Chapter 249: Could it be that I've encountered an evil spirit?

He called a few people to carry Azi's corpse out and find a decent place to bury it.

Mu Yuanzhi watched Azi's corpse pass before her and couldn't help but glance at it a few more times.

Qilin too—he always suspected that this scheming woman was hiding something evil.

It's been three days; there's no way she could be faking death that long.

"Should we personally watch her burial and dig the grave deeper?" he suggested.

Mu Yuanzhi was about to speak when a jailer hurried over to report: "Young Master Jin! Miss Mu! The imperial army has suddenly turned back, seemingly about to attack! General Qi summons you!"

"The situation is urgent, no time for this—Qilin, if you're uneasy, come with us; Gu Rongjin and Little Yuanzhi will head back first," Gu Rongjin said to Qilin.

Qilin nodded: "Alright, you go ahead."

Gu Rongjin told Mu Yuanzhi: "Go, leave this to Qilin."

Mu Yuanzhi nodded.

Pei Shangyan suddenly changed tactics—could they have acquired some trump card?

Mu Yuanzhi couldn't help but feel a little worried.

They and Prince Jia Qi Shihuai discussed for a day, deciding to let Qi Shihuai lead troops to meet the enemy.

Regardless of whether the enemy's advance is a feint or genuine, they must be fully prepared!

"Let Xiao Yichen, Pei Shangling, General Ximo, and the Prince of the North accompany the army," Prince Jia said. "No matter what, in undermining enemy morale, we must do our utmost."

Mu Yuanzhi: "That makes sense—their morale is already low; we should focus on attacking their weakness."

Gu Rongjin: "I suppose I'm not needed this time either?"

Qi Shihuai: "You and I should stay and hold the rear."

"Hmm, I'm the trump card—naturally I can't just rush in lightly."

Once decided, Prince Jia immediately convened the oath-taking ceremony and led the troops out.

Before departure, Pei Shangling and Xiao Yichen both came to see Mu Yuanzhi of their own accord.

For them, this was their first formal participation in the army, so they had to bid Mu Yuanzhi a formal farewell.

Seeing Pei Shangling arrive from the other side, Xiao Yichen's expression instantly soured.

Annoying!

Pei Shangling felt the same; Xiao Yichen was truly a nuisance.

In his heart, he always felt Xiao Yichen must dislike A Zhi more than he did, and with Xiao Yichen around, A Zhi might treat him even more coldly.

Xiao Yichen, on the other hand, had no such complications—he simply thought Pei Shangling was a nuisance.

Since they'd both come, there was nothing to be done—after all, they had no time left; the army was about to set out.

"A Zhi!"

Xiao Yichen and Pei Shangling spoke at the same time, glanced at each other, and their disdain was plainly visible.

Mu Yuanzhi didn't want to see either of them, but fate forced them to meet on a narrow path with nowhere to hide.

"A Zhi, I'm about to set out," Xiao Yichen said, stepping forward to stand before Pei Shangling and speaking first.

He gazed at her expression, hoping she would tell him to take care.

He wasn't greedy.

Mu Yuanzhi: "The army will surely win victorious from the start."

"I'll take that as your blessing to me," Xiao Yichen said.

He's also part of the army, isn't he?

Mu Yuanzhi remained noncommittal; at times like this, she didn't want to jinx him, lest the army bring bad luck.

"A Zhi! Wait for me to return!" Pei Shangling said solemnly.

"You'll surely come back—the Jia Army is unstoppable."

It's also not good if a prince dies in battle.

Pei Shangling heard this and smiled, as if the blessing were meant entirely for him.

With those words, he gained the strength to face anything!

Pei Shangling mounted his horse, spirited and high-spirited, and rode off.

Xiao Yichen then gave Mu Yuanzhi a deep look before mounting his horse, lingering reluctantly in place before departing.

Sometimes he didn't even know what he was persisting for—clearly impossible, perhaps regret, perhaps unwillingness to accept, or maybe just pure fondness for her.

Mu Yuanzhi watched the army depart from behind, silently praying in her heart.

Rather than a victorious start, she preferred they could deter the enemy and spare the populace from devastation.

"Little Yuanzhi's back—time for dinner!" Gu Rongjin came over, put an arm around Mu Yuanzhi's shoulders, and teased her with a grin to cheer her up.

"Mm, I want to eat braised lion's head."

"Sure, I'll personally cook it for you!"

"Can your cooking be eaten?"

"No, why do you look down on people? I've made pastries for you before, okay!"

After dinner, it was already late; Qilin hadn't returned, and Mu Yuanzhi felt a bit strange, staring blankly at the braised lion's head left for Qilin.

"What's up? If you want to eat, just eat—don't save it for that brat," Gu Rongjin joked.

Mu Yuanzhi propped her chin: "I just wonder why Qilin's been gone so long—did something happen?"

"What could happen at a funeral? Surely Azi can't come back to life," Gu Rongjin sat opposite Mu Yuanzhi. "You're being motherly again—maybe that brat just went off to wander somewhere."

Mu Yuanzhi heard this, furrowed her brows, and said nothing.

Gu Rongjin: "Impossible—it's been three days; a fake death can't last that long."

"Anyway, I just don't feel at ease—I always sense something odd."

Mu Yuanzhi thought that if she had known earlier, she wouldn't have let Qilin go alone.

Although Qilin's martial arts are high, he still can't compare to Gu Rongjin's.

"Don't worry, go take a flower-petal bath, read a book for a while, and your Qilin son will be back."

"Stop teasing me, you heartless one." Mu Yuanzhi said coquettishly, giving Gu Rongjin an annoyed glance.

Gu Rongjin laughed while pinching Mu Yuanzhi's slightly puffed cheek, saying, "I'm not just comforting you, am I? And you say I'm heartless? Where am I heartless?"

Just as they were speaking, Qilin returned.

Hearing Qilin's voice, Gu Rongjin raised an eyebrow at Mu Yuanzhi: "I told you that kid was just out wandering around."

Mu Yuanzhi finally relaxed and went to open the door.

"Qilin?"

Seeing Qilin seem absent-minded, Mu Yuanzhi asked worriedly: "What's wrong? What happened?"

"Could it be that the sun outside was too fierce and you got sunstruck?" Gu Rongjin laughed as he walked over.

Qilin still seemed not to have come to his senses, looking blankly at Mu Yuanzhi and Gu Rongjin, then shaking his head.

"What's wrong with you? Could you have been possessed?" Gu Rongjin said, moving to feel Qilin's forehead.

He didn't have a fever either.

"Should we find a master to have a look?" Gu Rongjin asked.

Qilin still shook his head and walked inside in a dazed manner.

Mu Yuanzhi nervously followed after him: "Qilin!"

She grabbed Qilin's arm and pulled him to a stop.

Qilin staggered, slowly turning his head to look at Mu Yuanzhi; his eyes needed a moment to focus before he could see the person before him clearly: "Senior sister...?"

"What on earth is wrong with you?" Mu Yuanzhi asked anxiously.

Gu Rongjin crossed his arms, his expression turning serious: "This kid really is a bit strange; could he really have been possessed?"

It's like seeing a ghost alive.

Mu Yuanzhi shook Qilin and said, "He's come back to his senses!"