Chapter 35: Kneel Down and Kowtow

Xiao Yichen immediately shouted angrily: "Xiao Chuchu! Apologize to the princess right now!"

"What did I say wrong? Why should I apologize? That's just the fact!" Xiao Chuchu said, sticking out her neck.

Her elder brother had become angry; she should have been afraid, but facing so many people, she felt that apologizing would be embarrassing, and besides, what she said wasn't made up—it was a reasonable suspicion!

"Slap!"

A loud slap sound!

It was Xiao Yichen, his chest heaving, his voice angry: "Apologize!"

Everyone on the boat was stunned.

"You hit me?!" Xiao Chuchu covered her burning cheeks in disbelief, shocked and instantly turning angry, she pointed at Mu Yuanzhi furiously: "You hit your own sister over an outsider?!"

Pei Yunxi was also stunned by Xiao Yichen's action, momentarily forgetting what to say.

Brother Chen actually got this angry for Mu Yuanzhi?

Why?

Could it be that he really likes Mu Yuanzhi?

"You still don't know your crime for slandering the princess?!" Xiao Yichen's brows knit tight, his face grim: "Hurry up and beg the princess for forgiveness!"

The strange looks cast at Mu Yuanzhi from all around made him grateful that the emperor had accepted Yunxi's suggestion back then and not launched a massive manhunt, otherwise it would have caused an uproar throughout the capital.

Mu Yuanzhi understood in her heart; she had thought Xiao Yichen had suddenly taken a fancy to protect her, but it turned out he was afraid his own sister would be punished by her.

"If you want me to forgive her for spreading rumors and slandering me, just kneel and kowtow once, and I'll consider it never happened."

A young lady's reputation is paramount; the case of the Prefect of Jingzhao's daughter who couldn't bear the rumors and committed suicide is known throughout the capital. Xiao Chuchu clearly knows the precedent, yet she still says this deliberately—truly vicious!

"Sister Yuanzhi, please forgive Chuchu once; if you really can't let go of your anger, I'll kneel for you." Pei Yunxi said in a conciliatory manner.

Mu Yuanzhi was truly impressed by Pei Yunxi, who actually said she would kneel in Xiao Chuchu's place!

Upon hearing this, Xiao Chuchu was moved beyond words.

This is what a sister-in-law should be!

She cares for her even more than her own brother...

At this moment, in Xiao Chuchu's heart, Pei Yunxi's status had even surpassed that of Xiao Yichen.

She had silently decided that Pei Yunxi would be her lifelong good sister; whoever dares to bully her sister-in-law will have to answer to her!

Seeing Mu Yuanzhi silent and speechless, Pei Yunxi made a move to kneel, but Xiao Yichen subtly grabbed her arm and said softly: "Yunxi, you don't need to do this."

Her kindness made him feel heartache.

After speaking, Xiao Yichen looked at Mu Yuanzhi: "Princess Yuanzhi, this humble official apologizes on behalf of my sister; I hope you will magnanimously forgive her."

He bowed with clasped hands, then loudly addressed the crowd: "That night I was also present rescuing Princess Yuanzhi; she was not abducted by bandits for a night. If anyone still spreads rumors, I will certainly not let them off lightly!"

Everyone repeatedly agreed.

Since Senior Minister Xiao said so, it must be a misunderstanding; besides, if the princess had gone missing for a night, wouldn't the emperor have ordered a citywide search?

"All right, all right, it's just a misunderstanding; today is a good day for boating, no need to spoil the harmony over such a trivial matter!" Pei Shangling said.

He had genuinely been afraid earlier that his younger sister would kneel to apologize for Xiao Chuchu; if that happened, he would certainly not let Mu Yuanzhi off.

She was slandered; they would naturally clear her name—why get so worked up? Can falsehoods really be turned into truth?

"Who let you make decisions for me? Do I agree?" Mu Yuanzhi, who hadn't spoken in a while, said lazily.

Is being slandered while innocent considered a trivial matter?

These two treat her like a soft persimmon to squeeze.

"Today Xiao Miss can slander my innocence to my face; who knows what she'll do next? The emperor punishes nobles and commoners alike, let alone a Xiao miss. I haven't beaten you with a board, nor imprisoned you—I only ask you to admit your mistake, and yet you need your brother to do it for you?"

Xiao Chuchu didn't expect Mu Yuanzhi to still not let it go; she anxiously looked at Xiao Yichen.

Pei Yunxi, however, was no longer anxious; she had already done what she ought to, and whether Xiao Chuchu kneels or not is irrelevant to her.

This is the grudge between Xiao Chuchu and Mu Yuanzhi.

Xiao Yichen pursed his lips, weighed the situation, then shoved Xiao Chuchu forward: "The princess told you to apologize—just go."

The boat was about to sail downstream to where the emperor resides; if this matter reached the emperor's ears, who knows how he would punish Xiao Chuchu.

"Brother!"

"Kneel!" Xiao Yichen coldly shouted, his face grim, his eyes seeming to portend a storm: "Otherwise, don't call me brother again!"

Xiao Chuchu immediately wilted, unwillingly kneeling before Mu Yuanzhi, but she would never kowtow—there was no way she would kowtow to Mu Yuanzhi.

As she bent over, Xiao Chuchu merely went through the motions, in her heart cursing Mu Yuanzhi's entire family and ancestors eighteen generations over.

Mu Yuanzhi had originally intended to be kind-hearted, letting Xiao Chuchu's kneeling suffice, but seeing Xiao Chuchu's undisguised killing intent before she bowed, she withdrew her leniency.

Xiao Chuchu's head was about to hit the ground; she was just about to think of something, when suddenly an irresistible force pressed down on the back of her skull, slamming her head down to kowtow!

"Fine, one is enough, no need for more." Mu Yuanzhi, squatting and pressing Xiao Chuchu's head to force the kowtow, said magnanimously.

Xiao Chuchu struggled fiercely; her strength was great—she almost broke free of Mu Yuanzhi's grip as soon as her forehead touched the ground, her forehead merely bumped lightly against the floor, she touched it and found no blood.

Not being disfigured is naturally good, but she had indeed kowtowed to Mu Yuanzhi in earnest, right in front of all these people!

How will she ever hold her head up among the noble ladies' circles now? Damned Mu Yuanzhi!

Xiao Chuchu rose to her feet in anger, her whole body trembling with rage.

And yet her brother didn't come to comfort her!

Seeing there was no more drama to watch, the people on the boat dispersed, and of course their whispered gossip shifted from whether Mu Yuanzhi's innocence had been sullied to discussing Xiao Chuchu's embarrassing situation just now.

Such gossips are like that—once there's fresh gossip, baseless speculation no longer matters.

Their fleeting glances were noticed by Xiao Chuchu, who, unable to contain her anger, repeated her old trick, just as she had at the imperial banquet before—only this time she didn't bump into a palace servant, but directly collided with Mu Yuanzhi!

Taking advantage of the boat's wobble as it prepared to dock, she cried "aiya" and lunged at Mu Yuanzhi!

Xiao Chuchu pretended to lose her balance, but after lunging at Mu Yuanzhi she swiftly steadied herself, the corners of her mouth turning up in a gleeful smile.

Just wait for your embarrassment, Mu Yuanzhi!

Who would have thought that before she could even steady herself, she heard Pei Yunxi beside her let out a startled cry, and for some reason both she and Mu Yuanzhi toppled together into the lake!

Xiao Chuchu was dumbfounded in an instant, at a loss, staring helplessly at Mu Yuanzhi and Pei Yunxi in the lake.

"Help! The princesses have fallen into the water!" someone shouted!

"Quick! Save them! Why are you just standing there?!"

The boat instantly descended into chaos.