Chapter 350

Mu Yuanzhi and Gu Rongjin exchanged a glance, saying: "Please take him to the side hall."

Gu Rongjin originally planned to wait for Mu Yuanzhi to wake up; if nothing happened, he would go find Yun Jing Lou. Now that Pei Shangling has come, let's first hear what nonsense he has to say.

Pei Shangyan came to the Grand General's residence after a long absence; since Mu Yuanzhi returned, he had hardly seen her a few times, and aside from the last time he was seriously injured, he hadn't seen his sister for a very long time!

He missed her dearly and wanted to see his two little nephews!

This time such a big matter happened; he came to try his luck, and indeed he could get in!

Pei Shangyan felt elated inside; upon seeing Mu Yuanzhi, he was originally excited, but seeing her face somewhat fatigued, he anxiously asked: "Ah Zhi, what's wrong?"

"Nothing, just tell me your business." Mu Yuanzhi didn't want to say too much to Pei Shangyan.

Gu Rongjin crossed his arms, raised an eyebrow at Pei Shangyan: "If you have business, speak; the tea in our Grand General's residence is expensive."

Upon hearing that, Pei Shangyan took another sip of tea, feeling that being able to drink an extra mouthful here was a gain.

Gu Rongjin was amused by his humble appearance, thinking: "If I had known today would be like this, why bother in the first place?"

Pei Shangyan tried to stall: "I just sat down; can't I have a sip of tea?"

"Drink, hurry up." Mu Yuanzhi said expressionlessly.

Pei Shangyan took it as Mu Yuanzhi being considerate of him, and was very happy to keep drinking tea.

Mu Yuanzhi and Gu Rongjin sat opposite him, waiting for him to continue.

After finishing the tea, under the pressure of two gazes, precisely under Mu Yuanzhi's impatient stare, Pei Shangyan finally obediently spoke: "Was Elder Brother arrested?"

"Why are you asking so much? Are you also involved? Come to gather intelligence?" Gu Rongjin asked aggressively.

"Impossible!" Pei Shangyan exclaimed anxiously, "He wants me dead, yet I'd help him? I've long been disheartened!"

That "he" naturally refers to the Deposed Emperor.

That secret edict has already severed the father-son bond of affection and righteousness.

Gu Rongjin also felt that if Pei Shangyan still aided the Deposed Emperor it would be rather base, but who knows? After all, Pei Shangyan is quite base.

Mu Yuanzhi: "Then don't ask, just tell what you know."

Pei Shangyan cleared his throat, his gaze unconsciously wandering; he picked up the tea cup intending to drink, only to realize he had already finished it, and no servant came to refill.

His behavior like that, Mu Yuanzhi already sensed somewhat, and directly pointed out: "You have no clues at all, right?"

The exposed Pei Shangyan laughed embarrassedly.

Indeed, he had none; he merely wanted to use this matter to smoothly come in here to see his sister...

Although he knew that if he had nothing, coming here to bluff a meeting would make any future visit harder than ascending to heaven.

But having seen is seeing; anyway she doesn't want to see him, so one more meeting is a gain!

He held onto the mindset of a dead pig not fearing boiling water, and boldly came to request a meeting.

Gu Rongjin rolled his eyes, "Wasting time, you bastard!"

He gritted his teeth, stood up, and when facing Mu Yuanzhi, he put on a pleasant expression: "I'm going to find Yun Jing Lou; you wait at home."

"By the way, please ask the boring person to leave." Mu Yuanzhi glanced meaningfully at Pei Shangyan.

"I want to see my two little nephews!" Pei Shangyan asked without hope.

Mu Yuanzhi: "There are no Pei-surnamed little nephews here!"

This person is as shameless as Pei Shangjue!

"Alright, if there aren't any, then there aren't. Don't be angry, Ah Zhi; I'm leaving, take care." Pei Shangyan hurried to smooth things over.

There will be plenty of time ahead; he will surely meet her someday!

"Get lost!" Mu Yuanzhi didn't want to waste words with him.

Even if scolded, Pei Shangyan still smiled; he no longer felt dejected, now he's even thicker-skinned, only thus will he not feel discouraged!

Ah Zhi scolded him—how is that not a kind of interaction?

Gu Rongjin couldn't tolerate Pei Shangyan's perverse demeanor, so he hurriedly pushed him away.

After leaving the Grand General's residence, Pei Shangyan couldn't help but ask Gu Rongjin: "This time, how will His Majesty deal with Elder Brother?"

He still had some feelings for Pei Shangyan, after all he's his older brother.

"That depends on what they're plotting in secret." Gu Rongjin said, "Losing one's head is minor; exterminating the nine clans is major."

He said this while revealing a wicked smile.

Of course this is his exaggeration; he knows the new emperor won't lightly execute the former emperor and his offspring, given their special status, to avoid giving people with ulterior motives an excuse to write articles claiming intolerance of the former dynasty's people and finding a pretext to kill.

Pei Shangyan very much wanted to point out that the nine clans obviously include the emperor himself, but of course he wouldn't say that; he only hopes things won't go to the worst outcome, for he still doesn't want to see his elder brother come to harm.

It's all the fault of that heartless person! He doesn't care about his own life and even drags his son to be buried with him!

Dying a few times is not excessive! Pei Shangyan thought maliciously.

In the evening, Gu Rongjin returned; Mu Yuanzhi had thought he wouldn't come back today.

"How did it go?" Mu Yuanzhi asked.

"Didn't catch Pei Shangyan." Gu Rongjin took a sip of tea, "He got away; everyone in the gambling house has been detained at the Imperial Court of Justice, not sure if we can extract any clues; the Fan side yields nothing; by the way, Pei Shangjue is still in the palace, under nominal house arrest, probably to prevent him from truly defecting to Pei Shangyan's side."

Mu Yuanzhi understood: "Does the secret chamber have a passage leading outside?"

"Yes, outside it connects to Wang Yue Lou." Gu Rongjin said.

Mu Yuanzhi: "Last time Pei Shangyan had arranged to meet Pei Shangjue at Wang Yue Lou."

"People were already ambushed there, but we got nothing." Gu Rongjin narrowed his eyes, "I always feel there's an expert helping them."

"What kind of expert?" Mu Yuanzhi: "Do you have any leads?"

"Do you still remember that the Ninth Lord hasn't returned?" Gu Rongjin said.

"I've forgotten..."

This person has stayed here for half a year, right?

After the Pei Biao matter concluded, she thought the Ninth Lord would return, but he remained in Jingcheng, and the new emperor showed no sign.

"You suspect him?"

"It's not that, I was just saying it casually. After all, he used to be a traitor of Frost Descent, and he has both the ability and motive to help the Deposed Emperor and them." Gu Rongjin said.

Mu Yuanzhi: "Why not let Pei Di go look for him?"

Gu Rongjin: "I think Pei Di may have already gone to look for him."

"That kid's energy is that abundant?"

"Don't underestimate the heir apparent." Gu Rongjin said, "And the whole matter might possibly be solely within His Majesty's grasp."

Mu Yuanzhi didn't quite understand.

"Don't understand? Brother Rongjin will teach you?" Gu Rongjin said, smiling as he moved closer to Mu Yuanzhi.

"Wait, let me think!"

"It's impossible she wouldn't think of it!"

"She'll definitely think of it!"

Mu Yuanzhi made a shushing gesture and began to ponder.

Gu Rongjin amusedly watched his wife's refusal to lose and her earnest demeanor.

"I know what you mean now!" Mu Yuanzhi exclaimed excitedly, "You mean His Majesty once set up a dragnet in Jingcheng to gather intelligence; it's impossible that this time there would be no sign under his nose!"