Chapter 301

I...

Mu Yuanzhi and Gu Rongjin remained silent, waiting for Xixi to speak.

Xixi took a deep breath, summoning her courage, and then said: "After I escaped, I ran desperately. Later I met a girl named A Zi, who said she was very familiar with Young Master Jin, and asked me to go with her. She even produced Young Master Jin's token, so I naturally believed her."

Mu Yuanzhi asked, "And then?"

Xixi also knew A Zi?! Later she arranged for me to be placed in a remote small town, letting me live under an assumed name, saying that when she needed me she would find me, and telling me not to reveal to anyone that I knew her, no matter who I met. I waited for her wherever I was, but even after you all reached the capital, I still hadn't heard from her. Actually I had also thought something was off, so I didn't plan to tell you.

Xixi, you still know A Zi?! Later she had me placed in a remote small town to live under an assumed name, telling me to contact her when she needed me and not to reveal to anyone that I knew her, no matter who I met. I waited for her wherever I was, but even after you all reached the capital, I still hadn't heard from her. Actually I had also thought something was off, so I didn't plan to tell you.

Xixi said.

It turns out A Zi arranged for Xixi to leave, which explains why Xixi suddenly vanished like she evaporated from the world.

"Is there anything else? Anything you haven't mentioned, no matter how small, you can say it." Gu Rongjin asked.

"Is that A Zi a bad person?" Xixi asked.

Mu Yuanzhi nodded, "You figured it out too?"

"Looking at your expressions, you've already told me." Xixi said, as she tried hard to recall every detail of her time with A Zi, suddenly remembering something: "I remember now—once she dropped a jade pendant, and on it was carved a cherry character! Does that count as a small detail?"

Mu Yuanzhi didn't understand, she looked at Gu Rongjin, whose expression immediately changed: "Is the 'ying' the same as the ying in cherry blossom?"

"Yes!" Xixi nodded, "Because when she dropped the jade pendant she quickly picked it up and put it away, but it didn't seem like a precious object, yet she seemed not to want anyone to see it; however, my eyesight is excellent, so I still noticed it!"

"What's wrong, Rongjin? Is that a person's name? Do you know them?"

Gu Rongjin remained solemn, muttering: "No wonder, even after I issued the kill order, she still managed to escape the pursuit of Shuangjiang; no wonder she has leverage to negotiate with Pei Shangyan."

"How come, do you still have a traitor among you?" Mu Yuanzhi asked.

"Yeah, I didn't expect Shuangjiang to be so fragile; it seems I need to reorganize it properly." Gu Rongjin said, "Or perhaps this organization isn't needed at all."

Mu Yuanzhi exclaimed, "You want to disband it?"

"This requires the emperor's approval." Gu Rongjin said.

Xixi listened, bewildered, and asked, "So who is this Ying then?"

And what is Shuangjiang again?

Gu Rongjin glanced at her and said, "A traitorous second-in-command."

Mu Yuanzhi asked, "Does this Ying like A Zi?"

"It's pretty obvious, I can't believe I didn't see it." Gu Rongjin clenched his fists, "Little Yuanzhi, I need to go out for a while."

Mu Yuanzhi said, "Be careful."

"Don't worry, he can't do anything to me, especially with others around."

Xixi watched Gu Rongjin's retreating figure as he suddenly left, still not understanding the situation; she now only knew that the person who helped her, A Zi, wasn't a good person, but A Zi had indeed helped her—otherwise she might not have been so fortunate.

"Princess, can I go look for my father now?" Xixi asked, "I was thinking that before I go find him, I should first meet up with you all."

"You'd better go see the emperor first." Mu Yuanzhi said, "After all, your status is not simple—you are the intended consort of the former crown prince, and also the daughter of a surrendered general; it's fitting to see the emperor first."

"Can you go with me?" Xixi asked again.

Mu Yuanzhi thought for a moment, then nodded.

"Thank you, Princess! We're still friends, right?" Xixi happily wanted to take Mu Yuanzhi's hand, but she didn't dare.

Mu Yuanzhi nodded: "Yes."

"Great!" Xixi jumped up happily.

Around Mu Yuanzhi, friends gradually gathered—something she never had before. Previously she only hung out with a few members of the Pei clan, looking down on making friends with others, which later led to her downfall when no one was willing to lend a hand, except for Rongjin.

She and Xixi went together to the palace to see the emperor; the new emperor was receiving them in the Xuanshi Hall. When they arrived, they happened to see Pei Di coming out from inside, his expression suggesting he might have just argued with his father again.

"Xixi, this is the Crown Prince." Mu Yuanzhi introduced.

Xixi smiled and nodded at Pei Di: "Greetings, Crown Prince."

"Little Di, this is the daughter of General Ximo, Miss Xixi."

"Hello." Pei Di, in a bad mood, gave a forced smile and told Mu Yuanzhi, "Elder Sister Mu, I have something to attend to, I'll go first."

"Hmm."

Xixi watched Pei Di's retreating back and said, "The Crown Prince is so young!"

"He is the fourth imperial son, naturally small; when you later see the Emperor, you'll surely find him young as well." Mu Yuanzhi said.

Xixi: "Then I'm quite looking forward to it."

The new emperor soon summoned them inside; unlike Pei Di, the emperor's expression showed nothing special, which made Mu Yuanzhi involuntarily breathe a sigh of relief.

"You've come, no need for excessive ceremony." The emperor waved his hand at Xixi, who was about to perform a great ritual.

Coincidentally, Xixi wasn't one to stand on ceremony, and her impression of the new emperor improved at once.

"Regarding Miss Xixi's matter, I just learned about it from the memorial of the Protectorate Princess." The emperor said.

Xixi, who had been sneaking glances at the emperor's appearance, was suddenly called by name; she quickly withdrew her wandering gaze and waited for the emperor's next words.

"I plan to cancel your engagement to the former crown prince, also known as Prince Xian. Do you have any objections?" The emperor asked Xixi.

"No, I'll leave it entirely up to Your Majesty!" Where would there be any objections? It's simply great!

She never liked Pei Shangyan anyway!

The emperor nodded in satisfaction.

Mu Yuanzhi thought that regardless of the reason, having Xixi, the daughter of General Ximo, marry the former crown prince was something the new emperor also did not want to see.

"But then, Miss Xixi, your marriage prospects would be left hanging—do you have any suitor in mind? I can arrange a match for you."

"No need to trouble Your Majesty, Your servant still has no one in mind." Xixi said.

The emperor smiled and said, "Good; whenever you find a suitable partner, come and tell me."

"Your servant has already thanked Your Majesty."

The new emperor turned and looked at Mu Yuanzhi: "Princess, when you have time, come to the palace more often to see the Empress and Di'er; they often think of you."

Certainly, as long as they don't mind the trouble.

"Di'er still often says he wants to be your disciple; I'll let him first study properly under General Qi, then come bother you." said the new emperor.

Xiao Di hasn't given up yet?

Mu Yuanzhi said: "The Crown Prince is clever and quick-witted; Your Majesty can rest easy."

"I hope you're not just trying to cheer me up." said the new emperor, but his eyes were full of pride.

It's clear he really has high hopes for Pei Di, though Pei Di himself doesn't know it.

Leaving Xuanshi Hall, Xiao Yichen came toward her and ruined Mu Yuanzhi's good mood.