Chapter 327: Pei Shangling Gravely Injured

Gu Rongjin patted Mu Yuanzhi, then walked over, adopting the posture of a victor looking down on Xiao Yichen, and warned him again: "Xiao Yichen, if there's a next time, you won't get off so easily."

If it weren't for the court regulations prohibiting officials from fighting privately, he would definitely make Xiao Yichen eat so much he couldn't finish and would have to carry the leftovers away.

Xiao Yichen gave a cold smile, didn't finish speaking, then after steadying himself by leaning on the tree trunk, he exerted all his strength to stand ramrod straight, as if that would keep his aura from yielding to Gu Rongjin.

His deep eyes held an indescribable complexity as he stared at Gu Rongjin.

If it were anyone else, being tightly stared at by such a snake-like gaze would make them uneasy.

But Gu Rongjin is no ordinary person; in his eyes, this is merely a dying struggle of a defeated subordinate, not worth noticing at all.

"Rongjin, let's go, don't bother with him." Mu Yuanzhi came over and tugged at Gu Rongjin's arm, "We're out to have fun today; don't let an irrelevant person spoil our mood."

She firmly believed Xiao Yichen would surely meet his doom through his own wrongdoing, and she wasn't in a hurry.

Just like Pei Yunxi before.

Upon seeing Mu Yuanzhi arrive, Gu Rongjin broke into a smile, took his wife's hand and nodded: "I'll listen to you."

Xiao Yichen stared fixedly at their retreating backs as they embraced and left, the gloom in his eyes deepening.

"Ah Zhi, you can't escape; I will definitely snatch you back!"

He swore!

Xiao Yichen's appearance as this little incident had no effect on Mu Yuanzhi and Xiao Yichen's mood to continue playing; Gu Rongjin had not a care in the world, feeling especially good after turning the tables, he dragged Mu Yuanzhi to a nearby temple to play, made a wish, ate vegetarian noodles, then returned.

They didn't take a carriage, but continued walking, anyway the princess's residence wasn't far.

The night was deep, yet there were still many pedestrians on the street, after all today was the Lantern Festival, many people were playing late before heading home.

But aside from the main street, the lanes were nearly deserted; the two strolled, which was peaceful and harmonious, the moonlight adding a touch of warmth.

Mu Yuanzhi was about to speak when Gu Rongjin made a hushing gesture, indicating she should look ahead.

What's ahead?

Mu Yuanzhi looked over suspiciously, only to see that at the mouth of the side alley, it seemed someone was lying there!

If the silhouette hadn't seemed somewhat familiar, she would have tugged Gu Rongjin to take a detour.

Gu Rongjin tightened his grip on Mu Yuanzhi's hand and moved forward; after just a few steps, he could smell the blood in the air.

If it weren't for a severe injury with heavy bleeding, there wouldn't be such a strong smell.

Who on earth is it?

When Mu Yuanzhi drew near, she suddenly discovered that the person was actually Pei Shangling!

"Hey, you're not dead, are you?!" Gu Rongjin also recognized him, looking down from above at the dying Pei Shangling.

This person's body was covered in wounds visible to the naked eye, head drooping, and it was unclear whether he was dead or alive.

Pei Shangling showed no response, still with his head drooping.

"He couldn't be dead, could he?" Mu Yuanzhi and Gu Rongjin exchanged a glance, "A prince being stabbed in the capital is truly terrifying."

She felt no sympathy for Pei Shangling at all, merely found it strange; logically, even if Pei Shangling were an insignificant prince, the perpetrator wouldn't dare to kill so brazenly under the emperor's feet.

Perhaps upon hearing Mu Yuanzhi's voice, Pei Shangling finally reacted!

His head slowly moved, but it seemed to tug at the wound, causing him to fall back painfully.

"Oh, he's not dead." Gu Rongjin had no intention of helping Pei Shangling, stroking his chin as he pondered: "The wounds look like they were torn by an animal?"

He took a step back with some disdain: "He couldn't have rabies or something, could he?"

Mu Yuanzhi replied coldly: "We'll have to see to know."

Gu Rongjin: "Hey, Pei Shangling, answer my question before you die—were you bitten by a dog?"

Instant retribution?

Pei Shangling strained to keep his heavy eyelids open, his head against the mottled wall shifting with difficulty, his pallid, blood-stained lips moving but unable to utter a word for a long while; his face was unrecognizable, covered in grime and blood.

"He looks like he's about to die anyway." Gu Rongjin said coldly.

"Let's give him two needles first." Mu Yuanzhi said reluctantly, "Otherwise it'll be hard to pry his mouth open."

Gu Rongjin nodded in agreement: "Otherwise we'd have to drag him to the crematorium."

Mu Yuanzhi crouched down, took out the silver needles she carried, and gave Pei Shangling acupuncture.

Pei Shangling, whose injuries made speaking difficult, gazed with moist eyes at Mu Yuanzhi administering the needles, obviously deeply moved.

Gu Rongjin thought about actually giving him some internal energy to help him recover faster, but then thought better of it—better not waste it; just give him two needles to cling to life, and once back he can torture himself however he likes.

After Mu Yuanzhi finished the acupuncture in less than a quarter hour, Pei Shangling's complexion visibly improved, he could move his hands and feet a bit; when he tried to speak, he burst into a violent cough, his face shifting from pale to an abnormal red.

Mu Yuanzhi sealed a few of his acupoints, and his coughing eased somewhat.

"Thank... thank you, Ah Zhi!" Pei Shangling exclaimed gratefully, gazing emotionally at Mu Yuanzhi before him, his hoarse voice trembling.

"What on earth happened to you? Speak quickly, don't waste our time!" Mu Yuanzhi said bluntly.

Pei Shangling's state really made her feel annoyed to the point of goosebumps; if she didn't want to know what had happened, she would have just left him there now to avoid nightmares later.

Gu Rongjin also showed impatience, urging: "Speak quickly!"

Pei Shangling ignored Gu Rongjin, his eyes filled with various emotions fixed solely on Mu Yuanzhi; he steadied his breath before saying: "I... I don't... know... what... happened..."

His words were weak and breathless, clearly he hadn't regained his senses, nor could he adjust his breath at will.

Gu Rongjin clicked his tongue: "This won't work; we'd have to stay here all night listening to him and might still hear nothing."

"What should we do? Carry him back home? Give him two bowls of ginseng soup first?" Mu Yuanzhi asked.

"We have no choice; this person is really a hassle!" Gu Rongjin sighed helplessly.

Really don't want to bother with Pei Shangling's life or death, but since such a major incident occurred in the capital, we can't ignore it; we can only temporarily repay evil with kindness.

Gu Rongjin agreed, and Mu Yuanzhi nodded as well.

"You carry him." Mu Yuanzhi said.

Gu Rongjin felt like he had swallowed a fly, but there was no help for it—who let them go out without attendants.

"You've really got the luck of the devil, Pei Shangling, actually making the Young Lord carry you—know that the Young Lord's back has only ever carried our lady!" Gu Rongjin grew angrier as he spoke, but really just dragging Pei Shangling back would be fine.

Pei Shangling had no strength to argue with Gu Rongjin at this time, could only nod.