Chapter 344

Mu Yuanzhi - glossary.

"No more nonsense, I'm here to arrest you today." As soon as Mu Yuanzhi's words fell, a group of soldiers filed in!

National Teacher - glossary.

Princess - glossary.

Deposed Emperor - glossary.

"How long have you been like this? When you had me under loose house arrest in Jingcheng, it wasn't like this." Qi Shihuai straightened his sleeve, which had not a single wrinkle, and said.

Mu Yuanzhi: "General Qi noticed you as soon as you entered Jingcheng, but he remained silent, wanting to see what tricks you would play. Besides, how many brainless fools would follow you."

Qi Shihuai - need to decide: pinyin without tones: Qi Shihuai.

General Qi (戚將軍) - we could use "General Qi". But we already have Qi Shihuai; maybe we don't need separate. However the line uses "戚將軍" as a title+name. We'll translate as "General Qi". We'll include in glossary.

If they hadn't arrived in time, this National Teacher might really have intended to let the Deposed Emperor go again; the new emperor would not allow such a thing to happen a second time.

Yang Jianyu - pinyin: Yang Jianyu.

Zhi'er - pinyin: Zhi'er (maybe with apostrophe). We'll use "Zhi'er".

The National Teacher's brows remained furrowed; he pressed his lips and stayed silent, his gaze on Mu Yuanzhi and Qi Shihuai, his eyes complex.

Qi Shihuai didn't care how complicated or tumultuous his inner feelings were; anyway, since he had arrived today, there was no possibility of things taking a sudden turn for the worse.

Prince Zhuang - translate: Prince Zhuang.

Prince Zhuang's Manor - we could translate as "Prince Zhuang's Manor". Or "Prince Zhuang's Residence". We'll use "Prince Zhuang's Manor".

Frost Descent - translate meaning: Frost Descent.

Imperial Observatory - translate: Imperial Observatory.

Grand General's Manor - translate: Grand General's Manor.

New Emperor - translate: New Emperor.

Qi Shihuai: "Yang Jianyu, don't be stupid!"

National Teacher and the Deposed Emperor locked eyes, the hands inside their sleeves clenched into fists.

Deposed Emperor: "You don't know, do you?"

"The new emperor is benevolent; he would naturally agree to let you be a carefree marquis." the National Teacher said.

"You think I'd care?" the Deposed Emperor sneered.

He'd rather be emperor than some damn marquis? What a joke!

The National Teacher closed his eyes, sighed, then said: "In that case, I can do nothing..."

Mu Yuanzhi breathed a sigh of relief; good thing the National Teacher didn't act foolishly.

People, if they haven't taken a big fall, they won't easily lose the water in their heads; but sometimes a big fall can cost them their lives.

The Deposed Emperor's face was full of disappointment: "Jianyu, you really let me down."

"Just shut up and behave." Qi Shihuai said.

Several soldiers had already bound the Deposed Emperor's hands behind his back; any resistance would mean being pierced by myriad arrows.

Once a ruler over ten thousand, for the first time he was being escorted like this, like a stray dog; his immense pride was instantly crushed, and he nearly went mad: "You dare! I am the Son of Heaven! How dare you treat the Son of Heaven, the Nine-Five Supreme, like this!"

"I think you're crazy," Mu Yuanzhi said sarcastically.

"Zhi'er, one day as a teacher, a lifetime as a father; moreover, I have raised you for over ten years—acting like this will bring heavenly punishment!" the Deposed Emperor glared at Mu Yuanzhi fiercely.

What a rebellious girl!

"Sorry, but it's you who will suffer heavenly punishment—you, who lost the land, brought shame upon the Great Zhou, caused the people to wander homeless, and rebelled against your superiors." Mu Yuanzhi replied lightly.

Qi Shihuai: "The new emperor is merciful, leaving the net open on one side; he has no intention of punishing you, yet you persist in your delusion and bring death upon yourself."

"He'll spare me? You don't believe that, do you?" the Deposed Emperor sneered.

"Take him away!" Qi Shihuai said, too lazy to waste words.

The Deposed Emperor being escorted still held his head high, as if he hadn't lost, merely temporarily at a disadvantage, maintaining his laughable yet pitiful pride.

The National Teacher kept watching the Deposed Emperor's departing back, his expression profound.

Mu Yuanzhi told Qi Shihuai: "You guessed right, Pei Shangyan isn't here."

"Pei Shangyan is a prince; since he's not here, we can't do anything about him." Qi Shihuai shook his head. "Can't you even find a trace of your husband? How did you become the head of Shuangjiang?"

"Shuangjiang has already been disbanded; besides, since the new emperor ascended the throne, he has no intention of using Shuangjiang to investigate any case, to avoid..." Mu Yuanzhi didn't finish, but Qi Shihuai naturally understood.

"I'll return to report first, Princess; please inform me if there's any news." Qi Shihuai said.

Mu Yuanzhi nodded.

After everyone had left, Mu Yuanzhi had intended to chat a bit with the National Teacher, but he seemed fatigued; she guessed he didn't want to talk either, so she planned to take her leave as well.

"Miss Mu, do you also think I'm an obstinate fool?" the National Teacher suddenly said.

Mu Yuanzhi blinked, "Yes."

Helping a heartless scoundrel—what is that if not stupidity?

She has been such a fool herself, so she naturally knows that fools don't easily realize their own stupidity.

The National Teacher softly sighed, "I met him in our youth; I had thought we would enjoy a harmonious ruler‑minister relationship, but all of this was ultimately just my one‑sided wish; his kindness in recognizing my talent I will never forget."

"You have repaid him; you owe him nothing." Mu Yuanzhi said.

But after all, those in power are blind; she had done plenty of charging into a south wall and not turning back in her previous life.

The National Teacher chuckled: "Indeed, I don't owe him; I just refuse to let myself off the hook."

He said no more, and Mu Yuanzhi also left.

Later she learned that day the National Teacher had mysteriously disappeared, leaving only a resignation letter for the new emperor; no one knew where he went.

And now Mu Yuanzhi has no time to worry about the Bureau of Astronomy's affairs, because Fan Shi has gone missing, vanished from the Prince Zhuang's mansion.

Her first reaction was that it must be related to Pei Shangyan, who hasn't shown his face.

"General Qi, didn't you say you had set up a heavenly net and earthly trap? How could you still not catch Pei Shangyan?" Mu Yuanzhi asked Qi Shihuai.

Qi Shihuai: "When did I ever say I had set up a heavenly net and earthly trap? I only said my informants spotted them father and son entering the city. Speaking of which, how about your Young Master Yun? Isn't he remarkable? Yet there's no news at all!"

Gu Rongjin, hearing this, became displeased: "Watch your words—Cloud Mirror Pavilion and our little Yuanzhi aren't acquainted!"

"You people from the Escort Bureau, stop being jealous for no reason—let's get down to business."