Chapter 252: Miss A Zi Requests an Audience

Everyone saw that it was indeed the guards they had gone with earlier, and the two corpses dug out next were the same.

"Let's examine the corpses first," Mu Yuanzhi said.

Qilin remained silent, just squatting here staring blankly at the three corpses.

He was blaming himself.

The others didn't disturb him, first doing a quick check of these corpses to see if they could find anything.

Although none of them were coroners, one had rich experience in traditional Chinese medicine, one had rich experience in the martial world, and one appeared to have rich experience in all kinds of things.

"It looks like they were buried alive," Gu Rongjin said, furrowing his brow.

"Keep it down," Mu Yuanzhi said, nudging Gu Rongjin with her elbow.

Gu Rongjin mouthed an 'okay,' he glanced at Qilin, who obviously felt even more guilty because of his words, and shook his head inwardly.

After the monk finished checking, he said: "They had already lost consciousness before being buried alive, so they died without pain or tears."

"You mean they lost consciousness after being hit by a hypnotic illusion?" Mu Yuanzhi asked.

The monk nodded.

Upon hearing that, Qilin's expression finally improved a bit.

"Did you find any other useful clues?" Mu Yuanzhi asked the two of them.

The monk and Gu Rongjin exchanged a glance, and Gu Rongjin said: "We don't need to anymore; we now know she's not dead."

Saying that, Gu Rongjin composed his expression.

Mu Yuanzhi: "It's our oversight."

Gu Rongjin stood up: "I really didn't expect that feigning death could be maintained for so many days!"

Qilin also stood up, gnashing his teeth: "What grudge do these guards have against her? We must kill that woman!"

The monk: "Hatred born from love can take many forms, and it can also twist a person's nature."

Mu Yuanzhi: "Or perhaps her nature was twisted to begin with."

Gu Rongjin said coldly: "It's my fault; I indulged her too much and was too careless, and I will definitely settle this with her."

"A Zi, you have really let me down!"

"I'll find an auspicious burial site and rebury them," Qilin said.

Gu Rongjin nodded: "We will also cover the funeral expenses for their families."

"Don't overthink it, Qilin; just find A Zi and get revenge for them," Mu Yuanzhi comforted Qilin.

Qilin nodded: "I will definitely take revenge!"

After they returned, they received news from the front saying that Pei Shangyan was merely making a feint and had no real intention to start fighting, while Prince Jia and his side naturally hoped to avoid fighting, but still needed to draw near and apply pressure.

Upon seeing Pei Shangling, Xiao Yichen, and the Northern King, the court army's already low morale dropped even further, and many soldiers defected and fled to their side.

Mu Yuanzhi read the letter, her face breaking into a smile.

At last good news arrived, but there was still no word from the Cloud Mirror Pavilion, leaving everyone wondering how things stood there.

Here, they were also busy tracking down A Zi's whereabouts, with only Qi Shihuai staying behind to drill the troops, while the main army prepared these two days for a northern expedition to link up with the earlier Jia army.

"Should we also pack up and go together?" Qilin asked.

Mu Yuanzhi shook her head: "Let's keep holding the rear; going over would just add chaos, and it's better to stay behind and prepare supplies."

"No, this time we'll go together," Gu Rongjin said. "Otherwise, if supplies fall behind, we'll still need to keep up with the main force."

Actually, that's how it should have been, but Prince Jia considered Mu Yuanzhi's safety and was confident they wouldn't be attacked for a while, so he didn't let them join the army.

As time passed, they perhaps could not fight a battle unprepared; they still needed to be fully ready.

Mu Yuanzhi: "Together? Fine, I don't mind."

Gu Rongjin said to Mu Yuanzhi: "Rest assured, I will protect you."

"I will also protect my senior sister."

"Don't get in the way, just stay over there!" Gu Rongjin said, speechless.

This brat will sooner or later find someone to fix him, so he can't hinder them!

"By the way, what about Madame Deng? Did you release her?" Qilin suddenly remembered this matter.

Mu Yuanzhi: "We released her long ago, letting her find her own place."

She doesn't care where Madame Deng goes.

"Pei Shangnian seems to have taken her somewhere unknown, maybe looking for a place to stay?" Anyway, Gu Rongjin didn't care either.

Qilin nodded, "Right now A Zi and Pei Yunxi are in hiding; we must be on high alert."

Mu Yuanzhi: "They might have already met up."

Qilin: "Meet up? Would they? I thought Pei Yunxi would love to strangle A Zi."

"If they have a common enemy, can they set aside their grudges?" Mu Yuanzhi said, smiling at the idea of a common foe.

Qilin really couldn't understand, but if he did, then he'd be that kind of person.

Pei Shangyan had a headache; the Father Emperor was angry that he made decisions on his own, yet hadn't given clear orders on what to do, leaving him utterly stressed here.

Outside, there were often slanderous songs against the court army, catchy tunes sung by children on every street.

It must be a rebel plot, he knew.

"Your Highness the Crown Prince, a lady named A Zi requests an audience."

Someone came to report.

"What A Zi, A Lu? Just send her away, reporting every little thing for me to hear—do I look idle?!" Pei Shangyan said angrily.

That person lowered his head and added: "But Your Highness the Crown Prince, this Miss A Zi says she's well acquainted with Gu Rongjin, and that if you saw this item, you would certainly want to see her."

Saying this, he tremblingly produced and presented it.

Had he not said that, he would never have dared to risk entering and provoking anger.

Pei Shangyan heard the words, his brows relaxed a little, and he reached out and took the thing that was like a secret letter.

That person hastily withdrew, not daring to stay even a moment longer.

The Crown Prince has become increasingly irritable these days, showing no trace of his former gentle and refined demeanor, which is frightening.

Pei Shangyan opened it, his expression shifting unpredictably; he had intended only a casual glance, but then hurriedly read the entire text from beginning to end.

His shock was beyond words!

Someone come!

Your Highness the Crown Prince!

That person had not gone far before quickly turning back.

Please have that A Zi come in, bring her here. Pei Shangyan ordered.

Yes!

Pei Shangyan had never felt time pass so slowly; he almost kept lifting his head to see if A Zi had arrived.

The content described on that thing was so shocking that he still hasn't come to his senses.

He has many questions he wants to ask A Zi in person!

In fact, less than half a quarter-hour later, A Zi was brought in.

Your Highness the Crown Prince! Miss A Zi has arrived.

Pei Shangyan had of course already seen A Zi; he maintained a calm exterior, but inside he was frantic.

Miss A Zi, this is our first meeting; I am the Crown Prince. Pei Shangyan smiled at her just right.

This woman is clearly not ordinary.

This only made Pei Shangyan more anxious, wanting to know the truth immediately.