Chapter 28

She looks very pretty tonight.

Xiao Yichen had never carefully examined Mu Yuanzhi's appearance; they had grown up together since childhood, he easily overlooked her looks, and furthermore, as soon as she appeared he found her annoying—no matter how others praised her beauty, he remained unmoved.

White like snow, red like fire—she seems to have a unique charm no matter what she wears.

Brother Chen, what are you looking at? The cute petite figure suddenly grabbed the dazed Xiao Yichen, pulling his gaze back.

Pei Yunxi stared intently; seeing Mu Yuanzhi's fluttering sleeves amid the myriad lights, her heart sank and a look of pity veiled her eyes. She clung to Xiao Yichen's arm, aggrieved, and greeted Mu Yuanzhi: "Xier has met older sister."

How annoying! Mu Yuanzhi directly hung the mask back up.

Older sister, are you angry that I came to the lantern festival with Brother Chen? Pei Yunxi pouted, eyes glistening with tears.

What right does she have to be angry! Thus line: Xiao Chuchu fiercely went around the mask stall, rushed over and blocked Mu Yuanzhi: "I say, you're too clingy, Mu Yuanzhi? Why won't you stop bothering your brother-in-law?"

Last time at the family banquet, Thus line: Xiao Chuchu had held in a breath of anger; tonight she was determined to get it back!

Mu Yuanzhi is no longer her future sister-in-law; she can now openly scold that shameless woman for clinging to her brother!

Thus line: Xiao Chuchu's voice was so loud it instantly hushed the bustling crowd; passersby glanced over, whispering.

Stealing a brother-in-law? How scandalous!

Who would have thought such a prim and proper young lady could be so shameless?

The name Mu Yuanzhi sounds so familiar—isn't that the princess's name?

Pei Yunxi looked at a loss: "No, everyone, don't misunderstand—it's not like that…"

Her voice was soft; she wanted to speak up for Mu Yuanzhi but felt embarrassed to do so in front of everyone.

"Xier, you're too kind—she's clearly trying to seduce your future husband!" Thus line: Xiao Chuchu looked as if she had caught them in the act, so agitated she was about to roll up her sleeves and strike.

Xiao Yichen sternly rebuked Thus line: Xiao Chuchu: "Chuchu!"

"What's wrong with what I said? Mu Yuanzhi didn't accept her two older brothers' invitation, going out alone—she obviously wants no one to get in her way of digging under the wall!"

"You don't have the slightest semblance of a well-bred young lady; if you keep causing trouble, go back!" Xiao Yichen's low voice began to show anger.

Thus line: Xiao Chuchu instantly weakened: "I don't want to; I've waited so long just to come out and play at the lantern festival."

"Chuchu, Chen Gege, today we should be happy at the lantern festival." Pei Yunxi said, then actually went to pull Mu Yuanzhi: "Sister, come with us, we're a family!"

Mu Yuanzhi instantly became alert; Pei Yunxi was too abnormal.

It was hard to get a chance to get along with Xiao Yichen; at such a time, even if she pretended, Pei Yunxi could not possibly pull her to cause trouble.

This woman must be plotting some scheme!

Mu Yuanzhi dodged aside, but Pei Yunxi insisted on pulling her; Thus line: Xiao Chuchu, fearing Pei Yunxi would be wronged, rushed over, only to have a troupe of brightly dressed stilt-walkers suddenly charge in front of them.

She was shoved into a spin and lunged toward her brother; Xiao Yichen hurried to catch her, momentarily losing the chance to push aside the acrobats and find Pei Yunxi and Mu Yuanzhi.

The acrobats, in strange costumes, tossed ribbons, breathed fire, scattered flowers; Xiao Yichen was dazzled, and by the time he saw a few men with ferocious masks approaching the two girls, it was already too late.

"Yunxi! Yuanzhi!"

Xiao Yichen gripped his sidearm and rushed forward, but a burst of fire blew him back.

"Master!"

At this moment, Hongdou and Linglong finally found Mu Yuanzhi; they were petite and nimble, about to dart to her side.

In the chaos, Hongdou was kicked, she fell toward Linglong, both hit the ground, and their fair hands were immediately stepped on several times.

"It was Pei Yunxi who kicked me just now!"

"I saw it too!"

The two maids ignored the pain, helped each other up, but Mu Yuanzhi's figure was already gone; they panicked: "Master!"

"Move aside!" Xiao Yichen drew his blade and raised it, shouting sternly: "Cabinet investigation!"

The formerly bustling street fell silent in an instant, but the stunned crowd immediately began to panic and flee, shouting, "Thieves! Thieves!"

"Run!"

"Help!"

Thus line: Xiao Chuchu watched the chaotic scene; for the first time she saw her brother so unsettled—was it because of Xuer or Mu Yuanzhi?

It must be Xuer; Brother would never like Mu Yuanzhi!

Xuer, you must be alright!

At this moment, Pei Yunxi and Mu Yuanzhi had their eyes blindfolded and their hands bound behind their backs.

Mu Yuanzhi was skilled at making poisons; she instantly knew she had been drugged, but fortunately it was only a common bewitching drug with no other effects.

She could hear Pei Yunxi sobbing beside her, panicked: "Sister, Yuanzhi sister, is that you? Xuer is so scared..."

"Shut up!"

This is almost certainly related to that odious White Lotus; why would she bind herself as well, just to make it convincing? Mu Yuanzhi couldn't figure it out.

"Sniff... Chen Gege will save us, right... Sister, I don't want to die..."

"Can't you be quiet!" Mu Yuanzhi couldn't even hear a sound in peace.

"If only one can be saved, who will Chen Gege save?"

"Nuts!" Mu Yuanzhi was about to curse when she heard the door being pushed open.

There were two kinds of footsteps coming in.

"Get up!"

A rough, gruff voice sounded, and Mu Yuanzhi was forcibly hauled up; she endured the pain and probed: "Do you know who we are?!"

"Of course we know, you noble Princess." Another eerie voice spoke in a sinister tone.

"Since you know, how dare you act recklessly? Aren't you afraid of extermination of nine clans?" Mu Yuanzhi shouted angrily.

Her heart raced, but her face showed nothing.

The weaker one appears, the more it arouses the predator's desire to ravage; she knew this well.

"Hahaha!" The two men laughed together; one kicked over something: "Extermination of nine clans—we're outlaws, what do we fear?"

A wooden barrel rolled to Mu Yuanzhi's feet, startling her; she struggled to steady her fear, continuing to persuade: "Outlaws all love money—I'll give you however much you want!"

"Sister, stop talking!" Pei Yunxi sobbed, interrupting, "Don't provoke them!"

Don't speak? Are you afraid she'll reach an agreement with them?

"Money? We don't want it; we just want to have some fun!" the rough voice said, then burst into loud laughter.

Mu Yuanzhi froze completely.

Those who fear neither authority nor money nor death are truly the hardest to deal with.

What on earth do they want?!

After hearing the rough voice's words, Pei Yunxi began to sob again without speaking.