Chapter 297: Companion Palace Fire

The people from the palace also said that the Ninth Prince suggested they delay their return date, lest traveling in the heavy snow be dangerous.

Such heavy snow indeed makes travel difficult; they have to stay even if they don't want to.

The blizzard kept falling without end, seeming infinite.

Such a severe blizzard is uncommon even in deep winter in their Great Zhou.

Truly strange weather, indeed it seems like human interference.

Burning many charcoal braziers was needed to keep warm; that night Mu Yuanzhi slept fairly peacefully.

The next day, the snow stopped; they thought they could return as planned, but then news came that heavy snow had blocked the mountain, making it impossible to leave the city.

Not far outside Ying Xu's capital Jingcheng lies a vast, continuous mountain range; now the mountain is blocked by snow, so better not go out today.

"What a coincidence," Qi Shihuai said. "Even if the mountain is blocked by snow, melting snow is just a matter of time; we'll be able to go in a few days. Could it keep snowing until the road is impassable?"

Mu Yuanzhi: "Or perhaps something will happen in these few days."

Gu Rongjin: "I had just told His Majesty we'd be returning soon, but now we must write another letter to inform him we're trapped here."

"There's nothing we can do about it; I hope we're overthinking."

Snowfall isn't cold, but melting snow is; it's already been cold these two days, and today the melt is even colder. Mu Yuanzhi spent the whole day holed up in her room, researching weapons and reading books, so the days weren't boring.

When night fell, it started snowing again, though not as violently as before—seemingly just to top off the snow blocking the mountain with a little melt.

"I have a suggestion: why don't we go back to the mountain villa?" Pei Di came over to say to Mu Yuanzhi.

Qilin: "Great idea! Earlier we had to stay here because of Ying Xu's emperor, and we had to compromise; now that he's dead, we can leave, right?"

Pei Di: "Regardless of whether the Ninth Prince agrees, my suggestion is that we sneak back without alerting anyone."

Mu Yuanzhi thought it over, found it feasible, and asked Gu Rongjin: "What do you think, Rongjin?"

"Alright, the Ninth Prince probably has no time to bother us now. If we keep staying in the companion palace, we're practically waiting to die. The mountain villa is full of mechanisms and traps; even if that person from last time—who might or might not be the former emperor of Ying Xu—tried to get in, it wouldn't be easy." Gu Rongjin said.

They went to find Qi Shihuai, and he also agreed.

So they waited for the palace attendants to change shifts, and during that quarter‑hour gap, they swiftly left the companion palace, unseen and unheard.

However, with many people, getting everyone to retreat isn't easy; they also had to avoid being spotted by outside informants, which required the monk's illusion technique.

"I, the poor monk, came here really just to serve as a dharma protector..."

Even such a small matter consumes his inner energy.

"Don't complain—you're enjoying it yourself, aren't you?" Qilin instantly saw through the monk.

"Namo Amitabha, he who knows me is the benefactor Qilin."

"Moreover, you're actually hoping something happens so you can enjoy yourself more," Qilin continued.

The monk laughed heartily: "That's also true."

Mu Yuanzhi: ……

She didn't even know whether to say her thanks.

When night fell, they finally returned to the mountain villa; the guards there breathed a sigh of relief. Since three guards died last time, the place has become even more tightly guarded, almost like a bronze wall and iron wall.

But it's still not enough; that intruder who sneaked in last time could bypass all the mechanisms and go straight into the peach blossom forest.

Was that really the former emperor of Ying Xu? Mu Yuanzhi doubted it.

If not, he might keep coming back.

The day after they returned to the mountain villa, news came that buildings near the companion palace caught fire, affecting the palace as well; moreover, everyone in the well had dried up, firefighting was slow, and many palace personnel died!

Pei Di: "It looks like our decision was correct—staying in the companion palace really is dangerous!"

"Is arson that low‑level?" Gu Rongjin bit her lower lip. "They could pull off the trick of blocking the mountain with snow; wouldn't that be a bit of a strong start and weak finish?"

"Although arson is low‑level, it's still effective, right? Setting fire directly in the companion palace might get us caught, but if the blaze starts in the neighboring buildings and implicates the fish in the pond, it would catch us off guard." Mu Yuanzhi said.

Qilin: "But I don't understand—who have we offended? Instead of seizing one of us as a hostage, they want to burn everything to ashes with a single fire."

This must be due to some grudge, right?

"We've just arrived; if we have any grudge, it's likely because we killed the former emperor of Ying Xu," Gu Rongjin said.

Pei clan: "It could also be someone my younger brother Pei Di and I offended in the past."

Gu Rongjin: "I'll go back to the companion palace to have a look and search for clues."

Mu Yuanzhi: "I'll go with you; I also want to see the scene."

"Alright, let's go!"

"Senior sister, be careful!"

The fire at the companion palace was no small matter; many people came from the palace, and a stranger dressed in fine robes approached Mu Yuanzhi and company, saying: "Are you two the Marquis Jin and the Guardian State Princess?"

"That's right. May I ask who you are?" Mu Yuanzhi asked.

With such keen eyesight, you could recognize them?

This person has sharp observation.

The woman laughed and said: "I am the Grand Princess, elder sister of the former emperor. Hearing of the companion palace fire, I rushed over to see; upon arrival I heard that several honored guests seemed not to have been in the companion palace last night."

She asked curiously.

Gu Rongjin: "Don't blame the Grand Princess, Your Highness—we sensed someone was secretly meddling, so we didn't inform you and returned to the mountain villa on our own; the facts prove our guess was correct."

He spoke bluntly.

The Grand Princess seemed not to have expected Gu Rongjin to say that; she stared for a while before asking: "Is there really such a thing? Does the young master have any clue as to who is so bold as to dare plot against the envoy and set fire to the palace?!"

"That's hard to say; we've just arrived and are merely especially sensitive to danger." Gu Rongjin said. "Has Prince Salary Increase found anything suspicious?"

The Grand Princess shook her head: "I've just arrived too, still inspecting how things are burning here; the Ministry of Justice has already sent people, and I believe they'll soon find the arsonist."

She paused, then added: "If the honored guests are unharmed, I can relax, but won't staying in the mountain villa be neglectful?"

Mu Yuanzhi: "Grand Princess, don't worry—we're better off staying in the mountain villa; besides, we're about to set off back to Great Zhou, so we won't trouble you. You have plenty of matters to attend to."

Upon hearing that, the Grand Princess's eyes flickered with something unusual; I don't know if it's because Mu Yuanzhi mentioned the vacant throne.

In that case, this palace will not disturb you any further; I have other matters, so I'll take my leave first.