Chapter 316: with translation of chapter title

The warm pad of a thumb brushed over her cheek, and Mu Yuanzhi only then realized that she had unknowingly shed tears.

She hastily sniffed, lifted her smiling face to look at Gu Rongjin: "How did you know I was here?"

"I don't know; maybe this is what they call heart‑to‑heart understanding." Gu Rongjin laughed, and he also gazed upon the Grand General's manor, which had been freshly revealed to the world.

The dilapidated manor had been completely renewed, radiating vibrant vitality.

"Soon we'll be able to move in and live here!" Gu Rongjin tightened his hold on Mu Yuanzhi's shoulder, "I'm really looking forward to it."

To liven the atmosphere, Mu Yuanzhi, having composed her mood, teased: "Yes, from the Princess's manor to the Grand General's manor, you're still like a son‑in‑law."

"Marrying the Princess naturally counts as being a son‑in‑law!" Gu Rongjin bumped his head against Mu Yuanzhi's, happily saying, "This is something countless people dream of—I'm truly fortunate."

"I'm the one who's really lucky, to be with you." Mu Yuanzhi said sweetly.

"We're both very fortunate!"

"Cough cough… Sorry for interrupting your fortunate moment, you two!"

Yun Jinglou smiled narrowly as he broke the lovey‑dovey atmosphere, directly choking off the sweet air.

Mu Yuanzhi slipped out of Gu Rongjin's embrace, cleared her throat, and asked solemnly: "Young Master Yun, did you come with good news?"

Gu Rongjin's face showed his displeasure; he had no pleasant expression for this sudden intruder who interrupted his love talk with his wife.

Is there any important matter that can't wait an hour?

Yun Jinglou ignored the low pressure emanating from Gu Rongjin and smiled at Mu Yuanzhi: "Whether it's good news is for the Princess herself to decide; having received the order, I rushed nonstop to the Xiao manor."

"Straight to the Xiao manor?" Mu Yuanzhi stared, dumbfounded.

This person is too reckless……

"Exactly, I went straight to his door—after all, I have someone backing me up!" Yun Jinglou said without any hesitation.

Mu Yuanzhi pressed her forehead: "Alright, go on."

"Get to the point!" Gu Rongjin snapped, crossing his arms.

This Yun Jinglou is still as deserving of a beating as ever!

"Alright, get to the point." Yun Jinglou nodded and then detailed his visit to the Xiao manor to find Xiao Yichen.

Under a dark, windy night, he scaled the wall and entered, as if passing through an uninhabited realm.

He immediately judged that Xiao Yichen was unlike Gu Rongjin—lacking extraordinary hearing, he couldn't detect someone sneaking in.

Of course, Xiao Yichen is not a former Frost Descent practitioner; he hasn't undergone Frost Descent training, so even if he knows the Shan Yin school's martial arts, it's useless—this doesn't mean his martial arts haven't improved.

Yun Jinglou had never been to the Xiao manor before, but he had Mu Yuanzhi's drawn map of the Xiao manor, and he quickly located Xiao Yichen's bedroom; the occupant was absent, yet his curiosity drove him to scout the room thoroughly.

What surprised him was that Xiao Yichen actually enshrined his unborn child in a hidden compartment of the room!

What a guy—pretending to be a reformed playboy in front of Miss Mu, yet he still can't forget the child in his ex‑wife's belly!

This is an important discovery; Yun Jinglou made a mental note of it.

However, there was no spirit tablet of Pei Yunxi in the room; Yun Jinglou searched everywhere but found none.

During this time, no servants or guards noticed him.

But considering he's merely a Sixth Rank Official, his former guards were likely withdrawn by the emperor already.

Where could Xiao Yichen be?

Yun Jinglou doesn't know Xiao Yichen well, but according to the information he received, this person is very fond of hibiscus‑refined elegance, enjoys moon‑gazing, flower‑viewing, and scenery‑appreciation, so he might very well be in the garden right now.

So Yun Jinglou ran to the garden, and indeed he saw a figure pausing to gaze at the moon there.

"Who goes there?!"

Congratulations, congratulations—we've finally found him!

Yun Jinglou stepped forward directly, facing the fully guarded Xiao Yichen with a flower‑like smile: "Good evening, Master Xiao!"

Xiao Yichen gave a cold snort, then drew the sword at his waist: "It seems I didn't invite you, Yun Jinglou."

"We're all colleagues; how can you just draw your sword like that?" Yun Jinglou said, then without warning threw a punch at Xiao Yichen.

He struck fast, accurate, and fierce; even though he was bare‑handed against Xiao Yichen's sword, he still gained the upper hand.

"As I suspected, your techniques work only against fellow Shan Yin practitioners!" Yun Jinglou laughed, throwing punch after punch.

His moves were lightning‑fast; Xiao Yichen couldn't block them and kept retreating.

Yun Jinglou had already driven him to a point where there was nowhere left to retreat—behind him lay a pond.

"Yun Jinglou!" Xiao Yichen's face turned icy; though he still held his sword and wasn't utterly defenseless, the gap between them made him furious beyond bearing.

"Tsk tsk, you went to great lengths just to give Gu Rongjin a bit of color, but compared to me you're still far behind." Yun Jinglou, getting into the fight, momentarily forgot his bounds and unleashed vicious moves.

Xiao Yichen, heated with anger, also exerted his inner strength to fight back!

Soon the guards heard the commotion and came running, drawing swords and blades, but Yun Jinglou's single sweeping leg kick sent a shockwave through the air that staggered them and knocked them down.

Xiao Yichen realized that Yun Jinglou's skill was truly on par with Gu Rongjin's, and sparring with him brought him no advantage.

Yet this person had broken into the Xiao manor at night, acting arrogantly, and Xiao Yichen simply couldn't swallow that insult!

"Yun Jinglou, don't bully people too much!"

A later batch of guards drew their bows, aiming at Yun Jinglou.

Yun Jinglou dodged them all, then leisurely landed on the large tree opposite Xiao Yichen, looking down and saying, "What's this about bullying? I was entrusted to probe your strengths and weaknesses!"

"Who?!" Xiao Yichen, sword in hand, glared with icy eyes: "Is it Gu Rongjin?!"

"It's his wife!"

Yun Jinglou just like that easily gave him away.

His words lowered Xiao Yichen's pressure even further; the cold aura radiating from his whole body seemed about to take shape.

Was it Ah Zhi who summoned this person?

Xiao Yichen felt a rush of mixed emotions in an instant.

He gripped his sword so hard his knuckles turned white.

"Seize him!"

Xiao Yichen let out a loud shout.

He wants to see how Yun Jing Lou will explain himself before the emperor!

"You think you can take me down with just these few lackeys?"

Having calmed down, Yun Jing Lou's hot blood also cooled; he no longer lingered in battle, and with a few flashes disappeared into the night.

Though every arrow was sure to hit, they were all dodged by Yun Jing Lou; the guards asked Xiao Yichen, "Sir? What should we do?!"

"What else can we do? A bunch of trash!" Xiao Yichen gave them a cold sideways glance, his chest heaving.

Yun Jing Lou just ran off like that, refusing to admit he had sneaked into the Xiao residence at night; even if he had a host of guards as witnesses, it would be useless.

The key isn't the witnesses, but whom the emperor chooses to protect.

Obviously, he is not within the emperor's protection.

Once a high-ranking minister of the court, a favorite before the emperor, now he is merely a Sixth Rank petty official.

Such a disparity often makes Xiao Yichen unable to bear it, but he can only endure.

After the recollection, Yun Jing Lou was glared at by Mu Yuanzhi.