Chapter 3

At the Heaven-Sacrificial Altar, the recognition ceremony.

Colorful flags fluttered, lanterns hung and decorations tied, the scene extraordinarily lively.

Pei Shangyan strode in like a passing wind, every gesture exuding extraordinary nobility, with an aura that ten thousand could not withstand, fully displaying imperial majesty—truly the embodiment of heaven and sun.

All civil and military officials attending the recognition ceremony, as well as clan and in-law relatives, praised this heir apparent in their hearts.

Someone sighed admiringly, 'His Highness the Crown Prince is increasingly bearing the demeanor of His Majesty in his youth!'

'Your Majesty is the true dragon Son of Heaven; the princes and princesses naturally all bear the appearance of dragons and phoenixes, except for that bad apple.'

'Indeed, improper lineage leads to improper conduct, ignorance and lack of skill—unlike the little princess who, in just a month, has mastered music, chess, calligraphy, and painting, truly the foremost talent of the capital!'

The grating mockery reached Pei Shangyan's ears, making him displeased; his little sister Zhi was raised by him personally—how could she be ignorant and unskilled?

He originally wanted to rebuke these people to watch their words, but upon second thought he also blamed his little sister Zhi for her improper motives; if he spoke up for her now, it would seem unfair to his younger sister.

Pei Shangyan quickly came before the Emperor's seat, clasped his hands in salute: 'Father Emperor, little sister Zhi has already admitted her fault, and I, as son-minister, have also proclaimed the imperial edict; she will come over from time to time.'

The sovereign at the head, merely sitting, exuded an overwhelming aura that brooked no objection; his natural imperial majesty was unmatched. He gave a slight nod, expressionless, and said: 'When she arrives, let her apologize to Xi'er in front of everyone; then this matter will be dropped.'

'Father Emperor!' the palace-dressed lady seated beside the Emperor rose, unable to hide her anxiety: 'Xi'er has already forgiven Sister Zhi; making her apologize before so many would wound Sister Zhi's self-esteem.'

She is Pei Yunxi, the Emperor's legitimate daughter just recognized a month ago; though raised among the common folk, she is poised and graceful, her words and deeds proper and dignified, she is also good-looking, fair-skinned and beautiful, lovely and endearing, her voice like a clear wind chime, giving a refreshing, comforting feeling.

The Emperor looked at her, his brows and eyes instantly softening with a smile, his expression gentler, his tone affectionate: 'Zhi hurt you, yet you intercede for her.'

'Sister Zhi merely feared that Xi would steal Father Emperor and the elder brothers' love; in a moment of confusion she struck heavily, likely because Xi and Sister Zhi haven't spent much time together, leading to this misunderstanding; we are one family, how can a family hold grudges overnight?' Pei Yunxi said the word 'family' and glanced shyly at the Emperor, seeming embarrassed.

The Emperor was pleased with his daughter's sense of the bigger picture and felt pity for her cautious attitude; he reached out and took her hand, saying: 'Even if we are one family, rules are rules; she hurt you, so she ought to admit fault and accept punishment, so that she may truly repent.'

Pei Yunxi bit her lip, nodded obediently, and said: 'I will obey Father Emperor.'

At this moment, a palace attendant loudly announced: 'Princess Zhi has arrived!'

Mu Yuanzhi walked slowly amid the varied gazes of the crowd, vaguely still hearing those condemnatory and mocking words; she seemed to be back in the prison cart, all around shouts of beating and killing; she steadied her emotions, then found the strength to continue forward.

As the throne drew nearer, she could not make out the Emperor's face no matter how she tried; only when she came to her senses did she realize tears had welled up in her eyes unknown when; she sniffed, forcing back the tears about to spill.

No one would pay attention to her tears.

'Subject greets Father Emperor.' Mu Yuanzhi bowed deeply, lowering her eyes in salute.

'No need for much ceremony.' The Emperor of the Nine-Five Supremacy sat upon the dragon throne; even when smiling, he seemed to have an insurmountable distance, high above like the sun; Mu Yuanzhi could only look up, no longer able to act coquettishly as before.

She stood far off, and Pei Yunxi could not wait to go greet her, exclaiming: 'Sister Zhi has come!'

Seeing Pei Yunxi again, Mu Yuanzhi felt as if separated by worlds.

This woman is still so good at acting!

Only when Pei Yunxi drew near did she clearly see that the cloak draped over Mu Yuanzhi was exactly the one she had embroidered for Xiao Yichen!

How could this be?

Pei Yunxi found it unbelievable; she eagerly searched for Xiao Yichen's figure, saw he also looked over, intending to ask with her eyes for confirmation, but his gaze fell entirely on Mu Yuanzhi, leaving her feeling awful inside.

She had spent half a month embroidering that cloak for him; why was it draped on Mu Yuanzhi? Did Mu Yuanzhi insist on having it?

Pei Yunxi withdrew her gaze unwillingly, stared blankly at Mu Yuanzhi, her expression aggrieved yet restrained.

Those nearby could not bear it: 'Mu Yuanzhi, why are you wearing the little sister's gift to Xiao Yichen?!'

This person was none other than the Fourth Prince, Pei Shangling.

Mu Yuanzhi was not hearing Pei Shangling's malicious accusations for the first time; she still felt a pang of hurt instinctively, but soon she brushed it from her mind.

'It turns out this cloak was embroidered by my little sister for my fiancé; I had no idea.' Mu Yuanzhi wore a rueful expression.

Pei Shangling had thought Mu Yuanzhi acknowledging Pei Yunxi as her sister made her not utterly hopeless, but her following words choked him—how could she say that, making it seem as if her little sister…

As expected, the moment Mu Yuanzhi finished speaking, the surrounding atmosphere turned eerie.

As the saying goes, men fear their wives' sisters, women fear their husbands' brothers; how does this little princess not know to avoid suspicion, sending such an intimate item as embroidered clothing to her future brother-in-law?

Pei Yunxi never expected Mu Yuanzhi to grasp the point so sharply; a single sentence reminded everyone that Xiao Yichen was Mu Yuanzhi's fiancé.

Her face instantly flushed with embarrassment; she could feel the gazes upon her, all probing and scrutinizing, her ears burning hot.

Pei Yunxi's helpless appearance made the instigator, Pei Shangling, ache for her; he had spoken without thought, only thinking to speak up for his little sister, and had been careless!

Among the officials, Xiao Yichen's gaze returned to Pei Yunxi, feeling reluctant; he had been negligent, causing her to fall into such an embarrassing situation.

By then, Mu Yuanzhi had already taken off the cloak and returned it to Pei Yunxi, saying: 'Little sister, don't be angry with me.'

As she did so, the prison uniform stained with blood was fully exposed, shocking to behold.

The hall erupted in an uproar; many furtively lifted their eyes to the Emperor.

Although everyone tacitly accepted that entering the Yong Lane meant punishment, since no one cared whether a prisoner was injured or not, and those imprisoned in the Yong Lane palace gates generally had no chance to see the light of day again, the wardens there could act with impunity.

But knowing about it is one thing, seeing it with one's own eyes is another.

Mu Yuanzhi was still a princess; the Emperor had never stripped her of her title, and punishing a princess carries a serious crime.

Pei Shangling's gaze fell upon Mu Yuanzhi, his eyes darkening.

He knew she feared pain the most.

Seeing the strange atmosphere at the scene, Pei Yunxi deliberately coughed once; Pei Shangyan and Pei Shangling instantly tensed and looked over, fearing that their little sister might not yet have recovered.