Chapter 255: Anyway, she wouldn't care about you

Qilin crossed his arms angrily, glaring threateningly at Gu Rongjin: "Do you believe me or not..."

"Shut up!" Gu Rongjin clapped a hand over Qilin's mouth, giving an embarrassed laugh under Mu Yuanzhi's strange, suspicious gaze, and said in a volume only he and Qilin could hear: "Ancestor, don't go stirring up trouble for me!"

"Then be a little polite."

"You keep your eyes and hands to yourself, and I'll naturally be polite."

"What's wrong with hugging between senior sister and junior brother? My emotions are all messed up by you!"

"No way, not even close siblings!"

Mu Yuanzhi: "What are you two whispering about?"

She had already sensed something was off.

"What are you hiding from me? Do you think I'm easy to fool?"

Mu Yuanzhi crossed her arms, narrowed her eyes, and stared at the two oddballs.

"Nothing!"

The two spoke in unison.

"Surely there's something fishy!" Mu Yuanzhi didn't believe it.

Gu Rongjin would never say it even if beaten to death, and Qilin currently had no intention of saying it either; everything depended on Gu Rongjin's performance.

Gu Rongjin was so angry his teeth itched—clearly it was both of their faults, so why was he the only one afraid?

"Senior sister, you know it too—Gu Rongjin has a hundred tricks, and I'm constantly threatened by him!" Qilin sighed helplessly.

"Threaten what?"

"A birthday gift!" Gu Rongjin's eyes lit up.

Qilin neither confirmed nor denied, just going along with whatever Gu Rongjin said.

"I want to give you a surprise, but this little brat Qilin keeps using that to threaten me—how could I possibly hide anything from you?" Gu Rongjin grabbed Mu Yuanzhi's hand.

Qilin spat: "I'm out."

He didn't want to watch Gu Rongjin act cute here.

"Hurry up and leave." Gu Rongjin dismissed him disgustedly, "Don't forget to come back this afternoon—we're departing soon."

"Got it."

In the afternoon, their group also set out, and by evening they met up with the main army.

Finally able to see Mu Yuanzhi again, Xiao Yichen was delighted; he had been waiting here early just to see her as soon as possible.

At long last, the person he had been yearning for appeared in his sight, and Xiao Yichen's heart beat a few beats faster.

But soon, an uninvited guest appeared alongside her.

Gu Rongjin was naturally inseparable from Mu Yuanzhi.

They were husband and wife.

This realization always left Xiao Yichen feeling deeply helpless.

Before, he thought that as long as he waited, she would eventually divorce Gu Rongjin, and then he could marry her.

But waiting only brought him to see her and Gu Rongjin grow ever more affectionate, leaving less and less room for anyone else to intervene.

Even he had now defected to Gu Rongjin's camp—truly ironic.

No matter how long, Xiao Yichen always found Gu Rongjin displeasing to the eye.

If it weren't for Gu Rongjin, Mu Yuanzhi might not have returned to his side!

Unlike Xiao Yichen, Gu Rongjin now completely disregards Xiao Yichen—a mere loser isn't worth his concern.

He used to envy Xiao Yichen, but now Xiao Yichen has what he also has, and what he has, Xiao Yichen lacks.

"A Zhi, you've come." Xiao Yichen hesitated a moment, then walked over to greet her.

Mu Yuanzhi didn't even force a smile, completely ignoring Xiao Yichen.

Gu Rongjin couldn't help but say: "Isn't this obvious? Why are you asking? Prime Minister Xiao, if you have nothing to do, you could go read the military reports—although you know nothing about marching and fighting, we can't just keep idle people around, right?"

Xiao Yichen's back teeth clenched, his face cold: "What gives you the right to command me?"

"It's not a command, just a suggestion—why are you so sensitive, Prime Minister Xiao?" Gu Rongjin sighed, "So as to keep certain people from spouting nonsense out of boredom, like a toad eyeing swan meat."

Xiao Yichen almost spat the words through clenched teeth: "Gu Rongjin!"

"What, did I say something wrong? Prime Minister Xiao, the way you rush to fling yourself at another man's wife is exactly like a toad eyeing swan meat." Gu Rongjin shrugged.

Mu Yuanzhi ignored the tense, explosive scene, tugged Gu Rongjin's sleeve, and said, "Let's go."

"Mm." Gu Rongjin immediately restrained his aura, smiling warmly, not sparing Xiao Yichen another glance, and left with Mu Yuanzhi; before departing, he didn't forget to tell Xiao Yichen a piece of good news: "Your little wife isn't dead yet—remember to go find her!"

"She's not my wife—I've already divorced her!" Xiao Yichen shouted.

He said that for Mu Yuanzhi to hear.

Although he knew she didn't care.

But even so, he still hoped she would at least show some reaction.

Yet each time it disappointed him.

Her back bore the words "doesn't care" written all over it.

Xiao Yichen stood rooted to the spot, long unable to return to his senses.

He plunged again into their past, unable to extricate himself; in that memory, she was filled only with him, circling around him, hoping only that he would glance at her once more.

But as he thought, the version of himself in the memory would always get in the way, repeating harsh words that made him regret bitterly, words that made him wish he could go back in time and give himself a beating.

Destroying the beauty of the memory, recalling it often left him even more melancholy.

"Xiao Yichen!"

Pei Shangling came rushing over in a fluster: "A Zhi? Have you seen her?"

Having just returned from outside, Pei Shangling rushed in and immediately went to ask; the steward told him she had arrived, so he went to the side room prepared for her, but seeing no one, he went searching everywhere, yet still couldn't find her.

Xiao Yichen didn't turn his head, "Just left, together with Gu Rongjin."

"Where did he go? I didn't run into him."

Pei Shangling didn't know Xiao Yichen was in a bad mood again, and continued asking.

Xiao Yichen turned to Pei Shangling and said, "What are you looking for her for? Anyway, she won't pay you any attention!"

He didn't know whether this remark was aimed at Pei Shangling or at himself.

Perhaps he was mocking Pei Shangling, who, like him, couldn't win A Zhi's affection; only this way could he feel a little balanced in his heart, or maybe he just wanted to vent his anger.

Pei Shangling could tell at a glance that Xiao Yichen had surely hit a wall.

He snorted and said, "I'm talking about you, Xiao Yichen; we're all unfortunate wanderers, so don't act like this—it's unsightly."

Moreover, it would let him know that he himself is also unsightly.

Xiao Yichen didn't say another word, glanced at Pei Shangling, and left.

Pei Shangling also stopped bothering him and went to look for Mu Yuanzhi.

Mu Yuanzhi and the others had just arrived, so naturally they first went to Prince Jia's residence; Prince Jia is now their commander and will also be the commander of this land in the future.

"You've come?"

Prince Jia, who had been waiting early, came out smiling to greet them: "You've had a hard journey; nothing wrong, I hope?"

"How could there be any trouble? I'm here!" Gu Rongjin said proudly.

The late-arriving Qilin said disdainfully, "What good are you?"

Gu Rongjin: "I'm your master! Without me, you're even more useless."

"All right, stop bickering." Mu Yuanzhi raised a hand to stop one of them, saying, "I'm not afraid of the prince's teasing."