Chapter 257

Pei Di was very happy; he stood up and paced back and forth, already unable to wait.

However, it's still unknown when the war will end; for now, we can only wait for Mu Yuanzhi to write the prescription and acupuncture diagram.

"You don't even ask what my conditions are? What if it's something you can't accomplish?" Mu Yuanzhi asked curiously.

Pei Di: "As long as I can save my mother, I'll agree to anything; there's nothing I can't accomplish!"

The young heir was confident and resolute.

Mu Yuanzhi: "What if I ask you to pluck the moon from the sky?"

Pei Di stared for a moment before saying: "No way. Such a rare condition—how could someone as clever as Miss Mu waste it?"

Mu Yuanzhi nodded.

It seems this kid isn't so easy to tease, unlike the Qilin.

She finished writing the prescription, completed the drawing, and handed it to Pei Di.

Pei Di received it with both hands, thanked profusely, and carefully put it away.

Mu Yuanzhi pitied his filial devotion; to this young heir she'd just met, she felt like looking at a younger brother.

"By the way, Miss Mu, don't let my father emperor know, lest it cause you trouble." Pei Di said.

Mu Yuanzhi: "Mm."

Turns out he also knew he couldn't openly oppose his father emperor—just moments ago he was so impulsive?

"But your father emperor is so smart; he might figure it out."

"I'll go become a disciple of Qi Shihuai right away; then he won't speculate wildly." Pei Di said.

Mu Yuanzhi: "General Qi is very capable; becoming his disciple won't be a loss."

Pei Di gave no clear answer, thanked Mu Yuanzhi again, then went to grab the medicine.

After he left, the Qilin came.

"Senior sister, who were you just talking to? What was the matter you mentioned? Why didn't you tell me?" the Qilin chirped.

Mu Yuanzhi: "Pei Di."

"Pei Di? Is he pestering you?"

"He wants to treat his mother's illness, but she's far away in a foreign land, so I can only prescribe her medicine and give her acupuncture for now." Mu Yuanzhi said.

The Qilin nodded reassuredly, "I'm here to tell you that Pei Shangning has brought his mother again!"

"Madame Deng?" Mu Yuanzhi frowned. "What is she here for?"

The Qilin: "They're outside."

Mu Yuanzhi pressed her lips, "Whatever Prince Jia says goes; I don't want to get involved, I'll just pretend not to see."

"Huh? If Madame Deng moves in, how unlucky would that be!" the Qilin complained.

Mu Yuanzhi: "After all, I'm not the mistress of this place; Prince Jia's word is law, so we should follow his wishes—no need to make things difficult for him over an insignificant person."

The Qilin thought it over, agreed it was right, and thus let it be.

On the other side, Madame Deng, waiting outside, was anxious; she wanted to see Pei Shangling and Mu Yuanzhi, having nowhere else to go, and after thinking it over, she still wanted to be with her children.

"Mother, don't worry; Elder Brother Ling will definitely see you." Pei Shangning comforted his mother.

He no longer calls her "Mother Consort," because his mother said she no longer wants any ties to the palace gates.

Madame Deng sighed, torn: "I'm afraid Zhiyi won't want to see me, that she doesn't want to see this mother of hers..."

Pei Shangning couldn't bring himself to persuade her at this moment.

He could see how stubborn Little Sister Zhiyi had become; this was also their fault, forced upon them by them.

All he hopes now is that they can quickly let go of past grievances and be together as a family.

They had been waiting here for a long time when Pei Shangling emerged.

"Elder Brother Ling!" Pei Shangning exclaimed happily; he hadn't seen his brother in ages.

"Younger Brother Ning, Mother." Upon seeing his mother again, Pei Shangling noted she looked much better than before, less gaunt, and the heavy stone in his heart finally settled.

"Ling'er, you've lost weight." Madame Deng stroked his face with heartache.

Since leaving the palace gates, her Ling'er is no longer the pampered noble she once was.

Having previously suffered imprisonment, and now having to trek east and west with the army, it truly pains her.

"I'm fine, Mother. And you?" Pei Shangling asked.

"Mother has always been thinking of you and Little Sister Zhiyi, so we decided to come seek refuge with you." Pei Shangning said.

Since Elder Brother Ling has decided, he no longer wavers; the father emperor is heartless, so they needn't cling to anything anymore.

Upon hearing this, Pei Shangling's expression turned troubled; he hesitated, unsure how to speak.

Seeing this, Madame Deng wore a bitter expression and asked: "But your sister doesn't want to see me?"

Pei Shangling: "Our supplies and money are tight now; Prince Jia's meaning is that we don't need so many people."

"You don't need to comfort Mother; it's Zhiyi who doesn't want to see me, and Prince Jia also doesn't want to make things difficult." Madame Deng lowered her eyes.

She knows, she certainly knows Zhiyi won't easily forgive her; if it were her, she wouldn't easily forgive either.

"Mother..." Pei Shangling couldn't go on.

Mother's supposition isn't wrong; what else could he say?

Everyone knows those are just words of comfort.

"Mother, it's fine; the future is long, we're not in a hurry—as long as we persevere, Little Sister Zhiyi will surely be as before, living happily with our family!" Pei Shangning immediately began to console his mother.

Madame Deng gave a wry smile and nodded: "Exactly, exactly, Ning'er is right."

She took Pei Shangling's hand, carefully examined her long-unseen son, then said: "Mother won't make things difficult for you; Mother and Ning'er will find a place nearby to settle, so it'll be easier for us mother and son to meet."

Pei Shangling: "I'll arrange lodging for you."

"Okay."

In the residence, Qilin learned that Prince Jia had not allowed Pei Shangnian and Madame Deng to move in, and his fondness for the prince grew even stronger.

He told this news to Mu Yuanzhi, who was still buried in researching weapons.

"I didn't expect that," Mu Yuanzhi said. "The Prince is really thoughtful."

Qilin: "I'm coming to appreciate Prince Jia more and more! He truly has the bearing of a great general."

Mu Yuanzhi couldn't help but laugh: "You're saying that just because he favors me, right?"

"What's wrong with that? Everyone has biases; he favors you, so I naturally favor him!" Qilin said dismissively.

Mu Yuanzhi: "Pei Shangling should arrange a residence for her mother nearby, right?"

"Exactly, then that woman won't come bother you every few days!" Qilin crossed his arms, displeased. "From now on, Senior Sister, be careful when you go out—don't let that woman entangle you!"

Qilin's guess was correct; the next day, when he and Mu Yuanzhi went out to stroll, they saw Madame Deng waiting outside.

Madame Deng still thought they couldn't see her, hiding sneakily to the side.

"This woman is really annoying, like a stalker!" Qilin fumed. "Senior Sister, should I go chase her away?"

"Qilin, I've told you before: don't provoke her, lest you bring trouble upon yourself—just ignore her." Mu Yuanzhi said.

Qilin nodded reluctantly. "All right."

Seeing them about to leave, Madame Deng hurriedly tailed them.