Chapter 330: I just wanted to have a chat with you, Princess

He said to the witch doctor, "This is a two-for-one opportunity; as long as we win, we can seize the throne."

Pei Biao looked confidently at the distant sky, as if everything was already under his control.

The witch doctor's hood covered his upper half of the face, his expression dark and unreadable.

Mu Yuanzhi has been going out often lately, wearing a high-waisted ruqun that barely covers her pregnant belly, accompanied by two maids for a walk; she had just left the escort agency, was about to return, passed a bun shop and bought a few buns, then turned around and found the two maids missing.

Where are they?!

Mu Yuanzhi instantly became alert.

"Princess, may I have a word with you?"

A familiar, quiet yet eerie voice came from behind, and Mu Yuanzhi turned her head warily.

The witch doctor was still dressed all in purple, his head bowed low, the hood blocking his face.

"Talk? You've taken my maids away—is this how you intend to chat?"

"In broad daylight, with the world bright and clear, I don't believe he could do anything to me on this busy street."

"Because there were some inconveniences, I had your maids escorted away first, Princess—don't misunderstand, I sincerely invite you to the tea house across the street for a drink." The witch doctor curled his lips.

"What if I don't want to?" Mu Yuanzhi asked coldly.

"Princess, don't you want to know what will come of the recent events?" the witch doctor asked with a smile.

Upon hearing that, Mu Yuanzhi narrowed her eyes and demanded, "What exactly do you want?!"

"I said, I just want to chat with you, Princess, have a drink—there are plenty of people at the tea house across the street; do you really still worry I'll kidnap you?" the witch doctor retorted mockingly.

Mu Yuanzhi frowned, pondering whether to believe this strange person's words.

He might be hatching some plot; she couldn't easily fall for his trick.

But her two maids had mysteriously disappeared; if she refused, they were likely in danger.

Besides, this place is indeed bustling; he probably wouldn't dare do anything.

After thinking it over, Mu Yuanzhi still decided to agree to the witch doctor's words, "All right."

"Please, Princess."

The witch doctor made a gesture of invitation, then walked ahead, his pace unhurried, just like his demeanor.

Mu Yuanzhi kept two steps behind him, staying highly alert.

The tea house across the street wasn't very lively; upstairs there were only a few scattered customers, and there were no private rooms—just ordinary tables.

That's why it doesn't attract attention.

But in Jingcheng, any move inevitably draws attention.

Mu Yuanzhi sat down, facing the strange witch doctor; even at this close distance, she couldn't make out his upper face, making him all the more mysterious.

She sometimes really is curious.

What does he actually look like?

Judging by the lower half of his face, he doesn't seem ugly.

Moreover, he is likely a handsome young man.

Yet his pretentious mysticism gives a damp, gloomy feeling.

"Princess, are you very interested in my appearance?" the witch doctor asked leisurely, raising the corners of his mouth and resting his chin on his clasped hands.

He seemed not to mind dragging things out, as if he had plenty of time, moving slowly and leisurely.

"I admit it—I am curious—will you lift your hood?" Mu Yuanzhi said bluntly.

She was also curious why even the new emperor had never ordered him to remove his hat; after all, dressing like that in the emperor's presence is a total breach of etiquette.

Upon hearing that, the witch doctor's smile deepened, and he lifted his hand to his hood.

Mu Yuanzhi felt eager, her curiosity piqued, and she could hardly wait to see what he really looked like.

Yet when the hood fell away, what Mu Yuanzhi saw was actually a half purple mask!

……

Mu Yuanzhi's mouth twitched imperceptibly, giving her a feeling of being played with, an itchy annoyance.

"How about it? Princess, are you still satisfied?" the witch doctor laughed even wider.

Although he was wearing a mask, Mu Yuanzhi could see his eyes were smiling, crinkled at the corners.

Mu Yuanzhi kept a polite smile and asked, "Mr. Sima, why don't you show your true face? Is the upper half disfigured? Or do you have an unsightly birthmark?"

If she had guessed right, he would surely be startled no matter what he said, for she had touched a sensitive spot; if it wasn't to hide ugliness, then why else?

Is there something about his face he can't show? Would revealing it expose him?

But Mu Yuanzhi doesn't recall ever seeing such a lower half of a face, let alone his distinctive voice—she would remember it if she'd heard it before.

The witch doctor showed no change in expression or movement; he remained as before, holding back a smile, sipped his tea, then said, "No, it's simply that I, as a humble official, want to keep a bit of mystery."

"……" What a reasonable, normal explanation.

Actually, this was Mu Yuanzhi's original guess.

"But Mr. Sima just said he'd show me his face—how did he suddenly change his mind?" Mu Yuanzhi asked.

"No change of mind—I, as a humble official, haven't taken off the mask yet," the witch doctor said, raising his hand; his purple‑painted fingernails lightly touched the mask as he slowly removed it.

Mu Yuanzhi even forgot to swallow her saliva.

Surely there isn't another veil or something under the mask, right?

When the witch doctor lowered the mask and moved it aside, a stunningly beautiful face came into Mu Yuanzhi's view—alluring, full of exotic charm, yet like a demon, eerily deceitful.

Around his eyes was also purple eyeshadow; his eyes were deep, as if they held the whole netherworld.

He was good‑looking, but at first glance he was clearly no good person.

"Princess, you've seen it, your curiosity is satisfied—can we now talk properly?" the witch doctor said, looking at Mu Yuanzhi with a smile.

But I must say, even though this face is bewitchingly beautiful, it's still better than the gloom of the hood—at least in the sunlight his true face is exposed, so it isn't so sinister.

Mu Yuanzhi nodded and commented, "Mr. Sima is indeed outstanding in appearance."

"Princess, you flatter me; my appearance has been called a calamity for the state and a disaster for the people, so I can only hide it." The Shaman Doctor looked rather worried, but his tone revealed pride.

That's right; anyone with a gorgeous, captivating face would naturally feel proud.

Mu Yuanzhi remained noncommittal; having satisfied her curiosity, she had no further thoughts about the Shaman Doctor's appearance.

"Let's get back to the point, Mr. Sima—what did you want to say to me?" Mu Yuanzhi composed her expression and spoke solemnly.

The Shaman Doctor kept his smile, leisurely poured himself a cup of tea, and said: "Princess, aren't you at all worried about the Crown Prince? It's been several days since you last saw him. Just a few days ago, Prince Ling was attacked in an incident that remains unsolved; the imperial clan is all in a state of panic."

Mu Yuanzhi's eyes narrowed sharply, "What do you mean by that?!"

Could it be Xiao Di?!