pei Yunxi.

"Truly, one can know a person's face but not their heart!"

"To harm one's own kin and elders—what use is such a person in the world?"

"She's still pregnant—who can imagine what kind of upbringing her child would have!"

"What a shameless, low‑class wretch!"

Get out! No one is allowed to enter the city!

Just getting her to get out is too lenient! She should be immediately thrown into prison!!

Right! Death penalty! Don't pity her!